Chapter 20: A New Life
Three little words.
Jas watched as the young woman made her way through the park. The afternoon sun playing off her dark hair, her mouth curled into a smile as she chatted with her friends. It was that smile that only made her seem that much more beautiful.
He grinned like an idiot, he couldn't help it.
What had he done to get so lucky? He could not say his life as a member of the Folly crew certainly hadn't earned him any point, and yet…here he was; a young man waiting in a park for a beautiful young woman. Wanting to say three words to her.
Is this what it was like, he wondered?
Was this how it was for those that did not hear the Force whispering in their ears?
He hated to admit it, but he liked it.
The rules of the Jedi Order were quite clear on this. Passion was forbidden, possession was forbidden, but as he had told a certain security chief from Bantoon a year ago, he was no Jedi.
Maybe it was finally time to stop pretending that he was.
Maybe it was time to actually start living his life…a simply…ordinary life.
An ordinary life, he thought, a normal life, or as close to someone in his line of work could find?
Was it truly possible?
Jas didn't know, but he was willing to try…
…he wanted to find out, and it would all start with saying three words to her. He swallowed hard, trying to muster his courage.
He was nervous, and tried to remain calm.
It was just three little words.
He could do this.
He watched as she said goodbye to her friend, the other girl likely heading off to either work or class. The one he waited for had just finished with her own classes, he knew her routine, they had met her several times in the past, of course, those meetings had been arranged in advance, and today he hoped to surprise her. This girl he watched, Prynn Pelar was a medical student here in Coronet, the capital city of the planet Corellia. The two of them had first met through Tessa Calican, the Coop's Folly's comm officer. Prynn was a friend of Tessa's girlfriend, Sesca, and one night Tessa and Sesca had invited Jas to go out with them, Prynn had had still been new in Coronet at the time and had needed to get out and meet people.
On that night, she had met Jas Dar Bynn or rather, Jas Cooper for the first time. He had not really expected anything out of it, he had simply been looking for something to do while the crew was between jobs, but as the night had gone on, he had realized just how…interested he was in the young woman.
Prynn, a brilliant dark skinned woman, originally from the planet Chandrila, had had a very interesting youth, one that had spoken to his own past. Her parents had worked as missionaries of a sort, helping set up new colonies as the Republic's age of expansion continued. Both she and her father had worked closely with Jedi healers, giving the young woman an interesting perspective on the order. She had come to see the value of Jedi calm and techniques; she was not intimidated by either them or their power.
It was common ground, fertile soil to plant the seeds of a new relationship.
Jas had been…intrigued, enchanted, and intrigued.
Prynn had lived on twelve different worlds in as many years, and for most of that time had gravitated towards the work of her father, a doctor that had helped set up clinics and hospitals on the worlds they had visited.
Eventually, when she came of age, Prynn decided to return to the core; her experiences having shaped her young mind. She wished to continue her father's work, hoping to become a doctor herself. She had studied medicine on her homeworld, and now was attending university here in the Correllian system, all the while working at the capital city's hospital and volunteering at the med clinic on Treasure ship Row.
Jas was not sure how she had made the acquaintance of Sesca; another spacer interested in the independent traders life, but the two had become friends, and through Tessa. Jas had gotten to know her as well.
He still remembered that first night, how quickly Prynn had breached his defenses, her easy smile had put him at ease, her compassion and heart radiating out through the Force.
When the night ended, he was shocked when he asked if she would like to go out with him again, and even more shocked when she nodded, that sweet smile of hers turning shy and her cheeks flushing slightly with interest.
And all because he had decided to go with Tessa for a night of fun; he had gambled, and it seemed he had won.
All because he had taken the advice Chief Valenthyne had given him back on Alderaan.
You don't owe the Jedi Order a thing.
Have a life, enjoy it, and find happiness.
Jas nodded.
It was good advice, but at the same time, he still wondered at times if he was doing the right thing.
The Jedi way was not so easily cast aside.
He had always tried to look out for others.
Looking out for himself felt…awkward.
Looking out for own his needs were something new to him; until he was nine he had been trained to ignore his needs. It was a role he had been comfortable with, both in Clan Nuna, and aboard the Coop's Folly.
Yet now, he was trying to find something for himself. He found himself wanting something, someone. Was Prynn part of that, he found himself hoping that she was…
It had been slow going at first, his choice to try dating again. Both Coop and Randa had cheered him on, but he had had no luck in finding someone that truly interested him, at least, until, Tessa had gotten involved.
