Resist: After posting Chapter 15 and realizing it was 13,146 words, I hurried up and deleted part of it and updated the chapter with the shortened version of Chapter 15. I know some of you don't like really long chapters.
Arthur: Yeah, 13,000 words is way to much, that is almost like 25 pages in Microsoft Word.
Echo: Do you even know what Microsoft Word is?
Arthur: Maybe…..Earth is so low tech compared to the stuff in Star Wars
Resist: Whatever, anyway, here is the other half of Chapter 15
(Aboard the Akul)
The gunship landed in the hangar and the SWAT troopers escorted Arthur, in Jedi resistant binders, to a cell where they threw him into. Arthur slowly got himself back up and sat on his cot that was beside a small table. The cell was small and ray shielded, so even if he wanted to escape, he couldn't. He was really tired anyway, so he figured he wouldn't make it far anyway.
Arthur sat looking down at the table, where he saw a plate of food that was on the table, but he couldn't eat, even if he tried, instead he just starred at his binder that held his hands together. He tried to make the situation less of a stress and focused on thinking of other things, drifting from topic to topic.
One topic that he came upon was the clones. Why were some clones, like Vy and Reysh, willing to follow orders to a T, no matter who was in their way, he thought remembering how they and Smoke had their guns pointed at each other. Then there are clones like Smoke, willing to do what they think is right, no matter what their original set of orders were. Clones to Arthur, weren't clones. He looked at them as if they were human. Most of the Senate along with the Kaminoans, who created the clones, saw the clones as expendable soldiers, who cares if a hundred die because the Kaminoans could replace those hundred fallen clones with 120 fresh troops ready for battle.
"Someone once told me not to think about it too hard," came a calm and tranquil voice. "He told me that if I focus on the if's and why's of war, I'd never be able to go back. Do you know who said this to me?"
Arthur didn't even look at her, or acknowledge that she was in the room. He knew it was Oni, but he didn't care. He just continued to stare at his cuffed hands, not moving an inch.
"That's the first thing Green said to me when we first met," Kao sighed, sitting down next to her Padawan, "And I didn't listen to him at first, but then he told me what happened to him when he thought about the war too much. It got to him, and started eating at him from the inside. If you go down that path, Arthur, the darkness will consume you." She knew he wasn't going to talk, but knew that he was listening.
Arthur just continued to sit, still looking blankly at the table in front of him. Eventually, he looked up at his master, with a face that was hard to read, even for Oni, but if she looked hard enough, she would see the anger he had toward her, "Why are you even here? Don't you have better things to do?" he asked coldly.
"I'm here to train you," she said firmly, though the look of hurt flashed across her eyes, "Arthur, I have sacrificed a lot to be here, and so have you."
Arthur looked at her again, "Well don't let me keep you down, I heard about your possible 'promotion' Don't let me stand in your way" he said.
"Promotion?" Kao inquired, "How would you be in the way of any...promotion that you speak of?"
"I know that once you get your 'promotion' that you will have to sacrifice your time in order to take on your responsibilities, whatever they are, which means less time to train a Padawan" he said, looking at his now cold food.
Kao stared at him in utter confusion before realization kicked in. "Oh," she scoffed, "You think I'm going to accept their offer of being Master of the Order?" A half smile came over her. "Even if I thought myself ready for the honor, I couldn't take it, Arthur."
"Why not? I'm technically not your Padawan anymore, since I don't have my braid, so you don't have to worry about me being a burden to you" replied the boy.
She managed a smirk, "Just because you removed your braid doesn't mean you're any less of a student to me." Oni's smile faded, "The problem isn't not being able to train you. If I was Master of the Order, you would just remain on Coruscant with me and we'd train you in the Temple. The problem is…" The Jedi Master stopped talking and stared off for a moment.
"You can say it. The problem is me. I've been a burden to you since day one," replied the Padawan.
"No! It's not!" Kao snapped, sharply turning to glare at him. She narrowed her eyes before looking away again. "If I accept their offer, the 10th Star Corps will be handed off to someone else. Since I wouldn't be as flexible as other Jedi, the Council deemed that I wouldn't be the best general to lead an elite corps." Oni's eyes brimmed with tears even though they were still burning with a fiery amber glare.
"I'm sorry master, but I feel you'd have an easier time without having to teach a Padawan, who's as hot headed as me. I know you probably don't agree, but that is just what I think" he said. Seeing his master in this state, made him regret staying mad at her. He realized she actually cared for him, and he is here pushing her away because he is mad at her.
