Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own, except for the parts I do, and that's about it.
Mention of some Star Wars races. Just, cause.
:}
Jade made her way to the cockpit, looking past where Three was piloting the ship. She could see the stars flashing by, the only real thing she could recognize while in hyper space. 'So much for the view.' She thought. 'Why didn't Baron contact me. I was so unconscious, and that's where he usually makes contact. I mean, I could have used some brotherly comfort.'
"A, I don't just need you to be unconscious, but it works better if I am." The boy said, his fourteen year old image materializing in front of his sister. "And B, you were busy."
"And what was I doing?" Jade asked, dreading the answer.
"Training." Baron told her. "The spirit has quite a few things left to teach you. The good news, you're a knight now. Dad told me as much, and the spirit agreed. Not sure what kinds of bennies it brings, but hay, Knight. Dad is still our superior, but at least the whole apprentice knight relationship thing is over."
"That part is never over." Jade sighed. "But yea, I guess that's good news. So, when do I get to hug my brother again?"
The boy stepped closer, wrapping his arms around the girl, hugging her in a warm embrace. "Technically, I'm not there, but the force can make things so much more real. I'm holding you, sis, and I know, was a time, you'd have hated that. But right now, I'm holding you, and we get to share this moment. See, we've both changed."
"You can project this image that far, and be felt?" Jade marveled at the feat.
"Only for you." Baron admitted. "Only for you, because as siblings, we're linked in ways only family can be. And because of that, and our love for one another, I can hold you, just as long as its something you want too. Now relax, cause you're gonna be real busy for the next few days. I do look forward to seeing you again. Until then, I'm just happy that you finally let me hug you."
Jade cried, there in the cockpit, and for once, her father let her. She knew, deep down, that he felt the waves of mixed emotions flowing, but also that somehow he felt it was okay to just let her have that moment. Jade, however, couldn't care less. For the first time in years, she was somewhat at peace with her own inner turmoil, and on the way to her mastery of her own emotions. 'Feel the emotions, but don't let them control you.' She reminded herself. It was a lifetimes work, one she'd be more then happy to spend. Jade felt hope, real hope, for the first time since this whole ordeal began. She took a deep breath, slowly coming back to herself, and sighed when she realized that her brothers time with her was over for now. "I'll see you soon, little bro." She told the darkness of space. Then, she turned and made her way back to the galley, where the others were hanging out.
"Beck, a word please." Jade opened.
"Sure." Beck looked at her, giving her his full attention.
"In private." Jade motioned with her head, just down the hall a bit.
"Go, talk." Trina told them. "Just, I'm watching you both."
"Whats that about?" Beck questioned.
"My brother told her I may have a major thing for Tori." Jade admitted. "Now, can we talk?"
They walked a short distance away, both knowing they had at most another hour before things got busy again. However, this wasn't going to take that long. "I get it." Jade opened.
"Do you?" The handsome boy asked. "Do you really understand?"
"I let my own needs, my darkness, color my interactions with Vega." Jade told him. "I let myself be jealous, because I always knew we weren't the end game, and it hurt knowing I was so replaceable. Tori, I could see just how perfect she was. Perfect for you, and you're perfect for her. I won't, I mean, sure, I have a thing for her, but I won't stand in your way."
"I appreciate that." Beck chuckled. "Only, I'm not gonna be dating Tori. I realized, along the way, I need a more difficult person. Someone like you. Or rather, someone like you were, because heaven only knows what kind of person you'll be now."
"Even more difficult then ever." Jade said, smiling at her first real love. "Sorry."
"I get it, Jade." He said. "I really do. I get the need that drove you. I understand now, just who and what you are. It's just, it's hard, because I found out so much, just over the last week or so, and it changed everything. I… I wanna go back, be an actor, but at the same time, the Empire, it's gonna need me. It's gonna need all of us. Trina, she needs someone like me to help her interact with the court. Mom always had her place at court, only she accepted a long term assignment away from that place, and I may be expected to take her place at court."
