The Confrontation

Relford awoke with a gasp. He sat up and put his head

in his hands. Sweat trickled down his nose and landed

on the already soaked bed sheet. His chest was

glistening and heaving heavy breaths. He stood up and

began to get dressed. This time the feeling was too

strong. This time he would leave regardless of what

Master Cypher said. On his way out, Richard grabbed

his cloak and lightsabers.

Platt Cypher also awoke with a gasp when a hooded

figure burst into his room. Master Cypher ignited his

saber, it's purple glow the only light in the room

other than the light from the open door that

silhouetted the tall hooded figure. "Master Cypher,"

the figure said as it turned on the lights, "you can

put that away." Master Cypher blinked a few times. It was

his student. He sighed as he deactivated his saber "Yes,

Relford, what is it? Why in the name of the Force

have you disturbed me in the middle of the night?"

Relford didn't even pull down his hood. He didn't

expect this to work. He was going and Master Cypher

would have to kill him in order to stop him. "I have

to go to Carris. She's in danger. Please, Master, come with me! I don't want to do is without you, but if I must..."

Master Cypher sighed again. He put one hand on his

hip and used his other to rub his temples. "Relford,

you've been doing this ever since she left yesterday.

She only arrived there today. Besides, she's with

Master Silbat. If they get into trouble, he can

handle it." He looked at Relford and furrowed his

brow. "Or at least call for help. They are fine."

"No they aren't!" Relford yelled as he slammed his

fist against the doorframe, causing his hand to throb. "I should have gone with

them... I always go on assignments with Carris...

We always go together. Now she's in danger and I'm

here arguing with you!" He slammed his fist again.

He had been through this many times that day and the

day before with his master. He was extremely

frustrated now. Master Cypher didn't know what he had

felt... it was too strong to ignore. He needed to

help Carris and his master was trying to stop him.

Relford felt a trickle of anger.

A long silence hung in the air as the Padiwan and his

master stared each other in the eyes. Relford's amber

eyes flickered with traces of anger and absolute purpose. Master

Cypher's cold gray eyes remained calm. "Relford, I'm afraid

there's something I have to tell you. Please just

come in." Relford stood unblinking in the doorway.

Master Cypher held his gaze. "It's about you and

Carris."

Relford walked into the room, the door closing behind

him. "What about us?" he asked evenly, but with a

small edge to "us". Master Cypher rubbed his hand down

his face, through his short, sandy beard. He closed

his eyes; this wasn't going to be easy or pretty.

"Master Silbat and myself had a meeting with Master

Skywalker... about you and Cariss." He opened his

eyes and mentally prepared himself for the argument

that was sure to ensue.

Silence once again hung thick in the air. Relford

simply blinked and swallowed. He wasn't sure how to react. His

temper began to rise. "You did what?" he asked

softly. He slowly pulled down his hood. "You met

with Master Skywalker about me and Cariss?"

Master Cypher looked calmy at Relford's slightly red face again.

He had dreaded this conversation. Relford and Carris were the

two best students at theAcademy. Everyone knew that. As good as they were apart, they

were spectacular together. That was the problem. Now they

were inseparable, and Master Cypher knew why. 'Love',

he thought sadly, 'the burden of the Jedi... We can

never have what we fight to protect...' Now he saw the

anger flickering in his student's eyes. Master Cypher

drew a deep breath and began. "Relford, Master Silbat

and myself have noticed how close you and Cariss have

become. I have avoided doing anything about it up

until now. But Master Silbat feels that we should

stop your relationship from going any further. I

agree. So does Master Skywalker." Master Cypher felt the resentment in his student growing and saw the betrayel in his eyes.

He swallowed the lump in throat. He hated doing this to Relford.

He should have done it earlier, when it would have

been easier. But he couldn't bring himself to do it.

They were so happy. It made him happy. But Master

Silbat had made him face cold reality: Jedi were

forbidden to have lovers. Master Cypher didn't think

that Relford and Carris were lovers; they were in

love. But in the end, it was the same result: It was

forbidden.

"Now, I know you're angry, but you know the code.

Jedi can't have those kind of intimate

relationships... that's why you couldn't go with

Cariss. You can't go with her anywhere anymore. And you

aren't going now. Please try to understand." Master Cypher wanted to add "and forgive me", but couldn't bring himself to do it; he could

barely say anything as he watched Relford's fists clench. Master Cypher swallowed another lump in his throat.

'Damn the code', Relford thought to himself angrily.

He was furious with his master. He was drawing loud,

heavy breaths through his teeth. How could his master betray him like this? But he would have to deal with it later. Carris's safety was more

important. "Fine," Relford lied, "But her death will

be on your hands." He pulled his hood up and left the

room without another word.

Master Cypher sat down on his bed. He hoped that

Relford wasn't going to Carris and Master Silbat. He had said that he

wasn't, but Master Cypher didn't believe him.

At the same time, he knew that he couldn't stop him.

Relford was going to be kicked out of the Jedi order

for this. He put his head in his head in

his hands. The old Jedi Master felt a tear fall out of his eye.