AN: Hope you all enjoy the double post for the week! As always, thanks for all of your support!
Asharzal - I'm not really sure. I mean, if she's not a threat, then he'd probably just try and help her. Kastor has worked with Sith before, so he doesn't inherently want to fight Sith. He just knows that it often comes to that. I guess it also depends on whether we're talking about Sith, the religion, or Sith, the race. Kastor has no dislike of the race of Sith, just the religion.
Chapter 41 - A Gang Leader and a Crime Lord (Mawan Part II)
Anakin walked with Obi-Wan, following Swanny through the dark streets to an industrial part of Naatan, an area made even darker by the presence of the shells of unlighted buildings looming overhead. Swanny led them to a booth that was a tall cylinder made of opaque black glass in a passage between two former warehouses.
"This is a forced air tube," Swanny said. "We use them instead of turbolifts. If you've never been on one, it can feel a little strange. You step out on air, and the pressure lessens, dropping you below." He opened a control panel and punched in a level and a speed. "I'll keep it slow for your first time. Just don't ever turn the control to 'eject.' That's what we used to get rid of toxic substances — we'd just blast them into the atmosphere. The roof of the cylinder retracts, and you'd find yourself lost in the clouds."
"Are there many levels below?" Obi-Wan asked.
"About twenty," Rorq said. "And the tunnels extend over the entire area of Naatan. It's like another city down there. You'll see."
Rorq stepped into the air tube with no floor. He hung there for a second, grinning at them, then shot below. Swanny gestured. "After you."
Obi-Wan stepped out into what seemed to be a black void. Anakin heard the faint sound of rushing air. The next thing he knew, his Master had sunk down out of sight.
"Next," Swanny said.
Anakin stepped into the chamber. It felt strange to feel the air pressure against his boots. He descended, the air rushing against his ears.
The sensation felt oddly familiar, even though he'd never been in an airlift before. When he reached the bottom he felt the shock of the ground against his boots and almost stumbled as he stepped off.
Obi-Wan and Rorq were waiting. After a moment, Swanny joined them, stepping off the airlift with the ease of long practice.
"Ah," Swanny said, spreading his arms to take in the dim, dirty tunnel, "home, sweet home."
Anakin wrinkled his nose. The air was dank and heavy and smelled stale.
Swanny grinned. "The purification system is hooked into the power grid. Sometimes it's off, sometimes it's on. Lately it's been off."
Swanny activated a glow rod and they set off down the tunnel. It was wide and high, big enough for the four of them to walk side by side.
"This is one of the main transport tunnels," Swanny explained. "We used to have speeders operating along here. Now we motor the old-fashioned way."
Obi-Wan glanced around at the network of tunnels branching off from the one they were walking down. "I don't know how you keep from getting lost."
"There are map kiosks, but when the power's down, we can't access them," Rorq said. "Luckily, we could find our way around down here blindfolded. Patrol, Swanny."
Quickly, Swanny deactivated the glow rod. Rorq dived into a side tunnel and Swanny urged them through the opening. They pressed against the walls of the side tunnel as a speeder slowly made its way down the main tunnel. Two guards sat, blaster rifles at the ready.
"Better to avoid them," Swanny whispered. "Decca's crew."
"Does she run patrols frequently?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I'd say randomly," Swanny said. "She doesn't have enough fuel for regular patrols, so she counts on surprise. She's always looking to round up some of Striker's men if she can. They capture you and ask questions later. I'd rather avoid a rifle butt on the scalp, thank you."
They walked back into the main tunnel. "The substations are where the main computer relays used to be," Swanny said, holding the glow rod high so that they could pick their way down the tunnel. "Most of them have been destroyed in blaster shoot-'em-up battles. There are also docking bays for our once-gleaming fleet of transports. Decca controls most of the docking bays. And the rest of the crimelords have taken over most of the substations."
"Where do the Mawans live?" Anakin asked.
"They took over a half-dug-out area that was supposed to be another loading bay before the Purge. They set up a kind of tent village there. We subrats serve as scouts to protect them from raids. We also ferry food, water, and other supplies."
"For a fee," Obi-Wan said.
Swanny nodded. "A small fee, just to cover costs. We have to pay bribes to the crimelords."
"Who controls the power grid now?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Striker, at the moment," Swanny said. "That could change. The main generator is in a substation down here. Striker has it guarded."
