Cassie's Tale

By: Daishi Prime

Disclaimer – I used to wish I owned Star Wars. Do now more than ever (I & II would never have happened). But I don't own it, so don't sue me. As sa side note, this also applies to The Last Starfighter, references to which appear later.

Era Note: for those of you who follow the Expanded Universe, this is set the Old Republic, an indeterminate number of decades prior to Palpatine's appearnce.

- 1 -

"So, you aren't a Jedi?"

Cassie laughed slightly, shaking her head. She was sitting at the bar of an open-air cantina, glass in one hand, multi-tool spinning in the other, leaning back on the bar itself. Stretching out from the cantina, for miles, was a dusty starport, covered in a combination of tramp freighters and cargo shuttles. "'Bout time you asked direct-like, but that's a rather more complicated question than you think, neighbor."

Her current companion, a spacer to judge by his worn coverall, faded flight patches, and fighter skull-tattoo raised one eyebrow over his thick sun-goggles. "It shouldn't be. Are you in the Order, or not? You carry a lightsaber, after all, don't the Jedi get a little annoyed by that?"

She continued smiling, "Dunno. I haven't met a Jedi in years, and he gave me a lightsaber. After teaching me how to use it."

"So you are a Jedi."

"Yeah, by my standards."

He stared at her for a moment, then asked, "So how come you're floating around out here at this nowhere spaceport? Aren't you Jedi supposed to be cruising the high roads and what not?"

"I'm a Jedi Knight, the old-fashioned kind. I bring justice and peace wherever I can. I can't afford to do it for free, usually, but I cost a lot less than some merc, for most jobs. And some thing's I'll do gratis without even being asked. As for those idle lay-abouts and pampered lap-dogs back on Coruscant, the 'order' you mentioned, I have no idea what they think. Don't really care, either. I have more important things to do with my life and power than play politics and contemplate my navel."

"Whoa, harsh," the spacer commented, leaning back slightly.

"Harsh universe," she replied. After a moment, she grimaced, "Besides, the Order and I have history, though I doubt they realize it. Bad history, that I would just as soon not remember. I avoid them, they don't know about me, and I do some good out here where the Jedi fear to tread."

"I wouldn't say that. I've seen a couple of Jedi out here."

"Oh, sure, near the people in power. But I've been in the Outer Rim for my entire life, and I've only ever seen two Jedi. Myself, and my master. I'm not worried. If a Jedi has a problem with me, they'll talk first, and even after that they'll leave me be. I may not be some high and mighty master sitting on a throne on Coruscant, but I know the Code, I have the skills, and act in the interests of others, always."

He nodded, "Yes, I can see what you're saying. Except for your opinion of the Order, you sound like the other Jedi I've met. I guess I add you to the list then. But tell me, what are you doing here? Minari is a peaceful world. The King is fair, the politicians less corrupt than elsewhere, the police honest, and the populace happy enough."

"I brought in some pirates a few weeks ago. I got a feeling that sticking around would be a good idea. So I did, and this morning got a call. I have a meeting with a client shortly, good job. Short, simple, solid pay but not so much I think they're hiding something. It'll take me Core-ward, but I can accept that. Change is good, and all."

"Sounds interesting."

Before he could ask something else, Cassie mentioned, "I've got a question for you, neighbor."

"Ask away," he replied, "only fair, seeing as how many I've asked you. Sorry, I'm just an inveterate people-watcher. Every port I seem to find new stories from new people."

"No problem," Cassie answered with a smile, "I don't have any secrets. I just wondered. It's not exactly a bright sunny day, so what's with the glasses?"

"Ah," the spacer answered, "I was born without eyes, blind. People find the resultant space disturbing, and I could never afford cybernetics, so the goggles make a good compromise."

"You look to get around fairly well."

"Practice. I'm older than I look, and I've always relied on my ears and nose to find things. I never had eyes, so I've never missed them."

Cassie grunted, "good 'nough. Ran into a guy a couple years ago, 'bout your size and look, except he had these nasty red eyes, weird slit pupils. Got away, too, the damn pirate."

"Someone'll catch up to him," the spacer replied, "pirates always get caught or killed. But I'm no pirate. I'm just a spacer."

Cassie was about to reply, when a chime at her belt caught her attention. She pulled out the comm, activated it, and indtroduced herself. A moment later, she nodded, hung up, and looked the spacer over. "Sorry, neighbor, that's my contract. They're ready to go, which means..."

"You have to. Pleasure to meet you, Cassie."

"And you, Jorun," she replied, paying off her drink before sliding off her stool and striding off into the warren of the port environs.