I have changed the rating from T to M. I felt like I needed to based on future chapters with darker/more adult subject matter I have planned and written. On those particular chapters, I'll try to give you a warning. Apologies!

The crowds of Sunry's party shrunk to a small handful of groups. For the last hour, I parked myself in front of the window with another glass of wine—looking out across the ocean of stars. Thinking. Trying to figure out the puzzle that was Bastila Shan.

Something was still pushing us apart. Something that wasn't the Jedi Code. Something that...would hurt me. Somehow. She said it wouldn't work and yet she wanted it to. Her words did not match her actions or thoughts. And it was…confusing? Contradictory? Honestly, I wasn't entirely sure if it was normal for anyone to act like this.

Well, Bastila wasn't exactly normal, was she?

I stuck a hand in my pocket, touching the coin I always made sure to carry.

Be your own man, Wes, my mentor told me long ago. Don't rely on others and don't let others rely on you. Feelings, attachments, mean death in our line of work. Even if you're with a crew, always work alone. Anyone of these bastards can jump ship at the jingle of a credit chip. Don't say I didn't warn you.

But it felt good to feel. It felt good to dance about and not worry about the consequences. It felt good to…rely on someone and let someone rely on me.

I finished the wine and placed it down at the table next to me.

So then why did she not feel the same way?

As these thoughts raced through my head, I'd been distracted. So much so, I hadn't realized someone had been standing next to me.

"Thinking?"

I turned my head. Jolee raised a white brow at me. Instead of rolling my eyes at his patronizing question, I faced the window again, crossing my arms.

"You could say that."

"Should do that more often," he said.

I narrowed my eyes. "Are you bored or something?"

"No, no, I was just wondering what you could be thinking so hard about." He crossed his own arms. "Does it have to do with the young Bastila? Hmm?"

I groaned, my shoulders fell. "I told you, old man, it's creepy to spy on people."

"Oh, I didn't try to spy, kid. I just happened to notice." His face wrinkled as if he was also thinking hard about something. "You love her. Don't you?"

"No, it's—" I paused and searched Jolee's old eyes. They were serious—not playful or joking as they should be. Why was he asking? He already knew the answer. "Yes. I do."

I thought revealing this would have eased the worry on Jolee's face. But his wrinkles only seemed to deepen.

"And she loves you?"

"That's…" I pulled a hand through my hair. "I don't know. That's what I was thinking about."

"Oh, no, kid, that was a rhetorical question. She loves you. There's no doubt in my mind."

I raised a brow. "How can you be so certain? I have a kriffing bond with her and I have no idea. One moment she says it can't work. That it'll cause me pain somehow. The next she…" I cut the rest off with a frustrated growl. "What am I doing wrong, Jolee? What should I do?"

A small smile touched his lips. "Oh, are you actually asking for my advice for once?"

"Yes."

I met his gaze, making my face as straight and serious as I could make it. Despite internally cringing.

A long breath of silence passed. Eventually…Jolee sighed. "Well, I'm sorry to say that I don't have any advice for you, kid. Because you aren't doing anything wrong. This time." He shot me a quick smile before he lowered his head. "Love causes pain, certainly. Inevitably love is going to lead to as much sorrow and regret as it does joy. I suppose there are perfect, eternal loves out there...but I haven't seen any. How you deal with the bad part of love is what determines your character, what determines the dark side's hold over you."

"So she's afraid love will make us fall to the dark side?"

"No, that's putting it too simply." He met my gaze again. "She's afraid she'll be the reason why you fall to the dark side. If you succumb to the dark side—if—all the people you hurt, all the pain and destruction you cause, will be because she failed you. Not only would she be indirectly causing the death of others, but she would also be damning you as well. Practically killing you. And she would never forgive herself for that."

I took in a deep breath—shivers rippled down my spine. Jolee spoke almost as if from experience. My eyes set in determination. Nostrils flared. Was this what she meant when she was asking why I wasn't afraid?

"Why doesn't she just tell me that then? Because she has to know that will never happen." My voice embarrassingly broke. "If that's what she's afraid of then I will never fall. I'd refuse. Die first."

A tender smile climbed his face. "Then tell her that, kid. Life without risk is boring. Tell her that if she wants love, then she has to take the good with the bad. She has to fight for it." His shoulders fell. "But that is advice for her. My advice to you is that sometimes, no matter how hard you try, no matter how much you fight, you and the one you love simply aren't meant to be together. The trick is to know when that is, to know when it's time to fight and when it's time to part ways." He chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Hmph...there I go waxing philosophical again. That enough advice for you? Had too much wine, I think. Somebody blast me already."

I didn't follow up with that request. Instead...

"So, then, were you and your wife not meant to be together?"

