Chapter XIII Jedi Knight Remorse (Jaren Perspective)

As the troop carriers moved through the broken landscape towards the Republic Zone, everyone sat in silence. Colonel Gaff wanted us to do a sweep of Doctor Godera's main lab on the way back to make sure we did not miss anything. I was so angry inside that it was hard to think straight. I could have killed the Sith, should have, but somehow she manipulated the situation into a victory. It was a failure on our part; that was how I saw it. Sure, we had Dr. Godera, but that was all. Watcher One had managed to collect most of the doctor's project files, compromising everything he had worked on for years, and the Sith sent us running like scared children.

I was better than the Sith in lightsaber combat. Lord Tarnis was a more skilled saber duelist than her, and I easily bested him. Strange dark side currents were swirling around her, and she had unusual Force powers, especially her lightning, but I could have protected myself from it. As the duel went on, she weakened from excessive Force use. All I had to do was wait her out, and the victory would have been mine, but Kira and the fool soldiers kept getting in the way.

"Jaren," Kira spoke at my side, "you need to calm yourself."

"Don't tell me what to do," I whispered at her, not wanting the soldiers to hear us fighting. Again, it was her fault that we failed to achieve victory, a pattern that seemed all too familiar.

"I can feel your anger," she persisted, "you need to let it go."

I looked over at her, her blue eyes searching me. We never saw eye to eye, and my impulse was to have yet another argument with her, but her words did make me pause. My emotions were running high and tugging my thoughts in the wrong directions. I got up and paced to the back of the carrier, mostly to get away from Kira before we got into it again and shake off the excess energy that was still causing tension in my body. I looked through the small window at the back door at the landscape receding behind us and flexed my muscles to waste energy. Then I closed my eyes to relax and push away the anger at what had just happened.

I was not good at meditation. No, that was an understatement. I hated pondering on things or trying to empty myself and much preferred doing something. That was the source of my anger; I did not think I had done enough. The Jedi lived and trained in meditation, so I tried to be a good Jedi and wish away all my emotions - try to empty myself. I took a deep breath through my nose, held the air in my lungs, and then slowly let it escape my mouth, all the while trying to find that elusive Jedi peace. Let go of the conflict; I could hear Belle Kiwiiks' voice echo from my past. Kira's master warned me several times about my impulse to action, something my own master had not done. Orgus Din was a man of action like myself.

I opened my eyes and turned back to observe the carrier's interior. Four soldiers had been killed and another five seriously wounded. The faces of the soldiers looking back at me echoed my own frustration, shock, and anger. Only Kira and the doctor, who was lying on a litter, seemed immune to the emotional cost of the battle just fought. We pulled into the area near the doctor's main lab and it was obvious something was wrong. Kira and I exited the troop carrier as soon as the door was down and I had my lightsaber in my hand. Smoke was rising from the tunnel leading to the lab and debris was strewn around.

As I moved into the lab it became obvious that the Imps had ransacked the place. Several of the still able soldiers joined Kira and me as we spread out and inspected the destroyed lab. After searching rooms while trying to avoid smoke and fire, we came upon the broken remains of RE-M0, Doctor Godera's droid that helped us in our search. His mechanical frame was charred and broken beyond repair, but Kira thought maybe his memory processor could be saved. I rounded up the other soldiers while she worked on getting the processor out of the droid. There was nothing salvageable in the devastated lab, which felt like yet another failure.

We mounted up and headed off to the main Republic area. Kira was fiddling with the droids memory core and I was even more wound up than before. I stayed standing and watched the landscape in frustration. The carrier slowed down as it entered the Republic compound and made several turns to head toward the military section. We stopped outside the medical center, and the back ramp began to open. Medical personnel rushed up into the crew space of the armored personnel carrier to help the wounded, and I shifted out of their way and down the ramp. Colonel Gaff and some of his staff were marching up from his command center, and I, unfortunately, became the focus of his attention.

"Jedi," he spoke as he strode up, "I heard the news of significant casualties after it was reported that the mission was complete. What happened?"

