Trillian4210: I am glad you liked that line. Until Seja learns the final move of the Super Shien Lightsaber style, the Slash of the Krayt Dragon, he'll always struggle to keep his killer side subdued, since, after learning that attack, which depends on the user to choose life, he'll always need the Slayer's strength when he faces tough opponents.
Dante-Raven: Thanks for reviewing. The turmoil in his soul adds to his character.
Alice the Raven: Thanks for catching up. This fic is getting really fun to write.
Chapter 4: Festivals, Defeats, and Marriage
Iziz, Mandalorian Festival of Victory, 5th Festival in two months
Seja sat back on the floor, leaning against the wall as he slept. This rest was much needed, and his eyes were softly closed. Callista was at her desk, sewing two pieces of thread together. She remained silent in doing so, and cut the thread between her teeth. She then heard the door swish open behind her.
"Yo, Kimura!" it was the voice of Ergot, "Let's go to the festival, get a few drinks and some girls, buddy!"
"Please be quiet," Callista quietly ordered as she lifted the needle up, "Mr. Kimura is still asleep..."
Seja's quiet breathing suddenly caught Ergot's attention. A look of slight amazement, as well as confusion appeared on the Republic Officer's face. He nodded, and walked out of the room. As the door swished shut behind him, he looked back.
'Kimura asleep, with others around him?' his pupils became dark amber in color for a moment, and his skin paled, 'Well, it's no joke after all. He'd better stop being so good to himself…'
The dark features faded away, and he walked downstairs. He grabbed some juma from the kitchen, and began to drink. Walking out onto the porch, he sat down and continued to sip the beverage. He looked down to his vibrosword and blaster, and decided to take them off, it was uncomfortable sitting with them on him. He sat there for a couple hours, looking at the fireworks go off, and looking out as pretty women walked passed the inn. He smirked, and put his second cup of Juma down.
"Well, it's not like my plans are good either," he said to himself, sipping the juma again.
He then heard footsteps, and saw General Vaklu and Admiral Solo Jalata running towards him. They both stopped, and bent down to catch their breath.
"Hey, Mr. Vaklu, Mr. Jalata, good timing…" Ergot said cheerfully, and he saw the look of urgency on their faces.
"There is no time for that Ergot!" Solo yelled, catching his breath, "We've got some serious trouble!"
"What?" Ergot asked, grabbing his blaster and vibrosword.
"The damn Mandalore Honor Guard! They ambushed us!" Vaklu replied, still catching his breath as well.
In his room, Seja's eyes slowly opened. He sensed someone, no a group of people, running up the stairs towards his room. Callista noticed that he was awake, and looked over to him.
"What's the matter?" Callista asked, as the doors swished to reveal Ergot, Solo, and Vaklu, "Ergot was here a little while ago."
"Kimura!" all three men yelled, and Seja realized the urgency.
"Vaklu, Jalata, why are you here? You should be with Mr. Wann…" Seja asked, rising to his feet.
"Mical Inn was attacked by Mandalore's boma…" Jalata replied in urgency, "and also the Mandalore Honor Guard!"
Seja's eyes flickered and his pupils shrank a bit. They flashed their golden color at this statement.
"Information has been being leaked after all!" Ergot added, practically yelling.
"We have a traitor among us!" Vaklu finished, stepping threw the door.
"But then…what about Mr. Wann?" Seja asked, walking forward.
Callista was sitting threw all this, and she put her sewing down. She looked around, starting to wonder who leaked the info.
"Since he got to Mical early, he went to headquarters for a nap, and he barely managed to escape safely!" Jalata replied, closing his eyes in anger, "But all others who attended the meeting were…!"
Seja's anger flickered, and his body began to glow in a bright blue light. He then started running towards the door, but Ergot stopped him.
"Wait, Kimura!" Ergot told him, throwing out his arm, "Even if you run, you won't make it!" he gritted his teeth as Seja continued to struggle, "They're already sending 3000 troops there, you'll only expose more of the Republic's presence here if you do!"
Mandalorian Wars, third year, standard of month and day, June 5th, the breakout of the Mical Incident. A crowd had gathered in front of the Mical Inn, and Seja was among them. He decided to go in his robes, due to the fact he could cover his face with his hood. He watched the blood soaked Mandalorian Guard walk past. They weren't wearing heavy armor like the normal troops; no they were wearing light armor, or just normal clothing. They were all wearing a vibrosword and vibrodagger, none of them carried a single blaster pistol or rifle.
