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After identifying Trance, Shomari, and Raena, I began to reach out towards the other two people with them. After simple minds scan I came to recognize them as the officials that had the papers authorizing my release. A smile stretched across my features. My release! It took about 10 minutes for them to all be escorted down to my cell. Shomari wore a smug smirk on his face; Trance had a similar grin, except more of his goofiness showed on it. But Raena wore the look of a person who's lifetime longing had just been fulfilled. She had her hand on her chest as she was breathing heavily, her eyes seemed on the edge of tears of happiness, and she seemed to tremble in excitement. I never thought I could have missed anyone as much as I had missed Raena, Shomari, and Trance. My mind was filled with a warm flow of Force as it reacted to the exhilaration from me not only being released, but the group that was getting me out.
"Open it up," the guard reluctantly ordered.
The cell doors slid to the side and I burst out running straight towards Raena who leaped into my arms. We kissed deeply for a few moments before I pulled back, setting her on her feet, and looked over her beautiful face to remember what I had been missing in jail. Her hazel eyes shimmered from the liquids that sat complacently on her pupils. She was slightly biting her lower lip, and her milk chocolate complexion seemed to shine from the slight sweat on her face, from the high temperatures of the planet.
"I missed you so much," I told her hugging her body. Then I noticed she had changed her hair back to its normal black. Joking I said, "I think I might miss your old hair color."
"You want me to change it back?" she asked pulling her hair in front of her face to see.
"No, its perfect," I kissed her again before turning to Trance.
"How'd they treat you in here?" Trance was leaning against the wall with his goofy smile plastered all over his face.
"About the same as you treated me the first hour or so I knew you," I joked.
"I can remember the bonding times," he put on a mock reminiscing voice. "You know, we learned the most about each other while we were fighting."
"I still think it was a good choice that we cut down on the bonding time though," I smirked.
"As much as I hide it," Trance stood up squaring his shoulders off with mine. "I did miss you."
"I missed you too," I pulled my best friend into a hug. "You're like a brother to me."
After we broke our embrace, I turned finally to Shomari whose smug grin turned into more of a searching stare.
"How have you been Déshawn?" Shomari thought to me.
"Its been hell," I admitted. "I missed Raena's companionship and your support. I even wished Trance could say something stupid at the wrong time."
"I could feet your pain at some times," Shomari let me know.
"I'll be fine," I tried to lessen his qualms.
"I know you will," Shomari nodded as we stood about a foot from each other.
"Any news on mom?" I let him know what my focus was now that I was free.
"We'll talk about that later." Shomari said. "It's been hard without you."
"It shouldn't have been," I cocked my head to the side.
"You know it was," Shomari thought back. "You're my only support in this world. I felt like I was falling for the six months you were gone."
"Sounds a lot like my end," I informed him; Shomari turned his eyes to the ground.
I grabbed Shomari by his shoulders and gave him a hug also, "I love you, brother."
Shomari nodded his silent concurrence and I thought I saw, when we finally stood apart, a single tear slide down his cheek.
"We must go," one of the official looking men, told us, interrupting our reunion.
"You're right," I agreed. "We need to get back to the Jedi Temple."
Shomari, Raena, Trance, and I were all sitting in my room, having arrived uneventfully at the Jedi Temple. It was a surprisingly quiet ride, as I'd expected us to be joking, and laughing all the way back. But our previous experiences, as well as the circumstances of my arrest, seemed to have taken our mood for that sort of pastime. Raena and I had sat in the back holding each other, while Trance meditated and Shomari sort of gazed in our direction interestedly. Now we chose my room to relax as Shomari and I discussed how best to investigate our mother's death. I sat on my bed next to Raena, while Trance stretched out behind us sleepily. He hadn't gotten much sleep during the, almost, year he had tried to get Raena and I off. Shomari told me that when he wasn't arguing our case, he was conducting some kind of researching on it. Shomari stood in front of Raena and I pacing furiously.
"We need to compile a list of," Shomari started off. "Anybody who's had the Serum 10 to 12 years ago."
"It can't be that many, it's only a 2 year stretch," I reasoned. "I doubt anyone that had the Serum would want to give it up once they knew its powers."
"Or, they might have feared its capabilities." Trance muttered from behind us. "I know I would."
"Plus," Raena piped up. "Looking at what it does to the operator, they probably died off pretty quickly."
"Yeah," I agreed. "Count Popsomuo didn't have it too long himself."
