"(Sigh) I needed that." Lirlia said, finishing her plate of food.
"Glad that you like it! This is my speciality." Dexter said.
"Well, keep up with the food then, Dexter!" Lirlia said. After the tests, Padme offered Lirlia to come to Dexter's place so she can eat. Master Windu and Master Mundi retuned to the Jedi Temple, saying that they have some matters to look upon. Padme was silent, watching Lirlia eat. She wanted to ask what happened, but feared the answer.
"Something wrong, Padme?" Lirlia asked.
"Oh! No... nothing's wrong." She answered.
"You are worried of what happened back there, aren't you?" Lirlia said.
Padme's sighed. "Yeah. Everyone is." She said. "What was that? And why you were so annoyed at the end? If that's how you act when annoyed, I don't want to imagine if you can get angry."
Lirlia ate for a few more seconds, enjoying the food before answering. "I was seen as a test subject for these past two days. I was never seen like a person. Only as a mean to get breakthroughs on technology." She said, drinking a bit of water. "I accepted Desolè's offer, that is true. I won't complain on that. But I felt really uncomfortable under their watch, watching me as a test subject and such, not caring about how I feel nor what I want." She continued on. "Especially when Desolè asked me if they could do experiments on me and my body. I didn't like it. It annoyed me. So I declined." She took another bite of her meal. "Then, when I was facing that big mass machine, I got hit without any care. Just because my armor protect me from damage, doesn't mean that I don't feel the pain or the effects of the blow. I wanted to get out of there. So I used the most powerful shot of my arsenal." She said, taking a deep breath to calm herself. "I hope that they found something, because I won't do it again."
"I bet." Padme said. "The most powerful shot f your arsenal? Can you explain it for me?"
"There isn't much to tell. It was the strongest fire that I could shot form my gun, called Wyvern Ammo type." Lirlia answered. "And no, I won't say much. I already showed a lot. And I guess that I'll get more questions that I'd rather not answer."
"I understand." Padme said. After that, neither spoke, with Lirlia eating and Padme just drinking water.
"Apologies for being really apprehensive of that kind of ammo. It took years for scholars on my home to create it. I barely understand how they did it, but it was shown to me how to replicate it."
"I understand, Lirlia. Everyone has their own secrets. I would be lying if I said that the Republic also has its own secrets."
Lirlia smiled. "Thank you for understanding. But, let us speak of something else, shall we? I don't want to think about what happened these last two days."
Padme smiled, and she proceeded to tell her more about other worlds, more about politics. Lirlia asked questions about different topics, as well as telling her stories of her home.
At the Jedi Temple, both Mace Windu and Ki Adi Mundi told to the Council about the tests on Lirlia's equipment.
"Creating ammo out of nowhere? What does that mean?" Kit Fisto said.
"Yes. The Force acted that way, and around Lirlia as well." Mace said.
"How can that be? Can Lirlia really use the Force?" Luminara said.
"Use the Force differently, Lirlia can. But in that way, heard of it, I have not."
"Her armor also protected her from a direct hit from the modified ATTE." Master Mundi said. "But the Force didn't act around her when that happened, though."
"Lirlia used a strong and powerful shot from her gun. It was measured by the sensors around the room, and even Mace and I could feel the Force on it as well. It was like... charging energy and then it released it at once. That destroyed the rest of the machinery that was left of the ATTE, and it was a good amount." Master Mundi said.
"How did the Force feel around the gun?" Shaak Ti asked.
"It was like it was... absorbing the energy from the Force itself, then expelling it all at once. It's hard to explain." Mace Windu said, perplexed that he cannot find the words to describe it.
"Master Yoda, any ideas of what that was?" Master Mundi asked.
The green alien placed a hand on his chin, thinking. "Said it before I have. Strong in the Force, Lirlia, her armor and gun are. Surrounding them, the Force is."
"Yes, that's clear. But what about that shot?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Ask Lirlia about it, our only way, is."
"She was upset when she left. So I don think that she'd answer our questions now." Master Mundi said.
"Hmm... afraid for her equipment, Lirlia is. The only familiar objects form her home, they are. Protecting them, she is."
"We should speak to her, and teach her to let go of what she's afraid to lose." Master Windu said.
"She loses them, what she is then, hm?" Master Yoda looked to each member of the Council. "A Jedi, she is not. A Sith, she is not either." He continued. "A Monster Hunter, she is. Her weapon, like a Jedi or Sith's lightsaber, they are for her. Represent us, our lightsaber do. Using them to fight, we do. Without them, what can we do?"
"We can use the Force, Master Yoda." Saesse Tin said. "And we can do a lot with the Force as our ally."
"And what would all of us do, if stripped from the Force, we all are?" He looked at each member of the Council. When he received no answer, he went on. "A Jedi or Sith, if stripped from the Force, only a man or woman, they become. Nothing else." He said. He stood and walked to the window behind him. "Lost and away from her home, Lirlia is. But, fall to despair, did she?" He looked back to the Jedi Council. "Learned to seek answers where there are few, Lirlia has. Use the Force like us, Lirlia cannot. Rash and more dangerous than our own, her home is. Need of a weapon and armor, obligatory is. Represent her as a Hunter, they do. Many want them, for good or evil actions. Afraid of those, Lirlia is. Justified, her feelings and decisions are." Master Yoda continued. "In place to judge her, we are not." He finished.
"And what can we do, then?" Master Windu asked.
"Help her, we promised. But, silent, the Force is. Revealing much, it is not."
"What could that mean?" Master Ti said.
"Sure of that, I am not. A theory, I have. But nothing else." Master Yoda walked back to his seat.
"What is your theory, Master Yoda?" Master Plo asked.