'So they are the Mandalorian Honor Guard…' Seja thought from behind the crowd, 'The Republics, and the Resistance's greatest obstacle…'
From the front of the group of Mandalorians, one of them stopped. Seja's eyes focused at that, and he prepared himself for a fight. The Mandalorian looked back at him, with wild, killing eyes. He had long black hair, was tall and muscular, and his face had well defined face lines on it. The Mandalorian smirked, making Seja form droplets of perspiration.
"Hey, Serphants, what's wrong?" one of the Mandalorians in front of him asked. He had a very youthful appearance, and had silver colored hair.
"It is nothing, Cassus," Serphants, the Mandalorian who looked at Seja, replied cheerfully. All of them then started to leave, and Seja pulled his hood down further over his eyes.
'I bet I'll have to deal with that guy sometime in the future, the Force is going to lead us into a confrontation…' Seja thought, as he pulled his hood down further.
And so, in that night, the Republic War Effort on Iziz took a turn for the worse. The incident at Mical Inn was full of reports with gross exaggerations and false information, in the end, the Republic and the Resistance pulled the trigger. As the chaos grew, an army of 3000 Mandalorian soldiers went to Iziz, and in their pathway lay 20,000 men of the Mandalorian armies. The outcome of that battle could already be seen.
The Mandalorian Wars, 3rd year, July 21st; the Iziz incident, a blow to the Republic War effort in the mid rim. Many Republic and Resistance warriors, including Seja, fought bravely against the onslaught; however they were unable to avert the disaster. That day, the Republic Army lost 400 troops, and the Resistance lost 1000, while the Mandalorians only lost 17. The war burned down the cities inner walls, over 29,000 homes were burned down as well. Most of the owners were forced onto the streets.
When the sun rose, the citizens of Iziz looked at the devastation. Iziz police pulled out countless bodies from the charred remains of houses, and piled them on top of gruesome piles of bones and flesh. The Mandalorians stood by, as the survivors and the police looked at them angrily, and they just smirked and blew it off. The only areas where the massive fires didn't burn were near the starport and the bridges which connected the city.
On one of the south easterly bridges, Seja and Callista were looking down on a cloaked man who was sitting on the river bank. It was Roland Wann.
"I heard about Mical, that's what started the Iziz fire, a plan to seize Queen Talia," Roland said solemnly, watching as a human child wailed, trying to pull his mother out of some fallen debris, "You were the only one who opposed the riots. Jalata said your escape was the will of the Force…" he sighed and stretched, "But now, just look at me. A Republic Commander in hiding, and now the Mandalorians control Iziz completely. Vaklu and his men will have to keep fighting without Republic Assistance. But now, I'll have to hide out…I can't even go back to Iziz now."
"What should I do next?" Seja asked his commander, his friend, for advice, "Beast Inn was burned down."
"I've arranged passage to Katarr. You'll pose as a farmer there, until I, or Revan, come up with the next move to retake Iziz, stay hidden," Roland replied, standing up, taking out his stealth field generator, "I'll send Ergot over to contact you," he secured his generator to his waist, and looked up, "Miss Callista…"
"Yes?" Callista asked, as Roland adjusted the settings on his generator.
"If you have nowhere to go, why don't you go with Kimura?" Roland asked, finishing his adjustments to the stealth generator.
Callista's eyes widened at the question, she had not considered this. Roland began walking away, and his body began to glow.
"A young couple is more deceiving than a single young man," Roland started as his body began to vanish, "I don't mind if it is a cover up," more of his body began to disappear, and his footsteps were muffled out, "But take care of Kimura!"
With that order, Roland's body was completely covered up by the stealth generator. Seja and Callista continued to look on silently, digesting the noble Republic Commander's words. Mandalorian soldiers and Iziz citizens walked passed them, oblivious to what has just occurred.
"What should I do…?" Callista asked, looking over at Seja, "I have no where else to go…"
"…that's not true," Seja interjected softly, continuing to look down at the riverbed, "We'll probably need money, so be prepared."
Callista turned to look at him, his eyes still focused on the riverbed. He let out a sigh, and turned to her.
"Damn," Seja muttered, "You're leaving this up to me aren't you?"
He then looked over to her, showing her his blue eyes. He was smiling, something that she had never seen him do before.
"Let's stay together; since I have nothing else to do," Seja told her cheerfully, "I don't know how long it will last though."
He paused for a second, remembering the Jedi Code. He silently asked forgiveness for what he was about to ask Callista.
"But not for cover up," he told her, "For the both of us…"
Callista nodded, showing Seja a slight smile. She wiped the hair out of her eyes, and the wind started to pick up. They continued to look at each other as the sun began to set.