"Can't you switch power from the main substation to another?" Anakin asked.
Swanny shrugged. "Technically, yes. But it's not easy. They'll need a lot of luck to boost the system from another source. Plus there's a relay substation that will shut the whole system down if procedure isn't followed. Nobody wants to do that, even the crimelords. Too much risk that the entire system would never restart. They all want to control the power grid. They don't want to destroy it."
"What did you do before the Purge, Swanny?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I'm a water rat," Swanny said cheerfully. "I programmed all the wastewater systems. I know every pipe down here, just about. Rorq here was on fuel transport tunnels."
"Barely got paid a living wage to keep the surface running," Rorq grumbled.
Swanny clapped an arm around Rorq's shoulders. "Ah, but it was a sweet life, wasn't it, my friend? Low life expectancy, no bonuses, the contempt of our fellow citizens — you've got to admit, you miss it."
Rorq shook his head. "You're crazy."
"That's why I'm happy," Swanny said with a twisted grin. "How else do I stay sane?"
"Why are you working with us?" Obi-Wan asked curiously. "If the citizens take back Naatan, there's every chance you could end up underground again."
"True words," Swanny said. "Most of the tunnel workers are hanging back. They won't give their support. They like the power they have, even if they're operating under a corrupt system that could get them killed at any moment. Call me crazy, but I want to live long enough to see the sun again. Naatan will be returned to the Mawans one day. I'm sure of that. If I help the right people, I'll be rewarded." He grinned. "Just call me a visionary with a deep interest in my own wellbeing."
"If you like," Obi-Wan said.
Anakin could see by the expression on Obi-Wan's face that his Master was amused by Swanny. It never failed to surprise him when his proper Master loosened up with some sort of odd character.
"Now, where would you Jedi like to start?" Swanny asked. "Naturally, Rorq and myself would prefer to keep ourselves out of any extremely dangerous scenarios, but we're ready for almost anything."
"We need to observe the systems they've set up, how they operate," Obi-Wan said. "I don't want them to know the Jedi are here, not yet. It doesn't pay to present a deal until you know what's important to your adversary."
Rorq looked nervous. "You mean infiltrate their hideouts?"
"Unless you can think of another way," Obi-Wan said.
"Down, boy," Swanny said absently to Rorq. His eyes narrowed as he thought, and he stopped walking. "We arrange temporary markets for Feeana. Set up a time and place for the Mawans to buy and trade. There's one tonight. She's the one who deals with us most often. Doesn't cheat the Mawans quite as much as the others. If you keep your hoods over your faces and don't attract attention to yourselves, you could pass for Mawans. Feeana will probably be there. She likes to keep an eye on things."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Let's go."
Swanny and Rorq led them through the maze of tunnels, walking fast and purposefully now. They descended several levels and twisted through a small network of tunnels that suddenly opened out into a large space.
It had once been used for storage, that was clear. Open shelving was built into the curving durasteel wall frames. Plastoid bins lined one wall. Everything was empty. Instead, blankets were spread out on the scuffed floor of the space, and a ragtag assortment of items were spread out. Fruit that was past its prime, flour, some battered kitchen items, a broken warming unit. Folded thermal capes, their edges ragged and torn. An old pair of boots.
The Mawans wandered among the goods. Anakin saw how their eyes lingered hungrily on the different items, how their hands dangled uselessly by their sides or how they fingered empty purses hung on belts. He'd only seen this type of hopelessness in the slave quarters on Tatooine and among Krayn's slaves on Nar Shaddaa.
"They can't afford anything, but they come anyway," Swanny said quietly.
Bored gang members, blaster rifles in their hands, stood against the walls, some leaning and trying not to doze.
Across the space a Mawan female sat astride a battered durasteel box, her hand resting lightly on her blaster holster. She was younger than Anakin had imagined, about Obi-Wan's age, he guessed, and she looked wiry and tough. She wore a comlink headset and spoke rapidly into it while her eyes scanned the room. Anakin kept his hood forward to conceal his face.
Without the telltale blue veins of a Mawan, he would be identified immediately as an outsider.
He and Obi-Wan kept their heads down and shuffled along with the others. Anakin knew his Master was trying to get closer, hoping to overhear whatever directions Feeana was giving on her headset.
