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"If you cannot master your schedule, how can you master yourself, Padawan?" Jedi Master Sae Ytalha reprimanded Vhinh, who showed up ten minutes late for their sparring session.
Vhinh knew better than to try to answer his master's rhetorical questions. "I have no excuse, Master. It won't happen again."
"Timing is critical, young one, and may mean the difference between life and death." Without warning, Master Ytalha summoned his lightsaber to his right hand, igniting it and swinging with a sideways strike towards Vhinh's midsection, all within a split second. Vhinh was barely able to dodge the blade in time, and upon getting his footing, activated his own weapon, holding it at the ready.
Vhinh's mouth was agape. "With all the greatest respect, Master… are you crazy?"
"We have to make up for lost time! And I trust my young apprentice knows how to handle himself in a battle." Ytalha came at Vhinh with two overhand strikes, one to each side, then immediately spun around and dropped down for a backhanded slice at waist level, all of which Vhinh blocked with ease.
"But that wasn't battle - that was an ambush, Master!" Vhinh leapt off the ground, swinging once in mid-air, then did a full flip over Ytalha's head to land behind him, coming at him with a decapitating strike. Ytalha parried both with little to no movement at all.
"A Jedi must always be prepared for anything, my friend."
Sae Ytalha was an older Bothan, past middle age, with tightly braided greying hair and a long, full grey beard. He was a gruff, yet wise, though sometimes unconventional teacher, and Vhinh owed his very life to him. From the time Vhinh was six standard years old and had first come to the Jedi Academy, Master Ytalha had taken him under his wing.
The two sparred for over an hour, Vhinh never quite getting the best of his Master. Ytalha, on the other hand, had broken through Skywalker's defenses more than once, each time stopping less than a centimeter short of deadly contact.
"Your skills improve, but you still have much to learn," Master Ytalha began as they each switched off their lightsabers. "Remember, there is no set plan of attack; the Force moves in all directions. Be mindful of it and you will always be given an opening."
"Thank you, Master, I'll try to keep that in mind," Vhinh said, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
"You are nearly ready for the trials, Padawan. You will need to utilize all the skills and knowledge you have learned up to this point. We will meet later for another session, but in the meantime, I suggest some deep meditation. Have you been studying the archives?"
"Yes, Master, but there is so much… might you offer guidance as to where best to place my focus?"
"Seek subject matter you know little of, in order to expand your horizons. Yet overlook nothing. Some of the best lessons are found not in what is said, but how it is said. Many great masters have contributed to these archives, and by truly absorbing their words one can gain insight into the Jedi mind behind them. Remember, knowledge is everywhere, as it comes from within."
Vhinh found it slightly amusing that sometimes his master could say so much, yet never really answer his question. He had to keep reminding himself that sometimes, as he'd been taught, interpretation was the difference between knowledge gained and knowledge lost.
"Thank you, Master. I'll meditate on that as well."
"We meet back here at nineteen hundred hours, Padawan. Don't be late."
"I won't, Master."
Ihtor Hyubis was lounging in his penthouse suite on Clak'dor VII when an incoming transmission on his holoreceiver broke his half-sleep. Throwing on a towel to be somewhat presentable, he picked up the transmission to see a ghostly image of none other than Zabra the Hutt, transmitting from Pzob. "Zabra, could this wait?" was his greeting, in Huttese, as he stifled a yawn.
"I am afraid not, Ihtor," Zabra responded, "and I very much doubt you have more pressing matters to contend with at the moment."
"I was… entertaining, Zabra," Ihtor lied.
"We have affairs to discuss. So please, help my mind rest at ease and humor me."
"What affairs?" Ihtor asked dismissively.
"Our factions are warring again. The Kitzeliis took out the Ilbringii and Rexil elders."
"My, formidable crowd, they are. How did they manage that?" Ihtor asked, now obviously amused.
"Apparently with one Trandoshan and a thermal detonator," Zabra answered, not sharing Ihtor's amusement.
"Very impressive." Ihtor's one large eye widened, and he was now fully awake. Being of a violent species like the Abyssians himself, he had a high degree of respect for acts of this nature. "Resourceful, too. A suicide mission?"
"No. The one claiming responsibility lives."
"I should like to speak with this Trandoshan. Perhaps the Kitzeliis could handle a larger territory."
"Ihtor, you fail to see my point. These are our own people fighting against each other over territory that is already ours, when they should be helping us expand for a larger payoff. And it does not stop. Our once great empire is in danger of collapsing from the inside. We are stretched thin already. We cannot afford to keep paying to train more hands, only to have them fight over the very same things. We wanted to restore this empire to its former glory, if you remember."
