Chapter XXII - Rendezvous at Nar Shaddaa
I sat for a while at the conn and thought about what was going to happen next. Thankfully, Ashara left me alone to get something to eat. My mood had not improved, despite being free of Quesh and knowing that Andronikos was waiting for me with the Intrepid. I could not shake the hopelessness of the situation while looking down at my still-numb hand, realizing that it would take a miracle to defeat Thanaton. The much more likely outcome would be my destruction, along with anyone who foolishly decided to follow me. I needed to deal with my problems by priority, and I thought disappearing was the highest on the list, followed by getting rid of the ghosts in my head.
Going into hiding would require me to ditch the ships. I liked the Intrepid, and the small recon vessel had come in very handy, but they were both military and clearly, Imperial Intelligence could find me. I would have to sell them both and get other transportation. Andronikos could help with that. Hopefully, there would be credits available from that exchange, and I could clean out the accounts of my cult on Nar Shaddaa, so cash did not seem to be a problem. Companions, on the other hand, were a complication.
Andronikos would be easy enough to part ways with. He and I had kept our distance most of the time and I never felt like he was completely sold on me. I doubted that he would have a problem going out on his own. Khem Val was a different story. He had a life debt to me because I awakened him from a millenniums-long suspended animation. After he awakened, he fought me because he thought I was trying to usurp his former friend and master, Tulak Hord He did not realize that Tulak Hord was long dead and gone. I defeated him because he was so weak from being asleep for so long, and as a result, he said he had to serve me until I died or he overthrew me. Arguing to ignore his life debt would likely not be effective, and could trigger him to try and overpower me. He had threatened it in the past but did not seem confident in his ability to succeed. When he realizes my plan to give up on being a Sith and run away he will consider me weak, and in my current state, I was not sure if I could defeat him.
Finally, there was the padawan. I ventured a glance over my shoulder at her. It seemed like there was an easy solution, and I rose from the captain's chair to walk back to the cabinets. Ashara was eating an MRE as I passed her to approach the locked drawer where I had put her things when we first entered the ship. Pez looked up from his charging stand on the counter and chirped at me softly. Opening the drawer, I reached in and pulled out the padawan's communicator.
She looked up at me when I walked to the table and put the device in front of her. "What is this?"
"It's your communicator."
"I know that," she frowned. "Why are you giving it to me?"
"I want you to contact the Jedi Enclave."
"Why?" she asked with increasing surprise. "What's going on?" she added as her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Beep-dweep," Pez toned as he drifted up to the table, curious about what we were doing.
"I almost died a few days ago . . ." I started to respond. Suddenly I became emotional and choked up. The understanding hit me hard; I did almost die. "I can't protect myself, let alone protect you. You didn't ask to be a part of this and I don't want to force you."
Ashara was looking at the holo-com with a mixture of hope and concern. "You said they wouldn't take me back," she looked from the device to me, "that they will never trust me again."
"It was only conjecture. You won't know until you try." I replied, slipping into the seat opposite her.
"I . . . don't know what to say," she sighed.
"Just do it."
"Beep-bop," Pez countered with a little shake, his red eye shifting between the padawan and me.
"Here? Now?"
"Sure, just keep the camera towards you."
She suddenly looked terrified, and I understood why. What if they did blame her? What if she was rejected by the only people she ever knew? She sat and fiddled with the device for a moment in hesitation. What if they accepted her back? My mind pondered. Strangely, I realized that part of me would be disappointed. For better or worse, she had stuck with me since leaving Taris, even when I was incapacitated, and she was the closest thing I had to a friend at the moment.
"It won't work," she looked at me again, "the signal's not strong enough."
"Bleep," Pez agreed with a nod.
"What are you doing?" I scolded the droid before turning back to Ashara. "The ship has a hyperspace transceiver. It should connect."
"Oh," she sighed and looked back at the holo-com.
"Do it," I urged softly.
"Beep-duooh," Pez twittered softly with a slow shake of his frame. I shot him a glare, wondering why he was being so disagreeable.
She clicked it on and looked at me nervously. It took a long time for an answer, but finally, the hologram flickered on and the upper body of a woman appeared. "Hello? Who's calling?"
"This is . . ."
"Oh my! Ashara, is that you?" The woman exclaimed.
"Yes," Ashara replied uneasily, "I was just calling . . ."
"Wait!" the woman exclaimed again, "hold on." The image grew blurry and there was a jumble of muffled sounds. "It's Ashara!" the woman yelled, "I've got her on the com."
The image blurred again and then switched to a male Jedi after a few moments. "Ashara! I can't believe this," his face looked shocked and concerned.
"Hello Master," she replied after hesitating, "it's kind of a shock for me too." She looked past the holo-com into my eyes.
"What happened? Where are you? Are you safe?"
"I am safe at the moment, the Sith Lord took me prisoner and . . ."
Another face shifted into the holo-com; it was Master Ryen. "Ashara, thank the Force you are okay," he said, his face filled with surprise.
Ashara grew emotional, "Master Ryen, I'm so happy to see you're okay."
"Tell us how we can get to you. We'll send a rescue party immediately."
"Oh," Ashara replied nervously, "I don't think you can." She looked at me again, this time confused and unsure. I didn't intervene.
"Just tell us where you are," Master Ryen continued.
"I don't want you to do that . . . to send a rescue team. I've put too many people in harm's way already."
"What do you mean?" He seemed puzzled.
"I'm not sure where I am, but it's deep in Empire space. I don't want people to risk their lives to try to save me."
"You said you're safe . . . what is happening? How were you able to contact us?"
"The Sith Lord told me to."
"Why?"
"I guess to let you know I'm okay," Ashara was looking at me as she spoke. There was confusion in her eyes, mixed in with many other emotions.
