My Knight & Guardian Chapter 12

AN1: Sooo yeah I know its been like over a year since I last updated! I'm so sorry for that. Part of it was trying to find work, and then through sheer luck I got the chance to go back to college. And while I'm still at college with classes I got more free time oddly now! Not sure on update schedules though so please don task! R&R please!

==Ebon Hawk – 10 Minutes Later==

Myra let out a huff of exhaustion from the heat that the desert world had been putting out, not to mention all the groups trekking back and forth throughout the day. All four of the woman in the group immediately tried to crowd into the quite small bathroom. "..I wonder how much it would cost for us to rent speeder bikes?" Myra mused taking the corner piece of the left hand sink as she tried to use a cold wet cloth to wipe the sand out of her hair, face, ears and neck. "..I noticed the swoop track had some for rent or purchase but I didn't catch how much it was, any of you did by chance?" she asked wetting the cloth again.

"..I did not Myra, my apologies." Juhani replied, who was busy using the refresher to clean herself off after having stripped out of her Jedi robes, thankfully in their short time together the ladies at least of the ship had gotten used to seeing each other in various stages of undress, though Myra noted Juhani still waited till she was fully concealed by the refresher door to disrobe.

"..No worries Juhani!" Myra said back.

"..Nor did I, Myra." Bastilla said seeming relived to be able to at least wipe herself down and get into some new pair of undergarments which were thick with dried sweat and sand. Not to mention spots of blood or the like from their battles they had that day.

"..I think it was 100 credits per person for 5 hours." Mission said, while using the water facet to rinse her own face and neck off.

"..Hmm, well that's not so bad I guess." Myra said, pausing from doing likewise. "..I mean looking at the map the Sand Chieftain gave us, on foot it would take us well over a half a day to trek there, not to mention another to get back, figure a full day and a half because we would have to sleep somewhere on the way back. By speeder bikes we'd be there and back easily within 4 or so hours say 5 tops. What you all think? Rent bike's tomrrow for the cave trip?" She asked.

"..Yes!" Came back in unison from those present in various forms.

Myra chuckling some then as she tossed the cloths into the wash basin hamper. "..Right then! Bike's it is." She said heading out followed close behind by Bastilla, while Mission went to get some rest in the lady's bunk room, and Juhani finished up her refresher shower. Heading into the main center of the ship Myra was grateful to get off her feet, removing her boots and rubbing her bare feet. "..Oh by the Force, that feels good." She groaned chuckling to herself. Then sensing and hearing Bastilla sit across from her quietly at the table she opened her eyes to look at the younger though slightly taller woman. Even without their shared Force Bond, Myra could tell she had something on her mind. "..Credit for your thoughts?" she asked while switching to rubbing her other foot.

"..Hmm? I….I suppose I do. I have been pondering how best to say this for the past while in our travels together since Taris. But I suppose I should come out and just say it." Basilla began.

Raising an eyebrow, Myra gave the woman her full attention. "..Sounds serious.." She commented, though got nothing in reply for a moment as the other Jedi gathered her thoughts before continuing.

"..The frank truth is I find myself more and more coming to depend upon you in our mission together. I mean not just for the sake of the mission alone, but myself as well. Despite your stumbles to the dark side in action, I am finding myself more and more glad you are with us." Bastilla said trying not to sound as nervous or stressed out as she was.

"..You made that almost painful to say there, Bastilla. But thank you regardless." Myra replied, putting her boots back on with a stomp, and then using the nearby storage drawer to remove a snack packet and drink pouch to eat.

After a considering look Bastilla continued. "..I...I see, is there nothing I might do to make it up to you? I would rather we were friends. I know I may not have always been the most open, or perhaps friendly towards you but you should know how much I have come to respect your actions and despite your difficulties, continuance to walking the path of the Light Side." She said. "..I am sure you are getting sick of my lectures about the Dark Side and… and everything else." Shaking her head she continued to ramble not letting Myra reply to her first question. "..I spent so many years being hounded by my instructors. Being told so often how gifted I was and how important I could be to the Jedi and Republic, until I was frankly sick of it coming out of my ears." Shaking her head and giving a faint laugh she continued on her rambling spree. "..I recall when I was younger I used to swear I would never become as self-absorbed and stodgy as the other Jedi Masters, quite ironic really now that I think about it." she said.

