Mustali's violet eyes focused on one gold silk thread thirty yards ahead that blended elegantly into the deep cobalt background of the ornate wallcovering. By remaining completely still and keeping a bead of reflected light on the apex of that one silk strand, the young Jedi attempted to project a perfectly rigid and powerful image. To further maintain this countenance, he tied his long cranial tentacles behind his head with a leather strap to negate any visual distraction. The green Twi'lek Jedi held this illusion while standing in the back of one of the lesser conference rooms of the Galactic Senate (lesser only by the luxurious standards of the Senate building). The negotiations of trade routes had gone into their sixth month, and sustaining a statuesque pose for 10 hours a day became a greater challenge with each passing session.
When he was first assigned to this duty, Jedi Master Mustali Ido couldn't help but be a little proud of observing the inner workings of important Senate work, even if only as a protector. His only previous assignments had been as a member of a group of Jedi guarding dignitaries from one event to another. Excited by this new opportunity, he spent days studying the cultures of the different factions to gain a better understanding of what each may bring to the bargaining table. There would be the Caamasi, with their love of peace and compassion, Juzzians with their cone shaped bodies and rigid intellects, Rseikharhls and their love of technology and gadgets, Trianiis and their warrior culture, and of course humans. The cost of having any peace treaty signed off by the powerful capital of the galaxy, Coruscant, was having humans at every table. During the first weeks of the negotiations, the Twi'lek tried to ascertain every delegate's individual place within their faction, and how each faction approached the attempted compromise. The sensitive tentacles sprouting from his head endowed him with the ability to physically sense any participant's emotions and cerebral activity. He could feel a particular Juzzian's nervous energy when speaking or the anger every Trianii tried to hide when their point was missed. Rapt attention Mustali paid to every word, he listened to every nuance of speech, and analyzed every rhetorical tactic. Even with all the negotiating complexities and social posturing to witness, the endless haggling over minute details couldn't hold his interest for more than a few weeks.
During the next week, Mustali tried to see if the Force could provide any insight into the bureaucrat business. He minded the collective living Force in the room, ebbing and flowing with each speech delivered and proposal given while contemplating the nature of debate, values, and mediation. Concentrating on so much at one time became maddening, however, and induced an intense vertigo after a few fruitless hours of contemplation. He abandoned this grander plan of understanding after a few unbalanced days.
He then turned to mundane tasks, like counting the number of spots on one delegate's fur, hoping that this would give his mind freedom to find deeper answers hidden within the room. This allowed him to meditate freely while looking completely engaged in the proceedings. During a particularly tedious day, the image of a violet crystal appeared to him, rays of light refracting from its opaque surface. A beautiful Twi'lek female cooed from behind the swinging crystal, and he heard her giggle as the light flashed before his eyes. Mustali knew it was an image of his mother whom he had no conscious memory of, and this knowledge instantly snapped him back into the Senate room. Mustali looked over at Jedi Master Saam Maua, his assigned partner, and the older Jedi looked back with concern. Meditating as a method of passing the time was discarded faster than any other.
He spent another month drawing intricate patterns into the plush carpeting using the Force. He then added the extra challenge of coordinating the patterns with his breathing. He'd create a map of the lower levels of Coruscant when he inhaled, then etch undulating patterns of a pyramid when he exhaled. One stern look from Saam and he knew this frivolous use of the Force would not be tolerated by the Jedi council. So two weeks ago he found his spot on the wall, and made it the most important point in the universe. Surrounded by intricately woven silk walls, chandeliers of sculpted glass, priceless furniture carved from the most skilled carpenters from ages lost, and important delegates from multiple worlds participating in important talks, and Jedi Master Mustali Ido focused on one small point of reflected light thirty meters ahead in order to keep his mind off of the pain between his shoulders and the soreness of his heels.
As Mustali's gaze penetrated the wall opposite him, a delegate added a new wrinkle to a previous settled plan, and the room descended into unrest. Still, Mustali kept his focus squarely ahead. A large Trianii stood with the fur on his neck curling in anger, and slammed his fist into the conference table.
"Enough!" the delegate screamed.
"Sit down," a small human dismissed. "No one insulted your honor."
Saam, the older more experienced Jedi in the room, took a step towards the discussion. The Triannii grabbed ahold of his chair and tried to swing it over his head. The chair held steady to the floor, even as the Trianni's claw dug into and splintered wood. Jedi Master Maua walked quickly to the table while still holding the chair to the floor with the Force. Jolted by what occurred, Mustali ran a bit too quickly to the other side of the conference table to maintain a gallant demeanor.