Now here he was, waiting for Prynn in her favorite spot, a lovely park across from the hospital. He had told her not to expect him back until tomorrow, but he had been lucky and their business had ended early.
Now here he was, hoping to surprise her.
He smiled.
They had been dating only three months, but what a three months it had been. It had been a series of new experiences for him, much like the move from Ord Mantel to Corellia had been, but like the decision to move their base of operations, it had been worth it.
The Coop's Folly crew was flourishing here on Corellia, and all because of a few good words put in for them by the Lady Dorma Rist.
The rest, as they say, was history.
IOI
It had been almost a year since the Coop's Folly's adventures on Bantoon, almost a year since they had delivered the little queen to safety, and in the end, Burr had been proven right.
Boss Tyntas had NOT been happy about Coop's decisions.
The smuggler chief had learned about the Bantoon thing through his contacts in the Red Eclipse. He did not trade slaves himself, but he still kept an eye on the competition. The Trandoshans had put a price on Vess and her protector, had been willing to pay handsomely for their acquisition.
So, when word had gotten out that the Folly had gotten the two Bann to safety, Tyntas had felt cheated. The Folly crew had been working as his hirelings after all.
He felt they should have consulted him before making any decisions on such a…valuable piece of merchandise.
As soon as the crew realized who they had on board, they should have returned to Ord Mantel; that was the boss's opinion on the matter. Especially after the girl's guardian had been incapacitated. When Val had shut down, the little queen had been at the mercy of Coop and his crew; they should have consulted with Tyntas right then and there. He could have told them who they had onboard, and what to do with the little girl. Had the Folly returned to Ord Mantel the Tyntas group could have struck a far better deal than Coop had himself, the boss viewed what had happened as Coop getting greedy and not wishing to share with his employer.
Coop had not seen it that way.
Had Tyntas owned the Folly outright, that would have been one thing, but he did not. The Folly crew was an independent operator. They had fulfilled their contract to Tyntas by delivering the gene mods that they had been sent to acquire. The contract had said nothing about dealing in people. Vess and Val had not been a part of any deal.
He had taken on his passengers as an independent operator, they had given him their travel pass as payment for the journey, he had accepted, end of story. What happened later was simply a matter of Coop defending his ship. It did not matter who Vess was, she had been a passenger on Coop's ship, and had been under his protection, he did not sell out guests.
It was bad for business.
Coop's argument presented Boss Tyntas with a problem. On one hand he had always depended on independent operators to keep his costs down; paying others to maintain their vessels was cheaper and safer than buying his own fleet. At the same time, he was angry about the loss of profits that the little queen could have provided.
If he punished Coop, he risked the anger of his other independent crews, men and women who also valued their freedom and what they did on their own ships.
So, the boss had decided to be…less direct in the punishment he had handed down to the Folly and her crew. Tyntas simply refused to offer Coop any lucrative contracts, the ones he did send paid so little that they were barely worth the cost of fuel. He also increased the landing fees at all his facilities for ships that fit the profile of the Folly, the problem in having such a unique vessel was that he could find a dozen little things to tax them for that would not affect the other crews.
Coop was not foolish, after the first few weeks he knew what was going on. Randa knew to, when Tyntas' suppliers started jacking up the cost of parts and fuel.
If the Folly stayed where it was, they would be out of fuel in three months.
Randa Halcyon had been understandably angry and her boyfriend. Furious that he had managed to mess up a deal that she had spent so many years planning and working towards. Things might have truly turned sour between the two lovers had Jas not taken Randa aside and explained what had happened, what Tyntas was truly punishing them for.
She was still not happy with them, but she was at least willing to consider that Coop had done the right thing, which saved the crew in the long run.
Randa's claim on the Folly was far stronger than Coop's it was her ship first, he simply led the men and crewed it. If the two had broken up, things might have gotten messy, which is probably what Boss Tyntas had been hoping for.
One thing was for certain, the Coop's Folly was done with the Tyntas group. They would need to find another way to stay flying.
Fortunately, Coop had a solution; one that had sprang from his kindness, and wiliness to help the little queen of Bantoon.
Dorma Rist was extremely impressed at the length that Coop and company had gone to protect her new foster daughter. She had been so happy that she gave Coop's name to the other noble families of Alderaan, people looking for deliveries to be made with no questions asked.