Taking advantage of her pause for breath Myra chimed in trying to be reassuring, and sensing the self-doubt in Bastilla's ownself worth at her words. "..Bastilla, you're not any of those things really, at least not like the Masters back on Dantoninee I'd say." She said.

"..That is kind of you to say, but I know what I have done and what I have said, what you say as a result is not really true is it?" She proposed back.

"..Well um, look ok maybe its not fully the truth. But you're trying not to be now right? I'd say that's progress!" Myra replied with a smile after finishing her granola bar.

"..Perhaps, but being so controlled has always kept everyone around me, even those I might consider friends, at arm's length. Especially those like yourself who might be most in need of my understanding and compassion. But its perhaps time I change that, no? You deserve to know in full honesty how much I am coming to respect and admire you. I just…. I just wanted you to know this as my friend." Bastilla said.

"..Well as you've told me on Taris, everyone can change for the better. You're obviously wanting to do that now. And as I said before I appreciate your… your honesty and openness to me about how you feel about my actions. Sides you can never have enough friends I figure, especially on a trip and mission like this eh?" Myra said downing the last of her juice packet.

Seeming relived Bastilla gave a bit of a smile. "..Well! That….that was not nearly as difficult as I had originally feared. Thank you for hearing me out. I am feeling much better with that off my chest. Is there anything else then you needed, Myra? Before I check in with Carth in the cockpit to see how things went here today?" She asked.

Myra gave a searching look then to Bastilla, she was tempted to inquire about why she felt guilt in their dreams, why Myra felt like she and the Council were hiding something just as Carth suspected, not to mention other things. Finally, she figured why not ask, at best she would get answers, at worst she would get more road blocks like before. "..Actually there is one thing, about earlier." She said immediately sensing Bastilla's tension rise and her body grow nervous in posture.

"..Which thing are you talking about, Myra, from earlier?" She asked glancing about then to focus on anywhere but where Myra sat.

Sighing Myra sat up straight to look at her fully, "..Look I'm just confused is all ok? In our dreams we share on the Star Map I know I sensed guilt from you in them, like you're hiding something you don't want me to know about. Further, just me mentioning this gets you riled up like you're going to go jump to hyperspace from the nervous energies you put out! Not to mention you literally seemed afraid of me earlier this morning in the bathroom when we were getting ready to set out! At the time I could only figure you were afraid of me because I was blocking the way out of the room, and then when I let you go you were feeling MORE guilty because I offered to help and was hurt you were keeping something from me. So.." Myra sighed. "..so since friends don't keep secrets from each other can I PLEASE ask just what is it that makes you feel so guilty towards me? What is this big secret you and I assume the whole Council know about?"

Bastilla was quiet a long time, obviously contemplating just leaving without a word, or more likely preferring to just run off then answer the questions thrown at her. Conflict showed on her face and through the bond. Rising from her chair she stood just short of Bastilla's full height looking up at her, "..Bastila please! I know I get angry over some things, but I swear to you I won't overreact at whatever this big secret is!" she said with a searching and pleading look. Still getting no answer, Myra pressed on. "..Is it because of my memory loss injury with the Republic? Are you worried that it'll somehow impact the mission? I admit not having full access to things more then two years ago and even then some things being fuzzy is a bother to me but I'm handling it well enough all things considered don't you think?" she asked.

Giving a simple nod yes, Bastilla said, "..Yes, Myra, you are." She said though still didn't answer Myra's original query.

Sighing and seeing she was getting no where, right now, Myra threw her hands up in the air. "..Fine, just...just forget it. Forget I asked. Obviously by your silence you don't want to...or more likely have been directly told not to tell me anything about this 'secret' whatever it might be. Maybe it was the Council, maybe the Republic, I don't care. But again let me point out how hurt I am that you won't share this with me or least give me a reason you can't!" she said pointing a finger at Bastilla as she moved to leave.

She had barely gotten to the door frame that lead to where the landing hatch was when Bastilla called out, "..My...Myra wait!" She said turning back Myra looked at her quietly for her to continue, "..I...I am sorry I can not tell you. You are right it is partly due to our mission, and partly that I have been ordered not to tell you from the Council and your superiors in the Republic. Frankly, I am probably risking much just from saying what I have so far." she said looking down.

