ᴛᴏ ᴅᴀᴛʜᴏᴍɪʀ's ᴛʀɪᴘ
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"We’re approaching Dathomir," Obi-Wan’s voice echoed through the cabin from the ship’s controls.

The night before, I had barely slept after what Shaak Ti had hinted at: that Anakin had some kind of platonic crush on me and that’s why he kept invading my space. At first, I tried to convince myself she was wrong, that there was no way that could be true.

But when he showed up the next morning, waking up early just to wait for me outside my door, I knew my master was right.

"I’ll go check the navigation controls," Shaak Ti stood up from her seat, making me tense, and she gave me a look. "I need to make sure there aren’t any Separatist ships following us."

"I’ll go with you," I stood up quickly, almost too quickly, trying to avoid the inevitable: being left alone with Anakin.

But my master raised a hand, stopping me. "That’s not necessary, Helene. I’ll be back shortly."

I knew what she was trying to do. She wanted me to calm down and get used to his presence for the rest of the mission, and I wouldn’t have had a problem with that if it weren’t for the fact that it was impossible to get used to Anakin Skywalker’s presence without feeling completely overwhelmed by it.

With a huff, I dropped back into my seat, frowning. "Fine, but if you get blasted into space, don’t expect me to run after you."

Shaak Ti just smiled calmly, as always, before disappearing toward the back of the ship, leaving me alone with Anakin, who was staring at me completely mesmerized at that moment.

I decided to ignore him as best as I could and focused on the view through the ship’s windows. A cluster of stars shone above us, and with curiosity eating at me, I stood up again to approach one of the windows. Outer space unfolded before me like an infinite blanket of stars and galaxies.

My breath caught for a second as I took in how beautiful it was. Nebulas, comets, constellations, and hundreds of distant planets slowly spun in the vastness, giving me a sense of freedom I hadn’t felt in a long time. I felt him move behind me, and in a couple of seconds, he was by my side, gazing at the same view as me.

"Seems like you’ve never traveled through space before," he joked, looking out the window.

"I usually fall asleep in the back of the ship," I justified, shrugging. "And most of my missions are on Coruscant, so I hardly ever leave the planet," I sighed, gripping the edges of the window. "Isn’t it a wonderful view?"

"It is," Anakin replied.

When I turned to look at him, he was already staring at me.

I cleared my throat, praying my cheeks hadn’t heated up from embarrassment or maybe from the irritation I felt inside. Yesterday had made my blood boil again, and I decided to keep my mouth shut before saying something I’d probably have to apologize for later, remembering how emotionally fragile he was.

"Someday, I’ll pilot all the ships I want," Anakin continued, with a spark of pride. "And I’ll travel the entire galaxy," he leaned slightly toward me without taking his eyes off the window, "so I can see this view whenever I want," he went on, turning his head to look at me, his face now inches from mine.

I immediately felt my heart race and the skin on my neck prickle. My throat felt dry for a few seconds.

"That’s…" I started, quickly pulling my head back, "...if you can even get the ship On."

Anakin smiled arrogantly, undeterred.

"I’ll be the best pilot in the galaxy," he declared with that confidence that always exasperated me, "and I’ll prove it to you someday."

"Whatever you say," I replied, rolling my eyes, and took the opportunity to put a little more distance between us just as I felt the ship touch down.

Obi-Wan appeared in the cabin just as Shaak Ti returned. Almost instantly, I felt a slight sense of discomfort creeping softly through my body, and I hugged myself, eyeing the surrounding area with suspicion.

"Are you cold?" Anakin asked, making a move to take off his cloak.

I stopped him with a gesture, shaking my head. "No, it’s not that," I frowned, feeling a twinge of unease in my stomach. "Damn, this place feels like thousands of sacrifices have been made here."

Master Ti nodded calmly.

"That’s very likely," she replied, while Obi-Wan activated the ship’s ramp. "The presence of the Dark Side on Dathomir is incredibly strong. For centuries, many Sith fed on its power here. It’s no surprise that remnants of the ancient Sith Empire still linger."

Master Kenobi turned and looked at us seriously, though his attention seemed to focus more on Anakin than anyone else.

"It’s crucial that we’re extremely cautious now," he warned, his tone firm. "We’re only here to find the relic. No distractions, no disturbances."

The four of us descended from the ship, and the first thing that caught my attention was Dathomir’s sky: a deep red, like an open wound, loomed over us almost oppressively. The dark clouds seemed to move heavily, laden with an unsettling energy that permeated the air. The landscape was barren and rocky, with jagged peaks that looked like the sharp teeth of a sleeping creature.

I wouldn’t be celebrating my birthday on this planet.