"You're right," Oni barely mumbled, "I do disagree with you." She sniffled, "I'd rather have you as my Padawan if I accept the offer. I'd be all alone otherwise. Losing Green would come close to killing me, already."
"At least you aren't arrested" replied Arthur holding up his bound hands so she could see. Oni glared at her Padawan, "You were arrested because of your actions, young one."
"I know" Arthur said, "Green should be coming back with Mia soon right?" he asked, but as soon as he did realized that his question would make Oni's mindset worse, "If you don't want Green in the hands of another Jedi, then why not just decline the offer?"
Kao frowned and narrowed her eyes off into space, "Because the Council will become suspicious if I do."
Arthur then gave her his idea that he got to possibly help her out of the situation, "Just tell them that you feel it is better to have my training on the battlefield then reading books in a library on how to handle politics" he suggested to her.
Oni exhaled and folded her hands in her lap. "The Jedi Council has given you a chance to prove you are more than your struggles, Arthur. Green had the same mindframe as you, and I guess that's why the two of you butt heads a lot; he doesn't want you to go down the road he did. Together, he and I were able to get past that and find a purpose, rather than a need for answers to questions we would never know the answers to."
Arthur looked at the plate of food that was still on the table that he never touched. He wanted to eat, but he was too stressed and angry at the woman next to him to even try to eat.
Wishing that the marshal was here instead of carrying out the rescue mission, which should be almost over by now, the Jedi Master stood up. "I know you're going through a phase right now, Arthur," she started, "But this is wartime, and you need to be thinking logically and from a military standpoint."
Arthur looked up at his master, "Do you think my parents' death was necessary then?" he asked calmly, waiting for her reply. Arthur's memories of that day came back, and he put them to the front of his mind, giving his master easy access to them.
Oni tilted her head before answering. "Perhaps," said the Jedi Master, "Death is a natural part of things. Yes, we deal with grief, but, eventually, we must accept it. No one lives forever. Lives should be measured in what we do, not how long we live. What do you want people to measure your life with?"
Arthur looked down at his cuffed hands again thinking of what his master said. He then raised his head back up to look at her with watery eyes, "I'm sorry" is all he said, before returning his gaze to his hands, "For taking the weapons, f-f-for everything"
"Take that guilt," Oni pointed towards the handcuffs, "And use it to do something good. Accept the consequences of your actions, and lock the darkness out of your life. Stop thinking about war and just play the part. And when this is all over, you'll be able to say that you went to Hell and back. Am I understood, Arthur? I don't want you to think that all I expect from you is an order-following machine dog. I expect you to aspire to success and believe in yourself."
"Believe in myself?" he asked, "I'm broken, tired, I'm damaged goods. Too scared to let anyone get close enough to me cause I don't want to go through losing people I care about anymore" he said, so quietly that Oni could barely hear.
Oni spoke calmly: "Were you listening to my words, Arthur? When you stop believing in yourself like that, you fall victim to the Dark Side. It feeds off your conflict and plants ideals in your mind that consumes you. I've already watched one Padawan be dragged down. I don't want to see it again." With that, the woman made to leave.
Arthur watched his master getting ready to leave, he wanted to say something to her, but he was tired, too weak to barely move. He had cuts and bruises all over, from tree branches when he was running, and from being tackled by the ARC troopers. "Master, I'm sorry about the weapons" he said, he knew she probably didn't care about them, but he didn't want her to leave, though he would never admit it. He liked having the company she brought.
Oni turned around and sat down next to Arthur, placing a hand gently on his cuffed ones. "Arthur, what you did with the weapons is in the past," she said, "When you weren't aware of it; just know that those weapons are going back to the Republic and can help save lives now."
Arthur looked down at his cuffs, and wondered why he let himself get into this predicament. He wondered what Mia was going to do to him, when she saw him in cuffs and as a prisoner aboard the ship he once walked freely around with his master, though technically she wasn't his master anymore since he gave up his padawan braid.
"You really should learn to shield your thoughts young one," Oni said encouragingly, rather than teasing, "Especially if you wish to keep your feelings for Mia from the Jedi Council."
"Your suppose to teach me that aren't you?" he asked, "You are the Master"
"Yes," Oni nodded, "Though, let's wait until after you've been able to talk with Mia, first. I can sense that that's what you're looking forward to the most right now."