His old eyes narrowed at me—once again putting up invisible walls. "You really won't leave that alone, will you? Well, I'm still not going to talk about it." He turned and then stopped. "One more piece of advice: live for today. Make good memories with her now, before…it's too late. Otherwise, you will regret the time that you've lost...when you part ways."

I snorted, stuffing my hands in my pockets. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, old man. I don't intend to part ways anytime soon."

"Sure, sure, we intend to do many things. That doesn't mean it will actually happen though."

Ugh.

My whole body sank—physically awake yet mentally exhausted. There was only one person who had enough optimism to balance out the old man. The mingling crowds were beginning to file out which was also my signal to leave as well. I searched the place for the young blue Twi'lek but…

"Oh, no."

By the fountain, Mission waved a hand over the spritzers—giggling like a madwoman. An empty wine glass sat on the edge of the fountain. Actually…six wine glasses—kriff. I rushed over to the poor girl.

Her unfocused gaze somehow met mine.

"Heyooo, Wessy! What're you doin'? I'm great! Faaantastic!"

I opened my mouth to ask what the hell she was thinking, only to receive a mouthful of fountain water. I spat out then glared lightsabers at the teen. She responded by tipping to the side, laughing her headtails off, almost falling into the fountain. I righted her by the shoulders before she did.

"Who the hell gave you all of this?"

Who was I going to confront tomorrow?

Mission burped. "Oh! I just snatched 'em from the trays. Didn't even see me?" Her voice peaked even though it wasn't a question and she started laughing again. "Slemos!"

I glanced back at Jolee—who had stalked me, of course. He started chuckling.

"Um…a little help?" I asked.

"Nah, kid, you don't need my help. After all, I dragged you back to your room all on my lonesome. Call it…divine retribution."

"I hadn't been this plastered!" I shot Mission a concerned look when she held her stomach. Her skin was starting to turn a putrid purple. "Come on, old man. Please?"

Jolee gave out a long sigh. "Fine. But only because the poor girl is starting to look ill…"

I nodded and helped Mission to her feet. She lagged to the other side and Jolee helped her back up.

"Heh, heh…" Mission's blue eyes wavered over me. "Wessy…you're really like my brother. Not…not like Griff. No, heh, you're nothing like him. No, you're like a real brother. I wish you were my real brother."

I frowned, passing a glance over to Jolee.

He responded by rubbing his wrinkled forehead. I swear he earned a few more wrinkles that night…

The journey upstairs was not pleasant. We had to stop on the way to the elevator when Mission started heaving. Both I and the old man grimaced at the smell of vomit. Fortunately, cleaning droids arrived to clear out the offending mess.

The elevator opened, but someone was unfortunately there. The newly retired General, Sunry, flinched when he saw us. We...were probably a sight. He no longer had the military attire on, forgoing his pin, and was dressed in normal civilian garb.

"Oh, uh, Jolee! We meet again." Sunry stepped out and patted the old man on the shoulder. "I see someone enjoyed the party…"

Mission let out an obnoxious rain of laughs as if the retiree had told the funniest joke in the galaxy.

Jolee sighed. "Yeah, yeah, the youngin's are always getting into mischief." Sunry stepped away, and I walked forward, but Mission pulled back. Jolee hadn't moved. "Where are you heading off to this late, old pal?"

"Ah…" Sunry waved a hand. "Ambassador Wann asked me to come into the Embassy for some final arrangements. Elora and I leave early tomorrow and, knowing the Ambassador, it will take…ages." The old man looked out into space then nodded. "I suppose this is goodbye for now, Jolee. Hit me up on Alderaan after this business with the Sith is over, would you?"

Jolee chuckled. "Will do, friend. Will do."

Finally, we pulled the drunk teen into the elevator. And the journey up was just about as unpleasant.

As soon as we all arrived at Mission's room, she made a run for the fresher. The awful sounds of her expelling wine into the toilet echoed back into the hall. I once again frowned with concern and peered past the door frame.

"You alright in there?"

She responded with a loud cough and—

"Shut up!" Something splashed. "Go away!"

I let out a long sigh, rubbing my face. Maybe I'll start to gain wrinkles too at this point. Or gray hairs. Jolee also appeared concerned, and for the teen's sake (and embarrassment) it probably wouldn't do to crowd her.

"Thanks, Jolee. I'll take it from here. Get her some water…"

The old man nodded. "Sleep well, kid." He patted my shoulder and raised a brow. "And don't forget about what we discussed."

My lips thinned as he twisted on an ankle and left down the hall.

I entered Mission's room and the door hissed closed behind me.

Gil hopped on the bed and let out a small chirp at my entrance. The entire place was a Gamorrean-sty—random chairs, empty bags with company logos, makeup brushes, wrappers of various sweets—all paid for by either the Republic or the credits we "acquired" from Czerka. This must have been ground zero of Bastila and Mission's "party prep." Robes and jackets were strewn all over the floor. I avoided the mess and explored one of the cabinets near the holodeck. Paper cup…paper cup...

