Catseye
Main Theme- Cantos Profane by Richard Band
The Krath, like nearly all the Grays in the Unknown Regions, are nomadic. They go from excavation site to excavation site searching for Force-powered artifacts, mostly of the Dark Side, and then they'll leave once they've found enough artifacts to satisfy themselves. Sometimes, taking the artifacts will destabilize the temple they came from, but their seizures has yet to destroy a planet. At least, not a habitable planet.
Hux has never met a Krath before and neither has Ben. In fact, Hux has never met any of the Grays listed on the tarot cards. He has heard rumors of them, and even knows some history on The Krath (particularly that they get offended if you don't emphasize The before Krath) before their arrival in the Unknown Regions.
"The Krath started as a secret society for the bored Tetan youths of the noble class. The name itself is derived from a magician-god of their fairytales. Their little cult was all fun and games until the Sith Spirit of Freedon Nadd decided to haunt them. Then, they staged a coup, took out anyone on Teta who opposed them, and established the Empress Teta government."
"How do you know all of this? I'm fairly sure that your Academy doesn't teach anything before the Rise of the Empire." Hux just grins in the face of Ben's sarcasm. Something about Hux's grin causes his heart to flutter like a Chandrilian butterfly.
"The Commandant loved Ancient History, and he taught me what he learned."
"A Commandant that gave two poodoos for history? I guess that's statistically possible."
"Just like it's statistically possible for a Jedi padawan to go on a Gray Quest with an FO flunky?"
"Exactly. Now, how long 'till we get there?"
"I'd say it's going to take maybe three days because the routes to Red Nebula are hardly mapped, and the map I have exercises extreme caution in its route. So, I'd get used to being on this ship since there aren't any known planets around it."
"It gives us plenty of free time."
"We can teach other."
"You want to learn some Jedi tricks?" Ben teased.
"I was thinking more like the forms."
"We can start with the first one and then see about the rest."
Form I used to be the only form that initiates could practice; if you wanted to practice the other six forms, then you would need to become a padawan. In the New Jedi Order, Master Skywalker allows his Initiates to study all the forms but only the basics and with heavy emphasis on Form I. Form I is designed for an initiate of any size or height to master, so long as they were determined. Hence, why the form is also known as the Determination Form or the Way of the Sarlacc.
Ben mastered the form years ago, but he's never taught the form before, let alone to a non-Jedi. He must use wooden swords instead of training sabers since Hux doesn't have any training sabers. He could've used his saber set on a low-level, but he's afraid of giving Hux a burn.
"I take it Form I is used to teach the fundamentals to younglings?"
"Yes. It's about attack and parry while focusing on the body's target zones."
"Left side, right side, head, and legs."
"You memorized the Code?"
"It's in there, but it's the first things you learn in swordsmanship."
"Do you know the word to stop?"
"Uh, red?"
"It's Solah."
"How do we begin then?"
"Begin." Ben thrusts the sword's blunted point at the center of Hux's chest. In lightsaber combat, there are nine Marks of Contact, or Marks, which are used to disable, kill, or force a surrender from an opponent. The Mark that he used is known as Shiak; it's just piercing an opponent with the point of a lightsaber and is associated with Makashi Masters.
Hux blocks it and then parries the blow.
"Ah, a Jedi trick!" Hux teased.
"It's Dun Mӧch."
"Isn't that Sith?" Traditionally, Dun Mӧch was a tool of the Sith to deceive and distract their Jedi foes through insults, taunts, and jeers.
"Jedi can use it. My namesake was the master of it."
Hux shoots him a questioning look and then he decides to surprise him. Hux pushes him away with his sword and then bends his knees to leap. He performs a somersault and lands behind Ben.
It was almost a Ton Su Ma somersault! Does he know Ataru?
"Oh, the look on your face! Remember my circus connections? The Bilars taught me some of their tricks."
"Your acrobatic skills will go well with Form IV."
"That's Ataru?" Hux guessed.
"Yes. However, it's not perfect." Ben turns and faces Hux. He plants his feet in a line and uses his sword for quick stabs. Ataru has no real defenses against Makashi, but Hux isn't a consummate Jedi. He does not fall back on Ataru to make another leap or somersault; he stands his ground and blocks.