If ever there was a time when I wished I could separate my emotions from reality, it was then. The magical Jedi peace would have prevented me from wanting to punch the colonel in the face just then. He had the gall to stand there and demand answers from me, the one who saved Doctor Godera and the rest of his military company from certain death at the hands of the Sith. I bit my tongue and looked away in an effort to hide the words I truly wanted to say.

"A Sith happened, Colonel."

"Sith?" he grunted, watching soldiers and their body parts being hauled away by the medics. "How the hell did this happen?"

As if I know! my mind screamed. One more stupid question and my straining composure would snap. "I don't know how it happened," I closed my eyes and sighed through a desperate exhale, trying to find my happy place, "we surprised them and killed many of their soldiers. Then the Sith surprised us."

"Surprised?" Colonel Gaff grunted again like the information was too hard to process. "We lost almost half of my best company."

Thank the Force, Kira stepped off the carrier and walked up. She was much better at dealing with idiots, better known as politicians and bureaucrats.

"Two squads were protecting the exit while we were apprehending the Watcher, Colonel," she replied next to me, "unfortunately, they took the brunt of the Sith's attack before we could respond."

"My best men," he continued to complain as he watched one of the heavy commando's being carted away on a grav-litter. "This is a heavy loss."

"I told you this was not a job for the mili . . ." I began to say before Kira cut me off with a soft wave of her hand.

"We feel the loss as well," she soothed, "it was not what anyone wanted."

The colonel stared at me hard, probably comprehending what I was about to say before Kira broke in. He sent his men to help us even though I had told him not to. "Sith are the Jedi's problem," he challenged, "aren't they supposed to be your speciality?"

"You should be thankful . . ."

Again, Kira cut me off. "We intervened as quickly as we could."

"Well, I hope you made him pay for the suffering he caused."

My fists clenched, and I actually felt Kira trying to use the Force to calm me as she replied. "It was a she, and unfortunately, we fought her to a draw. She got away with the Watcher and the rest of his combat team."

"Got away," the colonel blinked at us incredulously.

"Yes," Kira responded smoothly, "but we rescued the doctor, which was our primary mission."

"But . . ." Colonel Gaff began again before I cut him off, unable to deal with any more of his words.

"We are exhausted and need rest," I stated sharply. "I want transportation to our ship to contact General Var Suthra."

Colonel Gaff stiffened at my request. "I can take them," the pilot of our transport stated from the ramp behind us. The colonel eyed me sharply and then nodded to the driver and stomped off. Kira gave me a sidelong glance and walked up the ramp into the transport.

I took a moment to open my com and record a chat message to B'Zeya to let her know we were returning and to prepare some food for me. Then I walked up the ramp and activated the closure.

Kira went up to sit with the driver, and I stayed in the back. If she did not want to talk to me, I certainly had no interest in talking to her. The trip to the spaceport was not very long, and when I walked up the ramp to enter the Defiant, the airlock door swished open to reveal B'Zeya walking down the hall towards us from the main deck.

She beamed a smile at me and hurried her pace to press her body against me in a warm hug. "I timed it just right," she giggled as she looked up at me with her mesmerizing green eyes, wrapping her hand gently around my neck to urge me down to her welcoming lips. A kiss from B'Zeya would lighten my mood under any circumstance, but her extra passionate embrace drove the frustration and anger from my mind and lifted my spirits.

"It sounded like a terrible battle," she sighed as her eyes looked up into mine. "I was frightened for you," she added as her arms gripped me tightly. Kira's footsteps came up the ramp behind us. "Cen'Zeya is finishing food for you," she smiled. "You too, Kira," she added as Kira brushed past us on the ramp and walked off without responding. The Zeya twins tried so hard to make Kira like them, despite her palpable disdain.

B'Zeya rose on her tiptoes and pulled me back to her lips. Her Twi'lek passion burned into me, and I forgot about hunger and fatigue for a moment. Slowly, reluctantly, I broke the kiss and guided her with my arm up the ramp. "Let's find out what your sister's up to."

"Hello, master," C2-N2 replied as we stepped onto the main deck.

