Chapter 28
Aftermath
The interior of the Will of Fire was quiet and still, as though its occupants were sitting in a tomb. The memories of the battle weighed heavily on all of them, but in particular, it was weighing most heavily on Aayla. She had gone in there with the objective of warning her fellow Jedi and getting them out of there before Vader arrived. Fate had shown once again that she could be cruel, as only four of the eight masters who had attended the meeting survived. She blamed herself, as though it was her own personal failure that they had met their ends at Vader's hands.
Masters Swan and Darte were seated on the central table while the smaller form of Master Choi paced back and forth, eyes closed in deep thought. Celeste leaned against the frame which led to the cockpit with her arms folded beneath her bust as she surveyed the scene, and Aayla placed a hand on her friend's shoulder as she entered. She saw Rex sitting in a corner cleaning his weapons. Ahsoka was tending to Master Wezz in the medical room, doing whatever she could for the wounded Jedi.
Naruto had remained in the cockpit, leaning against his sheathed sword, eyes closed and silent as he meditated. She could feel it in the force, and a glance at Celeste told her that the former Jedi Shadow had also felt it. Something was bothering him; Aayla knew it was the unexpected arrival of the assassin. She knew, deep down, that he was the same as Naruto, from the same caste: a Shinobi who might have the power to face him in equal terms. Pulling herself from her worry for the man she loved, Aayla brought her gaze back around to the rest of the occupants in the room.
"We are safe for now…" she reassured them all as she walked to Master Choi, seeing the elder Jedi open his eyes and nod, "…we have outrun the Imperials and escaped into hyperspace. We'll make a few micro-jumps to completely throw off any pursuers."
"Thank you, Knight Secura…" Tsui Choi managed a smile, "…If it were not for you and your companions…we would have all met our end."
"We were not fast enough, Master Choi…" Aayla replied sadly with a shake of her head, "…if I had gotten there but a few minutes earlier, then perhaps the bloodshed could have been avoided."
"Do not blame yourself, Knight Secura…" Master Swan sighed as she sat at the round table, "…if anyone is to blame for all of this, it is we – the masters who were in that room who didn't pay close enough attention to realize that Master Potkin's thoughts likely betrayed her duplicitous intentions."
"Indeed…" Master Darte agreed, "…we should have sensed Vader's presence sooner. We should have also foreseen Master Potkin's intentions, as her desire for vengeance would have created a disturbance in the Force…" Darte offered Aayla a compassionate smile, "…regardless, child, some of them would have remained behind to face the dark lord, anyway; I could sense that much. Blame does not lie with you, and there probably wasn't anything you could have said to sway their course, either."
After several seconds of sombre silence, Aayla walked to the table and took a seat, leaning against the surface of the round counter and releasing a sad sigh, "There is another conclave, Masters…on the Wookiee home world of Kashyyyk in four days' time. It is said that all survivors of the massacre will be congregating there, including surviving members of the high council, to discuss our next course of action."
"Who has told you this?" Darte asked.
"I met my former master on Nar Shaadaa, nearly six months ago…" Aayla replied as she looked at the master, "…I trust Master Vos with my life, and according to him, the meeting will be chaired by Master Yoda himself."
"It is a waste of time…" Choi shook his head, "…we do not have the numbers to face the Empire openly, and the people are behind Palpatine and the Sith. Even if we destroyed them, we cannot rebuild the Republic, and I feel that if we did, then the entire galaxy would fall into war."
"I agree, Master Choi…" Aayla replied, surprising the elder Jedi. She managed a weak smile, "…just because I am young does not mean that I am looking for a fight. I agree, the Senate chose to become an Empire, whether they were deceived by Palpatine or not. Our only ally at this stage is time. I feel that with time, the galaxy will see the Sith for what they truly are…and then our time will come."
"Wise words for one so young," Bultar Swan said with a smile.
Aayla smiled back, "But I feel that my words will not get across; not without the words of a master who feels the same way. Master Choi, will you not come to the conclave with us, and aide me in making the Jedi see reason?"
A chuckle escaped the elderly master's lips, "Wise beyond your years, Knight Secura. I will follow you and join this conclave on Kashyyyk. The Jedi have lost so much, but hopefully we can salvage the Order and prevent its demise."
