Knights and Eros Bound
Chapter 17
As had been their routine for the journey, they began discussion over supper. Once again, the easier things dominated the conversation-the war, the state of the Republic, the war, and of course, the Jedi Order. This time however, things took a turn to deeper aspects…the nature of the Force itself.
"Do you ever think the Masters are wrong, Toboo?" Schurke asked through a mouthful of Shuura fruit. "When they say that there is only one path to understanding the Force? That the Jedi way is the only way?"
"What do you mean?" Anakin asked carefully.
"Schurke just wants to see if bad boys have more fun," Kampher snorted. "He needs a change of scenery, perhaps."
"Gris thought there was more," Schurke said quietly, ignoring the jibe, and both Anakin and Kampher were taken aback. "You never talked to her about it, Kam?"
"No." Now it was Kampher's turn to be guarded. "We talked about… other things I guess…" Uncharacteristically, she blushed.
"What did she say?" Anakin pressed, less concerned with Kampher's reaction than the question at hand. Her Master had been rather interested in the darker aspects of the force, a subject Anakin both feared and was fascinated by. Sometimes he wondered whether or not discussing the subject was another aspect of the Master Padawan relationship… a man must sometimes seek out other sources of learning in order to grow.
"Not a lot," Schurke admitted. "Never anything specific. Sometimes she'd start to talk about it and then, usually someone would come along and she'd change the subject." He added almost as an afterthought. "At least with me…"
Anakin grew thoughtful. "Master Aliéné, he was primarily a scholar wasn't he? I mean... before... well, you know..."
"Yes," Schurke agreed. "He spent almost as much time in the Jedi Archives as he did with Gris. She was an 'orphan' long before Master Aliéné dissapeared... "
"If you will excuse me," Kampher said, all at once. "We have a long day tomorrow. Securing a transport and clothing…" and without another word, she retreated to their quarters.
Anakin and Schurke, with a new understanding that was a gift of their bonding, let her go without restraint.
"What if Gris doesn't want to come back, Schurke?" Anakin asked suddenly. "What if she's truly happy? We can't drag her back like a rogue Bantha…"
"We need to be sure, Toboo," Schurke replied softly, taking a sip of caff. "For Kam's sake, if nothing else."
"And what if she's right, Schurke?" Anakin answered him in that same soft tone. "Different people, different path…What if she's right?"
They spent the rest of the journey in quiet contemplation. Upon arrival at Carratos, however, they picked up some of their old camaraderie. Anakin and Schurke posed as freighter pilots, arguing over the merits and flaws of the different transports. Schurke predictably argued for the Corellian freighter. Anakin wanted to bypass it as being too obtrusive and suggested a smaller ship, an Alderainian Corvette that had been modified for hyperspace. Its former owner had obviously been a smuggler with a penchant for speed and thrill racing, and perhaps a bit of danger, considering the blaster burns that adorned its hull. It was a veritable beast, and Anakin had fallen in love with it on the spot. Kampher left the final decision to the boys, watching Anakin mercilessly haggle with the shipyard owner and taking this time to observe and reflect on their self-imposed mission,
She missed Gris, that was a given fact, and wondered how long had Gris really been gone. Not physically, but emotionally… spiritually. The Knighting itself had been a bittersweet affair. With the exception of Anakin, all of them had lost their Masters in one battle or another of this dreadful war. Masters Grigio and Astengasi were now one with the Force. Master Aliéné lost to madness and perhaps...
Kampher's reverie was interrupted by the return of Anakin and Schurke, who were obviously pleased with their aquasition. It would serve to take them to Ord Mantel, and then, hopefully, home.
"Thank the Gods for the Temple's access to the Republic War funds!" Schurke said happily. "Of course, it was too easy to… persuade the ship broker that the thing Toboo chose was only worthy of scrapping, but…"
"Schurke Canaille! You didn't…" Kampher cried out indignantly.
Both men cast their eyes to the ground, Anakin sheepishly shuffled his feet.
"No, not Schurke…" he admitted. Anakin raised his head sharply, suddenly defensive.
"The man was a crook! He would have made Watto look like an honest business being… As it was, we had to go to four more dealers to get parts for the stabilizers! Unless you want to enter the atmosphere of Ord Mantel with our collective heads between our legs kissing our…"
"Anakin!"
"Enough!" Schurke snapped, the peacemaker this time. "Sometimes you have to play outside the lines. How long will it take to fix the stabilizers, Toboo?"
"A few hours. Not long," Anakin replied, sullenly at first, and then he forced a smile. "Less time if Kam can put her other skills to good use… the hand gets sore… at least the real one… and Shurke, your com skill would come in handy…"
Kampher reluctantly smiled back. "All right, you two pirates," she said. "Let's see what you've got."
Peace once again restored, the three Jedi made their way to the shipyards and their new acquisition.
"What a piece of junk…" she mused.
"Ah she's not that bad…" Anakin retorted with a smile. "She's a lot more powerful than she looks, and as Master Yoda is so fond of saying, size matters not." He shot Schurke a look, and for once, Schurke wisely held his tongue. Kampher relented at last.
"I'll take your word for it Toboo…" she sighed. "But if the cockpit is designed for Dugs, I'll make sure your bulky little frame is crammed into the pilot's seat in such a way that when you finally manage to extract yourself, you'll have to find new ways of sitting for a month…"
With the three Jedi working together, repairs only took a few hours and by night fall, they were on their way to Ord Mantel… and their meeting with Gris…