Chapter 18

Back at the hostel, Ryu had gone back to his room to shower and clean up the worst of the cut and bleeding skin on his face and apply some healing salve to his wounds. After putting on a clean gi, as that was the only other clothing he brought with him, he sat with Nirri while they waited for their respective meals to arrive.

"The reason I came here in the first place Nirri was to get information from Xoran. A short time ago, for whatever the reason, he and that Barabel we saw at the Cave, the one who broke his opponent's leg, both accompanied a Bothan to my home and attempted to assault my son. Either they didn't know that it was my home they were going to and/or didn't know that my son was a fully trained Jedi Knight. Anyway, their attempt failed and all three of them were arrested. Before I could question them, they had gotten lawyers and been released on some technicality or another. The Bothan died at the medical clinic he had been taken to after developing a heretofore unknown allergy to bacta and the other two, Xoran and the Barabel who was later identified simply as Barab, both disappeared back underground."

Nirri spoke, "I remember now something in the data stream about an attack on a 'high profile' citizen and then shortly thereafter the Ambassador to the New Republic from the Federation was almost assassinated. Are the two connected?"

Ryu answered, "My wife and I, immediately after our promotion to Master, were assigned by Luke Skywalker to liaison with Starfleet Security. We were beginning to think that the two incidents were connected and the information that you've given me since I arrived yesterday has reinforced that conclusion. What you told me about that anti-human group, the one that calls itself H.A.T.E, Xoran's lack of surprise when I showed up on his literal doorstep looking for information. As soon as you get the time, please put all of your observations and any notes you might've made on H.A.T.E, onto a datacard and give it to me so that I can in turn transmit it to my wife who'll make sure it gets to everyone who needs to know."

Nodding her head in understanding, Nirri asked, "Why does Xoran hate you so much? What did you ever do to him?"

"A long time ago, Xoran was an up and coming fighter in the GFC, the same as me. He tried to set up a pipeline to smuggle performance enhancers into the GFC and I helped set him up for a fall. After he was caught, he was banned from ever competing in the GFC again, stripped of all his accomplishments to that point and almost prosecuted but he dropped off the grid before he could go to court and that was almost the last I'd ever heard of him until another Jedi Master, Corran Horn, gave me the results of his preliminary investigation and Xoran's name and face came up. I've known for several years now that he was on Coruscant, running the Demon's Battle Cave but I honestly had no intention of ever talking to him again, let alone fighting him, but I guess he was given an opportunity to strike back at me and he took it, but even now, the Force is hinting that there's more to it than that. No offense intended Nirri, but Falleen are practically legendary for the way they can carry a grudge against anyone or anything that hinders their plans, whatever those plans may be; but I've never heard of one taking such a direct course as Xoran has. It's my understanding, and I may be wrong, but its my understanding the Falleen usually destroy their enemies by undermining them, by buying up their debts or holding majority share in whatever business ventures they may be involved with."

Nirri nodded and said, "No offense taken because you're not far off the mark Ryu. What will you do now?"

Ryu said, "First, I'm going to eat a big dinner so that my body has ample resources for the Healing Trance I'll go into tonight. Second, fight my way up the ladder and ask Xoran directly what he knows about H.A.T.E., about the attempted assassination on Admiral Picard and why he tried to hurt my son. The question that needs to be asked is what are you going to do Nirri? The longer you associate with me the more likely Xoran will hurt you somehow. Whether you choose to acknowledge it or not, you're vulnerable Nirri. You're innocent of anything but trying to survive and I don't want you to get hurt because of me."

Nirri smiled and said, "Thanks for the thought but I'll be okay Ryu. Besides, maybe it's the Force trying to tell me something too but I think there's more to your concern for me than collateral damage. Care to fill me in?"

Smirking, Ryu said, "Your insight serves you well. In our conversations to this point, you've told me that you sometimes have a 'compass' in your head that leads you to the things you need at that moment. Whether it was the prime location to build your shelter or to find the jobs you need to earn the money you need to survive, the Force is speaking to you. At the risk of sounding like a nosy parent because I am a nosy parent, even though I'm not your nosy parent, you are nearing a crossroads, where you will be tempted by the Dark Side of the Force. To prove my point, I'm going to have to say some things that may sound hurtful and tactless."

Nirri just said, "Bring it."

Ryu spoke, "When you reach adolescence, if you don't have a good teacher in the Force, it will be like a veritable floodgate of power in your head. This power though, will come to you when you are afraid or hurt or angry instead of when you are not afraid, unhurt and at peace with yourself and your surroundings. The only role model you had abandoned you to your own devices a relatively short time ago, other Falleen think you're worthless. You've already demonstrated your dislike of me dealing with the 'unfairness' of having to deal with the Ysalamiri. At the risk of sounding condescending, and I'm not trying to, for someone as intelligent as you clearly are Nirri, surely you have already come to understand that life itself is frequently unfair."

Though Nirri was completely aware of these things on an intellectual level, to hear it practically thrown in her face so bluntly left her mentally stunned for a moment; an involuntary tear could be seen in the corner of her eye. She was silent a moment then said, "Yes, life isn't fair at times. That doesn't mean that you can't make it fair when you can."

Ryu said sadly, "That path leads to the Dark Side Nirri."

With a touch of pain-fueled rebellion in her voice, Nirri said, "What if it is? What's the worst thing that can happen?"

As Nirri spoke, her eating utensils had started to quiver on the table. Suddenly, the knife flew from its place on the table across the room and impaled itself deeply into the wall. There was a short screech as another guest of the hostel barely avoided the implement.

Nirri sat up straight in her seat, eyes wide as she saw what had just happened. The shock in her voice was clear, "Did I do that? What if I'd hit someone just now?"

Ryu spoke, "You've just made my point for me Nirri."

The owner of the hostel came up to their table clearly uncomfortable and said, "Master Jedi, please control your apprentice or I'll have to ask you both to leave."

Ryu took 100 credits out of his bag, handed it to the owner saying, "Please excuse my Padawan, she's still very new to her abilities and sometimes they get away from her. Please use this to cover the cost of the meal for the person over there and the accidental damage to your wall."

The owner accepted the money from Ryu's hand and said before walking away, "Very well Master Jedi. Apology accepted."

Nirri had recovered by this time and said, "You covered for me just now even though I'm not your student. Why?"

Ryu answered, "Like I said shortly after we met Nirri, no one should be treated as anything less than a sentient being regardless of their upbringing. If you'll remember when I spoke of choices the other day as well?" When Nirri nodded, Ryu continued, "You can choose to stay on as my manager and get the credits you need to leave this sector as well as the possible risk entailed with staying around me. You can then choose to join Starfleet when you reach your legal majority in four more years, four years that you will have to deal with your awakening in the Force whether you like it or not. Or, you can choose to stay down here in this sector, maybe take employment with Xoran and stay in the sphere of the Ysalamiri's influence or you can choose to come with me when I leave, possibly becoming my Padawan Learner or the Padawan of any one of a dozen or more other Masters, good people all of them. It is for you to decide Nirri."

Their respective dinners had arrived by then and they ate in silence. Ryu with gusto and Nirri uncertainly at first and then as her appetite reasserted itself, with more enthusiasm. After dinner, Ryu paid Nirri her agreed upon wage of 100 credits for the day even after she tried to refuse as recompense for the damage to the wall in the dining area, and then they went their separate ways for the night.

Later than night, Nirri would experience her first dream empowered by the Force.