"I don't understand," Master Ryen complained. "Are you being held captive? Why did she take you?"
"She couldn't conjure the ghost; you know the one in the ruins next to the enclave. She thinks I have a connection to the psychic realm. That's why she took me into the ruins with her. I'm so sorry for what happened, Master Ryen, I never wanted anyone to get hurt."
"I know you didn't," he responded, "but you are naive, Ashara. There are many things to learn about the Force, and things to stay away from. You must protect yourself from that woman; get away from her as fast as possible."
"Okay, but I don't know if she will let me go."
"Let me talk to her, we can make arrangements."
"She doesn't want to talk to you."
"We need you back, Ashara," the other Master urged. "Ask her how we can make that happen?"
Ashara put the com on mute and looked at me. Her expression showed a twisted mass of emotions. "What do I say?"
"We're heading toward Nar Shaddaa. I could have you dropped off at the Republic sector."
"I . . ." she seemed locked up with indecision.
"Ashara, what's happening?" The other master asked.
She looked back at the holo-com, "Sorry," she replied, "I can't get an answer right now, Master Ocera . . . if I do get back to the enclave will everything be normal?"
"None of this is normal," Master Ryen replied. "We can't rest until you are safe, Ashara."
"That's nice," she replied thoughtfully, "it's just that I'm worried about completing my training."
"There is no reason to think about any of that until you are safe," Master Ryen countered.
"I am safe," Ashara replied, still in that thoughtful voice, her eyes shifting from the hologram to me and back.
"No, you're not safe. The dark side of the Force is very dangerous Ashara, and its influence can seep into your mind. You can't trust the Sith, which I fear you have. They are only evil and will betray you."
"I . . ." Ashara looked paralyzed by thoughts.
"Ashara," Master Ocera said, "we need to get you back, and we won't rest until you are saved. Tell us how to reach you."
"I will have to call you back . . . she did not tell me her plans."
"Let us talk to her . . ." Master Ocera continued.
"I'm sorry, I have to go." Ashara clicked off the com.
We sat quietly for a moment. I was confused by what transpired, and I'm sure the Jedi Masters were as well.
"I did tell you to leave," I finally stated.
She set the holo-com down on the table. "It was too sudden," she hedged, "I don't want to talk about it right now." With that, she got up and went into the bedroom.
"Bleep-click," Pez seemed to scold me before drifting back to his stand.
The com went off several times after she left because the Jedi were trying to make contact again. I finally reached over and turned it off, a little concerned that they might be able to track the signal, and then looked toward the bedroom when I heard the shower being turned on. It was hard to make sense of what just happened because I had assumed that the padawan would want to go home. Surprisingly, concerns and motivations were driving Ashara that I was not aware of. Things that were making her react in a way I did not expect.
Later, while I was staring at the hyperspace lights outside the front windows, the ship's com chimed. The computer did not register a known caller, and I hesitated to answer before reluctantly hitting the receive button; thinking it might be Andronikos.
"Hello?" a synthesized voice came through the com.
"Who is this?"
"You know who I am, sweetheart."
"El . . ." I began to yell.
"Don't say my name!" Elios' synthesized voice cut me off. "Why would I go to the effort of scrambling my voice if you're going to blurt out my name? You're not very good at the spy thing."
"I hate the spy thing, especially when it relates to you!"
"Now, now . . . I know you missed me."
"Stop tracking me, dammit! If you are; then I have to assume everyone else is too. Do you know how that makes me feel?"
"You're completely safe," the synthetic voice mumbled dismissively, "though I would shut the video off on your end. No sense scaring anyone with that scowl if they do happen to get their hands on this communication."
"You're not helping!" I snapped while leaning forward to click the video off.
"Nonsense, I'm always helpful . . . which is of course why I'm calling."
"No, that's not how this works," I complained. "I don't trust you or who you're working with, and I don't want Imperial Intelligence popping in any time they like."
"Not a very grateful attitude . . . but why am I not surprised?"
"Grateful? You tracked me to Quesh and then radioed ahead to Commander Trey, which is likely the reason why I was lured into a trap. Do you have any idea what I've been through the last few days?"
"Explicitly," Elios replied softly, "how's the hand?"
He knew everything, which in a way made it worse. "It's a useless stump."
"Your medical report said you were progressing."
"Get your fucking spy tendrils out of my medical history!" The anger and frustration that I had been fighting to control rushed to the surface in an instant. "Are you tracking how many times I pee too?"
"Well, the medical band is rather thorough . . ."
"Oh, my God!" I looked down at my arm and had the impulse to rip the medical band off, but was afraid of how much pain I would be in without it.
"Calm down. No one cares about your bathroom habits."
"Don't tell me to calm down, I don't like being spied on. You contacted Andronikos too, which means you're tracking him as well. Does everyone in the Empire know what I'm up to?"
"Now you're just being melodramatic. No one is tracking your friend, we sent him a message through a wide bandwidth holonet signal, one that could be picked up only with your com ID. I have no idea where the ship is."
"My com ID? It's not the same as my ship's"
"No, it isn't, but your ship's computer is smart enough to pick up a call it thinks is for you. Really, do we need to go through Communications 101?"
"I'm going to hang up on you, bastard!" Ashara must have heard me talking harshly because she walked forward and slipped into the seat next to me. Pez drifted up as well, his red eye narrowed at the control panel where Elios' synthesized voice was projecting.
"Well, then you're going to miss the important information I have for you."
"Are you tracking me now?" There was a long pause. "If you don't answer I'll say your name."
"We have a general idea where your ship is," he replied calmly.
"Bullshit! You know exactly where I am and where I'm going."
"You told the doctor where you were going, darling."
"That's not the point," I complained, internally kicking myself for letting the information slip. "I know you're tracking this ship."
"Well, it is Imperial Intelligence property."
