CHAPTER NINE: WHAT'S THE REAL DIFFERENCE?
Sten said nothing as he released my hand, which seemed to have no bones. However, his eyes twinkled, and a smile played at the corners of his lips. I could tell he'd noticed me blush like the teenager I was, but what if he'd also glimpsed my aura through the Force? Had he seen how red I was becoming inside?
Before either one of us could say another word, Master Nurk signaled for us to move out. We three did so, and she hailed a speeder to take us to the farming village of Tandrev. It was a peaceful settlement upon the planet of Tython, although lately it had been plagued by hostile people and creatures. "Please remain silent while I speak at the town hall meeting," Master Nurk instructed Sten and me, "unless I give permission to do so. I'd like to thank both of you for your willingness to serve as my bodyguards." We offered the salute of the Jedi in return, letting her know that it was indeed an honor. When we reached Tandrev's town hall, we found it full of villagers. All of the chairs were occupied, and people were standing along the walls. It didn't take any knowledge of the Force to realize that they were agitated and nervous.
"Order! Order!" cried the mayor of the farming community, banging a gavel on the podium at the front of the room. Unlike people of his position in other towns and cities, this mayor looked like he'd just finished his morning chores before coming here. When the crowd quieted down, he cleared his throat and stood up straighter. "Thank you all for coming to this town hall meeting. We're pleased to have Jedi Master Bolaph Nurk here with us today, in order to address your concerns. With her are Jedi Knight Kowal Sten and Padawan-in-training Per'dra Yllari." I lowered my eyes uneasily. After all, I was only an escort and preferred to be anonymous. Sten, on the other hand, remained as impassive and expressionless as ever. "I would like all of you to bid them welcome and be polite," the mayor said. "I don't want any trouble here."
"There's already trouble here," a woman called out, "but when have you and the squid-head ever noticed?"
I bristled with anger. If I had dared to call Master Nurk that, I would have been immediately disqualified from the Padawan trials, and challenged to a sparring match as well. The Mon Calamari would defeat me soundly, and I'd hang my head in shame and disgrace. What right did this villager have to insult her?
"Fury may be roiling within you," Master Nurk replied calmly, "but rest assured that all four of us are here to help. Would you please begin by telling me your name, and what difficulties Tandrev is now facing?"
"Flesh Raiders, for starters," grumbled the woman, "but also bandits and interrogatorsrunning around."
"Do you mean the Sith?" For the moment, I envied the Master and her perpetually-placid demeanor.
"No. I mean your interrogators, sent out from your Temple, who are questioning all and sundry about the Sith. Do we know of their whereabouts? Do we own any relics that supposedly belong to them? What about noticing any suspicious activity?" She scoffed. "My name is Lorenna Tash, and I'm not a Sith. I am, however, tired of being treated like one. Your agents don't let us rest a single moment, and in their eyes, we might as well be in league with them. Whom are you really protecting, and what's your real goal here?"
"In fact," replied a tall man next to her whom I thought might be her husband, "what's the real difference between you Jedi and the Sith? You both use the Force in order to gain as much power as possible. You both think you're better than common folk like us, because you have mystical abilities that we don't. You both wield deadly lightsabers, and the only difference is the color of the blade. How are we supposed to trust you? You Jedi claim to be noble, but if I remember correctly, weren't Revan and Malak Jedi, too?"
"They were, once," Master Nurk answered slowly, "but they betrayed our Order and fell to the Dark Side. The contrast between the Jedi and the Sith is that the former want to gain power in order to protect all creatures and people, including you. The Sith, however, would rather gain power in order to kill and enslave you." Silence followed. "Sir," she said after a moment, I'd like to know how I and my colleagues can help you."
"How about wiping out the Flesh Raiders?" he asked, a rictus-smile spreading across his face. "Have they ever done anything good? All they ever do is attack us, and so we have to attack them in self-defense."