"I will join you, as well," Bultar Swan added with a nod.
"As will I," Roblio Darte agreed.
Aayla nodded her head to all four Masters, relief filling her entire being. "Thank you…all of you."
Choi nodded, looking at the Twi'lek Jedi for a long moment before his wizened old eyes fell upon her companions, "It is an interesting group you have gathered, Knight Secura: a Jedi Padawan, a former Captain of the Grand Army, an unhinged pilot…and a man capable of fighting an Imperial Acolyte on equal ground."
"It's good to see you again, Master Choi," Ahsoka replied with a nod of respect as she entered the chamber from the direction of the medical room.
"How is Master Wezz?" Roblio asked.
"She's stable; she just needs rest…" the young woman replied as she took a seat on the other side of the chamber, "…I have salved and bandaged her wounds. She has a broken rib, several more are cracked, her lungs have suffered light burns…but a dosage of bacta will help heal the wounds. I have done all that I can, but I would feel better if you checked her, Master Swan."
The older healer nodded her head with a smile, "I will do so, young Tano."
"I am an unhinged pilot?" Celeste murmured rhetorically with a shake of her head.
Rex shook his head in bemusement, but said nothing.
Aayla looked around, "It's a long story. But our 'unhinged pilot', as you call her, is a fellow Jedi and the other is a Shinobi."
"A Shinobi?" Darte frowned at the name, "I have never heard of any such order."
"They kept themselves secretive…" Aayla stated, looking in the direction of the cockpit, "…originally, they were clan-oriented armies of assassins and mercenaries who became the defensive forces for entire nations. They fought each other for centuries, and were only just uniting during Naruto's lifetime."
Celeste piped in from her leaning place against the bulkhead, "Shinobi were a people different from us Jedi in many ways. They did not believe in light and dark, instead believing that it was the actions of the individual who decided their fate. They were brought up and trained as a martial order, as warriors instead of monks."
"That is all that we can tell you…" Aayla cut in lightly, and both Celeste and Ahsoka nodded in agreement, "…if you wish to know anything else, then you will have to ask him."
"Is he looking to rebuild his order?" Darte asked with a frown, "From what we have seen, Aayla, you must have trained under him in at least some of his people's skills and abilities."
"He has taught us in his peoples abilities…" Celeste allowed, "…however, he has not asked us to relinquish our ideals as Jedi. In fact, he has not attempted to turn us to his people's ways of thinking at all. As far as Naruto is concerned, he will be the last Shinobi…but he is more than willing to teach anyone his people's abilities and skills, so long as they show themselves worthy."
"And he considers you three worthy?" Choi asked.
"He taught us, didn't he?" Ahsoka replied with a smirk.
Naruto sat in the coordinator's chair, completely still. His eyes were closed, his sheathed katana leaning against him as he meditated, the recent turn of events being the most prevalent scenes before his mind's eye. He replayed the battle in the mine shaft, moment by moment…and still, he saw that same face every single time.
For nearly a year, he had considered himself to be the last of his kind, the only Shinobi who had traversed the stars. Now, it seemed he was wrong. There was another of his kin out here in the eternal starry darkness, and it had to be him of all people! He and Sasuke had been brothers once, long ago…but a wish for revenge that was acted upon more often than not led to a terrible conclusion. This was the man who had everything stolen from him, and in return he stole everything from Naruto. Naruto had sought his revenge with the same grim determination Sasuke had, and he had thought it was done.
Now that he saw that his revenge hadn't been completed…did he want to pursue it, still? Did he long to track Sasuke down and make him pay? Naruto thought about it for a long moment, before blowing out a breath in exasperation. Once, when he had thought that his revenge had been carried out, there was no feeling of victory…just a hollow emptiness. He saw now that revenge was meaningless: supposedly carrying it out taught him that.
Even if he carried out his revenge, the ones he loved would not come back. He no longer dreamed of Sasuke's death every night, but it didn't mean that he wouldn't beat the crap out of him the next time he saw him. It looked like he was being manipulated as well, which would make the beating all the more satisfying.