"I'm going to strip the ship until I find the tracker, or better yet, crash it into a star."
"Your gratitude is unparalleled, my Lord."
"Thanaton's using you to get to me."
"No, he's not. You're being paranoid."
"He set up a trap for me on Quesh. How can you explain that?"
"He used the apprentices," Elios shot back quickly. "I'm sorry, by the way; it must have been difficult for you." There was a pause and I remembered how strenuously Elios argued about not wanting to be a casualty of Thanaton's wrath. "The current theory is that he was fishing for you. Our data seems to indicate that he wasn't certain you were alive."
"Well, he is now."
"That would be a good deduction."
"I can't do this," I complained, "I can't operate knowing that you people are snooping on me, it's unnerving."
"Look, to be completely honest, this isn't my dream job either, sweetheart. I wasn't expecting to be handed over to Watcher One, and you're not the easiest person to work with."
"Stop calling me sweetheart!"
"Very well, your imperialness."
I gave an exasperated look at Ashara, who was looking back with an awkward grin. "Please, just tell me your information so this conversation can end."
"Your duel with Lord Cineratus has caught the attention of some high-level people."
"I figured that out already, thank you."
"Well, maybe you didn't figure out that it's caused some ripples through the Sith hierarchy. Certain actors want to know why Cineratus is dead and what he was doing on Quesh. It's putting some heat on Thanaton."
"He's just going to blame me for it."
"True . . . I mean he did blame you for Skotia and Zash."
"How is this important information?"
"Well, if Thanaton's responsible for a whole branch of the Sith organization and people keep dying on his watch it doesn't look good. Once he could claim an accident. Twice, maybe he could blame someone else, but after three times he's starting to look incompetent."
"It doesn't matter," I grumbled.
"There are quite a few people that it matters to, actually."
"I can't do this," the words slipped out of my mouth before I considered them. The feelings of hopelessness I had been struggling with for days had finally been expressed. "I almost died . . . and I can't use my hand."
There was silence on the com for a moment. "I'm not asking anything of you," Elios replied, "I was told to check on you and tell you that people are questioning Thanaton's actions, that's all."
"I don't want to be checked on. I want to be left alone."
"That's going to be kinda awkward to convey to Watcher One and the others. Especially after the effort they've made to help you."
"I didn't ask for their help," I pointed out. "I know that sounds shitty, but I can't see any way to move forward, with or without help. My life is chaos right now . . . I've almost died twice in the last week."
"You seem emotional, so . . ."
"I swear . . ." I began to fume.
"Sorry, bad choice of words. I was trying to say that you should take some time to recover. We can reconnect later."
"Don't hold your breath!" I huffed. "I'm disabling the tracker, tell Watcher One it's nothing personal, and don't call me again. If I want to, I'll call you." With that, I cut the com. "God! He makes me so angry," I blurted out.
"Zwip-Zwap," Pez agreed in harsh tones.
"He's ridiculous," Ashara agreed, "but it's nice to know that people have your back."
I shot her a look. "I don't trust any of them."
"Bleep-duooh," Pez sighed.
"We can't reunite with Andronikos until I know this ship is clean," I continued.
"Elios seemed pretty confident that you were safe."
"Would you like people tracking your every move?" I snapped before getting up to go get some food.
Ashara followed me. "No, but Commander Trey was very helpful, and he seemed to be working with the 'Watcher One' person. Friends can be useful."
I pulled an energy bar out of the cabinet and used my teeth to open the wrapper. "I don't understand why you didn't jump at the chance to go back to the Jedi?" I asked after chewing a bite. It irritated me that she was trying to discuss plans with me, especially because I was unsure of them, so I redirected the conversation to her.
She looked a little surprised by my question; the mixed emotions evident on her face. "It's complicated."
"Duooh," Pez sighed, seemingly sensing the tension between us.
"You said you wanted to be a Jedi."
"I do . . ." she answered before hesitating.
"Aren't you worried about being corrupted, or turned into a Sith?"
"You said you wouldn't do that to me."
"Your masters seem to think it's inevitable if you stay around me. Aren't you as concerned as they are?"
"Dweep-click," Pez toned with a shake of his head.
"I'm not asking you," I said with a wave of my hand at him, "now shoo."
"Click-bleep," he protested, huffing his thrusters to drift back from me with a narrowed eye.
Ashara walked over and sat down at the little table. "I don't agree with everything that the Jedi are teaching me," she said softly as she looked down at her hands, "especially Master Ryen."
I followed and sat across from her. "Some would say that skepticism is the first step toward true knowledge."
She looked up at me. "Padawans aren't supposed to question their masters . . . even though I know that Masters Ocera and Ryen disagree on many things, important things." She stopped to see if I would interject, but I wanted to see where her thoughts led. "They disagree about the ghost . . . my ancestor. Master Ryen told me that I was imagining things; that I was being irrational, but when I asked Master Ocera about it, he said that he believed in ghosts." Again, she paused, this time to think. "Do you know they put a note in my records? Master Ryen even held an inquiry about the events, and though he said it was for documentation purposes, I got the feeling it was really an evaluation of me."
"Why would he want to evaluate you?"
"Because he disagrees with my opinion, and he thinks I'm impulsive and irrational." Her voice was rising with emotion and she looked down at her hands again. Clearly, she was upset by what had happened. "Do you remember the woman with the green lightsaber under our tree?"
"Yes, you said she was a visiting master."
"Master Drya . . . I have a suspicion that she was sent to Taris to evaluate me."
"What would give you that impression?"
"A whole list of small things, like her showing up a day after Master Ryen 'evaluated' me. He and Master Ocera had a rather heated conversation after I was dismissed, I stayed in the hall for a while and overheard them. Earlier, one of the other students mentioned to me that I had become a distraction." She sighed in frustration. "I didn't ask for or cause any of the events that happened, yet people were treating me like it was my fault."