He looked at her with a sidelong glance and saw how sharply she was watching the crowd. Her gaze slowly dropped, and suddenly, she stood and leaped. The strength and power of the leap surprised him. She landed only centimeters away from him and Obi-Wan.
"Spies!" she cried, her blaster leveled at Obi-Wan's chest. "Surround them!"
Feeana's quick action didn't extend to her troops. A leader with a headset sputtered toward them, trying to corral others to follow. Anakin knew that his Master could have foiled them in seconds, but he waited for them to approach. Soon they were surrounded by twenty members of Feeana's gang, and twenty blasters were pointed in their direction.
Anakin glanced at his Master. Obi-Wan said nothing. His gaze was calm and watchful. Anakin knew his Master's strategy usually centered on waiting. Obi-Wan could strike faster than any Jedi he knew, but he could also wait longer than any Jedi should have to, in Anakin's opinion. Especially when a blaster was pointed at his heart.
Still, he was an apprentice, and his job was to follow his Master's lead.
"You're from Decca's gang," Feeana said. "Don't bother denying it."
Feeana whirled toward Swanny and Rorq, who were both backing away with careful steps.
"Swanny and Rorq brought them," she said. Immediately, ten of the twenty blasters turned on Swanny and Rorq.
"Whoa," Swanny said, holding up two hands while Rorq bared his teeth in a nervous grin. "We just walked in at the same time."
"Never saw them before in our lives," Rorq said through clenched teeth.
"We're not spies," Obi-Wan said. "We're Jedi. We're here for diplomacy, not battles."
"Prove it," Feeana sneered.
Only by a small expression did Obi-Wan reveal how annoyed he was at the request. He put out a hand, and Feeana's headset flew off her head and directly into his grasp. Obi-Wan spoke crisply into the headset. "Cancel all orders. Take a vacation."
The gang members looked at one another. The leader of the group, who was wearing a comlink headpiece, put a hand to his ear, as if unable to quite believe that Obi-Wan had just given an order. Anakin could hear confused exclamations and questions faintly coming from the headpiece in Obi-Wan's hand. He suppressed his grin. He always could admire his Master's dry humor, even if sometimes he felt his master used humor too often when things were serious.
Feeana tilted her head in a short nod of appreciation. "Okay, you're a Jedi. Now, can I have my comlink back? They're hard to come by."
Obi-Wan tossed it to her. Feeana spoke into it. "Hold your positions until further notice." She glanced at the Jedi. "So you're here for diplomacy. Let's talk."
Feeana led the way to a corner. She pulled up a durasteel bin and overturned another for a makeshift seating area. Then she motioned to the Jedi to sit down. She looked at Obi-Wan expectantly.
"The Senate has sent a Provisional Government Committee for Mawan," Obi-Wan said. "They are above ground right now. Senate security forces are expected within a matter of days."
"In other words, they're finally going to do something," Feeana said.
"Yes," Obi-Wan said. "Mawan cannot remain an open world. After the crimelords are put out of business, the Senate will arrange for a transfer of power to the Mawans."
Feeana put her hands on her hips. "So what do you want from me?"
"We hope that the crimelords will voluntarily either dissolve their gangs or move off-planet," Obi-Wan said. "Your choice. There's no other."
"And what do I get?" Feeana asked.
"You get to avoid going up against the Jedi and an extremely well-armed security force," Obi-Wan said.
Feeana gave him a shrewd look. "You'll have to come up with something better than that, Jedi. Surely you know that deals have high stakes when one side has nothing to lose."
"Why don't you tell me what you want?" Obi-Wan suggested. "It will save time."
Anakin admired his Master's cool disposition. Obi-Wan seemed to know what Feeana was thinking. He himself had no idea. Then again, this was why Obi-Wan was considered one of the better diplomats in the Order. He was patient when even other Jedi would be showing their annoyance.
"Amnesty," Feeana said. "I'm a native Mawan. I don't want to go off-planet. I'm not really a crimelord. Think of me as a thief who does well. What choice did I have? Because of the greedy leadership of my government, I lost my home. I was forced underground. At first, I stole to feed my family. Then I stole to feed other families. Then I needed a cut of what I stole in order to keep stealing. Then I needed a few others to help. Before I knew it I had a gang. I supply the Mawans with what they need to survive. Without me they'd be at the mercy of Decca and Striker. At least I am loyal to Mawan. I am a Mawan first, a criminal second. Amnesty shouldn't be hard to give."