I found one after a minute of searching. Mission was bent over the fresher toilet—holding her headtails away from her face. With a sigh, I filled the cup with water from the faucet and squatted next to the poor teen. She glared at the cup as if I'd filled it with toxic waste then smashed it like she would swat at a bug. The water splashed on the wall and the cup collided with the ground.

She sniffed, tears filled her eyes.

"I said go away!"

I frowned, picking the cup back up. "You need to keep yourself hydrated."

"You hate me. Just say it."

"Wha—?" I flinched, completely taken aback. "No way, Mission—"

"You told me not to drink and what do I do?" She turned to spit in the toilet again. "It's just…I really wanted to prove to you that…that I could, you know? That I can take care of myself. But I'm just a…a stupid kid. Always…always a dumb kid. Can't do anything right. Can't…not get drunk. Can't listen. Can't help Bas. Can't be better."

Anger. Heat. These words that were coming out of her mouth…

"Mission…" I stood and started to fill the cup again. "I'm not mad at you—why the hell would you think that?"

"Because!" She sat up, tilting back to look at me, almost falling over again. "'Cause when I did everything wrong before, Griff left me! When I got in trouble with the Vulkars…the Beks left me! It's only a matter of time before you leave me too. What good am I to the mission anyway? Bas doesn't even want to talk to me. Carth treats me like a little kid. And I disappoint you! I just get in the way!"

I pursed my lips, searching Mission's drunk and stressed expression. She really believed what she was saying—that she was a burden. It was completely ridiculous. I set the cup aside and turned to face her.

"For someone your age, you know more about tech than anyone I know. Not only that, you've been learning how to fix droids—that isn't easy. But you know what? Even if you didn't know those things, you still wouldn't be a burden." I glanced down at her. "You always speak your mind, Mission. I need someone to knock some sense into me every once in a while. We all do. Because I'm not perfect. None of us are. I've gotten so many things wrong…"

So many things.

I noticed that she hadn't moved since I started speaking so I squatted down once again with the cup.

"We're in this together. Like a…family." I smiled. "A real family. And a real family would never abandon you over some stupid mistake."

Her sniffing ceased—lower lip trembling. She finally moved to face me. Then…

A large force crushed my torso. I held the cup above her shoulder so that it didn't spill on her. Suffocating…dying…

"You're right, Wes! We're like a…a family!" She somehow squeezed my chest tighter. Is she using the Force or something?! "Why didn't I think of it like that before? Kriff…I'm sooo stupid."

Her words were slurring, which meant she was still drunk, yet the depression from before was gone. I managed to pry myself from the Wookiee hug and pushed the cup into the teen's wobbling hand.

"And as a concerned family member…please drink some water. You do not want to wake up with a hangover. Or, well, at least a bad one."

Mission nodded and drank the entire cup in one go. With a final smack of her lips, she sighed.

"Thanks, Wessy, and…sorry for getting drunk and…throwing up. And..."

"Heh, it's fine." I pushed myself onto my feet. "If it makes you feel better, I had five shots when I turned fifteen and destroyed the communal fresher." I rubbed the back of my head as I recalled that embarrassing memory. Like most of my drunken memories though, it was a blur. "It took me days to clean it all because I didn't aim for the damn toilet." I held out a hand. "Thankfully, you don't have a crew of smugglers calling you 'Chunks' for years. And you aimed for the toilet."

She grabbed my arm and wobbled as she got onto her feet. She let out a giggle.

"Yeah, it does make me feel better, Chunks."

I rolled my eyes as I pushed her into the room, though I couldn't stop smiling. "Yeah, yeah—you laugh now, but you will hate yourself in the morning. I guarantee it."

Mission stumbled away and collapsed on the bed. Gil stopped jumping and buried himself within the blankets. Force…too adorable. I waved the light off and left into the hall so that Mission could rest. Before I made for my room, I stared down at my boots in thought.

Family. It's been years since it felt like I'd been a part of a "family." Years since my mother and father passed. But that's what it kind of felt like on the Ebon Hawk, huh? I walked down the hall and stuck my hand in my pocket—feeling the cold metal of the coin I always carried. Yeah. Maybe.

I made my way towards my room, turning the corner, yet froze when I sensed...someone behind me. It wasn't Bastila or a Sith—I would have recognized both. Before my stalker realized I'd caught on, I twisted around the corner again.

Belaya flinched and she grabbed at her lightsaber. I crossed my arms.

"Why are you following me?"

The Padawan grimaced. "I'm not following you, Padawan Gale."

"Oh really?" I peered back behind her towards the elevator. "Is your room this way? Strange. I thought only Canderous and I were down here."

Belaya's dark eyes watched me with suspicion. She didn't answer my question.

