Chapter 11

The Mission Briefing/ Day 1 of the Tournament

The next day began, and it dawned bright on Coruscant, illuminating the skyscrapers above and the slums below. Today was a big day: Robin's first mission for the Order. He intended to take Luke's advice and be professional with Jaina. If the events of two nights ago were brought up, it wouldn't be by him. Ben was instructed to write a performance review on how well Robin handled his mission.

Robin had been outside Luke's office since sunrise, wearing normal robes and a cloak instead of Paladin attire. He wasn't ready to broadcast the return of the Paladins, and it wasn't an issue of Balance or Imbalance, so Paladins weren't needed anyway. Jedi business meant Jedi solutions, not Paladin ones, something Robin knew bone-deep. The Jedi temple provided a beautiful view of the sunrise, though it was currently wasted on Robin as he was meditating; his consciousness in his mindscape was getting in some last-minute practice with Shadow and Einstein. He'd need all of his training and skills to be successful on this mission. Once the sun peeked over the tallest building on the horizon, Robin was alert and ready. Robin turned his focus to the gift he received from Ben the previous day after returning to cook dinner and relax.

Ben's work on the Stace family tree was impressively extensive and made a strange amount of sense to Robin; one name, in particular, stood out, and it was without a doubt not a coincidence: Revan. Ben had been very happy that Robin liked the gift. "Luke was right… It is illuminating," Robin muttered as he perused the gift of his and his mum's genetic history while he waited for Ben, Jaina, and Luke, who would summarize the main mission as well as explain any additional objectives. Ben was the first to arrive, and he struck up a conversation with Robin to pass the time. They weren't left waiting long, as Jaina appeared with her uncle Luke.

When Robin met Jaina''s gaze, it was awkward for a second, but Luke had been wise in his advice; professionalism saved the day. Robin simply greeted her like it was any other day with an easygoing smile, which seemed to pleasantly surprise her before she could fully mask her emotions in the Force, the brief shock breaking the awkward vibe before it gained momentum. The three followed Luke into his office, where he proceeded to take security measures to stop anyone from listening in while locking the door for good measure.

"Good morning, you three. Everything regarding the mission is mostly the same, barring some minor tweaks. Jaina, you'll be in the field with Robin while Ben shadows you both and gets his report done. Artoo will join you as well." Jaina looked very briefly surprised. "I'm back in the field? Why? I thought I was on forced leave. Not that I'm complaining." Luke gestured to his son by way of an answer. "Me. I suggested that you two work together to hone your teamwork, and seeing that you've known Robin for less time than me, the council will see no conflict of interest, were you to intervene. Because we live together, it could be seen as favouritism; there are those on the Council who want others to see Robin, and by extension, dad, fail. This change helps cover our asses politically." Ben explained; Jaina accepted the explanation easily enough. Luke had kept her from missions; he could just as easily lift the ban. Jaina was just happy to be out in the field again; being benched didn't sit well with her.

"Your mission is to enter a tournament held by a rogue Hutt named Wabba in a resort he built on an asteroid in the Outer Rims called the Amber Room. You are going to represent The Jedi Order; that is entirely true, and the prize for succeeding is a Force-related object, though we aren't sure what it actually is, Wabba likes his surprises. Don't lose. Robin, you're championing the Jedi; there will be competitors from many schools of thought on the Force; including the Sith, so be wary. If possible, make it long-lasting, and stretch out your matches. This is a marathon… not a sprint. Jaina's great at stamina training and will be acting as your coach, manager, and moral and medical support. We will have another separate team trying to access Wabba's information cache, so the longer the tournament lasts, the better. Don't go getting killed, mind you. It's not all combat, but it is all dangerous… potentially even fatal." He warned semi-seriously; he knew that such a task wouldn't be the end of his former student.

Luke turned to look at both Robin and Jaina and asked, "Do you understand your mission objectives as they have been provided?" "Yes, Master Luke," Robin replied. "Understood Uncle Luke," Jaina replied before checking the time their shuttle left. "Time to go. We haven't got much time," she muttered before leaving with Robin. Ben followed suit, his mother's espionage skills going to work, (an explanation is coming up, not to worry). "May the Force be with you." Luke proclaimed after them.

For things to go as planned, Ben had to look like he was spying on Robin and Jaina, and they had to sell it that they didn't know, which afforded Ben the chance to keep and hone his spy skills. He hoped Robin's acting skills were up to the task. He knew that he was getting his own speeder after this, based on the brownie points he was sure to earn. He suspected something had happened between the two, but he wouldn't pry; despite his curious and mischievous nature, he was still respectful. If Robin or Jaina talked to him, Ben knew that he'd keep both of their secrets; he'd always prided himself on being a good confidante.