"You were outside the barricades when I was leaving," I replied. "You had finished your nightly walk and were heading back to the enclave, I watched you walking away. Yet when I was trying to leave a half hour later you were back."
Ashara met my gaze, her eyes worried and suspicious. "They told me I was making everything up, but I wasn't. It bothered me that the people I looked up to were wrong. I was told to stay away from the ruins and put the events behind me, but I could not get past it."
I thought through the situation again and began to see why the padawan was concerned about being accepted back. She was obviously out near the ruins after being told to avoid them, so even without my actions she was already disobeying orders. Then, she disobeyed Master Ryen's order to leave the ruins and get help when he confronted me. Her relationship with her masters and the Jedi leadership was strained before I showed up on the scene.
"Staying with me is going to make their suspicions worse, not better."
She flinched at my words and got up to pace away from me. "I doubt going back will make it better either."
"It's the only way you will become a Jedi."
Ashara grew more emotional at my words, her green eyes filling with tears. "I don't want to talk about it anymore." She swept past me and went up to the cockpit to sit and stare out the front window.
"Beep-duooh," Pez toned and he looked back and forth between us.
Ashara was upset and wanted to be alone, so I finished my snack and went back to the bedroom to lie down for a while. The padawan was more complex than I imagined from Elios' report. Somehow, his spy skills had missed the rift between her and her master. I had mixed feelings about her revelations, considering they were going to make it harder to convince her to go home, but they could also be used to make a deeper connection with her. There seemed to be additional motivations that she was not divulging, however; I could see that in her eyes. That knowledge increased my concern about trusting her, adding to my anxiety in general. I was beginning to feel like I could not trust anyone and despairingly added paranoia to the list of issues I was dealing with.
As I arranged the bed to lie down, I noticed the case that Commander Trey had given me before saying goodbye. Lord Vashcar said it contained items that Kaal and Corrin possessed when they died. Lifting it, I set it on the bed and threw open the clasps. The first item to catch my eye was a broken lightsaber; sliced in two through the blade energy channel just below the tuning dials. Kaal's weapon had been destroyed in combat, which meant he went down fighting. I reached in and picked up the smaller weapon; Corrin's. It was intact and looked oddly similar to mine. I could not help recalling the moment I sensed their deaths. The fact that Corrin's weapon was intact did not mean she succumbed without a fight, only that the hilt was not harmed. Knowing Cineratus I sensed that he wanted the apprentices to put up a fight.
I did not recall ever seeing Corrin's weapon ignited, so I held it up and turned it on. The blade filled the room with a bright red light, the energy humming with keen intensity. It seemed to be a decent weapon, and I rotated it slowly in the air before me. The movement felt awkward with my left hand, my only hand, and that awareness soured the moment. Flicking the weapon off I sat it on the bed next to the case. I had a hard time feeling anything emotionally for the apprentices since I barely knew them. If anything I felt their loss to my team and what that meant to my image, which seemed like a terribly callous sentiment as I sorted through their possessions. I did not even know their last names, or if they had surviving family members.
Turning back to the case, there were some pieces of jewelry that I remembered Corrin wearing before, and two imperial coms. I tried activating one of the coms and received a security alert that indicated it was biometrically locked. The coms would need to be hacked if I wanted to get into them. After looking over the items I placed them back into the container and then observed that the tray on which they sat was shallower than the depth of the box. With a little searching, I found a latch that released the upper tray. I was stunned by what I saw after removing it. In a custom-fit protective surround, an exotic-looking Holocron gleamed like a priceless stone. It must have been the item that Kaal stole from Thanaton; the item he believed was the key to my victory and the thing he sacrificed his life for.
Anxiously, I reached in and pulled the artifact out to hold it in my hand. The Holocron began to glow a deep red, highlighting the gold inlay patterns decorating its surface. The artifact responded to me, as Holocrons did to those with the Force, but when I focused into its core to obtain access the relic did not respond. I tried numerous times to access the Holocron, growing more frustrated with each effort, but in the end, it was to no avail. The relic seemed locked, something I had never experienced before. It was another mystery. If I could not access the Holocron's data then it was unlikely that Kaal or Corrin could either. How was Kaal so certain that this relic was the Key? Pondering that question made me even more frustrated. I needed hope and answers at that moment, not more mysteries and confusion. Slipping the relic back into its packing, I closed up the case and set it on the floor. Answers would have to wait until I got back to the Intrepid.
Sometime later, the ship dropped out of hyperspace and I exited the bedroom to head toward the cockpit. We had come out of hyperspace in a high orbit over Nar Shaddaa, and as I sat down in the captain's chair the autopilot engaged to direct us toward an inbound customs checkpoint. I hesitated a moment, wondering if I should interrupt the sequence, but then decided against it. There was no point alerting authorities to anything out of the ordinary, and it seemed unlikely that the Hutts who controlled Nar Shaddaa would know anything about me. Unfortunately, going through customs would create a record that I had entered Nar Shaddaa, which might get discovered by anyone looking. If I wanted to disappear, I would have to do so in the massive population planetside.
Ashara came forward to sit next to me. "I like Nar Shaddaa," she said softly; watching the orange glow of city lights flicker through the planetary atmosphere on the night side.
"You've been here before?" I asked in mild surprise; it was Hutt space after all.
"Several years ago, some of the padawans traveled with their masters to the Republic sector to look into violent incidents involving some gang activity. We stayed for about three weeks."
I thought about my own experiences on the planet moon; the violent gangs, overcrowding, strange smells, and perpetual noise. "What did you find so interesting?"
"It feels so alive," she replied. "Everywhere you go there are people and activities, new things to see and do, and new foods to taste. It's very invigorating."
"That seems like the opposite of Taris?"