"You tread a fine line." She stepped closer, her shoulders were shaking. "My master noticed how you've been disregarding the Jedi ways. He told me that Bastila Shan has refused to correct this behavior."

My mouth twisted into a quick smirk at the thought of her choosing not to lecture me again.

"Oh, so since Bastila isn't pestering me, Koth decided to sic you on me instead?"

"I remember Bastila Shan from the Enclave Academy on Dantooine years ago. She was one of the brightest students. A golden standard. I and many others looked up to her. But now...I don't know. She's changed. Different."

"Changed for the better, you mean?"

Beleya glared at me. "You've done something."

My nonchalant expression tightened. "Yeah, well, I am a bad influence, but I doubt I could affect her like that on my own."

"I saw you." She took a step closer, dark eyes still glaring at me with intensity. "The way she looks at you...I saw it."

I froze. "So, you are a stalker?"

"You are attached to her. And she is attached to you."

"You can tell with a look? Really?"

Belaya shivered then took a step back as if she was afraid before she spoke. "M-My master was right. The mission has been compromised. Bastila Shan has failed." She took her lightsaber off her belt. "You need to be stopped. Come quietly or—"

A wave crashed into the younger Padawan. I held out my hand as I used the Force to shove her against the wall. Her lightsaber skidded away and I pulled it to my hand. Belaya tried to use the Force to take it back, yet I held her still—not enough to harm her but enough to taunt her with the possibility.

"What the hell was that for?" I shouted at her and I grit my teeth as I approached, sending her my own glare. "Threatening me with a kriffing lightsaber—what are you, a Sith?"

Belaya's eyes widened with more fear. "I only reacted that way because of what I sensed. You've fallen to the dark side."

"Sure. I'm the one who's fallen to the dark side. Threatening to kill me is a logical reaction to that. Do you see how this looks?"

"I wasn't going to kill you," Belaya muttered. "As Jedi, we try not to."

"Who cares? I didn't kriffing provoke you!" When I felt her resisting again, I closed my fist, creating pressure on her limbs. Belaya grunted in pain. "Here's the deal. You won't tell Koth anything. Because if you blab, I'll tell him what Juhani has around her neck. Your master won't be too happy to hear that you're a hypocrite, will he?"

The young Padawan sneered, showing teeth, and I sensed that fear increase.

"How do you...how do you know about that?"

I relaxed my grip on the Force, not enough for her to escape.

"Juhani still loves you. That's how I know. She's kept it this entire time."

Belaya's face sank, her cold eyes wavered. With a final sigh, she hit the back of her head against the wall.

"I was...so naive before." Her glare returned. "The necklace...I thought it would have made saying goodbye easier. The day I left, I told Juhani that our relationship wouldn't be possible. Both because as Jedi we aren't supposed to have attachments and...the Sith would use my love to their advantage. To twist me to the dark side." She shrugged. "You can tell Master Koth if you wish. I've already moved past my regrets. You would only be damning Juhani—"

"That is not what I saw."

She flinched. "What?"

"When I touched the necklace, I saw a vision. You gave it to Juhani because you didn't want to say goodbye. It was a promise that you would return. You loved her and probably still love her. You're a hypocrite and a liar. And bluffing."

Her lips pursed in thought. She watched me in silence for a long time. Which meant that I was right.

"Psychometry. Right."

I tilted my head. "Psychometry?"

She sighed. "Please. Let go." Belaya studied the ground—her body had grown lax. "You...you're right. I should not have acted so rashly. And...I was bluffing."

I pursed my lips as I watched her thoughtful, regretful expression, then released her from the wall. Belaya stumbled to the floor but scrambled back to her feet. She didn't run, fortunately. Instead, she glanced up at me with concern, holding out her hand.

"I'll have that back."

My hand holding her lightsaber flinched away.

"I don't think so."

"You're making a mistake."

"Actually, no. I don't trust you to have it, for good reason—"

"I know Juhani still loves me. And that is why I stay away from her. To protect her from falling to the dark side. She...she is sensitive. With the war...if I die..." Belaya's eyes misted over. "But I don't think I did enough to push her away."

I stood up straight, frowning. "Unlike you, I trust Bastila. I know for a fact that she won't fall to the dark side."

"But what if you die?" Belaya frowned. "Do you trust her not to fall then? Can you trust her to find a way to live without you?"

My face fell as I dissected the young Padawan's words. She must have realized...that I came to the same conclusion she did. No. Bastila...I'm not sure if she would stay within the light if I was killed. And neither would I if she died, come to think of it.

Belaya walked past me, the opposite direction she'd been walking before.

"If you care about Shan, Padawan Gale," her voice called back, "then you would stay away too."

The breakfast soup fell into my bowl with a plop. My hand held up my head and I tried to stay awake again. Another restless night. Except, this time, it was due to dreams. Nightmares. All forgotten. Yet it was enough to make me feel absolutely exhausted.

