::insert disclaimer here::
Chapter 4
Tess woke early the next morning the first rays of sun just beginning to poor in through the windows, moaning she got up and dressed, drinking the left over coffee from the night before. Hearing a meowing at the door she went over and admitted the stray Millow. "Your in trouble my feline friend" she commented picking up the purring cat. Placing him on the table she heard a knocking at the door. Oh how she hoped it was Chade just so she could slam the door in his face.
Unfortunately it was only Numiar looking friendly as always, "How would you like to go on a tour?"
Setting her irritation behind her she replied sweetly, "I'd love to. This place is a maze." and so they set off.
As they walked he attempted to explain the 'force' to her but completely lost her shortly after "The force is…". Eventually their conversation brought them back to her resisting Skywalker's attempts to calm her. Taking it considerably well she explained how she had felt the restraint and panicked.
As they continued talking their tour took them to a garden of sorts. She admired the plants, rejoicing at being out of doors again. They found a quiet corner and sat down on an ornately carved bench to allow Numiar chance to catch his breath. He was afraid he wasn't as young as he used to be after he explained. They lapsed into a peaceful silence allowing her to soak in the sights and smells of this peaceful place.
During her observations she noticed Chade asleep under a nearby tree. "Have you known him for long?" she asked nodding toward the dozing shape.
"Yes, where old friends. I've known him since he was a pup fresh come to the temple. If he likes you he's the best of friends. May the force help you if you get on his bad side." Seeing her look he explained. "He is the best spy in the new republic and a temper to match."
A boyish man who followed her home from bulldozing over her in a market place? She had suspected thing were not as he first told her but a spy?? Looking at the sleeping man she noticed a butterfly hovering over his long nose. "Him?"
Numiar chuckled "Yes him. It takes an incredible gift do the things he does." Still staring in disbelief Chade woke up.
"Your talking about me, I can tell."
"He's vain too. He takes as much time dressing in the morning as any lady. Then ruins it running through the streets like an idiot." Numiar said loudly.
"I'm not that bad surly" Chade said in mock defense as he levered his form up to come over to where they were. "Good morning, taking a tour of the temple I assume?"
"Yes as a matter of fact we are doing just that." Tess replied sweetly "and I do believe Master Numiar was just about to show me the temple fountains." she turned to look at Numiar waiting. The men exchanged a look and Chade shrugged and turned to go his own way. They resumed their tour once more
" Problems?" he asked in that fatherly voice of his arching an eyebrow. He was one of the few men she had ever met that she did not entirely distrust.
"No." she lied, after all what would be wrong besides he had lied to her from the moment she met him, then suddenly she decided to ask the question that had been on her mind since last night "Numiar I am free to leave the temple right?"
"Of course, what ever gave you the idea that you weren't? You could leave right now if that is what you wished but we were hoping you would stay and learn with us for a while."
Although she could catch no undertones to his words suspicion rose and her alarms went off. "What do you mean?" she asked in a casually inquiring tone.
"It's not everyday someone shrugs off Master Skywalker like you did, you know. We were hoping that you would allow us to learn from you of your apparent talent and you could learn from us in turn." he said his tone still friendly but with a soothing undertone.
"I thought you had to be force sensitive to attend here." She said bluntly.
"No, No, many of our students are non sensitive our friend Chade being an prime example. He was raised by the temple but is not sensitive to the force."
Being compared to that man was mildly insulting but she decided his motivations where innocent and let it pass. She didn't entirely trust these people but what other choice did she have. She could always just pack up and go home she reminded herself but just as quickly dismissed it. Not at all happy about being so easily convinced she said, "Ok, I'll try it. When do I start?"
" Now if it is alright with you?" she nodded mutely. " I do believe Master Kaplan is waiting for you if you would follow me this way please" she just about changed her mind. Damn them she thought they knew I was going to agree. Am I that predictable? The thought scared her, predictability was the first step to being controlled and she had no intention of letting these people control her. She would rather live a coward than a slave. Nevertheless she followed him as he wove his way through the maze-like passages of the temple and to a room in an area she did not recognize. Numiar hearing her disgruntled thoughts decided not to tell her they where late.
As he opened the door bowing her through the first thing she noticed was a middle aged man with gray hair and matching eyes. She must have stopped because she felt Numiar's gentle hands urging her forward. As soon as she crossed the threshold she was grabbed by invisible hands. Emotions rose and in her confusion she could not short them but prevailing where anger and panic. She fought the same as she had before and broke the invisible grip on her in less time. She felt the invisible hands withdraw from her.
The door closed and she was alone with her attacker. "Don't EVER do that again!" she raged. The man, she assumed he was Master Kaplan, appeared unaffected but he replied.
" My apologizes my lady next time I'll ask but I had to see for myself if the rumors where true. Which they do appear to be." his attention seemed to shift away from her. " In fact it would be interesting to compare the way you react when caught by surprise or warned afford hand..." that first few minutes dictated the rest of the day. Him poking and prodding with little regard for her as a living being, more than a few times she considered leaving him pondering alone but each time she realized that her sketchy knowledge of the out lay of the temple grounds wasn't going to get her very far.
Thus the day dragged on, and on, and on, until finally relief came in the form of Nmi opening the door. She went to her as a drowning person to a lifeline when they got the attention of Master Kaplan who was deep in thought Nmi explained that Master Numiar had sent her to escort Ms. Kattan to dinner. He nodded as if not entirely paying attention to what they said and they left as quickly as they could without appearing to hurry though she doubted he would have noticed if she had ran screaming out of the room.