"You're right," she nodded. "Taris would not be my choice for a vacation . . . or a home."
As she spoke, the com lit up with an incoming call. It was customs, which asked us numerous questions and then analyzed our ship's signature. The process was completely automated, and when complete, the customs computer sent us orbital and landing trajectory maps for guidance and a planetside laws and customs guide. Once through the receiving line, the ship's autopilot put us back into a high orbit. I sat in thought for a moment to figure out what to do next, but before I got very far the com chimed again. This time it was Andronikos.
"Hello," came his gruff voice after I opened the hail, "I see you've arrived in-system."
"So, you're tracking me too," I grumbled.
He gave me a funny look through the holo, "I assumed that's what you'd expect. I had the computer scanning local space for your signature to know when you arrived."
"Sorry, I just got off a call with Elios and his band of spies. It's got me a little unnerved."
"I think you're overestimating their abilities."
"Maybe, but it seems like they know my thoughts even before I think them."
"Well, they are likely tracking your ship. It's theirs after all."
"Yes, and I don't want them to track me to you, though I'm also suspicious of the Intrepid. It's an Imperial Military ship as well."
"Don't worry about the Intrepid, I had it scanned and re-registered as soon as we got to Nar Shaddaa. It's clean of any Imperial connections."
"How did you do that?"
"I've got some friends," Andronikos said with a wry grin. "Being a pirate does have its perks."
"Can you do that to this ship?"
"Are you going to keep it? It's a pretty involved process . . . and pricey."
"I don't know," I said thoughtfully, trying to imagine how my future plans would unfold. "I don't want to fly to you in a tracked ship and undo all your efforts."
"If you want, I can have the ship stored in orbit for the time being."
"Stored?"
"Yeah, I know some guys who run a 'used' ship exchange. They've got an orbital dock we can park your ship in."
"That sounds a bit shady," I replied, noticing the expression the captain was giving me.
"It's shady as hell, and I wouldn't ask a lot of questions. The advantage is, they won't ask questions either."
"Can we trust them?"
"Trust is moving target with guys like them, but at the moment they need me, so I don't think they will cross us."
"Why do they need you?" I asked impulsively. It seemed a bit surprising that Andronikos had all of these connections on Nar Shaddaa that I was unaware of, especially since we had spent months together. He gave me a shrewd look and paused to answer. At that moment I realized how little I knew the man who was captaining my ship. "Never mind, we can talk about that later. If we do as you suggest, how do I get to the surface?"
"I'll arrange transportation."
"Okay, let's do it," I agreed nervously as I glanced over at the padawan.
"Good," Andronikos nodded, "It'll go smooth, and you'll be back on the Intrepid in no time. Oh, if you want to disappear, I suggest you leave all your com items aboard the ship. Don't bring them down to the surface with you."
"How am I supposed to contact anyone?"
"We'll work that out later. I'll make arrangements and send you a navigation route in a moment." Andronikos cut the com and my mind could not stop wondering if I had made a terrible mistake.
"This doesn't sound very safe," Ashara said softly next to me. Clearly, she had the same feeling.
"Andronikos seems unconcerned."
"You said he was a pirate."
"True, but he's 'our' pirate." I got up to get something to drink from the kitchenette and Ashara followed me.
"I don't know how that makes it any better."
"I trust him," I turned to look into her eyes. "For what it's worth, I'm nervous too, but I've made my decision and we'll just have to see it through."
"Beep-duooh," Pez mourned softly from his charging stand, somehow sensing our mood.
The navigation route pinged on the com and I walked over to activate it. The ship thrusters pulled us out of high orbit and began angling us toward the planet. We flew for quite some time, dropping through numerous orbital planes filled with docks, industrial centers, merchant exchange platforms, and residential stations. It was amazing how much life and activity there was above the planet-moon. Finally, the ship began to slow and angle toward a group of dimmer, bulky orbital structures. Weaving through clumps of platforms and open docks, the navigation finally focused on an unkempt-looking, almost derelict station. A docking bay opened up in front of us and the ship slowed to enter. Ashara and I exchanged one last dubious gaze before we passed into the hangar and the doors closed behind us.
In actuality, the Durosian and Weequayan technicians that met us in the hangar were very polite and helpful. Quuan, the Durosian, seemed excited to see us and the ship, explaining that he would make sure things were kept safe for 'esteemed' Captain Revel. Quuan seemed a little too obsequious, but I did not sense anything dangerous about him or the other staff at the station. We collected our things from the ship that had been our home these past days and were led through a large storage hangar containing rows and rows of vessels into an office reception area. It did not take long for a shuttle to arrive, and once aboard, we headed down to the surface.
I watched out the side window as we descended, observing the shimmering lights slowly transform into sectors and then distinct cityscapes. It seemed like the whole surface was one large, lumpy structure full of sparkling lights. We grew closer still, and actual building blocks and thoroughfares could be distinguished, with streams of traffic flowing in the open channels between the building. The shuttle banked and slowed as we approached our destination, and I saw no landmarks to help me determine where on Nar Shaddaa we were landing. We came to a stop and the shuttle door hissed open. The co-pilot helped us get our things offloaded onto a quiet platform high up on the side of a channel wall. With a curt farewell, the shuttle pilot closed the door behind us and the ship lifted off of the public platform we were on. The surroundings did not look opulent, but they were not run down or unsafe either. The little square next to our platform was clean, and plantings tried to add a little decoration to the otherwise spartan metallic walls and floor.
"Bleep-click-beep-duooh," Pez chirped.
"I don't know where they are," I replied, assuming that he was wondering the same thing I was.
Several people were sitting on benches some distance away, but Andronikos was nowhere to be seen. Ashara and I exchanged a look and I reflexively reached for my forearm to make contact with him before remembering that I left the com behind. A strange feeling of isolation settled over me as I looked around the platform again. I wanted to disappear but not be forgotten. We waited long enough for it to feel awkward standing in the open with our things before I heard a familiar voice in the distance.
