Katya Garnett

The Stalwart (Republic warship)

Unknown Regions

She had been sent with her master to the outer rim as part of a small team of Jedi knights to investigate a disturbance in the force. Being a padawan learner Katya was there to assist her master and learn the ways of the living force. A small Republic fleet had been requisitioned to assist and serve as protection while the investigation continued.

At first, their search had been fruitless, much of the outer rim being unsettled and unexplored, they seldom encountered other ships. When they did encounter them her master Harel Drisken would negotiate a meeting to exchange information and sometimes trade cargo. At each such meeting they learned of rumors regarding a powerful alliance of systems that stood apart from the Republic. They were simply known as the Collective and had been controlling the shipping routes in that area for as long as anyone could remember.

Not all of the rumors made sense, for instance one rumor stated that the Collective had conquered a system rich in combustible and volatile resources where an orbiting space port was built. Another rumor stated that a massive battle had taken place at the Collective's new space port where they themselves were the aggressors, causing widespread destruction throughout the facility. Many stories of oppression and massacre coupled with the building of new schools, hospitals and/or training facilities afterwards. None of it made sense to her but her Master treated each new piece of information like the next piece in a puzzle.

"I recently encountered a powerful fleet of destroyer class vessels, they were definitely a military outfit. They had set up a checkpoint at the hyperspace route returning to the inner rim, stopping ships coming and going, to ask for information. Everything was very cordial but any ship that tried to avoid the checkpoint was dragged into a tractor beam and not seen again. Mind you, I didn't ask about them but we waited in line at that damned checkpoint for nearly twenty hours and never saw one ship come back out."

Mikel Arubia laughed like he had made a joke, his two Gamorrean bodyguards chortled along with him. He sat across from her master at the table they had set up to negotiate, his guards stood behind him. He was a tall thin man, with long slender fingers. He had dark features and his nose reminded Katya of the beak of some predatory bird, savage and hooked. His eyes only intensified this effect, they were alert with a fierce amber color behind his pupils.

Master Harel had afforded him every courtesy, he had even changed their simple meeting to a sit down meal at his request. Having a private dining area set up in a conference room adjacent to the main hangar bay and keeping staff on hand to cook and serve them during the meal had required significant effort by her Master.

The table was laden with a number of exotic dishes that Katya was not familiar with but could recognize some of the ingredients. Included in these was a large slug with herbs and stuffing coming out of both ends, a bowl of very large live beetles drizzled with oil and liquor to keep them from leaving the bowl. Alongside this dish was a large stone bowl of hot coals with a deep pan settled into it, a spatula rested in a nook on the bowl designed to hold it. There were also many other things there she could not identify, being from a small rural planet in the outer rim her experiences with exotic food or lifeforms was very limited. Mikel had brought most of the food aboard with him, his tastes were evidently very expensive.

Master Harel paid close attention to Mikel while he spoke, showing great interest in what he had to say.

"Interesting. What kind of information were they asking for? That is, if you don't mind my asking Mr. Arubia."

Mikel waved his hand through the air and shook his head with a smile, he seemed jovial for the first time since they had met. He obviously enjoyed being honored in polite conversation.

"Not at all, can we drop the honorifics though please? Just Mikel is fine."

"Of course, Mikel. You may call me Harel. What did this military group want to know about? Specifically."

"Harel, yes. That's much better I think. Now we can be, as friends sharing stories. So my friend, please allow me to make my plate while the food is still hot."

"Of course, friend." Master Harel began but Mikel had not waited for his response before preparing his plate.

Using the ladle Mikel put a few scoops of beetles into the hot pan and gave them a quick stir, they sizzled and popped producing a pungent yet sweet odor that quickly filled the air. He left the ladle in the bowl and began slicing the stuffed slug, laying several thick slices on the tray and putting a couple onto his own plate.

Katya noticed a rising high pitched sound coming from the pan of beetles that was beginning to drown out the sizzling sounds of the pan.

Mikel was now blowing on the coals as he rotated the stone bowl with the spatula, causing them to glow even brighter while the pan sizzled and whistled.

"Screaming beetles." He said when he noticed her attention before using the spatula to put the beetles into a large bowl. Then he loaded a few onto his plate and began cracking them open using a tiny fork to eat the soft flesh inside the shell.

Master Harel then served himself modest portions of everything Mikel had put onto his own plate as well as the wing of some sort of roasted bird with four wings and red skin.

Katya followed his example, loading her plate with a small portion of each item Mikel had taken and she decided to try the roasted bird as well.

"How very, diplomatic of you." Mikel said with a little smirk, noticing their plates mimicking his own.

The rest of the meal passed in silence, they were all focused enjoying the different flavors they had filled their plates with. Katya was surprised when she tried the slug and found it to her liking and ended up having a second slice after eating her other food.

