Disclaimer: I own not- You know what, you guys know this already lol There's no way i'm secretly George Lucas... or maybe I am O.o
Okay, so I cannot apologize enough for taking so long to update! I could list my excuse but I'm sure you don't want to hear them so i'll just express my sincerest apologies and hope that I can earn your forgiveness. No riots or pitchforks or torches please lol that would be a very bad thing lol. Well, thank you so much for sticking around to read this. If it makes you feel any better, it is now 2:30 in the morning for me and I was determined to get this chapter finished and proof read so here it is! I hope its to your liking so enjoy! ^-^
Edit: Sorry for the Re-update for those of you who have this on Story Alert. It was messing with the format of my story again lol sorry if this is bothering you...
A Breath of Protection
"Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety."
Carth wandered around the ship, wondering where Samirah had gone. He wanted to make sure she was alright since she had seemed a little shaken up at the bridge. He also wanted to commend her on a job well done with the Sith Fighters that had been tailing them. At first he had been really worried when it looked like she had no idea what she was doing. Right when he had reached for the comm to ask her what she was waiting for, she immediately took out a fighter and was obliterating them. She almost seemed a little aggressive but Carth wasn't going to complain. She got the job done just like she always did. Now, he just wanted to make sure she was ok.
He looked in every room on his way through the Ebon Hawk trying to figure out where she had gone. He'd already passed by the gun turret and frowned to find she wasn't in there. He continued to walk down the corridors until he walked in on Canderous fiddling with the swoop bike. He barely spared Carth a glance as he walked in, glancing around and frowning when he didn't find her here either.
"Something I can help you with, soldier boy?" Canderous mused making Carth frown. He decided against trying to correct the Mandalorian. He would probably keep addressing him as soldier boy anyway so no point in wasting breath.
"No, not really. I was looking for Samirah." Canderous bobbed his head with a grin.
"She didn't come see you?" He asked, pausing briefly to look at Carth.
"Would I be looking for her if she did?" Carth replied sourly. He didn't like dealing with the Mandalorian. He'd thought that after the escape from Davik's estate, the Mandalorian would be easier to deal with. He thought that they had come to some mutual arrangement. Apparently not.
Canderous snorted at the sarcastic remark, returning his attention back to the swoop bike as he tried to boost the speed, maybe make the prototype accelerator more... stable. It was just busy work, something to do while he accompanied these Republic people to where ever the hell they were going. He wasn't sure if he wanted to stay or go off to do his own thing. Samirah was quite the fighter, a little too soft hearted for the dirty jobs, but he liked her all the same. She wasn't afraid of Canderous one bit and that intrigued him. Most people were afraid of the name alone- she wasn't. He wanted to know how much she could grow.
"Last time I saw her, she was at the gun turret. I haven't seen the kid since, though. " He replied nonchalantly. "She might be resting about now, she seemed worn out earlier. Can't blame the kid, she works hard. Exceeded my expectations, that's for sure." Carth half frowned at him, not needing to be told how hard she worked.
"I know that." He stated a little perturbed at the Mandalorian. He spun around, walking briskly away not wanting to waste any more time with him.
Canderous just smirked at his abruptness, not sparing a glance in the pilots direction. He didn't understand why he was so concerned. Samirah was a big girl, she could take care of herself. If all she needed was some sleep, then all was right with the world. She could handle herself and that also meant that she was capable of dealing with stress. He didn't understand the soldier boys need to protect her. She was doing fine as she was, without any protection.
Well... her gun turret skills could use a little tune-up. The Mandalorian smiled to himself as he returned his focus to the swoop bike. It was in dire need of a tune-up, that was for sure.
Canderous was right about one thing, Carth thought- she had to be tired. He walked along the hall, his steps echoing with a metal sound as his shoes clinked against the floor. Carth wasn't sure what he was going to say when he found her. What if she was still having a break down? He didn't think she could have a break down like the one she had in the cockpit. Usually she kept herself so composed except for the occasional blush and loss for words. It was unlike her to make unreasonable requests- ok, maybe she could be unreasonable but she never made desperate requests like that.
Carth stuffed his hands in his pockets as he came to a stop in front of the door he presumed to be the girls side. He wasn't sure how to proceed. Did he knock? What if she was asleep? Should he whisper quietly? Now that he was standing in front of the door, he didn't know what he was going to do. He didn't want to upset her or make her angry, but to see if she had calmed down. He finally decided that he wanted to see how she was doing one way or another. If she got angry, well then she got angry but at least he would have some peace of mind.
He slowly opened the door, peeking in to see if she was even in the room. For a moment, he just blinked in surprise as he stepped inside, staring curiously at the two. Mission was leaning against Samirah, her head resting on her shoulder. Samirah in turn, had her head resting against Mission's as they both slept quietly. Her brunette hair was free of the ponytail, falling in her face and obscuring his few of most of her features. Their backs against the wall and huddled together like little children. Carth still could not get over the fact that Samirah could be so childlike.
She was a puzzle he didn't think he could solve.
He wondered if he should move them to a bed or simply drape a blanket over them. He didn't want to risk waking one of them but he knew that they probably weren't in the most comfortable position either. He decided to just drape a blanket lightly over them so they didn't catch a cold. He pulled a blanket off one of the beds and began to wrap it around them so they'd stay warm. As he knelt down beside them, Samirah's head whipped up in shock, her eyes surprised and yet still heavy from exhaustion. He noted the smudges of dirt and dust covering her face, unable to stop the small smile forming on his own.
