Chapter 6
Aneesa V'aka looked over the bridge of Destiny's Reign as the Asari flagship slipped out of the Citadel's arms like one of Earth's octopi leaving its cave. Aneesa chuckled inwardly at her allusion to the humans. She, like many, had been both enthralled with and apprehensive about the galaxies newest arrival. They were a mystery to her, and as an Asari naval commander, one she hadn't had the opportunity to crack through experience. She had heard they were short-lived but often wise beyond their years, irrational and heroic, often at the same time. Suffice to say, they were remarkable. But also disconcerting. The human's life span of a hundred and fifty years or so, seemed tailored for a high population. Unlike the Asari, who may give birth once or twice in a thousand years, the average human woman would have two children in sixty. This birthrate meant the human's population was large and growing exponentially. Add to that their incredible military prodigiousness and the circumstance that had left them with the galaxy's largest fleet and many, Aneesa included, were more than slightly worried about the prospect of a burgeoning human ascendency.
She shook off the pessimistic thoughts and focused on the panorama of stars in front of her. With the Reapers gone and the only simmering conflict having died down in the last year since the massacre at Patamalrus, the Ascendency didn't get too many opportunities for a run out. So when an Asari science team reported the discovery of a new mass relay hidden within a chunk of ice out past the Hawking Eta, The Asari Councilor Heda Omino, leapt at the chance to launch the flagship in its dedication. Aneesa wasn't sure if she believed the story that had erupted in the Thessian news services claiming the daughter of Shepherd had destroyed the Vanguard station without provocation, but it didn't really matter. The massacre, or battle, had put the Citadel on a knife edge. With the two week journey laid in she retired to her cabin for the night, thoughts of humans banished from her mind.
"So the Baron Do were on to something? We are working with the Imperial Republic on the Outbound Flight II Project?" Ven asked, unable to keep the accusatory tone out of his voice.
Grand Master Rhysode looked unimpressed. "We are not exporting any government. The Grand Imperial Republic are our allies in the Force and their Imperial Knights will assist in stabilizing the wormhole. Like us, they are curious about the projects implications…and as they are our allies we had no reason to deny the Empresses request."
Ven was still a little uneasy but remembered his place. "Yes Master. I understand," he bowed his head deeply as his Padawan did the same beside him.
"You will join Rand Jonibe, Yiorndo Salm, and their Padawans, rendezvousing with the Imperial cruiser Pellaeon before traveling to the Rishi Maze. May the Force be with you," the Grand Master intoned, his tightness at Ven's earlier recalcitrance gone.
After they had entered the lift to head down to the base of the Temple at Kaleth, Nair pulled down her hood and turned her head to Ven sharply, whipping her lekku around behind her. "What was that about Master?"
"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you Padawan?" he answered without looking at the veteran apprentice.
"I don't care about being embarrassed. I care that you could identify with the same beings that killed Amiono…even for a moment."
"I wasn't identifying with them young one. I was simply attempting to make sure the Council had thought of all the repercussions in linking this project to an empire that continues to expand, whether that expansion is by force or petition. It was foolish and arrogant, assuming I had thought of something the Council hadn't considered and dismissed, and I apologize."
Now he did turn to look at her with a soft smile. "I promise they will not hold my prideful defiance against you when it comes to your Trials."
She backhanded him in the chest before the lift doors opened and they pulled up their hoods again, concealing a private laugh as they walked to the Temple hangar.
The Pellaeon was a galaxy class Super Dreadnaught that spanned nearly nine miles from stern to bow, and came equipped with three underside hangars big enough to land their Jedi Cruiser in. It employed and housed over ten thousand crew as well as a full battalion of Stormtroopers and the 181st and 183rd flight squadrons consisting of a hundred and twenty fighters, bombers, and assault carriers. It certainly did not strike Ven as an exploratory vessel. He understood the need for security when entering a new galaxy considering what came out of one five hundred years prior but…he couldn't shake the feeling the Pellaeon was chosen for its ability to instill awe or even fear in whoever we met in the small barred spiral galaxy the scientists predicted the newly formed wormhole in the Rishi Maze connected with.
After their arrest Kallal Soog had made an impassioned plea to the Jedi Council that they could not in good conscience remain in passivity as the Imperial Republic expanded its reach into nearby galaxies. In the end Soog and the others were verbally rapped on the knuckles, since the only being that had been killed was one of their own at the hands of frightened and fleeing students, they were confined to Dorin and their threat was brought to the attention of the Empress. While Ven understood the position of Grand Master Rhysode and the other Councilors that the Baron Do were still conflating Palpatine's Empire with the modern GIR, he had felt darkness in them, and couldn't see the wisdom in their release. It all came back to appearances. A human dominated empire granting mercy to non-human monks concerned about humanity's power. It was that appearance that had fueled his unease with this mission in the first place.
Ven was the first to walk down the ramp into the friendly but firm grip of Imperial Knight Gaedus Conn. While surface allies, the Imperial Knights had a bit of a friendly rivalry/inferiority complex when it came to their old teachers from Tython. The red armored, black caped Force users didn't want for attention. As the Imperial Republic's first line of defense they undertook the most high profile missions, and did so without the Jedi's aversion to publicity. Still, maybe it was the Treaty's stipulations towards midi-chlorian counts, or the galaxy's affinity for historical holos, but sightings of Imperial Knights could still never generate the same awe and adulation as the brown robes of the ancient order.