Mikel Arubia ate with the finesse and careful manners of someone used to eating fine cuisine on a regular basis, his table manners were impeccable. After finishing his meal he dabbed his mouth with a cloth napkin and slid his plate away. He then poured them all a tiny cup of a strong clear liquor and slid a cup to each of them.

He raised his glass towards the center of the table, Master Harel did the same and Katya followed his lead.

"To a wonderful meal and many more to come."

"To a wonderful meal and many more to come.", they echoed.

Mikel drained his tiny cup in a single drink and put it on the table with a tap.

"Hasvad!"

Master Harel followed his example, draining his cup and tapping it on the table.

"Hasvad!", her Master echoed.

She drained her own cup and tapped it down, "Hasvad!"

The alcohol was strong but she used the force to detoxify herself, keeping it from clouding her senses.

"Hasvad?", Katya asked. "What does it mean?"

"Together. Or, as family.", Mikel responded.

He sat across the table looking very satisfied after his dinner and drinks, he steepled his fingers and looked across the table at her master.

"Aahhh, now that we've taken care of that. What was it you wanted to ask me about Harel? I hope I can be as accommodating as you have been."

"We are seeking information about this military group you encountered. What were they looking for? What did they want to know?" Master Harel smiled across the table at their guest while framing his questions.

Mikel took a moment to consider his queries, lines spread across his forehead before he began speaking.

"They mainly seemed interested in rumors and stories. They asked all the normal questions like where we were going and coming from and what cargo we were hauling but they also asked for detailed accounts of any rumors I had heard during my travels."

He stopped as if he was unsure, seemingly weighing his options, but after only a moment's hesitation he continued.

"I wasn't sure whether to include this but they also kept asking me about some prophecy, had I heard of any prophecies or heard anyone speaking about prophecies. I told them as far as I was concerned prophecy was a made up word."

At the word prophecy her master knitted his eyebrows, only for a split second but Katya could tell he had been surprised.

After Mikel had finished his explanation her master rose from his seat and gave him a quick bow, she rose and bowed as well.

"Thank you for your time Mr. Arubia, you have been very helpful. My assistant and I must get to work immediately on this information. The guards will escort you and your men back to your ship."

Mikel jumped to his feet, taking a couple steps towards them and also performing a quick bow.

"Please, before you go I'd like to ask. Are you Jedi? I've only ever heard stories and have always hoped to meet one myself."

Master Harel bowed again.

"I'm afraid I must apologize, we are only republic negotiators. We are by no means Jedi. Sorry to disappoint you Mr. Arubia."

As he finished this statement he moved towards the door at a brisk walk, Katya quickly followed him and exited the dining room right behind him.

"Master?"

Katya could no longer keep her curiosity at bay, they had reached the small quarters they shared and now seemed as good a time as any to get some answers. Master Harel was searching his bedding and although he wasn't frantic, his movements were quick and she could tell something was bothering him. She gathered up her resolve and continued on.

"What's going on Master? I don't understand what's happening, why are you so upset? The stories that Mr. Arubia told were very unsettling but we have been hearing similar stories for weeks now. As troubling as they may be, why should these be any different?"

"It is the signs, Katya. All the signs are the same, they point to the same thing. I must warn the council before it is too late."

"Warn the council? Why would we need.. Wait. You mean the disturbance in the force is some kind of threat? Are the Sith once again active in the galaxy?"

"It was never a question of whether the sith were still active in the galaxy, Katya. We have felt their presence for a very long time and have even learned a great deal about them. What we were truly sent here to learn was if the time of the Dark Prophecy was at hand. And I believe it is. The sith are combing the galaxy for the dark lord that will usher in an era of prosperity for the force as a whole. The force as a whole.."

He trailed off and began scratching his beard pensively, he tilted his head and stared at the wall. Katya watched him as he arranged his thoughts, she had grown used to these kinds of exchanges. He would brainstorm out loud to help her follow his thoughts and work out problems or learn together. She had grown used to these exchanges but she had also grown bored of them, he seemed to take the smallest little clues and use them to jump to the biggest conclusions.

"Master, please enlighten your padawan. How can a dark side prophecy about the coming of a powerful dark lord be good for the force as a whole? I have read the Dark Prophecy master, the next dark lord will cause untold suffering, it's horrifying. According to the prophecy he will"

He held out his hand to silence her.

"Katya, I know. The prophecy is a very concerning subject but there is more than one verse. The first verse tells of his rise and the war he will wage on the galaxy to bring it under his control. It is often regarded as the only verse because the ending lines sound so absolute, and the second verse is written in an ancient language that still hasn't been fully translated. It tells of how he will rebuild the galaxy into something unheard of and become the force itself."

"I didn't know there was a second verse, it still sounds very vague. What is that supposed to even mean?"

"Forgive me, Katya. I'm not ashamed to admit that I don't have all the answers, I just have faith in the force. To quote the prophecy; And he will become the living force and the people will become the conduit through which it flows. In the end, the prophecy speaks of balance child, which the universe sorely needs."