I do not own Star Wars, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2, or any of the characters therein.
Jedi Knight Darael Korvos never wanted a Padawan. He had been assigned to Balmorra as Watchman for years, during which time he had traveled the lesser known towns and cities of the planet, the ones without spaceports. He entered with the disguise of being a mercenary, but the local Balmorrans had come to view him as a wandering lawman. The planetary government eventually gave him an official commission as a Marshal.
The biggest issue was that Balmorra had not accepted the invitation to rejoin the Republic. The planetary government was the only government they had, and those guys had bigger things to worry about ever since the end of the Dark Wars a few years prior. After Revan and Malak the common Balmorran was unwilling to trust a Jedi, let alone a "Watchman" assigned by the Jedi Council to "protect" them. Balmorra had suffered greatly during the Mandalorian Wars, only to be betrayed by their heroes like the rest of the Republic. It was almost a solid decade and a half of warfare on the planet, and the landscape, in addition to the economy and the morale of the people, had suffered for it.
The Jedi, of course, had their share of problems too. Meetra Surik had gone chasing after the ghost of Revan, and now the best Jedi Masters that were available were the ones who formerly fought alongside Revan and Surik in their galaxy-spanning escapades, but those Jedi were considered heretics by more classical Jedi survivors, and had been hushed for the sake of preserving the Order.
Quite simply, Balmorrans trusted Marshal Korvos and his vibroaxe, but they would never trust a Jedi. If Darael took a Padawans, even an older teenage one, he feared that his cover would be put at risk, and he didn't like risks. Few Balmorrans even suspected his status as a Jedi, and he wanted to keep it that way.
Sa-11y activated the landing gears and eased the repulsorlift as it landed The Nymph, a Lethisk Class Armed Freighter, on Dantooine. An Arakyd bigwig had been fired recently for his part in selling over 30 Lethisk Class Freighters to less-than-legal buyers at a steep discount, one of whom decided to be a bandit on Balmorra. Marshal Korvos had led the raid with a bunch of grunts from port security, capturing the perpetrator and finding sufficient evidence to move to a full trial immediately. The possessions had been seized by the government under an old civil forfeiture law and then gifted to those who had suffered under the perp's hand. Except for The Nymph, of course, as she had been gifted to the "Legendary Marshal of Balmorra."
Alongside his partner in the Marshal Service, Lady Marshal Nadine Corinth, Darael had captured many perpetrators and been to many places and odd shops on Balmorra. In a run-down shop in one of the factory sectors Darael had met Sa-11y, a sentinel droid with multiple personalities due to an error in the installation of a heuristic processor. The primary personality was Sa-11y, a pacifist of all things, with a voice emulator permanently set to female and sultry. When things got hairy, though, Su-11y came out, a mildly sadistic assault trooper and pilot who had come through for the duo on multiple occasions. Sometimes, however, Sa-11y would come out in the middle of a fight, set the rifle to stun, and infuriate Su-11y when he came back online. He didn't want to buy the droid, but Corinth found it entertaining so she made the purchase.
Corinth was in the aft of The Nymph, the only Balmorran to know Darael's identity as a Jedi. She was accompanying him to Dantooine to solidify the cover story, a much needed vacation for the duo. She came out to the fore deck and said, "Another perfect landing Essie. I couldn't have done it better if I tried."
"Thank you, Lady Marshal. Please, enjoy yourself on Dantooine." Sa-11y sighed.
"You sound more ready to get it than I've ever been, Essie." Corinth laughed.
"But of course, Lady Marshal. You were raised a royal and I'm but an addict, and watching the tension between you two every night on this ship has made me so… hungry."
"There is nothing between Korvos and I." Corinth stated.
"I know, that's why I record you both in your sleep and apply video-editing software to -"
"That's enough, Sally, we have work to do here." Darael finally said.
"Of course, Master. I do so love it when you do your work," Sa-11y said.
"Have Sully prepare The Nymph for departure, we won't be long." Darael said to the droid, checking the straps of his armor and the harness for his vibroaxe.
Corinth hit a button and the exit ramp descended, the door opening for the Marshals to exit. Neither turned back to hear the droid shift to a more raspy baritone and say, "Sir, yes sir."