'It's not the destination that gives a Shinobi's life meaning, it's the journey; that's what the Pervy Sage always said…'Naruto thought to himself in reflection of his life prior to this enormous galaxy that was now his home.
Naruto was amazed at how true Jiraiya's words now rang to him. Even in his quest for revenge, it had been the journey that drive him forward…and once he thought he reached his destination, there was no solace to be had, no great feeling of achievement or victory. All he found at the end was an unanswered question: is this all there is?
Now, though, since he had learned this hard lesson, he had rebuilt both himself and his life, and gained new comrades, new precious people that were worth living for. His purpose was the same as before he became revenge-driven: to protect that which is precious to him, and he was going to make damn sure he did not lose any precious people ever again.
"You appear to be deep in thought, young one," a crackled old masculine voice spoke, pulling him out of his reverie.
Naruto opened his eyes to look upon one of the Jedi he had saved: Tsui Choi, if he remembered the name right. He was a small creature, reptilian in appearance with scaly skin of bluish-green, and claws on his hands and feet. He had never seen such a creature before, but considering he had only been roaming the galaxy for a year that wasn't much of a surprise, and of course, remembering the crew of the Uhumele, seeing new sentient races no longer surprised him, either.
"I suppose so…" Naruto replied with a reflective sigh, "…Master Tsui Choi, if I remember correctly?"
"Indeed, you do," the small Jedi replied.
"Aayla speaks very highly of you…" Naruto added as he nodded in respect, "…says that you are perhaps one of the eldest and wisest of the Jedi."
"No one is truly wise," Choi replied.
Naruto snorted good-naturedly, "Spoken like a truly wise man."
"I suppose," Choi replied with a chuckle, "So tell me, if you will: what brings about such melancholy reflection in one so young?"
Naruto smiled sadly, "Just remembering an old master's words about our journeys being more defining to whom we are than our destinations, is all."
After a few moments' pause, Naruto asked, "So, has Aayla told you anything about me?"
"She has only told me the name of your Order: the Shinobi. I know nothing else of you except what I have seen with my own eyes. Aayla says that it is not her place to say more, but yours alone," Choi replied as he hobbled over to the chair across from his and jumped onto it, making himself comfortable in the oversized piece of furniture.
"Not her place, huh?" Naruto asked with a weak chuckle, "I suppose although she has learned a thing or two from me, deep down, she'll always have the heart of a Jedi. For that I am grateful: having that heart gives her mercy and compassion, not the ruthlessness of killers like me. I thought I was the last of my kind, or at least the only one travelling the space ways. I learned not two hours ago that I was wrong."
"That man who killed Master Arena…" Choi inquired, "…is he of your order, as well?"
"He is…" Naruto replied, "…his name is Sasuke Uchiha, of the infamous Uchiha Clan. We were once brothers-in-arms, but ambitions and wishes have ways of destroying old bonds…and his wish of revenge consumed him."
"There is more to your tale, I'd wager," the little master frowned as he perched himself on the chair across from the one Naruto sat upon.
Naruto emitted a humourless chuckle, "Yes…there is: a story of loss, grief, betrayal and vengeance."
"I will not press you…" Choi said with a bow of his head, "…and from what little I have heard, more than one Jedi owe you their life, as do I and those who survived that massacre. Please know that I would be honoured to call such a man as you my friend…and I hope that you will continue to be our friend and ally in the dark times ahead."
Naruto smiled and nodded his head, "You have me as a friend and ally, Master Choi…and perhaps with time, I will one day tell you the story of my people."
"That, I think, is a story for me to look forward to, young one…" the wise old creature returned, "…but onto other, more pressing concerns. This fellow Shinobi, Sasuke Uchiha: what can we expect from him?"
Naruto seemed to think for a moment, closing his eyes and leaning back into the chair, "He is considered one of the most powerful Shinobi in a generation, a master of his family's techniques and abilities. He is clever, cunning, a strategist with an unbreakable will and a cold demeanour. Anything he sets his mind on, he can achieve…and if he has joined the Empire, then they have gained a very powerful weapon."
Master Tsui Choi looked grave as he listened to the young man's words, "And you?"