"Hello, C2," I replied. The Twi'lek girls had set up a makeshift kitchen and pantry in the storage bay off the holo-room. I smelled food and was eager to sit down and eat, but Kira was standing on the opposite side of the boarding ramp giving me a nasty stare. "Go on," I urged B'Zeya with a pat, "I'll be along in a minute."

She smiled at me and then glanced over my shoulder at the padawan before ascending the steps toward the holo-room. I spun on my heels and marched toward Kira, knowing what was going to happen. She led me toward the conference room where we could have our daily spat. It was so difficult to deal with her, and I had mentioned to Master Din several times that it was a bad match, but he and Master Kiwiiks seemed to believe it would produce patience and tolerance in both of us. I was not so hopeful.

When I stepped through the bulkhead into the conference room, Kira Force pushed the activator to close the door and purposely walked away from me. "I really don't want to do this now," I sighed.

She looked over her shoulder at me with fiery eyes. "I'm going to report everything that's happened to Master Kiwiiks'," she spat. "I thought you were selfish and careless, but had no idea you could . . ."

"Do it," I interrupted. "Make it as detailed as you like. I don't give a shit."

"Can you even hear yourself?" she replied. "You are supposed to be a Jedi. I couldn't tell who was angrier, you or the Sith. You almost compromised the mission by attacking her again, and don't lie to me; I sensed your feelings."

"I should have attacked her!" I countered, "we let a monster go to kill who knows how many more people. I could have defeated her if you hadn't gotten in the way."

"At what cost, Jaren!" her voice rose to meet mine. "How many more soldiers would you have let her kill? What about me? Was I expendable too so you could stroke your damn ego?"

"I had to save you, twice!" Kira made me so mad that I had to turn away and pace.

"Don't flatter yourself," she countered.

"Oh really? Am I supposed to let you get zapped by lightning?" I paced some more, biting back words I knew would make things worse. I was responsible for Kira, she was my padawan. If anything would have happened to her it would have been my responsibility. "We've had this talk before. I have a preference for how I want you to support me . . ."

"I've had it with your 'preferences'. Everything's always about you," she snapped.

"I am your master!" I yelled, "by the Force, why is that so difficult for you to understand? I'm supposed to be training you."

"I'd learn more from an addled nerf."

"Fine," I waved my hand at her in frustration, "make your report, say whatever you want. I'm done discussing things with you." I turned to open the door.

"I'm going to mention the Twi'leks," she added. That made me turn back and walk sharply towards her. She eyed me defiantly, "Jedi aren't supposed to form attachments."

"Okay, make a fool of yourself."

"You've turned this ship into your personal pleasure boat. It's disgusting."

"The council knows about the twins. Orgus Din thought it noble of me to help them out of their situation on Tython."

"Do they know that you're treating them as play-things?"

"As a matter of fact, they do," I countered. Those words seemed to surprise her. "The council and Master Orgus Din know about my homeworld's customs and my particular needs. They consider it unconventional compared to Jedi tradition, but they did not say it broke any Jedi codes."

"Just because your parents are members of the ruling council on Iridonia doesn't mean you're anything special. You should be treated just the same as everyone else."

"Do you think Ithorians or Selkaths aren't treated different by the council? Species have varied needs you know. Don't be such a xenophobe."

"There's a difference between needing to live in water and bending the rules for your own damn gratification."

"My particular cultural needs are what they are, and the council understands."

"Well, it's offensive," she sneered, "and I doubt they know how attached you've grown to your play-things, which is a clear code violation."

"I'm not attached," I waved my hand at her, "the twins know what the arrangement is . . ."

"That's even more repugnant. That you are using them as objects."

"I'm not using them!" I growled, growing heated again by her words. "I saved their lives - got them out of slaving away in a brothel."

"Sure, so you can treat them as your own slaves."

"Everyone is consenting. They are free to go where they want."

"What choice do they have? All they've known is men using them."

"I told you I don't have time for this," I turned and walked away from her. "You don't know much about Twi'leks, and you certainly don't know about my customs and lifestyle, so you can take your judgmentalism and cram it," I added as I looked back after activating the door.

"We need to contact General Var Suthra," she continued as she followed me.

"It can wait," I waved a dismissive hand, "I'm hungry." I took a few steps down the hall before looking back. "Cen'Zeya cooked for you. Are you going to be polite and eat with us?"