Darael and Corinth made for an interesting sight in the reclaimed Jedi Academy on Dantooine. Darael was in an armored flight suit with his vibroaxe strapped to his back, it's twin blades gleaming in the sunlight and it's rancor leather showing obvious wear where Darael had grasped the haft. Corinth wore scarcely more than a tank top beneath her long, open blast coat. While her pants were well fitted and her boots were ready for combat, she didn't look like a Jedi, especially with a Heavy Blaster Pistol holstered on her hip. But she wasn't one of them so no matter.
It wasn't long before a bright-eyed teenager in Jedi robes with a training saber clipped to his belt approached the duo. "Excuse me," the young Twi'lek said. "But you are currently going to the Council Chambers. Our cultural liaison is back another hallway and three doors down on the left. I'm sure that she'd be more than happy to hear whatever it is you would like Jedi aid in."
Darael was chuckling but Corinth had already opened her mouth before he could say anything.
"We appreciate the assistance, young one, but we are here for neither. We are Marshals from Balmorra and we were invited to watch some exhibition matches." she smiled sweetly at the youth, causing him to blush slightly before recentering himself.
"Yes, of course. My apologies, honored guests, allow me to guide you to your seats. The dueling arena is just over this way." the Twi'lek straightened to his tiny pre-pubescent height and took us to a spacious room.
Corinth always seemed to have that effect on males of any species she came in contact with, Jedi or not. She was, after all, comely and approachable, and while Darael had to admit that she didn't lack for physically attractive features, she was no holo-model, and she was alright with that. Instead she attempted to emulate the Echani, making every aspect of her appearance more suitable for combat. Her hair was the one freedom that she allowed herself, favoring a short braid of her Titian hair over her left shoulder to the traditional Echani pixie cut. Any hair, especially Darael's crew cut and light stubble, seemed tame in comparison to Corinth's fiery red.
Once they were in the room Darael quickly spotted the man who had sent for him. Unfortunately, he'd been seen as well.
"Well I'll be, Darael Korvos! How are you, ya whippersnapper?" Jedi Master Jolee Bindo walked over to us and they embraced for a moment, laughing. Then Bindo sized up Corinth, saying, "And this lovely lady must be your partner in crime. It is truly a pleasure to have the opportunity to meet such a beautiful woman."
Corinth laughed, "Well, aren't you charming. Korvos, is this the Master Bindo you told me about?"
"So he is, Lady Corinth, and it would seem that he hasn't changed at all." Darael chuckled.
"I'm old, dammit! I have every right to enjoy the company of a beautiful woman. How many times do I have to tell you this?" Bindo sighed.
"Master Bindo does not share the restrictive views of the rest of the New Jedi Order." Darael explained to Corinth.
"The Old Order was just fine until Exar Kun showed up. He wrecked everything, and then fools like Atris were looking for any reason they could find to put more restrictions on the Order. 'Fight the Dark Side by preventing the Dark Side' they said. I've never heard a more ridiculous sentiment in my already too-long life. Heh, I've also never met a worse lot of fools! Their desire for vengeance upon those who fell brought them to the Dark Side as well. They became the very monsters that they sought to prevent, especially Atris." Bindo rambled.
"Restrictive?" Corinth asked.
"No relationships, no emotions, no living. Heh, if the Council caught me rambling on like this to a Revanchist they'd try to expel me, but they can't. They need me and they know it." Bindo said.
"You were a Revanchist?" Corinth folded her arms and looked at him as though she were betrayed. She was the closest thing that Balmorrans had to royalty, and though she was far removed from being heir apparent, she still took the war-torn landscape of her beloved world personally. There was a lot of blame for it all shouldered squarely on Revan, and rightly so, but it was about time that Darael took a bit of it.
"Fought with him, then left the Jedi as a consequence. I used my connections with the Republic Military to stay on as a commissioned officer. I eventually fought against Revan in the Civil War. My strike team gave their lives getting Bastila's team onboard Revan's flagship, I barely survived.
"I resigned my commission and went through odd jobs and mercenary work for years, which is how I survived the Dark Wars, no one was looking for me." it was odd that Darael had found himself back in military stances and speech patterns. His hands were behind his back and he was staring straight ahead: at ease.
"Easy now, soldier boy. We're lucky that there were people like you, or the Jedi would be completely dead." Bindo rested a hand on his shoulder, but Darael could see the look on Corinth's face and knew that she would never forget this. There was a reason why Darael did not discuss his personal history.