"Carth..." Her voice was still groggy from sleep. "What... What are you doing?" She looked around, still half asleep before looking back at Carth curiously.
"Shhhh, It's ok. I'm just moving you guys to bed..." He whispered, making her look to see who the other person was. She looked at Mission and it was like she suddenly woke up, remembering why she was there in the first place.
"Oh god... Mission..." She said the name softly and sympathetically. She wrapped her arms around the Twi'lek, kissing her forehead and stroking the side of her head. "This shouldn't have happened to her..." She whispered back, her voice still tired.
"Let me move her to a bed." Carth said quietly before he moved to the other side of Mission, sliding his arms under her and holding her in a cradle.
When he had a secure hold on her, he gently moved her over to one of the beds and laid her down carefully. He pulled a blanket up and over her shoulders as she snuggled into the pillow before her body fell motionless indicating that she was fast asleep again. Streaks along her cheeks being the only indication that she had been crying recently and Carth couldn't blame her. He understood too well what it was like to lose a home. He knew that feeling of helplessness and loss when everything you knew and loved was gone. That moment when you've passed any chance you had to stop it from happening.
Carth dragged his eyes to look at Samirah as she shivered on the floor. Her arms were wrapped securely around herself but if wasn't because she was cold. The blanket was still half covering her but she made no move to cover herself completely. Her drowsy eyes were still focused on Mission and she looked like she was on the brink of tears. Carth sat down beside her, sliding down against the wall before he pulled the sheet up to her shoulders.
"I should have been able to do something..." She said quietly.
"And what would you have done? Samirah, I was there and you did everything that you possibly could have." Carth reassured her but she just shook her head.
"It wasn't enough...by the Four Moons, Devron Uhdea was still there. Plenty of good Republic soldiers were still healing down there. Carth, I should have been able to do more! Moved quicker, done more, seen it coming at the Sith Base- How could I not stop this?" She spoke in a low but distraught voice.
"It wasn't something you could stop. No one could have done anything to prevent that. Least of all, you. Mission won't blame you, she's a smart kid. It'll be hard on her, but she won't think differently of you." Samirah's eyes stared blankly at her motionless form, her arms wrapping even tighter around her waist. It was like trying to hold herself together.
"You don't understand Carth... It was like losing a piece of me... I could almost hear each terrifying scream for help... they wanted me to help them. They wanted me to save them. It was this pain in my chest that I never even knew I could feel..." When she spoke, her eyes weren't watching the room, she wasn't even there. She was back at that moment when she felt it all hit her like a battering ram.
At first, she thought she was just being over emotional about the loss of the planet but even when she was too late to save someone, she never felt a wave of guilt like this. Yes, she felt horrible, useless and felt the loss down to the pit of her stomach but this was something entirely different. It was ten times stronger. She wasn't sure if she even heard voices or if it was just the feeling that had overwhelmed her. That's when she started making demands that they turn around even though she knew her efforts were all for not. She was acting out of fear, guilt, exhaustion and the notion that she could save everyone. The exhaustion was taking a bigger toll on her than before though. She pulled a hand up to the side of her head, her fingers laying gently on her forehead as she rested her face in the palm of her hand.
Carth watched her unravel and couldn't help himself. He laid an arm over her shoulder, letting her relax and trying to keep her from breaking down into tears again. He wasn't so sure he could handle that. She accepted his gesture as she leaned into him, dropping her hand from her face which surprised Carth. He thought she was too shy and stubborn to accept a gesture of comfort. He didn't know what type of pain she was feeling, not exactly, but he was sure he could get a rough estimate of what kind of feeling it was.
They sat like that for a while, just in a quiet environment, nether one saying anything. Every now and then she would take an unsteady breath, her body quivering each time. Crying without making a sound and without shedding a tear. He didn't know if that was by choice or just how she was handling it that moment. He wished there was more he could do for her and Mission but by being there for them, that seemed like the next best thing for now. Carth waited a moment, hoping that she would calm down and that she would breathe easy again. As time ticked by, her breathing finally became relaxed and slow making him smile. She wasn't hiccupping or sniveling so maybe that was a good sign?
"Better?" When she didn't respond, he leaned forward to look at her face and chuckled to himself.
He wasn't sure when, but at some point, she had fallen asleep amidst her inner turmoil. She was without a doubt, a child at heart. He shook his head, a big grin in place before he slowly started to move. He placed a hand on her shoulder to keep her from falling as he moved from his sitting position to kneeling in front of her. Her head bobbed once before her eyes flew open for a moment and then slowly closing again, too tired to try and fight it. He kept smiling to himself as he pulled her into a cradle, her head resting against his chest again. He moved carefully, trying his best not to wake her up as he placed her in bed, yet again.
He was making a habit of tucking the young scout in bed. It was these small moments that made him realize how vulnerable she was even though she was probably an army of one. A force to be reckoned with. These miniscule moments where he was reminded that she was everything but invincible. He pulled the sheets up over her shoulder as she moved her head about until she felt comfortable. Her face was contorted into what could only be pain and sadness. An expression he really wished she'd let go of.