"Then what do you see as the problem, Zabra? We have to stay cost effective, which means we can't offer higher pay as an incentive to keep them satisfied, and we can't afford to keep hiring more employees, if the ones we have don't 'work out'. It has just become much more difficult to run a successful criminal empire in this day and age. It's a sign of the times."
"A sign of the times, Ihtor? Then how are the Tekdaemons flourishing? They have already taken control of many of our own systems, and we are slowly being backed into a corner. The Hutts have not experienced this much opposition since the days of the Black Sun. I don't see it ending well. Our empire is dwindling, and they are emerging as the new galactic power. Soon we will be at their feet begging for the scraps they decide to throw us. That is if they decide to keep us around that long… " Zabra grew visibly more flustered as he went on.
"You and I are still untouchable, Zabra. If the Tekdaemons wanted us eliminated, they would have tried by now, and a massive war between syndicates is in no one's best interests. Besides, a little healthy competition is always good, correct?"
"Only if you stand a chance, my friend. Are you content to do nothing? Wait for the inevitable?"
"I don't have all the answers, Zabra. But I do see the obvious, which is that the next move is in the hands of the Tekdaemons. If you wish, we can have the Kitzeliis eliminated. Send a message to the others that no territory changes hands without our say."
"That is a given. Yet I fear our words are having less impact than we'd like. But I digress… As usual, you have a point, my friend, and I thank you for your guidance." Zabra nodded to Ihtor, seeming to have have calmed down a little.
"As always, Zabra. We still have some fight left, friend, and remember, with the current political climate, there may be more opportunities in the near future. We may see a new heyday for organized crime within our lifetime."
"Your words comfort me. We'll speak again soon."
Yesterday had been an intense day of mental and physical training for Vhinh - which would have made it just like any other day, except for the fact that he had pushed himself even harder than usual. This was mostly due to the fact that he knew he needed to prepare for the trials. But partly, though he might not even be able to admit it to himself, whether he was fully aware of it or not, due to the fact that he somehow knew he would end up back at Trel's café today. But why shouldn't he? He did come here rather regularly, and after all did enjoy the broth, along with a couple other dishes.
No, he couldn't lie to himself, not that blatantly. He may just have the slightest bit of curiosity about if she would be there again. There was nothing wrong with that, right? They had just talked, and that's all they would do if he saw her again, if that.
Maybe there wouldn't really be anything to talk about, and it would just be one of those awkward silences, until someone thought of a reason why they absolutely had to be somewhere else at that particular time.
Or – and to rule this out would be irresponsible, especially for a Jedi Padawan – maybe the underlying feeling that he was doing something wrong had made talking to that girl, Nea (he couldn't deny her name had been stuck in his head), more exciting. If this was the case, these were dangerous thoughts, indeed.
A Jedi must learn to let go of his fear, lest it become the gateway leading down the dark path.
So it would be the right thing to do to confront the situation head on, with a clear mind, with no fear or reservations, and prove that he can handle a conversation with a member of the opposite sex - albeit a striking one - and sustain his best judgment without succumbing to human weakness.
Put that way, it definitely seemed like the most logical choice. And he had no more time to deliberate, because he'd made up his mind, and, in fact, while he was immersed in this process, his body had managed to carry him to the very scene of his moral dilemma.
Trel's wasn't as busy as the day before, which, he mused, would mean there'd really be no excuse for them to have to sit together this time. He found his way to his regular table and, deciding to go with something different, ordered the Xabac wings.
Xabac were a small airborne reptile native to Fi'ar'la, though common on other worlds as well. The wings were seasoned and heated over an open flame. They weren't as good as the broth, at least he didn't think so, but it was nice to have a little variety.
Don't want her to think I'm boring – STOP!
His meal came, and he took his time and savored it. The café started getting more crowded, and in fact a Fi'ar'ii had asked if the seat across from him was available. He'd lied – was it a lie? It had better not be; that wouldn't be very Jedi-like either. Let's be honest here, we have to stay true to our intentions – and told them he was saving it for someone.
That someone wasn't showing up, though, and to wait around any longer would be, not only misguided, but, - let's face it – perhaps slightly pathetic. You just met this girl; it doesn't even make sense why you're letting her consume so much of your thoughts. You have important things to think about, like your duty, and like the trials. Maybe after you've been knighted, you can meet a nice woman someday and do it by the code.
The Jedi guidelines for personal relationships had been both revised and rewritten, even forgotten at one time or other, beginning sometime after the great Jedi Purge of Palpatine's era. It had been decided, at some point, possibly in order to carry on the very bloodline Vhinh himself was born of, that marriage might again be allowed within the Jedi Order.