"I think that can be arranged," Obi-Wan agreed. "What else?"
"A promise," Feeana said. "No doubt this Provisional Committee will be involved in setting up the Mawan government. Insiders will get the best jobs. I want to be part of that group."
"A moment," Obi-Wan said. He stepped away to activate his comlink. Anakin watched as he spoke quietly into it. Then he returned and nodded at Feeana. "Your request is granted. And in return, you are expected to move to the surface with your group to serve as a temporary security force while the Provisional Committee works on getting control of the power grid."
"Hold that comlink," Feeana said. "I'm not doing anything until I'm sure you're going to succeed."
"I don't think you're in a position to make demands," Obi-Wan said mildly. "You have to earn your amnesty by proving your loyalty to your homeworld. Didn't you just say you were a Mawan first, or am I mistaken? And if I were you, I'd want to make a generous gesture that will win you support later."
He held her gaze. Anakin watched the battle of wills. He had no doubt who would win.
"All right," Feeana agreed at last. "I'll do it."
She moved off to speak into her comlink. Anakin let go of the breath he didn't realize he was holding. "One down," he murmured to Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan gazed after Feeana. "Maybe. We'll have to move fast to keep her loyalty. If she feels we might lose control of Naatan, she'll go back on the deal. We have to neutralize Decca and Striker, and fast."
Swanny and Rorq rushed across the hall. "My friend, that was a sweet thing to watch," Swanny congratulated him. "You stared down Feeana and won. If I had a hat, it would be off to you."
"Excellent diplomacy," Rorq echoed in a gush of obvious flattery. "I learned a lot just watching you."
"Thanks," Obi-Wan said dryly. "Your support means a lot."
"Anytime," Swanny assured him.
"Particularly for the part where you pretended not to know us," Obi-Wan added.
"What can I say?" Swanny said. "My survival mechanism just kicked in. I run on instinct. Can't control it. I want to be brave, but something happens, and I open my mouth and a womp weasel starts talking. Nothing personal."
"Sure," Obi-Wan said. "But you owe me one." Swanny and Rorq looked nervous. "And what would that 'one' be?" Swanny asked cautiously.
"Help us infiltrate Decca's camp," Obi-Wan said. "That means you come, too. If I know Hutts, we won't be able to bargain the way we did with Feeana. Decca won't willingly agree to vacate the planet. We'll have to find the flaw in her organization, some way to smash it, or at least make things too difficult for her to stick around. That means we have to get right in the middle of things and see how they're done."
"We can certainly give you the location of Decca's camp," Swanny said. "That is no problem."
"And your awesome Jedi skills would no doubt allow you to smuggle yourself in," Rorq added helpfully.
Obi-Wan just waited.
"I can see that you are looking for more from us," Swanny said.
"Which you already promised," Obi-Wan said. "Unless you'd like to take this up with the Provisional Committee."
"Noooo," Swanny said, drawing the word out. "Don't think I'd want to do that. Maybe there is a way to get you inside. There's a revel tonight."
"A revel?" Anakin asked.
"Decca won a skirmish today with Striker," Swanny said. "She always throws a big party so her gang can celebrate. Food, drink, music… and that's where Rorq and I come in. I just have one question."
Obi-Wan and Anakin waited.
"Can you sing?" Swanny asked.
**The Will of the Force**
The band was called Swanny and the Rooters. Swanny told the Jedi that they had played at many of Decca's revels. If they showed up at this one, Decca would assume that someone from her gang had booked them. They would be taking a chance, but not a very big one. Obi-Wan and Anakin had to take the place of the other two band members. Swanny handed Obi-Wan a vioflute and Anakin a keyboard.
"Just fake it," he told them. "I'm so good no one will notice you can't play."
They set up in a corner of the vast substation while swaggering beings from all over the galaxy chugged flameouts while feasting on meat and pastries. A Whipid, his fur matted with sweat and chunks of food, handed two mugs of grog to a Kamarian, who rested one on his tusk and downed the other.
"Fun crowd," Anakin muttered to Obi-Wan.
"Just what I was thinking," Obi-Wan said through his teeth.
He settled onto a stool, resting the vioflute uneasily against his shoulder. It had been surprisingly easy to crash the party — but that didn't mean the rest would be easy. Anakin sat next to him, holding his handheld keyboard. He would have to pretend to play it. Swanny and Rorq needed backup singers, however.