He watched her a moment longer before slowly dismissing himself from the room, walking away with his hands stuffed in his pockets again. He had accomplished his small mission. At least now, she would be able to get some rest before they reached Dantooine. It was a good distance away and she needed the sleep more than anyone else in their crew. She was indeed, an incredible woman. A lot of fire behind that heartfelt exterior, but definitely a marvel to behold. He traveled to the other side of the Ebon Hawk, locating the men's quarters. He pulled off his boots and unzipped his jacket, folding it neatly and putting it away. He climbed into one of the cots, letting out a sigh of content as he leaned back into the bed and resting against the pillow.
Yeah, he was tired. Not as tired as Samirah, but tired all the same. He was going to enjoy his first actual night of sleep. Even though Samirah had integrated a security system, he was still skeptical of sleep. He had to stay alert, he had to keep his guard up. He just didn't feel safe on Taris, no matter the place or safety precautions taken. Watching that planet be destroyed was hard to watch and even harder to simply just leave. It took every ounce of his being to not listen to Samirah's demands to turn around.
It took even more strength to tell her that there was no hope to save them.
He stretched his arms, hearing the satisfying crack of his joints as he let his body unwind and relax into the comfort of the cot. He let his exhaustion roll over him as he slowly drifted away to sleep. He needed to sleep and he wasn't going to get any thinking back on Taris. His mind shut down as he was pulled away into slumber, resting before their arrival to Dantooine.
Samirah rolled over, yawning as she blinked her eyes open. Her fingers curled around the edges of the blanket as she stretched out hearing a few pops of her joints. She slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes and glancing around the room, wondering where she was. She was still half asleep and it only took a moment before everything came rushing back. Taris. The escape. The gut feeling. Mission crying. She even remembered falling asleep briefly only to be woken up by Carth. They talked for a bit and then she... she felt really, really tired. She fell asleep... that she was sure of but had she fallen asleep in the middle of him talking? She remembers... swaying?
Her cheeks turned lightly red at the sudden idea of falling asleep on Carth. Did she fall asleep on him? He must have carried her to bed but... she was just so tired she couldn't exactly remember what she did. She rubbed her eyes again before pushing the covers off and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She wasn't going to figure anything out just sitting around in bed. Her body felt a little stiff as she tried to stretch her muscles, hearing a few more satisfying pops along her vertebrae. She glanced around the room, noting that Mission was nowhere to be found.
She must have woken up before Samirah did.
She opened up the door and quietly stepped out, trying to avoid people as she tip toed to the refresher. Even though she had rested up- thankfully with no dreams or visions weighing her mind down, she was too tired for that- she still felt like crap. She was sure she looked worse than she felt. She moved quickly until she found the door to the refresher and slipped inside. When she locked the door, she spun around and stifled the cry of horror she had been about to release. Her hair was a mess of tangles and frizz while her face was covered in grime and ash from their escape.
Oh by the jewel of Haarkan- had Carth seen her like this? She looked like... she had just been through hell and back. Huh. The words sounded oddly familiar which made her smile slightly. She stripped down before cutting the water on and stepping beneath the flow of hot water. She automatically arched her back at the intensity of the heat until she became adjusted to it. She could have fallen asleep in there but she knew it wasn't probably her best idea.
She didn't know how long she had slept but she figured it was far too long.
She was still broken up about Taris but now wasn't exactly the time to fall to pieces. Last night, it just exploded from within her like a dam breaking loose and she had no way of stopping it. She was scared, horrified and wanted to jump out there to save people. All rational thinking went out the window the moment it overcame her. There was still this lingering feeling in the pit of her stomach that made her feel slightly queasy but it wasn't something major. After her shower, she would feel a hundred times better. For now, there was nothing she could do about Taris... but that didn't mean that nothing would be done.
She cleaned up, washing away all the grime and dirt until she felt clean again. She stepped out and dried off, rubbing her hair with a towel to soak up as much water as possible before dressing and brushing her hair out. When she was done brushing her teeth and felt as clean as she could possibly get, she smiled at herself. The last time she felt this well rested and clean was before the Endar Spire was attacked and this whole mess started. She rolled her shoulders as she exited the refresher, nearly running face first into Canderous. Her hands flew up to stop the impact as he did the same, catching her elbows. Her head whipped up to meet the Mandalorian's grinning face with a blush.
"Well, look who decided to wake up." He mused with a gleam in his eye. "Do you mind?"
His eyes flicked down to his chest where her hands rested and somehow, her cheeks managed to turn a deeper shade of red. Canderous couldn't stop the big smirk that spread across his face. After everything he witnessed her do, he would never have guess she was so easily embarrassed. Oh, he was going to have fun with this. Samirah quickly pulled her hands away, holding them up beside her head as if she had been caught with her hands in the cookie jar.
"I-I-I'm so sorry!" She stammered, her bottom lip quivering with embarrassment as she felt this tingle in her chest. It was that feeling of intense embarrassment that would well up inside of you and you just wanted to run and hide under a blanket. Of all the people to run in too like that, it had to be the Mandalorian. Canderous chuckled in a low voice, finally releasing her elbows as she tried to casually step back.
"Calm down, kid. It's not like you ran me over or anything... though I'd like to see you try." He pondered for a moment how a fight between him and her would go. He would let her off the hook today. That didn't mean she was off of it forever... he would just put this in his pocket to use on a later date. "May I?" He gestured to the room behind her and she quickly nodded her head before sidestepping out of the way, careful to avoid his touch.