"Soresu?"
"It's made for defense."
"If you have the patience for it." Ben muttered and decided to change his forms. Form II becomes Form V, Shien/Djem So, in a surge of aggression. He uses Falling Avalanche, a Djem So move that required the user to put all their Force-enhanced strength into an overhead strike, against Hux's Soresu. He intends to force the sword out of Hux's hand, instead, he shatters both their wooden swords from the sheer force.
"Splinters!" Hux laughs as the broken pieces fall to the floor.
"I owe you training sabers." Ben promises as his cheeks turn red from embarrassment.
"That'll be nice, but I think I need help cleaning it up." Hux tosses the stump down and heads for a closet to get a broom and dustpan. Ben busies himself by getting the stray pieces into a pile for Hux to sweep up. It takes them a few minutes, but the floor is splinter-free.
"I may have to teach you something other than katas. At least until I get the training sabers."
"There's always martial arts." Hux suggested.
"Let's do that later. First, I'm going to make us some lunch."
"Sounds good to me!"
Three days pass so quickly aboard the Queen Izrina.
For Hux, he's certain that it's because he's strayed from his original quest. Since he was sixteen, he had spent his summers searching for his parents. So far, he's found not a clue to where they went into hiding. The where has always bothered him more than the why. But then he had to help Polly save the love of their life, and he somehow got the Force by sheer accident. Now, he's on a new quest to learn about the Force through the three Gray groups with Jedi Padawan Ben Solo tagging along.
For Ben, he's certain that it's because of Hux. His time was split between the Jedi and his family, and most of it went to the Praxeum. He had to be dutiful in his Jedi studies since he was so strong in the Force. However, he couldn't claim any strong bonds with his fellow Padawans, especially with Voe, and certainly not with the initiates since they found his power intimidating. And Uncle Luke became Master Skywalker. The rest of his family were too busy for him. His mom had to protect the New Republic from the burgeoning First Order. His dad had to divide his duties as a captain, and then a general, in the New Republic Navy and his desires as a smuggler. Lando and Chewie had their own families that needed them. He felt quite lonely. Until Hux.
Now, Ben weaves through the asteroids and comets that make the Red Nebula such an unappealing part of the galaxy to visit. Hux is in the co-pilot seat since the ship itself has no weapons, much to Ben's dismay. After minutes of avoiding rocky death, they find the planet itself. Craters pockmark the surface like someone scooped out the surface with a cold spoon. Ben believes that this planet is a dead end until Hux points out a speck of green near the south pole.
"The valley's there."
"What makes you think it's a valley and not some crater that lucked out in producing life?"
"The Force." Hux suddenly slaps the left side of his chest where the strap is hiding his heart.
"The Force isn't in a specific organ; it's everywhere." Ben sighed through his nose.
"I know that. It's just whenever someone says the Force told them I just presume it's like listening to your heart."
"More like guts."
"Are your guts telling you how to land?"
"No, but don't take the straps off!" Ben knows how to land the Millennium Falcon without much trouble, but he's never landed this ancient ship before. He does land it though with lots of aftershocks, but their straps prevent them from falling out of their seats. Barely.
"I hope that the ground doesn't collapse under us," remarked Hux.
"I'm more worried about this ship falling apart during takeoff," Ben replied.
"Eh, death awaits us all." Hux shrugs and grabs his pack. Ben follows suit and hopes that the meals he packed will be enough to sustain them during their trek. He doesn't know how long they will be out there, so he packed enough food for two days. He sincerely doubts that they'll find any wild game to sustain them if they run out of supplies.
They leave the ship and are greeted with green grass and emerald leaves. Ben wonders if it's summer here all the time, but a gust of wind brings the chills. They walk for quite a while, hoping for some indication of the Krath, but they just find greenery and uneven ground. It's not until two hours later that they decide to take a break that Ben would charitably call a desolate wasteland. There's nothing but red rock and dust stretching far into the dark horizon.
"So, Chef Solo, what did you prepare for us today?" Hux asked as Ben took out two plasticine boxes containing their lunches.
"Watercress sandwiches with roasted chickpeas and horseradish. For beverages, I have water and green tea."
"I love watercress!"
"I can tell since you have so much of it in your fridge."