"Just a few 'whee-whoas' on the choruses," Swanny swiveled around to tell them. "No solos or anything. You can follow along, can't you?"
"Of course," Obi-Wan assured him.
Swanny and Rorq ripped into a lively song, and Anakin's foot began to tap. He was surprised to find that they were good musicians.
Swanny winked at him. "Wastewater is my life, but music is a close second."
Decca the Hutt entered the room and heaved her enormous bulk onto a repulsorlift platform obviously crafted for her, large and low and festooned with shimmersilk pillows. Her lieutenants surrounded her, jockeying for position as she settled herself in. There were three, one of them a Kamarian who sat at her right, obviously her most trusted assistant.
His two tails waved as he leaned over to speak directly in her ear.
"I wish we could hear what he's saying," Obi-Wan murmured, pretending to pluck the strings on his vioflute.
"Sing," Swanny hissed as he and Rorq swung into the chorus.
Anakin began to hum the backup, and beside him, Obi-Wan joined in. Unfortunately, Obi-Wan could not manage to find the melody. Swanny shot him a horrified look.
"Uh, not so loud," he hissed. "Maybe you shouldn't sing, after all."
Anakin hid his smile. He was glad his Master wasn't good at everything. Though, he also wished he could record this. He suspected several of Obi-Wan's friends would quite enjoy seeing this. Garen especially.
"Look in the corner behind Decca," Obi-Wan said to Anakin under his breath. "There's a bank of datapads. I wonder if we could get close enough to take a look at what's on them."
"If she keeps downing those flameouts, we might," Anakin said.
"Notice how she's listening to the Kamarian, while the Ranat tries to get closer."
Anakin watched. The Kamarian adjusted the pillows for Decca with his four arms while he spoke. He had Decca's full attention. It was almost comical the way the meter tall Ranat tried to nestle into the folds of Decca's fat in order to hear what was being said.
Anakin wasn't sure what conclusions to draw from what he saw. But he knew that later his Master would ask him about his observations, so he watched carefully as Decca conferred and nodded. Then he slowly gazed around the room, noting the side tunnels and the placement of guards. He estimated there must be at least forty gang members at the party, which meant there were others on the surface and serving as guards. But how many?
No doubt during their break they would be able to mingle in the crowd.
Decca signaled to Swanny, and he stopped playing. Decca held out her huge arms. Her flesh trembled. The substation fell silent.
"We hear the Jedi have arrived on Mawan with a Provisional Committee from the Senate," Decca pronounced. "Foolish beings — they think they can get rid of us."
The gang soldiers laughed and pounded the hilts of their blaster rifles on the floor.
"They will regret coming up against Decca the Hutt. I vow to you today, no committee will blast me off this planet!" Decca suddenly stood, her flesh waving. "Tell the galaxy — Decca will never retreat!"
"Well, I didn't think diplomacy would work for Decca, anyway," Obi-Wan muttered. "Let's mingle. We'll look for an opening to get to that data pad bank."
Anakin had been hoping for a chance to hit the food table. His last meal had been a protein pack on the transport. What his teachers at the Temple had seemed to leave out of their lessons was that on missions, you never got enough food. He placed his keyboard on the floor.
At that moment, an explosion blew them both off their stools. Smoke filled the substation. The ping of blaster fire suddenly filled the air.
"Stay down!" Obi-Wan shouted to Anakin. "We're under attack!"
**The Will of the Force**
"Darasuum, this is Siri Tachi, requesting permission to land," Siri hailed Kastor's warship.
"Siri Tachi, permission is granted," a familiar voice responded, and she could almost see his smile as she guided their small ship through the heavy frigates launch tube into the hangar bay.
"Of course," Taria said with a grin. "Kastor's adoptive daughter is always welcome."
Siri leveled an unimpressed stare at her dear friend. Taria just smiled brightly, clearly enjoying herself.
"You do jokingly call him dad a lot," Ferus pointed out in agreement, and Siri shot a betrayed look at her Padawan, even if she was glad he was finally developing a sense of humor.
"You stay out of this, or I'll volunteer you for scullery duty," Siri said firmly, and she felt Ferus's amusement through their bond as she set the ship down.
"Don't worry, Ferus," Taria stage whispered. "I'll protect you."