Canderous couldn't help the snicker that escaped his lips as he moved past her, touching her lightly on her shoulder with his hand. A simple gesture used in passing, but with the ability to make a certain scout jump clear out of her skin. Canderous continued to snicker as he closed the door behind him, amused by her jumpy reactions. He had to know that she didn't mean anything by it. His chest just happened to be at the wrong place... at the wrong time.
When the door closed, Samirah let out a shaky breath, her body quivering at the incredibly awkward moment that she hoped would end at that. Canderous was the last person she wanted to have an awkward moment with. He handled situations in a rather bizarre way so she had no idea what to expect. She was going to have to be careful around him... especially now that he seemed amused by her reaction.
Damn her uneasiness...
She stepped away from the wall, shooting the door with a grimace before walking away. Samirah shook her head as she walked down the corridors and arriving at the center of the ship, opening the door to reveal the room. Zaalbar was seated at the table and T3 was off to the side with Mission. She was giving him a tune up and she seemed better than before, but not completely over it. When the door opened, she looked up to see Samirah and a grin immediately spread across her face.
"Hey, Sami." She greeted cheerfully before struggling for her next words. "I wanted to say... thanks... you know, for checking up on me." She said a little awkwardly. Samirah smiled as she moved to give Mission a hug which seemed to oddly erase the awkward feeling.
"Hey, don't worry about it, ok? If you need somebody, know that I'm here." She said in a quiet tone and when they pulled back, Mission was smiling gratefully at her. Samirah needed to take care of her and that's what she was going to do.
Mission had become like the little sister Samirah never had. The kind of sister you could get into a lot of trouble with and even for, but it was well worth it in the end. Especially when that little sister was an expert at stealth and blowing up Sith bases. Ah, the little things in life.
Looking over at Zaalbar, a smile rose to Samirah's lips as she realized he had figured out how to use the food synthesizer. A bowl of some sort of yellowish goop was stationed in front of him. He was staring intently at the bowl, trying to decide if it was worth it. Did he want to chance it? If he didn't, he would surely starve aboard the ship but what if it wasn't edible? What if it tasted like the Gamorrean's did? His mind swarmed with questions as he simply stared at the pile of goo, poking it.
Samirah was willing to bet that when he got hungry enough, it didn't matter what it tasted like- as long as it was better than a Gamorrean's arm, he probably didn't care. Samirah leaned in close to Mission, her hand beside her mouth to prevent Zaalbar from over hearing.
"... let me know if he eats it and how he reacts...I might try it based on his reaction..." Mission scrunched up her nose but nodded.
"... Oh, Big Z will eat it... there's no doubt about that... I've seen him eat just about anything when he's hungry..." She said shooting Samirah a quick smirk before returning her attention to T3. Samirah was oddly surprised that he hadn't gone to go find Bastila and annoy her to no end.
Speaking of Bastila... Samirah was sure she needed to go find her and see how far away they were from Dantooine. She gave Mission another quick hug before walking quickly away and down the corridor leading to the bridge. She walked slowly, not in any real hurry to get there. She didn't have to be in a hurry anymore. She clasped her hands behind her back as she watched her feet, each step more like a slow hop.
One hop, pause. Two hops, pause. One hop, pause. Two hops, pause.
It reminded her oddly of a game of hopscotch. She hadn't played that game in ages, not since she was a small girl. She didn't remember playing a whole lot as a child, but for some reason... hopscotch just sort of stuck in her mind. A simplistic game with no real value or point to it but somehow would captivate you in moments of laughter. How odd.
She kept her eyes on the floor, following each step as she made her way down the quiet hallway. Hoping into invisible squares that only she could see until a shadow crept across the floor. She slowly looked up, her eyes wide as she caught sight of a burnt orange jacket that could only belong to Carth. His arms were crossed over his chest as he studied her from where he stood. She froze, mid step as her eyes were glued to his, a small blush covering her cheeks.
Did everyone enjoy these little moments or was it just today?
"H-Hi..." She stammered.
"I would ask what you were doing, but I'm not sure I want to know." Carth chuckled as she stood straight, her arms still behind her back. Despite the small blush on her cheeks, she smiled as she broke eye contact.
"It's okay, I wouldn't tell you anyway. It's a secret." She spoke in an innocent tone, her eyes flicking up to meet his for a moment.
"A secret?" He repeated and she just nodded with a coy smile, brushing past him in her playful manner. She was in a good mood which Carth hadn't expected. At least not so soon after the event.
Carth had been on his way to check up on her but seeing her wide awake, he turned around and followed her into the cockpit. Bastila was seated in the copilots chair, her back straight and her feet firmly planted on the ground. The perfect image of proper posture. As Carth and Samirah entered, Bastila glanced up at them with a smile. Samirah had never seen Bastila do much more than scowl at everything that moved so this was a nice change. Bastila looked back out the window making Samirah follow her gaze to a planet approaching them quickly.
Dantooine.
Had she really slept that long?
Bastila leaned forward, propping her elbows on the console as she rested her chin in her hands. Her eyes were watching the planet with a fondness as it came closer. The green planet was dotted with small reservoirs of water followed by thin lines of blue that could only be rivers stretching through the planes. A shadow was casted over half of the hemisphere, slowly crawling across the soil bringing night with it.
"Dantooine..." Bastila breathed in a quiet tone. Her eyes were drinking up every inch of the planet. "It feels like a life time since I last stepped foot on her surface. Though, in truth, it has only been a few months. We should be safe from Malak here... for now..."
