//------------------------------// // Chapter 18: Coruscant - The Night Her Innocence Died/Heartbreak // Story: Star Wars: The Trials of the Force (Part One) // by Admiral Producer //------------------------------// Four hours earlier… The Galactic Prison lived up to its name of being the single largest federal prison in the entire galaxy. It was dark and oppressive, and had two rows of cells that seemed to stretch for miles. A person attempting to escape its four walls would get lost and never find their way out. There was no light to speak of after hours with the exception of one flickering bulb on the ceiling that the security guards refused to fix. Katooni had to admit that she was certainly daunted by the thought of finding Petro’s cell in the dark, but she had already gotten this far and was not about to give up hope. She had found out the location of where the former youngling was imprisoned through pulling a Jedi mind trick on one of the officers that was on patrol. He had given her the exact cell number and promised not to tell anyone else about what she was doing per her command. Through his assistance, she had snuck inside and had endured that no one would be watching her. The security cameras didn’t stop her either, as that guard was the main operator and he kept the other officers distracted while she was at work. As she traversed through the main hallway, she could hear the snores of prisoners within their cells. She glanced at each one to her left and found a variety of different creatures with jumpsuits on, sleeping on beds that were barely big enough to fit them and cells that were too small for them to stand up in. It made her feel sick at the treatment that these people were getting, even though they had committed wrongdoings. They had rights too and didn’t deserve to be treated like animals. Cold air blew through the ventilation shafts and she shivered as she put one foot in front of the other. She continued to walk as slowly and quietly as she could so as to not disturb the sleeping inmates. Her body trembled from slight fear and she kept her eyes forward. She had to apologize to Petro. She had to explain everything and get closure before she moved on with her life. It didn’t feel right for her to not visit, and she still resented the Council for barring her entry. Those cowards would’ve taken away everyone she ever loved if they had the chance as they just could not help themselves. They always had to have the final say in her life, and she was sick of it. She was sick of other people taking advantage of her and trying to mold her into being their obedient slave. All she wanted was to make her own decisions and be free from the influences of others. Little did she know, she would never get that chance. Eventually, she reached Petro’s cell, which was marked with the cell number 616. She stopped in front of it, gazing upon Petro’s sleeping form. The poor boy looked like he had been crying for hours judging by the redness on his face and her heart ached upon seeing this. “P-Petro…?” Katooni whispered cautiously. Petro was jolted awake from his slumber, seemingly startled upon hearing the sound of her voice, falling towards the ground where he landed on his face. She briefly looked away upon hearing the impact, only looking back at him once he stood up to stare back at her. His expression was a mix of both sadness and bitterness and she could only imagine what horrors he had endured already. “What do you want?!” Petro demanded angrily. “Here to gloat in my face now that you’ve put me away?!” Katooni shook her head. “N-no! Petro, you know that none of this has been easy on me-“ “Save it!!” Petro snapped back, causing her to jump back in fear. “You don’t care about me. You weren’t even there during my trial when they sentenced me!! I bet you and Silverstream were celebrating following the ruling.” “Actually we weren’t,” Katooni countered, getting down on her knees. “Or at least…I wasn’t. I still care about you…and…I wanted the Council to release you. I asked Silverstream to put in a good word for you, but…she refused. She’s determined to follow the Council’s orders no matter what.” Petro scoffed. “She was always a rule follower. I’m not surprised that she’s already licking their boots. They probably let her back in only because she proved her innocence.” His gaze then settled back on her. “And what about you? You don’t seem like you agree with any of them.” She sighed heavily. “Well, there’s a reason why I’m here alone.” “You don’t strike me as the type to argue with your bestie.” “You’d be surprised as to what people can do under pressure, Petro. If they’re just…fed up with everything. In this case, I came to see you…against Silverstream’s orders.” “Hm.” “Do you have…anything to say to me?” Katooni asked. “I did come all this way for you and…this might be my only chance to really apologize.” “For what?” “For taking the Padawan position from you,” she revealed sadly. “I know you really wanted it and…I was just stupid. All I wanted was a proper family as unlike you and the others, I at least know that I had one once…you know that.” Petro’s gaze softened at that. “I know. And frankly, I…trying to upstage you wasn’t my best move. You didn’t deserve that. You didn’t deserve any of this. I guess I’m just angry that you didn’t try and save me from being sentenced. Were you scared?” Katooni nodded slowly. “I was. But I still tried to sneak into the courtroom anyway. But I was detained…and Silverstream had to post bail and get me out. By the time that happened, it was too late. I never wanted to upset you, Petro. I never wanted to…spite you or anything.” Petro seemed surprised to hear this. “You…didn’t?” “Of course I didn’t!” Katooni yelled, not caring if she was going to wake the prisoners anymore. “You know I care about you! You’re practically my brother, Petro! We grew up together, fought and allied with pirates together, and we helped Silverstream save Master Skywalker together! You saved me from the Crystal Caves…and I repaid you by damning you to a life in this horrible place.” Her eyes shimmered with