"I got them from Hapes," explained Hux. He bites into his sandwich and shivers with delight.
"Hapes? I didn't know that the FO had any dealings with them."
"They don't. I've known Tenel Ka Djo since we were children. My uncle was helping her dad with something, so I spent a lot of time with her and her cousins. They thought it'd be fun to turn me into a warrior. It took about two months before I was deemed passable for my age; it was hell."
"Her mother was from Dathomir. So combined with Dathomirian sexism and Hapan chauvinism, it was going to be hell anyways," Ben pointed out.
"She wasn't what made it bad. Her grandmother, the Dowager Queen-Mother at the time, set the deadline, so Tenel had to speed up the training. She didn't want that witch to win, and neither did I."
"Nice to know that the Hapan royal family isn't as perfect as their holos." Every year, the Hapes Consortium puts out a holo album for art's sake and to attract tourists. Typically, the Hapan royal family is the main subject of them. The Hapans are stunningly beautiful, even if none of them can see in the dark, but the royal family even more so.
"No family is, especially royalty."
"Hey, I'm royal. Are you implying that my family is dysfunctional?" Ben half-joked. Armitage sips his tea before answering.
"I suspect there's some friction given that you willingly followed a stranger on a quest to meet the Grays."
"Well…" Ben mumbled incoherently and then tensed up. He senses someone in the area, and Hux's nod to agree with his silent assessment. They both quickly stand and pull out their weapons: Ben's lightsaber and Hux's sonic blaster. They keep their weapons aimed at a rock covered with a curtain of vines.
"Hey, hey, I'm unarmed!" the stranger said and came out from hiding. She bears the feline face and tawny fur of the Farghuls, a race of felinoid sapiens. The top half of her brown hair is streaked with white. Her jade eyes watch their hands like anyone trained with weapons would.
"Rogue!" Hux exclaimed happily. She raises a fine brow up with a curious expression. "Sorry, you just remind me of a holo-comic."
"You two really are just kits." Ben glares at her. "Sorry, kits with weapons."
"We weren't expecting anyone so soon. We thought Red Nebula was abandoned," Hux lied so smoothly that it impressed Ben.
And here I thought Uncle Lando was the best liar in the galaxy.
"Then, why come here? There's plenty of other green valleys in the universe," she said nonchalantly.
"We're here for The Krath." Her eyes widen a fraction before returning to their normal slit. "Ah, so you know of them."
"I work for them as a personal chef. Name's Asora. Cooking is viewed as menial labor to them," she huffed.
"We're Hux and Ben. You wouldn't mind giving us an introduction?" She gestures to their weapons. Hux is the first to put his weapon away, while Ben reluctantly follows suit. "We really need to meet with them."
"I don't see why. They're rich but crazy about old junk. I'll take you to them, but they probably won't talk to you unless you've got some rare item."
"My sword is one of a kind," said Hux and pulled it from its dark scabbard to show her. Her eyes widen again.
"It looks like something I've never seen, and I've been with these weirdos since the Clone Wars."
If she's been cooking for The Krath since the Clone Wars, then she'd be in her sixties or even seventies. Maybe being a Near-Human cat-person means that her species doesn't age horribly like humans do. I know I look older than eighteen.
"It's a family heirloom."
"Making it rarer," Ben added.
"Alright, but I'm not promising anything. Just brace yourselves." She pulls up the floral curtain of the rock to reveal the entrance of a cave.
What can be weirder than my time with Hux? Ben thought as they ventured into the cave.
Hux hears buzzing in the air, not the typical BZZT of bumblebees, more electronic. He wonders where the sound is coming from. He searches for teeny-tiny droids flying around them, but he sees nothing but the greenery and his companions. He then looks for someone or something using a cloaking device, but again, his eyes find nothing but greenery.
Is the Force warning me of a bee attack? Ben isn't reacting at all; he looks bored since there's nothing to look at but mossy rocks and Asora. I'd say this regular noise in the Force, but I haven't heard until now. Maybe it's a sign that it's temporary and it's going away in buzzes?
He doubts this, but what else can he do but hope he's not a Force-user? He's spent his life up until now as a Force-null, barring his ability to see Force Ghosts and Sith Spirits, and wishes to resume that. And then there's Ben.
