Lessons Learned

Hilal was one of the best crackers in the business. Although he and his partners had been living well for months, he was happy to be back at it. Since the Jedi hit the planet, "easy street" had come to an end. HIlal could get into anything and now that credits were not just being handed to them, his skills were again needed.

"What's the hold up?" his partner's voice came from behind.

Hilal did not even pause or look up. "It's been a while…."

A green glow seemed to fill the alley. "Play time is over gentlemen."

Both thieves spun to face Numa. "Jedi!" Hilal's partner whispered.

"Oh you're a quick on," Numa's green glow was joined by the blue glow of Hannibal's saber as he stepped out of the shadows to the right.

"Idiot," Hilal's partner muttered, you hit an alarm.

Before Hilal could deny the accusation, his partner's blaster was out and rising. A second green flash appeared nearby and cut the blaster in half. Both thieves noticed Finly for the first time on their left. We're Jedi, you moron. We don't need alarms." Finly grinned as he raised the blade to the blaster yielding thief's throat. "I would suggest coming quietly, but you don't have to."

"Fin," Hannibal slightly jealous interrupted, "have you been hanging around Myriam?'

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I beg to differ Granger interrupted the accusing holograms of the Jedi Council as his ship entered hyperspace bound for Coruscant, "I would say I did exactly what I was sent to do."

"You murdered a public official!" A Republic Magistrate!" Master Oo'looku was taken aback. "We sent you to restore order, not destroy the Republic's effort to do so….. Not to distribute your own brand of justice…. Not to leave the system in chaos…."

"The Magistrate was connected to nearly every criminal activity in the sector. He had connections in the Outer Rim. I cut the head off of the Gundark," Granger defended.

Master Oldofo chimed in, "The allegations against the Magistrate are substantial, but hasn't criminal activity increased slightly since his death?

"And we are dealing with those elements as I stand here to defend myself. The Magistrate's "friends" muscled out all of the competition and extorted the legitimate businesses. That is when the Prime Minister contacted you for help. Some of those other elements are attempting to retake their old territory and the Magistrate's former associates are scrambling as well. I should be out there as well. Things will get worse before they get better."

"Until we have straightened all of this out, you are relieved of all your duties," Oo'looku firmly ended Granger's monologue.

Granger knew his actions were rash, but he had expected the Council to see the wisdom behind it. He told himself that he should have known better. "Have you spoken to the Prime Minister?"

"We will speak with her tomorrow," Tarayzin reassured. "Her opinion of the situation will go a long way towards sorting this out."

"Very well," Granger signed off and sat back down in the floor. He began to clear his mind and resume his meditations, but he struggled to get started. If there was one thing that he hated, it was waiting on the Jedi Council to make a decision. He took a deep breath and tried to clear his mind.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

This was the part of every mission that Iesha hated most, the waiting. There was always something to wait for: orders, a signal, something to survey, scout, recon, or sometimes, like now, she had to wait for just the right moment.

"This is the part I hate most," Hector broke the rooftop silence. "I mean, we're just supposed to sit here until this guy shows?"

Myriam did not even look up from her binos, "There will always be something to wait for."

Iesha grinned, "It's part of every mission." The padawan looked at the seasoned warrior for the expected affirmation, but Myriam still did not flinch from her binos. Clearing her throat and humbling her tone, Iesha added, "That was Master Granger's first lesson."

"Yeah, yeah," He glanced at Myriam, "And probably Yoda's too, but still….." Hector turned back to Iesha, "What do you think they'll do to him?"

"Who?" Iesha inquired not quite sure if Hector was talking to her.

"The council to you master," Hector clarified. "He impaled a Republic official."

"He'll be fine," Myriam chimed in still fixated on her binos." The Prime Minister will speak up for him."

"How can you be sure? How is Force thrusting a spear through a magistrate the Jedi way?" Hector inquired.

"That spear," Myriam responded, "symbolized the full corruption of that so-called magistrate. Granger put it right where it belonged. I just wish, I would have thought of it."

Hector shook his head, "It just doesn't seem right." He paused in thought then turned to Iesha. "Does he ever use his lightsaber?"

"All the time," Iesha though, then noting Hector's confusion, added, "in training."

"Really?"

