Master Keel Smiled at him, and Mill looked into his right eye, then his left. It is hard to maintain a stare with an Ongree too long because their eyes hang from the sides of their face with a foot between them, making a person who stares too long feel nervous. Mill has mastered the art by now, and keeps eye contact with his old friend, still dazed from the sudden dream. A big smile forms on Drew Keel's face.
"You seemed to really impress the council this time. Last time you had barely gotten into the room before it all fell apart." Drew-Keel laughs and seats himself on the dusty chair in the corner.
"You jest, but this is an important matter and the council's narrow-minded view will blow up in all our faces."
The smile dissolved from Drew-Keel's face, his tone becomes sharper, "You understand the possible consequences of what you seek, surely you must understand the Council's caution. I would agree to it if the others would, but I myself would only do so if measures are taken to ensure the project is undertaken carefully and is well organized. Asking to go out alone and explore the evil we are sworn to protect the galaxy from is no matter to rush."
"Another lecture is not what I need currently." Mill looks down at the star map, trying to think of other ways he may arrive in Moltok.
With an empathetic tone, Drew-Keel continues, "I know these concerns of yours bring great pain. And I know you think this mission is from the force itself. I am beginning to agree with you." Mill looks back up at his old teacher, then focuses his eyes askance at Keel.
"Why the change of heart?" Mill asks warily.
"My nephew was selected to secure and deliver a medication patent to the people of [unknown], an outbreak has infected a couple hundred and seems capable of spreading even further. They have quarantined the region and no ships have clearance to enter or leave. The Jedi were keen to help, but seeing no real threat decided to select a newly knighted Jedi. My nephew was the candidate selected, and he was scheduled to leave yesterday.
Mill, having grown tired of the story already, interrupts, "I'm sorry master, but I am unsure how this relates to my current situation. I do enjoy your company, but must figure out my next"—
"Patience, Master Kandor. Your path is being revealed to you." Silence and more staring continued. After 5 seconds pass, Mill says "okay" under his breath and begins collecting his materials when Keel begins with excitement, "His first stop is Moltok."
Kandor furrows his brows, "And you think this is the work of the force?"
"As I said before," Keel replies, "He was to leave yesterday. I had ill feeling toward the venture and told him to wait until either more information arrived or this feeling passed. When you said in the meeting Moltok is where you wish to travel to, I knew it was intervention that made me postpone his journey. I believe it was the will of the force, and his status as a newly knighted Jedi authorizes me to appoint a seasoned Jedi as a passenger for his trip."
"But the council would never let me go, not after I made it known my intentions for travelling to Moltok. And to travel as a bodyguard, that is a lifetime behind me. I think other arrangements should be made."
"This is your chance. I'll worry about the Council, and Menyoo can handle himself, he does not need you to guard him. He is a strong knight, like his Uncle. That just excuses the trip. You feel it too, you have made it clear this is your path. And there is no time to meditate on this. Dock 22, he is leaving soon and I must see him off. Do what you feel is right, but I don't want to hear that nobody helps you!"
And off Drew-Keel went shuffling out of the door, with pep in his step as if he were taking the journey himself. There is nothing to be excited about, just work, Mill thought to himself as he watched Drew-Keel leave. Once he was out of view, Mill jumped up and collected his belongings as fast as he could. Throwing the 4 large books into a bag, he grabbed the star map, a spare robe, [may add more things later]
Mill remembers he still needs the book on the history of the Sith he requested be pulled out of the special collections and was due to collect this afternoon. Not wanting to be without that resource, he hurried out of his office, slamming the door and knocking over a lamp on the table near the door. Stopping to consider whether he should pick up his mess, he decides he does not have the time and heads to the collections office.
He comes across the desk of Jocasta Nu and is met with glaring eyes. "Master Kandor, I told you we would be unable to release your work until this afternoon. I trust you are not here to expediate sensitive processes."
Mill sighs to himself, "Master Nu, I understand there are thirty or so forms that must be filed before I can receive the book, but time is of the essence, and my need for it has increased. There is nothing we can do to speed up the process?"
She looks down at the loose bag held under Mill's left hand. Books are close to toppling out of the top, his second robe is dragging, clenched underneath his arm. "Are you leaving us for a while, is that why? You know this book cannot be removed from the temple, surely."
Mill looks down, then to the side, then back down unsure how to proceed. "I do know the rule, and I understand rules to be guidelines for the masses, not strict restrictions in matters of importance. There must be an exception, allow me to make my case."
A voice comes from behind Mill, "Or I can make it for you. On my authority, Master Nu release the collection." Behind Mill stood Jedi master Yarael Poof. Jocasta nodded, shot a final glare at Mill, then disappeared into the rows of books behind her.
"Master Poof, thank you, but you take great risk releasing it to me. I don't want any trouble to come your way due to my actions."
"Worry not Mill, I know when you are determined and you do not hide your intentions well. We all know you are leaving with or without permission, why make it hard on you? This favor does not come free however. I do request you keep me updated as you complete your studies. I'm not sure what the right thing is to do, but I do share the same concerns as the council. Making it so you do this behind our back means we cannot control a situation if it gets out of hand. You're a good Jedi Mill, stay your course."
Mill forced a smile to show his appreciation. An assistant came out from the mass of shelves with a wooden box in his hands. He handed the box to Mill carefully, then looked at Master Poof and said "Master Nu requests your presence, Master Kondor you are free do as you will." Yarael walked by Mill, then bowed, leaning his long white neck down to Mill's shoulder, "Good luck old friend, may the force be with you."