The kid has some family problems, and I bet it has to do with his lack of choices because of his family. I can empathize with that. The Commandant and father left me with very few too. Difference being his choices don't determine the fate of everyone in the First Order. He could quit being a Jedi, and no one will die. If I quit the FO, then a bunch of people will die, especially those not fitting the Order's old Imperial system. But nothing that the Commandant told me about father's vision had me becoming Force-sensitive! It can still go away, and everything will happen like he said. I believe in my father.
The buzzing morphs into human sounds. Laughter like temple bells titter around him. He looks at Ben and Asora for any sign that they hear this too. They look ahead, not paying one wit to him or the environment around them.
Wait, they haven't even said anything, and it's been an hour. Ben would've said something by now, probably question the Farghul for more information. Why are they so quiet?
He kneels and picks up a pebble. He hurls it at Ben's back, and the little stone sails right through him like air.
Oh pfassk, it's a trap.
The illusions shimmer and then disappear. Blackened rocks and white, dead trees make up the landscape, while a woman occupies the place of his companions. She has cerulean hair held back in a high ponytail. Her malachite green eyes combined with her sharp cheekbones and an upturned nose remind of a cat's face. Her plush lips twist into a haughty smile.
"The illusion started as soon as we entered the cave that way you can split us up without our notice."
"Exactly," she said with a dazzling smile. "I am Aleema Keto XI, co-ruler of The Krath."
"Why did you bother to do any of this? If you didn't want us here, why didn't you use a starship and hurl missiles at my ship?"
"What makes you think we want that? We need you."
"Who is this we?"
"My cousin, Sebban, is currently with your Jedi friend, guiding him to the jewel."
"The jewel?"
"Just one of the Great Life Jewels."
"These jewels are worth a lot, but they're booby-trapped, so you want us to get them without any risk to yourselves."
"Close. We need you to bring the jewels together in this field where they were originally excavated."
"What? Are they more valuable as a set?"
"It's the only way to reverse the Crimson Forever. It's a plague that is activated when the jewels are separated and affects everyone on the planet at the time. It even got the two traitors who didn't believe it would happen." She wears a sad expression, though Hux can see a glimmer of satisfaction towards the fate of the traitors. "My cousin and our chef avoided the plague because we were off world."
"I want to see those afflicted. I need to confirm that this isn't another elaborate ruse."
She takes him to the camp at a temple. This temple reminds Hux of a tombstone; tall with a rounded dome and as gray as the rocks surrounding it. The people lying in makeshift cots at the foot of it bring some color. They all have a strange pink to their human flesh like a sunburn threatening to get much worse. He counts two dozen people including eight children. The children remind him of the child soldiers that Gallius Rax gifted him when he was just a paper-thin five-year-old. Diseases were running rampant in the fleets from overcrowding, even the child soldiers got them. They were red and sweating from the fever, but after a week they were fine and back to their grim selves. These children have their red eyes fixed at the sky in a catatonic daze. He touches the cheek of one and finds them nearly as cold as a corpse.
"How long do they have?" he asked softly.
"Once they turn red, they'll have only a day before the plague kills them. Luckily, they weren't responsible for the jewels' separation. The traitors turned red in two days and then died by the third. They've been like this for four days now. I believe we may have another day or two before the red finally sets in. Then, only one more day."
"Where's the jewel?"
"In the temple. The other one is deep in a cave that you were in. I made sure to guide you to the exit. My cousin is taking your friend directly to it."
"Why can't you and your cousin just get the jewels yourselves?"
"Because the jewels were constructed with the Light Side of the Force. We're able to pick them up, but we can't unite them with the Force as required because we're Dark Siders. Asora tried taking them out, but they wouldn't budge to a Force-null. Sariss informed me that she was sending Light Siders to help us, but one of them was a Jedi. We grew up hearing nothing good about the Jedi just like the Sith."
"They are two sides of the same coin," he commented. "But I'm not a Light Sider. I haven't even been Force-sensitive for a week!"
"It's not like we have many options now. Please, I need you to try."
"I'll do. We both will."
The cave has no end in sight. The bioluminescent lichen on the cave's ceiling provides some light, though no heat to keep the damp chill away. Ben uses the Force to keep himself warm, which he taught himself during a trip to icy Illum with his dad and Chewie.