Coruscant's Main Spaceport, same day

Jaina and Robin took their seats on a public shuttle, the first of three, as they'd need to switch twice before reaching the target location. Jaina felt reasonably good, not just about the mission. She'd been surprised when Robin had acted like today was any other day, as if they hadn't shared a kiss two nights ago. She'd appreciated his professionalism and how he was giving her space and control over if and when things happened, like talking about that night. It was a gift she would not take for granted; she knew that they would have to talk during the mission at some point. Robin was studying his file, more to avoid putting his foot in his mouth than anything else; he'd already memorized it. Not bringing up the kiss was far from easy; his focus on not saying anything ill-advised was so great that he was sticking his tongue out of the corner of his mouth in concentration. But he wasn't going to push Jaina for answers to his questions. So he'd reread his file over and over… and over.

Robin would be going as himself, if only in name, surprisingly; Jaina was too. He would be wearing a mask provided with his file. A note in Luke's handwriting said that it was Revan's and that it would protect him since it was made of Beskar. They'd agreed that his identity needed some protection as the last known Paladin, so his face would be covered while in public. The spectators, staff, and opposition would know his name but not his face. "So… I hear that you've almost finished mastering the Ataru combat style. That's not easy. Maybe we can get in a spar sometime? I'd like to see and experience your skills firsthand." Jaina said, breaking the silence and grinning a little bit. Robin looked at her and replied with good cheer, "That sounds great; I'm always up for a friendly match." Robin paused in thought and added, "After the tournament would be ideal. That way, I'll be at my best." They shook hands, agreeing. "Do you see any rules? I haven't seen any." Robin asked. Jaina frowned, looking through her file. As the senior Jedi of the two, she had more responsibilities and more information than Robin. "Bad news. The only rule is that there are no rules. Expect cheaters… and saboteurs." Robin nodded his thanks, and silence fell again.

Two shuttles later, a hiss was heard as the landing ramp was lowered. "Last stop: the Amber Room." Two cloaked figures got off, their robes and cloaks moving in the high-velocity winds of the asteroid Wabba chose to use as his base. They marched towards the expensive, gaudy palace, both ready for anything.

After a dozen or so assassination attempts just while travelling, one grows a little wary of everything, and Robin and Jaina were on their guard. Wabba didn't allow violence outside the arena on his turf after all, providing some security since assassins could only try killing people before reaching their destination, and Wabba's protection. The Force was with them, and that was what mattered. It would be the difference between life and death.

Upon entry, both were scanned for security purposes. They were being compared to the files that Wabba had on them, which were sparse, especially for Robin. The droid asked for their weapons and cloaks; their hands needed to be visible, and their weapons needed registration. "I'll lose the cloak, and you can have my weapons, but I am not taking off my mask, and I am going to get my weapon back. Understood?" Robin growled irritably at the droid before walking through the scanners again to the other side, where he collected his things while ensuring that everything was there.

Robin was tired and hangry, but he drew on the Force for energy and for help in composing himself. "Ready?" Jaina asked from behind. Robin turned around, flashed a smile, (not that it could be seen,) and answered, "Yeah, I'm ready. Sorry that I'm a little grumpy." "I understand. I'm not feeling great either. Hangry and tired…it's a bad combo. We'll register after we drop off our bags in our room. Tomorrow we'll work on mastering Ataru and working on your stamina as well. Uncle Luke mentioned that you're a beginner student of Form VII Joyu too; that's impressive… we can build that up too." They dropped off their belongings. Credits, (money), jewellery, and the like went in their room's lockbox, leaving quickly right after to eat and register.

The pair grabbed a quick bite at a place specializing in food on the go. Whatever Robin was eating tasted like chicken, despite looking like fish. As a cook, he felt embarrassed that he couldn't recognize the food, so Robin followed Jaina's lead. Jaina found the dynamic switch amusing; more than he thought warranted. Rolling his eyes good-naturedly and grinning despite himself, Robin followed Jaina to the tournament registration desk. "Next!" A bored-looking receptionist called, and they stepped forward. "Name? Weapon of choice? You only get one. Wear the mask if you like, but if you do, keep doing so because it builds your character's persona, and switching things up will cause you unnecessary headaches." Jaina cleared her throat. "My colleague Robin Stace's preferred weapon is his lightsaber, but he can make do with any lightsaber if it breaks on him. He's representing the Jedi Order. I'm his Coach and manager; he's shy, so I'll speak for him unless told otherwise." Robin just grinned behind his mask, his blue eyes dancing merrily at how he'd get her back for that light teasing. Yes, he was not the most social person, but he wasn't shy. The receptionist filled out the required documents and sent them to be filed.

