This is a tale of Jedi long before the Clone Wars. It is a simple tale of a Jedi and her Padawan and her former master. It is an odd one for me for one big reason (mebbe two.) It is primarily about female characters. For some odd reason, I have a hard time writing women. Odd really. The other reason would be that it is me, and one of my very best friends. It is odd to write one's self, and to try to write another to their approval.
Fea Águila paced the hall, her large golden eyes roaming. She casually observed the changes made since last she had walked these halls. He eyes lighted upon a lone figure slumped against one of the stone pillars, gazing out across the city.
"Padawan," She began, noting the tight braid behind the girl's right ear, "What be you doing here?" She asked it kindly, but her harsh voice startled the young human. Wide green eyes confronted Fea, glancing her up and down in astonishment. "Padawan, I be Fea Águila. Who be you?" She extended a narrow hand, pretending not to notice the surprise she had caused. Finally, the young woman met her hand with a firm shake.
"I'm Liadyn Fawks, but my Master calls me Buc. I haven't seen you around here. You're a Jedi. Where are you from?" She spouted curiously.
Fea dropped her head and rustled her not-so-vestigial wings. "I been away for some time." She did not bother to elaborate, much to the obvious irritation of Liadyn. "Padawan Fawks, who be your Master?"
The Padawan turned to face the window for a moment. "My Master is Ayjint Rusco. She has been away for a hecka long time. On assignment without me." The afternoon sun gleamed off Buc's golden hair and the soft brown plumage of Fea's wings.
"Is good to see such devotion in a Padawan." Fea allowed herself a throaty chuckle before continuing. "My own was not so devoted." She shook her head in private mirth and Liadyn could tell it was some joke to which she was not privy.
"Who was your Padawan?" She desperately hoped she had met the Jedi.
"Mine been one Ayjint Rusco." Her eyes twinkled and Liadyn gasped.
"My Master!" Her mouth hung agape for a few seconds as she pondered. "Whoa! Now you can tell me secrets about her!" Liadyn leapt from her spot on the polished floor to face Fea. Fea blinked her luminous orbs as a grin spread across her face.
"Come now, Padawan of my Padawan. Allow me to impart knowledge. The two walked down the long hall, the cityscape glowing on their left, human and humanoid.
Hundreds of parsecs away Master Ayjint Rusco was in a bind. She wielded her dual sabers and faced her opponents with a grim hope. Experimentally, she swung her right saber, making the air hum and drawing an orange curtain of light between herself and the aliens. The lead alien, a towering brute with reddish skin, stepped back hesitantly, then advanced again immediately. His followers, an odd assortment of half a dozen humanoids, stepped behind him in support.
Rusco's eyes never left the glowing pink eyes of the leader. Tensing herself for the plan she had devised in mere seconds, she let out a shout and lunged at the leader, still whirling her saber. Instantly, his buzz-baton was up, in classic defensive position, just as Rusco had hoped. Flinging herself to the ground, she rolled beneath the red leader, gained her feet and leapt over the next. Behind her, one alien writhed legless. The other, not so lucky, was cleanly separated from his head. She ignored them and advanced upon the remaining five. Ducking and slashing put another opponent out of the fight. She Force-jumped again, but the next opponent was ready. She felt the sting of the baton burning fire along her right leg. As she landed, slashing the wielder, she invoked some of her Force training to ease the pain and regain the use of her limb.
The three remaining humanoids had her ringed once more against the cliff. They were wary, staying out of saber reach and brandishing their lit batons. Another instant plan flashed into Rusco's head, motivating her once more. She retracted her orange saber and clipped it to her belt as she simultaneously locked the other and tossed it in an arc at her opponents. As they fielded the flying blade, she turned and sprang up the sheer cliff, finding near-impossible holds to aid her climb. She soon reached a ledge about twenty meters up and recalled her purple saber with the Force. Two of the ugly aliens were attempting to climb the rock after her. The other took the opportunity to draw a blaster and ping some shots at her. He gave up when she effortlessly sent the lasers zipping back down at him. Then she waited, blades retracted until the two were nearly to the ledge. Then she lit her sabers and leaped outward, somersaulting and landing neatly on top of the ground guard. She was sprinting away from the fray before the climbers realized she had effectively escaped.
