ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ sᴜɴsᴇᴛ
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

Everything was black. 

A deep, cold abyss enveloped me, as if I were floating in nothingness. For a moment, an absurd thought crossed my mind.

Was I trapped inside Mace Windu’s soul? 

I dismissed the idea when, slowly, colors began to return. Dark and muted at first, but soon more defined. A sharp pain pulsed in my head, the rush of blood loud in my ears, and gradually my vision cleared. I was no longer in darkness. I was inside the ship. The same one where I’d found Shaak Ti. 

The cold metal beneath my body brought me back to reality. I tried to move, but something held me down. 

My limbs were tightly bound, restricting every motion. The feeling of immobility was like a slap to the face, and panic began to settle in my chest. I swallowed hard, fighting the suffocating sensation. I tried to focus, to calm myself. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed movement, and when I turned my head slightly, I saw Master Ti in the same position I’d left her—still immobilized. 

I tried to speak to her, but as soon as I opened my mouth, I realized something was blocking my words. A cold, tight metal gag pressed against my skin. 

«Master?» I called through the Force, sending my thoughts toward her. 

I felt Shaak Ti startle, but quickly, her presence grew calmer. I was relieved she’d heard me—even if I couldn’t move, at least I wasn’t alone. Her energy wrapped around me, a mix of relief and concern. 

«Thank the Force you're awake» she responded mentally, though her tone was tense. 

I didn’t have time to respond. The sound of footsteps echoed through the ship, making me look up with effort. A figure came into view: another bounty hunter. I held back an exasperated groan. 

It was a Devaronian. Sharp horns protruded from its bald head, and its reddish eyes gleamed coldly. Its skin was grayish, and its armor was marked with scars from old battles. In one hand, it held a blaster that seemed to weigh no more than an extension of its arm. 

"I’m surprised you woke up so fast," it said in a rough voice, staring at me with disdain. 

The distant sound of blaster fire reached my ears—the battle outside was still raging. Anakin and Master Kenobi must’ve been fighting the other bounty hunters. At least that bought me some time, though not much. 

«Damn horned bastard…»

«Helene!»

Shaak Ti shot me a disapproving look, but I ignored her, keeping my sharp glare fixed on the Devaronian. He must’ve noticed something in our expressions because he let out a dry laugh, his grip on the blaster unwavering. 

"Don’t try anything, sweeties. If you do, it’ll be the last thing," he warned with a cruel smirk. 

I was trapped, gagged, and Shaak Ti was still weak. But if Dathomir had taught me anything, it was that no matter how bad things got… stressing would only make it worse. 

I had no idea how, but I was getting out of this with the pure Jedi style I’d been trained for my whole life. I’d make the Council deem me worthy of the Trials, and I’d rub my victory right in Master Windu’s bald head. 

I stared at the Devaronian. Would my lightsaber reflect off his horns too?

I felt Shaak Ti's calming presence beside me and decided the best course was to focus on our connection through the Force. Our only way out right now.

«They're looking for the pendant, Helene» Shaak Ti's voice echoed softly in my mind.

«I know» I replied quickly. There was no way to forget it, no way to forget that damned relic.

«Where is it now?»

The memory of the pendant made me shudder, and I felt the darkness of that experience brush against my consciousness again.

Anakin... the relic... the power of the Dark Side. No, I wouldn't let those thoughts cloud my mind now.

«Anakin gave it to Obi-Wan»

I sensed Shaak Ti's relief through the Force. Her emotions settled slightly, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. But then her tone shifted subtly, carrying a mix of curiosity and wonder.

«Anakin found it?»

I tensed immediately. Anakin?

Her words made something inside me churn. I couldn't stop the irritation rising in my chest. «No, it was me»

My mental voice came out harsher than I intended.

Shaak Ti fell silent for a moment, and though she said nothing, I could feel her surprise. Did she really think Anakin had been the one to find it? That he had endured the same hell I went through with that cursed relic around my neck, only for the Chosen One to take the credit yet again?

I was tired of everything revolving around him. Why did Skywalker have to exist? What good did he bring to the galaxy? Exactly—nothing.

Yet before my frustration could grow any stronger, I felt something soft and warm in the Force. My master's presence enveloped me with an almost maternal warmth. «Well done, Helene»

Immediately, I tried to suppress the blush creeping up my face, grateful that, at least for now, she couldn't see me completely.