"You would too. This is the last time I'll see her for a long time" he said, wondering how long it would actually be before he sees her again. He felt like he was going to be shipped to a prison that was specially made to hold force sensitive people. Oni rested a hand on his shoulder, "I know."
Suddenly, someone knocked on the cell door. Kao nodded towards Arthur before exiting the room, the door closing behind her. She recognized the trooper as Captain Lucas, Green's unofficial second-in-command. "Sir," he greeted with a respectful nod, something he's learned from the Jedi Master since they first met on Geonosis, "The rescue team has come back with the girl, but General Tano and her forces stayed on the planet."
"Why?" Oni asked. Lucas brushed off his helmet which was tucked underneath his arm and gave a half smile. "Chancellor Palpatine gave Delta Force orders to get rid of the gang activity on Delphon. They'll be there for awhile, so I suggest we don't wait for them."
Kao nodded in agreement, "Of course, Captain. We have orders of our own to bring Arthur back to Coruscant. But I do wish to have Mia report to the medical bay for treatment. I'll meet her there." Lucas gave a salute, "Sir, yes, sir." With that, the clone officer departed, slipping on his bucket and likely relaying the general's orders to the marshal.
(Medical bay of the Akul)
Patch was attending to some minor cuts on one clone. The clone's name was Lieutenant Ace. He had the standard white armor, but had green stripe run down his arms and leg pieces. He also was equipped with a kama as well, where he holstered his DC-17 blaster pistols.
Patch finished attending to the cuts on Ace's face, "That is going to leave a couple new scars for you" Patch said as he finished up. He turned around to see Green and Smoke bringing Mia into the med bay, "Mia, nice to see you again" he said, while looking over her appearance, "Though I take it you have had better days?" he asked with a small smirk.
"Yeah," the young woman croaked, wincing as the marshal and the sergeant sat her down on an empty bed. "I think I could have done without the last three days, though," said Mia, managing a smile. Green scoffed, "Sorry we were so late in getting you out of there, kid. Something happened that...delayed...our rescue attempt."
Patch approached Mia and started to do some scans, "Looks like some broken ribs at the bare minimum," said Patch, reading his scans. Patch then grabbed a flashlight and ordered Mia to follow the light, checking to see if her pupils dilated. He also had her answer questions to see if other symptoms of a concussion were there. "Good news is you don't have a concussion, most likely," said Patch.
Mia sighed in relief, "That's a shocker. I thought I'd have that and ten other things wrong up there." Green flinched at her words and, underneath the protection of his visor, closed his eyes and grunted from the pain of memories.
Patch, gave a knowing look to Green, since he has been treating the Tenth Star Corp since day one of the Corps existence. He then started to go to work and patch up Mia, while she made conversation with Green and Smoke.
"Where's Arthur?" the girl asked enthusiastically, slightly looking around the room, "I know he wasn't on the mission, but…?"
Smoke, who had his helmet under his arm, visibly frowned, "Arthur...is being held in a cell, for disobedience of orders, and insubordination" he said in a saddened tone.
Mia's smile faded slowly and her eyes widened, "I-i-insubordination? What...what do you mean? What did he do? Is there going to be a trial?"
Smoke lowered his head, "He had a plan to rescue you apparently. A plan that involved digging up those four crates of blasters you two stole a while back. He wanted to use them to get in through the front door, other than that I don't know what he planned to do," replied Smoke, before Green took over.
"Oni, Smoke and I arrived later on and Master Kao and our squad seized the crates before he could use them. He tried to argue and go to rescue you alone using a crate, but Master Kao wouldn't allow it. She was angered and so was Arthur. He pulled his lightsaber on her and eventually removed his Padawan braid and left to save you alone, but we found him and had to arrest him," Green relayed to Mia, continuing the story where Smoke stopped.
Mia was completely dumbfounded. She couldn't believe that Arthur would do something like that. Sure, he was a drone that took orders right away, but she never imagined him going as far to being arrested on grounds of...of...rebellion. "Are they going to return the weapons back to the Republic?" she asked, "And where is Arthur?"
"The weapons are already on their way back to the Republic as we speak," answered Green. He then shared a glance with Smoke before continuing, "Arthur is in Cell Block 2044. Master Kao is on her way down here so she can escort you there," explained Green.