"Well I'll get started," Shomari took control. "I should have a list together in a few hours."
"I'll help," Trance yawned. "I've gotten this research thing down to an art over the last year."
"I'll be fine," Shomari waved off his offer. "You should rest."
"By the way," Trance pointed at me, yawning again widely. "You and Raena have to go see the Jedi Council."
"I wonder what distractions they have for us this time." I complained.
"You usually love getting missions," Raena looked at me wit an odd look.
"This is before I had a trail of clues to find my mothers killer." I explained.
Raena and I were standing in front of the Jedi Council and I had a comforted feeling that this mission wasn't likely to end up with me spending half a year in jail.
"Welcome back Déshawn," Master Windu greeted me. "We're glad to have you back in action."
"Thank you Master," I responded. "It's good to be back."
"Go to you Yavin IV you now must. Protection, Naboo's ambassador needs." Yoda told us.
"The planet Yavin IV is notorious for housing rebellions, up risers, traitors and others that have plans to try and overthrow government officials. Or any kind of leader they don't like for that matter." Mace Windu began to explain. "There is a group on Yavin IV that have been at a silent and private war with Naboo. They are the Kashill. The Kashill are very stealthy in their ways, they won't be easy to spot an attack from: you'll have to be on your toes."
"Dissention we still fear, from the Kashill. Attack ambassador Nora Tressle, we fear they might. Protect her until the end of negotiations you and Raena must." Yoda explained our assignment.
"You will only be there for a couple of days, but the ambassador refused to agree to the peace talks without some kind of protection." Master Windu told us. "You will leave in two days in order to synchronize your arrival with the Naboo ambassador."
"Yes master," Raena and I chorused as we bowed.
"This sounds fun," Raena prodded me as soon as we were outside the room. "You'll enjoy yourself once you're back in combat again."
"I'll enjoy myself when I'm in combat with my mother's killer," I corrected her as we headed back to my room.
I looked around the planet Yavin IV with mild interest as Raena and I walked off of the space ship.
"Where's the rendezvous point?" Raena asked the security personnel as we started to move through the lush forest.
"It's just up ahead," the chief officer answered her. "It's at one of the smaller temples."
We kept moving at a moderate pace, my mind in a semi-meditative state, until we reached a small clearing. Behind a group of about 9 people was a tall building that seemed to be slightly coated in moss and other natural growths. There was a moldy smell that seemed to radiate from within it. A prickling of the Force seemed to indicate something ominous inside of it.
"Ambassador Tressle," the commander of security introduced us. "Jedi Knights Déshawn Jackson and Raena Colonya."
"Ambassador," I inclined my head slightly as a feigned sign of respect.
"Ambassador," Raena bowed more deeply.
"Jedi Knights, I'm glad that you two could make such short notice, but I feel that the Kashill are to make their move soon." The ambassador greeted us gratefully.
"May we discuss this in your quarters?" Raena asked. "I'm not sure of the Kashill's methods but this seems an inappropriate place for anything beyond pleasantries."
I found myself slightly impressed with Raena's easy switch from her easygoing personality into a more formal and diplomatic persona; with the matching linguistic transformation.
"Of course," Nora Tressle smiled slightly. "Forgive my inadequate hospitality."
Once in the ambassador's room, I could see much better than in the dank forest. The ambassador didn't dress in anything overly flamboyant, which I noted was wise to avoid attracting attention. The company she kept was also as discreet as possible while remaining secure. She currently donned a simple light blue robe with gemstones I couldn't recognize hand-sewed into the collar tracing their way to her feet. The robe itself seemed to flow around her body like silk, but luckily for her is wasn't quite as translucent. The ambassador herself had tan skin, her dark brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and light blue eyes that matched her robe. She was sitting with a regal posture on her bed across from Raena who sat facing her on a chair, with me pacing in between the two.
"What do you need to know about the Kashill?" Nora initiated the conversation.
"Most importantly, appearances." I said turning on my first pass. "What are the most common, and obvious characteristics of their race."
"You must have been misinformed. You see, the Kashill aren't a race," Nora corrected me. "They are a group, made of many different creatures."
"That's going to complicate things," I thought aloud. "Keep going."
"Their emblem is a two headed creature of some kind, that is breathing out fire." She said.
"Describe it please," Raena prodded.
"It's reptilian, has a red tint on its scales, a long tail that has a sort of spade for the tip, and-" she started before I cut her off.