"You ruined my appetite," she mumbled and headed towards her quarters.

I shook my head as I mounted the steps into the holo-room, her sharp words echoing like a replay in my mind. That argument was a microcosm of our relationship. We were like oil and water. Master Orgus Din urged me to be patient and understanding. He thought we would learn to work together. I could not see that happening. If anything, things were getting worse.

Cen'Zeya made my favorite dish. Spicy meat in a cream sauce over noodles. The sisters were a little subdued as we ate. They sensed I had a fight with Kira and did not know what to do about it. I was wound up like a spring and had to work off the tension, so I left the small bench area at the back of the holo-room and made my way to my quarters. I activated the hover-lift heavy bag, flung off my outer robe, and began to whale away on it. After a bit of exercise, B'Zeya wandered in and made her way to the bed. She laid down and watched me seductively.

"That's a lot of pent-up energy," she sighed when I took a breather. I looked over at her; green eyes latched onto mine. "I think I can help," she added with a grin. It was an offer that I was not going to pass on.

Sometime later, while we lay entwined in the sheets, B'Zeya began to rub her fingers over my neck and scalp the way I liked. She was fascinated with hair, probably because she did not have any. It worked out for me since she would massage my head and neck for as long as I wanted, playing her slender fingers through my hair.

"I'm sorry that you don't get along with your padawan," she whispered in my ear, brushing it gently with her lips.

"Me too," I grumbled. "She accused me of keeping you as a slave; can you believe that?"

"I would love to be your slave," she whispered again, teasing my earlobe with a nibble.

"Stop," I huffed as I rolled to lean over her, looking down into her green eyes. "I'm not kidding; that accusation stung." Her eyes just stared up at me. "You know that you can do whatever you want, right? You don't have to stay with me."

"Where would I go?" she replied softly, her eyes a little confused.

"Wherever you want. I have the money to set you up, you and your sister."

"Do you want me to leave?" she asked apprehensively.

"Of course not; you're one of the few nice things about my life at the moment. I just want you to know that it is not all about me. You and your sister have options if you want them."

"I don't want to go anywhere else," she whispered again, her hands wrapping around me.

"Okay," I sighed as I slumped down into her embrace.

"She really touched a nerve," B'Zeya whispered again as she snuggled into my shoulder.

"All the time," I replied. "She even said I was using you as my play-thing."

"What's wrong with that?" she giggled.

"I know, right. We understand each other - I knew we did. I mean, it's not like a relationship or anything. We're just together, you know?"

"Really?" she pouted, "I thought you were going to get me pregnant and start a family?"

"What?" I chirped, "whoa," I added nervously as I tried to roll away and sit up.

"Oh no," she giggled as she tugged me back down, "don't run away."

"You're kidding, right?" I looked back at her to judge her facial expression, "don't mess with me like that. That's not funny."

"Relax," she laughed, "I wouldn't trap you."

I tried to get out of her grip before finally relaxing and flopping back into bed next to her. "Is that even possible? I mean Twi'leks and humans having babies."

"I think so," she replied, "my sister and I have been getting contraception injections for as long as I can remember. That would be a waste of money if mixed babies were impossible. It kind of makes me wonder if I can have children after all this time. You know," she said a little more seriously, "someone who sows their seed as liberally as you should know a little more about how babies are made."

"I know how they're made," I grumbled.

"I mean, you didn't know if we could make a baby. How do you know there aren't dozens of little Jaren Dwar's running around looking for their father?"

My body physically shuddered, and I wiggled out of bed before she could grab me. "Stop!" I cried, "I can't take this conversation." B'Zeya laughed out loud, her violet spotted lekku wiggling excitedly. "Very funny . . . laugh it up, you tease."

"What's the matter?" she laughed again, "I think you'd make a great father."

"Stop!" I turned and walked away from her, waving my arms to ward off her words.

"Come on; it can't be that scary. Can't you imagine raising a son, or daughter, seeing them grow up to follow in your footsteps? I can imagine you'd be really proud."