Mission stopped by the canteen that morning with a splitting headache. She'd remembered some things from last night, but the tail end of the party had been a blur to her. She nursed a cup of caffa while burying her head in her arms. All the while, she swore to never drink again. Yeah, right.

Jolee snored next to me. The party last night was probably the most social interaction he's had in years. I kept my eye on the canteen entrance, hoping to spot the Cathar. We all had to eat eventually.

When Juhani's lithe form finally appeared, I shot up.

"Be right back."

No one made a comment as I rushed up to the young Jedi. She was...well, exhausted too. But she didn't have a party as an excuse. Her shoulders had fallen and her bright eyes didn't even look up as I approached. In fact, she jumped as I tapped a finger on her shoulder.

"Ah! G-Gale!" Juhani's face turned from terrified to relieved. She sighed. "H-How have you been? I...sorry if I missed anything. I've been meditating in my room and…"

I took Belaya's lightsaber off my belt and held it up.

"Belaya misplaced this."

Juhani blinked.

"Okay?"

"She probably needs it back."

The Cathar rubbed the back of her neck. "I...then why don't you return it?"

"Oh, because she hates me. Tried to kill me, in fact."

Juhani flinched. "Wait, what? That...Belaya would never do that. At least, from what I remember." She studied my face. "Ah. Right. I understand." Juhani stepped away, holding her hands behind her back. "I'm sorry, Gale, but I will not be tempted to speak to her. Just being near her is difficult."

I lowered my extended arm. "You're not even going to try?"

"I shouldn't. As a Jedi—"

"You won't stop loving her if you don't get closure." I held out the lightsaber. "You'll never get closure if you don't even try talking to her."

That made Juhani pause in thought. A minute passed when she finally took it.

"Fine. I will talk to her." She hooked it to her belt. "Talk. Nothing more."

A smirk drifted onto my face. I seriously doubted it was going to just be a "talk." Juhani narrowed her eyes at me before she huffed and made for the food.

As I skipped back to my soup—kriff, it was cold now—I was interrupted by a loud clatter.

Carth Onasi threw a datapad onto the table in front of me. Mission jolted, muttering "I'm awake," and Jolee snored one last time before smacking his dried lips. I, on the other hand, raised a brow up at the pilot.

"Um...morning?"

He glared at me. Oh, joy.

"She had a fucking warrant, Wes." He pointed at the datapad. "Verena had a warrant for her arrest. Dead or alive. 20,000 credits. Do you...have any idea what type of shit you could have gotten us into?"

Both Jolee and Mission sent us both confused looks. Both that I ignored.

I shrugged. "I mean, we're already being hunted by the Sith. And we have experience with crazy bounty hunters. So—"

"Oh, wait! That isn't even half of it." He slammed another datapad onto the table. "That warrant was from Eshann. This one is from the Sith. 50,000 credits. And you're still acting like this is no big deal!"

I sighed, leaning forward while rubbing my brow. "You really did your research, huh?"

"I didn't have to try. It was posted on the bounty boards." He crossed his arms and passed a hand over his face. "Why didn't you tell us that Verena was a Sith, Wes? No excuses."

Jolee and Mission's confused expressions turned concerned and horrified respectively. I sat up while passing a quick glance over the pilot.

"It wasn't for me to say. And it's the Jedi way, isn't it? We're supposed to forgive people when they admit they've made a mistake. Which Verena did." I snorted. "Maybe you should listen to that advice, Carth."

"Well, you haven't admitted to making a mistake once." He shook his head. "I can understand…why you thought it was okay to forgive her at the time since she really did desert the Sith army apparently. But you once again made a decision that should have been discussed with the team. Why don't...why don't you trust us?"

I paused, my face tightened. Remembering what happened on Kashyyyk. And Dantooine.

"Of course, I trust you." I crossed my arms. "Why don't you trust me?"

"You—!" Carth huffed. "Really? You're flipping this on me? Again? I can't believe—"

Mission interrupted with a stutter. "Is...is it true? Little V was a Sith?"

Carth nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry, Mission."

"But she's changed now right? She helped us—"

"That first warrant was for murder," Carth said. "She killed her own mother."

That caused the teen to quiet. Tears formed in her eyes.

"That…that can't be right. She didn't act like—"

"Murderers and killers can act like your friend. They do it to hide and to manipulate you." Carth sighed. "That's just how the galaxy works sometimes."

Mission wobbled to her feet, tears still in her eyes. "Well, I want to hear from Little V first!"

"Mission—"

She ran out of the canteen—and probably out of the hotel. Carth returned his glare to me again then waved after her.

"See what you did? If you told us about Verena from the start, the kid wouldn't have gotten attached."

"What? I'm not the one destroying what little trust she has left in people."