Samirah kept her eyes on the planet as it grew larger, the planes becoming clear and more level. The water looked like it was starting to move, though in reality- It had never stopped moving. It was like the planet came to life the closer you got, becoming more real when you really looked at it. Samirah didn't break eye contact with the planet until Carth let out a frustrated sigh. Her gaze flicked over to him as he shook his head.
"Safe? You saw what his fleet did to Taris: there wasn't a building over two stories high left standing!" He said, walking over to the pilots seat but not to sit down. He rested his hands on the back of the chair, gripping the fabric tightly between his fingers, staring intently at nothing in particular. "They... They turned the planet into one big pile of rubble. What's to stop them from doing the same here?"
His eyes flicked over to Bastila who had pulled her gaze away from Dantooine, long enough to give him a reassuring smile. Definitely a different reaction than Samirah was used to.
"Even the Sith would think twice before attacking Dantooine." She returned to the console as Carth finally took his seat so they could start the landing procedure. "There are many Jedi here, including several of the most powerful Masters of the order. There is great strength within this place..."
As she spoke the words, Samirah could feel the power resonate off the planet. Like a small comforting glow illuminating the soul and the heart. She could feel this healing property echo off the surface but she didn't dare say anything. In all her time as a scout, she never visited Dantooine. It wasn't a place she ever felt she should visit. It wasn't something she could explain... it was like Dantooine wasn't quite ready for her and it didn't feel much different now.
But for now... she would have to rely on this small planet until she could get on her way again. Just for now.
"If anything else, they'll still be trying to figure out where we've gone. We should be safe long enough for us to recover and prepare." She finally said quietly as Bastila nodded.
"You are correct. We can get supplies and recuperate our lost strength. The Academy is a place of mental and spiritual healing; something we could all use after what we've been through." Her voice indicated that she was having a hard time dealing with the destruction of Taris but having a easier time hiding it.
"Maybe you're right." Carth finally conceded. This was their best option after all. "It isn't easy to witness the annihilation of an entire planet. I know Mission must be taking it pretty hard." He glanced back at Samirah as she slowly nodded her head.
"She's better... but it may take her a while to fully let go. For now, she's still distraught and a little lost." Samirah remembered how broken she looked when she found her huddled up in the room. It wasn't going to be easy and she was going to need some support. Samirah was going to try and be there when she needed it.
"She will find a way to come to terms with her grief, as will we all. She is stronger than she appears." For once, Bastila sounded more wise than conceited to Samirah.
"For her sake... I hope so..." Samirah murmured to herself. Bastila nodded as she returned her focus to the Ebon Hawk.
The enclave came into sight, nestled between small hills and surrounded by planes. The Academy was small but that's because it didn't need to be excessively large. The Jedi only kept necessities around and were very conservative with what they did have. Most Jedi trained in Coruscant so that's where the Jedi Temple and Archives were. This was just a small branch of that. The Academy itself was just rooms connected with hallways and a peaceful garden like structure in the middle, a few more dotting around the edges. The Ebon Hawk glided through the sky, slowing down as they landed softly in a small clearing. Several Jedi were scattered across the courtyard, several gazing at them with curious expression. The ship settled in easily and Carth let out a small sigh of relief.
"Nothing like being on land, huh, fly boy?" Samirah mused, earning a small smirk from him.
"Not that I have anything against traveling... but it is nice not worrying about a Sith occupation here." Carth admitted, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms over his chest.
Bastila was working quickly on the console before she opened up the hangar door. When she finished, she pulled away from the console and looked over at them. She was chewing her bottom lip, the only sign of nervousness she was showing. Her posture, her expression and even her voice all remained the same as she spoke. Confident, self-assured and in charge.
"I must go speak with the council. I need their advice on... recent developments." She had started to say something else but decided to choose her words carefully. "After I have met with them I will meet you outside the ship." Bastila stood up and quickly walked out of the cockpit, not leaving any room for comments for questions.
"Bastila, I-" But she was already gone and out of sight.
Samirah had been about to tell her that she wasn't staying long. She was hoping she could contact a friend of hers who was watching over the Silver Meridian. His name was Kelko Foss. He had helped her a few months before the Republic had asked for her help aboard the Endar Spire. He helped her scout out a strong hold on Ansion. Maybe he could travel to Dantooine with her ship. She would repay him but not with the credits she had collected. She would hand those over to Carth and let him use them however he wanted.
But how was she supposed to contact Kelko? Would he be aboard the Silver Meridian? Would he be too busy to come out this way? She would have to send him a message and find out.
"Samirah?" She was pulled from her thought process to look at Carth. She had forgotten that she was still standing in the cockpit, staring at nothing in particular and in complete silence. She quickly turned to him with a smile, pushing away her earlier thoughts.
"Sorry, were you trying to get my attention?" He furrowed his brow as a small frown took over.
"Are you ok?" He wondered and she nodded, letting out a soft laugh.
"Never better." She said before turning on her heel and walking away in a airy way, leaving Carth a little puzzled.
She hurried down the corridors, wanting to get off the ship and stretch her legs. She wanted to smell the fresh air and actually feel grass again. She could also figure out her next step if she was away from the ship and her crew. Not that she had anything against them, it was just easier to think that way. When she passed the middle room, everyone had already vacated the ship as well. They were apparently as eager as she was to put some distance between them and the ship that reminded them of their travels through Taris. She reached the hangar only to find Canderous seated beside the swoop bike, tinkering away.
