Teaser: Crystal Kasra was appointed Master of the Jedi Enclave by her best friend Revan. However, against every teaching of her childhood, Crystal fell in love. This is her story. (set after Kotor 1)
Angel: This story isn't really based on Kotor 1, but still contains references to many characters from it. Also, Revan is a LS female (also named Mara Kirei). This story is based mostly on a role-play my friends and I did, so forgive me if anything is written very strangely, or is completely unrealistic. Also, the story line of Kotor II is pretty much ignored, but please, try to bear it. Therefore, if any of the characters or events mentioned are actually from that game, please forgive me if they are completely incorrectly written as I had not played the game at the time that this roleplay/chapter was written.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Star Wars, or either Kotor game. However, I do own Crystal Kasra and Marcus, and my friends own their characters.
Note: The Shadow Knights are a group like Jolee – the grey Jedi. They are known as neutral, but tend to ally with the Jedi rather than the Sith.
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Crystal moved through the enclave, her soft blue eyes scanning the shadows of the corridor. As she moved, her long brown hair tangled around her head, and she brushed it aside in slight irritation.
Without warning, a second figure began following her down the corridor. He then walked up right behind the Jedi Master, and placed a hand on her shoulder. She jumped slightly and turned around, but managed to hide her fright quite well.
"Korgith!" she cried in delight as she recognised her friend.
He smiled as the Jedi Master hugged him. "Hello. I'm sorry if I scared you; the ability to move so silently is one of the few Force abilities still available to me."
Crystal drew back again, beaming, "That's alright. Anyway, it's wonderful to see you again! I haven't seen you for almost 6 months!" she said with a slight pout.
Korgith smiled slightly, "Well, Crystal, I am sorry about that. I had important work to do for the Shadow Knights; else I would've come back earlier to visit you...and the others, of course."
Crystal was still pouting, "Well, either way, I'm glad you came back now. The younglings have been asking about you; they love it when one of the Shadow Knights comes to visit. In fact, I'm about to have a lesson with them now; won't you join me?"
Korgith sighed, "Well, I suppose we shouldn't deny the little ones an attempt to attack me now, should we?" he said with resignation. Crystal merely chuckled and led Korgith out to the gardens.
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Indeed, the younglings did all 'attack' Korgith when he stepped onto the garden, and he was swept up into a waist-high group hug. Crystal merely laughed to herself as she watched Korgith attempt to free his legs from the grip of the youngest there, a little blue female Twi'lek.
Crystal, her eyes twinkling mischievously, then pretended to pout, looking hurt. "What, is Master Korgith now more important than me? Guess that means no stories for these little younglings then," she said as she pretended to walk away.
Korgith merely looked on with amusement as the looks of delight on the little ones' faces changed to looks of horror, and they all charged after their Master, all trying to stop her. Their little voices were all crying out apologies, and most of them also added the little puppy-dog faces that caused Crystal to spoil them most of the time.
Crystal then turned around, and knelt down into their midst, pulling them all into a hug. "No darlings, I wouldn't do that to you. I'm just teasing."
Korgith walked over to her, shaking his head, "Careful, or they may just reject you for me."
Crystal's expression changed to mock-horror, "What? My darling younglings would never do that! Would they?" she said as she looked around at the small group surrounding her. All of them shook their heads fiercely, and proceeded to hug her again.
Crystal smiled, and sat down, pulling the little Twi'lek into her lap. "Anyway, Korgith, while you're here, I suppose you should entertain the little ones with a story. What do you say?" she said with a grin as the younglings all turned their puppy-dog faces to Korgith.
He threw his hands up in the air, looking aggravated, "Alright, alright! You win!" he said as he also sat down, pretending to be cross. However, the Jedi Master knew better, and caught the softness in his eyes as he surveyed the little ones.
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A while later, Korgith, to the disappointment of the younglings, finished his story. He then showed them his latest weapon, an intricately decorated sword. However, after a stern word from Crystal, the younglings then left to attend the rest of their lessons, and go to lunch.
Crystal then joined Korgith at sitting on the bench in her favourite garden. She eyed the sword he was again admiring with some apprehension, "You know, I'm not sure you should have shown the younglings that sword. It looks far more dangerous than the last one you showed them."
Korgith merely shifted his position, hiding the sword back in its sheath once more, "No harm can come from viewing a sword."
