Chapter Seven- On the Road Again
"Ira, we're not here for sight seeing!" L'anyn reminded her padawan, who'd been begging for permission to pay the queen a visit as well as the monuments built to honor the Skywalker and Solo families which had been placed at the center of the royal gardens, "We need to go to the temple and rendezvous with Master Schorn. We're already late as it is- there's no need to waste more time dawdling about the tourist attractions."
"But--"
"No," L'anyn turned and began quickly striding toward the temple which stood in the shadow of the palace that they'd just exited, "We'll be back later- you can pay your respects to the Skywalkers and the queen then."
"Yes, ma'am," Ira nodded and hung his head as he followed his master obediently, "As you wish."
--
"That's right… run, run, run as fast as you can, Kamyra," the Sith lord chuckled to himself from behind a large emerald-leafed shrubbery as he watched the redhead lead her auburn-haired apprentice toward the Jedi temple, "You can't escape the Order."
The ginger-haired woman glanced over her shoulder and winked to him, proof that she'd received his message. He nodded and spun away from the pair and headed back to his speeder.
--
L'anyn stumbled forward and clutched her forehead, a pained yelp escaping her lips. She leaned upon a maroon pillar, her chest heaving.
"Are you okay, m'lady?" Ira put a hand on her shoulder to help steady her, "What's wrong?"
She righted herself and adjusted her tan tunic then ran a hand through her disheveled hair and took a breath, "Fine, fine. I just… felt a tremor in the Force… something I've not felt since--" her voice trailed off as she looked out into the distance, a misty look overtaking her sparkling blue-green eyes. She shook off the expression and continued to press forward, "It's nothing. Let's keep going. The sooner we get there the better."
"But, L'anyn," Ira followed her, a concerned look gracing his features, "Are you sure you're okay? Is there something we should be worried about?"
"No, it's nothing," she shook her head, "Except--"
"Except what, Master?" Ira furrowed his brows, his voice expressing his concern, "What's wrong?"
"It's just that--" she wouldn't tell him. She'd keep him waiting until the opportune moment. The game was fun and very much afoot. "We'd better hurry or I'm afraid we'll miss our chance to speak with Master Schorn."
"Of course, ma'am," Ira nodded and continued following her down the glassy marbled corridor, "As you wish."
--
Is it time, Kamyra? Is your apprentice yet worthy of the task we've laid for him?
No, Orkaan, the time is not yet here. But Ira Solaris is indeed prepared for the task. I shall see to the fulfillment of the prophecy long before the Council ever notices where my true allegiances lie.
He doesn't look ready… and he certainly doesn't act ready. However, the Order trusts your judgment as much as the Council does, if not more.
You're so reassuring, Orkaan. Just you wait until you have to face Ira-- then you'll see how well I've trained him. Just you wait and see.
I suppose we'll all be waiting with baited breath to see just how well you've trained this one. We've all been a bit wary of your mentoring abilities since your failure with the last one.
What about your last apprentice? How did that turn out? She nearly murdered you in your sleep. The only reason you're alive now is because of me.
And for that, I thank you, Kamyra. I owe you my life- though you're certainly never going to get it.
I would expect no more, Orkaan. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a Jedi to corrupt.
I'll leave you to it, then. Check in with the Order as soon as possible. The Master wishes to speak with you on the topic of your next assignment.
Give Him my best and tell Him I wish Him the best of luck with the negotiations on Tatooine.
As you wish, m'lady.
--
"M'lady, are you all right?" Ira touched L'anyn's shoulder, his expression once again that of a very worried student, "You seemed far away during the Council meeting and hardly paid Master Schorn any attention during the evening meal."
"I'm fine," she waved him away nonchalantly as she strode heavily toward the ship she'd selected from the Chancellor's private hangar, "I've just got a lot on my mind right now."
"Is there anything I can do?" he asked, following her obediently, "Anything at all?"
"Well--" she paused and thought about the task that had been laid before her by both the Council and the Order. When do I tell him? Orkaan thinks he's completely prepared… and our training's only just begun. She shook her head and continued toward the Corellia cargo freighter. "I'll tell you some other time."
