Chapter Twenty-One: Shatterpoint

Davik Kang and his Quarren associated were delivering weapons.

A lot of weapons.

Meetra had looked over catalogs of the stuff in Dantooine, and it was amazing. Some of this stuff was major quality. Plasma blasters that fired shots so powerful you had to put down a stand and heavy repeaters.

And the Milenda government was making a deal for it.

"A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Korus," said Davik Kang, shaking the hand of the official. "If you ever need any other weapons and equipment for troublesome rebels, give us a call."

"Your prices were quite reasonable, Mr. Davik. I may just do that," said Korus.

Korus was the leader of this part of the Melinda security forces, and he'd received a sudden offer. With the recent Mandalorian raids, Meetra had seen them accept quickly.

Meetra had seen a lot of things. A village burned out with bodies all over the place. Buildings in flames, fields of vegetables destroyed for no reason at all. Meetra had seen the horrors firsthand and been near a couple of firefights. Much of her time had been spent helping others, using the force to heal them.

When Davik left, he went into his ship and flew away. Only then did Vrook come out of the shadows of the trees and into the clearing. Meetra moved after him. Why couldn't she have gotten Kavar as her Master?

Once she would have felt guilty for thinking that.

Once was a long time ago.

"Is it done?" asked Vrook.

"Yes, we've got the weapons and equipment we needed for the assault," said Korus.

"Very well," said Vrook, who'd pushed for a delay. "I do not like associating with these arms dealers. But in the present circumstances, the weaponry will be necessary."

Kovus' men began to unload their supplies, and the Jedi made their way over to their speeder. Here Meetra thought about what Vrook had said and decided to risk the lecture and ask a question. "Why is it necessary?"

"If one must fight a war, one must try to win it," said Vrook. "Melinda and Daan have subpar weaponry, these Mandalorians, whoever they are, do not.

"Kavar, were you successful?"

Kavar came out of the shadows shortly and nodded. "Yes. A tracker has been placed on the cargo ship. We'll know exactly where it makes birth."

"Wait, so you make a deal with arms dealers, and then you try to arrest them?" asked Meetra. Was Vrook even aware of how hypocritical that was? Probably not.

"We have not made any arrangements," said Vrook, rationalizing as always. "Melinda is free to do as it wishes, and we are forbidden to intervene. Both by our code and the Republics laws."

"However, if we should just happen to be in the right place and the right time to track down some criminals we need for the moment..." said Kavar with a smile. "Well, the force has a way of guiding us, doesn't it?" He raised a comlink. "Kavar to Captain Saul Karath?"

"Yes, what is it?" came Captain Karath's voice.

"I've got a cargo vessel piloted by a Davik Kang that should be heading into orbit," said Kavar. "I'm sending you the tracker coordinates. I'd like you to take it's ID right away. Follow it to its source, but don't intervene.

"Also, put out a search on Davik Kang. That's a Tarisian name, and also a Quarren named Viscious. Pull up everything you can on them."

"Understood," said Saul.

"Why not just arrest them?" asked Meetra.

"Have you ever killed ants, Meetra?" asked Kavar.

Meetra remembered she had once. She'd felt terrible about it for weeks afterward. Then Revan pointed out she'd probably killed thousands without ever knowing it. Somehow that had actually made things a bit better.

"This hardly seems like an appropriate conversation-" said Vrook.

"I remember we had a problem with them on Dantooine," said Meetra. He was cutting him off while pretending not to notice him talking. "There was a period where a colony of them was all over the place."

"So, how did you get rid of them?" asked Kavar.

"Well, we a lot of traps, and it killed them all," said Meetra, thinking about ant genocide and feeling awful.

"Did it?" asked Kavar.

"Well, there were a lot of bodies," said Meetra.

"But surely the Queen could have made more of them, couldn't she?" asked Kavar. "Not all the ants were going to the traps. So how did the traps really kill the ants off?"

Meetra thought about it. "Well, some of the ants probably took it back to the Queen and... poisoned her."

