Chapter 21

Aiden knew, certainly, that showing up on Chuundar's doorstep with his father and a severed blade was not likely to be received kindly. He also knew that Chuundar would probably try to talk him over to Czerka's side, hoping that maybe he wouldn't have to fight. Furthermore, he knew that when Chuundar failed at that, he would attack their crew.

Knowing didn't make it any less irritating.

Aiden was a warrior, that he knew. He'd come up through the Republic military like any other solider, and been handed a destiny bigger than most for reasons he couldn't even begin to fathom. And truthfully, he enjoyed a good fight. It kept him loose. But this, all this ridiculous fighting because some megacorporation was absurdly greedy? He liked to think he was fighting the good fight, but cutting down Czerka's muscle? It wouldn't stop the source of the problem, and the source of the problem wasn't his mission.

It was decidedly unfair.

However, the Wookiees didn't seem to care much about the intricacies of human politics. They just wanted Czerka gone, and were happy to assist anyone willing to smash the bad guys. Plus, Leiraya complained less about the fighting if it served a greater cause. And that was a worthy cause if there ever was one.

"Is it over?" Leiraya poked her head inside the hut after the blasterfire ceased. She'd purposely kept far out of the way, as much because her knee really couldn't take a fight as for the fact that she was morally opposed to fighting.

"It is done," Freyyr nodded towards Zaalbar. "My son, I am glad you returned."

"I could have done no less," Zaalbar replied. "I am only glad my life-debt to this human also helped free our people."

"Bacca's blade is yours," Freyyr growled proudly. "The village will be in good hands under your leadership."

"You mean…" Leiraya looked from Freyyr, to Zaalbar, to Aiden and back. "Big Z is going to stay?"

"Well, he does have a responsibility to his village," Aiden replied slowly. "And he's been away from home long enough."

"It's true," Carth agreed, though there was a distinct thread of regret in his voice. "We'd really miss you, big guy."

"Even though you don't talk much," Leiraya nodded. "I've always liked having you on board."

"Do not wax sentimental," Zaalbar warbled with a touch of amusement. "I am not going anywhere; my life-debt to Aidenstar still stands, and I will honour it."

"Are you sure?" Aiden asked. "We'd certainly be happy to keep you, but this is your home."

"This has not been my home for many years. And while it has been good being back… I would much rather stay with your crew."

Aiden smiled broadly. "Well, then, let's go find some more Star Maps."

Freyyr held Bacca's blade out towards Zaalbar. "Here, keep this with you. If you ever return home, we will be waiting for you. You will always have a place here."

"Thank you, Father." Zaalbar accepted the blade. "I will do my best to honour you with my actions."

"You already have, my son."

The trip back to the Ebon Hawk was eventful, to say the least. Having caught wind of the sudden upheaval in leadership, Wookiees all over the village and all the way back to the ship were revolting against the Czerka personnel stationed everywhere. From the mechanics, to the guards, to the annoying sales representatives, everyone bearing the Czerka insignia was having a decidedly bad day. It was something of an adventure reaching the ship in one piece, but they made it.

"I don't think I ever want to see that many Wookiees fighting again," Carth observed, breathing heavily. "I'm glad we're on their side."

"No kidding," Aiden agreed. "I didn't realize we'd set off an entire Wookiee revolution."

"It was about time," Jolee chimed in. "I think they should have thought of revolting a long time ago against those dirty corporates."

"Yeah, really. I-" Leiraya stopped when she saw Bastila standing before them with a slightly goofy grin mixed with a pained expression on her face. "Bastila… are you okay?"

"I'll be fine," Bastila waved her hand dismissively. "Cleaning chemicals… not enough ventilation… and can you not all talk at the same time? Your voices clash."

"Our voices what?" Carth repeated incredulously.

"They clash," Bastila scowled. "Your voice is dark green, and Aiden's is lavender, and they look really bad together. So don't talk at the same time, you're giving me a colour headache."

Aiden and Carth stared blankly at her for several long seconds before Aiden replied, "What's a colour headache?"

Leiraya, on the other hand, had a flash of realization. "You're a synesthete… you hear sound and see colour, don't you?"

Bastila looked somewhat annoyed. "Well… yes. Among other things."