Though not as lucrative as the deals found at Tyntas, they at least kept the Folly in the stars for a while longer. Most of the Alderaani nobles were not above a little graft when it came to rare foods and wines, or pieces of artwork that would cost more to ship through normal channels.
The work had been good, and after doing that for a few months, things had gotten better for the crew.
Corellian ambassador had heard the story about what had happened with the Bann and The Red Eclipse.
He had approached Coop through the Rist, he had an interesting proposition. It was a proposition that was both profitable and offered the Coop's Folly crew a chance to take a bit of revenge on the Red Eclipse.
Coop, of course, said yes.
The Red Eclipse had made the mistake of preying on a group of colonists out of Corellia. Officially, such a matter needed to be handled by the Republic navy and Jedi, but the Corellians had not wished to wait that long.
In the months that followed The Coop's Folly transported several Corellian military teams to key locations in the mid and outer rim. They struck at Red Eclipse interests and facilities. These missions were off the books, and not entirely legal, but that is why they worked.
The Red Eclipse's friends in high places could not betray actions they did not know about, and the Corellian military kept the matter quiet, no Republic involvement, and no Jedi.
Except for Jas' aid with the Force on occasion, no Jedi were in the loop.
Jas had been cautious at first. As far as he knew, the price the Kuati had put on his head was still live, and living on Corellia meant that they were now very close to Republic justice, perhaps too close.
Coop dismissed his worries; the Corellians were not looking for them, only at punishing the lizard pirates that had hurt their people.
It would be okay.
Right now, the Coop's Folly was flying on the side of the righteous.
They were the good guys…sort of.
The Corellians had been very good to them. They not only paid for the missions, but they offered the Folly a landing facility not far from the treasure ship row district of the capital. It was close enough to launch a clan destine mission from, and at the same time close enough to the other fringe elements that Coop was comfortable working with.
He even had the idea to expand, of turning their single vessel into an enterprise; he had contacted several others in the smuggler community, independents that shied away from the larger smuggler groups.
Coop hoped to make things better, for all of them.
The whole thing had worked like a charm. It had even offered a sense of legitimacy to the Cooper/Halcyon organization. Officially, Coop and Jas were part of the capital militia, and since they had seen combat for the planet, it had entitled the two young men to wear Corellian blood stripes on their pants, the red markings that symbolized that the two were combat veterans, something usually reserved only for members of the Corellian military.
Both wore those stripes proudly, it helped sell their reputations, and that was never a bad thing.
Coop had big plans, and anything that added to his reputation did not hurt.
Plus, he had a good ground team, which never hurt when you were working with smugglers, ships were always developing some quirks, it was good to have people that could fix them, and Coop most certainly did.
As she had with their operations on Ord Mantel, Randa had taken over control of their ground team, keeping the ship fueled and serviced as needed.
It had taken a bit for her warm up to her boyfriend again, but slowly, over the months of successful business the two lovers had mended fences.
If anything the experience had made them closer, he could see it when they were together. Coop seemed to change when Randa was around, but in a good way.
Jas completely approved.
He was not sure, but he suspected that Coop was starting to consider marrying Randa, they had been together forever, and it seemed like the next logical step.
They said nothing about such matters of course, both so focused on rebuilding their business, that did not mean that the two did not keep the rest of the crew up half the night with their lovemaking, they were both quite loud when they were happy.
Which was part of the reason that Jas now hoped to surprise Prynn, Randa had just returned from a buying trip, and she and Coop would likely wish to spend some quality time together this evening.
Jas knew what that meant, and unless he wanted to spend another sleepless night, listening to his two friends, he knew it wise to seek out different sleeping arrangements this evening.
He hoped that Prynn would be up for the idea as well, it was a bit forward on his part, but he did not see any reason that she wouldn't.
They had been…intimate three times since they had started dating, and likely would have been more had his business not kept him away for long periods of time.
Yet you still can't say them, his conscience chided, those three little words.
Jas shook his head.
It was not that easy, he wanted to but…
He swallowed hard again.
It was not that easy.
IOI
Prynn stopped beside a drink vendor, purchasing one of the iced fizzies that were so popular among the students here.
Jas smiled as he drank in her lovely form. Her top and jeans did nothing to take away from her lovely figure; the green and gold coat she wore bore both symbols of the university and the medical school.