"The point is, Darael, that you have the makings of a great Jedi, and I need someone to pass on how to be a real Jedi. I can't, the Council would start looking at me like I was the next Kreia." Bindo continued.
"My Padawan will not be trained as other Jedi will be. My cover will not be blown. Am I clear?" Darael asked Bindo, who just nodded while chuckling. Darael continued, "It is likely that my Padawan will not have contact with the rest of the Order for years at a time. The Council may not see them again until they are ready for their trials."
"I'm not worried about that, and it is nearly time for the exhibition matches. You are not the only Jedi Knight who was summoned here. Please, enjoy the show." Bindo clapped Darael's back and bowed to Corinth before going back to his seat as one of the presiding Jedi Masters.
The first few bouts were not impressive, not to Darael, at least. He saw classic Jedi after classic Jedi, both strong with the Force and distant, both weak and skilled in combat. Corinth, however, was glued to the fights, she had never seen a lightsaber, even a training saber, being used before. She was lucky enough to have been well protected during each of the wars.
Corinth shifted next to Darael and asked, "Do you have a lightsaber?"
Darael shifted uncomfortably. "Yes."
"But I've never seen you use it." she whispered.
"I've never needed to." Darael replied.
The final bout was soon at hand, the Twi'lek with wide eyes from earlier and a human-looking girl with bandages over her eyes.
"Miraluka," Darael whispered to himself.
"What?" Corinth strained to hear her partner.
"Nothing," Darael grumbled. Corinth shrugged.
The bout was over quickly. The Twi'lek demonstrated masterful use of the lightsaber, and while the Miraluka kept tumbling and dodging something kept her from actually using the lightsaber to strike, despite multiple opportunities to do so. The Twi'lek caught her hesitation and used it to press the advantage, tripping her and holding the training saber to her throat.
After she got back up with the Twi'leks help, she was frowning at the lightsaber. She then handed it to a puzzled Master Bindo without a word.
"I'm going to talk to her." Darael told Corinth.
Corinth did not look happy, but said, "Alright, I'm coming with you."
Once the matches were officially over Darael saw many of the prospective Padawans speaking to the various knights in the room, but no sign of the Miraluka. Instead, Darael went to Bindo, who was still holding the lightsaber.
"What happened in that last fight?" Darael asked Bindo.
"Seems to me like the poor girl lost her nerve. It might have had something to do with the lightsaber, though. We found her making modifications to her old training saber. We didn't take it away but we had to issue her a different one for the fight." Bindo shrugged.
"And where would she be now?" Corinth spoke for her partner.
"Probably in her room. She tinkers as much as she can in there." Bindo smirked. "Maybe she'd be good for you?"
"Maybe, she could eventually prove useful, if my hunch is right. Could you take us to her?" Darael said.
"Of course," Bindo replied. He guided the duo through the hallways of the enclave, stopping just outside a door which barely muffled the sounds of whirring machinery. Master Bindo handed Darael the suspect training saber before he turned around and returned to the main event.
Darael knocked, "May we come in?"
There was a rapid shuffling of items and silencing of machinery before the call was finally answered. "Yes, Master," came a soft, petrified voice.
Darael entered the room as soon as the door opened, Corinth right behind him.
"You actually recognize me for a Jedi. I guess that I shouldn't be surprised; you are a Miraluka, after all." Darael said, staring at the training saber in his hand.
"Yes, Master. I see through the Force." she answered.
"Well enough to be skilled in mechanics? Most Miraluka don't see details well enough for that." Darael commented.
"I can see and understand it with my hands, Master, and the Force guides my hands. It is the same thing with starfighters, just bigger." she smiled.
"Then I've only a few questions left." Darael said, looking around the room. He saw where she had hidden all of her gizmos and machines, a lockbox beneath her bed. He also saw a utility belt hanging off of her bed, a blaster pistol holstered on its side. Curious, and useful, he thought.
"I'll do my best to answer them, Master." she said.
"What was your objection to this training saber?"
She grimaced, "That blade is tainted, master. It should not be used by a Jedi."
"How do you know that?" Corinth spoke up.
"I can see the history of an object when I touch it. I can see who pulled the trigger of a blaster and I can see who forged a vibroblade." she said.