I glanced toward the lightsabers discarded on the far side of the ship, not too far from where we were bound. Mine lay beside hers, but both were just out of reach. I couldn't let this moment of calm drag on. We needed a plan. 

«Any ideas on how to get out of this?» I asked, forcing my mind to stay focused. 

My master's relief was quickly replaced by resignation. 

«Not yet. But we must think of something soon, my padawan» Her tone wasn’t desperate, but I knew she was just as concerned as I was. Time was running out. 

My thoughts were cut off by the Devaronian's mocking voice: 

"I’m sure the Separatists will pay handsomely for the pendant… and for two pretty Jedi as a bonus." His grating laugh echoed through the ship, and I clenched my jaw. 

«I’m going to rip off one of his horns and shove it up his…»

«Helene, I have an idea» Shaak Ti interrupted. «We can use the lingering Force vibrations in this ship. I sense a weakness in the metal, we can use it to break free»

I closed my eyes and focused, testing her theory. She was right—traces of the Force still pulsed through the ship, thrumming with a dangerously dark energy, but we had no other choice. 

«Understood, Master»

Keeping my eyes shut, I let the power flow toward our restraints. I felt the metal strain, vibrating with subtle fragility. Master Ti focused her energy as well, and together, we found the exact weak point. Without warning, the bindings snapped with a faint, almost imperceptible crack. 

The Devaronian realized a second too late. By the time he whirled toward us, we had already summoned our lightsabers to our hands. 

"No!" he shouted, raising his blaster, but Master Ti and I were ready.

Our blades ignited in unison, bathing the ship in their glow. The Devaronian cursed, slamming a panel on the wall before retreating. A mechanical hum filled the air as a dozen battle droids emerged from the shadows, weapons primed.

"Here we go again," I muttered, falling into stance.

Shaak Ti lunged with incredible agility, deflecting droid fire with an elegance anyone would envy —especially after being restrained. Meanwhile, I vaulted onto the ship's ceiling, using the walls to bounce between surfaces while dodging attacks and redirecting blaster fire coming from all directions.

A shot grazed my abdomen, and white-hot pain lanced through me. I glanced down to see fresh blood seeping through my bacta patch, staining my tunic red. Gritting my teeth, I fought through it - no time for weakness.

Shaak Ti noticed my injury immediately. "Helene, you're injured! Fall back!"

"I'm not leaving you, Master!" I shouted, barely deflecting a shot aimed at my head.

The Devaronian lurked in the ship's corners, firing cowardly potshots. His tactics infuriated me, but revenge would have to wait.

"That's an order, padawan," Shaak Ti insisted between deflections.

"Sorry, Master!" I rolled beneath a volley of fire, feeling the heat of a near-miss singe my hair. "But I'm not leaving until he's missing at least one horn!"

The droids attacked in formation, but we maintained rhythm. My injury wasn't superficial, but not lethal... yet. Blood loss worsened, yet adrenaline and the Force kept me focused on each movement, each strike.

Then everything slowed.

A shot streaked toward Shaak Ti's unprotected back. Before thought could catch up, I was airborne, shoving her through the hatch. The shot meant for her heart only grazed her shoulder as we tumbled onto Dathomir's rocky soil.

"Master!" I screamed in desperation as she collapsed.

I couldn't assist her immediately, the Devaronian and his droids still pressed their assault. Shaak Ti, wounded, tried rising, but clearly lacked strength after the restraints drained her Force energy.

My pulse hammered in my ears as I turned back to our attacker. He was the key. Take him down, and we could help Anakin and Obi-Wan, who were clearly overwhelmed if they hadn't reached us yet.

But he wasn't making it easy for me - still hiding, taking potshots from safe positions while his droids kept me occupied. 

"Face me yourself, you little shit!" I screamed in frustration, deflecting another incoming bolt. I knew I couldn't keep this up much longer. The wound in my abdomen burned, but surrender wasn't an option. 

Droid fire echoed throughout the ship, and despite having destroyed several, their numbers kept increasing. They were emerging from everywhere, as if the bounty hunter had activated some kind of aggressive security protocol.

Damn it. I was alone in this fight. I could sense Shaak Ti outside the ship, too weakened to intervene. I needed to end this fast.

Two droids advanced with relentless fire, their rapid bursts giving me no breathing room. The reflexes I'd honed through years of training allowed me to dodge and deflect shots with my saber, but I could feel exhaustion building in my muscles.