Her long curly black hair was pulled up as it always was when she volunteered, her horned rimmed glasses sat cutely upon the bridge of her nose. As he approached from behind, she removed her glasses, likely to wipe away some of the pollen that seemed to get everywhere in the park on days like today.
Jas came up behind her, and covered her eyes with his hands.
"Guess who," he asked playfully.
Her back stiffened for a moment, but then he felt her relax, no doubt recognizing his voice.
"Hm," she replied, he could imagine the amused smile on her face.
"Well," she said matter of factly, "You waited until after I took off my glasses before trying this, which suggests you are a gentleman. You smell of the spaceport, so you have clearly just got into the system.
She reached up and touched his hands, her fingers slim and strong.
Her touch made him shiver.
He knew how skilled she was with those fingers, and her clever little tongue.
Finally, she smiled.
"Avos, is that you," she asked, "We shouldn't be meeting like this, I have a boyfriend now."
Jas cringed.
"Who is Avos?"
Prynn laughed.
"A boy who said he wanted to marry me when I was three," she said grinning.
He took his hands away and she turned to face him, her smile lighting up her face.
That smile warmed Jas Dar Bynn like the light from the sun.
"Hey there handsome," she said with an eager grin, "Fancy meeting you here."
Before he could say another word she was in his arms, kissing him deeply.
Jas held her close, enjoying the experiencing, the Force around the young woman darkened, he could sense the lust and desire building.
Whoa there, he thought to himself, plenty of time for that later, when you two are alone.
It was like Val had said.
Some things could not be rushed.
When the two broke they were both breathless and grinning.
Why did this happen, he wondered.
How did I get so lucky?
IOI
They spent her break together, he ordered them some food skewers and they walked the path, eating and talking pleasantly.
"How long can you stay?" she asked.
"A few days, a week at most," he replied.
His smile turned playful.
"Looking to get rid of me already, ready to find your way back to Avos?"
She laughed at that.
"You are going to hold that over me for a while, aren't you?"
"Just until you show me, how much I mean to you?"
Her dark eyes twinkled mischievously.
"Is that a challenge, Mister Cooper?"
"More of an invitation actually.
She grinned hungrily.
"And if I accept?"
"Well," he said dryly, "We will just have to see how things go."
Again he felt a surge of desire from her, it was extremely arousing,
He tried to maintain his cool, but it was not easy.
Say it, his conscience said, it is just three little words.
He smiled.
"Would you be interested in accepting tonight? I could come over, fix you dinner?"
"Tempting," she said, "I take it that Randa is home?"
Jas winced.
"Yeah," he admitted, "I think I mentioned how much fun nights aboard the Folly are when she is."
"Looking to get a good night's sleep, eh?"
"It would be nice."
She leaned in and kissed him chastely on the lips.
"I'm not sure how much we will be sleeping."
Her words made him flush slightly.
The look in her eyes excited him.
Just tell her.
He grinned.
"Is that a, yes?"
"Maybe," she said coyly, "Come over about six and we will see."
Jas' grin bloomed into a full blown smile.
What fun, he thought.
What fun!
"I have to get back," she said, "my break is over."
She kissed him chastely on the lips.
"See you tonight."
He watched as she turned and left, his eyes never leaving her, enjoying the view.
"Tonight," he promised in a low whisper.
He still had not said it. He had still not said the three little words.
I love you.
Was it really so hard?
Was he really such a coward?
Why did they stick in his throat so?
Why?
He shook his head.
Oh well, he thought, tonight.
Tonight.
IOI
He had spent the rest of the day tending to matters aboard ship, then about two hours before he had said he would stop by Prynn's he got ready. He showered, shaved, and put on his best clothes.
As he made his way from his quarters, he found himself stopping in the main hold; the rest of the crew was there, relaxing for evening.
He made his way to the first of his shipmates, hoping for an honest opinion.
He smiled and looked up.
How do I look Bee Ten?"
Jas did a quick spin, so that the droid's optics could get a good look at him. He was wearing a new black shirt, and matching nerf hide jacket. His blue pants were the ones adorned with his blood stripes, just in case Prynn was in the mood to spend the evening out.
He didn't think she would, but why take chances.
Besides, he wanted to look his best for her.
She deserved nothing less.
The loader droid regarded him with its huge sad optics.
It made a sound that might have been called a sigh.
"You look like one of my masters, master Jas," it replied, "Like you are about to order me to lift something and take it somewhere."
The droid shook his head.