I was so cold that I clung to Chewie's leg for warmth. I was like five or six. I was too young to understand his lessons on the Force, or maybe I just didn't care enough to try because I was always afraid that he would take me away from my parents. I know he would never do that, but I couldn't help but fear the worst when he was around. Yet, I did understand that the Force was everywhere and that I could reach it. I wanted to be warm like Chewie, so I sought the Light because it was warmth. Unfortunately, I got too warm and nearly gave myself a fever. I had to put some of my warmth in Chewie to avoid that. He was okay with it because even with all his fur he got cold too.
Hux must be cold too. He wouldn't know how to draw on the Light for warmth like I did. He isn't a natural Force-user like I am. Maybe I can help keep him warm?
Ben reaches for Hux's hand and channels some of the Light into him. Hux screams and wrenches his hand away from him. Then, Hux's visage wavers like a mirage on Tatooine and is replaced with the face of an unknown man. This man wears a necklace with a golden pendant emitting the Dark Side.
Ben's training takes over, and he has his saber in his hand and ignited before the man can pull his blaster. Asora watches them both, waiting for the attack.
"What have you done with Hux!?" Ben demanded.
"He's alive, I can assure you that."
"I can't say the same for you soon." Ben lets the blade hover a centimeter from the man's neck, far enough for him to feel the saber's heat. "Start talking."
"I am Sebban Keto, co-ruler of The Krath, and a lover in all things Force antiquity."
"Co? Is Asora here you're other half?"
"No, I am their private chef and will continue to be until they stop paying me," Asora interjected.
"My fair cousin, Aleema Keto, is my other half," Sebban added calmly.
"Let me guess, she's keeping Hux captive?"
"She creates illusions. Right now, Hux believes he's with you in the valley on their way to the Temple of the Red Nebula."
"Either Hux is infamous in the Unknown Regions, or a certain prophetess informed you of our coming?"
"Sariss knows how much we hate surprises, but, in this case, you two are very much welcomed."
"If that's the case, then why the subterfuge?"
"She warned us that a Jedi was young Hux's companion, and that said Jedi wasn't exactly open-minded."
"It's not like the cards pegged you people as ideal either."
"Look, we need your help in getting the Great Life Jewel out of the cave," Asora snapped.
"The Great Life Jewel? What you need it to bring the dead back to life?"
"We need it to reverse the Crimson Forever that has struck our camp," Sebban paused dramatically before continuing. "The Great Life Jewels have to be together or else everyone will die of the Crimson Forever; it's a plague that was activated once the jewels were separated."
"Then, how come you and Asora look fine?"
"We weren't planetside when the jewels were separated. Two of my acolytes got greedy and were planning of absconding with a jewel and hid one in this very cave to retrieve later once they took my ship. The plague got the traitors first."
"If I'm following your plan correctly, you want Hux and I to get your jewels and bring them together?"
"Correct. Now, my cousin and I would've done it if it wasn't for the fact that we are Dark Siders. The jewels can only be united by Light Siders."
Before Ben can comment on Sebban's story, his comlink beeps incessantly. He picks it up and sees Hux's frequency.
"Hux?" he asked as he answered.
"Yes, it's really me. Have you heard about the Crimson Forever?"
"Yes, so the story is true?"
"Very. And we got at best a day before lots of people die."
"We'll meet at the field."
"And save everyone!"
Ben's jewel lies at the bottom of the cave's pit, while Hux's jewel resides in its stone cradle in the temple's heart. Ben descends a rope ladder, while Hux ascends the temple's thousand and one steps. The jewels offer no destruction when they touched them; they are warm like embers from a bonfire. They take their jewels to the field of dead trees and rocks. They bring the jewels together and then those embers become fires of their own. They feel the Force, the Light, thrumming through them like electricity.
And then, they wake to find themselves in a field with blossoming trees.
"The Great Life Jewels live up to their name," Ben commented.
"We should check on the camp." Hux takes Ben to the camp where Aleema, Sebban, and Asora are helping people out of their beds. Hux smiles at seeing not a splotch of red on their faces nor in their eyes. Most shamble after days of bedrest, even the children wobble like newly hatched cygnets.