"Master," Toovee called as he appeared around a corner alley. Pez trilled and whooshed off to buzz around his droid friend. It took a moment for Toovee to wobble towards us on his mechanical legs. "It is so good to see you in person again. I think you will be thrilled with the changes we have made to your ship."
It was nice to see the droid again, more due to familiarity and a sense of normalcy than personal feelings. "Hello, Toovee," I greeted him, "where is Andronikos?"
"He is on a holocall, my Lord, so he sent me to meet you."
"Wonderful," I mumbled. "How far away is he?" I looked down at the containers of stuff we had brought from the other ship.
"Oh, the penthouse is right around the corner," the droid said as it turned and pointed to the alley from which it appeared. "The captain has found respectable lodging, I'm sure you will find it to your liking, and the Intrepid is on the roof . . . very convenient indeed."
"Dee-zwip," Pez sounded excitedly.
"Yes, we'll all be back together again," I answered while reaching down to pick up the apprentice's case and another box, frowning when I realized we were expected to walk. Ashara picked up the other items.
"May I help you with those?" Toovee asked.
"Take some of her things," I said, pointing to the padawan. The droid took a box between his mechanical hands and then stood looking at me with his red electronic eyes. "Lead on," I urged with a nod toward the alley.
"Of course, my Lord." Toovee turned and waddled off with his servos humming softly.
The place was not far, only several hundred steps down the alley. We crowded into a lift that accelerated upward sharply after Toovee provided a code. Pez had to puff his thrusters hard to prevent hitting the floor. We rose for a long moment before slowing down, and then the door swished open to reveal an entryway. I stepped into the apartment and set my things down on the floor before wandering further into the space. The main area was brightly lit with track lighting around the borders of the ceiling, and the long wall was glass overlooking the thoroughfare with the row of buildings on the opposite side. The place was spacious and clean, with an off-white color scheme for the walls and decor. Absently I stepped toward the wall of glass, glancing out at the evening sky and the streams of traffic in the channel.
"Do you see what I mean, Master? It's quite pleasant," Toovee stated as he followed me.
"Doo-dweep," Pez expressed as he drifted up next to me.
"Yes," I replied, keeping my eyes on the scene beyond the windows. It felt strange, like I was out of place. Andronikos did not greet us, and Toovee belonged on the ship, not as an apartment butler. Where is Khem? my mind pondered just as I heard a door swish open behind me.
"You're here," I heard Andronikos' voice and turned to look at him. "Hope everything went smoothly." He walked a few steps toward me before glancing over at Ashara, who was still standing in the entryway holding her things.
"It did," I replied, "so far. I'm going to need the ship and my coms back at some point."
"Don't worry about it," he said flatly. "Quuan will do us right, and you have officially disappeared. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"I'm not sure it's that easy."
"Well, we've got some work to do, but I'm alive because I learned to drop below radar. My techniques work, they'll have trouble finding you, especially on a world like this." He glanced over at Ashara again. "This must be the padawan," he stated with a nod.
"Ashara," she replied; taking a small step away from the front door.
"Nice to meet you. I hope Lord Kallig hasn't been too rough to get along with," he replied with a slight grin.
"She hasn't," Ashara replied while glancing at me.
"Chirp-dweep-beep-beep," Pez sounded as he puffed over to the padawan and rubbed her shoulder.
"Looks like someone made a friend," Andronikos observed.
"Meet Andronikos Revel," I stated, looking at the padawan and gesturing toward the captain. "Where's the deshade?"
"In the sleep pod aboard ship. I finally managed to convince him to take a nap a couple days ago. He was skulking around complaining about starving to death, it was unbearable. He refused to get in until he watched me set the pod to four days, so he'll be awake in a couple days. It's going to be worse when he wakes up, so you better have a plan to deal with him."
It was a relief to know that I did not have to confront the monster at the moment. "I want to see the ship," I replied.
"Sure thing," Andronikos nodded, "let me show you around first."
I walked over to pick up my things, looking into Ashara's eyes as I approached. She had an apprehension in her gaze.
"Let me help you, Master," Toovee interjected.
"Help her," I stated.
"Of course," Toovee shifted as he shuffled up. "How may I assist you, mistress Ashara?"
"Zavros," I corrected while bending down to collect my things. "Ashara Zavros."
"I'm so sorry, please forgive me Mistress Zavros."
"It's no problem," the padawan replied.
"Thank you, Mistress Zavros. Is there anything I can do to assist you?"
"Just call me Ashara." She glanced over at me with an unsure expression. "I don't know where to put my things?"
"There's plenty of room," Andronikos interjected, "let me show you."
"I'll help you carry your things, Mistress Zavros," Toovee stated as he retrieved a box from the floor.
Andronikos gave us the tour. Beyond the entryway and living space there was a large kitchen and dining area, and down a corridor were the living quarters. We passed a room with Andronikos' things in it. It was on the same wall as the living space and had windows overlooking the thoroughfare beyond. I noticed several control panels with multiple screens on his desk. It looked like he was busy with something.
"This is where I set up," he said with a jab of his thumb.
I noticed market information on one of his screens. "Checking investments again?" I asked.
"Something like that," he mumbled as he turned to head down the hall.
"Is that what your call was about earlier?"
He looked back at me. "Nah, that was unexpected." It appeared as if that was all he wished to divulge because he turned and walked down the hallway. "There are three other rooms not being used at the moment," he pointed with his hand, "so you can take your pick. The droid and the monster are staying on the ship."
