"I'll be fine, Master," the pale, teen face on the screen rolled his amber eyes in mock frustration. "It's only a little reconnaissance."
"I know," Jedi Master Rita LeBac leaned forward with a sad smile touching her plump lips while she brushed the nut-brown strand of hair that hung down by her face behind her ear. "But how many such missions end as only that, Sidon?" She asked.
He shook his head as a smile crossed his face, and he raised his four-fingered hand to brush through the black fur that covered his head and back. "Master, I'm touched that you worry about me still, but know you taught me well." His calm voice radiated the certainty she'd always come to expect from him. "I'll be fine," he repeated and shrugged. "And if not, you'll be the first to know..." he paused and looked up for a second as his smile suddenly receive a mischievous touch, showing the first two of four sharp canines that he somehow fit inside his surprisingly small mouth. "Well, next to the council of course."
Rita couldn't help but chuckle. "Of course," she leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. After a few seconds, she grew somber again. "And how will you fare when you cut yourself off from the force to hide your presence?"
"Only as well as you have taught me, master," he replied quietly. "I only hope I can live up to your, and the council's, expectations as I go through the trials."
"You will, young one," she bobbed her head slightly, confidence and pride pouring from her words. "You will. May the Force be With You."
"And you as well, Master," he bowed in return, and the screen went blank after one final smile of farewell. She shook her head at the now empty, black screen. He would remain on this mission for a few months at the least, and she couldn't help but worry.
But Worry led to fear; and faith and fear could not coexist. With a sigh, she accepted the worry she felt, and reminded herself of the faith in the Force and her comrades that she'd so often depended on.
It worked, and she soon found herself in much better spirits.
Almost as an afterthought, she moved into the cockpit of her small ship that drifted closer and closer to her destination. Pressing a button as she left, the com-screen retracted onto the wall, taking up still more space on the craft, that truly couldn't be called more than a shuttle and a pasted hyper drive The thought left her wishing she could install one of the new, compact holographic image projectors instead of the old-fashioned, two-dimensional screens, or to get a better ship. Still, this had been the fastest vessel that could take her to the planet she used to call home.
Home. Corrillia. The name of it, the thoughts...even being in the system somehow seemed to calm her, and clear her mind.
The council had chosen her for this mission with good reason, and only partially because she knew most of the planet like the back of her hand, as did most of the older Jedi. It had been the planet where the Jedi school had been located until the "Head" as they had called the leading staff previously, announced their intentions to be a political party.
The move to Courscant hadn't been the best idea in Rita's opinion. The "temple" as they now called it, seemed open and vulnerable, even in the middle of a spread of a city that had remained safe and peaceful for centuries...well, as peaceful as you could be on a planet that would probably end up being an entire city itself in only decades.
Still, the children seemed to take well to the school's new home, although they didn't seem to be as ambitious as she remembered her fellow students having been (not to mention herself)--for which she thanked the Force...usually.
A soft chuckle escaped her throat as she once again compared herself to the surprisingly level-headed student, or padawan (she knew she wouldn't ever get used to the new terminology, despite it having been in effect for 10 of Courscant's years) she'd practically raised. As a child, a teenager, and even a young woman, she'd been nothing short of a rambunctious, spontaneous, child-like and carefree person. How she'd ever taught and guided someone as calm as Sidon went far beyond her knowledge. She'd concluded years ago, that it had to be the will of the Force.
Her own teacher had been tested to the limits time after time keeping an eye on her as a student, and then a Knight, and finally a Master–which he'd done until he'd died only a few short years before. He'd probably lost sleep trying to figure out ways to help her gain patience, while it seemed to come to Sidon naturally.
Despite his feline ancestry, she couldn't help but feel like a mother to the boy...even if he did seem more regal and fit to be a teacher in the Jedi Temple than she ever would be.
A light flashing on her dashboard brought her back to reality, and she quickly opened the smaller com screen she'd placed at the front of the ship, having left the better one in back for long-term communications.
"Ship Marietta requesting landing permission from Corrillia Home Base," she spoke clearly into the broadcasting microphone, knowing that they wouldn't answer for several minutes. They never did.
The ship had entered the planet's rotation path, and currently followed the interception coordinates she'd programed into it. She acknowledged the change of course by switching the warning light off, and relaxing into the knowledge that she'd soon step foot onto her planet.
She'd always felt that Corrillia belonged to her, and she to it. There was something about her former home that seemed to call to her. Sometimes she'd almost describe it as an urge to do everything she possibly could to accomplish whatever she chose to do, while other times, it just seemed to call her back and she'd have to fight of the homesickness. Many times she felt like a representative of sorts...and she knew she always would. To her, this planet–this solar system--would always be home.
"I am beginning the landing sequence," she spoke yet again into the com unit, and reached for the throttle.
At that moment, a feeling overwhelmed her, freezing her in place.
"This mission is going to be significant," she whispered to herself, knowing full well that what she'd said was true, although she couldn't say that the thought gave her any hope or excitement.
She'd been sent to investigate the subject of possible new systems being devoted to slave trade. If the allegations proved true, the Jedi and other loyal political parties could use it to their advantage, and stir some feelings into the lives of many of the richer families that lived in the known galaxy. They hoped to reach people who didn't seem to care about anyone or anything anymore. People of influence who could make a difference, and make the galaxy a better place to live in.
If the rumors proved false, then the millions of people they thought might be enslaved would actually be free and on their home worlds, worrying about nothing more than making it to and from work, or living their day-to-day lives.
Either way, she had seen this as a win/win situation, but only if those races and people who valued freedom and peace continued to devote everything they could to keeping it alive.
So why did she have a wary feeling warning her now? No, the thought did not please her at all. She trusted her feelings, as all Jedi did, and she knew that she wanted to find out more about what might be in store for her.
Realizing she still had several minutes before landing procedures would be necessary, she decided to meditate and try to understand what her feelings told her.
Taking several deep breaths, she sat back quietly, and released herself to the Force.
The healing energy that flowed from all life forms surrounded her immediately, warming her entire soul and body. With a contented, humble sigh, she began the light trance she knew would be the least degree of meditation required, and submersed herself in what the Force told her.
Your path ahead will be difficult...far more difficult than anything you have faced before...but do not fear, and listen...you will be guided.
The Force never spoke in words, but came instead with vague images and precise feelings. These thoughts also came to her as plainly as a day on Alderaan.
"This is Corillian Home Base asking for your ship's identification, please respond..." She vaguely heard a nasal, male voice break through the hazy comfort that still flowed through her, as it always did whenever she went into a trance. Slowly, and almost regretfully, she pulled herself back to the present, confirming the fact that she had indeed only been "out" for a few minutes.
With a sigh, she leaned forward and re-opened a com channel to the planet.
"This is Jedi Master Rita LeBec, and my identification code..." she began, knowing full well that this would be a LONG trip.