"I'm serious, stop!" I rushed back to the bed and piled on her, reaching to cover her mouth with my hand. Luckily, she was laughing too hard to talk anymore. We lay together for a quiet moment, and I thought seriously for the first time about things I had never thought about before. "You know I can't do that. I mean, I would seriously break some Jedi rules and probably get kicked out of the order."

"I know," she whispered. "As I said, it's likely the drugs have made me infertile."

"Does that upset you?"

"A little," she sighed, "every woman dreams about children, even if we don't think we want them."

"I've never thought about it . . . until now," I poked her with my finger.

"Too much of a playboy?"

"No," I complained, "I've got a serious side. It's just that those things sound like old people issues, and I've not thought of myself as old. So, no more serious stuff, and no more teasing!" I said as I rolled over on her.

B'Zeya embraced me and put my focus on something else for a while. Then I hit the shower and cleaned up before contacting the general. Kira was nowhere to be seen, so I dinged her com and then sent a signal to raise the general. The holo lit up with General Var Suthra just as my padawan walked in.

"Ah, there you are," the general stated as his holographic face focused on mine. "I got a report from Colonel Gaff already, sounds like a rough rescue, but at least you got the doctor."

"It was pretty much a failure," I replied. "They gave the doctor a truth serum and got everything they wanted. The military team the colonel insisted on sending to aid us got roughed up pretty bad, and the damn Sith got away."

"The mission was a long shot to begin with, and you saved the doctor. All of the Republic research has been compromised in some way or another, so we're going to have to start over anyway. At least now we'll have the doctor's help."

"What's next?" I asked.

"I want to make sure the doctor gets off-world safely. An official escort team is on the way and should reach you in a couple of hours. Where is he now?"

"I left him with Colonel Gaff and the medical team. He had just come to and was pretty groggy when we reached the Republic base. Do you trust the Colonel's security team, or should we go and keep an eye on him?"

"I'd feel better if you Jedi were on watch, especially considering the Sith is on the loose."

"I'll make sure the doctor is safe," I replied.

"Very good. Once the doctor is away, we'll consider our next option. Master Kiwiiks has not reported in from Tatooine yet, and I've got resources checking on a project at Alderaan. I might be able to afford you some rest and recovery time while I gather more information.

"I'll get no rest on this forsaken world," I complained.

"Contact me when the doctor is away, and we will consider the next move." The general gave me a nod and then ended the transmission.

I turned to look at Kira, who left without speaking, then went back to my room to prepare to check on the doctor. We headed out of the spaceport towards the command bunker. Kira did not want me to go alone. We walked in silence, giving each other sharp looks now and then. It was our standard operating procedure after a fight; ignore everything and hope the other person changed for the better. Unfortunately, it never worked.

Colonel Gaff was a little surprised to see us. "The doctor is up and seems in better spirits," he stated as he marched us down the hall to Doctor Godera's room. When we entered, the silver-haired doctor was sitting up in his bed arguing with one of the medics.

"Ah, Jedi," he stated as he looked over at us. "I was a little out of it and didn't have the chance to thank you for the rescue."

"No need to thank us, doctor," I replied, "I'm just glad we got you away from the Imps."

"Yes, well, it was a nasty business," the doctor grumbled. "One thing you can't fault the Empire on is their determination. They know how to put up a fight."

"The Republic has a lot of fight in it too," the Colonel added, raising his chin brashly.

"Good luck finding any of it around the politicians," the doctor countered.

"I'm not here to argue politics," I intervened between the doctor and the colonel, "I just wanted to check on you before your escort arrived to take you back to Coruscant."

"They're sending the slickly-dressed team to fetch me?"

"Not sure, but it is an official escort. General Var Suthra is excited to get you back." The doctor gave me a look but held his tongue. "Oh," I added as I reached into my pocket, "Re-Mo, your droid went down fighting. He was a big help, and I managed to save his data core for you." I handed him the computer chip.

"Ah Re-Mo," the doctor's eyes glinted, "thank you, it will be nice to get him back. I'll give him an upgraded frame once I get the facilities to build it."

"He was instrumental in our efforts to find you," I replied, thinking of Re-Mo telling me to 'get those Imps.'

"Yes, I put some extra creative juices into his make-up."