"Protecting Lirlia, the Force is."
"Protecting Lirlia, you say? From what?" Master Allie asked.
"Surrounding strongly Lirlia, the Force is. And silent when answers you seek. Seen this behavior, no record there is." Master Yoda said. "Can use the Force in other ways, Lirlia do. Her weapon and armor, feel like embedded in the Force, they do. Full of vitality and energy, they are. Nothing like a Kyber crystal."
"If those feel in that way, what other things could also be on her home world that we know nothing about? How the the creatures there would use the Force?" Master Plo said.
"She said that there are creatures capable of knocking her in one movement. Even with all that protection, I shiver just with the idea of one of those creatures loose in this galaxy." Ki Adi Mundi said.
"Good thing is, then, that Lirlia here is. A reason, to bring her here, the Force had. What will happen?" Master Yoda shook his head. "Only time will tell."
That left the Council silent for the rest of the meeting, with every Jedi Master into their own thoughts.
It was late after Lirlia exited the lab. Desolè was writing all the findings on his report. As soon she left, he started gathering everything to sort each piece of information. He silently was grateful that everything was recorded and written. He took great care to read every single note made by the scientists and technicians, as well as to see every video and analysis made by the different computers. While they found almost nothing, they sure understood a bit of Lirlia's world.
"Her world is more dangerous than any other world on the known galaxy. New and unknown materials with new and unknown properties are also there. Stronger creatures, and stronger people also are over her world. To withstand something that can destroy many droids and even a small ship..." he shook his head.
As he writes, a small beep was heard on the air. He sighed, not really expecting anybody to contact him. He answered the call, not looking to the person.
"Whatever you want, please leave it to my secretary. I am quite busy right now." He said.
"I heard that you obtained precious intel regarding of the girl's equipment." Said a voice that Desolè could only explain as a mocking but serious voice. Looking to the hologram, he saw a man wearing a cloak over his body.
"Indeed, I have. What's your interest on it?" Desolè said.
"I'd like to see it on my own." The man said.
"Sorry, but this is confidential intel, and can only be seen when the report is ready."
"I know that getting some Intel from that equipment was difficult, especially with the girl's apprehensive attitude."
"Indeed, she was." Desolè answered. "Is that all? Because I really need to finish this report." He then sighed.
"Is something wrong?" The man asked.
"Nothing that you should get worried about." Desolè said, no longer looking at the man.
"Hm... I see that you are trouble by something regarding of the girl." The man said.
Desolè has ad enough. He looked again to the man. "Look, everyone wants to see the results of this. Many failed to convinced her to allow us to experiment on her equipment."
"Yet, you couldn't observe nor experiment on the girl herself." The man stated.
Desolè managed to hide his anger. He chuckled.
"I wish that I could see more of her, true. I'd like to get access to a blood sample." He shook his head. "But Miss Lirlia is stubborn, and I understand why. That's why I didn't push more of the subject when I asked her."
"Well... if you give me a copy of the report, I can give you access to a blood sample." The man said.
Desolè looked to the man, before chuckling. "You must really want this. You have a blood sample? How?"
"The Jedi did a medical check on her, taking in a blood sample. I have some contacts there and I managed to get the blood sample. I have it under my possession. Is not much, but I'm sure that you'll find something interesting there." The man said.
Desolè's eyes widen hearing that. 'I can go forward with this...' he thought. But he changed his face to a neutral one. He then received a notification from his bank account. Checking it, he managed to hid his surprise when he saw there a crazy amount of credits.
"Where's the catch" He asked. "Because there must be a reason why you are giving me that much of credits. So, what do you want me to do?"
"I want to see the report, but I also want for you to alter the report that you'll give to the Republic."
"So you want the real intel and leave the Republic ignorant of the findings..." Desolè said, frowning.
"Indeed."
Desolè placed his hands in his face. "Do you know the trouble I can get into if this comes to light?" He pulled his hands away from his face. "Not to mention that every technician and scientist of the Republic took different notes. How can I get out of that kind of trouble?"
"Don't worry about it. I have ways to convince people."
"Ok. So, once I have the report, I should send it to you, and give the Republic a false one."
"That is what I'm saying." The man said. "And, to finally convince you, I will allow you to do truly make more tests and experiments the girl's equipment and on the girl herself."
"And how do you intent to do that? Because she made it clear that she didn't want to be a test subject."
"Worry not about that. I will have my way to convince her. You shall worry only on giving me results once the girl is with me and has been convinced to do those tests."
Desolè saw the huge advantages he could make by working with this man. Even though he likes to be a free man, as well as a free investor and boss, he couldn't deny that the man's offer is a hard one to decline
"Well, May I get your name?"
"You can call me Lord Sidious." The man said.
"Ok, Lord Sidious. So you gave me this much credits, I guess that I cannot refuse to hand you a copy of the report that I am about to finish." Desolè said. "And when you have her on your power, be sure to call me. It was really hard to convince her to make these tests to happen, but I know that I can find something if I have more time. And I'm pretty sure that she also got something in her body that can made her to do everything that she can do."
"Indeed. I will be waiting for your report, and I shall contact you once I have the girl. I assure you that you'll get full control of this... operation... that we now have. And do not worry about the other technicians and scientists to start something against you. I will make sure that they keep their mouth closed."
"I am pleased to her that, Lord Sidious. Well, we have a deal, then." Desolè said as Sidious smiled before he cut off the transmission.
"I wonder what kind of secrets are being hidden by you, Miss Lirlia." He said to himself, watching yet again the footage of the Heavy Bowgun's last shot to the ATTE.
Well, here it is the eighth chapter. Hope that you like this story so far. Again, any criticism, ideas to put on the story or advices to improve are all welcome :)