"Fuck! Do I really have this many fans?!"

I sliced through one droid with a clean strike, but the other kept firing with unsettling precision, forcing me into constant motion. I vaulted off the wall with a Force-assisted leap, barely redirecting another shot. 

The ship's vibrations intensified, and at first I ignored it, too focused on the fight. But when the floor started shaking beneath my feet, I realized something was terribly wrong.

The ship was moving. 

"What the hell…?" 

A quick glance toward the cockpit confirmed it. The damn Devaronian had activated the ship, and now we were lifting off. A stab of panic hit me as I understood what this meant. If we took off completely, I'd be taken far from Shaak Ti and any chance of help.

Sweat dripped into my eyes as I destroyed another droid in a shower of sparks, but more took its place. My arms trembled; my breath came in ragged gasps. I was running on fumes. 

"What the fuck are you doing?!" I yelled at the Devaronian, but he didn't answer. Only the sound of blasters and the ship's engines replied. 

Then— BAM! 

Something heavy hit the ship's roof, making everything shake. I stopped fighting for a second. What the hell was that?

The Devaronian cursed from the cockpit. "Kriffing Jedi tricks!" 

My heart jumped. 

No... It can't be...

The idea flashed through my mind but I dismissed it. He wouldn't. It was too dangerous.

But then— someone landed in the ship's doorway. 

I gasped. 

There stood Anakin Skywalker, his blue lightsaber shining in the dark. His Jedi robe moved in the wind, and he looked... annoyingly confident, as if controlling chaos came as naturally as breathing.

My eyes widened. He was sweating, his clothes dirty from fighting. But the faint curve of his smile was enough to make anyone realize the fun was just beginning for him.

"You look surprised!" he said, jumping down next to me. 

I swallowed. My pulse spiked—from adrenaline, obviously. (Not the way his biceps flexed mid-leap.) Wounded, exhausted, yet seeing him here, defying logic to crash my disaster? It was the best damn stim-shot I’d ever gotten.

"You really know how to make an entrance," I said, trying to sound calm. 

Anakin turned to me, his eyes sparkling with that undimmable fire they always held when looking at me. "Only when I know I can impress you."

Then he turned and attacked, his lightsaber cutting through droids like they were nothing. 

Without another word, he launched at the surrounding droids, his movements fluid and precise, mastering the chaos with an ease only the Force's Chosen One could have.

I quickly joined the fight, moving in perfect sync with Anakin as if we could read each other's thoughts. My lightsaber cut bright arcs through the air, deflecting shots while Anakin matched my rhythm with a skill that, though always impressive, today seemed downright dazzling. We covered each other effortlessly —his steps guiding mine, his blocks filling gaps in my defense.

Then I saw the Devaronian rise. He'd left the cockpit on autopilot, and before I could react, his blaster was aimed straight at my face.

I saw the shot fire. Knew I couldn't dodge in time.

That was it...

But the bolt froze midair.

My brain stalled. When I turned, I saw Anakin —hand outstretched, face tight with furious concentration. He'd... stopped the shot?

My jaw dropped. I'd never seen anything like it. No Jedi I knew could freeze blaster fire. I wasn't even sure it was possible... until now.

Before I could speak, Anakin hurled the bolt back. It struck the Devaronian square in the chest, sending him crashing to the floor.

"No!" I sprinted to the lifeless body, with my heart pounding. "Anakin!" I wheeled on him, equal parts furious and stunned. "How many times do I have to tell you? This isn't the Jedi way!"

Anakin met my gaze, his eyes holding no remorse, just poorly hidden satisfaction. My anger crashed against his calm, leaving me speechless.

"Would you rather he'd killed you?" His quiet question sent my pulse racing.

I didn't know if it was his words or the way he looked at me that froze my breath. Those blue eyes held something that always unnerved me, something that now sent chills down my spine. I wanted to argue, but the words stuck in my throat.

Yes, I was angry. But part of me couldn't help marveling at what he'd just done. That impossible, terrifying power... and how effortlessly he'd wielded it. For me.

That mix of power and absolute confidence was... hypnotic.

Shaking my head, I growled as I tried to revive the bounty hunter, with the frustration simmering beneath my skin. This would definitely ruin my moment of glory before the Council. 

No doubt Windu would find a way to blame me for failing to stop Skywalker from killing a Devaronian with me being older and supposedly more disciplined in the Jedi way than him. 