"Synesthete?" Carth looked from Bastila back to Leiraya. "How's that work?"

"It's a psychological condition," Leiraya replied. "It's when something in the brain didn't quite separate correctly during development, so things get associated. Sound and colour are the most common ones, but any sense can be involved… for instance, if you heard sound and tasted things, that'd be pretty terrible."

"You know an awful lot about this," Carth commented.

"One of my friends back on Corellia- Cyana- she's a synesthete."

"My voice is lavender?" Aiden sounded disappointed.

"Yes," Bastila replied wearily.

"Couldn't it be a different colour, like… I don't know, blue or something?"

"I don't get to choose what colour your voice is."

"Oh." Aiden was silent for several beats. "Then I can't trade with Carth."

"Not enough credits in the galaxy to make me trade vocal shades with you, buddy." Carth shrugged with a wry smile.

"Darn."

Bastila raised an eyebrow at them, then merely shook her head. "I'm going to bed. You can look after Sasha for a while." With that, she turned on her heel and exited towards her bunk.

Aiden looked at Carth, and blinked. "Sasha who?"

"So let me get this straight," Aiden started ticking off bullet points. "While I've been gone, you found a stowaway who escaped from Mandalorian captivity, taught her Basic, scared her off, made friends with her again, and then she decided to clean the entire ship?"

Canderous nodded. "That sounds about right. Girl's smart. And apparently bored enough to be very industrious. I can see her Mandalorian captors taught her well."

"I would not be so proud of that," Juhani said distastefully.

"You may as well ask a Jawa to not sell junk," Carth shook his head. "Besides, that was a compliment to Sasha... I think."

"It most certainly was," Canderous scowled.

"Okay, let's not start any arguments," Aiden held out his hands defensively and inwardly sighed. "We've had enough fighting for one day."

"Where are we headed next?" Leiraya inquired.

"Let's see... we have our choice of Tatooine, Manaan, and Korriban."

"Personally, I'd like to avoid what amounts to the Sith homeworld for as long as possible," Carth stated flatly.

"I couldn't agree more," Aiden nodded. "I'm not ready to go there yet."

"So we have a choice between the desert and the ocean. I think it will be much easier to get around Tatooine- have you heard about the court systems on Manaan?"

Aiden shook his head. "No, are they bad?"

"They're absurd," Carth grimaced. "It's unfortunate we have to go there at all, their regulations are so stiff. They at least try to maintain neutrality between the Republic and the Sith, but I wouldn't want to deal with them if we can avoid it."

"Maybe we should look into acquiring some false IDs?" Leiraya suggested.

"Tatooine is a notoriously criminal planet," Canderous nodded. "I doubt you'd have too much difficulty finding someone to accommodate you there."

"So Tatooine it is," Aiden nodded, and turned towards the cockpit. "I'll put the coordinates into the navicomputer."

"Sounds good to me," Carth agreed and followed, leaving Juhani, Leiraya and Canderous alone in the lounge.

"So.. where is this Sasha girl, anyway?" Leiraya asked the Mandalorian.

"Oh, running around somewhere, probably investigating some new corner of the ship. Kid's got an intense curiosity for technology. Chased T3-M4 around with a hydrospanner for about an hour one day." Canderous almost seemed to smile at that. "I think he's afraid of her now."

"I might be too, in his shoes." Leiraya grinned. "Where did you guys find her?"

"In the cargo hold, under some blankets," Juhani replied. "She looked so scared."

"Not as scared as she looked after Bastila frightened the living daylights out of her," Canderous smirked.

"What, Bastila's scaring small children now? I'm shocked," Leiraya rolled her eyes slightly. "Heck, I'd be slightly terrified of her if I were little."

"She did not mean to," Juhani said reprovingly. "And they are getting along quite well, now."

"Sorry," Leiraya sighed. "I like to think I can get along with just about anyone, but she pushes every button I have."

"I can't imagine why that would be," Canderous commented sardonically. "You two are more alike than you think- both of you."

"It is true," Juhani agreed. "If you would talk to each other instead of teasing each other mercilessly, maybe you would see it." The Cathar crossed her arms and shrugged. "I do not know what goes on in your heads, obviously, but if there is one thing I have learned during my training as a Jedi is that this sort of dislike can grow into something larger, something more destructive. I would not like to see either of you go down this path."