"Or maybe she'll let you take over her place on Earth." Jade offered.
"Maybe, but I think she likes it there." The actor said. "No, I suspect you're the one with the real problems. How long before your dad is recalled to court."
"Forever." Jade said, looking at the wall, wishing for a window. "He took voluntary exile, and while he's free to just go back, whenever he wants, he's loyal to Tori's mom. He'll choose her, every time, over everything. Even Carl. And he loves Carl, has a real relationship with him."
"Think Trina's gonna wanna go back to Earth?" Beck asked.
"Will she have a choice?" Jade asked back.
"From what your dad said, she just might." The boy said, smirking. "That guy you fought, he was the main reason her mother was exiled. She just might have some claim to return to court. Given what she'd have out here, and the wonders she's already been exposed too, I guess there's a lot of good reasons for her to wanna leave earth behind."
"I guess." Jade agreed. "We good?"
"Yea, we are." Beck said, touching her arm. "In time, you will understand, when I lost here, in love, it's wasn't Tori, but to Tori."
"You really think I have a shot?" Jade asked, but already she was walking towards Trina. "Hay, we're good."
"Great, cause I'm thinking, we're gonna be landing soon, and it'd be best if we had an idea what we're in for." Trina said. "In short, time for those of us who don't know, probably you, to see what other surprises we're about to encounter."
Jade nodded as she ate, feeding her body while refreshing her mind. It was time to find out what new wonders this world held. 'Yea, what new surprises are waiting for us?' She thought with a smile.
That surprise was the other races. Trina used the computer and it's holo-projector to show Jade a multitude of other races that lived in the empire. Each race had a short description of major trends and quirks that particular race shared. Many had cultural norms different enough to cause problems, even if travelers knew to stay aware and not expect everyone to adhere to their preferences.
A short time later, they were in orbit of a world unlike anything Jade had ever seen before. Trina explained. "Terraforming. That's the closest word I can come to to explain this place. Thing's mostly city, with large farming banks in strategic locations to keep the air breathable. This world, it may have once held some kind of atmosphere, but now, it is what we'd call earth norm, and it has gravity and warmth and everything we're used too, all covered with millions of miles of city. Buildings that reach high into the sky, as well as several smaller cities that hover in the air above. Place is heavy on population, and work programs cause there just aren't enough jobs for that many people."
"And there are aliens." Beck added. "Whole enclaves of aliens. We're gonna meet a lot of them, cause the whole worlds cosmopolitan as anything. I mean, sure, there are dangers here, just like anywhere, but this, it's our first real taste of the future. Prepare for future shock, people. Major future shock." He smiled, hoping that Jade would understand.
At first, there was the usual busyness of landing. The ship was guided down by on ground computers, autopilot and Three doing the heavy lifting. But to Jade, who was sitting in the cockpit, it was her chance to look out at this marvel of modern cities. And what she saw was breathtaking.
'The skies, the world, it's so clean….!' She thought, taking in the many sights.
There was other things she saw. Things like, beyond the intense efforts to keep the world clean and pleasant, the city was built up to the point where, in many parts of the mega-cities, artificial means had to be invented to give the ground access to sunlight. Only, withing those limitations, they'd achieved an architectural miracle that built upwards, thousands of feet, while maintaining a ground level that was pleasant for those who lived down there. This was a planned mega-city, and as a result, there were few forgotten parts.
Jade saw just how high the buildings rose, and from those lofty heights, she could identify the many bridges and streets that lined the buildings, making the city over two hundred layers tall. Those millions of miles of streets and walkways were lined with shops and businesses and residences and schools, places for the far too many people to do whatever it was they were doing. Somehow, her mind latched onto the idea that, on any level, there were shops that took up only a few hundred square feet. Jade saw, in her minds eye, workers in those shops who's whole day was nothing more then the twenty by ten space they were in, and only at the end of the day did they get to walk outside and be reminded of just how huge the world they lived in was. Her thoughts about them refilling the drink machine was interrupted by a beep, drawing her back to the present and letting her know they were making their final approach.
