Sorry for the longer than usual update time. So here, have this.

Reviews and criticism are always welcome.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars.

Two Days Later

"The way they designed this ship was phenomenal. They put…" Hillan was at it again. Going on about starships, just like when they were younglings. Enna was almost impressed that he could keep such a passion for something so long. She had her niche, don't get her wrong, but Hillan's obsession with ships was truly a thing to behold. The Corealian go on and on. Enna and the others at the table let him ramble on.

Enna cocked her head around the table. She looked to Donr, who sat across from Hillan, seeming to be the only one listening. The Bothan had always been a good listener. It wouldn't be long before he spoke up.

"Wouldn't that make it hard to turn with the maneuvering thrusters so underpowered?" Donr asked. Enna marveled at how Hillan switched gears due to Donr's ability to throw a spanner in the works. His face turned sour and he started listing all the faults of the ship that he would fix. Enna looked to her left to see Blip and Veran having their own conversation. Blip, a yellow scaled rodian, and Veran, another human, were chatting quietly, about the latest Smashball game. Veran seemed to have something she wanted to say. Enna could sense an underlying excitement there.

She let them talk, not having any idea how the game works or what stats they were listing. She looked across from her, seeing Luminara. To be honest, she was less than thrilled to talk with Luminara. As younglings, the Mirialan had always kept her distance, say for when they were doing team battles. Other than that she was generally quiet. Many thought she was destined for the service core.

Then there was the fact that she was a vocal critic of the way the Council ran things and the Jedi's role in Republic affairs. It made no sense to Enna, the Jedi were always protectors. It made sense for them to be peacekeepers. What else would they be?

Luminara sat eating some sort of Togrutan breakfast dish the cooks had prepared special for one of the older knights. Shaak Ti was her name. She turned it down as she had already eaten prior to arriving at the temple early this morning from a mission. Luminara said she would eat it. She remembered Mirialan leaning over to her while in line and saying, "The Togruta and the other carnivores get all the prime cuts mixed in."

Enna found it strange, but she supposed it made sense the more carnivorous got the good stuff. Either way Luminara was eating what was especially steak and eggs slowly, clearly enjoying the meal. She made no attempt to hide that she was enjoying it. Taking slow bites and savoring the favor. Enna got a tish uncomfortable when she gazed upon the long scar. It seemed to have faded a little in the years, but was still prominent. She had heard what happened. The Mirialan seemed no worse for wear from the experience of being the Stark War's only Republic POW.

"So Luminara, how have things been?" Enna said, smiling politely. Luminara didn't speak until she finished her current bite.

"Well," she thought for a moment. "Things have been alright."

"Did they really stick you in the temple guard for two years for saving Vosa, Jesker, and… Alzarr?" Veran asked, almost she was waiting for this moment since Luminara sat down. Enna noticed Veran had a look in her eye that saw through the action as a petty punishment. Everyone was now staring at Luminara. The Mirialan looked around, choosing her words carefully.

"Yes, but to be fair, I was using info gleaned from old underworld favors taken in Master Tal'or's name. Not exactly the best din'kartay to move on." Luminara said. Enna had heard that Luminara had a habit of saying words in the Mandolorian tongue to the point where she wasn't even aware or simply did not care of her lingual slips. A byproduct of her first time using battle meditation, the rumors said.

Regardless, Luminara's words sounded a bit hollow. Everyone seemed to know she was being diplomatic about the unauthorized mission's aftermath. Cleary Luminara didn't wish to tread on the Council's toes too much. Enna supposed that made sense as Luminara's gift for Battle Meditation had her rubbing shoulders with the many of its members. She no doubt didn't wish to loop them all together as a single entity. Rumor was she and Master Plo-koon were actually good friends. A friendship that came from the Stark War.

Veran didn't sound placated and simply snorted.