However, care was taken to prevent the ramifications that could arise from these types of relationships. At present, the guidelines were as follows:
One had to be a dedicated knight for at least one year after completing their trials and deemed emotionally fit to enter into a non-platonic relationship by the council.
Once given blessing for courtship, the chosen partner had to be brought before the council, at which time the council could deny blessing – this was rarely done, as the council believed in honoring a Jedi's choice in a partner – but kept as a stipulation should the council truly sense a significant danger in the proposed relationship, either to the Jedi, the chosen, or one of even greater magnitude;
The couple were forbidden from living together during the courtship, and required to spend an entire month without contact two times per standard year, in order that, one, the Jedi may retain his or her focus on their duty and, two, to acclimate the couple to separation, should the relationship end, or, always an eventuality, should one of the partners die;
After a three year courtship, the Jedi and his or her chosen may decide to marry in a ceremony before the Jedi Council, officiated by the head of the council, where both partners were sworn not only to honor and respect each other but also the Jedi Code, and to accept loss and reject attachment;
The couple was permitted to live together within this union, but must continue to spend one month apart without contact each standard year.
Jedi Padawans were forbidden from entering into personal relationships, as they still had much to learn about the Force and control over their own mind and body.
The last guideline was the one Vhinh was struggling with, and as he contemplated the why's and how's of Jedi doctrines, his eye caught a flash of familiarity.
This time she didn't come to his booth, though, but instead stood at the front counter and ordered. He thought it possible that she didn't see him, or maybe she was actually in a hurry, as her abrupt stride had suggested.
Or maybe she was giving him the polite brush-off. There were a thousand reasons to do so, after all, not the least of which being that she was an incredibly attractive woman who could probably have her pick of the men on this world or most others, he was a Jedi Padawan and, although she might not have the guidelines set so firmly in her head, was probably vaguely aware of the general admonition of Jedi in relationships. Or maybe she herself was too busy with her own life goals to become entwined in a relationship, and obviously more wise than him in choosing to avoid that path altogether.
He probably could have gone on but he found it rather unpleasant to continue doing so.
Again with the thoughts! Acting like you've never seen a girl before or something. He had, of course, but there was something about this one… and he needed to find out what. He had to see it through. And just remember to keep your senses about you.
Through the Force, he gave her the slightest nudge. Well, so much for that. Yes, Master Ytalha would disapprove. Frivolous use of the Force in this way to a Jedi was akin to taking the name of a deity in vain to a religious being. Nevertheless, the nudge had had the desired effect.
Nea turned to look over her left shoulder, and then her right, and, finding no one there, set her gaze further across the room until it found Vhinh, sitting nonchalantly in the corner with a playful grin on his face.
She returned the smile, and he allowed himself in this brief instant to take her in completely, not deny or withhold but embrace his emotions, to try to put a face on this feeling he had. His strength in the Force had enabled him to remember her face perfectly, her presence as if he had never left that booth yesterday, and he was aware this might have enhanced his feelings. But no, there was still that other factor…
That other factor, with her order in a portatainer, made her way back to the booth and stopped before him.
"Hey, Padawan," she grinned.
"Hi, what brings you here again so soon?" I sound stupid.
"Actually, just picking up a take-out. I have a lab meeting with one of my professors."
"Oh," he was slightly relieved; he may not have been the reason for her urgency after all. "Well, nice running into you, anyway. I was just on my way out myself." That wasn't a lie. Good, we're learning.
She paused, thoughtfully. "Hey, listen… I don't know if Jedi are allowed holopads or anything like that, but-"
"They have them in the temple, but only for Jedi business, not really for private use," Vhinh quickly said, as if a conditioned response. Was the disappointment evident in his face? He wanted so much to tell her, Yes, I can call you anytime, or you can call me, and we can talk for hours…
"Aw," she appeared dismayed, "well, maybe we'll run into each other again soon."
"Yeah, absolutely," he gave a half-hearted attempt at a reassuring smile.
He made up his mind at that point to open his mouth again, because if he didn't say what he was going to say before his mind had a chance to stop him, he never would. "My rest day is in two days. It's basically, you know, for meditation and stuff, and to get away from my master for awhile so we don't impale each other with our lightsabers."
She gave a hearty laugh. His day was now complete and his time well spent. Nothing would convince him differently.
"Anyway," he continued, "maybe we could visit one of the local parks, and you could tell me about some of the native plant life, or something."
Did you just ask her out on a date? You did, didn't you?
"That sounds great!" she said, slightly to his surprise. "Um, are you, sure your master won't mind, or…"
"It's all in the name of study. Jedi have to be very well-rounded in all areas, you know." You are so full of nerf droppings it's not even funny! He didn't really expect her to believe this front, and frankly, he didn't care at this point. Hear me? I don't care.