Anakin stopped beside me, perhaps noticing my discomfort. "Don’t be afraid," he whispered, with that confidence that grated on my nerves.

I shot him an annoyed look, crossing my arms over my chest.

"I’m older than you, Skywalker," I reminded him, emphasizing the word. "And I’m not afraid of anything."

Except for all the times Aayla talked in her sleep like she was possessed.

He just smiled, and I wanted to slap that smile off his face.

"If you get scared, you can hold my hand," he murmured before turning to follow Master Kenobi without waiting for a response.

My blood began to boil, and I glared at him furiously as he walked away, wishing I could shout something clever at him, but my words got stuck in my throat. Normally, when Kit and I were on missions together, he would also make these kinds of comments, but it was clear he was joking; I’d kick his butt if I wanted to.

In contrast, Anakin was completely serious. As if I were some damsel in distress and he were my Jedi prince.

"Or rather, my Jedi jester," I muttered under my breath.

Master Ti approached me, and I rolled my eyes, bracing myself for the inevitable scolding.

"Helene, calm down," she reprimanded me in a low voice. "Dathomir is not a place to get angry. Here, those sensitive to the Force can easily fall to the Dark Side if they don’t control their emotions."

I growled, trying to contain the storm raging inside me. I closed my eyes for a second, forcing myself to take a deep breath, and managed to calm down enough to not let it consume me.

"I’m sorry, Master," I murmured with effort, though the annoyance still lingered like a thorn in my side.

She gave me a brief look of understanding before moving forward after the others. Resigned, I followed her, struggling to maintain control on a planet that seemed designed to make me lose it.

"Where exactly are we?" Anakin asked, breaking the silence as we walked across the rocky terrain.

Master Kenobi pulled something out of his backpack that I immediately recognized as a map. He unfolded it and raised his eyebrows as he studied the lines and symbols drawn on it.

"Master Tholme sent us these coordinates last night," he said, pointing to a spot on the map. "If I’m correct, it seems we’re quite close to the pendant."

Curious, I leaned closer to the master to peek over his shoulder. As I did, I suddenly felt Anakin’s warm breath on the back of my neck, which made me tense up instantly. He was right behind me, also looking at the map with far too much interest for my liking.

Trying to ignore him, I pointed to a white spot that stood out among the red lines drawn on the parchment. "Is that where it’s supposed to be?"

"Exactly," Obi-Wan nodded, not taking his eyes off the paper.

Anakin, still too close for my comfort, tilted his head and frowned. "It looks really close to a populated area, doesn’t it?"

As close as his body was to my back right now.

My master pressed her lips into a thin white line.

"Now I understand why Master Tholme didn’t want to take on the task of retrieving the relic, even though he sensed it," she admitted, furrowing her brow as she studied the map. "He wasn’t willing to face whatever’s nearby."

"And we are?"

"Scared, Shield?"

Scared that whatever was pressing against my back was something other than your lightsaber, I thought, regretting it when I saw Shaak Ti’s expression.

Obi-Wan turned to us, offering a small smile, as if trying to downplay what my master had said. "Not everything on Dathomir is necessarily hostile or evil. We shouldn’t assume the worst just because we’re here."

Both the rest of us and I shot him skeptical looks.

"Right, because the name ‘Nightsisters’ sounds super friendly," quipped Anakin sarcastically.

"Very sex-friendly," I agreed, earning a smile from him.

Obi-Wan sighed but said nothing more, rolling up the map again before we continued moving forward.

We continued along the path. The uneven terrain and twisted trees created a suffocating atmosphere. I walked as close to Master Ti as possible, but that didn’t stop Anakin from trying to get closer.

"I didn’t expect this place to bother you so much," commented Anakin, forcing a conversation as he stayed by my side. I could see a spark of amusement on his face. "Is it hard for you to control your emotions, Shield?"

"It’s hard for me to control myself and not commit murder right now, Skywalker," I replied through clenched teeth, glaring at him.

Anakin whistled softly, excitement written all over his face.

"So wild…" he teased, "You’d make an excellent apprentice for some Sith."

I rolled my eyes, knowing exactly where he was going with this. "If you’re looking for a fight, Skywalker, this isn’t the time or place."

"Fight? No, I just wanted to talk," he said with a smile, which was enough to make my irritation spike.

"Keep talking, and this planet will add another sacrifice to the list," I growled, quickening my pace, though he managed to keep up effortlessly.

Just when I was determined to ignore him for the rest of the journey, something inside me shifted. I could feel it. Anakin’s presence in the Force became overwhelming, completely enveloping me, and everything else faded away. The sounds of the environment, the presence of Shaak Ti and Obi-Wan, the ground beneath my feet... it all disappeared. Only he remained.