"Alright," Mia said with a sigh, "I don't know what I'm going to say, but trust me: I am pissed."
The three clones gave a chuckle at that. "Take it easy on him, he's in emotional turmoil right now, and hasn't eaten for a while," replied Patch, "Plus I don't want to have to operate on him" he said, giving a smirk.
"I just spent weeks in a prison cell without food, water, or emotional support of any kind," Mia gave a sarcastic smile, "So I don't want to hear about it."
"True," replied Green. He then felt a presence behind him and turned around to see Master Kao. "General," he greeted with a salute. She smiled nodding respectfully, though raised a brow at his rather crisp behavior lately. They haven't really had much time to bond, but them acting as though they were just general and commander was odd. "Commander," she acknowledged and then turned to Mia.
"It's good to see you again, Mia," the Jedi said with a smile.
Mia smiled back in return, "Nice to see you as well Master Kao" she replied. She made to get up from the bed, but grunted as she did so from the pain in her ribs, "Wish it was on better circumstances though" she said, trying to get used to the pain.
Oni smiled and noticed Smoke and Patch standing beside Mia. "We'll leave here in a few moments, but first I need to speak with Green," she said, gesturing for the clones to keep her busy. Turning around, the Jedi Master tugged on the marshal's arm and pulled him out of the medbay. He groaned from a few bruises and sore muscles from the mission as she dragged him away.
Once the doors closed behind them, Oni ran a hand through her golden brown hair and looked up at the commander with expectant eyes. "Alright," she started, "What's going on with you? Why are you acting like this?" The marshal sighed and took of his helmet, revealing the black smudges from battle, ruffled hair, and a slightly busted lip. Kao's eyes widened and she reached up to inspect his face, her fingertips touching his jawline. Green gave a smile and gently pulled away her hand, taking it into his own.
"I haven't really been able to see you," he said, "I know you want to make sure Arthur doesn't feel left out because he can't see Mia, but-"
"Green," Oni placated, "I don't know what's going to happen to him now and I can't lose you, too. I know what I said before and it still reigns true somewhat, but please, let's not pull away from each other completely." The marshal beamed at this, placing a kiss on her hand, "I agree."
"We just can't be all lovey dovey when Arthur's around," Oni smirked. Green returned the look: "And when he's not around?" Kao giggled, "Fair game." She slightly gasped as the commander embraced her, placing his head atop hers. The Master wrapped her arms around his neck, cherishing the rare luxury. "I'm fine with that," Green said, muffled by her hair.
Kao enjoyed the fact that, like John, Green was taller and bigger than his brothers. She fit into his embrace perfectly, as she was four inches shorter than he.
After a few moments, Oni pulled her arms away slowly and gently and guided his helmet up against his chestplate. "I need to go speak with Mia, now," she said with reluctance, her eyes glimmering with sadness, "I'll contact you when your shift is over." Green winked at her with an emerald gaze and slipped on his bucket, "I'll be waiting."
Oni smiled and shook her head as she watched him leave. Turning around, she entered the medbay again, hoping she this would start to fix things.
"General, Mia is good to go I guess. Just be careful with her ribs. Aside from that, she seems to be alright" said Patch as the General walked in, "I do want to see her a bit later, after you're done, to just double check before she leaves" he finished.
"Of course, Patch," Oni said with a confirming nod. Turning to Mia, she gave a warm smile. Gesturing towards the door, she said: "Come, young one, we have a lot to discuss."
Mia slowly made her way to the door and gave the clones one last thank you before she exited, quickly followed by Master Kao, "What do you want to discuss?" she asked, though she knew that they would most likely going to discuss things about Arthur.
"Well," Oni sighed, "As you might know, Arthur is being charged on grounds of insubordination. Thus, we have to bring him before the Jedi Council. As his Master, all I can do is give my side of the story, no more. I need you to convince Arthur to own up to his errors. I know it sounds like a lot, but if he does, the Council will be more lenient with him."
Mia gave an understanding nod to the Jedi Master, "Anything else you'd like me to do for him?" she asked. Though she wasn't around Arthur as much as she liked to be, she still was willing to do anything to help him.
Oni gave a thankful, yet solemn smile, "I'm not sure there's anything more you can do for him. Though, I know seeing you will raise his spirits significantly."
Mia let a smirk show on her face, "Yeah, I know. How is he doing at the moment?" she asked, curious as to how we was dealing with the situation at the moment.