"Looks like everyone gets to live." Hux smiles proudly.
"Let's hope they don't want to rend us limb from limb, fellow Light Sider," Ben teased lightly. Hux chortles in turn.
"We did save them. I'd like to believe they'd give us a five-minute head start."
They soon find out after Aleema and Sebban go up to them once they find that most can get of the cots without much help. The cousins look as pleased as Loth cats.
"We must thank you for your help," Sebban began. "Sariss informed us that you were hoping to study the Grays to learn more about the Force. You are welcome to stay amongst us."
"It'd be pretty cool to learn your illusion tricks." Hux said with a grin.
"I can spare a day to teach you the basics." Aleema offered.
"When do we begin?"
"Tomorrow. Tonight, we celebrate!"
Ben wakes with a splitting headache. He wonders if this is how a hangover is supposed to feel. He drank wine at the party because The Krath allow their children to drink water-down wine. He figures that the wine didn't cause it and realizes that his pain was most likely caused by the Force. The Light that overwhelmed his body is no longer there. He sighs, accepting that he couldn't feel that good all the time.
At least the Force isn't threatening to tear me into two. I wonder if Hux is acutely suffering like I am. Probably not since he's not that strong in the Force.
The Krath gave them their own tents, so Ben goes over to Hux's and steps through the flap without making his presence known. Hux looks at him with muted shock and hurries to pull the rest of his pants up. It's too late. Ben sees the secret that Hux has been hiding.
"H-How did you get all those burns?" They're red slowly fading into pink, but I can tell these are recent. The skin itself looks like gnarled limbs of an ancient tree. It's like something burrowed into his legs. It's separate from the burns.
"I was sixteen and overconfident," Hux replied in a clipped tone.
"Were you tortured?" Hux stiffens at that. It's the same reaction his mom gave when Ben asked her what happened aboard the Death Star before her rescue. Ben was six or seven then and learned a valuable lesson that some subjects just can't be talked about. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Hux exhales a shaky breath. "You're right. I don't want to."
"Uh, so you hungry?" Ben decides to lighten the mood by changing the subject.
"Yes, I am. I doubt Asora's cooking will be better than yours."
"Well, no one can match my space waffles."
Asora's scrambled nuna eggs aren't as wonderful as Ben's space waffles, but they are filling. It will give them energy in their illusion lessons with Aleema. They meet in the field where the Great Life Jewels now reside. Aleema is there with a small pen for corralling a small herd of cuckoo hens.
"How do we begin, Master?" Ben inquired with a slight hint of sarcasm.
"First, I am Mistress. Second, we will start with a basic ability of illusions: Force persuasion."
"Isn't that a Jedi mind trick?" Hux asked with a cocked brow. Ben sighs through his nose.
"It's actually known as Affect mind. It's an Alter ability."
"Alter? Is that related to those three pillars in the code?"
"They're more like themes of Force abilities. There are three: Control, Sense, and Alter. Control is about controlling yourself, so you can better control the Force. Initiates learn Control first and foremost. Sense is an expansion on Control, but it incorporates the Living Force. It can enhance the senses and make life signatures easier to discern. Padawans learn this from their Masters. Finally, Alter is literally using the Force to alter your environment, typically physically. Like telekinesis or Affect mind in this case. Knights practice this on their own."
"The Jedi may not trust their own younglings to go beyond the rudimentary foundations of the Force, but we of The Krath refuse to smother brilliance," Aleema replied chillingly.
"Explain to me how Affect mind or Force persuasion is an illusion," Ben requested with crossed arms.
"Illusions are about deceiving your opponents. Force persuasion is deceiving your opponent into doing your bidding."
"Okay then," Ben admitted defeat. "You want us to persuade the nunas into doing something."
"Considering your tone of voice, you seem to know all about Force persuasion. Why don't you just show us?" Ben takes her bait and goes over to the pen.
He waves his hand just like how his uncle taught him. "You want to jump."
All the nunas jump and keep jumping until he tells them to stop. Hux claps at his display, while Aleema gives him a respectful nod and then looks to Hux. The ginger goes over next, while Ben chooses to stand where Hux once stood. He watches Hux with great anticipation.
Hux waves his hand, exactly like Ben, but he focuses on only one nuna. "You want to jump."
