Mya paced the halls of the Academy, her stomach knotted with worry.
After he had recovered from whatever he had witnessed, Orion had gone to
his room and sealed the door. That was two days ago.
Her apprehension finally overcame her. Mya headed to the Academy garden, seeking Master Vondo. She found him studying a flower, his eyes half closed. Mya hesitated for a fraction of a second, and then approached the master, coughing to signal her presence. Vondo turned and regarded the brown-haired student.
"What brings you to me on this day, my student?"
Mya bowed her head. "Orion. What has happened to him?"
"Ah. The enigmatic student has begun to remember who he used to be. However, he did not lead an easy life before he came here."
"What? Who was he?"
"If Orion wants you to know, he will tell you."
Mya clenched her fist at this. Vondo stood and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Patience, child. You must not let your anger cloud your mind. You will succumb to darkness if you lose focus."
"But I care for him! The last thing I want is for him to suffer!"
"Your emotion is understandable, child. However, there is very little you can do at this point. I know this will be hard for you, but you must wait. Your path will become clear in time, and then answers will come."
Mya bowed her head. "I will do as you wish Master. It will not be easy for me, but easy is not for a Jedi."
Vondo smiled. "You may go, child."
**************
Orion sat on his sleeping pallet, staring at the ceiling. A single question repeated itself in his head.
"Who was I?"
"Who was I?"
Sitting up, Orion turned on his personal computer. Accessing the databanks, he typed.
SEARCH REQUEST: KNOWN ASSASSINS
SEARCH REQUEST RETURNED 500 ITEMS. DO YOU WISH TO VIEW?
NO
SEARCH REQUEST: KNOWN HUMAN MALE ASSASSINS
SEARCH REQUEST RETURNED 73 TIMES. DO YOU WISH TO VIEW?
NO
SEARCH REQUEST: KNOWN HUMAN MALE ASSASSINS BELIEVED TO HAVE KILLED WITHIN LAST TWO YEARS.
PROCESSING.
SEARCH REQUEST RETURNED 9 TIMES. DO YOU WISH TO VIEW?
YES.
Orion scanned through the first two files and found nothing of interest. However, when he opened the third file, his heart stopped. He found a picture of himself, unsmiling, with eyes of ice. Taking a deep breath, Orion read the file.
NAME: Lored Kedaga. AGE: 24-42 HEIGHT: 1.8 meters WEIGHT: 75 kilograms EYE COLOR: Green-brown-blue WEAPON OF CHOICE: Concealable slugthrowers NOTE: a slugthrower is a projectile weapon comparable to a blaster, except it fires metal slugs instead of blaster bolts BIO: Lored Kedaga is one of the most efficient assassins of recent history, despite his apparent youth. He is rumored to have killed several dozen people, and many believe he was responsible for the massacre of a group of two and a half dozen dark Jedi on Nar Shadda, the Smuggler's Moon. Shortly thereafter, he vanished and is presumed to be dead.
END FILE
Orion sat back and closed his eyes, feeling very sick. (Several dozen people?) He thought to himself. Shutting down the computer, Orion stood, donned his cloak, and picked up his lightsaber. (One thing I am certain of,) Orion thought as he opened his window, (this school is no place for a person like me.)
Then he was gone.
************
The evening of the following day, Orion was sitting in a corner of a cantina in Von Ekka, the Blue Dancer. Sipping a light ale, he wondered how he would find a way off world. An image of Mya crossed his mind, and he closed his eyes. She was an angel, despite her emotions. That was one reason why he was leaving. If by some chance he lost control, Orion didn't want to be anywhere near Mya when it happened.
The front door swung open, and Orion glanced up. A wookie sauntered in, followed shortly by an Ithorian, a twi'lek, and a rodian. The wookie glanced around, a sneer on his face, daring anyone to mess with him. Then he saw Orion. His eyes slightly widened, and the sneer disappeared for a split second. The façade returned, and the wookie made his way over to Orion's table. As he weaved through the tables, the Ithorian pulled up a seat at the bar while the other two sat down at a table.
Reaching Orion's table, the Wookie growled at him,
"I understand the wookie tongue, yes. What do you want?"