"Master Sala," the human Imperial Knight with graying black hair and beard said as he took Ven's bare hand in his gauntleted one.
"Master Conn," Ven replied to one of the Empire's six Masters, including the current Empress. "I wasn't aware the Empress was sending us such a powerful tool." Ven applied the subtle jab with a playful smile. While the Imperial Knights were enemies of the Dark Side, they also couldn't necessarily be classified as servants of the Light. They were somewhere in between but shared much of their philosophy with the Jedi. However, one major divergence was their view of the Force as simply a tool to be used for whatever aim its user intended. This Sith credos kept the two orders perpetually separated.
"Funny you should mention that, I was just remarking to Apprentice Diequr that your delay was due to another meditation break. I'm surprised your Council could find six of you who weren't exhausted from a month long fast out of penance or some such nonsense."
"Are we done?" Ven asked with a plaintive hand.
"Done," Conn nodded with a chuckle. "Let me introduce Ondesa Diequr. We'll make full introductions tonight at dinner, and we should be in the Maze in two days. Come, let me show you to your quarters."
As Ven fell into step beside Gaedus he felt a bloom of emotion erupt from Nair. He turned imperceptibly to see the tall and handsome Ondesa Diequr and knew the reason for her unguarded moment. Now, this could derail her Trials.
Ven had to admit dinner was a pleasant experience. While he loved his brothers and sisters in the order as much as true siblings felt for one another, he also loved to interact with others outside of it. And not just about discussions on the Force. While the discussion had started there it soon ventured into politics, smashball, and even the latest touring play from the Esselian Thespian Troupe.
In a shocking coincidence Apprentice Diequr had managed to find the seat next to Nair, and the two had spent the dinner chatting at an ever shrinking distance. He had made up his mind to speak to her later about possible ramifications.
Later arrived the next day when the object of her infatuation strode on to the behemoth bridge, his cape fluttering behind him as he walked across the central elevated walk, and took up a position at his master's side in front of the central pane of the bridge's wrap around viewport.
"You know you cannot form a relationship outside the Order right?" he said just loud enough for her species less than stellar hearing to pick up.
She shot him a look of stunned innocence before softening. "I know."
"So why cause yourself the pain of getting close to someone you can never be with?"
"I just find him enjoyable to be around master, I really haven't thought about anything beyond that."
"I know that. But I was eighteen once too…and you're so close to Knighthood, don't risk it for something…juvenile."
"Master please, you wound me." She wasn't playing this time and Ven instantly regretted his decision to bring this up. He should've trusted her until she gave him a reason not to, which she never has. But she excused herself before he could off the rejoinder.
Aneesa let the steam bead across her body as she laid out in the form-fitting hard chair. A personal Asari steam room was one of the perks of getting flagship command. Closing in on her Matriarch stage and having seen enough combat in the defense of Thessia thirty years earlier to last the rest of her long life, Aneesa was happy for the relative safety of these glamour missions.
"Commander V'aka," a formal announcement came from just outside the steam room door.
"Is it done?" she called, not bothering to get up and throw on a robe for this routine.
"It is Commander. The last of the ice has been melted away and we are ready to launch the activation droids. Shall we commence launch?" the initially hesitant voice called over the reactivated steam.
"Commence launch Sub Commander," she said through a partially opened door, which elicited a comforted smile from her subordinate.
Nair had spent the last day finding sections of the ship to wander where he wasn't. Ven was just about to raise his wrist comm to locate her when the Pellaeon's Executive Officer, Altais Cosmicburn, announced over the ship's PA; "Attention all hands, attention all hands; we will be exiting hyperspace in T-minus two minutes. All hands please return to your stations. All Jedi and Imperial Knights, please report to viewing deck A, as we will exit hyperspace approximately eight minutes from the wormhole."
Six minutes later the six Jedi and six Imperial Knights were seated in a circle on the biggest of the Pellaeon's twelve observation decks. This time it was only possible to distinguish the Force users by the color of their robes as the Imperial Knights were out of their red armor and in their gray and black tunic and robes. While on a teras kasi mat or in a saber tournament they were relative equals, in matters such as these they were acknowledged novices.
"There it is" said a visibly awed Iktochi Imperial named Gormica Met.
"Alright. Everyone draw in on yourself. When I say to I want you to picture yourself trapped in the Pellaeon's trash compactor, use the Force to keep the walls from closing in on you. Jedi, open yourselves to me and follow my lead."
His instructions were met by a chorus of affirmations as the circle of Force users withdrew into their own individual trance.
Aneesa had on her dress uniform as she exited the lift onto the bridge. She was feeling relaxed and vibrant and nodded to the gaggle of reporters in the cordoned off section at the back of the bridge.
"Relay is activated Commander," her Chief Pilot called out.
"Proceed, thirty percent FTL," she answered, crossing her hands behind her rear and walking behind her pilot's three seat navigation table like a Matriarch educator walking past her charges during the Thessian competency standards.
"We are approaching the wormhole," the same voice announced with a hint of nervousness.
Ven took one more slow, deep breath. "Now. Begin pushing out slowly until I say hold. If you feel your energy draining let your Master know so they can relieve you of some of your burden. We are entering a new phase in the unity of the Force, may it be with you all."
Their entrance into the Maze is announced and the Knights retire to a meditation room designed for this mission.
Meanwhile the Destiny's Ascendency is thawing the rest of the relay out.