Once safely in the hall she turned to Nmi "You have no idea how much I owe you for that."
"Nonsense,'' Nmi replied with a negligent wave of her hand, "Was it really that bad?"
"Worse. I felt like a lab rat. I was beginning to doubt my own humanity there towards the end."
"That's bad. I had heard rumors but I try not to live by rumors. Are you hungry?"
"Starving. We didn't even stop for lunch. You'll tell me about any other useful rumors won't you?" she asked in desperate pleading. They both broke out in laughter at her tone. As they walked toward the dinning room Nmi entertained her with all kinds of stories about the different masters and their quirks.
They were still giggling as they sat down with their dinners something that looked like road kill but right that second she would have eaten anything as long as it wasn't moving.
"Hey, Nmi. Is there room for one more over here?" Tess looked up at an extremely attractive male probably of an age with them. He had short blond hair and big liquid brown eyes that were no doubt a big hit with the ladies.
"Sure. Jonathan may I introduce you to Lillianna Kattan called Tess. Tess this is Jonathan Windsong." When Nmi finished introductions Jonathan smiled and bowed batting his eyes at her
"Pleased to make your acquaintance." Charming she thought sarcastically even as she tried hard not to laugh at his antics.
"Oh, stop flirting you womanizer." Nmi said giving him a playfully push he quickly regained his balance and joined them at a spot across the table from Tess.
"So you new here?" he asked
"Yeah," Nmi answered for her "and she just had a run in with our beloved Master Kaplan."
"Owe, I feel for you. How long?"
"All day, right Tess." Nmi intoned
"Yeah, and I have no intention of ever repeating the experience." she felt she needed to make this very clear. "Ever." she repeated adding a shiver for emphasis. Jonathan looked down at his plate to hide his laughter and poked at his food with his fork.
"Looks like road kill to me" a new voice said echoing her earlier thoughts as a red head with mischievous golden eyes came to sit beside them. "Nmi if your not going to eat that do me a favor and see if it bounces I'm afraid to touch mine."
After dinner Tess asked Nmi if she would like to go get a cup of coffee or something. Nmi said she would love to but Master Skywalker had asked her to come see him after dinner. She must have seen the look in Tess's eyes because she laughed and endeavored to explain that she was his apprentice. Of course then she had to explain the whole Master Apprentice relationship to Tess who didn't quite understand. Different culture Tess had to remind herself as she walked back up to her rooms alone.
About halfway to her room she sensed someone trailing her in the shadows. Instinct took over as she continued casually along her way. When a figure stepped out of the shadows around the corner her knife was in hand instantly. Which disappeared just as quickly when she realized it was only Jonathan who had spooked her. Though she was half tempted to leave it out just to teach him that it was impolite to sneak up on people. The feeling of being followed vanished.
"I was just wondering if you would want someone to escort you back to your rooms?"
"No thank you I think I can find them by myself."
"Well are you sure you don't just want someone to talk to?"
"Yes, I'm sure. In fact here are my rooms. Good night Jonathan" That was strange she though as she unlocked her door and entered her rooms. Millow jumped into her arms purring and apparently glad she was home after being gone all day. "Hello there little one. You hungry? Let's see if we can't find something for you to eat around here." she talked to the cat as she dug out a can of Beeforoni from the cabinet. "This will have to do until I can get out and get you some cat food, huh" she heated the food over the small stove then placed it in a bowl on the floor. She went over to her closet and gladly changed into her well-worn nightgown.
She was preparing to clime into bed but as she passed the kitchen she noticed something was on the table that hadn't been there that morning. Going over for a closer inspection she discovered a note and credit chip. Picking up the note she read:
Tess,
Leaving tomorrow. Here are enough credits to get you where you need to go.
Chade Narseaa
She picked up the chip it was enough to buy her passage almost anywhere she could possibly want to go. She searched her memories; had she locked the door when she left. Of course she remembered locking it. Then how did this get here and where did he get the right to enter her private quarters. Oh well she wasn't going to get the answers to those questions tonight. Still what did he mean leaving? Where? She was not about to be abandoned here and she still had a bone to pick with him. He wasn't getting away this easily. Besides she had no intentions of staying here at the temple to be poked and prodded at other peoples will. This was her chance to get out. Even though she was free to leave at any time she thought bitterly. All you want is out and you're using him leaving as an excuse to leave too. Oh well. They found her predictable lets see if they predict this. She changed destinations from her bed to her dresser, changed back into her clothes, and re-packed her bags. Was it just her, or did she not seem to spend more time packing than unpacking.
Once everything was packed she picked Millow up placing him on her shoulder, opened the door and left. She found her way to the entrance easy enough lifting the latch and exiting out into the night making sure the door closed soundlessly behind her. Out on the street she had more trouble finding her way. A few shady figures where still out but most places where dark having long since closed up for the night. She decided against asking directions from any of the people. Instead she decided to try a bar she had noticed a few blocks back. Turning around she didn't notice the moving shadow until to late.
She whirled knife in hand for the second time that night but this time it did not go back into hiding. He stood there black cloaked, his hood pulled up over his head. "What a pleasant surprise to find you here Lillianna." the stranger said.