The nuna does no such thing and makes annoyed noises at him.
Hux tries again. He fails. Then, again. He fails. And again. He fails.
"Hux, you can stop now. I don't think you have talent for this."
"You sure it's not because I don't have enough midi-chlorians for it?"
"You do have the Force; it's just not for illusions."
"Can't you still teach me how to create an illusion? I can't mind control anyone, but, surely, I can deceive them visually."
"Not with the limited time we have. It took me many, many years to make illusions of that level." Aleema then says softly, "My cousin might be able to teach you some psychometry. He's currently getting a shipment of weapons ready for the Jensaarai."
"The Jensaarai buy weapons from The Krath?" Ben inquired skeptically.
"Of course. We need credits like everyone else, and their credits are good."
"I guess I'll do that then. Have fun, Ben!"
"I'll try not to have too much fun."
Hux finds Sebban and his acolytes cleaning blasters and very old swords. He doubts that the swords are Sith sword considering the amount of rust on them. Sith swords don't seem to rust, even when they're abandoned in the wilds for centuries. Even ones that are made in recent times, like his own Curse Breaker, do not require the rigorous maintenance of most weaponry. He figures it has more to do with the Force than the actual materials themselves; his sword wasn't constructed out of any precious metals but from whatever scrap his father and Kendalina could scavenge. He then wonders briefly if he can use the sword just like his father did.
It shimmered with a white light when he would spar with the Commandant's sword. Maybe it was the Light in it reacting against the Dark of a true Sith sword. Kendalina and father didn't construct it to kill Jedi but to free themselves.
Sebban gestures for him to come closer without looking up from cleaning his blaster.
"I take it the lesson with Aleema didn't go so well."
"Apparently, I have no talent for Force persuasion. And probably illusions in general."
"She sent you here to see if you can get the consolation prize of psychometry."
"Considering your tone, I'm guessing that I won't have much luck in that either."
"You need to be strong in the Unifying Force, and I can tell from your signature that you are not."
"What if I was Kiffar?"
"If you had some Kiffar blood in you, then there's a chance that you could. Are you part Kiffar?"
"No. I'm just a somewhat mutated human with a dash of Umbaran." Armitage then inquired, "Can you see any of that in my Force signature?"
"No, I think you would need a DNA test for that. You do have the Force, and your friend is unfortunately quite strong in the Force."
"Unfortunately?"
"I don't know how you can't sense your friend's strength in the Force, perhaps it's due to your recent acquirement of the Force."
"It's not like I was given a step-by-step manual on the Force."
"Since your friend is a Jedi, I thought he would've taught you the basics like recognizing Force signatures."
"We've been meditating and practicing katas."
"Maybe the Jensaarai can help you since most of them are strong in the Living Force. We're supposed to meet them in two days; you're welcome to follow us to them."
"That's perfect!"
"It isn't free though. How are you with cleaning weaponry?"
"I've been cleaning weapons since I was five."
"Excellent, grab yourself some swords and blasters and get to work!"
"Yes, sir!"
Author's Comments- Here are the links:
I was going to use a Felacat, since they are what I think of cat people in SW, but I decided on a Farghul: a href=" . "Link/a
Here is an image of Aleema Keto. She is the co-founder of The Krath and wouldn't be alive now, but I decided to give her descendant (Aleema Keto XI) her looks. Sebban doesn't have any images to him and a vague description on the Wookie about being dark-haired: a href=" . "Link/a
There are only like three Farghuls that appear in comics. Asora is not one of them and only exists in a roleplaying game called "An Official Engagement." She owned a store that sold cooking ingredients and watched another store get destroyed by some hoodlums. She is given no physical description aside from her species and gender, so I decided to give her Rogue's hair and physique from the 90s X-Men cartoon, but not her accent since I can't write accents to save my life. There are also only three named members of The Krath which includes the co-founders who established the cult thousands of years ago. I decided to create an OC for this because just having Sebban Keto would not have been enough. Red Nebula comes from the original Marvel run of SW comics. It was only in two issues and was mainly about combating the Crimson Forever by reuniting the Great Life Jewels; I used that plot for this, but I certainly didn't use the same characters from it.
Hopefully, the next part will come in less than a year, but we'll see.