"Then what do you see from this?" Darael asked, extending his vibroaxe to her.
She took it in her hands. "I see… war… death… so much blood… but there is no taint, only a stain. This is a hunter of the Dark Side. And I see something else, as well, Master."
"What do you see?" he asked, one eyebrow raised.
"A lightsaber?" she seemed nervous.
"Activate it." Darael commanded.
"How, Master?" she asked.
"Find the way. Allow the Force to flow." Darael said. He began to walk around her, watching her stance.
Corinth's attention was turned to the butt of the vibroaxe's haft. She knew the core of the haft had been hollowed out for circuitry and that the button on the butt was used to activate the vibroaxe, but she had never suspected that there was a lightsaber emitter hidden in the pommel. She was stunned into silence when a bright yellow glow filled the room, the blade crackling from the focus of the power. The young girl smiled, proud of herself.
"By the Force!" the girl exclaimed.
"Yes, my lightsaber is activated through the Force, though it has been dormant for years." Darael said. "It took an exceptional knowledge of my weapon to know that it was there, knowledge which logic forbids you from having, but I suppose the Force defies all logic anyway."
"What is your name?" Corinth finally asked the girl.
"An-Etté. My name is An-Etté."
"No family name?" Darael asked, touching the haft of his halberd and deactivating the lightsaber blade.
"No family save the Jedi, Master." An-Etté replied.
"Good, that makes it easy to craft a cover for you." Darael smiled at Corinth, who only nodded back somberly.
"What do you mean, Master?" An-Etté seemed anxious and slightly scared.
"I can tell by the way you walk and fight that you would be well suited to my Sokan variety of Ataru. Perhaps not the pike or even my own halberd, but there is still much I can teach you. Consider this my formal invitation to become my Padawan, An-Etté." Darael used the force to lift his halberd from An-Etté's hands and put it back into its harness.
"Master, I'm but thirteen! I was told by Master Brianna that it was unlikely that I would become a Padawan before I was sixteen!" An-Etté seemed flustered.
"Statistics mean nothing to me, An-Etté. Only the ends and the means by which we achieve them." Darael said. "Being my Padawan would not be easy, nor would it always be fun. It would likely involve being away from the Order for years at a time and you would have to disguise yourself in order to maintain our cover story. You see, I am the assigned Jedi Watchman to Balmorra, and the Balmorran people don't care for Jedi, not yet, perhaps not ever."
"Master, I don't even know your name, how could I possibly accomplish this, let alone hide myself from discovery as a Jedi?" An-Etté wondered.
"Darael Korvos. My ship is known as The Nymph, docking bay 3A." Darael said, putting the tainted lightsaber in front of An-Etté. "Bring me this saber when you can tell me who tainted this saber and why. If you come with all of your worldly possessions I'll consider it acceptance of my proposition. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Master Korvos. I will find the answers you seek." An-Etté immediately kneeled before the lightsaber, lifted it into the air and began her meditation. Darael motioned to Corinth and they left the room, closing the door behind them. They wandered away for a time before stopping in a secluded hallway.
Darael sensed that they were alone before he gave the go-ahead to Corinth to speak her mind in privacy. It was one of the first tricks that they had figured out when he revealed to his partner that he was a Jedi and it was particularly useful for law enforcement.
"Thirteen? Are all Jedi this crazy? The Balmorran Badlands are no place to take a child, and the Industrial Districts are just as bad at night!" Corinth was flustered.
"I agree, which is why I didn't want to come here. I didn't want to do this. I offered her a choice, and by the Force I hope that she doesn't take it. If nothing else, however, she was right. That saber was tainted and we need to find out who and why so that we can deal with the offending Jedi, solve a problem before it starts, or find a proper way to dispose of the saber."
"Why?" Corinth shrugged. "A weapon is a weapon."
"Not to a Jedi, and you have the least amount of expertise in that subject, given that you prefer your fists to everything else." Darael snapped back at her. Corinth just folded her arms in opposition to him. Darael sighed, "A Youngling with a tainted training saber will be more prone to anger and frustration, which will have negative repercussions later on."
"And so you left it with a teenage girl? They are the biggest hive of negative emotions and frustrations in the galaxy! She's probably only just begun to understand her hormones, you can't possibly be serious about this!" Corinth accused.