"Right," said Kavar. "Destroying organized crime is like destroying a nest of insects. You can take down any number of drug dealers and thugs, but if the source remains, it's only patching the problem. You need to deal with the people in charge.

"Now, you could dig up the whole garden, but that would cause a lot more damage.

"So instead, you get the ants to bring poison to the nest."

"But what's the poison?" asked Meetra, not understanding the metaphor.

"We have documented evidence of Davik Kang arms dealing," said Kavar. "We also have his name and the name of his partner. All we have to do now is keep an eye out, and we'll be able to find him on something else.

"Once we pin him on that, we can jail him and get a confession out of him. That could easily put the people he's working for in jail too. Or, failing that, we could get information on other criminals who might know it.

"That's why we offer plea bargains. And it's why the criminals hate them so much. Until they get caught."

"But won't Davik realize he's being tracked?" asked Meetra.

"Possibly," admitted Kavar. "But it may not be for some time. And until he does find it, we'll be able to observe everywhere he goes."

"This matter is of small consequence, Kavar," said Vrook. "Our priority must be preparing for-"

And then Meetra felt it from the force. Pain, agony, screaming. Before her eyes, she saw Revan and Malak surrounded by black figures. They held red lightsabers. They were captured and taken into a room with all kinds of metal implements.

Agony filled her as she felt endless screaming.

And then it ended.

"What is it?" asked Vrook.

"I sense something..." said Kavar.

"Revan and Malak... they were in pain!" said Meetra, horrified.

"I sense it as well," said Kavar. "There is... darkness and a red lightsaber. A Sith, clad in black armor.

"Something has happened to the rescue party."

"You give it too much credit," said Vrook. "What you describe as a 'rescue party' was a mad venture, forced by Revan's recklessness. Now more lives are in danger, and for what?"

"At least he did something," hissed Meetra. Revan and Malak were going to be tortured and die, and he didn't even care. Of course, he didn't, there was no emotion.

"What?" asked Vrook.

Meetra remembered that she still needed Vrook. She'd learn everything she could from him then throw him away. Like he'd thrown her away. "Nothing Master, forgive me. I'm just worried about my friends." A lot more than she was worried about Vrook's approval.

"In any case, we must consider how we may retrieve Bastila and the others," said Vrook. "It is clear that the Dark Side is at work here, and should Bastila be turned, it could mean a new age of darkness."

What...

What possible combination of chains of thought could lead to that idiocy?! Meetra wanted to punch him, but she breathed in and out and settled for a subdued glare. Of course, Vrook's first priority was Bastila.

"...That seems something of an overreaction, don't you think?" said Kavar, voice guarded.

"We will discuss the details another time," said Vrook. "Suffice to say that there are certain prophecies at work that may well be coming into effect. Battle Meditation is a technique that has been lost for ages. And yet Bastila learned it by instinct alone. This from a family with no history of force sensitivity at all.

"Moreover, it seems as if the agents of the Dark Side have a particular fixation on her."

"What, you mean, Revan?" scoffed Meetra before she could stop herself.

"Not all agents of the Dark Side are willing or knowing in their devotion to it," said Vrook. Oh great, he was reciting the usual speeches. She could be here or not, and it wouldn't matter. "Temptation can lead Jedi into a fall from almost any source. Whether it is anger at an enemy, fear of the unknown, or love for another."

Meetra glanced at the speeder, then to a number of heavy weapons lying unattended. "You do mean Revan."

Vrook did notice now. "That is not the tone a student should have with their teacher, young apprentice."

"...Forgive me, Master," said Meetra, doing her best to feel contrition.

"Vrook, nothing we can do can help those hostages," said Kavar. "Our role is to help with organizing on the Melinda side of things. Besides, Kreia and Zaz-Kai Ell are more than capable of looking after themselves.

"I wouldn't count them out of this just yet. I'm certain they'll get our prodigal knights out of this soon enough." He glanced at Meetra and then set a hand on Vrook's shoulder. "A word, if you don't mind?"

