Chapter 25

Ryu's hostel room

Ryu had spent three hours in a Healing Trance, a short nap after that, then meditated. As he came out of his meditation, there was a knock at the door and Nirri came in when told to. Setting the clothes she'd gotten for Ryu on his bed she said, "While you were healing, a spanner got thrown into the works."

Ryu asked, "What do you mean when you say a spanner?"

Nirri answered, "Just after you'd entered your Healing Trance, Barab the Barabel was 'accidentally' run down by an automated transport that was passing by the Demon's Battle Cave. The official cause was navigational error on the part of the droid pilot of the transport."

Ryu nodded his head and said, "I don't have to assume that this happened before he could give you the decryption key for that datacard that you got before we left the Cave, do I?"

Nirri said, "Got it one. What happens now?"

Ryu didn't skip a beat as he said, "While it is unfortunate that Barab died, we both know it was no accident and we both know who made it happen. This is just one more thing that Xoran has to account for. Besides, I know of a super-slicer by the name of Ghent. He heads up the New Republic's Computer Security division. He'll probably be able to crack that encryption on the datacard in about five minutes or less."

With more than a trace of anger in her voice, Nirri said, "I hope you take Xoran's kriffing head off tomorrow."

Ryu shook his head in negation and said, "Be mindful of your feelings Nirri. Remember what happened in the Dining Room the other night and stay calm. Xoran will be held responsible for his actions by the courts, not by me or you. Thanks for the clothes by the way. I'll change and then be on my way."

Nirri said, "Sounds like you've decided to train me. How do you know I'll leave with you?"

Ryu answered, "How do you know that you won't? As I mentioned before, think on it. Think on it very hard. To be a Jedi is not a choice to be made lightly. It will change your life in ways you can't possibly imagine."

She answered, "I have thought it over. I'll go with you after you defeat Xoran."

Ryu nodded again and said, "Let's just say you're half and half on that decision, for now. Whether you decide for certain one way or the other, your first lesson will come after my fight."

She answered, "I have decided; besides, don't you mean to say when you beat Xoran?"

Ryu answered, "In my meditation, I saw several different outcomes, some good, some bad, but nothing is certain when it comes to episodes of Farsight. Master Skywalker is fond of one of his second teachers' observations on the future, 'difficult to see the future, always in motion it is'. For now, I have an appointment to keep. Stay here if you like while I'm gone, or visit any friends you have in the area. If you decide to come with me, it will be some time before you come back."

Nirri said, "Yes Master," and was out the door before Ryu could tell her not to address him as 'Master' until the Council had decided. A short time later, Ryu had changed clothes and went to the entrance of the hostel to find that Acks had just arrived in an open-canopy speeder. The two didn't speak in the short trip to a different entrance of the same building the arena was in. Entering a waiting turbolift with two guards on either side of the door after they performed a weapons check, Ryu was raised up a few floors. After the first two floors passed, Ryu felt the Force vanish, and knew he had just entered the Ysalamiri zone and knew the trip was coming to an end. When the turbolift stopped, the doors opened into a beautifully adorned foyer, and another weapons check. Looking around the room, Ryu saw artwork of many descriptions, a small weapons display that held a selection of blasters and blades of many shapes and sizes. In the center of the display was a very small cylindrical handle that would have fit entirely in the palm of Ryu's hand. Instantly, Ryu recognized a lightsaber, but for the life of him, couldn't figure out whose it could be.

Ryu heard footsteps on the highly polished floor coming into the foyer from behind him. Looking over his shoulder, Ryu wasn't surprised in the least when Xoran entered the room.

Xoran saw what Ryu was looking at and said, "I see you noticed the pride of my collection. In case you wonder, I am told that the lightsaber belonged to Master Yoda once upon a time. He lost it in the Senate chamber during his one and only confrontation with the Emperor . . . or so I am told. Analysis of the marks on the casing verifies that its owner was a small being and had three fingers on each hand; circumstantially suggesting that it was indeed Yoda who held that weapon. It still functions, amazingly, even after all this time without a recharge. I don't know who or what coined the phrase 'It takes a licking, and keeps on ticking', but it is most appropriate, wouldn't you agree Master Jedi?"

Ryu said, "Quite appropriate, yes. At any rate Xoran, I'll not waste your time with meaningless pleasantries and simply come to the point, if you don't mind."

Xoran said, "Join me in the Dining Room where we can converse like civilized beings." As the two soon-to-be-opponents sat at the table, Xoran clapped his hands with a theatrical flourish, and serving droids entered the room to begin serving dinner.

Ryu said, "Xoran, why did you attack my son and why do you wish to kill me? To be honest, while I have known for several years now that you were on Coruscant and that the Demon's Battle Cave entered into your ownership after you defeated the previous owner, I truly didn't care. What happened between us during our GFC days is long past or is for me at least. Why do you hold onto the past instead of letting it be the past? It serves no useful purpose."

Xoran answered, "For power."

Ryu answered, "Power without perception is spiritually useless and therefore of no true value, Xoran. Didn't your teacher Xizor ever tell you that?"