"I was thinking of joining the Temple guard after I was knighted," Blip piped nervously. He was obviously trying to derail the subject. Everyone could sense the awkwardness he felt at the criticism of the Council. Spoken or unspoken

"It was fine. A bit monotonous, but I didn't outright hate it. The silence is a bit grating. The standard issue saberstaff could be slimmed down a bit." Luminara frowned. Her annoyance at the weapon was clearly evident. "However, I would recommend you try it for yourself. It is not a permanent position and you'll get your mandatory service out of the way to boot. You might like it. It wasn't for me though." Blip nodded looking like it was an option he had considered for a while. It was also a reminder that they were all still padawans other than Luminara and Hillan. She still felt a bit awed at Luminara's early Knighthood at times, even if the circumstances were grim. Enna hoped she would also be up for Knighthood soon.

"What kind of ship did the Mandolorians use?" Hillan asked with a clear excited edge.

"Some sort of modified freighter. It had a faded Mandalmotors logo on it." Luminara held her hand up to cut him off before the obvious barrage. "That is all I know. If you really want I could send you a holo of its model later." Hillan looked put down, but nodded all the same.

Enna decided to speak up, "How was working with Mandalorians anyway? I heard they can be pretty brutal."

Luminara didn't skip a beat. "They know their stuff. You wouldn't know they were as organized as they are with how they individually customize their beskar'gam. Very precise, well trained, and know how to put down us Jedi. Which ironically, allowed me to integrate well in the squad that attacked the Bando Gora. I dare say that only the Enchani or the Kaleesh rival them for the best non force sensitive fighters in the galaxy. Hopefully we Jedi can rebuild relations with them like during the New Sith Wars. Though Dral'han left a long and bitter scar. It will be a munit urakto goyust at kemir, but I think that one day both our organizations could find a middle ground."

"I hope they are never contracted to take out any Jedi. They are mercs after all." Donr said with a sour look.

"Mand'alor Jango is not that foolish. However it would come down to the individual Mando. Jango has a lot of work to rebuild Mand'yaim after the wars that ravaged their territory…" Luminara proceeded to go into political and various aspects of the Mandalorian Culture that flew over Enna's head. That and sometimes using full phrases or even full sentences in the Mandalorian tongue. The Pantoran found it distracting.

Blip leaned over and whispered, "I have never seen her talk this much about anything. It's scary."

Enna nodded her head in agreement. "Luminara." She cut the Knight off in her speculating on the intricacies of how the New Mandalorians would fit in under Jango.

"This is all very fascinating, but I think Veran had something she wanted us to know." They all looked at Veran. The redhead looked like she suddenly forgot her good news while under scrutiny then remembered what she was wanting to tell everyone.

"Right, my master said I was ready for the trials." There was some light cheering and Luminara gave a light clap and smiled.

"That is great news." Hillan said.

Then Luminara's chrono beeped. She looked at it. "I got to run. I have some training I need to get to. Congrats Veran. It was nice seeing you all again." They all wished her and well and it was just the five.

"I should get going too." Donr said standing. He walked around the table offering to take trays. Veran had barely touched her food. No doubt nervous of her impending knighthood.

This started a domino effect of them all leaving the table. Enna was glad to see them all again. Well those that made it as padawans at least. Still it was a good start to her day.

…

I got to work finishing my morning routine doing my best to not think about a certain… event in the past couple days. I knew I should not have dragged this along so much. To be frank, I thought I could get away without the whole romantic entanglement stuff in this life. But now, I don't know.

The Jedi made it pretty hard for anyone to keep such such a relationship. The celibacy stuff was reinforced more than I expected. Even if you did sneak out and have a tumble. You didn't go around bragging about it like some sort of karking idiot even to friends. The Jedi had an image they wanted to maintain and even the mention of sex was Red Flag to some say for those in the Service Core, but they weren't official Jedi Knights.

This image was something the Jedi cultivated from what I could gather historically in the archives was another instilled overreaction from the New Sith Wars where the Jedi Lords would have families and rule through bloodlines. The Jedi Lords had such power that it terrified the Jedi as much as the Republic. The Jedi were acting like they had something to be forgiven for or something. Personally I think the Jedi were beating themselves up too much about that era. I, myself, think that Jedi were too eager to integrate themselves into the Republic after the fact.

