Previously on The Ossus Connection...

Kyp was afraid of his apprentice…

Jysella Horn was Kyp's apprentice…

Season 3
Episode 6
Interlude, Part 1

Well you're a real tough cookie
With a long history
Of breaking little hearts
Like the one in me
That's okay,
Let's see how you do it
Put up your dukes
And let's get down to it

Hit me with your best shot
Why don't you hit me with your best shot
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away

C'mon with the come on
You don't fight fair
That's okay, see if I care
Knock me down
It's all in vain
I'll get right back on my feet again

Hit Me With Your Best Shot/ Benatar and Gihraldi

Jedi Temple and Training Academy, Ossus
34 ABY
Almost Five Years After the Yuuzhan Vong War

Corran Horn and Kyp Durron strolled through one of the intricate garden mazes of the academy, trying to chat amiably. The truth was neither man was enjoying it; years of distrust and lack of respect precluded that.

Corran had been on Yavin IV training when Kyp had touched the Dark side and killed millions in the destruction of Carida. Later, while Corran was standing beside Luke Skywalker, wondering how to defend while not getting their hands dirty during the early days of the Yuuzhan Vong war, Kyp had led other young Jedi on hit and run missions against the invaders. When Corran had turned tail and run from everything after being blamed for the destruction of Ithor, Kyp would have stood up and yelled from the highest mountain that the world's demise had happened in spite of his defeat of Shedao Shai, not because of it.

To say that Kyp and Corran had no great love for each other, or even any real respect was an understatement. But Corran had requested this meeting, so here they were; wandering, seemingly aimlessly, through the gardens, each trying to pretend that their being together wasn't strange, or uncomfortable.

Finally arriving at a stone bench situated in front of a reflecting pool, Corran took a seat and gestured for Kyp to join him.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I asked to speak to you privately, so I'll cut to the power cables, to quote our mutual friend Jaina. My daughter, Jysella, is turning sixteen in a few weeks. I think, and Kam and Tionne agree with me, that she has learned everything she's going to here at the academy. It's time for her to train one-on-one with a Master."

Kyp was mildly surprised. He'd seen the younger Horn kid around; he was under the impression that she was innately quite strong in the Force, and would be a very gifted pilot with some experience. She had also struck him as a sullen girl; profoundly unhappy, and those kinds of teenagers drove him nuts. Clearly, she had no idea what a good life she had. But then, he figured, it couldn't be easy being a Horn if it meant having to live up to Corran's standards.

Which was probably why harnessing and reigning in Valin had nearly killed Jacen during their first year together.

Still, though mildly flattered that Corran would even consider his opinion, he couldn't quite figure out why he'd seek it out in the first place.

"And you'd like my opinion on who to match her up with?" The half smile that quirked Corran's mouth sent a tendril of fear up Kyp's spine, but he continued, nonetheless. "Give her to Jaina or Tah…"

He let the name die on his lips, and was hit once again with the sense of loss, the stupid, stupid loss that Tahiri Veila leaving the Order had caused so many of the Jedi to feel. Yeah… she'd been through a lot, but who among them hadn't? She'd been a fine knight; powerful and, he had thought, bright.

"She did want to train with Tahiri, actually," Corran said. "I think Jysella assumed that with as close to our family as Tahiri was, how long and how well she knows her, that that is who she would be paired with. She was very disappointed by Tahiri's departure."

"Alema Rar?" Kyp suggested, then chuckled as Corran rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I guess I wouldn't want my daughter gallivanting around the galaxy with a Twi'lek dancer for any length of time either. I can see why you'd want suggestions."

"Actually, that's not why I wanted to talk. I already have someone in mind."

That feeling shot up Kyp's spine again, and he suddenly realized where Corran was going, but he couldn't quite believe it, so he waited for the other man to continue.

"Jysella's training may present certain… challenges. Challenges that I don't think any of the older female Knights are really equipped to handle. I'm afraid they would treat her more like a friend than an apprentice who needs boundaries. Very firm boundaries.

"Where Valin might be the best of Mirax and me, in terms of self control and discipline, I'm afraid Jysella may be the worst."

"Wow, Corran, you really know how to sell your kid."

"I'm trying to be honest. Jysella has some… issues."

He wanted to ask Corran if he was being honest about Valin's 'self control', but decided to leave the man his delusions about at least one of his children, and instead asked, "Issues?"

"Mainly with anger."

Kyp stared at his colleague for a long moment… and then began to laugh.

"Oh, I see. What you really need is a Master with enough backbone to handle your brat of a daughter, and my dealing with Jaina on Hapes made you think of me?"

Kyp stood up and stepped closer to the pool, shaking his head as he stared down at the mirror-like surface. He wasn't sure if he should be insulted or complimented by Corran seeking him out, but no matter, he couldn't imagine that any good could come of his being involved with Jysella Horn's training; especially if her own father had fears for her. The last thing he wanted to deal with was a cranky teenage girl. He'd spent too many years trying to be a good little Jedi to get involved in this speeder-wreck about to happen.