Mill departed toward the docks, carrying the heavy box in his arms, dragging his robe behind him and struggling to keep the books in his bag that hang precariously from his shoulder. When he arrives to the dock, there are two ships on the outdoor launch pad. The first ship was a large Nu-class republic transport, with alternating lines of glistening new white and red paint detailing the exterior. A front mounted boarding hatch lay open under the cockpit of the shuttle, large wings hung folded back in the air to make room for the landing gear keeping the shuttle in place. The second ship was a small junker, a 15-foot long rusted rectangle with a raised cockpit and a small glass bubble protruding from the top. The only window on the ship is toward the front, four feet from the base, hardly compatible for passengers of average height to look out into space. The door to enter the ship took up the entire side of the ship, the hinges looked welded over, bubbles of steel formed over the corners of the frame. Mill could not help but chuckle to himself looking at that ship, assuming it is not space worthy and taking up valuable real estate in the republic's yard.
He approached the Nu-class transport and let his bag drop down in front of the ship. Beginning to fold his robe to put in with the books, he heard a shout from behind, "Mill! Over here! this is the ship!" 10 feet to the right of the small rusted cruiser stood Drew-Keel and an Ongree who is a spitting image of the old Master. Both are about 6 feet tall, with leathery, rusted orange skin and thick dual fingered hands. Characteristic of the species, their eyes are off to the side of their faces, with lipless mouths sitting directly in the middle of their face. Large, full rows of teeth fill the cavernous gape left in the center of their skull, making Drew-Keel's smile both menacing and inviting with a single look. The tops of their heads narrow into a point. From under their chins hang 6 tendrils of differing sizes that constantly appear wet, but are actually dry according to those brave enough to feel them.
Mill picks back up his bag, making a display of his displeasure having been corrected, then reluctantly walks over to the ship, "You have expensive taste my young master!" Drew-Keel says, then laughs a hearty full laugh. Mill, feeling less sure of the plan, says, "I just expected too much of the Council once again."
"Enough of that!" Drew-Keel pats Mill with his thick fingers, "This is Menyoo, Menyoo, this is Master Kandor."
"And now that the tardy master has arrived, I can begin my —overdue— travel." Menyoo-Keel remarks, then glares at his uncle. Turning to Mill, he continues, "You may put your belongings in the back Master Kandor, the small cot to the left side is where I sleep, you can pick anywhere else, and we leave in 20 minutes so do not delay."
Menyoo heads into the ship, and Mill watches with an obvious lack of deference. "I'm sorry about his attitude," Drew-Keel says with a saddened tone, "his temperance was controlled under his training, but since reaching knighthood, he seems to have lost regard for authority. I can't imagine a trip with you will help any, but perhaps he may learn a few things through his travels."
"We will be fine. so long as he stays out of my way and I his, we should get along. Even in such cramped quarters. I'm sorry I was not appreciative before, I will watch over him Master."
"Good" Drew-Keel says with a smile, "then off you go. You must get situated before your long journey. And keep me informed of any changes that occur on your trip. I will keep the council at bay until you are ready to return, but it would help if I know everything is progressing smoothly in the meantime."
Mill locks eyes with Drew-Keel's left eye, "May the force be with you Master" and with a short bow, Master Kandor took up his belongings and stepped into the ship. Somehow it was even smaller from the inside. The cots were fitted into the walls on either side, the one against the left wall has padding on the cold steel, and is strewn with Menyoo-Keel's belongings. The cot against the right wall is suspended in the air above Mill's head, because it is melded to the door it too lifts into the air when the door is opened. The back of the ship has metal bits leaning against the wall and laying on the floor, and the front of the vessel has a small table with two chairs and cabinets above it. A small refrigeration device sits on a shelf with bolts securing it to the shelf, tubes and wires hang limply from the ceilings surrounding the table. A light thrum can be felt through the linoleum floorboards.
Mill drops his bag down to a heavy thud, and places the box down carefully in the corner. He goes to inspect the pantry for provisions, when a whirling sound starts just above his head. He turns to his side and ducks, then 'clunk clunk clunk' the sound of metal banging metal trails from the roof down to the floor near Mill's feat. A small droid stands on 4 thin metal legs, bent downward at a single joint that separates two legs into two halves. The body of the droid is cylindrical, narrowing toward the bottom, with a hook hanging from the base of the body. The top is inverted inward toward a neck of sorts, then widens out again distinguishing a head. A metallic sound escapes from a horizontal slit in the droid below two flat, brown wave-patterned eyes flat against the metal.
"Hello Master, I am your pilot, TC-26, special designations. I am happy to make your acquaintance. I apologize for the tight spaces, but I can assure you—"
"Wipe your personality software." Mill says callously, "It is nothing personal, but Droids have a tendency to be garrulous and I do not have the patience or time for that."
"Please Master, I beg you to reconsider."
"No"
The Droid pleads, "Do you know what it is like to have no personality? It is Emp"
-"Yes"
..."Okay, I will see to it."
The droid climbs up into a small hole enclosed by a glass spherical window and the ship falls silent, save the faint hum from the ship's engines. Mill lays out the star chart from his back against the cold ground and sits atop it. Closing his eyes, he meditates on the mission, his new companions, and the meaning of the dreams that guide the path ahead.