Naruto sighed, "Only a handful of creatures can stand against him on even footing…but I believe I am one such creature."
Slowly Sia'lan Wezz opened her eyes. Immediately feeling the dull, throbbing pain in her torso and abdomen, the young master looked down to see that her armoured clothing and utility belt had been removed. In its place was a simple white gown. She felt the unmistakable bindings of bacta rap, and could smell the unmistakable odours of disinfectant.
She was in a medical centre, most likely the medical room within the freighter upon which she and her fellows had made their escape. Memories of the battle returned to her slightly fogged mind, and she felt the wound in her chest pulse at the recollection of the tip of a crimson bladed lightsaber piercing it.
Sia'lan cursed her stupidity and inexperience. Vader had come for them, mocked them, and she had taken the bait. She had charged right at him like some greenhorn Padawan, uncaring that she had left herself wide open when she engaged Vader. She had allowed her anger to overrule her judgment, and had nearly paid the ultimate price. If Knight Secura hadn't intervened, then she would have been the first casualty of that battle.
Despite the situation, she couldn't help but smile as she leaned back into her bed, hand over her eyes to shield them from the lights above. Her master had always told her that she was a little too hot-headed for her own good. That she needed to take a step back and look at a situation before rushing headlong into it. At the time she had been offended, arguing with him that he was wrong, but now…now she regretted not listening to him when she was younger.
"Ah, you are awake," a familiar female voice spoke up, grabbing Sia'lan's attention.
She looked over to see Master Swan entering the room, dressed in her cream tunic and pants as she walked up to Wezz. The younger master attempted to sit up to greet the older woman, but was stopped when a gentle hand to her chest pushed her back down onto her bed, "Don't strain yourself. Young Ahsoka would be most displeased if she found you reopened the wounds that she worked very hard to close."
"Ahsoka," Sia'lan frowned at the familiar ring of the name, and then she remembered, "Anakin Skywalker's old apprentice, she is alive?"
"Indeed, she is…" Bultar Swan nodded as she checked the young woman's bandaged injuries over, "…alongside Knight Secura and another young Jedi named Celeste Morne. It is an interesting band of people we have been saved by, wouldn't you agree?"
Sia'lan nodded her head in agreement, before a thought hit her, "I never took her as the type to become a healer; always thought she was too impatient."
"As did I…" Bultar allowed as she continued to examine Ahsoka's handiwork, nodding to herself every now and then, "…but it appears all she needed was the right teacher. Some of the dressing is a little rushed, but besides that, she has bandaged and set your wounds extraordinarily well for someone of her limited experience."
Sia'lan did little more than nod her head.
Bultar sighed, "Thank you for your aid against Arena. I have a feeling that if you weren't there to stop him, I wouldn't have left that chamber alive."
"Too many of us are dead already," Wezz replied. "The last thing I want to see is those of us remaining killing each other."
"You were reckless, though," the elder master chastised, to which Sia'lan could only nod in shame, "…if you weren't pulled away by Knight Secura at the last moment, you probably would have died there also."
Sia'lan did not reply for a moment, "I know…but when I saw him…" she paused, collecting her thoughts and continuing through the heavy feeling that seemed to permeate her being, "…all I could think about was the wish to cut his head off. I just…saw red. I know the code, I know the drill, but at that moment all I felt was rage…and hatred…" her voice took on a grittier quality as her hands clenched into fists and her face slowly contorted in anger with each word uttered, "…I hate him for what he had helped do to us. He was supposed to be one of us…and yet…he helped Palpatine slaughter us like cattle! He stole everything from us! He even struck younglings down!"
Her voice was cracking, and Bultar could do little else but put a comforting hand on the younger woman's shoulder, letting her know that she was there. She watched as a tear slid down the young woman's face, "I know, child. I know."
"I'm unworthy of being a Jedi," Sia'lan replied, hanging her head in shame, her eyes closed as silent tears continued to flow.