"Until death do us part…" Callista concluded, and Seja nodded.
The two of them began walking to Iziz Starport, ready to start their new lives together.
Dantooine, Asaku Homestead
"He's getting MARRIED? He's just a teenager, and a Jedi to boot! What a joke! Hahahahaha!" Asaku, the Rodian, laughed threw his proboscis mouth, before coughing a bit.
Outside his homestead stood the twi'lek Republic General, Zanthou Vao stomped his feet angrily. He was part of the Vao clan, and unknown to him, the future hero of the Republic, Mission Vao, was living on Taris as a street urchin with her deadbeat brother, Griff Vao, has just started 'working' at the Casinos and cantinas on Taris's upper and lower cities.
"This is no laughing matter Asaku!" Zanthou told him angrily, "This is a bad time for that! What is he thinking?"
"What are you getting at Zanthou?" Asaku continued to cough, "You know that Roland did that, when he fell in love with Micaru, and Arren Kae also did it when she fell in love with Yusanis, remember?"
Asaku then erupted in a violent bout of coughing, which was completely overlooked by Zanthou.
"But Roland, Arren, and an Assassin are three completely different things!" Zanthou retorted, as Asaku continued coughing, and the Rodian's eyes focused on his palm.
There was green blood on his palm, and more spit out from his mouth. He coughed some more, and more green blood came out.
"You're wrong," Asaku told him, looking at his hands, "Roland, Arren, and Kimura are different from me because they'll be the ones who protect the Republic in the new era. Despite those odds, how can they do anything but protect those they love?"
Zanthou's eyes widened as the Rodian's blood seeped out of his hand. He looked as Asaku took out a large hankerchief, and he coughed up more blood.
"'Different'?" Zanthou asked as his eyes widened, "You have a lung disease Asaku…"
"Yeah, it's non-curable as well," Asaku told him, and then he wiped it in his hankerchief, "Aw, don't worry, Zanthou! I'm not dead yet! I'm not dying here, I am going to get out!" he then wiped his mouth, "All right, just leave it to me Kimura! Even if you don't die, don't give that girl up to the Mandalorians!"
In hyperspace, en route to Katarr
Roland's defeat, Asaku's illness, despite these shocks, the new couple prepared to start a new life together. In the massive shuttle, the Onderonian refugees had made an altar for them. A minister presided over the couple. Seja was wearing his Jedi Knight robes, which were neatly pressed, and he smiled at Callista.
Callista was wearing a formal dress, white in color, which had beautiful sequins woven into the fabric in floral patterns. Over her face was a transparent veil, which was being suspended by a floral headdress. In her hands, she held a bouquet of different flowers from Onderon, which she had made herself.
"We are gathered here today, in the background of the Force, to unite these two young people in matrimony," the minister announced, reading the wedding procedures off a datapad, "Seja Kimura, do you accept Lady Callista's hand in marriage? To have and to hold, until death do you part?"
"Yes, I do," Seja replied, after taking a gulp of air.
"And do you, Callista, take Seja's hand in marriage? To have and to hold, until death do you part?"
"I…do…" Callista replied nervously, "I do…"
"Seja, now place the bracelet over her wrist," the minister told the young Jedi, who nodded, slipping the beautiful bracelet over Callista's delicate wrist, "And lift her veil…"
Seja nodded, and lifted her white transparent veil. He chuckled slightly, and she did the same. The two of them looked over at the minister, and the crowd was silent.
"By the power vested in me by the Republic Government, I pronounce you two fine young people man and wife," the minister told them with a happy look, "You may kiss the bride."
The two of them nodded, and leaned into each other. Their eyes closed as their lips touched for the first time. A wave of unfamiliar emotions swirled around Seja, and his body glowed. Happiness, love, companionship, all of which were forbidden by the Jedi; it felt…good, right for some reason. The two of them pulled away, and Seja smiled as Callista did the same. A cheer came from behind them, and the two young people looked at the crowd, who were cheering them on.
The two of them walked, hand in hand, down the aisle, as children threw flower petals and rice in their path. Seja had never been this happy, and he could feel the same feeling from Callista. The walked passed the crowd of Onderonians, waving at them. When they reached the end of aisle, Callista threw her bouquet into the crowd. A woman caught it, and Callista beamed for the first time in ages.
The crowd of refugees made a path for the newlyweds, as they walked to their quarters. Walking up the flight of stairs, the two of them turned, and walked into the room that Roland had set up for them on the shuttle. It was fairly large, with two beds in it.