"She needs to be less trusting then. She'll get hurt one day if she believes in everything."

I pushed myself up so that I could confront the pilot with a more intense pose.

"Hindsight is 20-20. I shouldn't have trusted the Echani like that. Sure. Sometimes my gut feeling about someone turns out to be wrong. I've been betrayed because of it before. You know what it's like. But you know what? I'm fine with taking that risk if it means that someone who entrusted me with sensitive information trusts me back. So, why don't we just put this behind us?"

Carth's face softened after I made that point. His body relaxed as he let out another sigh.

Jolee cleared his throat. "I have absolutely no idea who or what you two are talking about, but it's all very entertaining."

Carth ignored him. "That barely sounded like an apology, but at least you admitted you were wrong for once. It'll do for now."

I shrugged. "You're never satisfied, Orangy."

"Oh, and can you cut it out with that stupid nickname already? It's Onasi."

"I'll stop when you stop wearing that mistake of a jacket, Orangy."

Carth huffed. "You never change, Wes." He picked up the datapads. "I'll go after Mission before she gets into trouble. Again."

The pilot twisted on his heel and marched out. A headache sprung up and I rubbed my temple. I thought Carth and I were actually starting to bond a bit after our talk. It was a naive hope.

Jolee chuckled. "So much drama!"

The pressure in my head increased.

I was about to stand up and find something to do when I sensed her. I flinched after spotting her crossed arms and stern expression.

"B-Bastila!"

Jolee snorted. I glared in response. She'd somehow approached without me noticing...though the argument with Carth had been a good distraction. Bastila sighed. She looked just as exhausted as I was. Made sense given that we shared those awful dreams. Even though she appeared exhausted, the sadness in her eyes was mostly gone. By all accounts, she almost looked like her usual self...

"Wes." She passed a suspicious gaze over Jolee. "I was...wondering if you would like to practice lightsaber forms. We haven't reviewed them in a long time…and there is space available…"

Oh… I tried to keep my expression tame, but a large grin broke on my face anyway. So, it's a date then?

Bastila glared at me. No! You…how does that…? She pursed her lips. I guess. Sort of.

Good enough for me!

I quickly got to my feet, grabbing my empty bowl. "Of course, sun—er—yes!" Jolee let out a tired sigh. Honestly, I deserved that one. I mean, stuttering? Really? I pat his shoulder. "Have fun sleeping, old man."

Jolee's expression, while humored, also seemed...sad? I tried ignoring the oddity of it while I left them both behind to dump my trash near the holoscreens. I froze after I gave them a cursory glance.

The holonews channel showed flyby droid images of the Republic Embassy. A man—Sunry—was being led out in cuffs by multiple SSF patrols. And on the bottom of the screen, a constant headline scrolled.

MURDER ON THE RING! Sith Woman Shot Dead! Suspect Ex-General Gorlios Sunry Detained Without Bail!

Reporters hounded the retiree as he was being led down the steps towards one of the SSF shuttles. All were demanding the retiree to give them a comment. The old soldier looked less upbeat than he did last night and he winced in pain as he was manhandled. Before he was shoved into the shuttle, he shouted at the crowd.

"This is a frame-up! The Sith are trying to manipulate—!"

The Selkath pushed him in and the door hissed closed.

Something touched my shoulder.

"Wes?" Bastila tilted her head. "Are you—?"

"Go get Jolee."

She glanced over the holoscreen and gaped. "Isn't that—"

"I have a bad feeling about this…"

It would be my luck that a kriffing murder got in the way of our date—er, practice fight. The Force really must get a kick out of kicking me while I was down...

Jolee stormed forward—a man on a mission, a man with a plan. Maybe. I'd never seen him this intense before in the short time I knew him. Bastila and I followed, almost running, as we made our way to the Ahto City Prison.

"I can't believe this!" Jolee shouted. "Sunry? Committing murder? Absolutely ridiculous! The Sith are desperate if this is the stunt they pull."

Bastila avoided some of the pedestrians' stares. "Ambassador Wann told us that the Sith have been setting up Republic soldiers as a gambit to get more kolto imports. Sunry...he's a high-profile figure. If he is found guilty—"

"Oh, there is no way that will happen, girl," Jolee spat. "The Republic will get the best of the best on Sunry's case. Which is why the Sith have to be desperate!"

I slid close to Bastila's side and whispered so that Jolee wouldn't hear (not that he would over his huffing and complaining).

"Nothing like a murder investigation and a yammering old man to set the mood, huh?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Mood?" she hissed. "What mood? And why...how is that on your mind right now? A man has been accused of murder."

"Well, you are always on my mind, sunshine. You were on my mind all last night—"

"Please, can you focus?" Bastila sighed, rubbing her brow. "There is nothing romantic about this."