"Yes, ma'am," he nodded and followed her into the large and battle-worn ship, "She doesn't look like much."
"Yeah, but she's got it where it counts," L'anyn stepped gingerly down the corridor that led to the cockpit, "This was my great-grandmother's ship… it belonged to Han Solo before her. The Millennium Falcon is her name. Best ship in the whole galaxy."
"You can't be serious," Ira cocked a skeptical eyebrow as he surveyed the incredibly modest ship, "This heap is the Falcon?"
"Watch your mouth, kid," L'anyn spun on her heel and glared at Ira, "She could push point-two past lightspeed in Han's day… with my upgrades on her she goes twice the speed of light and then some. She can outrun any ship any time any place."
"No need to sound so defensive, Master," Ira shrugged and slumped into the co-pilot's place and wiggled uncomfortably in the spacious seat, "This chair feels like it was designed for a Wookie."
"Hmm…" L'anyn feigned pondering the statement then shot back matter-of-factly, "Maybe that's because great-great-granddad's co-pilot was a Wookie."
"Yes, ma'am," Ira sighed and settled back for the flight back to Coruscant. He was sorely disappointed by his trip to Naboo and his new assignment from the Council. Babysitting the princess… work for local security droids and royal bodyguards… what do they need Jedi for?
Padawan, you've only just begun your work as a Jedi Knight… you've not even passed the test yet. You're still too young and inexperienced for any real assignments. L'anyn inserted her mental chiding directly into Ira's frustrated mind. Enjoy the easy work while you get it. Once the Council sees your true potential, they'll be sending you to scout out the Dark Hives that have been settling on the planets of the Outer Rim and shipping you off to destroy the Sith training academies that have managed to take the place of some of the Jedi temples on some worlds.
But, L'anyn, babysitting isn't work for Jedi… he thought back, crossing his arms and glaring at his mentor. We should be scouting out Hives and Sith academies. Why can't we?
L'anyn sighed and flipped on the autopilot then stood up from her seat and exited the cockpit, leaving in her wake a cold, empty feeling that seemed to suck every bit of youthful ambition from Ira. He sighed as well and followed her out, his head hung dejectedly.
"I'm sorry," he whispered as he watched L'anyn sink into a thinly cushioned chair beside a catering droid. "I didn't mean to question your authority… nor did I mean to question the authority of the Coun--"
"Don't worry about it," she shook her head and took a drink from the droid, then sipped pensively while rubbing her temple with the tips of two delicate fingers, "It's only natural. Don't fight it. Allow your inquisitiveness to guide you through our time together."
Ira nodded and took the seat beside his mentor.
"Ira, I need to ask you a question," L'anyn set her drink down and sat forward in her seat, "Why do you want to be a Jedi?"
"Because… I… I… well… you know… it's just… because…" he stuttered then fell silent, deep in thought. Why do I want this? I want to protect the galaxy. I want to be someone… someone that people can love and appreciate as a hero… someone who always does the right thing… I want power… I want… security…
"You just want the novelty of the thing, don't you?" she raised her eyebrows knowingly, "You would make a perfect Sith, young one."
"Not me," he shook his head resolutely, "I will never be a Sith."
"What if it was the only way to save someone you love?" L'anyn asked, thinking of her own past, "If it was the only way to gain the power to save your love's life- to give life to that person- would you do it? Would you fall to the Darkside simply to save the life of another?"
Ira sat back, stunned. He didn't know how to answer. He didn't know what to think. He'd never thought that falling from the Light would be a possible necessity. He'd never considered loving anyone for that matter. He tried to imagine the sort of person he would be willing to sacrifice himself for and found that the only person he would ever consider dying for was already dead… then again, there was the person seated before him. He often felt closer to the Lady L'anyn than he'd ever felt with any other person before. She knew him better than he knew himself. She was the only person he could ever sacrifice himself for.
"Ira, I have a proposition for you."