As she entered, he looked up to meet her curious gaze with a smirk before returning back to the bike. Samirah blushed a little bit at their earlier encounter before walking quickly to the ramp, not missing out on his quick little snicker. She only paused briefly before continuing down the ramp leading to the enclave. The light hit her eyes instantly and she flinched from the sudden impact of brightness, shielding her eyes with her hand. When she was adjusted, she found several Jedi hurrying along to meditate, study or enlighten themselves with teachings of others. She watched them briefly, reveling in the peace of mind it brought to her.
She moved away from the ship, walking slowly and casually in any direction. She was just happy that she was able to move at her own pace. On Taris, she needed to move quickly. They were teetering on the edge of danger and destruction at every turn. Every corner, every building, every person they met could have been enough to push them over that line and in the way of the Sith.
Now, they were safe. Now, she could openly walk outside without fearing someone would suspect her of being a Republic soldier. Now, she could go back to being... a... scout.
Her footsteps kind of slowed down until she was barely moving. She didn't want to have to say good-bye to them all. She had kind of grown attached but she wasn't going to needlessly follow them around. She could still do a lot of good as a scout. But she would have to leave them in order to do that. She hated good-byes. She was never attached to people so it was easier then but now... she had made friends and people trusted. Goodbye's were never easy to do. Unfortunately, there were things that she needed to do.
She needed to contact Kelko.
After spending quite a bit of time checking to make sure the Ebon Hawk was performing at optimal capacity and that everything was in working order, Carth strolled away from his new found ship a little reluctantly. He had always found it to be so much easier when he was on a ship. The hum of the engines, the terrible food and the uncomfortable cots but you learned not to complain and take it in stride. It wasn't that bad though, you eventually became attached to the ship and being in space. At least he had.
Dantooine was warm and less populated than Taris. A nice contrast from the overly populated and segregated city. Poverty stricken and full of greedy people who spat on citizens whom they deemed unworthy to walk in the light. It was a terrible place and wasn't safe for anyone anymore. In truth though, he shouldn't be too hard on the planet since it was practically obliterated into galactic dust. He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he strolled around the Academy, mildly wondering where everyone had gone. Canderous had stayed on board, muttering something about not being too keen hanging around Jedi. Personally, Carth preferred Jedi to Dark Jedi but you know... that was just his preference.
How long did Bastila need to talk to the Council? Was she filling them in on Taris? Carth wasn't too sure why they needed to stay for any of this. He was quite ready to return to the Republic and be stationed on another ship if they didn't keep him on guard duty. He worked best when he had a ship he could pilot. Was he allowed to keep the Ebon Hawk? It was a really nice ship and he'd hate for it to never get used. Would they give it to Samirah?
Thinking of her, he wondered where she would go. Would she move on or would she stick around? She was definitely talented and also very strong willed. He smiled to himself thinking back to all the times they had fought over trivial things and the funniest part of it all was... that he had unconsciously started to trust her. He had trouble fully trusting anyone but he had begun to trust her even if it was only a small bit.
He wandered into a small room off to the side where small children sat, studying the ways of the Force. Young Padawan learners who couldn't be more than seven or eight years old. There were only about five of them but all of them seemed disciplined and acted more like adults then small children. A few Jedi Knights were scattered around the room, helping them learn the ways of the Jedi and how to be more like Jedi. He didn't understand how people could so willingly hand their children over to the Jedi and become so detached from them.
He didn't pretend to know all there was to know about the Jedi, but he knew enough. It was a hard life. They couldn't show emotion because emotion was a weakness to them. Life wasn't grey, it was black and white. It either bad or it was good. A small girl in the room lifted her eyes to meet Carth's. He had stopped moving to watch them and their studies, not realizing it until he was caught. Her emerald eyes watched him with so little emotion other than mere curiosity and her blonde hair was pulled up into a ponytail, a small braid woven tightly with clear beads falling behind her ear and over her shoulder.
"Seyda..." Her head turned back to her master, breaking her eye contact with Carth as she hurried over to the elderly man.
His hair was brown with threads of gray weaving through his head. A small, close cut beard that was clean and well maintained. He held a book out to her which she gingerly accepted, murmuring her thanks. He spoke quietly and gently to her as she nodded her head with a quaint smile on her lips, barely even there. The Jedi Master wore a brown robe over his attire, keeping his hands stashed away in the opposite sleeves. His calculating eyes flickering in Carth's direction before resting easily on his young apprentice.
He didn't want her studies to be interrupted.
Carth turned and continued walking down the hallway, leaving the Jedi to their teachings. He wasn't a Jedi so, again, he wasn't going to pretend to know their ways or teachings. He kept walking, turning the corner and finding himself in a new area. It was a small secluded garden-like area full of Jedi walking around with content expressions as if they had learned the secrets of the universe. Maybe they were too peaceful. Too calm with everything that was happening.
Malak and his forces were moving and Taris had been destroyed by Malak himself and yet these Jedi acted as if everything was the same. They weren't moving against him. They weren't doing anything. It was the Mandalorian War all over again. They weren't going to help them and it was a stroke of luck that Revan and Malak had stepped up. It was unexpected and startling when they pressed further until they fell from the light and from grace. When they fell to the dark side, a thing only the Jedi could understand. They probably wouldn't have done so if the Council had stepped in an aided the Republic. If they had just taken that initiative, how different would things have been?
Sometimes, Carth didn't know whose side they were on or if... they even had a side.