Soon, Robin understood what Jaina had been doing. Jaina was very well known throughout the galaxy; even out here, Robin Stace, not nearly as much. She'd been a tournament fighter before, but Robin was unknown in the circuit, and he surmised that she probably figured he'd appreciate it staying that way. She was protecting his identity; without a face or a voice, he could be anyone. "Got it, Jedi… all done. So you're his coach! A former champion yourself, and also a Jedi war hero. Wow! I'm pro-Jedi, and so are many others, so don't worry too much… but know that not everyone carries that predisposition. Some here hate Jedi. Be careful… you're outnumbered. Use the lift at the end of the hall. Here's your keys," she said, giving them their key cards and a strained but genuine smile. As they walked away, the receptionist thought, "I'm not bored now", and sped up her work so she could catch at least one fight with the Jedi and Sith.

The Sith had more fighters, but the feeling the receptionist got from both Jedi matched the half-dozen Sith in raw power, and while Jedi Stace felt inexperienced, the young man also felt potentially dangerous as well. It was like a powerful storm trapped in a bottle, waiting to be unleashed. A feeling every incredibly gifted warrior seemed to exude.

The receptionist had been to many tournaments, but none had boasted both Jedi and Sith, in addition to many other schools of thought regarding the Force and its innumerable applications. Whoever won would win many allies if they played on the influence that winning this tournament would bring.

Ben had shadowed his friend and cousin perfectly, taking note of how everything was done. Then he ran into Artoo, and the duo followed Robin and Jaina, bypassing security and following down the shaft of the turbo-lift Robin and Jaina took. That hadn't been as easy, but it was worth it; the grill for airflow was just open enough to see, or in Artoo's case, record, the two of them talking about the tournament setup. Jaina mentioned how Robin's first match would set the tone and that not all of the challenges would involve combat, though half likely would. Then Robin and Jaina fended off an assassin, leaving him alive but bound; they were uninjured. When the older pair got out, Ben opened the lift hatch, and he and Artoo followed them out of the turbo-lift, all the while silent and unseen as they returned to the ductwork and shadows. Robin and Jaina heard a blowgun, looked back at their would-be assailant, and regretted it instantly. (Character POV will shift more often between the duos; Robin and Jaina, and Ben with R2-D2, please roll with it.)

Stepping out of the turbo-lift, Robin and Jaina made their way through the throng to their assigned location; it was pretty much everything proof. Wabba heavily discouraged killing outside of the arena. One Sith assassin had broken the rule, and now he was… unmade. The Sith's whole body turned first to liquid, then gas, after he was shot by a dart filled with an incredibly illegal poison. It was a contagion composed of nanobots that ate everything until nothing was left. The duo didn't feel too bad, as they were the aforementioned Sith's intended targets earlier on the second floor. He'd been alive then, out cold but alive. The dart was only fired after the pair had left the lift; they weren't the targets as they hadn't been playing dirty. "Cheaters really don't prosper," Robin whispered quietly enough to not be heard by anyone other than Jaina.

She could tell that part of Robin was enjoying knowing that the assailant was dead. She knew this because part of her felt the same way. It was also why she knew that he regretted such feelings and the death itself, but not the end result, being their continued survival. That was just how Robin was. Awareness of one's self is a powerful, underrated ability. It is rare to achieve such a feat with so little experience. Jaina was looking forward to her friend's victory for the Jedi. She had few qualms with destroying agents of evil, even if she would prefer their redemption.

The lights dimmed, and a spotlight appeared on the fattest living Hutt in known history: Wabba. He had a slave with him, a young man dressed plainly who quickly gathered up a giant plate of very disgusting foodstuff. "Good thing we already ate", Robin thought. Wabba began his opening speech, such as it was, translated into various languages from his native Huttese. "I see many familiar faces, and just as many new ones. New blood is always refreshing, isn't it everyone?'' The crowd cheered and applauded. Wabba smiled; he had them now. "In the interest of the spirit of new blood, I open the tournament and welcome to our first match, former Sith Lord Darth Mangler. He is representing the newly elected Governor Willibe of Tattooine. Come up here, please. I also introduce Robin Stace, who is representing the Jedi Order. A big round of applause. It's his first time here! Come on up here, young man." Once both Mangler and Robin were on stage, everyone other than coaches and the like, found a seat. "This first match is trivia. Get a question right… You're safe. Get a question wrong, and, well…" Wabba let their imaginations do the work for him, which was far more effective. "First to 5 points or last standing wins! Sounds fun, right?" The competitors nodded; neither sought to irk the Hutt host.