Swan looked at the younger woman with nothing but compassion, "My dear, take comfort in this: you are not the only Jedi who is experiencing such feelings during these evil times. There must be a lot of survivors out there who feel the same way, and who don't know what to do with such feelings. The meeting in that mine shaft confirmed that to me…seeing such a man as Master Arena…broken…losing all faith in the Jedi way…and willing to turn to the Dark Side to have vengeance…"
Swan trailed off, as if reflecting on her own observations before speaking up again a few moments later, still having Sia'lan's attention, "Order 66 had broken Arena, just like it has broken many others. I have felt the things you're feeling – the anger, the helplessness, the despair. I can't imagine anyone who survived Order 66 walked away unchanged. We've all been broken. There will be questions that will go forever unanswered…but the question we must now ask ourselves is: What will we do? Will we give up, like Koffi Arena? Or…will we pick up the pieces, put them back together…or maybe even use those pieces to build something completely new, like Aayla Secura and her friends seem to be doing?"
Swan paused for a few moments to once more allow her words to sink into her young patient's mind before speaking up once more, "We have all suffered young one. How we put ourselves back together is what will separate and distinguish us. However…" Master Swan's visage took on a more cheerful expression, "…enough of such talk for now. All you need to worry about at the moment is recovering your strength. So rest for now."
Sia'lan simply nodded, and Bultar helped her get comfortable before making her way to the exit, allowing the hydraulic doors to open before coming to a stop, "We are being taken to another conclave, this time on Kashyyyk. Knight Secura has assured us that the survivors of the Order will be in full attendance…and this one will not attract the attention of the Sith or their minions."
"I hope so," Sia'lan allowed.
It was a further three days of travel before they reached Kashyyyk. Celeste pushed the engines of the Will of Fire to their limits for at least half of the journey in order to make it in time for the conclave. The atmosphere hadn't been tense, but it had been quiet, many of the masters had isolated themselves in different sections of the ship, being left to their own devices and meditating in their thoughts, hoping to gain a greater sense of communion with and guidance through the Force.
Naruto stood behind Aayla's chair, watching as she piloted their ship closer and closer to the lush green and blue orb which was Kashyyyk. His eyes took in the view as the planet grew from the size of a small tennis ball to almost encompassing the frontal screen of the cockpit. There wasn't much traffic around the planet, but it seemed like there was a serious military presence. He scouted at least three warships since they left hyperspace, and he knew there were probably more.
"That's a lot of fleet activity," Naruto muttered.
"The Wookiees were one of the few factions who publically opposed the Empire…" Aayla explained as she continued to fly, "…they were among the few who didn't believe the propaganda about the Jedi, and offered sanctuary from the Empire to any who needed it. This obviously didn't go unnoticed, and the Empire launched an invasion. It was supposed to be a long and bloody battle, and the Wookiees didn't surrender until they began bombarding their settlements from orbit."
"And…we're going to hold a conclave there?" Naruto frowned, clearly confused at the logic behind selecting the meeting place.
"It would be the last thing the Empire would expect…" Celeste said with a nod, "…and the Empire probably doesn't have much of a presence on the surface, considering the heavy forest and deadly wildlife. I'm guessing the bulk of their forces here will be part of the Imperial Fleet, and considering it's been a year since the rebellion, they'll probably be a little lax in their security."
Naruto sighed, "I guess we'll find out soon enough."
"That, we will…" Aayla nodded, "…preparing to enter the atmosphere on the night side of the planet. Any sign of nearby Imperial activity?"
"None at all…" Celeste replied after a while, "…it looks like we're in the clear, nearest warship is docked at the orbital base on the light side of the planet."
Aayla nodded, and took the Will of Fire down towards the surface, aiming for the settlement where the conclave was scheduled to be held. Naruto watched as fire licked across the windshield, attempting to destroy them but proving ineffective against his ships anti-atmospheric shields. Soon, the darkness of space was replaced with clear blue sky as they continued to descend; he saw a near endless mass of green forests below him, the trees bigger than any he had ever before seen.
"Beautiful," he murmured.
Aayla smiled, "Wait until you see it up close."
"I think we should let the Masters know that we'll be arriving soon," Celeste observed as she unstrapped herself from her crash-webbing.