They moved off a way. Meetra tuned her hearing to listen as she made her way over to the guns. "What is it?" asked Vrook.

Meetra could sense Revan and Malak, sense where they were. Or perhaps where they would be going. Either way, she had no intention of letting them go alone. So, using the force to disguise herself, she began to pile weapons into the speeder. Vrook had left the keys in the ignition, so that was good.

"Vrook, I've noticed something about the bond between you and your Padawan," said Kavar. Meetra put anti-tank weapons into the speeder. "The one that naturally develops between teacher and student."

"What of it?" asked Vrook as Meetra put in some anti-infantry capabilities.

"It's not there," said Kavar.

"What do you mean?" asked Vrook, sounding offended. "Aside from some aside comments, she has obeyed without question." Meetra checked to make sure there were enough rations and began to scale into the speeder.

"I've observed her interactions with you, Vrook," said Kavar. "She holds you in contempt."

"That is a very serious accusation to make against the girl, Kavar," said Vrook. Oh, so now he was concerned for her? Well, Meetra had a full tank of fuel, so it was irrelevant.

"It's not an accusation, just a statement of fact," said Kavar. "Someone may be a servant of the light and despise another person, even as they help and obey them.

"Your student respects your knowledge. She understands your superior skills and wishes to learn from you. But she wants nothing to do with you otherwise.

"Has she ever come to you for advice?"

"Of course," said Vrook as Meetra listened.

"No, not on her training," said Kavar. "I mean, has she ever talked to you about personal matters? Doubts, feelings?"

Vrook shifted. "...No. She has not."

"Yes, that's because she doesn't feel at ease in your presence," said Kavar. "And why would she? Have you ever asked after her well-being? Have you ever done anything but point how her mistakes and how to correct them?"

"Is that not the purpose of such a relationship?" asked Vrook.

"But it's not a relationship," said Kavar. "I don't see an apprentice learning from a master they admire. I see an apprentice putting up with someone who disregards their emotional needs. You expect the world from her, and you're getting it. But nothing else."

"I have instructed her in the ways of the Jedi and how they ought to act-" began Vrook.

"Does she respect you? Or just your power?" asked Kavar.

This was good. Just get wrecked Vrook, you senile, arrogant, pompous, hypocritical old fool.

"Meetra has closed herself off to you," said Kavar. "She no longer takes any teachings you provide seriously. Not unless these have a concrete, physical result. The wisdom of the Jedi is useless if the learner is not willing to listen, and you have closed her mind to you.

"What is that if not the relationship between a Sith and his apprentice?"

"How dare you-" began Vrook, almost at a yell. "...If the girl is not listening, why not?"

"Because you prioritize Bastila over her," said Kavar. "You were already a hard taskmaster. And you never provided her with any positive reinforcement. But when Revan revealed what you had done, it shattered any trust she might have had in you.

"And instead of apologizing, you've rationalized your actions away. You keep pressing home the importance of Bastila. And every time her friends are mentioned, you speak of them as borderline Dark Jedi." Meetra realized Vrook was actually listening and considered giving him a second chance. Then she remembered she'd given him his fifth chance this week. She set her hands on the keys.

"Your actions have alienated her," said Kavar. "And if you don't make things right-"

Meetra gunned the engine and turned the speeder toward where the force was leading her. She knew the generals of driving, even if she wasn't very experienced.

"Meetra, what are you doing?!" said Kavar.

"I'm going to save my friends," snapped Meetra.

"Meetra, be reasonable; there are Mandalorians and Dark Jedi out there," said Kavar.

"Yeah, and my friends are in the middle of them," snapped Meetra.

"Listen to me, apprentice," said Vrook. "If you go out there before your training is even half complete, you will surely be killed. Get out of there before you-"

"Then, I'll see you in hell!" snarled Meetra.

Then she surged off, doing her best to avoid crashing. Meetra was certain there were some very good reasons not to do what she had just done. But none of them were good enough to let Malak and Revan get killed.

The force would guide her. Or it wouldn't, but it couldn't do a worse job than Vrook.