"Hmm…" I rubbed my chin. "Well, the fact that we could possibly die a gruesome death is kind of romantic if you think about it."

"You have got to be joking."

Jolee twisted around and shot Bastila a glare. "Can you two stop whispering to each other like teenagers passing love notes? It is starting to piss me off."

She took great offense to that. "He—you—that was all because he—love notes? That isn't—!"

Her face burned red and she gave up trying to defend herself. Jolee ignored her anyway. In fact, with that glare, he actually looked pissed off. At Bastila. Odd. While he acted like a pissed off old man all the time, he never really was pissed off at anyone really. Maybe this Sunry thing was actually getting to him...

We finally arrived at the Ahto City Prison. There was a crowd of people standing in front of an SSF officer. The Selkath was answering questions to the reporters about what happened. I didn't get a chance to listen since Jolee had a one-track mind and ran past them all.

The entranceway had a scanner so we were forced to place all of our weapons in a secured container before we could enter the building. Inside, SSF officers dragged prisoners (tourists, soldiers, and Selkath alike) to the locked and barred halls. The reception desk had a lot of glowing data terminals and holoscreens. Some played the news. Some security footage.

Jolee slammed his fists on the glass desk.

"I demand to speak to Sunry. Now."

The poor Selkath woman jumped back at the intense old man.

"S-Sir, by law, no one other than a suspect's arbiter is allowed visitation. If you are a part of the press then—"

"Let me in or I swear I'll—"

Bastila stepped forward and pulled the old man back. "Jolee, calm yourself! This really isn't how—"

"Murder!" The old man waved his hands, shoving Bastila aside. "You are all living in a spice vapor cloud. Sunry couldn't have murdered anyone, you—"

"Jolee?"

He stopped shouting at the sound of Elora's voice. The old woman appeared to our right—frantic. Her eyes were red from crying and she held a few bundled-up tissues in her hand. Jolee sank at the sight.

"Elora."

She sniffed. "Jolee. It's...it's no use. They aren't even letting me see him…"

When her body started shaking, the old man approached and hugged the poor woman, patting her back.

"There...there… Sunry's arbiter will get to the bottom of this. Somehow."

"No. No, there's no hope." She pushed away from Jolee and blew her nose. "The Selkath denied the Republic arbiters' requests to make a defense. They do not trust them after that brawl incident...the Sith convinced them that they were using false evidence. Sunry is refusing to let a fish defend him. But if someone doesn't gather evidence for his case, he'll be proclaimed guilty for sure!"

This caused Jolee to rub his forehead. Bastila crossed her arms. And I…

I stepped forward. "So, what's going to happen? Are they just going to proceed with the trial anyway?"

"Well..." Elora sighed. "The Selkath judges won't waste time if there isn't a defense arbiter. They'll make a decision based on what the Sith give them. And...he only has until tomorrow till—"

"I'll be his arbiter."

Jolee, Elora, and Bastila all looked at me as if my head exploded.

"You?" the old woman stuttered. "I...I'm not…"

"Wes." Bastila's brow creased as she studied my face. "Yes, a Jedi can be an arbiter when needed, but that wasn't exactly included in your training. Nor mine. Do you even know what being an arbiter entails?"

"I may not have the qualifications," I shrugged, "but how hard could it be, really?"

"Hard, kid, very hard." Jolee raised a white brow. "Folks make careers out of this. While I appreciate you wanting to help out Sunry, you're underestimating how difficult court cases are. All the legal jargon…you could trip up on that alone."

"I'm a quick learner." I shrugged again. "And I know what it feels like to be sentenced without one. It wouldn't be...right if Sunry went without some kind of defense. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge and all that."

The old man's face wrinkled. Bastila uncrossed her arms—there was a tinge of guilt over the bond. Elora, on the other hand, smiled.

"Thank you, Jedi, thank you!" She shook my arm and I responded with a nervous laugh. "You have to go speak to the courts. Once you're proclaimed his arbiter, the trial date will be set. I'll try...I'll try to help any way I can."

"Of course, Mrs…"

"Just call me Elora."

I rubbed the back of my head, meeting Bastila's gaze again. She still appeared thoughtful if not a bit...stunned.

What have I gotten myself into now?

Turns out being assigned "arbiter" to Sunry's case wasn't too difficult of a task.

We all arrived at the Selkath Courts and requested to be placed under Sunry's case. They didn't even question us. Just noticed we were Jedi. We were brought immediately to the head judge's office to file "paperwork." Judge Shelkar sat behind his desk giving me a strange look as I made my request. The office we'd been brought to didn't have much in terms of decoration. The Selkath weren't well known for their interior decor, of course, given their wet environment.

While it was a strange request (his words, not mine), he made me sign some document or other then handed me a datapad.

"Sunry was seen leaving behind a dead Sith woman—Elassa Huros—at an inn near the casino ring."