He's pretty militant about it…..that and meditation," Iesha answered.

"But does he ever use it in combat?" Hector insisted.

Iesha sighed, "I've seen him activate it twice on a mission. Only one of those was in combat. He says we have the whole Force at our disposal and shouldn't be limited by our sabers."

"The combat was when Shwafa went rogue?" Myriam almost looked up from her binos.

"Yeah," Iesha sighed again.

"He was part of that?" Hector was impressed.

Before Iesha could respond, Myriam spoke up again. "He pretty much was "that" from what I understand."

"Wow," Hector muttered. Then he had another thought, "Wait, doesn't that mean you were there?"

"Yeah," Iesha sighed, "My first taste of combat….. one of my first missions."

"You locked sabers with Shwafa as a padawan? Granger even let you come along?" Hector was adamant.

"It was a little overwhelming, but Master Granger believes I learn best by doing."

"But if you get in over your head too soon you could get killed….."

"He also says that if I fail, he fails as a teacher. So his confidence is more in his teaching than in my abilities."

"Sounds just like Master Yoda," Myriam almost grinned. It would be interesting to see him in action."

"Well," Hector mused, "seems like we'll have our hands full. Assuming the council doesn't expel him, we should get the chance."

"Do you really think that may happen?" Iesha tried not to sound worried.

This time Myriam did glance up long enough to give Hector a cold look. They are fools if they do. Mind you feelings padawan. We still have a mission."

Iesha and Hector returned their attention to watching the street below. Hector felt as though he should lighten the mood, "So Granger can handle a saber, huh? Think he's as good as you, Myriam?"

"Seeing as how we're on the same side and we'll never have to fight each other, I'd say it's a moot point," Myriam blew off the question.

"But don't you ever wonder who's the best?... well…. Second best? Hector prodded.

Myriam and Iesha glanced at each other, Myriam quickly returned to her binos as Iesha turned her eye roll in Hector's direction, "And just who is the first?"

Hector cleared his throat, "Well I have won the lightsaber tournament for three years in a row….."

Myriam sighed, "Why would a Jedi take pride in such a thing?"

Hector blew off the comment, "It's all in good fun….. Why haven't you ever entered?"

"Waste of time," Myriam responded. "I only need to be better than my opponent. And none of them have ever had a lightsaber."

"Ok. Good point," Hector conceded, "but maybe you and I should spar sometime just to satisfy our curiosities?"

"I ain't that curious," Myriam muttered. "Besides maybe we're about to find out," She dropped her binos. "They're here." Myriam flung herself over the ledge followed quickly by Hector and Iesha.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"So what do you really think of him?" Tarayzin tried to get an answer from his sister without being too pushy.

"I haven't made up my mind yet," she responded slowly. "He's unorthodox to say the least."

"That's why I thought he would be perfect for this," Tarayzin offered.

"He did impale a Republic Magistrate….." the Prime Minister mused.

"There is that….. but you said the Magistrate was the problem….."

"It was just slightly more rash than I guess we old politicians are used to, but he probably accomplished more here in two days than the Republic in two centuries.

"That hardly seems fair," the Jedi master observed.

"The Republic's changing," Delfo sighed. "Most don't see it yet, but if we're not careful it will destroy itself….. Not in our lifetimes, probably not my children's, but eventually."

"Everything ends," the Jedi offered.

"And all methods change," his sister countered.

"True," Tarayzin mused. "So the Council gives its official decision tomorrow, but unofficially, the decision is yours. So the question is, do you want Master Granger to remain in Syllian?

"We need him now more than ever."

"The team can stay even if he goes," Tarayzin pointed out an alternative.

"I think," the Prime Minister paused, "I think….. they need him."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Granger meditated in his quarters as the ship shot through hyperspace. The call signal broke his focus. The signal was followed by an unusually mellow tone in Oo'looku's voice. "Master Granger, the council has convened. There is no need to report to Coruscant. You may return to Syllian."

"I've already ordered the ship to turn around," Granger was confident, but tried not to sound cocky.

The discomfort in the elder Jedi's voice was obvious, "Very well." The communication ended rather abruptly.

Not flinching from his meditative position, Granger could not help but grin as he slowly closed his eyes.