"It appears that we have reached the point in the negotiations where we must intercede," Saam spoke gently, but with strength. "It is not our place to decide the direction of this treaty, nor cast any judgement as to who may be right or wrong. Any indication of violence cannot be tolerated, however. This appears to be a good time to break for the day. Tomorrow let us reconcile and work towards a common cause." Jedi Master Saam Maua gently bowed his head to the assembly and walked back to his spot in the back of the room.
With that, the different factions all stood and filed out of the immense conference room. The large Trianni approached both Jedi, offered his apology, and promised to proceed with best intentions the next day. The Jedi waited until all left before exiting themselves. They spoke in hushed tones as they walked through the immense halls of the Senate.
"That was an unexpected scene," Mustali said.
"Pretty common, really. Everyone grows weary of looking at each other, and all that remains is making the deal. The Trianni just didn't want anyone to leave thinking that they had gotten the best him. He would have been better served to do so without a showing of physical force."
"Do you really feel these negotiations will end soon?"
"They'll be done by the end of the cycle."
Mustali quickly made his way back to the Jedi temple, the only home he'd ever known, and found the nearest refectory. Steaming pots filled with assorted stews lined one whole wall, an adjacent table held trays of various proteins for any known diet, and another was filled with different vegetables of all shapes and colors. He grabbed a protein that looked warm and fresh, added several servings of his favorite vegetables, and made his way to the gardens to eat. The larger gardens of the Jedi temple were a place to get lost in time. Here he could feel a soft spring breeze that rustled through leaves. The vegetation muted all the sounds of the city and lightning bugs flickered their hellos as the twilight sky reminded sensors to bathe the gardens in recycled light from earlier in the day. As Master Ido looked for a place to sit, a familiar figure stood in the background and ran his way.
"Ali!" Ishlan shouted and wrapped her arms around the Twi'lek.
"Hey, Ish. Hold on. You're going to make me drop my food." Mustali smiled and walked over to a nearby table where a Wookie stoically sat.
"You're not even going to say hi, Toem?" Mutali asked as he sat down.
"Aruung geh eah noarumph," Teometas barked.
"I tried to say goodbye, you big lug. I couldn't be late to my assignment."
The Wookie swung his massive arm over the table and patted Mustali's head, as if he had hair. The Wookie curled his long fingers around the base of his friend's tentacles and massaged the base of them. It was a gentler showing of affection than the usual smack to the face, which Mustali welcomed. Mustali's slight slender frame had been bruised more times that he could count from his friend's love taps. Ishlan and Toem were both younger than Mustali, but had passed the Jedi trials before him. Toem's physical gifts made him a quick leader amongst Jedi their age, and Ishlan's Force powers and mental dexterity made her a favorite of the Jedi council.
"So how was your mission? Did you guys get to see a lot?" Mustali asked with genuine curiosity.
"It was pretty boring. We didn't really do much" Ishlan said.
Teometas looked over at Ishlan and gave a short grunt.
"Well, there was a Gundark, but that was about it," Ishlan added.
"What? You had to fight off a gundark?" Mustali asked.
"Well, Toem did most of the fighting. I just ran around a bit as a distraction. There was only one of them, so it didn't take Toem long to subdue the thing. Luckily, we didn't have to kill it, although the dignitaries kept telling us to."
"Argarragg grriiii morrrngrrgrr. Grraaang mrrrarghag," Toem said.
"Yeah, the important people don't quite get the distinction between protecting the peace and protecting them, Toem," Mustali agreed.
"Lirrrarrrrrl ummmlargrgrlarl norgrrrrrrlarnoblaar," Toem added.
"Majestic creature? Only you could appreciate the beauty of a gundark as it tried to eat you," Mustali laughed.
"The poor feral thing probably was hungry. No sense in killing her. How has your assignment gone? Has it been interesting to observe?" Ish asked.
"Not quite. It's an honor to serve the republic in the talks, but watching so many smart beings from different worlds haggle over tiny details becomes tiresome."
"Not exciting then?" Ish inquired further.
"Well, today, someone grabbed a chair," Mustali joked.
"You've gotten to see actual work get done, though," Ishlan encouraged.
"I shouldn't sound so negative, because it's a great assignment. I've gotten to sleep in Jedi quarters every night, eat here with everyone, and enjoy the comforts of the Senate chambers. It's been nice."
"It looks like you're still grabbing the first protein you can find for every meal. Do you even know what that is?" Ish gentureed towards Mustali's plate. A clump of purplish meat sat amongst an assortment of vegetables.
"It's all the same here," Mustali retorted.
Easy laughter filled the trees in the gardens as birds began to prepare for a night's sleep.
Ali awoke the next morning surprised to find a message waiting for him on his holo. When he opened it, a holograph of Jedi Master Ucitelj popped up. Jedi Master Ucitelj, a member of the Jedi council, was an affable older human with short curly hair. Her easy smile and gentle eyes offered a calming presence for most Jedi.