"E-Elassa?"

Both Jolee and Bastila raised their eyebrows at my interruption. The Judge tilted his head.

"Yes? Do you...know her?"

"Uh…" Yeah, just ran into her while getting drunk at a strip club. I was going to say that too, but I caught Bastila's gray eyes. "Nope. Just...strange name, huh?"

"Not...really."

The judge ignored my interruption and described the scene.

Elassa was found naked and dead of a blaster wound with an incriminating Republic pin clutched in her hand. I asked if there was any footage of who entered the crime scene, but the cameras stationed within had "malfunctioned." A cantina connected to the inn was known for prostitution, drug trafficking, and other illegal dealings. The owner had hacked and taken them down and this unfortunate incident resulted in their arrest for tampering with the cameras.

There were witnesses though. Three of them. A bartender, a Rodian, and a pazaak gambler. All of them insisted that Sunry was the one they saw last night. After all, with all the press surrounding the old soldier, it was hard not to recognize him.

I sighed as I half-listened and glanced over the datapad. While there were no fingerprints or biological samples found either on Elassa's corpse or in the surrounding room, that pin was indeed Sunry's. All of it smelled fishy. The pin had obviously been planted. No murderer would wipe down the scene of the crime and forget something so obvious.

But that hadn't been the only physical evidence against Sunry.

A blaster had been recovered from the water nearby. While it didn't have any fingerprints, the weapon had been registered under Sunry's name. Each blaster had a faint energy signature that could be traced. And it matched the blaster burn on Elassa's head. So, whoever killed the Sith used Sunry's weapon to do it.

Judge Shelkar rubbed his gills like one would a mustache. "I'm sorry, Jedi, but even though there was no holofootage, the evidence and the witness statements are heavily stacked against the defense. Are you sure you wish to do this? You said you didn't have any court experience…"

"I'll figure it out," I cut in.

Shelkar blinked then shook his head. He dug around in his desk before sliding another datapad forward.

"Please review this for proper court conduct—if you need a witness to appear, you need to fill out a summons beforehand so they can be processed. The tribunal will not tolerate your inexperience, Jedi. If you do not follow the procedure, you will be held in contempt of court. If that happens, you will be taken off the case and given a fine."

I took a deep breath as I scanned the datapad. What the hell have I gotten myself into? A rare feeling entered my gut. The feeling that I was in way over my head. I could tell Bastila was thinking the same thing.

After that lovely threat, Shelkar told us the trial date. He would give us three days to investigate and interrogate witnesses. The trial would begin in three days.

I flinched. "T-Three days!?"

Shelkar sighed. "Sunry isn't the only case we need to judge. The sooner we make a decision, the faster justice can be served."

Jolee let out a nervous chuckle. "You can't be serious. The kid won't have time to catch up on all of this."

"This was your idea," the Selkath judge shrugged. "If you can't handle it, then you are free to remove yourself."

"No way." I shook my head. "I'm already too deep in this now."

Shelkar nodded. "I have set a time in the afternoon for you to question the witnesses and to take a look at the crime scene. In the meantime, I advise you to speak to your client, Jedi. Determine how Sunry wishes to plead. If he wants to plead guilty...well, an investigation would be pointless, wouldn't it?" Judge Shelkar stood. "Since you are new, I and the other two judges in the tribunal will answer any questions you have regarding court procedure. We cannot comment on the case, of course, until it is time for trial."

Jolee, Bastila, and I stood—I took both datapads and shoved them in my pack.

Tonight was going to be a long night, that's for sure.

The shuttle jostled the datapad in my hands. I'd begun to read as we made the trip back to the Ahto City Prison. Bastila and Jolee had remained in stunned silence. Or...maybe they hadn't said anything because I was reading? Wait, Jolee was sleeping...

"Wes?"

I glanced to my side and returned my attention to the datapad. It was describing how to address the judges.

"Hmm?"

"Is this...wise?" When I didn't answer, she continued. "This trial will be broadcasted all over Ahto City. I fear—"

"The Sith really can't do anything to me, can they?" I stopped reading. "And who else is going to do this?"

"Not you." She huffed, shaking her head. "We could have found someone else, someone who knows what they're doing. But you just have to get involved with everything."

"I already told you, I'm a talented individual." I returned to reading the datapad. "I'll figure it out. Trust me."

"It's not that I don't trust your abilities." I glanced up at that. Really? Her eyes had become serious. "It's just that I...I fear the pressure of this assignment. It is...a lot of responsibility to shoulder. This isn't a normal trial, Wes. If you fail, then the war effort will suffer as a result. If you fail, then people will die. The wounded we saved on Uyter...they will die without kolto."

My face fell and I met Bastila's serious, stressed gaze with my own. I turned and started reading the datapad again.

"That's why…" I smiled. "I'll win."