"I wonder if Miraluka even have the same types of hormones…" Darael mumbled.
"What was that, Korvos? You know I can hear you, right?" Corinth was upset.
"An-Etté is a Miraluka, she is not a human. She was wearing the bandages over her eyes to signify that she has no eyes. Her entire species sees through the force, and I don't know what else about their physiology is similar to other sentients of the galaxy." Darael explained himself.
"So? Teenagers of all races are basically the same. You can't be serious about any of this!"
"I am, unfortunately, and despite all of their faults the Council is right. We can't afford for any eligible Jedi Knight to be without a Padawan right now."
"The Jedi can't afford that right now, but Balmorra can! You get by just fine without your lightsaber as a Marshal, and what is good for the Jedi is not always good for us, for Balmorra, I mean. Just… stop saying 'We'!" Corinth snapped. Darael gave her a moment to calm down, letting her breath. In all honesty he needed one as well.
Darael looked Corinth in the eyes and said, "I. I need to do this, Lady Corinth. And if An-Etté accepts my proposition, I can train her better than anyone else in the Order. Besides, her skills would be useful to us in finding perpetrators or discerning the truth."
"Invisible magic from an individual trusted by the government is not indicative of probable cause. You know that!" Corinth said. Darael threw up his hands and sighed.
"Still, though, -"
"Regardless of that, Korvos, you would be her personal tutor in life while she's going through puberty. Believe me when I say that you aren't ready for that, and any weakness on your part during her formative years will result in disaster when she is older. You can't do this." Corinth continued.
Darael leaned against a nearby wall and looked up, lost in thought.
"Is this how you deal with issues, ignoring them until you think your way out of it?" Corinth taunted.
"No, Lady Corinth. When I want to ignore an issue I imbibe copious amounts of alcohol. I think when I want to solve an issue."
"Then tell me, Master Jedi, what is your solution?" Corinth mocked.
"If she says yes, will you help me to train her?" Darael asked, still looking up.
"No."
"Why not?"
"I'm not ready to be a mom."
"It would be nothing like that, more like being a big sister, I think." Darael offered.
Corinth sighed, "We'll wind up spending a lot of time together anyway, and she'll need some girl to talk to. Sure, I'll help you."
Darael smiled. "You're the best partner a Marshal could ask for. You know that, right?"
"Put that grin away or you'll give Essie more reason to speculate about something that just isn't there." Corinth warned. "Speaking of which, I should get her on the com and let the droid know that we'll probably be here for a few days."
"Good call. I'll go tell Bindo and the rest of the Council about my deal with An-Etté." Darael started walking away.
"Do we meet up back on the ship?" Corinth asked as she pulled out her comlink.
"Nah, I'll be at the nearest bar."
"But didn't we solve this issue?" Corinth was confused.
"You've been my partner for two years and you're still trying to figure me out? I'm just as much soldier as I am Jedi, and after talking to the Council I'll definitely need a good drink." Darael said.
"I'll join you there, good hunting," Corinth said.
"Good hunting," Darael replied as he walked off.
Darael had just rounded the corner to turn into the Council Chambers when he heard An-Etté running for him.
"Master Korvos, Master Korvos!" she was shouting. Darael turned around to face her and suddenly she was directly in front of him.
Darael was startled but laughed it off, "Neat trick, An-Etté. What do you need me for?"
"Master Korvos, I know what happened to the training saber." she said.
"And where's the rest of your stuff?" Darael asked. "Am I to assume that you turned me down?"
"No, Master Korvos, not at all, I just know that I can get it if I absolutely need to. I could walk without a lightsaber and I know that it would still be with me." An-Etté rushed to explain herself.
"Then come with me, we can explain what happened to the Council." Darael said. An-Etté fell in step behind him.
As they entered the Council Chambers they saw the ritual ending for a mass group of Jedi Knights and their newly appointed Padawans learners. As Darael and An-Etté waited by the side for the procession to exit, An-Etté smiling warmly at her former classmates, then they were motioned to stand before the Dantooine Teaching Council.
"Watchman Darael Korvos, if you have selected a Padawan then why did you not come in with the rest of the Knights?" Master Brianna asked.
"I was investigating a matter of some concern. Youngling An-Etté, who is here with me, will now discuss her findings with you." Darael said. An-Etté, who had been thrust into the unexpected situation rapidly, handled herself in exactly the manner that Darael had expected: gaping maw petrification.