My breathing became shallow, and uncertainty began to take hold of me. It was as if I had been ripped from reality and left trapped in that connection with Anakin. I couldn’t feel anything else, not the danger surrounding us on Dathomir, not the cold sensation of the Dark Side in the air. Only Anakin. As if nothing else existed but him.

I quickly searched his face, wanting to see some sign that he was feeling the same, and I found him staring at me with intensity in his eyes, a small smile playing on his lips. My mind reeled as I suspected that maybe he was doing this on purpose, but how? How could he manipulate my existence in the Force like that?

With a quick mental push, I shoved him out of my personal space. I felt my senses snap back to reality all at once, and my breathing returned to normal. I shot him a furious look, growling as I moved away from him and positioned myself next to my master.

Anakin said nothing, and I didn’t know if he was truly responsible for what had happened, but the small smile on his face confirmed that he had enjoyed my existential crisis in the Force.

As I focused on calming myself, Shaak Ti gave me a warning look, but she didn’t say anything. I just clenched my teeth, trying to contain the storm of emotions threatening to overflow.

This mission was going to be way too long.

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After nearly an hour of walking across the planet’s surface, we reached the edge of a dark, sprawling swamp. Mist rose over the stagnant waters, creating a gloomy atmosphere that barely allowed us to see more than a few meters ahead. The vegetation was thick, and the twisted trees looked like sinister shadows reaching toward the red-tinged sky.

Obi-Wan stopped and pointed toward the center of the swamp.

"This is where Master Tholme sensed the pendant’s presence," he said with a thoughtful expression. "It’s deep within."

I looked around, realizing this looked like the perfect setting for a genuine holofilm of horror and suspense. For a second, I felt a faint warning in the Force, a subtle alert that faded as quickly as it had come.

"You know, this would look prettier if there were at least some lotus flowers," I said, crossing my arms.

"We’d consider it if we were here for tourism," Anakin replied, glancing around, "though I wouldn’t take a ticket even if this place were free."

Shaak Ti sighed. "We mustn’t waste any more time. If Tholme sensed the relic here, others might have too."

"The swamp is huge, and the pendant could be anywhere," Master Kenobi mentioned, stroking his beard. "We’ll have to split up to cover more ground before nightfall."

"That’s not a good idea," Anakin objected immediately, crossing his arms. "We should go in pairs. It’ll be safer."

Obi-Wan shook his head. "The area is too large. If we move in pairs, we’ll lose too much time. We won’t find the relic before nightfall."

His padawan frowned. "But…"

"Separately, Anakin," Obi-Wan stated firmly, and I saw Anakin clench his jaw slightly, but he nodded, giving in.

Shaak Ti cleared her throat, wanting to dispel the tension:

"We’ll keep our communicators handy," my master said as she prepared her own equipment. "If anyone detects danger or finds something, report immediately."

We nodded, and a few seconds later, Obi-Wan and Shaak Ti began taking different paths into the swamp, both disappearing into the mist. I prepared to do the same when I felt a hand on my arm. It was Anakin.

"Don’t forget," he said, his expression was more serious than I expected. "If you’re in danger, scream my name." I turned to him, already feeling the anger burning inside me. What did he think, that I was weak? I was about to retort, but Anakin cut me off before I could speak, this time with a more serious tone. "I mean it, Helene. If you’re in danger, call for me.”

My jaw tightened under his gaze, and though every fiber of my being wanted to object, for some reason, I couldn’t. I felt powerless, small even, under the intense stare of a boy who was five years younger than me. How did he come to this? I bit my lip, struggling to contain the frustration building in my chest.

"Alright," I finally agreed, my voice was colder than I pretended, brushing his hand off my arm.

Without another word, I quickly walked away, stepping into the swamp with big strides, wishing to put as much distance between us as possible. The last thing I wanted was to be trapped in his gaze any longer than necessary. I forced myself not to look back, knowing he was probably still watching me.

The swamp grew darker the further I ventured into it. The air was heavy, humid, and the water at my feet made a viscous sound with each step. The mist floated like a curtain that didn’t allow me to see more than a few meters ahead. With every step I took, the feeling of being watched grew stronger, as if the invisible eyes of the swamp were fixed on me from every direction.

I pushed those thoughts away, telling myself it was just paranoia. I was alone, without my master’s company, and this place was creepy enough to mess with my mind.

The Dark Side was everywhere, pulsating beneath the surface of the swamp. It was like an underground current of dark energy flowing through the ground. I shuddered involuntarily, but at the same time, something inside me urged me to keep going. Something more powerful and closer was making itself known: the relic. It had to be nearby. Just a few more steps, and it would be in my hands.