"Ah, the excitement that is my existence."
"Pay him no mind, Jas," Tessa called out the table where she was playing cards with Burr and Shusk.
"You look great."
He beamed, grateful for her opinion.
He probably should have asked her first.
One of these days, they really had to improve the droid's personality matrix.
What did Bee ten know about human beauty concepts.
"Off to see your doctor friend, Jas?' Burr said with cruel grin.
He nodded, thought he did not like what he sensed from Burr.
He was surprised that the enforcer had stuck with them after the Tyntas thing; still…every group needed their heavy.
Burr was theirs.
"Usually it is the doctor that makes the house call," Burr said, "Still I suppose even a doctor has to study human anatomy every now and then."
Jas glared at him, and flashed him a rude gesture with his hand.
Burr smirked, and returned to his cards, enjoying the fact he had made his shipmate uncomfortable.
"Taking Prynn out on the town, tonight, Jas?' Tessa asked.
He shook his head no.
"She was volunteering all day, after a day of running around the clinic; she prefers to spend a quiet evening at home.
Not that things would be all the quiet after the lights went out, he thought with hint of a grin.
"I'll probably just cook her dinner and we will stay in."
Burr shot him a surprised look.
"You can cook?"
Jas laughed.
"I used to cook all the time when I was with the Mandalorians. Got pretty good at it to, needed to be when feeding a pack of heavily armed and armored warriors.
Burr snorted at that.
"If it was field rations you were using, I wouldn't really call that cooking. Still I'm surprised Coop never had you cook for us."
Shusk giggled.
"I'm guessing he is only doing it so he can charge up the girl's loading ramp," the Chandra Fan cackled.
Both Jas and Tessa shot him a dirty look.
"What?" the little alien said, "It is not like I'm wrong."
Jas shook his head.
No, Shusk was not wrong, but he could have used a bit more tact.
Jas did not like to think what he had with Prynn was some lark.
He hoped that what was coming would be more, much more.
All he had to do was say three little words.
Maybe he would do it tonight.
Coop emerged from his quarters he looked down at his crew, a pleasant smile on his face.
"Looks like I have another job lined up for us folks," he informed them, "If you have anything to take care of before the end of the week, I suggest you not wait, we are going to be back in space five days from now."
"Who is the client," Tessa asked.
"Dorma Rist, she has need of our services again."
Jas nodded.
A week would be just enough time to settle things here, maybe take his relationship with Prynn to the next level. As for the job, well…"
"Did her ladyship say anything about Val or Vess, Coop? How is the little queen settling in?"
"Are you sure that it is the kid you are interested in, old buddy, or the girl protecting her?"
Jas blushed and looked away.
It wasn't like that, not really. Val had been the first woman he had ever slept with, for a Force sensitive that was a big thing.
Intimacy created a very strong bond, even if your partner was not Force sensitive that bond remained.
He would always care for Val, and given her connection to Vess, he would always care for her as well.
He worried, and why not.
He had been responsible for getting them to safety after all.
He had Prynn, or rather he hoped he did, but…Val had been something special.
He would always share a bond with her, it was the simply the way of the Force.
"Hey Jas," Coop said again, drawing his attention.
"I also just received a transmission from Ellis; the clan is back on Mandalore, and thriving.
Jas nodded.
That was great news! After so many years of isolation, he was glad to hear that Clan Nuna had finally found its place again.
"Any problems with the clan's old enemies?" he asked.
Not that Ellis mentioned," Coop said with a hint of a frown, "He did say something about one of the fighters in the gladiator pits on Mandalore, something about this guy making a play for the title of Mandalore, himself.
Jas frowned.
That was…not so good.
The Republic and Jedi had left Mandalore alone in the last three centuries because there had been no strong figure in authority on the planet. It was in the Republic's best interest to keep the clans separate and reduced to warring factions.
If a single leader were to unify the clans again, if he convinced them to return to the old ways.
Things could become difficult for the Republic.
Jas shook his head.
Perhaps he should contact Ellis himself, the chieftain still looked at him as a friend.
Maybe he could find out a bit more about what was going on, on the Mandalorian homeworld.
Maybe he could find some way to prevent any trouble.
Coop made his way down the walkway to the floor of the hold, if he was worried about the clan he did not show it.
He grinned at his old friend.
"Going out with your lady again, huh?"
Jas nodded.
Coop grinned.
"Still don't see what she sees in you?"