Regardless, I found it ironic that this is where I was hesitating of all places to defy the Council. Then again this was more personal too. I had been through all that already, even if the memories of that old life were scarce, the emotions were still there. I knew I shouldn't have let them drag me down, but life rarely has a shut-off for this osik.

So I sat in my room and tried to meditate on the matter. Did I love Komari Vosa? I was definitely attracted to her. No doubt about that. After about an hour of getting nowhere I grabbed my pistol case. I needed some range time.

I took a transport to the new range I found after abandoning the old one. This one wasn't too far from my apartment either. I walked in, showing the clerk my annual pass and marched to the desk.

"Nils, the usual today." The human man nodded, and set a fresh tibanna gas cartridge and about five power packs. I took them and was about to go to my usual stall when Nils stopped me.

"Hey, Master Jedi, guess what I got in today." I raised an eyebrow.

"Let me guess, a Mandolorian Ripper." I said, clearly joking, but also not joking. Shame the Mandos didn't make those anymore. Or if they did, they were "heirlooms" or "Ancient Cultural Artifacts" that may or may not have the look of being freshly machined.

Nils scoffed, "Nothing that shoots that hot. You said you wanted a good holdout blaster a few weeks ago. Well, I found one you might like." Now I was interested. I walked over as he set a case on the counter.

He opened it. I nearly gasped at what I saw. Luckily I managed not to drool.

"It is a Blastech 1-9 of the E-series line aka the Swiftkick. Used by Santhe Security before they were folded into Sienar Systems. This is a specially made pistol. Simply put, a cut-down, more compact version of the 1-6 model."

I was speechless. I knew many blasters had an earth-like look to them, the DL-44 being a modified Mauser C96 for example. This, though, looked a lot like a Sig Sauer P229, barring some minor differences. In other words I had to have it.

"How much?" Was all I said.

Nils smirked, "Seeing as this piece is no longer made anymore and the fact it was never fired. I'd say around 2000 creds."

I was stunned and a bit surprised. "2000? This piece is a collector's item. Why so low?" Why was I arguing for a price increase? "Granted 2k is nothing to sneeze at. It's just-"

"Old." He cut me off, "And that is the problem. The gas seals have probably rotted away, and it would require a new power port to match the ones used today." Nils said this like he had already explained this three or four times today. "That's just if you can find the parts as the E-series stopped production about sixteen years ago or you would need to have them made custom. However," He said. His voice got conspiratorial. "Should someone manage to update and have some custom seals made? Maybe refurbish the internals a bit. This piece's value would increase sixfold."

"I see," I said, a bit dejected before thinking about it. "Eh, why not, I could use the side project."

So the transaction was made. I shot up the ammo for my Westar and left. My aim was a little off, but I chalked that up to the nervousness in the back of my mind. I kept at it trying to practice regardless of how I felt.

I left the range after turning the old cartridges and went to my apartment next to briefly to drop off the "new" pistol. When I walked in I noticed it was a much different sight than how I left it. By different. The walls had been shined up a bit. The furniture was entirely replaced with new fancier stuff with more rounded edges and in darker colors. It was some sort of fancy upper middle class styles made out of a sort of suede. Not to mention all the furniture was positioned quite differently. It felt that the living room was a bit more open than it had been.

The kitchen was also spiced up, but not as much. The cabinets were molded into the apartment and where there to stay. There was a Caf distiller and an assortment of paints next to it. I found a flimsy on the counter next to the machine. It read:

I kept things simple. Also got you some paints for that armor. Black is always trendy, but it could use a little touch up. I'd recommend adding gold or burnished bronze if not outright those for the base color.

-K

She found all of this in just two days. I did note that there was no mention of the credits for this cost. This coming from the woman who just spent 2k on a fixer upper of a blaster pistol, I thought to myself. It was a collectors item, I countered… to myself.