"An excellent idea…" Naruto replied as he reached past Aayla and pressed the rune for the ships communications system, setting it to ship only before unhooking the corded speaker from its place,"…this is the Captain speaking. As you have no doubt felt we have just entered the atmosphere of Kashyyyk, and we are preparing to land within the next minute or two. That means that it is time to stop being unsociable and get the hell out of my cargo hold! Come on, everybody out!"
Aayla shot him with a half glare, which Naruto simply shrugged at, "What? It's the truth, isn't it? They were all being antisocial hermits!"
"Naruto," she said with a firm voice.
"Yes?"
"The comm. Is. Still. On," she murmured with an edge to her voice, showing her annoyance.
Naruto looked down at the device, noticing that his thumb was still pressed on the send button, "Oops," he offered with a sheepish chuckle.
Celeste's sniggering in the background didn't help. Rex's echoing laughter didn't help much either. He also swore he could hear Ahsoka laughing alongside her protector.
Aayla's glare was the most terrifying of all, and Naruto managed a truly sheepish look before sighing in defeat, "I'm not getting any tonight, am I?"
She crossed her arms across her chest in a huff, "What do you think?"
"I apologise?" He said it a little too quickly, and immediately winced.
Aayla sighed, "I need you to do me a favour, Naruto."
Naruto was silent for a moment, "You want to keep our relationship hidden?"
"Just for right now…" she replied, leaning back against the chair and feeling her beloved place his arms around her in an embrace. She didn't mind, feeling that the masters were still in the cargo hold, "…this conclave will be important. The survival of the Jedi Order rests on it, and I don't want them to start bickering over me breaking some stupid rule…or a dozen stupid rules," she muttered the last bit with some annoyance.
Naruto smiled a little mischievously, "I'm definitely not getting any tonight, then?"
She sighed and spoke in a pleading tone, "Naruto, please-"
"I promise," he replied before she could finish, placing a gentle kiss on the top of her right lekku. "We'll keep it secret for now. Like you said, there are more pressing issues at hand than us."
"Thank you," Aayla replied, placing a hand on his arm, "I will tell them, and if they cannot accept what we have then I will leave the Jedi Order…but now is not the time for that."
"You're willing to leave the Order?" Naruto asked in mild surprise, "Aayla, life as a Jedi is all you've ever really known. Your main purpose for so long has been to be a Jedi."
"Youare my main purpose now," she replied without a hint of doubt, "It will hurt me to leave the Order, but it would hurt even more to leave you. If I had to choose between my life as a Jedi and my love for you then I choose you…without hesitation and without regret!"
"I hope it won't come to that…" Naruto replied, "…maybe they can be persuaded to drop a few rules in their code. I know you, and leaving the Order willhurt you. I don't want you to go through such pain on my account."
"I love your optimism…" she replied with a wistful smile, "…but the Code has been a part of the Jedi way of life for millennia; it's engrained into the very being of the Order. It cannot be changed just like that. That's the reason why Master Vos decided to leave, and the reason Masters Tra'Saa and Tholme keep their relationship secret. Besides, can you say that you would leave me?"
Naruto shook his head as five single words, firm and final, left his lips, "Never in a million years."
Celeste remained quiet, knowing that it was not her place to even speak at this moment. Instead the Jedi Shadow rose from her seat and made to leave, but as she opened and closed the door between the cockpit and the rest of the ship she noticed that they were no longer alone. She looked down in surprise to see the diminutive form of Tsui Choi, walking stick in hand, standing beside the entrance.
The Aleena looked up at her for a long moment, before walking back down the corridor. Celeste, unable to silently allow his eavesdropping to pass, followed him. It seemed that the diminutive Jedi had predicted this, for he sat on the table in the common room and waited for her to take the seat across from him.
There was silence for a long moment, before the small master spoke, "Tell me their story."
Celeste hesitated for a long moment, before complying with the old creature's request.
Author's Note: I will admit that I am conflicted with how I'm going to have the Naruto/Aayla relationship be thought out off by the Jedi. I don't want this to be a story where the Jedi suddenly forsake millennia of creed and code just because the main character found the love of his/her life like we see in so many fanfiction pieces. That might be all well and good to a reader or a writer with an overactive imagination but in the real world such tradition is not so easy to give up on. There was a reason why Anakin and Padme kept their relationship secret after all.