As she ran, Rusco was forced to rethink the situation. Her mission had been simple, contact the natives of MaarZak III and diplomatically encourage them to band with the Republic. Why they sent me, I have no idea. She thought grimly. Politics. At this point she was glad of the Council's decision that her Padawan was to stay behind. However, she wished she had someone for support. So she had arrived alone, expecting a chilly greeting, as the backwater worlds rarely responded positively to the power struggles of the universe. She had not, however, expected to be led to a suspiciously narrow ravine and blasted at. Only her suspicions and Jedi reflexes had allowed her to draw her lightsabers and block the lasers. Some welcome. I won't take it personally.
She loped back to her ship in a roundabout way, keeping a ridge of spiny hills between herself and the landing site. She slowed as she neared the zone, feeling ahead for another trap. She sensed several of the native thugs very near her vessel. Effective communication and expendable muscle; not a good combination. She climbed the ridge, staying low, so as not to appear on the horizon. Peering through her 'nocs she counted nearly three dozen red-skinned aliens milling about her grounded ship. Except they were not simply milling, they were pacing very strategic guard routes. So much for a quick, quiet getaway. By the looks of it, so much for a getaway of any sort.
She studied the patters of the guards, trying to come up with a workable plan.
The Flying Fox s a typical small freighter converted into a swift, effective fighter. Ayjint Rusco preferred it to the tiny fighters supplied regularly to Jedi. It was built to her exact specifications, with more security than most of the shuttles that the Senate members traveled in. She noted with satisfaction that one alien stationed near the hatch was nursing a wounded hand. Good ol' Traven. I'll have to thank him for that hatch lock. She allowed herself a grin.
Rusco could find no way through the crowd of guards. Not even a Jedi mind trick would distract this many. She assessed her personal items. The 'nocs, her sabers, a comlink and a holofeed to the Fox, as well as about a week's worth of compressed rations. She sighed. Then a glint lit her eyes.
"She actually tripped? HA!" Liadyn burst into laughter, leaning against a wall as she imagined the sight described to her. Fea chuckled as well.
"The best part be that the stumble placed her low enough to render her opponent inoperable. In this way did she pass that section of the Trials." She paused, reflecting. "I still be not sure if it were purely accidental."
"One is never sure with Master Rusco." The two turned to face the speaker. It was Master Yarduk, a tall, dark man with piercing orange eyes. "It seems she has encountered some trouble in The MaarZak system. If you both would come with me before the Council, I think you could be of some assistance." His speech was very precise, and his voice warm and resonant. The two followed him to the Chamber of Elders, the lesser Council chamber. Many Jedi were gathered around a holoviewer.
"Please look at this." A female Nautolan beckoned with a greenish hand. The holo showed first the Flying Fox, resting on a hard packed landing pad ringed by low, stone topped hills. The holo then zoomed closer to the ship, revealing many alien figures standing guard. The view changed again, revealing Master Rusco herself. She crouched with her back to the ridge of rocks.
"Ok then, you see those uglies. What am I to do: negotiate peaceably, or blast em?" She grinned wryly. "Well, they don't really like to negotiate, and well, there really is a hecka lotta them…so…" She glanced up, past the recording port. "I can't transmit live from this far away from the Fox, but I can send and receive, apparently. So, well, help me out here. I await response." The holo blinked and faded.
Fea shook her head. "Always impertinent." She muttered.
"Two dozen armed and hostile natives against one double-armed Jedi Knight. This is not a good situation." Yarduk observed. "It requires a rescue team. Send a transmission telling her to sit it out until one arrives." His gaze fell on Fea and Liadyn. "Is there anything else either of you can think of in way to help?" Fea sighed, she knew just what he was driving at, he just was reluctant to express it clearly.
"I should be the rescue." She stated. Yarduk and the other Jedi Council members nodded.
"So be it. Send the transmission, telling Master Rusco of her extraction."
Fea stepped in front of the holoprojector and switched on the recorder. "Master Rusco, your orders be simple: stay put and stay safe. A retrieval team be coming to your rescue. You will be contacted upon its arrival. Out." She switched the recorder off and turned to Fawks, who had been standing behind her. "Prepare to disembark." The Padawan started.
"You mean, I'm goin' out there? Out to rescue my Master?"
Fea nodded. "We two know her best and can help her most."
Buc headed back to her room to prepare to leave within the hour. Fea went in search of several more Jedi suitable for the retrieval. Less than a standard time-part later, five Jedi were aboard a light-cruiser traveling through hyperspace to the MaarZak system.
Rusco watched the holo again. Yes, that was Buc standing behind Fea, peeking at the projector. Her expression was both eager and worried. Ach! Fea and the Youngling. But she relished being reunited with two she loved. Grimly, she looked at her already diminishing supplies. Hope it takes them less than three days.