Chapter 4

-JAZISA-

Jazisa didn't know what to think, on one hand, she was grateful for the Jedi of course, if she hadn't been, she would now be dead. On the other hand, she had just killed the only person she could trust, or at least that was what Jazisa had imagined. Added to this was that she didn't know whether she could trust the Jedi.
"We have to get out of here," the melodic calm voice of Joann, ripped her from her thoughts.
Jazisa knew she was right, so she tried to swallow down her distrust and to focus on the here and now.
"You're right, help me to bring his body on board. I will not leave him on this Planet," Jazisa replied, pointing to the dead Aliak.

Without a request the Jedi turned off her lightsaber and fixed it back at the belt, turned around to Jazisa and helped her to save the dead body. Once they're all arrived in the hold, Jazisa turned and said to the Jedi:
"I need a co-pilot, one of you has a flight training?".
She watched as Joann looked questioningly at her master.
"You go, Joann, I'll stay here and take care of the prince," he replied in his calm tone.
"As you wish Master," she gave him in response and followed Jazisa towards the cockpit.

Once they arrived there, Jazisa sat on the pilot seat, pleasantly surprised to find that the systems of Raven were still active.
"Enable the shields," she said to the now seated Jedi. She only nodded in response and carried out the order.
Jazisa quickly went trough the most necessary tests before the takeoff.
"All clear for takeoff. Ignite the engines," she said again turned to Joann.
"Light the engines in three, two, one, ignition".
Jazisa could feel the Raven lifted slowly and gained ride. She could still see blaster shots were fired at them, from the landing area. She quickly gained altitude and they could take a last look at the wondrous city, then they left atmosphere of Arsi behind.

-JOANN-

Joann was surprised at how well she managed the controls of the Raven. She had never been in this ship-class, let alone flown one.
"You are a good pilot," she heard the smuggler.
"The same thing I could say about you. We have not been introduced to each other. My name is Joann, I am sure you have noticed that I am a Jedi Knight," she reached out a hand that the smuggler took thankfully. Her handshake was strong and Joann could not help to feel a certain amount of Force in the other woman.
"My name is Jazisa," the smuggler replied scarce, she seemed to be thinking about something.
"You are a Jedi Knight?" She finally asked.
"I am, why do you ask?" Joann responded in quiet voice, she didn't wanted Jazisa to realize how much she was distracted. She couldn't explain it herself, but since she sat down in the cockpit with Jazisa, she had difficulties in connecting herself with the Force, as if any emotion denied her access. In her mind she recited the opening line of the Jedikodex.
There is no emotion, there is peace.
She managed to catch herself, but still had the sense not to stay properly connected with the Force.
"I asked because I got the impression, that you're the student of this Master," replied the smuggler and pulled her back from her efforts to remain balanced.
"I was his Padawan, now that I have been raised to the rank of a Jedi Knight, I am still learning from him if I am on a mission with him, but I ..." she wanted to finish her sentence, as a ship, just a few kilometers in front of them, fell out of hyperspace.

She tried again to slowly open to the Force, let it flow through her, to find out who was on that other ship and what intentions they had. She managed to extend her perception to the other ship up to a certain degree, but it claimed her complete attention and power. Only the eruption from a laser on the outer shell of the Raven, let her drop the advanced perception and came back into the here and now.
With a quick movement she activated the deflectors and sprang up, because suddenly, she felt a strong tremor in the Force. It felt like a punch in the stomach. Master Obedaia, she had to get to him, he was in danger, she had been to distracted, she hadn't felt it until now, but now she could see it quite clearly.
"I have to go to the cargo hold," she said as she left the cockpit, she imagined to hear how Jazisa called after her something about hyperspace jump, but she didn't pay much attention to it.

When Joann reached the cargo hold, she could see that the entire rear cargo door was missing. Her master kept the pressure apparently with a Force field in the room, but she could see that more and more air disappeared through the field in the vacuum of space.
"Take the prince and close the hatch behind you," he called to her. His usually calm voice was tight and sounded exhausted. It frightened her, to see her Master like that.
"No, I will not leave you behind," she said firmly.
"Joann, I feel confusion in you, do not let fear and despair bring you on the path of the dark side. Bring the prince to Coruscant, to the senate," he had to pause to get air.
Joann lowered her head in shame, because she knew he was right, she was confused, she didn't know where it came from.
"Yes Master, you are right, I will do my best," she said.
"That's all I can ask," he said gently, "now go".
She took the prince by the arm and pulled him behind her away from the hold. In the meantime, the air was getting thinner. She looked one last time back to her Master, before she closed the air hoses. His eyes were full of compassion and peace, as she saw him for the last time. She decided to try to remember him like that.
She could hear as the room emptied on the other side of the bulkhead, all that remained was silence.

She brought the Prince of Serenno, one in the outer rim placed planet, one of the richest of the entire Republic, into the sick bay of the Raven and asked him to stay there.
When she made her way back into the cockpit, to report Jazisa, she began to realize what had happened, she would never see Master Obedaia again, he was dead.
When she entered the small room, she was on the edge of tears, the only thing that kept them from falling, was the fact that she had promised her Master to do her best and burst into tears was clearly not the best she could offer. For the second time that day, she used the input line of the code in order to calm down and focus again.
There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no emotion, there is peace.
She repeated the words again and again in her thoughts, but they weren't effective. She was paralyzed with grief and anger. It was that moment, the words of Master Yoda came back to her mind.
Anger to the dark side of the Force leads. Behind you, you have to let it, my young padawan.
She tried to continue to focus on the mantra, and actually managed to shake off all the hatred feelings, but in their place came the funeral, an incredible emptiness. She knew that these feelings were dangerous for her, that they could lead her into temptation, but she was tired for the moment, to suppress all that and to distance herself from it. When she sat down on the chair next to Jazisa she let fall all her barriers. She looked at the smuggler's face, in her understanding, green eyes and decided to trust her. Joann leaned back in her chair and let all the tears flow.