Crystal frowned, "I beg to differ. Besides...I feel I have seen that blade before." The Jedi beauty then shook her head, "No, that's impossible. I must sound stupid."
Korgith looked slightly disturbed for a moment, but then his expression went blank once more. "No, you could never sound stupid, Crystal. Perhaps you have seen it before...after all, it did belong to my father, who was once a Jedi here." Korgith said with a slightly sad look on his features.
Crystal's expression softened, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring it up."
Korgith waved his hand in dismissal, "It's not your fault. Don't worry about it."
Crystal frowned again, but decided against pursuing a clearly delicate topic. "Anyway, why have you returned Korgith? I know, as much as I'd like to believe it, that it is not my charm or the delight of the younglings that brought you here. What has happened in the war?"
Korgith's expression showed sadness, "I had hoped you wouldn't ask of it, but yes, there is a business reason behind my return." He then took a deep breath, "Manaan has fallen, and the Sith fleet blockades it as we speak."
Crystal's face tightened, "Manaan? The Republic cannot afford to lose Manaan! Isn't there anything we can do?"
Korgith sighed sadly, "That is why I am here. Admiral Carth is doing everything he can, but since all that business with Revan and then Mistress Kirei, the Republic is not what it once was. I believe that the Republic cannot deal with this threat, and I have come to ask you to aid me with it. My ship will be able to get us past the blockade unnoticed. However, I feel I will need a Jedi's patience before this is over."
Crystal frowned. "You ask the help of the Jedi? Why?" she asked with suspicion in her voice.
Korgith sighed again, "Because...under orders of our Grand Master of course...I have been assigned to seek you out and consider an alliance between the Shadow Knights and the Jedi Order."
Crystal frowned in thought again, "Yes, I suppose that would work. I'd better check with the other Masters first, but I see no danger in it. The Shadow Knights have aided us greatly ever since they formed, and despite public belief, have never appeared to aid the Sith. Master Bindo, if he can be contacted of course, would no doubt be delighted to consider this alliance."
Korgith chuckled, "Oh, Crystal, there is no point in false modesty now. I know Mara left you, her dearest friend from her 'former life', in charge. And you can't pretend that Jolee wouldn't agree to this the second he heard of it."
Crystal sighed, "You know too much, my dear friend. I know they would agree, but this business with Manaan worries me."
Korgith nodded, "I know. Please, go to the Council, and ask their permission for this alliance to go ahead, and to accompany me on this...'voyage'."
Crystal smiled slightly, "All right then, I'm going. I'll meet you at the Phoenix Hunter in about an hour. After all, even with Jolee's aid, this could take a while."
Korgith chuckled slightly, but nodded, and left for his ship. Crystal then also left, but she went to go talk to the Council.
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About an hour later, Crystal was calmly walking towards the docking bay; a Jedi Knight walking beside her carrying her bag.
"Really, Marcus, this isn't necessary. I can carry my own belongings," she said as she turned to the Jedi Knight.
Marcus merely smiled at her. "True, but I mostly wanted the chance to say goodbye," he murmured softly as he kissed her cheek.
The Jedi Master flushed, and quickly took her bag from Marcus. "Well, ok then. Goodbye, and I'll try to be back soon. Say goodbye to the younglings for me."
Marcus nodded, smiling at the Jedi beauty as he left. Crystal then hurried over to Korgith's ship. When she started climbing the ramp, she noticed the Shadow Master standing at the top, a slight frown on his face.
She quickly brushed past him, and placed her bag down on the lounge. She then turned back to face Korgith, who had turned around to face her, the frown still on his face.
"So...who was that Jedi? He seemed...nice..."
Crystal, who had just bent over her bag to find her commlink, answered rather quickly, "Marcus? Well...he's a dear friend of mine, if you must know. Anyway, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous."
"Who, me? Jealous? I don't know what you're talking about..." he muttered half to himself.
Crystal just shook her head in amusement, and proceeded to the cockpit, with Korgith not far behind.
As she sat down in the co-pilot's chair, she eyed the controls apprehensively. "Korgith? I think it'd be best for you to drive your own ship, so can you set the co-ordinates for Manaan?"
Korgith nodded, and punched in some co-ordinates. After a while, the ship went into auto-pilot, freeing the two friends to talk.
Crystal started the conversation. "So Korgith. Interrogation time," she said with a grin.
Korgith arched an eyebrow at her, leaning back casually in the seat. "Well, I don't see what I did to deserve this, but fire away," he said in amusement.