I
"No. Give me the details here and now if you want to hire me."
At this the wookie leaned over and snarled at the former assassin.
Orion shook his head.
"Temper, temper."
With that, he activated his lightsaber. The orange blade glowed as it sliced upward, cleaving the table in half and burning flesh and fur as it raked across the wookie's face. As the alien staggered back and grabbed its face, screaming in pain, Orion vaulted over a group of shocked spacers and sprinted for the door. His escape wouldn't be that easy, however.
The wookie's compatriots all stood and drew their blasters as Orion made for the exit. Raising his lightsaber as he ran, the Jedi spun the blade, deflecting almost all of the energy flying his way. Almost, but not all. Orion gasped as a shot hit him clean through the shoulder, leaving a cauterized hole. Not wasting any time, he tapped the Force around him and used it to send a few mugs of ale flying in the direction of the twi'lek and the rodian.
Not waiting to hear if the impromptu missiles hit their targets, Orion kicked open the door and darted out into the evening. Stepping into a side alley, he used the Force to hide himself from his pursuers.
The three aliens ran outside, and seeing no evidence of their quarry, sprinted down one of the main streets, away from Orion.
Once he was certain they weren't coming back, the Jedi released himself from the Force and leaned up against a nearby wall, breathing heavily. (Damn, this hurts a lot), he thought, (is there anyone nearby who can help me?)
The answer returned to him after a few seconds. (Of course! If I can make it to Cloud and Aerith's shop, I'm sure one of them could patch me up.)
Steadying himself, Orion set off in the direction of 9th Heaven.
************
Half an hour later, the wounded Jedi found himself in an alleyway facing the cantina/junk shop. Sighing with relief, Orion started to make his way across the street. Halfway across, however, a hand grabbed his good shoulder. Orion started to turn around, only to feel a blunt object strike the back of his head. He didn't feel anything for a while after that.
************
The two humans looked at the youth they had knocked out, and quickly dragged him back to the cover of the alley. Setting him down, the first human looked at his partner. "Well, we finally got this guy. Any idea why Ne'kral wants him?"
The other human merely shrugged. "No clue. Let's just get him to the Ruby Claw before he wakes up."
Her apprehension finally overcame her. Mya headed to the Academy garden, seeking Master Vondo. She found him studying a flower, his eyes half closed. Mya hesitated for a fraction of a second, and then approached the master, coughing to signal her presence. Vondo turned and regarded the brown-haired student.
"What brings you to me on this day, my student?"
Mya bowed her head. "Orion. What has happened to him?"
"Ah. The enigmatic student has begun to remember who he used to be. However, he did not lead an easy life before he came here."
"What? Who was he?"
"If Orion wants you to know, he will tell you."
Mya clenched her fist at this. Vondo stood and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Patience, child. You must not let your anger cloud your mind. You will succumb to darkness if you lose focus."
"But I care for him! The last thing I want is for him to suffer!"
"Your emotion is understandable, child. However, there is very little you can do at this point. I know this will be hard for you, but you must wait. Your path will become clear in time, and then answers will come."
Mya bowed her head. "I will do as you wish Master. It will not be easy for me, but easy is not for a Jedi."
Vondo smiled. "You may go, child."
**************
Orion sat on his sleeping pallet, staring at the ceiling. A single question repeated itself in his head.
"Who was I?"
"Who was I?"
Sitting up, Orion turned on his personal computer. Accessing the databanks, he typed.
SEARCH REQUEST: KNOWN ASSASSINS
SEARCH REQUEST RETURNED 500 ITEMS. DO YOU WISH TO VIEW?
NO
SEARCH REQUEST: KNOWN HUMAN MALE ASSASSINS
SEARCH REQUEST RETURNED 73 TIMES. DO YOU WISH TO VIEW?
NO
SEARCH REQUEST: KNOWN HUMAN MALE ASSASSINS BELIEVED TO HAVE KILLED WITHIN LAST TWO YEARS.
PROCESSING.
SEARCH REQUEST RETURNED 9 TIMES. DO YOU WISH TO VIEW?
YES.