Trivia. Of course. "Fuck me." Robin thought bitterly; he liked games just fine, but he was mildly worried about the penalty for a wrong answer. "Question one: What creatures are native to Hoth? Two-part answer, two points, and two potential penalties. Talk about an interesting beginning! Write down your answers, now.'' The two challengers wrote on flimsis, (a very thin writing material,) and placed them face down on the table in front of them. Wabba pressed a button and showed the various creatures native to Hoth. "These are acceptable answers. Let's see yours. Jedi, you first." Robin revealed "Wampa, Tauntaun" on his answer sheet, both of which were right. Mangler showed two creatures that, while living on Hoth, actually originated elsewhere in the galaxy, a common mistake. "I'm afraid you're incorrect on both counts, Mangler. Now the Wheel of Pain shall determine your penalties." A wheel was spun twice, and the penalties began to play out.

Mangler was first set on fire before being shot in the hand by a powerful blaster once the fire had subsided. It was the equivalent of beating a dead horse. Overkill much? Once the smoke cleared, Mangler was left without his dominant hand; all that was left of it was a painful, bloody stump, and 90% of his flesh had been scorched black by the flames. "Would you like a medic, Mangler?" Wabba asked, and Mangler actually managed a wheezy, "Yes, please," amazingly, in spite of his condition. Wabba had him shot in the head for his troubles. "There's your medical aid. You were already dead, Mangler; you just hadn't recognized it yet. I don't waste resources or time on those who can't be saved… or who plainly just aren't worth it." Silence followed, and then cheers so loud that the building might've shook, but nobody was paying attention to the building. "Step down, Jedi; you won the first round," Wabba said before leaving the arena so that it could be cleaned and prepped for the next match.

Robin hurried over to Jaina, who looked horrified. "I'm sorry you had to see this side of the Jedi life so quickly," she said. Robin managed to gasp out a reply. "Better early in my career than late. I'd have seen something similar eventually. Why not now?" He rinsed his mouth out with water, (you see, our hero had vomited into his mouth a little,) and while it was 'gone', the taste was only now fading. "Only a few more matches. Are you sure you're okay?" Jaina asked, genuinely worried for her friend; she knew that his first time dealing with such a horrific death couldn't have left him untouched. She was right, just in a surprising way.

Robin looked at her, and she glimpsed his resolve, which was greater than before. He felt not imposing but intense, and while many sought to give him a wide berth, Jaina felt drawn to his intensity, his words breaking the spell. "I shall win. I'm fine now. Pity the first round didn't last very long, though." Robin remembered what Luke had said about stretching things out. "Don't worry about that…most of the tournament is combat, which is far easier to manipulate than a macabre game of trivia with a wheel of pain." All tournament participants were dismissed and told to be ready for combat the next day.

Ben, high up in the rafters with Artoo, had a perfect view of the whole spectacle. He witnessed everything, celebrating Robin's victory and understanding what it was like to witness such a brutal death for the first time. Ben grieved for Robin, that he had seen such a terrible thing. Amazingly, Ben also felt more inspired and more confident in his friend's resilience. If Robin won the tournament, he could potentially eventually achieve enough clout to stop these barbaric events while also putting a huge dent in the Hutt criminal syndicate.

Robin had become a threat to many in a remarkably short period of time and probably only scratched the surface of his potential. Ben surmised that Robin probably barely recognized what he represented. Then again, he was also a very smart person, so maybe he knew more than he let on, allowing potential threats to see him as weak or dull, which could give them a false sense of security. Only one person really knew Robin to the core, his mom; he was an enigma to all others. Robin's mother, however, merely told people who asked her for insights to "Wait and see; it's not my place to tell you of such things… if you want to know him truly, then put in the time, but let's just say that he's always found ways to surprise people, myself included. You'll never get bored with him around, that's guaranteed," she'd say, wearing a bright smile.

Robin and Jaina returned to the room that they were sharing. The two were exhausted from the journey and the emotional overload from witnessing such a gruesome death. It was only after looking around properly that they noticed the one small bed in the corner. "I was expecting a two-bedroom or two separate beds. Guess they stuck us with whatever was available. The Order entered fairly last-minute, so we're lucky to have anything." Jaina said, seemingly okay with the situation. Robin, (not so much,) then spotted a couch. "Now I'll be comfortable too," he thought. Asking her to make room on the small bed would've been a little weird, and Robin was doing his best to avoid making things awkward or uncomfortable.

After an hour and twenty minutes of listening to Robin tossing and turning on the couch, Jaina had suffered enough. She used telekinesis to dump him off the rock-hard couch and gave him a frustrated look. "Get in here and sleep, or you will get yourself killed tomorrow. You're not the first guy I've shared a bed with on a mission… there's no need for weirdness. Okay? Okay." She said this with a frustrated, verging-on angry voice, answering for him before finally going to sleep. The damn couch had made so much noise, and he'd been too stubborn to join her. Robin followed suit shortly after her and fell blessedly quiet, asleep at last.