Hello folks. I'm in the middle of one SWTOR story, but I have a second one I've been working on for almost as long as the first one. I wanted to at least start posting it too, since I've had a fairly good response to my first tale. This one is a bit different, told in various POV, mostly the main character, but in later chapters, others will join in. You will recognize many of the names, but I am not strictly following any storyline from the game.

Hope you like.

Zanthia POV

I stood silently beside master Bela Kiwiiks as she spoke with the other members of the Jedi council, thankful to not be the focus of the conversation in the room. Council meetings were always so serious, it had taken me almost a year to get comfortable observing them.

Being one of the only Chiss in the Republic, and the only Chiss currently in the ranks of the Jedi, I always stood out. No matter where I went, or who I was with, I tended to draw attention to myself with nothing more than my mere presence. Master Kiwiiks was still working with me on my issues of self consciousness, but being different wasn't something you could get use to overnight.

True, I had been raised in the Republic from an infant and had been Master Kiwiiks padawan since I was 5, so I had almost 20 years to get use to being different, but I still struggled. When I was young, I didn't' realize the reason I drew so much attention was because of my species. How do you tell a child that the looks of mistrust and hatred thrown her way were because she was a member of a species that didn't normally agree with her adoptive family's side of a war.

Training to become a Jedi had helped. I learned about peace and how to channel my anger in healthy ways. It also helped having a Togruta as a master. True, the Togruta species didn't normally get looks of mistrust when entering a room, since they were fairly common in the Republic, but they did get stares from people not use to their unusual appearance. Master Kiwiiks taught me to ignore the looks. She told me that someone worth my time would not judge me by my appearance, but by my actions. I wanted to believe her and for the most part I did.

I had gotten to the point in my training where I often left Tython on my own, traveling to other Republic worlds to aid in various causes. People were often wary of me, until they learned I was a Jedi. The wariness didn't surprise me or bother me much anymore. The confidence, patience and gentle nature the Jedi had instilled in me always won out over the prejudice.

After about an hour, the council meeting adjourned and Master Kiwiiks got up to leave. I followed beside her obediently.

I had only been on Tython for a few hours, having just returned from a peacekeeping mission on Tatooine. I was running on only an hour of sleep over the last 3 days and I hadn't really been paying much attention to the meeting. My master liked for me to accompany her to council meetings and I always made it a point to pay attention, but this time my mind was just too sluggish with fatigue to focus. I had been taught several techniques to stave off exhaustion in the short term, but for the life of me, I couldn't seem to remember any of them.

"So, what do you think?" She asked me as we wandered down to her meditation room at a slow, almost meandering pace. This was a question I should have been ready for, since she asked me the question after every council meeting. She liked to hear my take on subjects discussed by my superiors. Apparently, it told her volumes about who I was as a person and helped her navigate my training.

The question knocked me out of my stupor. "What?"

"You weren't paying attention." Master Kiwiiks said. It wasn't a question.

"I apologize, Master. I'm afraid I missed most of what was said at the meeting. I didn't get much sleep on the trip back. I still get spacesick on those large transports."

Master Kiwiiks smiled at me sympathetically. "I understand how exhausting space travel can be, particularly after a long mission and when you don't travel well, but you need to learn to use the Force to push back your fatigue when important things are being discussed around you."

I nodded. "I understand, Master. I'll try harder next time."

Master Kiwiiks placed a supportive hand on my shoulder. "It's alright, my padawan. Just keep it in mind. Someday you might be in a situation where listening to details, even when you're beyond the capacity to act on them, could save your life or the lives of others." She gave me another smile and proceeded down the hall. "I hear your mission on Tatooine went well." She said, changing the subject.

Kiwiiks had never been one to over acknowledge my mistakes. She'd merely commented on them, corrected them and moved on. The practice was one of the things I liked most about the Jedi. She had a way of teaching and guiding me without making me feel like a failure when I made a mistake. She considered mistakes learning experiences. My Master forgave easily, as long as I learned from my mistakes.

"The mission did go well. Things were a little dicey at first, but once all parties involved realized we are all on the same side, the situation pretty much smoothed itself out. You were right. They just needed an objective third party to point out the obvious. There are too few strong communities on Tatooine. If the people would learn to work together, everyone would be better off in the long run. "

Kiwiiks chuckled. "I figured as much. It's a reason I sent you to deal with the trade dispute. Hardship doesn't always bring out the best in people. I was curious to see how you would handle it."

We reached the meditation room and we paused at the door.

"You did very well, Zanthia. I am extremely proud of you. You are one step closer to being a full Jedi."

I bowed slightly at the compliment. "Thank you, Master."

"Now, go get some rest. Things are quiet, for the time being. Take advantage of it, for things are never quiet for long."

I nodded, giving my Master a final bow and headed to my chambers. As a Jedi, I wasn't supposed to mind hardships, like sleeping in unfamiliar places, but I was looking forward to sleeping in my own bed. More importantly, a bed that wasn't on a moving starship.

To Be Continued...

Let me know what you think. I do love my Chiss!