CHAPTER 10: KEV REL'SKAR

RSD Kestrel, Randon Intersection, Mid-Rim

19 BBY (16:5:10 GrS)

The dark brown furred Bothan Jedi Knight and his purple-skinned Rodian Padawan sat atop blue meditation pads in the forward observation lounge of the Venator-class Star Destroyer Kestrel. Behind them was a large hexagonal transparisteel window, revealing the starry space beyond.

Outside in the void of space, a pair of V-Wings flashed past on patrol as other warships hummed distantly in the void, the howl of the fighters' ion engines filling the room thanks to some kind of sensor tech Kev still had no idea how to wrap his head around.

"Master," said Ekos, his wide Rodian eyes reflecting the starlight from beyond the window. "I sense something."

"I sense it too," Kev muttered, squeezing his eyes closed. He scowled, sensing some sort of presence—no two presences.

"Hoot hoot."

Kev opened his eyes, blinking in astonishment. Before him stood a purple weasel-looking thing, and a green owl. He sniffed the air, catching a dusty musky whiff of bird and some other fouler smell. Nope, they are not holograms.

"Master! It's an owl of some sort and a Viverrid," Ekos yelled in excitement. "Perhaps we picked them up from Felucia."

"More likely one of Jural's kriffing obnoxious tricks," Kev snarled.

{"Oh I am no trick,"} posh human voice spoke in Kev's mind. The purple viverrid shook his head. {"No you aren't crazy either, I am Veryk, seventh Prophet of the Polar Bothan Clans. This is Morai, you might recognize her from your sacred Jedi texts. She is the Daughter's agent here in—"}

"—Ekos?! Where is that voice coming from?" Kev yelped, fur falling flat. He suddenly sensed powerful Force presences emanating from these animals.

"I do not hear anything, Master," Ekos said, antennae perked up.

"Can you see these animals?" Kev asked, panting as he began hyperventilating. "I am descending into madness! Some sort of Force madness!"

"I can see the animals Master, I pointed them out, remember?"

Kev leapt to his feet, gripping his lightsaber in the holster. The owl hooted in a worried tone.

"Master, relax," Ekos said consolingly. "You were teaching me mindfulness. Master, you just need to—Master? MASTER!"

Kev ignited his lightsaber, snarling in a mix of fear and anger.

{"Master Jedi, if I might say,"} Veryk's came through, echoing once again in Kev's mind. {"You should listen to your Padawan. He seems like quite the wise fellow."}

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Kev yelped. "GET OUT! GET OUT!"

{"I am not in your head,"} Veryk reassured. {"I have a special connection to Bothans which I am utilizing to communicate with you. Long ago, you see, I—Wait, what are you—AAHHHH!"}

Kev charged Morai and Veryk, swinging his green lightsaber madly. Morai screeched, evading Kev's blows. Veryk let off a terrified squeak, scuttling across the floor.

Slicing through a coffee table, Kev ran as quickly as he could after the purple weasel. "GET THE KRIFF OUT OF MY HEAD!"

"MASTER!" Ekos screamed. "LEAVE THE DAMN ANIMALS ALONE!"

{"GET AWAY FROM ME!"} Veryk's voice yelled in Kev's mind. Simultaneously, the purple critter stopped mid-run and stood on his hind legs. His eyes now glowed with a hot white light.

Tears in his eyes, Kev froze, holding his lightsaber up defensively. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain on his ear as the green owl swooped down, clawing it viciously.

Kev snarled, now chasing Morai through the room. His danger sense was blaring. All of his instincts were telling him to disengage. "GET BACK HERE!" The Bothan snarled, increasing his pace to sprint across the room. He carelessly allowed his green blade to drag on the floor for a second, leaving a molten gash in the durasteel.

The Bothan's concerns began to shift away from his own mental health to the consequences of damaging this vessel. Shtak! Commodore Los'ean is gonna be furious. I need to end this…

"MASTER STOP!" Ekos yelled once again.

At that note, he swung as hard as he could at the Convor, who was now perched atop a steel fire extinguishing unit.

To the Bothan's amazement, the Convor disappeared into thin air.

Time seemed to slowed down for Kev. His fur fell flat in fear as the momentum of his swing carried his green blade continued forwards out of control. It sliced through the extinguisher, which sprayed a gout of dry chemical agent in all directions, then continued forward, cutting deep into the bulkhead.

A series of blue and yellow sparks emitted from the wall as Kev's lightsaber fried in his hand. He yelped in pain as jolts of sparks emitted from the handle and shocked him, singing his fur as the lightsaber shut off.

Panting in fear, Kev looked at the ominous hole he had cut in the wall. Thick smoke of an acrid odor of ozone and burning plastic sizzled. Sparks continued to fly. A moment later, the lights went out as the ship's emergency systems cut off main power to the whole deck.

The loud klaxons of smoke and damage control alarms blared. Red emergency lights now reflected in Kev's eyes.

Holy hell! I broke the ship! I broke my lightsaber!

["All hands are to go to level three combat alert until the cause of the Deck Thirteen power failure is identified,"] the Kestrel's intercom announced. ["Captain Dan'lya, General Rel'skar, Commander Ekos, report to the bridge immediately."]

What about the other animal? Oh kriff. He turned around, fur pressed tightly to his body. The purple Viverrid was standing right there defiantly.

The voice spoke again in his mind. {"Do you fancy yourself a Jedi with that laser sword? A guardian of the peace?"}

Kev's airway grew tight as he felt a grip on his throat. "Shtak!" he gasped, struggling for breath. "Ekos, I—Get out of my—arrgghh!"

"Master!" Ekos yelled in alarm, running to Kev's side as he collapsed to his knees.

"Ekos, help me," Kev pleaded, tears streaming from his eyes.

"I don't understand," Ekos croaked. "What is happening? What is wrong with you!" He ran up to the consol on the wall, pressing it. "MEDICAL EMERGENCY ON DECK—Oh kriff, this thing is broken!"

Kev fell to his hands, wheezing and drooling.

{"You know what you are, Kev Rel'skar?"} Veryk asked rhetorically, trotting up to Kev on all fours. {"Not worth it."} The Viverrid weaseled his way under Ekos's feet and stood in front of the Bothan, flashing his tiny little fangs.

With a cough, Kev began breathing heavily, feeling the pressure leave his throat. He whimpered, staring at the creature in front of him whose eyes were no longer glowing white.

Veryk let off a hiss, flicking Kev's nose with the end of his purple tail, then darted across the room, disappearing into a wall. {"With Order 66 right around the corner, I hope you enjoy getting blasted by a Clone! Get stuffed!"}

Kev sneezed, rolling onto his back with a whimper. Ekos dropped to his side, anxiously checking Kev's breathing.