Chapter 19

Kyn waited outside of his old school on Coruscant as he had done the day previous. He had been unsuccessful in spotting his sister Kyra before but he was back today to give it another go. He saw a couple of girls he had not seen in quite some time but recognized them to be friends of Kyra's. He watched them closely, hoping Kyra would be behind them.

Unfortunately for Kyn, she was apparently not intending on joining her friends on this day after classes had let out. He continued to look through the crowds of bustling students going to different transports and socializing.

Then he saw her; she was with a boy who looked to be fifteen or so. Too old for Kyra, that was for sure as far as Kyn was concerned. But he couldn't be concerned with that, not today. He couldn't play big brother after a year of not speaking with her.

He walked through the crowd to get closer to her but he didn't want to interrupt her and her new 'friend'. His wish was to speak with her alone and in private. Watching from a small distance he watched as the boy kissed Kyra on the cheek. Anger began to boil up in Kyn but he had to restrain himself. Kyra was obviously blushing as the boy walked away and waved goodbye to her.

"Kyra," Kyn yelled. "Kyra!"

Kyra had heard him and she was spinning in circles looking for the voice that had called out her name. Kyn saw the resentment in her eyes when she spotted him.

"Oh," she muttered.

"Kyra, I know you hate me." Kyn started.

"I don't hate you, Kyn." Kyra retorted, the tone in her voice did not lend to her statement.

"Want to catch a late lunch with me and catch up?"

"I eat lunch at school." Kyra informed him.

"An early dinner then. Caf, tea, whatever you want." Kyn said quickly.

"Fine." Kyra agreed reluctantly. "Where is your speeder?"

Kyn coughed, "We'll have to catch a cab. I don't actually have a speeder anymore."

"You don't have any transportation?"

"I didn't say that." Kyn said. "Come on, let's go."

They found themselves at a little café that was fairly empty. They sat in the corner and Kyra ordered a cup of soup and tea. Kyn only asked for water.

"So what is this all about? You know you could have just bought me something really expensive if you're trying to get on my good side." Kyra started when she saw that Kyn didn't know where to begin.

"Would that have worked?" Kyn asked.

Kyra shook her head, "Not a chance. You don't think I've become a spoiled little brat in just a year?"

"I didn't figure so but some of your friends..."

"I have different friends than the ones you remember, Kyn." Kyra shot back.

"That's good. You have a boyfriend too?"

"If I do?" Kyra asked in between sips of tea through a straw.

"That's fine," Kyn lied. "He looks a little too old for you is all."

"Don't start," Kyra warned. "You haven't been there as a brother for me in a long time. You can't just come back in and start telling me who I can date. Mom likes him anyway. Dad… not so much."

"You're right but you also had something to do with that. You asked me to not speak to you anymore. For good reason but still…"

"And yet here you sit, right across from me." Kyra glared. "What do you want, Kyn? I have a feeling you didn't hunt me down at school just to badger me about my boyfriend."

"So you admit, he is your boyfriend then?" Kyn said, trying to break the tension.

"Kyn…"

"Fine, I have news about Zafii." Kyn stated seriously.

Kyra's eyes widened and for the first time she didn't look angry or annoyed at the sight of Kyn.

"She is getting better? She is awake? I just saw her last week." Kyra rambled.

"Not exactly." Kyn said, holding up a hand to slow her down. "The Jedi are going to pull the plug. They are going to let her die."

Kyra's eyes had turned from that of hope into sheer horror. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"She told me that the Force bond is with you, not me. I understand that now. I also understand she is a Jedi and would never want anyone, especially someone irresponsible and dumb like me." Kyn explained. "But I have to try to save her. I know you have the same bond she has. That's why you care about her so much and you don't know very much about her. None of us really know who the real Zafii is."

"What are you going to do, Kyn; something foolish and reckless again?"

"I need you, Kyra. I need your Force bond with her and I think she would wake up. She has always been there for you, always. I think if somehow you got yourself into some sort of danger that…" Kyn was interrupted.

"This is why you brought me here? You brought me here to ask me to risk my life to save, Zafii? You know I would save her if I could, that is the least I owe her. But you are… I don't even have words to describe you, Kyn. You are despicable! No, that isn't harsh enough but we are in public and I'm not going to get into it with you ever again." Kyra said, standing up from the booth.

"Kyra, wait. Let me explain." Kyn pleaded.

"If Zafii were here, she would tell you that you have to learn to let go. I don't want her to die but it is too late for that. I've spoken with Braca and Master Tine more times than you. I see them every week when I go and visit her. She isn't there anymore, Kyn. GET OVER IT! Zafii Pel's body may still be technically alive but her soul, her Force presence… it's gone." Kyra explained angrily.