Master Bindo laughed, "Speak, child, unless you absolutely want cobwebs in your mouth."
"Yes, Master Bindo." An-Etté took a moment to calm herself before speaking again. "The lightsaber that I used in the exhibition match was tainted by the Dark Side."
"And do you have that lightsaber to present to us as evidence?" Master Atton Rand asked. Darael sensed a shift of some sort.
"Yes, Master Rand. It is on the floor in front of you." An-Etté smiled. There was no roll or clatter or anything, the saber was simply there.
"Once again, neat trick." Darael smiled.
"I certainly think so," Rand chuckled. He then retrieved the saber from the floor. Upon touching it he frowned slightly. "You are correct, Youngling. There is a slight taint in this training weapon. Watchman Korvos, you said that you conducted an investigation. Would you be interested in telling us what you found?"
"I discovered that Youngling An-Etté has the force gift of technometry, in addition to her ability to seemingly fold space for short distances. As such, I left the investigation with her, allowing her time to meditate with the weapon so as to ascertain the reason for the taint. I was about to seek audience with this Council regarding an agreement made between An-Etté and myself when she sought me out with conclusions to the ponderings of her meditation. I invited her to seek audience with me so that all of us may hear her conclusions together." once again, Darael found himself in a military stance.
"Hmph. And you trust in her conclusions after less than an hour of deep meditation?" Bindo asked.
"I do, Master Bindo. I place my trust on her shoulders due to her ability to find and activate my lightsaber."
"You carry? I thought that you abandoned carrying after the Mandalorian Wars…" Brianna said.
"I gave my saber to the Order, but I was permitted to keep the crystal. My Master convinced Master Vandar to allow me to keep it. My saber will remain secret and I will not activate it to show you." Darael nodded to Bindo, who had helped him in the construction.
"Then by all means, let the Youngling tell us what she found." Bindo said. The other Masters nodded in agreement and looked expectantly at An-Etté.
"This saber's pieces were not all new, some were recycled parts." An-Etté began. "One of these recycled pieces was originally in the lightsaber of a powerful Dark-Sided woman. Some residual Dark Energy was in the piece and found ways to grow and spread throughout the blade without affecting the housed Bondar crystal. This is because the one who made this training saber was possessed by grief during the process, which the residue fed upon and consumed."
"And did you see who it was that crafted this saber?" Master Brianna asked.
"No need, Bri, I know exactly who made it." Master Rand answered. "I crafted this saber to occupy myself after Meetra's disappearance. If what you say is true, Youngling, and my grief had been consumed, it would certainly explain why I have not felt the same pain ever since then."
"And I am the one who disassembled the lightsaber of my former wife and added the pieces to the collection. I would recognize that presence anywhere." Bindo added.
"And why did you do that?" Brianna asked Bindo.
"The parts were needed. Many Sith lightsabers were taken apart so that there would be some stores of parts for new Jedi to pull from as they craft their own lightsabers. It was necessary." Bindo said.
"It is evident that we must now determine if any other tainted sabers have been created." Rand said. "But I believe that there was another reason as to why you were here, Watchman."
"That is correct, Master Rand. I have extended an invitation to An-Etté to become my Padawan. She has skills that would prove useful to the Balmorran people." Darael answered.
"One does not invite Padawans, Watchman. One allows the Force to guide their decisions before they choose a Padawan." Brianna said, huffing slightly.
"That doesn't matter, Brianna, or did Atris screw you up worse than I thought?" Bindo said, getting no response from his fellow Master. Bindo turned back to Darael, then looked at An-Etté. "What matters is this: have you accepted, An-Etté?"
"I have, Master Bindo." the young girl smiled.
"Then go on, get out of here! We certainly won't keep you." Rand laughed.
"We expect to spend a few days in preparation before going back to Balmorra. May I ask that my partner and I find room and board in the enclave when it proves necessary?" Darael asked.
"Of course, Watchman. You and yours are always welcome here." Brianna forced herself to smile. She was not fond of Revanchists, despite having been trained by one over Atris' objections.
"Then my Padawans and I take our leave of you. May the Force be with you." Darael said.
"And with you, Watchman." Rand said.
