Paths2

The enclave in question was located on a pleasant pastoral planet with a collapsed economic infrastructure, Osckira, its name was. The Sith had been their normal cheery selves and bombed trade hubs, government buildings, and their whole damned military into a whole lot of non existence. It was just coming out of the recession that had been practically enforced by the Sith.

The transport ship landed with an exaggerated whoosh. I adjusted the gift clothes that had replaced my rags; too itchy; too bright yellow; too embarrassing to be caught wearing them.

All my credits, all my possessions, all my sentimentally valuable weapons, had been confiscated.

With my self-righteous host, the Jedi, I descended the metal ramp and onto the green grass. The air outside smelled of lack of humidity and despair, possibly the yellow jumper I wore. I could see the enclave of the Jedi in the distance; an unimposing thing. We headed towards it in silence.

Suddenly, and without any provocation on my part, Faia said: "So what do you do for work, Tithonos?"

"I answer and fulfil contracts set by private individuals or corporations." I had grown wary of her Jedi powers, and so tried not to blatantly lie as much to her. But it was still fun to do.

"Sounds exciting." She said, giving the confused look. Come now, Jedi were supposed to be wise.

"You'd be surprised how well people pay for a trouble shooter like me." Or a people shooter!

"Trouble shooting? Like what?" I suddenly had a sinking feeling I had revealed too much.

"Like reorganising mining expeditions, and organising and planing a colonisation attempt." smooth.

"Oh, you should talk to Master Wyndam; this place's like a failed colony at times. I'm sure he'd appreciate the help." ...And now I need to know about colonisation. Great. I had the feeling she knew I was lying, and was playing a sadistic game with me.

Wait! Master Wyndam? "There are Jedi masters here?" I asked nonchalantly.

"Two." That strange feeling you get when your house is burnt down, and your family killed, entered me.

"Oh." I said numbly.

"Why?" She pushed.

"No reason."

"There has to be a reason."

"No, really-" the enclave had sneaked up on me, and was now a white walled saviour in front of me. "well, we're here." I said, sighing inwardly. The inquisition would have to wait; I will not be burned in a stupid yellow jumper. And I also needed to brush up on colonisation...

Inside my temporary apartment, the walls oozed disgusting Jedi sanitation. It was spotless. There was a green fabric sofa with cushions, as well as a single bed, in the same room. It wasn't big. At least the coking utensils were on the other side of the same room. I'm not one to be ungrateful though, and so I made it my duty to get out of there as soon as possible, to help the Jedi with their space requirements, of course.

I changed out from the yellow jumper, to a pseudo stylish top that would make people mock me. The republic's public network system flicked to life, a two dimensional visual display unit in the corner, and I searched for my name, along with the codeword and planet of meeting. After a moment of oral commands to the machine, I found one, on Korriban, home planet of the Sith. Before that though, I had to scheme ways of escaping this place with my life. I slouched onto the green sofa and stared into nothing, fully into myself.

A buzzer came from my door, indicating a visitor, and disturbing my, also disturbing, lack of ideas.

I got to my feet, which were still thankfully clothed in my original boots. Although why desert specialised boots in grasslands is good nobody knows. They clumped their irrelevant way to the doorbell in spite of their existence crisis, and I let my visitor in. The door swished open to reveal Faia, her over-cheery nature gone.

"Hey, I thought I'd check in on how you're doing." Faia said. She was noticeably without a light sabre, though, so the fire hadn't yet been started.

"I'm good. Thanks."

"You're not really a contractor, are you?" abrupt, but to the point, I guess.

"I don't see how it's any of your business, but yes, I am." Feigning indignation at her accusation.

"It's my business. It's my business when the safety of the enclave is in jeopardy. Considering where I found you, and why you apparently have no reason to lie, you've obviously got something to hide.

What do you really do, Tithonos?"

"Fine. I'll tell you the truth," I lied, "you'll know why I lied to you, and why you can't tell the republic about me." I paused for theatric effect, "I work on classified military projects with governments outside the republic. Do you really think I go around and boast that to the good friends of the republic, the Jedi? No, I don't. Because if I did, I'd end up with a 'sabre poking through my chest." -and that would hurt. I finished the last line silently, for fear of bursting into laughter.

"What were you doing on Tattoine?" she demanded, obviously unconvinced, for now.

"Are you illiterate? Can't you read between the lines?" I demanded, putting that edge in my voice.

"I've previously told you my house was burnt down. Do you think it was empty? Do you think they burnt down a scuzzy Tattoine shack for shits and giggles?" Realisation of what my lie was insinuating crept towards her emotional core. Jedi indeed. Of course, being an assassin is never an easy thing to be, and emotional responses on demand is one of the talents I own. Both mine and theirs. Fake tears of anguish pooled in my eyes. "It was my family." I chocked out, holding back tears. "I paid them most of my salary, and they would leave them alone. That one time..." I openly sobbed pathetically now, turning my back to her to conserve 'dignity'.. "And they bombed the place. Then they captured, and tortured me. And you say your fucking republic is fair!" I put a bit of irrationality in to make it realistic, whilst still kept my back carefully turned.

She put her hand on my shoulder. This was it; to embrace her in fake friendship (normally to get access to, and kill another friend of theirs)? or to brush her off angrily and demand she get out (to be left alone)? I should have renamed myself Jacob.

I let the hand stay. She was easy on the eyes, and if one Jedi trusted me, the others would have a better, and quicker, time coming to their senses.

"I'm sorry." she said simply. "I'll leave you to yourself now." with that, she and her pretentious robes left.