He ran his hand through his hair, thought vaguely that it could use a trim, and turned back to face Corran.

"It was kind of you to think of me, Horn, but no thanks. Having me train your daughter is probably the last thing either of us needs. If she's as bad as you're making me think, and she and I don't kill each other, you'll probably kill me if I don't prevent her from doing whatever it is you're afraid she's going to do."

"Look, I'm not saying that she will turn to the Dark Side…"

"But you clearly have some concerns…"

"I'm saying that she is incredibly strong willed and has a great deal of raw power…"

"And anger. And probably just enough skill to be able to get into trouble if not tightly harnessed. A great combination."

Corran sighed, and Kyp suddenly realized how old the man was getting.

"She needs to work with someone she can't emotionally manipulate and who won't treat her like a girlfriend, or someone they're hanging out on vacation with."

"Which would take you, and all the knights or masters between the ages of twenty and thirty, out of the running?"

"Exactly. You have no history with her, and I doubt you'd be susceptible to her games."

Intellectually, what Corran was saying rang true. Given what he was also trying not to say, Kyp probably was one of the very few who could take on an apprentice like this. That certainly didn't mean that he wanted to.

Turning back to the pool, Kyp tried to think of a way to say no. Tried to think of a reason that he could get out of even considering this arrangement, and when he couldn't, he dropped his head forward in frustration.

"How long do I have to think about whether or not I even want to ask the Council for permission?"

"Luke thinks it's a good idea. And Jysella will be back here tomorrow. She's been traveling with Mirax."

Kyp whirled around, a little stunned.

"So why did you even bother pretending to ask me?"

Corran smiled a little and quirked one eyebrow, but didn't say anything.

Jysella Horn stood in front of Kyp in one of the training rooms; the one furthest away from heavy foot traffic, where very few of the Jedi actually went.

She had been almost civil when her mother had dropped her off the day before and Kyp had given her the afternoon to get unpacked and settle into her new dorm room. Now that it was just the two of them he wanted to get to know her; see what he was up against.

Neither hid the fact that they were sizing the other up.

Jysella, for her part, seemed unimpressed, if her scowls and eye rolling were anything to go by. Before they had exchanged two words, Kyp had mentally run through a list of ways to inform the Council that this was a mistake and that he was dumping her, that he didn't need the headache, and he wasn't sure what was keeping him from doing just that. Was it the little feeling that he kept getting that she needed him? It was silly, but he couldn't deny that that thought had crossed his mind a couple of times already.

He took in her appearance. Pale blue flight suit, long black hair tied back at the base of her neck, piercing hazel eyes, arms folded across her chest. She was petite, but that wasn't a surprise; from what Kyp had seen, Horns didn't come in any other size. She had a lightsaber hanging from her utility belt, and he figured that was as good a conversation starter as any.

"I see you've built a lightsaber. Did you work with your father?"

"Yes, Master." There was an edge of indifference in her voice that told Kyp that her opinion of this arrangement was no higher than his.

Fabulous, this is going to be so much fun.

Calling on the Force to fill himself with serenity, he continued. "What are your strengths with a lightsaber?"

"Other than the fact that I have one and most people don't?"

"That isn't always something you can count on and doesn't answer my question. What are your strengths with a lightsaber?"

She rolled her eyes again and Kyp had to fight the urge to knock her upside the head.

"That I know where the ignition switch is?"

Kyp was fairly certain that he had just met, and agreed to train, the single most irritating person in the galaxy, and the idea of taking her down a few notches began to not only seem appealing, but necessary. "So, you don't have any strengths is what you are trying to not tell me."

"Well, isn't it your job to give them to me."

"No. My job is to help you develop the tools needed to be a Jedi who is spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally connected to the Force. What I will give you is questions to think about and examples to either follow or discard, depending on where your conscience leads you."

"Were you this philosophical when you went Dark?"

"You've got a smart mouth, Apprentice Horn."

"You know my family, is there any way my mouth could have been different? And by the way, if you thought you were getting some shrinking Alderaanian Lily as a student then you're crazier than I heard. Oh, and contrary to popular belief, I do have telekinesis, in fact, I got my dad's and my brother's shares, so watch yourself… piss me off and I just might levitate your scrawny ass back to Kessel."

Kyp's blade shot out and hissed, the tip coming to an end centimeters from Jysella's ear. If she hadn't been so stunned, or if she had reacted at all, Kyp probably would have decapitated her. A fact not lost on Jysella, judging by the size of her now very open eyes.

Maybe not as stupid as I thought.

"What I lack in size I make up for in speed, my very young apprentice. Here's your first lesson; I'm even crazier than you've heard, and I'm already a Master. I don't have to be here. I don't have to teach you. You can go home. If you stay, you will show me respect; you will speak only when spoken to, and you will keep your mouth closed until then. I also have telekinesis, and can levitate your scrawny ass back to Corellia, or the Errant Venture, or wherever your parents have been hiding you from polite company. However, it would be much easier to just run you through and get on with my day."