An-Etté seemed excited as they left the Council chambers, saying, "Master Korvos, what do you want me to do? When can we start my training?"
"Tomorrow. My partner is the Lady Marshal Nadine Corinth of Balmorra and I expect you to treat her with the respect she deserves. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Master Korvos."
"For now, I ask that you move your belongings into The Nymph, which is the green Lethisk-class freighter to your left." Darael pointed at the ship, suddenly remembering the issues with force sight. Then he pulled out his comlink and contacted the ship. "Sully, a Miraluka female is coming onboard the ship. Her name is An-Etté and she is my Padawan, free to come and go from The Nymph as she pleases. Make sure she feels comfortable."
"10-4, CO, but I'm not programmed for protocol functions." Su-11y's baritone came over the coms.
"Don't kill her and try not to let Sally get out of control, and I'm sure you'll be fine."
"Sir, yes sir." Su-11y responded. The coms were cut for just a brief moment before Corinth got on.
"I heard the news, An-Etté. Welcome to the team. Korvos, I'll see you soon. Sending coordinates." Corinth said before she too cut the radio chatter.
Darael checked the coordinates while an excited An-Etté asked, "You have a droid?"
"Yes. You'll meet it soon enough. I'll warn you to avoid messing with its programming, however, as you may find files in its head that you won't like seeing." Darael chuckled internally. "Technometry may also wish to be avoided."
"Yes, Master Korvos." she said.
"I expect to see you in the Enclave Mess Hall tomorrow morning. For now, I have colleagues to meet with, there are arrangements that must be made." Darael started walking away and An-Etté scrambled back into the enclave for her things.
"And here I thought that I'd never see you again," Corinth said when Darael sat at the bar in the seat next to hers.
"I'm hard to get rid of. Do you have any ideas on her cover story and disguise?" Darael asked. He made a quick gesture to the bartender, suggesting that he wanted whatever the soldiers got around there. Thankfully, all bartenders recognized the symbols of a Republic Navy Veteran Challenge Coin on the counter.
Darael was just being served when Corinth said, "Yep, and I've got the list of what we'll be needing right here. I'll need to take her clothes shopping tomorrow, and the goggles had to be custom ordered. As it turns out, not many Miraluka wear tinted shades like they were ordinary blind folk."
Darael laughed. "So long as they don't see that she doesn't have eyes, I think we'll be fine. Besides, fewer still carry a blaster pistol on a regular basis."
"Really, how'd you tell?" Corinth asked.
"The way she walks; she's accustomed to the weight of a blaster and the placement of a holster." Darael took a swig. "That and the blaster she had on her bed. Hey, Keep! This is a mighty fine drink you got me!"
"It better be, it's the last of my stock of Tarisian Ale, and I doubt I'll ever get any more!" the bartender laughed.
"Ah! I knew it tasted like bantha backside!" Darael smiled.
"Hey, my cousin served on that ship too, barely made it out of the war alive. If I didn't hand you that crap he'd never let me hear the end of it."
"Tell him that Lt. Korvos sends his regards," Darael said, picking up his coin and spreading 1500 credits on the counter.
"Will do, Lieutenant, will do," the bartender eagerly took a moment to put the credits safely away before returning to the counter, but both Marshals were gone by that point, sitting in a private corner of the establishment.
"That didn't come out of our funds, did it?" Corinth looked concerned.
"Nah, it was all I had left from my Navy checks."
"All you had left?" she asked incredulously.
"Well, not all of it. I won't get any more until next month, though. Besides, I've got a decent cushion, I've never really spent my money. Don't worry about it, it won't affect our budget, I usually have a few thousand in reserve for military families down on their luck."
"But that much for a single drink?" Corinth was still struck by the mass of credits and Darael's generosity.
Darael looked up at her over his stein. "You do know that Taris is gone now, right? Kablooey, blammo, never recovering soon enough for Tarisian Ale to ever grace a dry throat again?"
"Yeah… Fair enough. And it is good that it won't affect our budget. I'm already pulling a few strings for tomorrow as it is." Corinth leaned back as she motioned to the nearest waitress that they were ready to order.
"What exactly are you getting her?" Darael asked, now curious.
"A swoop bike, a flight suit, stun baton, just a few other things, like some decent formal attire. Jedi have no sense for fashion, you especially, but we'll need to be at formal events every now and then and she'll need to look the part of being your niece."