I sighed, looking at the paints on the table. I would store the paints for later. Right now the young arrogant hunter look was what I was going for. Not the experienced and regretful of their youthful eccentricities type just yet. Luckily this type of paint didn't go bad. Perhaps I could add a few outlines here and there when I had time.

I couldn't help but smile looking at and around the place. It did look a lot better. I stored the paints in the armory which was about the only thing Vosa left untouched. I stored the Swiftkick in the safe. I would have to look over it when I got time. It couldn't be in as rough shape as Nils claimed it was. Would it?

I stopped and admired the apartment briefly again before leaving. It was nice. I would have to call Komari and thank her when I had time. I locked the place down and got back to the temple. I had to get her a discrete message somehow. I had started feeling better about this whole… whatever was going on. I guess I would have to set up a date. I suddenly felt a lot nervous. At least I had some experience from my old life to work off of. Mind you combined with my old life, I was about 40 to 50 years out of practice in that area. Now I just had to find a place to have lunch. It only took me a moment to come up with a decent yet out of the way spot.

…

"This place is nice," Komari said politely, looking at the hustle and bustle of CoCo Street from the window of Didi's Diner.

"I know right. Good food, good sights, good company," I said while resting my chin on my hands and watching Komari look about all the various transients coming and going to and away from the city-planet that never sleeps. She looked rather cute when not in her comfort zone. Her eyes darted to and fro in awe and intrigue. She looked back at me.

"Not what I was expecting when you said you wanted to go for lunch. I will admit. It is humble." She said with decorum.

I chuckled lightly. "Looks can be deceiving." I said brushing a ponytail off my shoulder. My head felt exposed without my veil, but both of us had to blend in so to speak. Komari wore a different yet similar look. If we were both to commit to this, then we would have to be prudent. "Okay maybe entirely not that deceiving," I admitted, "But the food here is far better than what you normally find at a spaceport. Not to mention these types of haunts are great places to find info."

"You sound like Qui-gon. Are you sure he wasn't your master?" Komari asked, "I don't know how his apprentice turned so formal?"

"In the end we are all individuals I suppose. You'd never know that Master Tal'or was only a step away from Master Rancisis as far as traditionalists went looking at me now would you?" I said.

A waitress came over and set down two Jawa Juices. I took a sip of mine immediately. Komari opted to stare at it. We took a brief moment to order. Komari got a Nuna salad sandwich with a cup of soup and I got a Hot Nerfburger.

"Now that is surprising. Some whisper you may never be granted the rank of master for your disagreements with the council." She said, while lifting her glass and taking a cautious sip of her drink. She recoiled and gave the drink a scowl.

"The price of being a reformer, some could say." I sat up, and leaned back watching out the window.

"So I gather Dooku never took you to many places like these." I asked. "Tal'or had a fondness for them. He called them the "Arteries of the Galaxy.'"

Komari nodded. "No, Dooku wasn't the type to frequent these places. He preferred the haunts that mirrored his upbringing on Soreno. He shook hands with galactic movers and shakers wherever he went, unless a mission required more subtly."

"Did you like it? The courtly intrigue, backstabbing and betrayal." I asked.

"It is not nearly as romanticized as the novels make it out to be but yes. I will admit I found it to be oddly fun to decipher motives. It could be rather easy at times when you use the Force sense intent." She said thinking back.

"That would be a leg up on any politician. Did some not have training to deal with Force Users?" I asked. I was a bit curious.

"In a way, whether they knew it or not, The many many lies I sensed in their minds buried the truth to a degree that the truth itself would be seen as a lie." She shook her head and took a sip of her drink.

It wasn't long before a waitress brought our orders. I dug in at a quick but reasonable pace into the gravy and potato covered nerfburger. Nerf meat was delicious. I think it was healthier than beef. It tasted more like bison than beef. Perhaps more like a space beefalo. It had been just over two decades and a reincarnation since I last tasted proper beef, so my memories were a little out of whack. Basically, Nerf was really good.