Kyp's blade retracted and the cylinder flew back to his belt. "Now, Apprentice Horn, you will go back to your room and meditate on this first lesson. Then, I want a report in my datapad before first meal tomorrow. The subject; your strengths, or lack thereof, with a lightsaber. You may have the Force, but that does not make you a Jedi. Think about that."

Jysella's eyes were still wide open when Kyp turned and walked away.

An eternity later...

"You're not going with me."

Kyp continued to walk around Jysella, grabbing things out of drawers, hoping they were things he could actually use for the mission he and Jacen had just been assigned. He wouldn't need much; if the mission went well, he'd only be gone a few days, and if it went bad... the last thing on his mind was going to be clean shirts to wear or new datanovels to read. It was a good thing too; it was difficult to concentrate on packing and fight with Sithella simultaneously; not that he hadn't had plenty of practice. But last time, he had gotten so caught up in their insult exchange that he'd forgotten to pack underwear, a mistake he hoped not to have to deal with on this trip.

"And what am I supposed to do while you're gone?" Jysella asked petulantly.

"What you always do…whatever you want. But if you're looking for suggestions, you could try learning to put yourself into a healing trance, you suck at that."

"Maybe I just have a lousy teacher. And how, precisely, am I supposed to practice healing if I'm not even hurt?" The disdain dripped from her voice, letting him know just how stupid she thought his suggestion was.

"I should alert the media; that may be the first decent question you've asked me since I've known you. How about this; sit in a corner and bang your head against a wall for a few days first. Hey, then you'll have a tiny, miniscule inkling as to how I feel."

"You're not taking me because I'm sixteen, huh?"

Kyp's head shot up. "No, Jysella," he said, baffled. "Your age has nothing to do with it."

"Did my dad tell you not to take me, is that it?"

Turning to face her, he looked right into her eyes, then stalked toward her, being as imposing and threatening as possible, and was delighted by watching her attempt to not shrink away.

"No, Jysella. I'm not taking you because I don't trust you. You are obstinate, contrary, and you'd sooner lose a limb than admit that anyone might possibly know something that you don't, or might have something to teach you. You are dangerous. And your stupidity, combined with your arrogance, could get me killed.

"The only way I would consider taking you along is if your head were to split open and a hidden personality crawled out with its own body. And only if there was some way I could be certain that the original version of you couldn't put its head back together and show up at the least opportune moment." He turned back to his bag, snapping it closed and pulling the strap onto his shoulder, then faced Jysella again.

"Oh, and congratulations. You've won. I will be formally asking to be relieved as your Master when I return. Everyone said that if I could work with Jaina, I could work with you, but they were all wrong. Do you know why? Because Jaina may have been a handful, she may have thrown a fair amount of lightning, but she was never mean for the sake of being mean."

Jysella's expression, usually so hard, so angry, was not what he expected when he stopped ranting and drew in a breath. Her eyes were large and unblinking, and if he didn't know better, he'd have sworn that her lower lip quivered slightly for just a second, though that wasn't possible. He was pretty sure Jysella Horn wasn't capable of crying, and even if she did possess the skill, why would she utilize it now?

Kyp immediately dismissed the idea; it had to have been an illusion, Horns were supposed to be good with that sort of thing. He'd never gotten a reaction like that out of her before and he'd said far crueler things to her then what he just had, but only because she'd said far crueler things to him. He had to admit though; it had been a few months since they'd fought this viciously. But the tantrum that had begun earlier in the day, when she was told that she was once again being left behind, had pushed him to this.

He held her gaze, briefly wondering if he had gone too far. But before he had time to get accustomed to that idea, she smiled slightly, and the meanness in her eyes sent a chill down his spine.

"So, now you're ditching me, too?"

The chill disappeared, replaced by disbelief, and then anger of his own, because he was sick of dealing with this.

"You know what? You need help. You need some really intensive therapy to get your issues straight. I'm not your mother or your father and I didn't leave you in the Maw when you were seven. Go take your rage out on them; I don't deserve it.

"I'd ask you to lock the door behind you, but you'd probably not do it just to spite me. So if you don't mind, get the kriff out so I can leave."

Kyp pushed past her, fighting the urge to run down to the hangar bay, to get onto the shuttle as fast as possible and return to a life with no Jysella Horn in it. Instead, he stood at the door, waiting patiently for her to find her cloak and bag, glare at him, because she wouldn't be the Sithella that he knew and could barely refrain from strangling if she didn't, and finally, walked out the door. Kyp followed her, entered in his code, hoping she hadn't already sliced into this one, but knowing she probably would have by the time he got back, and turned to walk down the hall leaving Jysella standing alone.

Next time on Fear and Love…

Kyp returns from his mission…