"He's," Oni paused to think about it, "Arthur is...taking rather harshly. He's going through a phase right now where he's doubting himself at every turn and not taking orders at all. I have never gone through this stage, so I can't help him as much. But, since you two have worked together before on illegal operations, your opinion on how bad it was will influence him greater."
They rounded a corner to see two clones at the entrance to the cell block they were heading for. The two clones seemed to be talking till the saw Oni and Mia approaching them. Dustin then came forward to meet them. "Master Kao, everything is in order for you and Mia. Arthur hasn't moved or did anything actually since you left to get Mia" said Dustin.
"I know, soldier," Kao nodded, "I can sense everything going on in that room, but thank you." She turned to Mia, "Well, Mia, I hope things will start to change. May the Force be with you." With that, the Jedi Master gave the young woman's shoulder an encouraging squeeze and then departed, signaling for the clones to stay behind and keep watch.
Mia sighed heavily and then pushed the button to open the door. Straightening out, she stepped over the threshold, prepared for whatever happened.
Arthur had his back to the door of his cell and not being totally focused thought his master came back in, "Giving me another pick me up lecture?" he asked calmly, not turning around to face her. Mia gulped and tried to put on a smile, "In trouble as always, Arthur?" She fiddled with her hands nervously and looked back at the door, having second thoughts.
Arthur got up quickly after hearing Mia's voice, "I'm sorry," he said realizing how harsh he sounded before continuing, "How are you doing?" he asked concerned for her wellbeing, since she was tortured by Enkado for weeks, and he knew how rough those could get.
"How do you think?" she said, meaning for it to sound teasing, but it came out harsh as well. Her anger at Arthur for getting in so much trouble seeped out and she frowned at him. "Worse now," Mia breathed out in a huff.
Arthur felt her anger toward him, and let his show a little, "I'm sorry that I gave up everything to look for the one person I care most about than anyone" he said, before he pulled back his anger and began to calm down.
Mia stepped forwards and delivered a sharp slap to the face. "Don't you dare blame your situation on me," she shouted, seething. "Green and the ARCs rescued me regardless. You had the choice of following orders. I would rather have died in that compound than be responsible for you going on trial. You are at fault, Arthur. There's no one to blame but yourself."
"I wasn't blaming you" he said frustrated, "What I wanted to say came out wrong" he reasoned, before giving out a long sigh and sitting down on his not so comfortable chair, "I know I messed up, it's the only thing I was ever good at" he said, covering his face with his hands, slightly rubbing where Mia slapped him.
"Yeah," Mia scoffed, "You came off as a fekking jerk. And stop saying that you're "bad at this" and "no use" for that. It's getting on my fierfekking nerves! You'll never become a Jedi or make it through this trial if you do that. Your Master is frustrated because you always doubt yourself, and so am I." She narrowed her eyes at Arthur and shook her head. "You don't understand, do you?" she asked rhetorically.
Arthur looked back up at her, "What I meant to say was that you mean everything to me and I would go through hell and back for you," he said, he looked at those electric blue eyes and even though Mia was beat badly and not at her best, he still felt those eyes digging deep within him.
Mia's gaze softened for a moment, but then returned with fury. "I don't like the sentiment that you would betray your Master's orders and endanger lives for my sake." She crossed her arms over her chest and eyed him carefully.
"Well it won't happen often then," he replied, "I barely see you anymore and it kills me inside. Seeing Kao and Green together everyday makes me wonder about you, and it hurts" he replied, he knew he had already had a deep grave dug with everyone else, that he might as well have Mia be angry with him as well.
"No, it won't happen ever again," she said, waving a hand for emphasis, "Understand me? Their orders are meant to save lives, so you need to follow them. Arthur, I understand that me being away is putting a wedge between us, but we both knew this would happen...that I wouldn't always be there. Don't be jealous of your Master and her fiance, be happy for them."
"Wait a second. Fiance?" he asked. He knew about them being together, but didn't know about this, "And how do you know?" he asked bewildered. He forgot about their argument just for a couple seconds.
"Oh," Mia closed her eyes and felt like slapping herself. "Well," she started, opening her eyes, looking at Arthur cautiously, "When you had your Force-induced panic attack and Patch sedated you, he told me that your Master and the marshal are most likely engaged or going to be engaged. It wouldn't surprise me if it happened after we rescued her."