Crystal frowned lightly, but continued anyway, "Well, I'll ask a question, and then you can ask me one. Fair?"
He nodded, "Fair."
"Ok then, why did you leave the Jedi Order? You've never told me."
Korgith's relaxed aura vanished, and he sat up straighter, looking a little sad. "I don't think I can explain it, but I decided that the Jedi weren't for me. I don't really want to talk about it."
Crystal's frown deepened, but she decided not to press the issue. "Well, anyway, your turn to ask a question."
It was Korgith's turn to frown in thought, "But I don't have anything I want to ask you!"
Crystal sighed, "Well, think of something!"
Korgith sighed in exasperation, and thought for a minute. A slow, (and to Crystal's eyes, evil,), smile reached his face. "Well, I just thought of something. When did you realise you liked me?"
Crystal flushed instantly, but tried to hide it. "Oh, how subtle. Really, you shouldn't expect an answer to a question like that anyway," she said as she quickly looked away.
The smile on Korgith's face broadened, but when Crystal turned back to him, her expression composed, his own face went blank.
Still looking slightly flustered, the Jedi Master continued the original topic of conversation. "Anyways, it's my turn again. Where did you get that sword?" she asked as she gestured towards Korgith's weapon.
Korgith pulled out the intricately decorated weapon, surveying it carefully. He seemed to be thinking about his answer. "It was a gift," he said quietly, giving as little information as he had before.
Crystal, beginning to get a little frustrated with Korgith, decided to continue the embroidery on her formal dress. She then got up and left with a hurried "I'll be back in a minute."
She returned a few minutes later, and sat down again with her dress, her needle, and some thread. She worked in silence for a short while, with Korgith occasionally checking the controls, but mostly just watching her.
After about 30 minutes had passed this way in silence, she glanced up and found the Shadow Master still watching her. "What? I like doing my own embroidery," she stated crossly as she shifted the material.
Korgith looked startled for a second, and blinked several times before answering, "I didn't say anything!"
"Well, you were staring at me like I was planning to kill you with the needle or something. You looked as paranoid as Admiral Carth was before he met Mara."
Korgith smiled at the reference, "You knew the Admiral during the time of Revan?"
Crystal nodded, "Yes, I did. Not well of course, as he hardly trusted anyone then, but I'd say we were friends. Mara did a good job with him; I hardly envy her the job of fighting for his trust."
When Korgith opened his mouth with a questioning look on his face, Crystal continued, "Many women officers and soldiers of the fleet were quite taken with him, and though I won't name names, I also know a few Senators who nurtured a soft spot for him as well. He however, would have none of them. Mara was one lucky girl to win his heart, and I know of several women who cursed her name when she was discovered as the Admiral's 'romantic interest'."
Crystal's expression then clouded over, "And those same women celebrated when she left, and leapt at the chance to 'comfort' the Admiral. They'll never have a chance, he's smitten with Mara, and I know he'll wait for her, no matter how long it takes."
Korgith frowned, "And how do you know of these things? Were you one of the Admiral's admirers too?"
Crystal flushed, "Good heavens, no! He and I were just dear friends, and he hardly spoke to me, or to anyone for that matter, after the attack on Telos unless he had to. Mara was just what the doctor ordered."
The Jedi Master then glanced up as the computer announced that they were approaching the planet, and that manual control was taking over. As Korgith turned around slightly to take the controls, Crystal glanced at the planet before them. Her eyes narrowed as she surveyed it, "Korgith, what are we doing here? I happen to know that this is not Manaan."
The Shadow Master avoided her gaze, looking slightly sheepish, "Well, as the Shadow Knights have information on the Sith blockade and suchlike, I thought it would be a good idea to come here to Kashyyyk first, so we have some idea of what we are up against."
Crystal stood up, and returned her dress to her bag without comment. She then returned to the cockpit. "Still, it would've been nice for you to tell me your plan," she said irritably as she sat down again, resuming her place at the controls.
Korgith sighed. "Well, I'm sorry," he said as he began piloting the Phoenix Hunter into the hidden port of the Shadow Knights on the planet's surface.
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Angel: Well, I hope you enjoyed the first instalment of this story. Stay tuned for more coming up soon, and please, do review!
Note: I apologise for major discrepancies on how long hyperspace travel takes, but I am just following the basic timeline of the roleplay, and this was how it was. Sorry if it gets confusing...
C YA!! Angel