"I will stay on the ship as well," I replied while glancing into the room next to Andronikos. It was about the same size, with cityscape windows. There was a bed in the middle of one wall, a dresser with a mirror, an armoire, and a small desk. On the opposite side of the hall, there were two other equally sized and decorated rooms without windows.
"Place her things in that room," I told Toovee, pointing to the room at the end of the hall. It didn't have windows, but I figured she'd like some distance between her and Andronikos.
"Of course, Master." Toovee shuffled into the end room and Ashara followed him.
I turned back down the hall looking for a way up to the ship. "Where are the stairs to the roof?"
"This way," Andronikos stated as he backtracked to the kitchen.
There was a small hall behind a large pantry cabinet that led to a private lift. Pez puffed his thrusters to keep up. We took it up to the landing platform, and the doors swished open to reveal the Intrepid sitting on the landing deck with the mauve evening sky beyond. It was nice to see the ship. I had not been aboard since stepping off the ramp onto the Tarisian rubble almost two weeks ago, and I impulsively headed straight toward the hatch. Unfortunately, the ramp was up and the hatch was closed. I glanced back at Andronikos in frustration because I did not have my com.
"Dweep-zwip," Pez said as he shifted back and forth in front of the closed hatch.
"I keep her locked up for security reasons," he mumbled; stepping up to activate the hatch.
"I need my coms back."
"I'll take care of that," he grumbled, "it's better to be safe than sorry."
"How are you going to take care of that? You're implying that my coms are compromised."
"We don't know that. Like I said, it's just a precaution . . ."
The ramp was down and I stepped up it onto the ship, not waiting for Andronikos to finish his statement. It felt nice to be surrounded by familiar things, and I headed straight to my room. Again, I was frustrated when the door to my room remained shut as I approached it. Everything was linked to my com, and without it, the automatic responses were not activating. I had to wait for Andronikos to open the door and glared at him. Inside, the lighting did not respond, and I had to turn on the Tatooine glow globes by hand. Everything looked untouched, and I set my satchel and box of things on the bed before heading to the conference room with the apprentices' case.
Toovee and Ashara were walking onto the ship, and everyone followed me as I walked to the conference room. I took the case and set it on the shelf next to the artifacts from Zash's ritual and other items from her library. Flicking open the case, I began to take out the apprentices' items and set them on the shelf.
Andronikos stepped up next to me when I pulled out Kaal's broken lightsaber. "Your apprentice's?" I nodded slightly. "Sorry to hear about that." He noticed that I was using my left hand and looked purposely to my right. "How's the hand?"
"It's more of a club."
"Bad break," he mumbled, "maybe it will get better."
I did not answer, just gave him a flat stare and then looked past him at the padawan. She was eying me and the shelf of Sith artifacts warily. I could see that it was not sitting well with her.
"Master," Toovee piped in in his excited tone, "the ship's medical computer can diagnose your arm, it is quite sophisticated."
"Dwerp-click," Pez agreed.
"No more poking and prodding," I grumbled before turning my focus back to the case and the lower compartment. Unclasping the inner latches, I pulled out the top tray and then reached in to retrieve the artifact. I held it up for a moment, seeing the inner glow respond to my Force aura.
"Nice," Andronikos replied.
"It's remarkable, Master," Toovee added. "What is it?"
"This," I said, sitting the relic next to the others on the shelf, "is the item that the apprentices sacrificed themselves for."
"Oh dear," the droid toned.
"Beep-duooh," Pez added as he drifted close over my head.
"What does it do?" Andronikos asked, "I mean, is it going to help us?"
"I don't have a clue," I answered in frustration, stepping away from the shelf and the others. The ghosts inside me did not like the artifacts, and they disturbed my thoughts when I stayed near them. I looked back from my pacing and saw the others looking at me with confusion and worry. "I can't access the Holocron. It's locked or something. I'm going to need to do some research on it."
"Is that why you said you needed access to the artifacts before you set out for Quesh?" Andronikos asked.
"No," I sighed. "I didn't know the apprentices had stolen the Holocron from Thanaton. Zash's relics I need for another reason." I looked at Ashara while I spoke, noticing worry and distrust cloud her face. "That is all I'll say for now. It's been a long and difficult mission, and I need some rest."
"Of course," Andronikos stated. "We have this place as long as you need to recover."
"How did you work that out?" I asked.
"I've got a guy," he mumbled.
"Can we trust him? The penthouse is fully automated. I'm sure it's got cameras and other sensors."
"Don't worry," he replied with a sharp wave of his hand, "I checked it all out before moving in. The electronics are isolated, and we can see what it's recording. If there's a problem, I'll just delete the data."
"It looks like it cost a pretty penny."
"The guy owes me, so we aren't paying what we should." He glanced at the padawan and took a step toward me. "There is something about the accounts, however."
"Go on," I replied nervously.
"Well, after we lost contact with you, I remembered your concern that we wouldn't have access to Darth Zash's accounts for much longer, so I took the opportunity to move the funds to a more secure location. It's all there," he added when he saw my eyes widen, "you can check the transactions if you'd like. The accounts are linked to you."
"Do we have . . . "
"You've got enough," he interrupted.
"I'll look over the details tomorrow."
"Of course."
"Is there anything you need," Toovee urged, "anything at all, Master?"
"Just rest, Toovee, but I want you to tend to Ashara as well."
"Of course," the droid shuffle-turned to the padawan. "Is there anything I can do for you, mistress?"
Ashara looked at me. "I know it may sound silly, but I haven't had a decent meal in over a week and I'm starving."
"I can assist in that," Toovee replied, "we have a fully stocked kitchen in the penthouse and the electronic chef has thousands of recipes to choose from. It's not a robot like me, but I can be of assistance in the preparation and cooking."
"That would be nice, thank you."
"Of course, mistress," Toovee said, "that is what I'm here for. Do you have a cuisine preference?"
"Any kind of Shilian or Rylothic dish would be fine."