"A swoop bike? Isn't it illegal for a minor to own a swoop bike?"
"Yes, Korvos, but she won't own it. I will. And a vehicle owned by a Marshal is not subject to the laws of the government so long as it is being operated by a Marshal or an appointee of the Marshal. Your Padawan An-Etté will technically be a junior officer, making her an appointee, meaning that she will not be subject to the same driving laws that most minors face. Provided she only ever uses it for official business or the apprehension of perpetrators, we won't have any issues." Corinth explained.
"But how will it fit in The Nymph?" Darael asked, taking another sip.
"I have Essie packing away the passenger quarters in the aft. There will still be room enough for the four of us. Besides, it's just the parts, she'll have to assemble it herself."
"Fair enough." Darael said, but then he sensed a presence. Master Jolee Bindo had entered the establishment, so Darael waved him over to their table.
"It is truly a pleasure to see you again, Lady Corinth," Bindo kissed her hand the moment he got to the table. "And less of a pleasure to see the Watchman with you."
Corinth smiled as she withdrew her hand. "Still as charming as the day I met you, Master Bindo."
"Today is still the day you met me, Lady Corinth." Bindo laughed.
"Precisely," Corinth grinned.
"So what are you doing here, Master Bindo? Do you frequent this establishment very often?" Darael asked.
"Well, every now and then Rand and I come here to get a break from Bri, but tonight I came looking for you, actually."
"For what purpose?" Corinth wondered.
"Just to let Darael know that he has a powerful destiny," Bindo said. He turned to Darael. "It doesn't swirl around you like it did Revan, but it does have the unbreakable focus of a waterjet."
"I appreciate that, but what does it have to do with anything?"
"I said it, so there! Let an old man ramble!"
"And if we don't?" Corinth asked him, her eyes wide and smiling at him.
"Bah, fine. I'm here to give you some advice. An-Etté's destiny is like a floodlight, searching for something, something that the Force decided only you two can provide for some reason." Bindo took a swig of a drink that a waitress brought to the table. He hadn't even ordered anything, so Darael estimated that his story of coming there with Rand was true.
"And what is it that the Force thinks that we can provide?" Darael asked, confused.
"I'd be stuck in the fifth level of Corellian Hell if I knew that, Watchman. Just… teach her to be a Jedi, a real one." Bindo sighed.
"And what do you mean by that?" Corinth asked.
"Compassion, love, loyalty, anxiety, the things that separate the living from the cold durasteel of a vibroblade." Bindo said.
"Or the heart of a handmaiden?" Darael piped up.
"Hah! Yeah, kid, that too. But teach her to understand, overcome, and control these things. You gave up on the code before, Watchman, and so did I. Remember what life was like outside the code and teach her to understand that." Bindo took another swig.
"Love?" Corinth spoke for Darael again. "Korvos goes out of his way to avoid anything that even borders lust. He can't teach love…"
"Lust and love are two very different things," Darael countered. "But my partner is correct, I can't teach that."
"Then live it. Teach by example." Bindo said. "Passion can lead to rage and fear, sure, but passion isn't the same thing as love. Love itself will save you, never condemn you. Just look at Master Shan!"
"I'm not the only one that you're getting to do this, am I?" Darael asked.
"No, you're not the only one, and I'll try to connect all of you before I die, but no promises." Bindo got up to leave, dropping a few credits on the table and taking his time to stretch and crack his old bones.
"Master Bindo," Darael started.
"What is it, whippersnapper?" Bindo groaned.
"You said that you recognized your wife's presence anywhere. You chose to give An-Etté that lightsaber, knowing that how she would react would pique my interest." Darael said.
Bindo raised his arms in surrender. "You caught me, but I think that I've won already. You're stuck with her."
"I know, and fighting that at all would have been counterproductive, but I want recompense."
"What do you want?" Bindo asked.
"Don't do anything to the saber. We'll have the crafting of her own lightsaber be one of her trials. I want the pieces of that saber to be presented to her before all the rest. If she at least purifies the pieces, then she passes in my book. Somehow I get the sense that she'll use something from that saber when making her own." Darael said.
"Alright, just promise me that you'll train her right. She deserves it."
"Don't worry, I know, and I will." Darael promised.