The two of them smiled at each other, the door swished shut, leaving them to start their new lives together. Seja, 19, and Callista 21, the two of them would live far away from the war that the Republic and Jedi raged against the Mandalorians.
Katarr, Mira Spaceport
On Katarr, Seja and Callista walked down the exit ramp. They were looking for someone, the person who agreed to help them on Katarr. She was a daughter of an rural Miralukan family, Visas Marr. They found her standing near a speeder. She was about 14 or 15, was wearing a long blue dress, and a blue veil that covered her eyes. She waved over to them, and they walked over.
"You two are Seja and Callista right?" the young Miralukan asked, walking over to them.
"Yes," Seja replied, bowing respectfully to her, "And you are Visas Marr, correct?"
"Yes, please follow me," Visas led them to the waiting speeder, and they got in the back seat, "Thank the Force that the Mandalorians haven't decided to attack Katarr, our army isn't powerful enough to stop them."
"…and the Republic is stretched too thin as it is while fighting in the current conflict," Seja said as the speeder powered up its repulsor lifts, and flew off on the skyways, "Where is the farm that you have for us?"
"It is near my home in the Bruloune Mountains. My father has given you two land for a farm of your own, as well as the spare farming equipment that we have," Visas replied, and then she looked at Seja, 'I know you can sense the Force, and you are a Jedi. I have to warn you of one location of the Bruloune Mountains…'
'What is it?' Seja asked, noticing the young Miralukan's concern.
'It is a forest, completely devoid of the Force. Anyone who walks into it will be unable to command the Force, and will also lose their Force Precognition as well. Many dangerous creatures live in it, so it is best to stay away from it.'
'Thanks for the warning, Visas,' Seja thought as she leaned back, and she looked over at Callista.
"Are you two married?" Visas asked, "Roland said there was a man and woman coming here, but didn't tell us if they were married or not."
"On the trip here, we did get married, Visas," Callista replied with a small smile.
The Miralukan smiled warmly, "Have you decided what crop to grow?"
"I think we'll grow medical herbs," Seja replied, and Visas nodded, "How much longer until we get there?"
"About three hours," Visas comment quietly, "How is Onderon now adays?"
"Under siege by the Mandalorians, this war is far from over…" Seja replied, and he sighed, "I long for the calm fields of Dantooine, that place was the exact opposite of the war."
"Hopefully you'll be able to experience that feeling here, farming and nurturing life help relieve stress," Visas told him, and she looked over at Callista, "How are you doing?"
"Well, for the first time in months I've been happy," Callista replied, she then looked over at Seja, and then looked back at Visas, "You are very mature for your age, Miss Marr."
"Thank you, working kind of does it for you," Visas smiled at Callista's comment, "Callista; that is a pretty name."
"Thank you," Callista replied, and she looked out of the window, "We are exiting the city now."
"You two must be tired from your trip, please, rest," Visas asked them, and they nodded.
"Thank you Visas," Seja said with a yawn, and he laid back in his seat, and his eyes slowly drifted to sleep, 'Hopefully this will curb the madness in my soul…'
Callista, on instinct, moved closer to him, and she softly put her head on his chest. Her eyes fluttered shut, and the couple drifted to sleep.
'I am happy for them,' Visas thought, and she looked over at Seja, 'The darkness that rages in his soul is drifting away when he is with Callista…the killer is still there, but when she is with him, it is nullified, weakened,' and she looked over at Callista, '…and before she met Seja, I sense she tried to drown a sorrow, a death of a loved one…' and then her eyes widened, '…that Seja unknowingly killed during one of his assignments. Hopefully, they'll find happiness, and be able to keep it.'
The young Miralukan, who was wise beyond her years, lifted her veil up to wipe a tear. Her eyes, they were gray in color, yet she was physically blind, like all Miralukans. Threw the Force, they saw, they perceived, and helped things grow and heal. Visas, like all Miralukans, were preservers of life.
To be continued…
A/N: Hi there again. Well, just going to say that more KOTOR I and II characters will be introduced in later chapters, but I wanted to show Seja and Callista's wedding. I modeled the wedding after what I know of Earth weddings, and of what we saw at the end of Attack of the Clones, when Padme and Anakin married.
Visas, I figured, is very mature for her age. I purposely changed her facial appearance, however. When I saw the scan of her without the veil on, her eyes looked gouged out, very nasty. So, I decided to give her eyes similar to Hinata from the anime Naruto. It keeps the attractiveness we saw of the lower part of her face.
Well I hope you like, please Read and Review.