MOVEMENTS IN THE DARK

"Cade… Cade. Cade!"

Cade looked up, "Sorry, sorry. What's up, Blue? What's on your mind?"

"I could ask you the same, Cade. You've been staring at that root for almost an hour now."

I've been trying to figure out why it isn't responding

"Cade, it's a root. What? Do you want to have a conversation with it?"

Cade chuckled. "I know it's hard to understand as someone who is not force sensitive, but when the Jedi or the Sith come into contact with living objects we perceive their presence in the force. It is in this way that I use the force to heal.

"This root though, it's a sample from one of the trees we are struggling with on Wayland, and even though it's a living object, I can't sense it in the force- at all. And that means I can't heal it."

"You sure it's not just dead?"

"Even if it were dead, the cells, the fungus, the remaining life force, there are still pieces of life I can hold onto. The Wayland Venture was how we were supposed to save the Galaxy, save my father's legacy, but it's come to a stand still. All because I can't fix this stupid root." Cade threw the root across the room, putting his head in his hands.

Deliah Blue walked over to the root, picked it up, and walked back over to Cade. "This is about more than just the root isn't it Cade."

Cade sighed, "I'm nervous about the Jedi Council." Blue waited. He loved how intensely she listened to him. Their love had always been strong, but their connection had grown immeasurably over the last few years. "I sense a darkness growing in the force. Traya feels it too. But the Jedi Council, they are doing what they have always done, grow complacent."

Deliah smiled, "Speaking of, you probably haven't won any favor with your choice of trainee."

"Apprentice," Cade corrected.

"Well, your use of titles certainly hasn't helped either."

"But that's exactly it, isn't it? They are so obsessed with details; what titles are used, whether each minute decision is the right thing to do. It leads them to crippling inaction. When I found Traya she was just a child. I knew then and there what I had to do. I knew that there was a good chance that the decision could potentially cause a fracture between me and the Council, but I knew it was right.

"I take that burden, I accept it. I have never been one shy from a struggle, but Traya. Traya doesn't deserve their ostracism, and that- it angers me Blue, it really does. She's just a child."

"Cade, you have done an amazing job with Traya. Remember where she was when you found her and now look at how much she has grown. Don't let the Council diminish that achievement. K'Kruhk has seemed clear in his support."

Cade smiled, he kissed Deliah. "Thank you, Blue…"

Delilah watched him, "but…"

Cade smiled, looking solemn, but continued, "but even so, K'kruhk's influence on the Council is waning, and even with all the work I'm doing, they still don't trust me. Especially since Shado Vao became a master. Even when I committed myself to the Jedi order years ago, I could sense his suspicions, and they have only grown since then- spread if anything…

"Well Cade you do have a tendency to push buttons."

"Would you love me if I didn't?" The two laughed.

"Ever since the death of Bantha and T'ra Saa. I don't know, the Council feels… lost. Krayt may have lost the war, but he definitely damaged the Council in ways I don't think even he could've expected."

Blue moved to consol Cade. "I know you miss them Cade, especially Bantha."

A tear rolled down Cade's cheek. He wiped it off, but smiled. "It just frustrates me; Traya and I, our connection to the Sith, they see it as a fault, something to be ashamed of, but it's not. It's a tool. We can sense the force in ways the Jedi can't, and Blue- Blue it's screaming out to us right now. I fear it might be Krayt."

"But he's been dead for over a decade now."

"I know, Blue, but something is off. Especially with Traya, and considering her connection to Krayt, that worries me the most.

"We are their Convors in the Cortosis mine. I hope they recognize that before it's too late."

They both let that sit in the air for a few moments.

"Well how is Traya doing in her training?"

Cade looked somber as he spoke. "She is brilliant. She is progressing faster in her training than I ever could have imagined."

"Krayt is probably who you can thank for that," Traya interrupted.

"Traya, what did I tell you about sneaking around and eavesdropping like that?"

"I'm sorry, Master. I just needed to hear someone besides him."

Cade looked deeply saddened, "I understand. But you need to work on boundaries. Have you been practicing meditating?"

"Yes, but since we came out of hyperspace near Wayland, I haven't been able to block him out." Cade looked concerned. Traya noticed, "why do you think that is?"

"There is still something very off here on Wayland. Last time we attempted terraforming, via the Ossus Project, Wayland was transformed in mere months. Now it's been almost 2 years with minimal advances. We're not backsliding, but something is preventing our progress… We've captured Maladi's lab and acquired a ton of research from it, but nothing seems to be able to explain what's preventing the terraforming."

"Well looks like we've got some work cut out for us, don't you think, Master?"

"C'mon Traya, I'm not a Master."

"Your not a master to the Jedi, but you are to me."

Cade smiled, "Thank you Traya, and yes, to what you said before, we definitely have work cut out indeed…"