Jas laughed nervously.
Coop wasn't the only one.
"Prynn has always had a thing for bad boys," Tessa answered him, "At least that is what Sesca told me."
Burr laughed.
"I wouldn't call Jas a bad boy, Calican."
"He is bad enough for Prynn," she said with a smirk, "That is all that matters."
Jas nodded.
That It did.
He was grateful for that.
"I'll be back sometime tomorrow," he informed his friend and captain.
"Enjoy your time with Randa, Coop."
"See yah, old buddy," Coop replied, "Don't do anything that I wouldn't do."
Jas fought the urge to blush.
He had heard some of things that Randa shouted during her and Coop's revels.
He did not think that there were many things that Coop wouldn't do.
Again, Jas felt a stirring his blood.
He was most eager to spend his evening with his girl.
The thought brought a smile to his face.
To think, he thought Jas Dar Bynn, with a girl of his own?
Incredible!
Maybe tonight would be the night, maybe he would say the three words to her, take what they had to the next level.
He was willing, who knew.
He smiled serenely.
Perhaps this was the evening where everything changed.
Maybe he was ready to finally let go of his past, and seek a future with someone.
Maybe.
IOI
The tram ride was uneventful, and soon Jas found himself walking the last few blocks to Prynn's apartment.
His heart fluttered nervously, he knew what he wanted to happen tonight; at least, he thought he did.
He was eager to see how she reacted.
He wondered if it was possible.
Would she be willing to share a normal life with him?
That nervousness only grew as he entered the building where his lady lived. Jas stood in the central elevator, trying to remain calm, even practicing some old calming techniques he had not used in years.
I can do this, he thought.
I can.
As he stepped off the elevator he felt a disturbance, the nervousness that he had felt earlier increased fivefold.
Jas made his way to Prynn's apartment; he walked quickly, trying not to run.
The Force urged him on, something was different…he could feel it.
Something had happened, he realized.
What was going on?
It took all of this will not to simply blast the door open with the Force. He still wore a sidearm, and his lightsaber was hidden inside a pocket of jacket. He raised his finger; it shook nervously as he touched the control.
The door slid open without resistance, Prynn never left her home unlocked, normally when he tried the button, it would have beeped, and said no admittance, a few seconds later Prynn's voice would ring out over the intercom, welcoming to her home.
That did not happen, the apartment was dark quiet.
Jas reached out with the Force.
He felt nothing, only a sense of unease, chaos.
He stepped into the room, cautiously.
His breath caught in his throat.
Prynn's apartment had been sacked. Furniture had been turned over, books and papers scattered on the floor. Only shadows greeted him, he heard no sounds, merely the nighttime sounds from out on the street.
Jas drew his sidearm.
He did not like this.
He had a bad feeling about this.
He scanned the shadows with both his eyes and Force, he found nothing, he…
"Don't MOVE!" Jas whirled around aiming his blaster.
"DON'T YOU MOVE!"
He had sensed it barely, like an echo in the Force, small and almost undetectable.
The intruder sat perched on one of Prynn's bookcases, a small alien, of a species he did not recognize.
Jas blinked unsure of what he was seeing.
What was it? He wondered.
Why was it here?"
It was small, had it been standing at his feet, it likely would have stood as tall as his thigh. Green skinned with long pointed ears, and raven black hair pulled up into a top knot.
It was an odd little being to be sure.
It was also dressed in robes, dark brown robes that were almost black; a small utility belt could be seen around its waist
Jas' heart skipped a beat.
Familiar robes, he realized.
Jedi robes.
He shivered.
Oh no.
The little alien peered down at him with cool dark brown eyes.
Its gaze seemed to penetrate him, pinning him where he stood.
The alien cleared its throat and addressed.
"Jas Dar Bynn, you are?"
Jas nodded stupidly, and hated himself for it the moment he did.
So much for playing dumb, better to be the real thing, he thought kicking himself mentally.
Nice one, he thought, really slick.
A hint of a smile came to the alien's face.
"Greetings, to you," the little Jedi said bowing its head, "Mondar, Am I. Shadow of the Jedi Order, I am."
Jas felt his blood run cold.
A Jedi Shadow…here.
They had found him, after all these years, they had finally found him.
"Consider yourself in my custody, you will," the Jedi said.
Jas fought the urge to curse.
The little alien's smile brightened.
"In trouble, you are."
Jas sighed.
No kidding.