tears. Petro was fighting back tears of his own as well. “You don’t know how scared I was…being transported to this cell and locked up. I felt so alone and I didn’t know whether I would ever see any of you guys again…” Katooni wiped tears from her eyes, sniffling. “I can only imagine what that must feel like…” “If only you knew.” “I should though! It’s not fair you have to be here…it should be me in that cell! I robbed you of a once in a lifetime opportunity when you deserved to be Silverstream’s Padawan more! I know why you did all of this…and I just want to take it all back.” “You know you can’t…” Petro replied solemnly. “The Council has already made up their minds. You have to leave and move on. You can’t continue to focus on what I did. I messed up and destroyed any possible future for me in the Jedi Order. You haven’t. Don’t repeat my mistakes.” Katooni looked down at the ground in sadness. “I don’t…want to leave you here.” “Why not?” Petro asked. “Katooni, you got everything you wanted. A home, a family that loves you, the position of Padawan. You’ll go on to become one of the greatest Jedi ever someday and all will go on as how it should be.” “It isn’t how it should be!” Katooni argued. She got to her feet in a defensive position. “That’s all the Jedi have ever been! Power and glory and absolutely nothing else! Master Yoda is that way. Master Windu is that way. Silverstream is that way! You are not that way. You made a mistake, yes, but that shouldn’t determine the rest of your life!” “I nearly destroyed Coruscant-“ “That doesn’t matter! You’re sorry and they should’ve forgiven you for it, not locked you in here! No one…deserves a horrible fate like this. The Jedi stopped being peacekeepers long ago. You remember hearing Bariss Offee’s testimony! I don’t want to live in a cult where you’re forced to be ripped from your family and told you can’t see them anymore! I don’t…want to sever ties with my own brother. You can’t make me leave you.” “You can’t hide in here forever,” Petro warned her. “Sooner or later, the other guards will wake up and find you illegally sneaking in here. You’ll be charged with a crime too and I don’t want that for you. Please…just leave while you still have the chance.” Katooni shook her head. “I’m not leaving you. I just…won’t.” “Then what do you suggest we do?” “Run away,” Katooni told him. “Both of us. We run away and hide out somewhere where they can’t find us. Forget about it all. The Order, the Republic, everything…we hide out until the time comes when it’s safe to find my parents.” “You’d be giving up your freedom due to you becoming a fugitive…just so you can save me from prison. Katooni, it’s not worth it.” “It is…” Katooni insisted softly, her eyes glistening with fresh tears. “Silverstream already chose her side. She and I aren’t compatible anymore…” Present… “What do you mean she’s gone?!” Silverstream demanded in shock. She climbed out of bed quickly and grabbed her lightsaber in the event that something terrible had happened. “Anakin, explain to me what happened!!” Anakin stood in front of her, his face looking grim. “The officers at the Prison were assaulted…according to what the Temple guards told me, Katooni helped Petro escape. They’re running away together…” Silverstream’s mouth dropped open in horror once she heard this. She could feel her heart sink to the bottom of the ocean and her thoughts began to spiral out of control. This couldn’t’ve happened. Why?! Why would Katooni choose to do this?! What good would it do her?! She only hoped that the both of them were still on Coruscant somewhere, anywhere where they could be found. “We need to hurry!” she said worriedly. “M-maybe they’re still here somewhere!” Anakin nodded quickly. “There might still be hope. But we don’t have much time. Come on!” The two of them ran outside as fast as they could and burst through the exit to the Jedi Temple, lightsabers at the ready. They skidded to a halt once they saw a starship in the distance take off into the nighttime sky. Silverstream couldn’t believe her eyes. She knew who it belonged to and tears began to fill her eyes. She was too late. Petro had already taken off with Katooni and there was no way that either of them could be stopped now. The world began to crumble before Silver’s eyes. Her worst fears had been realized. She had lost her Padawan, all because she didn’t listen to her. And now she was paying the price for her actions. She had driven away the only person who truly understood her, and now she would never get her back. “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!” she screamed, falling to her knees. The horrible reality had finally set in and she began to cry, feeling all of the emotions she had been internalizing finally overwhelm and consume her. She couldn’t say anything to make the situation better. This was her fault, she just knew it. There was no other way to look at the situation. All of this had been started because of her presence here. Why couldn’t she have just kept her damn mouth shut? Anakin was instantly by her side, trying to console her to no avail. It wasn’t long before the other Jedi Council members heard the commotion and rushed outside to see what was the matter. But she didn’t see them come. She couldn’t stop sobbing. All of this was because of her, and she knew it. She could’ve prevented this. She should’ve prevented this. She should’ve listened to Katooni’s feelings and told her that she understood her heartbreak over Petro’s betrayal. None of this had to happen. She could’ve been a better friend. Before long, the starship disappeared into hyperspace and was completely gone from sight. Silverstream hung her head low and stared at the ground, feeling like a failure. “What do we do now, Master Yoda?” Anakin asked, turning towards the wise Grandmaster while still having his hand on Silverstream’s shoulder. Master Yoda looked somber, his expression almost mournful in a way as he stared up into the sky that was slowly turning blue with the rising of the Sun. “Lost to the Force, Padawan Katooni is,” he stated sadly. “Help her now, we cannot…”