The beetle was small enough to glide between many buildings and use a lower landing pod then any larger ship could. Close to as small as a long distance conveyance could safely be, it was about the size of the smallest pads. Jade was able to watch the ship's approach to it assigned spot, as well as the reactions of the people as it flew by. 'They're so calm. We're flying close, between the scads of flying vehicles and withing a few dozen yards of the people on the streets. Gods, those are walkways. Not a lot of vehicles cluttering up those roads. How do people get around? This place is far too big to just walk...'
The ship landed on what Jade quickly realized was a private pad, and form there were greeted by armed security. "Attention passengers of the Beetle, please disembark and prepare to be questioned." A thing said. Jade assumed it was male, but even the deep voice wasn't enough to clarify. Roughly man shaped, but taller, it had an excessively massive torso, reminiscent of a great ape, but was more feline like like features in the face. "I assure you, this is strictly routine." The nearly nine foot tall creature told the ship.
"That things huge." Jade told no one.
"Yea, that's not uncommon around here." Beck said, trying to sound calm. Inside, Jade knew, he was as freaked out by the raw size of the thing as she was. All their preparations hadn't been enough for them to glimpse more then a touch of the hundreds of aliens out there, and a glimpse cannot prepare you for the size of some of the sentient creatures they'd encounter.
"Okay, stay calm, and follow my lead." Jade gulped, leading the way out the ship.
Only her father was already at the hatch, seeking counsel with someone not seen. "Where is he?" The man demanded, eyeing the hulking figure with almost contempt.
"Sorry, Lord Grey, we had to confirm it was you before allowing you entrance to the estate." The Yuzzem said, showing a great deal of caution when dealing with the obviously smaller, and weaker, human. But Jade, and in fact the entire crew of the beetle, understood that appearances were wrong, and it was the older man who had all the power. "A safe house isn't safe if just anyone can walk in."
"A safe house is safe because no one knows where it is." Malcolm countered. "Now, were is he?"
"Mister Malone is secure in the safe house, and once we're sure everything is as it should be, we'll bring you to him." The tall figure offered.
Jade felt it, something using the force. Potent, not nearly as strong as her or her father, but perhaps more skilled, it was sensing them. "Dad..." Her weapon blazed to life as she focused her attention on a tree near by. 'It's not hiding behind the tree, or up in it… No, this IS the tree...'
"Jade, calm yourself." Lord Grey commended. "It's just an old friend. Jade, this is Tra'lad, a Neti Force Adept. He never wanted to go the Jedi rout, liking his freedom to choose how he lived his life more. Still, guy never once fell, and was a foe during my brief time on the dark side."
She felt it's words forming in her mind. "So this is the dark child. Impressive. Such potential… Wonder if she'll ever reach it."
"You could speak." Mister West said. "She's probably hearing your projection anyways. So, speak, so they all can hear your wisdom."
"They are who they claim to be." The Neti informed the guards. "My apologies, we're supposed to keep this place safe, in case one of the surviving members of the imperial family wants to come visit. Only, they won't come near, so the house is empty, and we used it as a safe house, simply because no one would know if people they didn't know about used the place. Come, food and drink await, and you can tell me about your adventures." It shifted, taking on a more man like form, still towering over everyone there, and walked away on roots turned legs toward what Jade suspected was an elevator.
Jade followed, and from there was exposed to a brief walk through a mix of species she'd never imagined. Her mind reeled as she took in the many shapes and sizes. Few were taller then the Yuzzem, but many were shorter, defying the claim that if a creature was too small, it'd lack intelligence. Many creatures half the size of a man walked about, actively participating in the commerce of this world. But the most common size was around human sized, with scores and scores of them moving and blending, from just odd colors to all kinds of differences. Jade was floored to see the variety, and had to keep herself from gawking at EVERYTHING. It was beyond shock at the technology. Everything was so different, and the pale girl felt she'd never get used to it all.