"How about Duc'toon?"
"That would be nice, can you make it with red meat and long-grain orzo?"
"I don't know if the ingredients are available, mistress. Shall I go and see?"
"Sure, and if we need substitutions that would be fine."
"Wonderful, I shall go and begin preparations. You will have a fine meal in no time." Toovee moved out of the room toward the hatch and the others looked back at me.
"Is there anything else you need to be comfortable?" I asked Ashara.
"It doesn't appear that I can activate the door to my room."
"Of course not," I grumbled, "because we left our coms behind." I looked sharply at Andronikos.
"I get it, you're not happy. You don't have to keep glaring at me . . . I told you I would fix it."
"You didn't tell me how or when."
"Because you walked away from me while I was talking," he protested. "I can have new coms for each of you in a few hours."
"Fully functional?" I asked suspiciously, "and how am I going to receive messages without my com ID?"
"As I was going to explain earlier. I've set up multiple intermediate virtual coms for myself to mask my actual ID and location. People sending me messages can only see the first virtual com ID, and it exists only in the Hypernet. Everything beyond that is random ID and encryption. I can set the same thing up for you, it'll just take a call to the right person."
"That sounds good, but what do we do in the meantime?"
"The ship's computer or Pez can respond to your verbal commands for the time being, and I'll make sure Toovee assists Ashara in what she needs."
"Very well," I replied, forgetting in my frustration before that I could simply call out to the ship's computer, "make it happen, the sooner the better." I turned and stepped around the conference table to head to my room.
"Sure thing, your highnessness," Andronikos muttered after me.
My words were sharp and bossy, and I sensed he did not like them. I was not intending to be a jerk, but I was tired and really wanted to be alone for a while. Everyone followed me to my room and I turned slowly to look at them. "Sorry," I said to Andronikos, "I didn't mean to be an ass."
"No problem," he said with a nod before turning to leave the ship. He knew I could get chippy. We had been around each other long enough.
Ashara stood in front of me and Pez puffed eagerly by my head. "Computer, open my door."
The ship's computer chimed and then my bedroom door swished open. I stepped through and went to the bed to unpack my things. Ashara stepped in behind me and looked around.
"Bleep-beep," Pez chirped as he puffed over to his main docking station on the dresser and perched.
I emptied my satchel on the bed and looked at my lightsaber before picking it up. It felt odd in my left hand, that's not where it belonged. I glanced at the padawan as I moved over to the dresser to put my saber and satchel on it.
"I like your room," she commented.
"It's nice to be in it again," I replied. She was eying me thoughtfully, and it irritated me to be observed, so I walked up to her. "I really need some alone time," I stated flatly.
"Okay," she replied. "You've got to be hungry. Do you want to eat something with me first?"
"No," I shook my head and stepped away, "I don't have an appetite right now."
There was a moment of silence as I moved the remaining box off my bed. "Are you all right?" I asked after noticing her hesitation.
"Yeah," she replied half-heartedly. She looked into my eyes and saw that I expected more of an explanation. "Things are just a little foreign . . . you know . . . it's making me feel out of sorts."
"You're safe here," I replied.
"I know that," she sighed. Again, I gave her a look that I expected more. "I still don't have a change of clothes or personal hygiene items . . . or really anything familiar around me." She looked around my room again before returning my gaze.
I got her implication. I was home and comfortable while she was alone and in a strange place. "We'll fix that," I replied, taking a step toward her. "Tomorrow, we'll get whatever you want. If you need anything immediately, I'm sure Andronikos or Toovee knows where to get it for you."
"Okay," she said, again hesitantly. Something was bothering her but she did not want to talk about it.
I was not in the mood for games, though, so I stepped toward the door to show her out.
She stepped past me and through the doorway.
"Bleep-beep," Pez toned from the dresser as he watched the padawan leave.
I looked back at the orb and thought it would be nice to be truly alone. "Pez, come here," I ordered.
"Tweep," he chirped as his thrusters puffed to move him quickly to my side.
"Ashara is nervous about staying in the apartment downstairs. I want you to go with her to make sure her door locks properly and watch over her tonight."
"Bleep," the orb sounded in a questioning tone, his little eye shifting between the padawan and me.
"He doesn't have to," Ashara stated.
"I insist. Go with her and make sure she's safe."
"Bleep-beep," Pez nodded his little frame and then puffed to the padawan's side.
"Good night, then," Ashara said.
"Good night," I replied before closing the door.
Finally! I was alone in my own room, something I was looking forward to for more than a week. Walking slowly to the end of the bed I turned to look at everything. My room was my solace, my refuge; the only place in the whole galaxy where I felt comfortable. Somehow, deep within, I felt that coming back to my room would pull me back; make me whole again. I stepped over to the wall and ran my fingers over the woven mesh decoration, remembering the haggling merchant I bought it from on Tatooine. If there was any place I could be me, any place that could push out the dark mood that was smothering me, it was here. I moved to the dresser to run my fingers over the elegant manicure set that was given to me by cult leader Rylee here on Nar Shaddaa. My room was the same, as were all my things in it, but somehow it felt different. It was the same, but I was not.
The dark core of my being had strengthened, and out of it the hopelessness that shrouded me bloomed. I needed to fight it; press it back down to free myself, but the change was evident; unmistakable. I could only touch things with my left hand. My eyes drifted over to my lightsaber, which I might never wield again. A sharp twist in my gut made me step away from the dresser. It was not working. My room was not helping me change back. I crawled onto my bed and curled up into the fetal position, not able to escape the feeling that the old me was gone, lost in the basement of that forsaken warehouse on Quesh. The ghosts welled up within me, I could feel their taunting presence. Closing my eyes tightly, I wished them away - fought to ignore the haunting thoughts in my mind. It was going to be a long night.