Leiraya paused to consider this. It was true, neither of them had ever been willing to listen to the other. Then again, Bastila's willingness to leave her on a planet that was about to be destroyed hadn't gained her any points. Juhani was right about one thing, though- the genuine dislike between them was not going to be productive. Aiden could only do a limited amount of moderation between them.

"Maybe I'll track her down before we arrive on Tatooine," Leiraya finally agreed.

"That would be wise," Juhani gave her a small smile. "I understand you don't get along with most Jedi."

"That's an understatement," Leiraya made a face. "Have you tried being a pacifist when the rest of the Order thinks we should all be warriors?"

"I can see the difficulties." Juhani nodded, still smiling. "Though I confess I've never been much of a pacifist myself."

"A guardian through and through," Leiraya smiled. "Don't worry, I won't give you any speeches. I think you've been through enough lectures lately."

"That is certainly true," the Cathar nodded. "Though I deserved them all. To give into my anger was foolish, and hurt many people."

"Yes, but at least you recognize it." Leiraya smiled. "I think you'll be fine."

"I thank you for your confidence," Juhani nodded appreciatively. "I think I shall find some place to meditate."

Canderous, who had long since tuned out of the conversation in favour of recalibrating his blaster pistol, looked back up as Juhani left. "Huh. I think I'll find something else to fix around here." Nodding at Leiraya, he stepped out of the room.

Leiraya blinked at the somewhat odd mode of his departure, shrugged, and went to find something to do herself. At least, until Bastila was enough recovered from her bout with the cleaning chemicals to talk.

Bastila rolled over in her bunk, groaning slightly and not really wishing to get up. However, there was a mission, and she could feel that Aiden was planning their next move. If there was one thing she ought to be in on, it was the planning. She'd been out of the loop for too long. Not that she couldn't feel everything he felt anyway- up to and including his wandering thoughts about a certain barefoot Jedi- it was the principle of the matter.

She frowned. It didn't bother her, of course. No, it couldn't. Jedi were not permitted to be jealous, and therefore... she wasn't.

Brilliant logic, she silently berated herself. Put your boots on, Shan, you've got a mission to fulfill, and it doesn't involve how you feel about Aiden.

Besides, Leiraya was completely not interested. If anything, she spent inordinate amounts of time with Captain Onasi which, while strange to her, did not bother her in the least.

Twisting her neck to loosen the knots, she made her way to the lounge, where Aiden and Carth sat, eating what appeared to be sandwiches of butternut paste and dried fruit. "Where are we heading next?"

"Tatooine," Aiden responded with his mouth still half full. "You feeling better?"

Bastila smiled inwardly as he swallowed. "Yes, much."

"Is the colour thing gone?"

She shook her head. "No, it's never gone. I just... try to ignore it most of the time. It's much harder to do when you have a massive chemical headache."

"Weird," Aiden said, then seemed to realise that was less than tactful. "I mean, in a good way."

"So, this synesthesia of yours- does it affect anything besides your hearing?" Carth inquired. "I did some research while you were asleep, found some interesting articles."

"I..." she shook her head. "I'd prefer not to discuss my mental illnesses, if you don't mind."

Aiden frowned. "It's not an illness, Bastila- just the way your brain is wired."

"Still." She was silent for a few moments. "Tatooine?"

"Yeah," Carth swallowed the last of his sandwich. "Safe haven for smugglers, largely controlled by the Hutts, overrun by Jawas... should be a good time. We'll be setting down in Anchorhead spaceport in two days."

"Good," Bastila rose, then turned to Aiden. "I'm going to go to the cargo hold to practice my saber technique- would you care to join me?"

"Hey, I'm always up for sparring with a beautiful Jedi." Seeing her raised eyebrow and slightly disapproving frown, he modified that statement. "I mean, a beautiful Jedi who can possibly kill me."

"Possibly?"

"Okay, probably. I'm working on narrowing the margin to possibly."

"That's much more like it." She grinned, and held out her hand. "Shall we?"

Aiden wiped his mouth with his napkin, pushed his tray back, and stood. "Bring it, sister."

Carth, left with only his thoughts and his tray, could only roll his eyes and smile.