"For Edge's sake!" He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard the familiar tone of one particular scout.
His head spun around to find Samirah walking quickly down a sloped hallway with a datapad clenched in one hand and chewing the nail of her thumb on the other. Her eyes were glued to the datapad as she started to move past him, never glancing up to see who was standing in her way. He reached over and snatched the pad from her fingers as she started to walk by. She gasped, blinking in surprise at her fingers before turning to find out who the culprit was.
"Carth!" She automatically responded in an even more surprised tone as he scanned over her datapad. "Hey, give that back! I wasn't done with it yet!" She reached out to retrieve it but he evaded her reach, chuckling.
"What is it? A message?" He inquired, her cheeks turning a little pink.
"None of your concern!" She said a little too defensively which only made Carth that much more curious. He backed away, continuing to scan it as a frown started to settle over his features.
"Whose Kelko?" He asked, returning his gaze back to Samirah who looked away, crossing her arms over her chest defiantly. She was being stubborn again.
"I won't tell. You stole my datapad, you thief." He smirked at her tone of voice. Always so stubborn.
"Well, what will you tell me then? Apparently he can't do what you're asking." He said, referring back to the datapad with curiosity. This Kelko was expressing his sincerest apology for not being able to comply to her wishes. He was in the middle of the Sartinaynian System which was in the Outer Rim. He couldn't pull away from it so he couldn't meet her request.
Samirah frowned before glancing at Carth a little perturbed that he stole her datapad. She had been in deep thought trying to figure out her next step. There was so little she could do on Dantooine and with her explorative nature, staying in one place wasn't exactly a keen idea for her. There wasn't any good she could do here with all these Jedi around. She felt a little overwhelmed by their presence. Wherever she went, she had this gut feeling that was doing flips and it made her want to shiver. This place held such an odd aura...
She stared at Carth a bit longer before figuring she should just come out and tell him. It wasn't goodbye so she didn't have to worry about that part just yet.
"He was just a friend who was watching my ship for me. I wasn't exactly going to abandon it while I was on the Endar Spire. I needed someone to watch her and... Kelko volunteered. I was seeing if he could bring her back to me, meet me on Dantooine since Bastila was safe now. There isn't much point hanging around here, you know?" She leaned back on her left leg, her arms still folded over her chest.
Carth blinked a few times as he processed what this meant. He had figured everyone would go their separate ways but... not so soon, right? She was ready to go on her own already?
"So you're planning on leaving, then? You can do a lot of good if you stayed with the Republic- I mean, I know you are with the Republic but you are a different branch of us, so to speak." She smiled warmly at him, laughing softly.
"I'm not leaving yet, Carth. If you don't remember, Kelko can't come yet. He's stuck in the Outer Rim. He can't exactly get to me right now so I have to hang out here for a while." She spoke in a low voice, fighting the frown she wanted to show.
It's not like she wanted to leave them, she just wanted to go back and do some good. She had some revenge to take care of as well. The Sith killed Trask and destroyed Taris... she wasn't going to let them get away with it. If she did some snooping, some reconnaissance, she could find a way to erect that retribution. Unfortunately, she couldn't accomplish this on this peace-loving planet. Especially with Jedi who were against revenge and the like. She needed to leave and she hated having to leave these guys. They had become her friends.
Carth nodded his head slowly, not keeping eye contact. He felt a small ping in his gut at the thought of her leaving. He didn't like it very much. He opened his mouth to respond when a woman shouted at them.
"You there!" They spun to see a woman with dirty blonde hair pulled into a neat bun, approaching them quickly. Her fierce eyes focused solely on Samirah. "Padawan! Why are you not wearing the customary robes of the Jedi?" She accused. Samirah looked around to make sure she was pointing at her.
"Me? But I-" She didn't let her finish.
"Do you mock the honored traditions of our order?" She questioned in an angry tone, coming to a stop in front of her. Samirah held her hands up defensively and shook her head quickly.
"No, no I would never! I believe you are mistaken though, I am no Padawan. My name is Samirah. Samirah Alda. I'm merely here with the Jedi named Bastila." The woman was surprised for a moment.
"I am Belaya and I know of this Bastila. I heard that she has mastered the art of Battle Meditation and at such a young age. I also hear she has a foolish pride in her own talents." Samirah bit her lip to hold back any retort she had prepared to let loose. Carth got away with merely mumbling.
"It's more than a simple rumor..." He coughed into his hand when Samirah shot him a look while the Jedi in front of her ignored the remark.
"Though you may have come with her, that does not give you passage to forsake the robes of a Jedi. You claim you are not a Padawan but I can feel that the Force is strong with you. I can feel its presence within you. If this is some type of jest, it is in very poor taste. The Jedi Order is not a subject for jokes." She chastised and Samirah let out an exasperated sigh, smiling weakly at her.
"Honest, I speak the truth. I'm not a Padawan, I'm not a Jedi and I most certainly cannot use the Force." She kept her hands up in defense, Carth remaining quiet behind her. Belaya shook her head.
"I find this very hard to believe..." She said suspiciously. Samirah spread her arms out, holding her palms up.
"How can I prove to you that I'm not a Jedi or a Padawan?" Belaya scrunched her brows together, holding Samirah's gaze for a moment longer. She finally let out a defeated sigh.
"Please forgive the abruptness with which I first greeted you. It was harsh and perhaps unfair. My master often warns me I must learn to control my emotions. I see I have much left to learn." She said quietly and Samirah waved it off.