Xoran smiled and said, "Spoken like the Jedi Master you are. Xizor taught me many things, not just how to fight. It is his example that guides me to this day. To answer your first question requires that I repeat myself. For power; after my dismissal from the GFC that you helped to orchestrate, I wandered for a time, searching for a purpose. Certain parties who shall remain nameless helped me find that purpose and in doing so, gained power over me. Limited power, but power over me just the same. In attacking your son, I made it known to those that held that power that that would be the final payment in my debt to them. They agreed and arranged my meeting with the person who took the brunt of your son's incredible technique. I had heard that your family line had mastered something called a 'kinitite hadoken', and now I understand just what it is."

Ryu answered back, "I think it more accurate to say that you know what form it takes but that you don't truly understand anything about it. To summon a kinitite hadoken requires perception. Perception of one's place in the universe, of one's purpose in being in a specific place in space-time. Your strength Xoran is physical but physical strength is no substitute for perception, for perception is the key which unlocks the intangible power of the spirit."

Xoran fired back, "So you assert Master Jedi and on some level, I'm sure you are correct but come tomorrow and our fight, I will show you the depth of my perception and it is that perception that brings us to your second question. You ask me why I want to kill you. In answer, I repeat myself once more . . . for power. As I found my way, I made sure to eliminate everyone who has ever stood in my way. You are the last thing in my way. By killing you, I will gain such power as you cannot even imagine. After I'm done with you, no one will stand in my way. Not the Jedi, not the New Republic, not Fey . . ., not H.A.T.E."

Ryu made a mental note of Xoran's near verbal slip and said, "So you seek my end for vengeance and not for H.A.T.E?"

Xoran chuckled and said, "H.A.T.E. is simply a means to an end for me. I couldn't possibly care less about their intentions to reduce humanity to second class status as that anyone who is not Falleen, is already a second class lifeform to me, not just a lesser social class."

Ryu said, "Speaking of 'lesser social class' why do you hate your own daughter?"

Xoran wasn't expecting this and it showed in the slight reddening of his skin that marked his unconscious spike of aggressive pheromone. "So you know the truth?"

Ryu said, "I have accepted the truth that you have something more important than vengeance to live for Xoran. Falleen as a species are highly protective of their families; as protective as any other sentient species worthy of the title of 'parent'. When my children were born, I felt more alive than I ever did before, even more alive than at the height of my GFC days. As much as I did enjoy my time in the GFC, I gave it up and retired so that I could raise my family. So I ask you again, why do you hate your own daughter?"

Xoran took a breath and said, "I applaud you on your knowledge of Falleen society. As answer, it's not so much as hate as that Nirri is of no practical use to me. She was born due to a youthful indiscretion on my part. Her mother was of a slightly lower social rank than me. A child sired by me would have only raised her own social status but as soon as she realized she was with child, she ran. She ran because she knew that I would take Nirri and turn her into a proper Falleen whose duty it would be to marry into a ranking family, and by cementing such an alliance with another family of the same rank as mine, increase her Father's status, my status, just as a daughter should. It is a daughter's place to bring her father greater power. As my resources grew along with my powerbase, I looked for Nirri and her mother. When I found them, it was too late. Nirri had been raised as little more than an urchin, doing whatever it took to survive and knowing precious little of how a Falleen should act. Her mother even gave her a name not in keeping with Falleen naming tradition. After I, shall we say, disposed, of Nirri's mother, I tried to bring Nirri into my operation but she refused time and again, each time more vehemently that before. By the time I finally gave her the ultimatum to serve me or die, she had already sliced into my database and acquired information that I can't afford to have go public. In that respect at least, Nirri is every bit the Falleen I am for being willing and able to use information as both tool and weapon. On that count, I'm actually rather proud of her, but since she'll have nothing to do with me except by way of a proxy like yourself, she will never know."

All Ryu could say to that was, "How very sad for you Xoran. I could say that I pity you but strangely, I find that your attitude doesn't really surprise me. Now that our conversation is ended, I'll take my leave of you. You say that you have no need to poison me to defeat me, but there might be a 'programming error' with another one of your droids that would accomplish the same thing as a conscious decision on your part."

Xoran said, "I have no idea what you are referring to Master Jedi. At any rate, it's your loss though as that it would have been a wonderful meal. Before you go, do you have any other questions?"

Ryu thought to himself, 'And if I believed in your ignorance about Barab's death, I'm sure you could throw in some beachfront property on Hoth in addition to the Imperial Palace,' Thinking for a moment further, Ryu said, "Even though I've never placed a bet on myself in any fight I've ever been a part of, I'll make one with you now, if you wish it."

Xoran's eyes widened slightly as he said, "This is indeed a surprise. What will you wager?"

Ryu said, "If you win our fight tomorrow, you can have my lightsaber. Since you intend to kill me, I won't need it anymore and you'll have the proof of your win over me."

Xoran said, "I do plan on killing you but I must also admit that you are a skilled opponent and could quite possibly defeat me. What do you want in exchange?"

Ryu said, "If you win, you get my lightsaber and the notoriety that would inevitably come to you by defeating me. If I win, I get all the information you have on the group that calls itself H.A.T.E, and the lightsaber that may or may not have belonged to Master Yoda."

Xoran snorted, "You ask for too much."

Ryu countered with, "Seems a small enough price for your vengeance."

Xoran considered it and then said, "So be it . . . Jedi. You have yourself a bet."