"I don't believe it." Kyn said. "I can feel it."

"You don't know anything. You are dreaming a fool's dream. I am the one who has the bond with her, remember? I can't explain it and neither could Zafii. No one knows for sure why exists but it does. I haven't felt her in the Force for a long time now. Even before I knew what I was feeling, I could feel her from that day we left Ennth. The last year since you did what you did… nothing."

Kyn was crying now and tears had also come to Kyra's eyes but the emotion did not leak into her voice.

"Please don't," Kyn begged.

"I'm sorry, Kyn. Zafii is dead and it is time for her body to rest in peace."

With that, Kyra turned on her heel, tears gushing down her face and she walked away.

Kyn watched his little sister walk away for the last time. He knew in his heart of hearts this was the last time he would ever see her and that perhaps he would never see any of his other family members again either.

Even with Kyra's harsh words, Kyn still didn't believe. He couldn't give up on Zafii. If Kyra wouldn't help him he would just have to find the right group of people who would.

A Trandoshan male, a Rattataki female, and a mustached human male sat around a dingy table in a small, dark room. The only light in the room was hanging over the table and had a small flicker to it.

The three of them had arrived at the table separately and none of them knew each other from a stranger on the street. They sat in silence and waited on the person who had called them here.

The wooden door opened a fourth time and Kyn Fuller walked into the room.

"Thank you for coming," Kyn greeted. "As you might be guessing right now, I am the one who invited you all here tonight."

"What is this?" The Rattataki woman asked. "I don't have time for kid's games."

Kyn threw down a handful of credits onto the table.

"No games here," Kyn retorted. "You get 50% now, 50% when the job is done."

"What is the job?" The Trandoshan hissed.

"Barran, you were an elite spy for your government until you were wrongly accused of being a double agent." Kyn said, his words directed at the Trandoshan.

Barran stared at him, wondering how he knew this information. He was a spy years ago but he had never revealed his true past to anyone since he had arrived on Coruscant.

"Selma," Kyn said, looking at the Rattataki. "You were a great healer until you were unjustly prosecuted and lost your license."

Again, Selma was wondering the same thing Barran was. How did this kid know all of this?

"And Yates, yes I know even about you, Yates. You are the most dangerous person in this room and probably the quickest draw in the galaxy with a blaster. Hopefully your services as a gunslinger won't come in handy but I have a feeling you will be a valuable asset nonetheless." Kyn explained.

"Now that we all know each other," Yates said. "What's the job?"

Kyn nodded, "You are all the best at what you do, respectively. I was wondering though if your life wasn't getting a little mundane. Perhaps taking the odd job here and there just isn't enough for you anymore?"

"Get on with it," Barran growled.

"I want you all to help me kidnap a Jedi Knight." Kyn admitted.

Yates laughed, "A Jedi Knight? They won't come easily but it can be done. What system are they in currently?"

"This one," Kyn said seriously. "She is right here on Coruscant in the Jedi Temple as we speak."

"So we have to wait until she leaves?" Selma asked, thoroughly confused.

"She won't be leaving. Not one her own anyway. We have to break into the Jedi Temple and take her." Kyn said.

The three henchmen laughed, banging the table in delight.

"So you are just trying out your standup routine then?" Yates asked. "Good show, kid."

Yates stood up to leave and as did the other two. Kyn then threw down the rest of the credits on the table.

"Fine, 100% up front. Just help me." Kyn pleaded.

"You're serious?" Selma asked, looking into his eyes.

"This operation isn't what you think. It is not politically motivated. It is personally motivated. The Jedi in question is currently in a coma and has been for quite some time. The Jedi are ready to let her become one with the living Force. I just can't let that happen. I want to take her away from here, far away from here. I will pony up the credits to have her medical bills paid so she is taken care of by a group on the Outer Rim." Kyn explained comprehensively.

"Ah," Selma smiled. "So this is a mission of love, is it?"

Kyn nodded.

Selma looked at the other human and the Trandoshan. "What do you boys think? Shall we do it in the name of love?"

"I have been a bit bored lately," Barran admitted.

"I'll do it on one condition," Yates said. "You keep my share of the credits and use it to pay for her medical bills."

"I agree," Selma nodded.

Kyn had never imagined he would meet such a great group of lowlifes.

"While I appreciate the sentiment, I think I will be taking my share. I have a family that I also love." Barran said.

"Fair enough," Kyn nodded. "Thank you."