"4 limbs, two to stand on and two with claws that act as arms." I guess.
"Yes, how did you know?" Nora sounded impressed. "It's true that Jedi can read thoughts then?"
"Actually it's a mythical creature from my planet, Earth. Their emblem is a two headed dragon." I explained.
"Oh," she sounded slightly deflated.
"What do you know about them that may help us identify them on sight?" Raena continued.
"Nothing," Nora stood up exasperated. "The Kashill are known for their ability to NOT be recognized. It's how we keep losing security officers."
"The Kashill have killed some of your security already?" I asked shocked at their sloppiness and lack of job skill.
"More like most of them," she said. "I knew everyone of them personally. And losing them has been…hard."
"Most of them?" my suspicion grew.
"Yes, which is why I believe that they intend to make their move soon. They started from with the top ranks of my officers and worked their way down, all I have left to protect me are novices who are on their first assignment." Nora sat back down as if exhausted.
"Ambassador Tressle, I believe that we should meet with your remaining security force." I stopped my pacing and faced her.
"Of course," she said.
She then pulled out a small communications array from the folds of her robe and spoke quietly into it. Within a few moments her 8 rookie security officers filed into the room and quickly lined up across, each standing at a disciplined attention.
"Officers," I spoke in a commanding voice. "Who here can tell me why Ambassador Tressle's protection has dwindled to such meager numbers?"
"The Kashill," one of the officers spoke up, at the opposite end of the line from where I stood. "Move like shadows. They are like lightning, they move quickly, never repeat a target. And while they may not kill you, you definitely will be seriously injured."
"Thank you for your metaphor officer," I moved down the line slowly until I reached him, examining the look of grim resignation on each of their faces. "Your name?"
"Paris Kendal sir," he looked at me with a different look. His eyes seemed to know his death was certain, but he would not give in to it.
"Kendal…" I repeated quietly memorizing his name and face. "Thank you for volunteering information, but that is the wrong answer."
"Sir?" he looked confused.
"When I asked what went wrong, I did not wish to hear the Kashill's successes. But I wished to hear our failures." I corrected him.
"We underestimated our enemy." He amended. "We gravely underestimated our enemy."
"Correct," I moved back up the line. "But you see, as grim a situation this is, we now have the advantage. Who knows why?"
"They now underestimate us," a deep voice right next to me spoke up.
"Your name?" I questioned peering at him.
"Johan Bastille sir," his eyes showed his resignation to death, but I thought I could feel a stronger power in him than his despair.
"Thank you Bastille," I committed his name to my memory as well. "And quite correct you are. The Kashill smell a fear that is not there. They think we are resigned to our deaths, and that we will not fight hard."
"However," Raena was suddenly behind the group of officers, causing them to face her startled. Her soft voice emanating waves of power. "What they do not know, is they failed to assassinate the most dangerous section of Ambassador Tressle's task force."
"Ma'am, this is but our first assignment," a meek voice interjected. "This assignment is our first."
"Your name sir?" Raena moved swiftly in front of him.
"Evans. Roger Evans." He said in a quieter voice.
"Tell me, do you wish to die on your back? Or with your sword between you and the killing blow?" Raena questioned him.
"Either way I won't be alive," he muttered looking down.
"A coward dies on his back," she told him. She lifted his chin until he was forced to look her in the eyes. "You're death will be with you firmly holding your ground."
"Yes ma'am," he said in a stronger voice.
"From here until this mission is completed," Raena spoke in a tone that seemed intended for my vocal chords. "Every single officer here is relieved of personal guard duty."
"Ma'am are you sure that's wise?" Bastille spoke up. "Should we not have as many officers as we can spare guarding the Ambassador?"
"Officer Bastille, I'm not one to usually fight fire with fire," Raena stopped in front of him. "But being a mistress of avoiding detection, I have to appreciate the Kashill's methods, which seem to have proven successful."
"The Ambassador will be protected by myself and Raena," I announced causing the line to turn back to me. "Do not worry for her safety."
"Yes, sir." Bastille acknowledged.
"There is only one job all of you now have, until you complete it." I continued. "And that is reconnaissance. We need blueprints of the city, and where the negotiations will take place. We need blueprints of building where the negotiations will take place. We need as detailed a list of who will attend these negotiations as possible. We need anything else you might find relevant."
"And as for you my lady," Raena walked over to the Ambassador, her ever-present devilish grin spreading. "It's time for you to become a Jedi."