"Hope it works out for them" he said. "Look, for what it is worth, I'm sorry for throwing everything away to try and rescue you alone. Kao wouldn't let me bring the clones to help, so I tried to run and go get you alone. I know how stupid I was now and I will never do it again" Arthur said looking away and at his cold food that he still never touched.
"Good," Mia said, lowering her arms, "You know, they look really happy. They obviously figured something out, so maybe we can, too?"
Arthur reestablished eye contact with Mia, and looked like he was about to say something in response when the doors to the cell opened. Master Kao stepped in and looked at the two. "Sorry to cut your conversation short, but Patch wants Mia back in the infirmary," the Jedi rolled her eyes, "He wants to make sure you didn't catch any diseases that you might spread to our men."
Mia made to leave, but Arthur got up and stopped her, "Mia" he said as he got up. Before Arthur realized what he was doing, he put his hand around Mia's waist and the other moved through her shoulder length, red hair, till it was behind her head and his lips collided with hers.
She was shocked at first, but then smiled and returned the kiss. Oni, on the other hand, stood there with a "get a room" look and started tapping her foot, though a smirk grew on her face. Arthur, though against what he did, broke the kiss, and didn't look Mia in the eyes, "Um...sorry" he said, nervous.
Kao rolled her eyes in amusement and motioned for Mia to follow her. The teenager turned to Arthur and gave a half smile as she pulled away, "I hope I get to see you again before the trial." Without saying anything else, she spun on her heels and followed the Jedi Master out of the cell.
Oni turned to the younger woman with a smile. "I hope I didn't come off as rude, but," she started, "I just want you two to know that you have to be very...sneaky about these things. Green and I had our fair share of getting caught, so I don't want you and Arthur to get in trouble."
Mia gave a nod to the Jedi Master, "I understand" she said, slightly worried was going to happen to Arthur, sure he messed up a lot, but he was always reliable and could get himself out of any jam he was in.
"If Arthur cooperates," Oni said, trying to pull a smile, "He'll be forgiven."
(The Jedi Temple, thirty minutes before the Council hearing)
Oni paced back and forth in her quarters, running her hands through her golden brown hair anxiously. "What can I do if the Council expels him? Or worse...turns him over to the Senate?" she asked frantically, stopping in her inconsistent strides to peer at Green, who sat on her bed, inspecting his DC-15A while he listened to her worries. The marshal looked up, barely registering that she had spoken. "Uh…."
Kao gave him no time to answer and kept walking about. "I mean, his actions couldn't be that incriminating, could they?" she asked, as though she were speaking in her head and not out loud.
"Well, he did-" Green sighed as Oni once again interrupted him, continuing. "He's just a kid, Green," croaked the woman, who started tearing up. "Oni," the commander called out softly. She exhaled heavily and rubbed her tired face, "I tried to put in a good word for him, but they didn't really listen…"
"Oni."
"...Even Plo Koon," Kao scoffed, "And here I thought he would be the most sympathetic…"
"Cyar'ika…"
"...Oh, what am I going on about?" she paused, glancing at her lightsabers, which she had placed up her nightstand, "I have only myself to blame for-"
"ONI!"
The Jedi Master jolted a bit at the commander's rough, drill sergeant tone. Looking over at him with narrowed eyes, she dared to call out. "What?!"
Green had ripped his helmet off and glared at Kao. "Stop talking like that," he said firmly, "You hate it when Arthur does it, so stop it. Whatever happens today was meant to happen. Isn't that what your old Master said?" Oni frowned at him and scoffed. "I can't believe you're using my own words against me right now," she exhaled.
Green smirked, "I am good at that, aren't I?" But then his face turned serious and sympathetic, "Arthur will make it through. If the Council decides that his path is not that of a Jedi's...well, there's nothing you can do."
Oni sighed and nodded, accepting the possibility of losing another student. She crossed her arms as Green stood up and strode over to her. "Okay?" he asked for confirmation as he pulled her in for a hug, "There's nothing you can do." Kao took a deep breath and nodded again. Moments later, her commlink beeped.
The Council was ready.
Resist: Well, hope you guys enjoyed and don't forget to review and let me and Echo know what you guys think.
Echo: New story in the works, so prepare yourselves for a twist.
Arthur: Can't wait. Peace out readers.
Resist: Also, if you guys haven't, make sure to check out the story, Bond Between Master and Apprentice, it takes place between Chapters 4 and 5 of this one.