"So have you thought about the other day?" Komari asked. Her voice was a bit anxious. I nearly choked on the bite I had taken. Great timing.

I finished the bite, using that as an excuse to prepare what I was going to say. I swallowed and dabbed my cheeks with a napkin.

"Hard not to." I admitted. That was an understatement and I didn't feel like dancing around it. Komari seemed to regain herself and give me that cocky smirk.

"Oh, really." she almost purred.

"Yes, and part of me wants to forget it ever happened." Komari seemed to deflate. I continued with my own smirk. In for a penny, in for a pound. "Luckily that is only a very small and cautious part."

Her eyebrows raised in response as I reached across and grasped her hand briefly. Anything Komari was going to say in response was interrupted by the Duros couple in the seat next to us bursting into a long and loud argument. We ate quietly. The Hot Nerfburger was excellent as usual. Komari seemed to like her meal as well.

"That was decent," Komari admitted. "Though next time I'll pick where we go."

"I don't see why not." I shrugged. "Now we better move on. A lot of people like to eat here."

"Fear not, I will get you home safe and sound." Komari said formally.

"With what exactly, a transport?" I said teasing.

"You'll see." Was all Komari said.

After I paid and left a tip, Komari's ride turned out to be a speeder bike. A nice one too. An older model but a high class one nonetheless. It was silver with red streaks. Komari mounted it and I sat bitch, though hesitantly.

"Hold on," Komari shouted. I barely managed to grab on to her waist and hugged close behind her. Komari gave a chuckle as I suddenly tightened my grip around her waist as she laid on the speed.

The Sly Vixen drove like a mad woman. I was amused, I had done this stunt in my old life once or twice. Shoe was on the other foot now it seemed. Even did it after I married- who again? I suddenly felt a guilty hollowness as I searched for the name. I had all this Star Wars crap in my head yet, this seemed more important right now than all of it. Damn it, now was not the time.

"Are you alright back there?" Komari asked with a bit of concern. I was jolted out of my little mind war, and managed to level out my feelings a little bit.

"Perfectly fine. Why are we going so slow?" I said, doing my best to sound unimpressed.

"Oh, you want speed? Well, hold on then." I let myself get caught in the moment as Komari gunned it. Now wasn't the time for the madness of sorting out a past life. The speeder speed all but maxed out. Barely dodging and narrowly avoiding obstacles. It was faster than I ever drove. The city sped past in a blurr. Yet I held on tight. We reached my apartment and she walked me up.

I stood at the door a moment and turned to her.

"I had fun." I said.

"So did I." Komari said. She looked at me, expectantly. I smiled and stood up and gave her a kiss, returning the one she gave me two days ago. Part of me still admonished myself for the risk.

I broke the kiss. "Then let's do it again sometime."

Komari smirked, "Until next time."

I returned a smile and stepped back into the open door until it shut in front of me. I flopped down on the new couch as I sensed Komari leaving the building. I took a moment to enjoy that light and high on life feeling made me want to twirl about. I managed to contain that feeling before I left back for the temple best I could.

It was just as I entered the Temple that my communicator beeped. I opened it and the holographic projection Master Dooku appeared.

"Ah Luminara. A pleasure to see you again." he said formally.

"Master Dooku, it is also good to hear from you." I replied with a respectful bow. It had been awhile since we last spoke. I wondered what this was about.

"I would have contacted you sooner but your transfer to the Temple Guard made it forbidden." His voice held a gruff disapproving tone. "I would like to thank you for your decisive action on Kholma. Also there is a very good friend of mine that I want you to meet." I tried to recall who that was and my thoughts drifted to Master Sifo-Dyas. Cool, I had hoped to meet him at some point.

"I would be more than happy to." I said.

Dooku nodded. "Good, I will send you the time for tonight's dinner. Good day."

I bowed and shut off the transmission. So today was certainly shaping up to be an interesting one. I doubted anything could really top a successful first date, but meeting Master Sifo-Days would be another interesting yet small highlight to this day. Oh, how wrong that assumption would prove to be.