Orion scanned through the first two files and found nothing of interest. However, when he opened the third file, his heart stopped. He found a picture of himself, unsmiling, with eyes of ice. Taking a deep breath, Orion read the file.
NAME: Lored Kedaga. AGE: 24-42 HEIGHT: 1.8 meters WEIGHT: 75 kilograms EYE COLOR: Green-brown-blue WEAPON OF CHOICE: Concealable slugthrowers NOTE: a slugthrower is a projectile weapon comparable to a blaster, except it fires metal slugs instead of blaster bolts BIO: Lored Kedaga is one of the most efficient assassins of recent history, despite his apparent youth. He is rumored to have killed several dozen people, and many believe he was responsible for the massacre of a group of two and a half dozen dark Jedi on Nar Shadda, the Smuggler's Moon. Shortly thereafter, he vanished and is presumed to be dead.
END FILE
Orion sat back and closed his eyes, feeling very sick. (Several dozen people?) He thought to himself. Shutting down the computer, Orion stood, donned his cloak, and picked up his lightsaber. (One thing I am certain of,) Orion thought as he opened his window, (this school is no place for a person like me.)
Then he was gone.
************
The evening of the following day, Orion was sitting in a corner of a cantina in Von Ekka, the Blue Dancer. Sipping a light ale, he wondered how he would find a way off world. An image of Mya crossed his mind, and he closed his eyes. She was an angel, despite her emotions. That was one reason why he was leaving. If by some chance he lost control, Orion didn't want to be anywhere near Mya when it happened.
The front door swung open, and Orion glanced up. A wookie sauntered in, followed shortly by an Ithorian, a twi'lek, and a rodian. The wookie glanced around, a sneer on his face, daring anyone to mess with him. Then he saw Orion. His eyes slightly widened, and the sneer disappeared for a split second. The façade returned, and the wookie made his way over to Orion's table. As he weaved through the tables, the Ithorian pulled up a seat at the bar while the other two sat down at a table.
Reaching Orion's table, the Wookie growled at him,
"I understand the wookie tongue, yes. What do you want?"
I
"No. Give me the details here and now if you want to hire me."
At this the wookie leaned over and snarled at the former assassin.
Orion shook his head.
"Temper, temper."
With that, he activated his lightsaber. The orange blade glowed as it sliced upward, cleaving the table in half and burning flesh and fur as it raked across the wookie's face. As the alien staggered back and grabbed its face, screaming in pain, Orion vaulted over a group of shocked spacers and sprinted for the door. His escape wouldn't be that easy, however.
The wookie's compatriots all stood and drew their blasters as Orion made for the exit. Raising his lightsaber as he ran, the Jedi spun the blade, deflecting almost all of the energy flying his way. Almost, but not all. Orion gasped as a shot hit him clean through the shoulder, leaving a cauterized hole. Not wasting any time, he tapped the Force around him and used it to send a few mugs of ale flying in the direction of the twi'lek and the rodian.
Not waiting to hear if the impromptu missiles hit their targets, Orion kicked open the door and darted out into the evening. Stepping into a side alley, he used the Force to hide himself from his pursuers.
The three aliens ran outside, and seeing no evidence of their quarry, sprinted down one of the main streets, away from Orion.
Once he was certain they weren't coming back, the Jedi released himself from the Force and leaned up against a nearby wall, breathing heavily. (Damn, this hurts a lot), he thought, (is there anyone nearby who can help me?)
The answer returned to him after a few seconds. (Of course! If I can make it to Cloud and Aerith's shop, I'm sure one of them could patch me up.)
Steadying himself, Orion set off in the direction of 9th Heaven.
************
Half an hour later, the wounded Jedi found himself in an alleyway facing the cantina/junk shop. Sighing with relief, Orion started to make his way across the street. Halfway across, however, a hand grabbed his good shoulder. Orion started to turn around, only to feel a blunt object strike the back of his head. He didn't feel anything for a while after that.
************
The two humans looked at the youth they had knocked out, and quickly dragged him back to the cover of the alley. Setting him down, the first human looked at his partner. "Well, we finally got this guy. Any idea why Ne'kral wants him?"
The other human merely shrugged. "No clue. Let's just get him to the Ruby Claw before he wakes up."