Krendar Vallent always enjoyed the silent void of space… it was calming, and helped him center himself. He focused on a nearby star, breathing deeply.

"Bookish noble, huh?"

Krendar turned, seeing Leia leaning against the doorframe of the room, arms crossed.

"What do you mean?"

"If you really were just bookish, your family's yacht wouldn't have what I can only guess is a combat training facility built for just one person."

"Oh come now, Princess… I'm just Vallent the Recluse."

"Okay then… just Krendar." She winked. "Then why doesn't this ship not have any guards?" Suddenly, the yacht began to shake.

"Oh, bloody… what now?"

"Caught in a tractor beam, sir," the pilot said over the intercom.

"Lovely…"

"Seriously, why not?" Leia drew her blaster. "We're probably about to be boarded. Are you nuts?"

Krendar simply walked to the ship's entrance and waited. When it opened, Krendar watched as three men dressed in crude armor stepped into the room.

"May I help you?" Krendar asked.

"We'll be taking this ship. You smell rich."

Krendar looked into the eyes of the man who'd spoken. "You don't want my ship," he said casually.

The pirate's expression turned into a blank stare. "I… I don't want your ship."

"You're going to disable the tractor beam."

"Just… just gonna disable the tractor beam." He trudged away.

"Hey, wait!" Another pirate stepped forward, drawing his blaster. "That was low!"

Krendar flicked his wrist, and the blaster soared across the room. "Please don't attack me," he said simply.

The third man, a rather intimidating cathar flashed a grin, drawing an electrostaff.

Krendar sighed. "I was afraid of this." A curved lightsaber hilt, green and chromium like his finery, flew into his hand. He ignited its emerald blade and flourished it in a salute.

The cathar narrowed his eyes. "You'll net a fine price." He growled. "Jedi."

"I'm afraid I'm not that easy to catch." Their weapons met in a flurry of blows, Krendar fended off swing after swing, nearly dancing as he deflected the staff. This was the second form of lightsaber combat… Makashi. He soon found himself in a blade lock, so he waved his hand, and a large crate soared towards his opponent, hitting him squarely in the back of the head.

The cathar fell forward, caught off balance, allowing Krendar to throw him into a nearby pillar and call the electrostaff to his free hand. Krendar threw the weapon to the side, and the now angry cathar charged. The cathar received a slice to his thigh for his trouble, not deep enough to maim him for life, but certainly painful. He roared and fell to the ground.

Krendar, now holding his lightsaber a few inches from his opponent's neck, grinned. "Do you yield?" he asked, in an almost bored tone.

The cathar simply nodded. By this time, the tractor beam had been deactivated. Krendar retracted his blade, hooking it back onto his belt as he returned to his ship, greeted by a look of amazement on Leia's face.

"Get us out of here," he said to the pilot. As they took off, Leia shook her head in shock.

"You… you're a…!"

Krendar simply nodded. "It's not just the mines I was visiting."

"B-but it's dangerous! If the Empire finds out, you'll be killed!"

"That might take more effort than they think. But still, I only use my power in grave situations. I may be in a dangerous position, but I certainly have no intention of dying."

"The rebels on Dantooine… they'd benefit from your help."

Krendar nodded. "It would be the right thing to do. The Emperor certainly won't dethrone himself. My parents might object, but their will, quite frankly, is nothing next to the will of the Force. We'll talk more soon." He chuckled. "Even a Jedi needs to eat, you know."