"Don't worry about it, I'm sure you meant-" She was cut off by yet another voice and the purposeful steps in which followed it. Sweet mother of mercy, was everyone out to get her today?
"Samirah!" Carth, Samirah and Belaya spun to see who had called out only to find Bastila striding towards them. Carth glanced back at Samirah who looked a little exasperated at being such a figure of attention. Bastila stopped before them, looking at Belaya curiously who simply bowed her head to Samirah to excuse herself.
"I wish you a pleasant stay on Dantooine. I hope you can forgive my rudeness. May the Force be with you." She said softly before walking away and continuing on her way. Samirah watched her for a moment until Bastila broke her away.
"Making new friends I see?" She sounded more annoyed then encouraging.
"I suppose you could say that..." Bastila shook her head before placing each hand on her waist and giving her a stern look. Samirah felt like she wasn't going to like this- she never like it when Bastila had her hands on her hips.
"I thought I told you to stay by the Ebon Hawk. Do you know the trouble I went through to find you?" Samirah grimaced at being treated like a small child.
"Apparently not too much since you found me. I wanted away from the ship. Stretch my legs, get some fresh air and be able to walk without looking over my shoulder every few seconds in fear of being discovered by potential Sith." Samirah countered as Bastila shot her a sharp look.
"Yes, well I suppose all that matters is that I've found you. I've spoken briefly with the Council and they request and audience with you. We should go at once." Carth and Samirah exchanged suspicious looks before looking at Bastila.
"An audience? With me?" Samirah questioned in surprise.
"An audience with the Jedi Council at that. That's pretty unusual for someone who isn't even a Jedi. What's this about, Bastila?" She just shook her head, refusing to delve into details.
"I'm sorry, Carth, but I cannot tell you. All I ask is that you trust in the Force and the wisdom of the Council." She was sounding like a Jedi again and Samirah felt compelled to do as she asked when she sounded more like a Jedi and less like a snob. Carth was frowning, not liking where this was going.
"Well, I don't like being left out of the loop, but I'm not looking to get you in any trouble with the Jedi Masters. We'll do things your way... for now." Samirah shot him a panicked look for giving in so easily before doing the same to Bastila.
"Do I not get a say in this? What if I don't want to meet with them?" She didn't like getting mixed up in Jedi affairs. She'd never spoken with the Jedi Council either... but she had this feeling she didn't want to go. It couldn't possibly be a good thing.
"What do you mean you don't want to meet with them? You don't exactly have a choice." Bastila didn't see the problem. No one had ever requested not to speak with them.
"Like hell I don't!" Samirah protested.
"Samirah, maybe they want to congratulate you for saving Bastila." Carth offered but she scoffed at the idea.
"And so they're summoning me to a meeting for a pat on the back? I'm sorry Carth, I find that highly unlikely. No offense, Bastila, but I don't like getting mixed in with the Jedi so I'd prefer not to go. If it is a thank you, well then that's a very nice thought and I accept but I don't want a formal meeting for it. I don't want to go."She pleaded but Bastila wouldn't hear of it.
"Samirah Noval Alda, I will drag you in there with the Force if I must. You are going to meet with the Council, am I understood? You do not have a choice in the matter." She nearly growled and Samirah pouted, looking to Carth for help. He wanted to, he really wanted to help her but there was very little he could do.
When it was apparent she wasn't going to receive a rescue from him she sighed in defeat. She turned to Bastila, frowning as the Jedi just grinned in response.
"Glad you saw things my way, now if you'll follow me, I'll lead us there. Come, they are expecting us." She said gripping Samirah's wrist and dragging her along in the event she tried to make an escape. Samirah shot Carth a terrified look as she found escape an impossible notion.
Carth sulked as he followed behind, knowing all he could do was wait outside until one of them filled him in. He really wished he could have done something but it was the Jedi Council and apparently they had the final say. Especially on Dantooine. It was kind of ruled by Jedi so there was practically nothing he could do. When they approached the Council Chambers, Bastila's hold on Samirah remained firm as the scout became timid and nervous.
"Samirah, are you going to be alright?" Carth asked. She nodded her head slowly, swallowing hard as her stomach did flips. That feeling in her gut grew stronger as they stood outside the doors and she desperately wanted to get away. She was a little intimidated by them. Bastila paid her no mind as she turned to Carth.
"This is far as I can allow you to go, Carth. You must wait here until they are done speaking with us." She commanded and Carth reluctantly obeyed.
He stood by the door as Bastila opened it and pulled Samirah in. Samirah shot Carth one last fleeting look of terror before the door closed loudly behind them. He stared a moment longer, a weird ping of guilt in his chest at not being able to help. What in the blue blazes did the Council want with Samirah? She had a point, they wouldn't want to meet with her just to express their thanks.
Damn, he hated being left out of the loop but he was sure Samirah would fill him in. He just had to try and be patient to find out. He wasn't so good at being patient, though. He was already restless and pacing outside the door, waiting for them to come out.
Damn Jedi and their secrets.
And done!
How did you guys like this? Be sure to let me know what you thought, I always love to hear your two cents or even the whole dollar! Again, sincerest apologies and I will hopefully have the next chapter up before a week passes me by like this one did. - Good heavens... well, thanks for reading and being the lovely, supportive, diligent and amazing readers that you are! Give yourselves a big hug for me! ^-^
Much appreciation and love,
SilverShards