"I'm going to have a look around," I told Kira as I left the room. The building that Republic military built for their main base was haphazard, but that was true of everything done on Taris. The Republic's efforts to renew the planet seemed rushed and a little uncoordinated. I appreciated Governor Saresh's enthusiasm, but there was a definite lack of control or planning. Despite the restrictions and even the Empire's presence in orbit, ships carrying immigrants seemed to arrive daily.

I nodded at a few of the soldiers the Colonel had placed as guards as I wandered the halls. The Sith would be crazy to make an attempt on the doctor here, though crazy seemed to be a good description for her. That was not quite right, I mused; she was not reckless or uncontrolled, but zealous and determined. I found myself growing angry again about the outcome of the mission and that the Sith had manipulated the battle in her favor. Stopping in the hallway, I shook my head. She's gotten into my head, I thought; what's wrong with me? I'm not like this. I finished my survey of the command base's defenses and wandered back to the doctor's room.

Kira was chatting with the doctor, and I stood by the doorway in thought. I liked to win, and if anything, I was over-competitive. That was my explanation for why I was mulling over the battle this afternoon. The Sith got the best of me, and it was not sitting well in my gut. I wanted nothing more than a chance to even the score. I sensed more to it, but I did not want to dig any deeper. We waited with the doctor for over an hour, and I began to wonder if the escort team had landed yet. Hurried footsteps came down the hall, and I was hopeful that our watch was over.

"We've got a problem," Colonel Gaff stated urgently as he stepped into the room. He swept his eyes around the room, and they landed on me. "The Jedi Enclave was infiltrated moments ago, a Jedi master has been injured, and a padawan is missing."

"How?" Kira asked in shock.

I sensed the answer right away. "I want to talk to the enclave."

"They want to talk to you too. They're on a holo-call in the conference room." Colonel Gaff left the room, and I followed him. "I told them about your battle with the Sith, and they think it might be related."

"It's her," I stated, knowing that something unexpected and dangerous fit her perfectly.

The Colonel glanced at me as we entered the conference room. Three Jedi images hovered in the holo above the desk. I recognized Master Drya from Coruscant but did not know the other two. "I've brought the Jedi as you requested," the Colonel stated as he moved to the head of the table.

Master Drya's image shifted around to look at me. "Jedi Dwar, this is a surprise. I did not expect you would be on Taris."

"We were sent to recover Doctor Godera by General Var Suthra."

"I see," she replied thoughtfully. "Padawan Carson," she addressed Kira with a nod. "This is Jedi Knight Jaren Dwar and his padawan Kira Carson," she introduced us to the other Jedi in the hologram. "I'm joined by Masters Ocera and Pettr." The two other Jedi nodded to us.

"It's nice to meet you," I replied politely, even though my mind was rushing forward to discuss what transpired. "Colonel Gaff stated that you had problems?"

"Yes," Master Drya replied with a grim change in voice. "The enclave was infiltrated about twenty minutes ago. We don't believe we are in any further danger, but I contacted Republic command to see if they had any incidents similar to ours. The Colonel mentioned that you fought a Sith early today northeast of our position."

"We did," I replied as memories of the fight drifted back into my mind. "The Sith was powerful, probably the most powerful I have seen. We lost a lot of men and had to retreat without our Imperial prisoners."

"I see," Master Drya responded as her eyes looked me over. "It seems like it might be the same Sith. One of our masters was injured in a duel, and a padawan is missing."

"Can you tell us anything about this Sith?" Master Ocera broke in emotionally.

Master Drya raised her hand to halt the master's questions. "The only direct contact we had was Master Ryen, and he has been put in a medical coma to help heal the head injury he sustained. Several sentry droids were stationed on the perimeter, and one of them got a vague recording of the Sith fleeing. I managed to isolate a still frame," a dark image appeared in the holo, and near the edge was a shadowy figure in a dark cloak.

"It's her," I stated with a little more emotion than I should have. I knew it was by the stature and the wispy cloak. I could imagine the yellow eyes looking out from under the hood.

"Her?" Master Ocera asked.

"Yes."

"Tell us everything you know . . ." the master urged before Master Drya raised her hand again.