"Studying on your day off? I can't imagine!" she mused, a hint of disbelief in her voice.
"Well, it won't feel like work, I'm sure," he said with that same playful grin.
"It's a date, then - I mean - you know what I mean," Nea said, then glanced down to her chrono. "Oh, blast, I really have to go. See you in two days, then. Skywalker," she paused to accentuate the last word with a plainly flirtatious tone.
"Bye, Nea." He just kept grinning until after she had left, when he realized he was still grinning at nothing in particular.
Vhinh had established one thing with this little outing. He couldn't explain it, but he wanted to be around her, and he was probably going to do so whether or not he thought he should.
If he could just manage to keep it down to casual, platonic conversation...
Who knows, maybe he could drag it out for another year, after he passed the trials, of course.
Wow. You really have lost it, that little voice refuted.
And it was at that moment that he decided to stop listening to it.
Jonas Uhara could faintly remember what it was like to breathe. And right now, it seemed like the greatest feeling in the galaxy.
Many thoughts were going through his mind at the moment. He'd still not been able to contact Eda, and was growing very worried. She'd been his love interest for nearly two standard years now, though she was somewhat of a free spirit and her travels took her away constantly, sometimes for months at a time.
The time they had spent together, though, made it well worth the wait. They hadn't spoken now for over two weeks, due to an argument they'd had over living arrangements. He was getting older and ready to settle down, and had said he could get a job at the local factory, but she wasn't ready to give up her adventurous way of life.
He'd gone so far as to call her selfish, though in retrospect maybe he was the selfish one, trying to keep her all to himself in a one-dewback town like Nilaris. He'd even hinted of her preferring to spend her time with Tenks, implying more than he should, though he knew better. Their relationship was strictly professional, and Eda took her work very seriously. Jonas had wanted to apologize, for everything, and try to win her over again with a special evening he'd planned.
But why had that transmission been cut off? He hoped beyond hope she had just gone out of range, or it had been some other communications difficulty. He wanted so badly to just hold her again, and tell her he'd enjoy any time they spent together, whether a week at a time or even a day.
Presently, though, his concern for himself was taking more and more priority.
He tried to reach out with his hands, pleading, to this human he didn't know, who had pushed his way in as Jonas was returning to his apartment. Why was he doing this? Jonas didn't have much in the way of credits, or anything really worth taking. He also had no enemies that he knew of, as he kept mostly to himself.
The room grew blurry, until everything -the holoviewer, the table, couch, chairs, Mow, his pet Felinx who cowered under one of the chairs, the picture of himself and Eda on the wall, the wall itself - just became one fuzzy dull color, then blackness slowly faded in until it was all he saw.
Then he saw nothing.
The Dresselian slumped to the floor, and Eulian Tratzel aka Darth Sceptaurus, caught him, easing him slowly down, not out of respect for the dead, but so as not to make any noise and alert the neighbors.
Force strangulation was a clean form of execution, leaving no evidence of foul play or mess to clean up, and with no weapons or fingerprints to worry about: silent and efficient.
He'd made sure no one saw him enter the apartment. He'd been watching, waiting for the right time, and had decided that time would be when the door was already open so he wouldn't have to break in.
Withdrawing his holopad, he keyed in a frequency, and, after a few moments, a very statuesque female figure, perhaps about his current age, appeared before him.
"Hello, lover," she said in a slightly raspy voice.
"Hello, my dear. Is everything going according to plan?"
"Better than expected, in fact. I suspect it won't be much longer."
"Excellent. Soon, we shall have our little… family. I'm making preparations, as well. I want you to tell me when everything is in order, and I shall send you a shuttle."
"I can't wait to see what preparations you've made."
"Patience, my dear. You will soon enough, I promise."
With that, he keyed off the holopad, double-checked the body for a pulse, and proceeded to leave the apartment. The Felinx hissed at him as he reached the door, and he was halfway tempted to unite it with its owner. But no, one body is one thing, but two would almost surely lead to an investigation, which he knew would not be productive. Besides, he knew better than to waste energy on inconsequential things. With any luck, the pitiful thing would starve to death.
As he entered the hallway of the apartment complex, an elderly female Advozse opened her door, locked it behind her and prepared to leave the building. He calmly approached her, receiving a wary look in the process. Waving his hand ever so slightly, he said, evenly, "You never saw anyone here tonight."
"I never saw anyone here tonight," she repeated in monotone.
"You should probably go back inside and go to bed."
"I should probably go back inside and go to bed." And with that, she unlocked the door to her apartment and did just that.
A/N: Last revised 04/19/15