The trip from the pad to the house was short, mercifully, only covering a short distance of city walkway before entering the appropriate building. "We made sure not to use any local transports, because people shopping, not that noticeable. However, if we called a conveyance, that might draw attention." The massive guard said. "But your party is here, and we're doing the best we can to make our VIP as comfortable as possible, given the circumstances."
They reached their floor, and as the elevator door opened, the small group walked down a hallway towards a specific destination. "This is a guest house belonging to an ally. We weren't willing to use the royal domicile, just in case. The main estate here covers the upper floors of this building, while the imperial estate is floating above, safe and secure, but unmanned by all save the droids and sentience who maintain that domicile." The Yuzzem filled in. "I hope you'll be able to be comfortable, given the spartan conditions here."
The door slid open, showing a vast entryway, with multiple rooms and alcoves sprouting from it. Across the room, a balcony was seen just outside the window. Jade, however, was busy craning her neck to take in the whole of the room.
"TRINA!" Tori called, rising from her spot next to the small endless pool she'd been soaking her feet in. Seconds later, the younger Vega was making her way towards the group, with Jade now watching every bounce.
"Tori, so good to see you." The elder princess said, rushing forward to hug her sister. The two girls seemed beyond relieved to see one another. "You okay?"
"I'm fine." The singer assured her sister. "You?"
"I'm good." Trina said. "I'm better off then you'd think, cause I know how to take care of myself. Just, I was so worried..."
"Grey, good to see you." Gary called out from his spot in what Jade assumed was the kitchen. "I see you got both of them. What about the Dark Order?"
"Taken care of." Grey called back. "Jade held her own against Smyde. She fought a Sith Master, lived to tell the tale, and his skills are beyond mine. I couldn't be prouder."
"Oh, Jade..." The Latina smiled, suddenly noticing the pale girl.
"JADEY!" Cat squealed, rushing from the pool, where she'd been swimming. Water splashed from her body, forming a trail as she raced to her friend. Her arms flung open, and Jade could feel the wet embrace she was about to endure. Only, a towel made its way to her first, giving the Gray Knight a small bit of armor against the soaking she was about to receive.
Hirani called out "I hope you appreciate this."
"Thanks." Jade shouted back to the first real alien she'd encountered. The red skinned Twi'lek just nodded back, seeming to be used to living in such nice surroundings, admittedly as a slave, but this wasn't that big a difference.
Cat hugged her friend, a fierce showing of all her affection. "I was so worried that you'd be killed, or hurt, or worse." A worried look shown on the petite girls face. "For girls, there's always worse, and I worried that something horrible would happen..."
"I'm fine, Cat." Jade's voice was soothing. "Just fine. So, where are the boys?"
Robbie and Andre had taken the chance to walk over and greet Beck, the only member of their little group who hadn't been approached by then. They were talking, with Beck admitting to having missed the worst of the fighting. "Knowing what I know now, I think I could have found other ways to help Jade adjust to human society."
"I thought she was raised on Earth." Rob noted.
"She was." Beck replied. "But you guys know how she can be. For a human, an Earth born human, she had pretty bad social skills."
It felt good to be back with her friends. Jade had already apologized to Beck for their fight, but felt she owed Tori something more. She knew what she had to do, and sought the Latina out.
It took a couple of hours before Jade could talk to the younger princess. First, she had to get through Cat's incessant babbling, then talk about how alien things were, including not just the tech, the architecture, and the food, but just the feel of the people. "They're not all so normal, like Hirani there." Cat pointed out. "Some of them are weird, like some of the northridge girls we dealt with."
"Right, I can totally see that." Jade humored her friend. Jade may have been secretly raised to this world, but now that she wasn't rushing off, preparing for a fight, or otherwise occupied, the strangeness of it all was almost overwhelming. She focused on her task, and pushed forward.
:}
Almost at the end. I know, could have ended it quickly after the action, but I wanted to tie up a couple of loose ends. Thoughts?