"Good morning Jedi Master Ido. We hear good things coming from the peace talks you've been party to. If you could please meet with me after today's session," the holograph of the Jedi Master announced. Master Ucitelj went on to give the specifics of the meeting that was not a request. Once the statement ended, and Master Ucilejt had politely thanked Master Ido for his time, the holograph disappeared. Mustali got ready for the day knowing that he would probably be doing something else next by the next cycle.
The day's session ran swift and productively. The months of posturing had ended, and the delegates move forward with their proposals and counter proposals. Mustali wondered if the entire negotiation could have proceeded this quickly if not for the need to protect personal agendas and egos. Being raised by Jedi left many behaviors a mystery to the young Twi'lek. Just as Jedi Master Maua predicted, the full treaty would be written within a few days and signed with a huge celebratory ceremony by the change of the moon.
That night, the young Jedi returned to the Jedi temple, and went to the office he was ordered to. The small room was as stark as the Senate chambers were opulent. Two small sitting stools were the only furniture present. The only light in the room had been refracted through miles of duct work in the temple walls and beamed into projectors built into the space. Jedi did not waste any energy. Master Ucitelj waited passively with her eyes closed for Mustali to arrive. She sat on the floor, forgoing the comfort of the stool. When the young Twi'lek walked in, Master Ucitelj opened her bright blue eyes and smiled.
"Be seated, please," Master Ucitelj spoke in the gentlest tone. "How did the day go?"
Mustali sat himself down on the floor next to the more senior Jedi and tried to match her pleasant demeanor.
"Very well, I believe," Mustali tried to smile back without looking too proud. "Master Maua says that the new treaty should be signed by the change of the moon."
"That's very good to hear. Master Maua said that you performed very well yesterday."
"All I did was walk up the conference table when he did," Mustali demurred. It had been two years since Mustali passed the Jedi trials, and he hadn't drawn his lightsaber outside of training once.
"Exactly." Master Ucitelj's kindness encouraged younger Jedi. She had heard about the various ways in which Mustali passed the time on his assignment, but she would not rebuke him. "Tell me, Master Ido. What do you know of the royal houses of Alderaan?"
"Not much, honestly," Mustali admitted with embarrassment.
"Interesting. I thought the history of Alderaan was required learning for padawans now."
"It is, but I was more interested in the events of the civil war than the actual houses. I know that the planet is mostly inhabited by humans, and that it was of importance in the Great Galactic War. Learning about each individual house felt more like studying fashion than history, though."
"Fashion?"
"Yeah. This family wears these colors with this fabric, this other family prefers that color with another fabric. I found it all kind of tedious." Mustali paused. "I apologize for my frank assessment."
"The reputation of your wit proceeds you, Mustali," Master Ucitelj smiled. "Please don't ever apologize to me for your opinion. Your easy nature is a great gift to the Jedi Order." Master Ucitelj paused a moment and let that thought linger. Mustali smiled shyly. Quick compliments from the Jedi Order did not come his way much.
"Thank you, Master Ucitelj. I'm afraid my knowledge of the families of Alderaan remains a bit limited, however."
"The study of such global politics can be important to pursuing peace throughout the galaxy, and that is why we study them, but there are other times when history can cloud our perceptions of people. I'm comforted in knowing that we can send you on a mission where you will have no preconceptions about the man you are to protect."
"I'm to be sent to Alderaan?"
"To Ryloth." Master Ucitelj paused and watched Jedi Master Ido's expression. The shock in his violet eyes betrayed his outward peace. Ryloth was the home planet of his species, but also completely alien to him. Mustali studied Ryloth and the culture of the Twi'lek, but felt far removed from any of it. It remained a mystery in his heart. His head swirled with thoughts of how ignorant he would appear to other Twi'leks, of how easy it would be to offend them, and how these interactions may jeopardize any mission he was sent on.
"Does this concern you? I meditated on this assignment for some time. I felt you would be of good use to the Force on this mission. It would also be a good way for you to learn about yourself." After a few moments of silence, the younger Jedi spoke.
"I am proud that you have trusted me with a mission so far away from the Jedi Temple. I will do my best to serve the Force."
"I trust you will, Master Ido. The mission details are now on your comlink. You will meet the young lord at the spaceport tomorrow."
"A lord?"
"Yes, Master Ido. You will be escorting a noble to Ryloth, and ensuring his safe return to Alderaan."
Jedi Master Mustali Ido waited until Master Ucitelj left the room before he opened the comlink and learned the mission details. Before now, he had eagerly awaited an opportunity to travel outside of his known world and gaze on new horizons. Angst replaced vigor on this night, however, as he sat alone deep within the Jedi temple.