If I could find it before Skywalker, it would be my victory. I couldn’t let him take the credit.

My hands trembled slightly, and I didn’t know if it was from the static cold in the air or the bad vibes of the swamp. I walked to the edge of a deeper lagoon, where the water was as black as Mace Windu’s soul. The wind seemed to have stopped, and a tomb-like silence enveloped the place.

Suddenly, the crack of a branch made me spin on my heels.

I immediately drew my lightsaber, igniting it with a bright hum as the violet glow illuminated the darkness around me. My heart raced as I looked around, searching for the source of the sound.

"Anakin?" I called out, almost without thinking.

Silence was the only response.

I growled in frustration, deactivating the saber but keeping it ready in my hand. I didn’t want to admit it, but for a moment, I wished Skywalker were nearby, if only to vent my anger at him.

Just as I was about to move, a clear and vivid image projected itself into my mind:

Like a ray of light in the darkness, I saw the pendant, submerged in the depths of the water, hidden among a pile of moss and algae-covered rocks. My heart skipped a beat. It was right there, beneath my feet. The relic of the Sith Empire.

Without a second thought, I pulled the respirator from my backpack, quickly placing it in my mouth. I felt a growing excitement, a mix of nervousness and adrenaline. I left the backpack on the shore, my thoughts fixed on one thing: jumping into the water and retrieving the pendant before Skywalker could.

The water enveloped me completely as I plunged into the lagoon. The darkness was absolute, so thick that for a second, I felt like it was swallowing me whole. I drew my lightsaber and ignited it, the violet glow barely illuminating my surroundings. I could hardly see more than a few meters ahead, but the light was enough to guide me.

The swamp’s bottom stretched out like a mass of mud, rocks, and strange shapes that seemed to move in the dim light. The respirator ensured air kept flowing into my lungs, but the sensation of being surrounded by dark, thick water sent shivers down my spine.

As I swam deeper, the shadows grew more intense, and the weight of the Dark Side became almost unbearable. I felt like something, or someone, was watching me from the darkest corners of the water, but I pressed on. I couldn’t afford to stop.

Finally, I reached the bottom. The rocks I had seen in my vision were there, piled up just as I had seen them in my mind. Keeping my lightsaber floating beside me with the Force, I left it hovering so it wouldn’t drift away as I began to dig for the pendant. My hands worked frantically, removing the moss, algae, and moving the stones aside.

My heart pounded when, after a few minutes, I finally saw it: the pendant with an emerald, rectangular stone as its centerpiece, wrapped in a dark energy I could almost feel flowing through my body.

A mix of excitement and unease washed over me as I held it in my hands. The Dark Side enveloped me like a cold shadow, whispering in my ear, but I pushed it away. I couldn’t let it intimidate me. Not now, not ever.

With determination, I clenched the pendant in my hand and grabbed my lightsaber, ready to return to the surface. But just as I began to swim upward, something coiled around my leg.

I looked down and saw a dark, twisted vine had latched onto me as if it had come to life. It pulled at me with force, dragging me back down.

Annoyed, I tried to cut the vine with my lightsaber, but for some inexplicable reason, the blade couldn’t harm it. It was as if the Dark Side was protecting it, as if it were part of it.

Desperation began to settle in my chest as I felt it pulling me deeper and deeper. The darkness caressed my presence in the Force, as if it wanted to drag me into its depths. I tried to focus, searching for a solution, but fear slowly crept in.

«Help!» I screamed in my mind, hoping one of my companions would hear me, but I knew they were too far away.

But just as panic was taking over, something plunged into the water like an explosion.

A male figure appeared through the darkness, cutting through the algae and shadows. My heart began to race. I knew who the only person who could have followed me here was, and for the first time in a long time, I felt grateful for his presence.

With bubbles and darkness obscuring my vision, I could barely see his face, but I felt his strong hands tearing apart the vines that held me captive. The sensation of physical contact, of him helping me, was a breath of fresh air in the midst of my desperation. His hands gripped my waist and, with a strength I didn’t expect, he pushed me upward.

Breaking the surface and emerging from the water, I swam to the shore as quickly as possible and ripped the respirator from my mouth before starting to cough, trying to expel the anxiety from my body. My heart was still pounding as I tried to pull myself together, clawing at the mud beneath me to make sure I was out of the water.

I heard his labored breathing behind me and smiled ironically. "Looks like you’re more than just a Jedi jester, Skywalker."

But when I turned around, I wasn’t met with the mocking smile I expected from him. Instead, I saw a pair of completely yellow eyes, filled with so much malice that it left me frozen in place, or maybe it was the darkness that vibrated in his tone when he said:

"Who the hell are you?”