"Emotions are running a little high here; it was Master Ocera's padawan that was taken. Can you tell us anything about the Sith that might illuminate why our enclave was attacked?"

I looked over at Kira, who was watching me intently. "I don't know why she would have had any interest in the Jedi enclave. She attacked us to free Watcher One, who I had taken into custody. The Watcher seemed surprised by her appearance, so it did not seem like she was part of his team."

"Did the Sith say anything or give any idea about their plans?" Master Ocera asked.

"She wasn't very talkative, I'm sorry."

"You keep saying she," Master Drya spoke, "your tone sounds rather personal, Jaren?"

"It is personal," I replied. "I'm sorry if I am letting my emotions show, but soldiers died, and I couldn't stop it, the Watcher got away, and I couldn't stop it. She . . ." I stopped talking, knowing in that moment that I was not sounding like a Jedi.

Master Drya watched me for a moment. "I understand your passion, Jaren. Unfortunately, we do not win every battle." I held my tongue, and thankfully she switched her attention to Kira. "What is your impression, padawan?"

"The Sith was very capable. Jaren is right; she was probably the most powerful we've faced."

"Did you fight her together?" Master Ocera asked.

"Yes," Kira answered, "but it was difficult," she gave me a sideways glance. "The Sith was cunning and difficult to duel, shifting her attacks quickly and putting us on the defensive." Kira looked at me, and I could see some harsh thoughts behind her eyes.

"Her saber skills were modest," I added, "but her Force powers were dangerous. She threw lightning around on a whim, quicker than I've ever experienced. She could summon it almost before I sensed it in the Force, but it was her Force aura that was the most perplexing part of the fight."

"What do you mean by that?" Master Drya asked.

"It was chaotic and distracting, not the normal aura around Force users."

"Interesting," Master Drya replied in a clinical tone. "That could explain why Master Ryen was overcome. From my experience, he is a capable Jedi master."

"I know what to expect now," I added, "when we meet the next time, things will be different."

"Are you going after the Sith?" Master Ocera asked.

Master Drya raised her hand again in frustration. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves," she cautioned. "I'm sorry, Master Ocera, but at this point, we do not know if Padawan Zavros is alive." That statement sobered everyone, and Master Ocera's countenance fell. "Jedi Dwar, I'm sure you have responsibilities to see to. I'll not have people running off on wild chases to perform rescues or get revenge. Republic Intelligence is trying to find information on orbital activities. Hopefully, we can determine if this Sith is still on Taris. Until then, I expect everyone to continue with their assignments."

"Why would the Sith take a padawan?" Master Ocera lamented. "There has to be a reason or Ashara would have simply been killed. I have to hold out hope."

"Hope is one thing," Master Drya agreed, "but we need more information to be effective. This Sith is dangerous, and I don't want to spread Jedi resources out in a pointless search. We will continue to analyze the situation here at the enclave. Colonel Gaff, have your men keep their eyes open for any unsuspected activity in the Republic zone. Hopefully, the intel team will develop some leads that we can pursue."

"We are awaiting Doctor Godera's escort team from Coruscant," I stated after Master Drya paused. "After that, we were told to wait for further instructions. If you need assistance, I will be available."

"I appreciate your offer, Jedi Dwar, but we have Jedi teams available to confront the Sith if necessary. Continue with your own responsibilities for now. That will be all."

The com was cut, and I was left staring at Colonel Gaff. "We should go after her now," I stated aloud, "she'll be long gone in another hour or two."

"You heard the Master," Kira butted in, "she doesn't want people running off on wild chases, and I get the sense she doesn't want you involved. This has become personal for you."

I glared at her and then left the conference room. Of course, Master Drya sensed my passion. The Jedi needed more passion if we were going to win against the Empire. Taking it personally was not a problem, at least not how I thought of it. The way the other Jedi were acting, except maybe Master Ocera, made it seem like they did not care if the Sith got away. Luckily, the escort team arrived to take my mind off the issue, and we set about getting Doctor Godera off-world safely. My conflict with the Sith who stole my victory and the enclave padawan was not over, not if I had anything to do with it.