"Try landing the ship, will you?" I snapped sharply, ignoring how his gaze practically burned my kneeling form. 

The silence that followed my demand was deafening. I glanced sideways to see Anakin wordlessly moving toward the cockpit. His hands flew across the controls with impressive ease, as if he'd piloted a hundred ships just like this one. 

Meanwhile, I focused on the bounty hunter, trying—and failing—to revive him. Finally, a quiet mutter came from the cockpit: "A 'thank you' wouldn't have killed you." 

His words made me freeze. That's when I realized how ungrateful I'd been. My pride had always been my greatest weakness, but I couldn't ignore what he'd done for me. My ego warred with gratitude, but in the end, I gave in.

"Thanks for the help, Anakin," I began, watching a slow grin spread across his face before quickly adding, "Not that I couldn't have handled it myself." 

He raised an eyebrow, amused. Clearly unconvinced, he laughed when I huffed in exasperation before standing and joining him in the cockpit. I slumped into the co-pilot's seat, watching Anakin navigate with effortless precision. 

"What happened to the other bounty hunters?" I asked, breaking the silence. 

"Too many," Anakin replied, not looking up from the controls. "But Obi-Wan and I took care of them." 

My thoughts returned to the battle, and a curious question surfaced. 

"Hey... why did you just jump onto the ship?" I asked slowly. 

Anakin looked at me like it was the dumbest question in the galaxy.

"I saw Master Ti on the ground..." He drummed his fingers absently on the console. "When the ship started taking off, I felt you inside. So I ran, grabbed onto a wing, and climbed up." 

My jaw dropped. He'd risked maneuvering midair onto a moving ship... just because he'd sensed me inside?

Anakin turned his head toward me, and suddenly I realized how close we were. His gaze flickered down to my lips, and an unexpected warmth rushed through me.

"I... I would've gone crazy if something happened to you," he admitted quietly, his gaze fixed on my lips as he leaned in slightly. 

My mind raced, unsure how to react. His eyes seemed to memorize every part of my face, and for a moment, I was lost in them, like staring into a golden sunset. Finally, I jerked back, turning sharply toward the window to avoid his stare. 

"We should land now," I said quickly, pointing downward. 

The air between us grew heavy and tense for the rest of the flight. 

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

As the ship landed, the roar of the engines slowly faded into the air.

Anakin offered me his hand to help me down, but I deliberately refused the gesture. I wasn't willing to look at him or let alone touch him even though he was just being polite. After our conversation in the cockpit, everything had become incredibly awkward. I could almost swear he was trying to peek through my mental barriers to see what I was thinking, until my growl made him stop immediately.

My eyes caught two figures a few meters away—our masters deep in conversation. Though she looked visibly tired, she also seemed relieved.

I sprinted toward them, leaving Anakin as far behind as possible. In a burst of emotion, I threw my arms around my Master, trying to balance my excitement with care.

"Oh, Master Ti!" I whined, clutching her robe. "I was so scared of losing you! Who would keep training me in the Force? Who would wake me up when I fell asleep meditating? Who would take away my blue milk for weeks as punishment?"

I felt Shaak Ti smile tenderly as she patted my back comfortingly.

"Calm down, my padawan," she said softly. "Everything's alright now."

Master Kenobi, arms crossed and looking exhausted, turned to Anakin. "What happened?"

Anakin briefly explained the situation, including the Devaronian's death in self-defense. I was slightly surprised Obi-Wan didn't seem shocked, just tired as he sighed. He obviously knew Anakin too well.

My thoughts returned to what had happened in the cockpit minutes earlier. Just remembering how close our faces had been, and how he seemed to deliberately pull me closer through the Force, made me want to pee myself from embarrassment. I felt my body heat up with shame and quickly decided to change the subject.

"Do you still have the relic?" I asked, turning to Obi-Wan. 

With a grim expression, he pulled the pendant from his bag. A chill ran down my spine, and I shuddered as I swallowed hard. Shaak Ti seemed to notice my unease and gently stroked my hair. 

"Well..." Anakin started, shifting his weight and still avoiding eye contact with me, "what now?"

Obi-Wan sighed, tucking the pendant back into his bag. The heavy atmosphere lifted slightly as the Jedi Knight finally said the words I'd been waiting to hear for hours: 

"Now we go home."