Myra was quiet a moment, so the Council did know, as did her superiors in the Republic military. Did that mean Carth knew? And as such was keeping it from her? Who else knew the truth of her missing memories, and why would they so greatly impact their mission? "..Does anyone else on board know the truth?" She asked.

Bastilla shook her head 'no', "..No, no one else, not even Carth." She said as if sensing Myra's low bubbling anger through their bond that the Republic solider might know something.

Sighing, Myra nodded. "..Fine, orders are orders, I can accept that. I may not fully like it, but I can accept it now that I know you have your reasons, even if you don't fully like them yourself now that
I can sense it." She said surprised now how sharper she could read things through their bond. Was it that Bastilla was letting her guard down? Or was it simply because Myra was somehow figuring out better ways to read the shared bond. Figuring it didnt matter she continued. "..I'm going outside for some air, if anyone needs me." She said

Unseen by Myra after she left Bastilla just nodded in reply, feeling frustrated and conflicted over the position she now found herself in. On some level Bastilla sensed Myra was getting more glimpses of her past. Or least mixtures of her true past and those made up for her by the Council Masters. She turned to the ship's FTL comm link system, warring with herself over her duty and what she knew she had to inform the Masters of, versus her growing friendship to the woman who had formerly been the Dark Lord of the Sith. A beep showed her connection and the small holo image of Master Vrook came up. "..Yes padawan? Do you have something to report?" he asked.

Glancing about and realizing at any second someone might come in, or could overhear her words, she simply typed them out and sent them that way, "..You are sure she is recovering memories?" he asked.

Bastilla nodded, typing in another reply, "..She senses your guilt, you must control this emotion, Padawan. You must make sure that she does not begin to dig for more answers then she must know. At all costs Padawan Ronalds must not come to know the truth, is that clear?" he said.

After a second, Bastilla nodded, "..Yes, Master Vrook." she said this time verbally.

"..Very well keep us appraised of any further developments, you did goo Padawan, Vrook out." he said closing the comm line.

Sighing again Bastilla felt drained, and if she admitted to herself sick to her stomach. Making for the cockpit she soon entered it finding Carth silently sitting there reviewing engine performance logs of some kind. Clearing her mind she took the co-pilots seat. "..Anything to report from today?" She asked in her more usual cool collected tones.

"..Not much to report really, Canderous and I took care of that engine cooling problem we had on the way here. Jolee helped out some moisture farmers who were having issues with some regulator. But beyond that not much else has happened that I am aware of. I noticed you had a comm link open to Dantoninee, anything I should know?" Carth asked glancing over.

"..No, just filing a report on our progress with Master Vrook." She said.

"..I see, I guess even you Jedi need to file mission report updates like us Republic sorts hmm?" he said with a wry chuckle.

Shrugging her shoulders Bastilla said nothing in reply, turning herself inwards to begin her meditations.

==Landing Area==

Myra strode off the landing pad, and soon circled behind the Ebon Hawk, to then Force Jump her way up onto the left engine housing. Finding it cool to the touch despite the coming evening desert heat she laid down on it trying to relax her mind and calm her emotions. She was not sure how long she had lain their staring skyward at passing clouds when a growl to her right broke her from her inner thoughts finding the sky was now darkened enough to show it was just past sun down. "..We may have a problem with the emergency stores, Myra." Zalbarr said standing on a ladder at the side of the ship.

Leaning on her left elbow she rolled over on her side with interest. "..What sort of problem?" she asked back.

"..Someone, or something has been in our emergency stores. Mission and I have asked around but no one knows anything. You might wish to investigate this further to see what the cause is." He growled and whined back.

"..I'll check in on it in a few minutes here, it's been a bit of a long day for me and the rest. Guess I needed some time to myself." She said in musing sitting up now and dusting off the fine sand that had blown in on the wind over her clothes.

"..Very well.." Zalbarr growled back leaving her alone then.

Sighing Myra glanced about finding the landing area empty and dimly lit behind some landing lights around the Hawk. Getting up she stretched out her muscles figuring she may as well get to the bottom of what problems were now arising from within the Ebon Hawk. "..As if keeping secrets from each other aint bad enough." She thought sourly heading back inside.

AN2: R&R please!