"Thanks, Master," Ferus whispered back.
Siri hid her smile, always happy to see some of these more relaxed moments from Ferus, and she certainly couldn't complain that the people that were able to help her serious Padawan unwind were generally her closest friends.
The three Jedi made their way out into the hangar, and Siri glanced around, never having been on this ship yet, noting the Mandalorian starfighters and transports, and the Naboo bombers. Half of the fighters and bombers were raised and latched to the ceiling, providing greater space on the hangar floor. Among the ships were two other random ships that Siri didn't think belonged to Kastor or any of his Mandalorians. She figured one belonged to Vana Sage, who Kastor had mentioned had joined up with them, an old friend from the Naboo Crisis and before, but she couldn't think who might have brought the other small transport.
"Siri Tachi!" a voice called out happily, and Siri sighed but also smiled as Njonne Jaing came walking up, wearing her armor, but her helmet nowhere to be seen.
"Njonne," Siri greeted and couldn't keep in the laugh as Njonne pulled her into an exuberant hug. "It's good to see you, my friend. I trust you are well?"
"Oh, things are always exciting when you're traveling with this group," Njonne said with a grin, and then she glanced over at Siri's Padawan. "Hiya, Ferus," she said, giving him a sad look. "Too proper to give me a hug?"
"Er, of course not," Ferus said, and Njonne chuckled as she pulled Siri's Padawan into a rough hug.
"You're too easy to mess with, kid," Njonne said, pulling back, and Siri grinned at a slightly disgruntled looking Ferus. "We'll have to work on that one of these days."
"I'm sure I'll appreciate the lessons," Ferus said dryly, and Siri, Taria, and Njonne laughed at that.
"There's some hope for you yet," Njonne said, before she glanced at Taria curiously.
"Njonne, meet Taria Damsin," Siri introduced. "She and I were agemates together growing up, along with Obi-Wan. The annoying older sister I never wanted."
Taria snorted in amusement, and Njonne grinned.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Jedi," Njonne said with a slight bow of her head.
"No, the pleasure is all mine," Taria said with a smile. "I assume she met you on that extended mission to Mandalore, and I'm sure you have some good stories to go along with whatever disasters resulted from her and Kastor Shan on the same mission."
Njonne laughed while Siri sighed.
"Indeed I do," Njonne agreed. "Perhaps I'll have some time to tell them, and you can tell me some of hers from when she was young. Now, what brings three Jedi to our ship?"
"We're here to see Kastor," Siri said, and Njonne's smile fell.
"Unfortunately, you've missed him," she said apologetically. "He's on Coruscant right now."
"Well, that's unfortunate, but hopefully we'll see him when we get back to the Temple," Siri admitted. "Still, we were here to refuel as well, and I guess I might as well say hi to Rhys and Asuna, since I know he's here and I assume she is as well."
"They are both here," Njonne agreed, "and refueling is easy. We'll take care of it. I'm sure Kastor will be sorry to miss you if you don't see him back at the Temple. He's going to be really sorry to have missed all his visitors."
"All his visitors?" Taria asked with a frown.
"You're not the only ones here at the moment," Njonne said, with a slight grin.
"Who else?" Siri asked.
"Oh, I'll let you be surprised," Njonne said with a chuckle. "Now, let me escort you to the bridge."
Siri sighed, and Njonne laughed again as they followed her through the ship. Though, Siri and Ferus did nod or give greetings as they passed many of the Mandalorians that they'd met while on the mission in Mandalorian space.
Finally, they reached the command deck, and Siri smiled seeing Rhys already waiting for her, and he grinned, pulling her into a hug.
"Ah, good to see you, little sister," Rhys said, and Siri swatted his arm.
"I'm still older than you, Dallows," she said.
"And I'm still bigger," he returned, finishing their traditional joke.
"Taria! It's been too long," Rhys said, glancing at Siri's friend who smiled and embraced the Antarian Ranger.
"Or not long enough, Rhys," she teased, and Rhys grinned.
"So, I see Kastor trusts you to run the fleet for some strange reason," Siri remarked.
"Ah, no, that's what I'm here for," a female voice remarked dryly, and Siri grinned at Asuna Lok, who had a smirk on her face.
"Let's be honest then," another female voice said with a hint of humor. "Even when Kastor is here, you're here to run the fleet."
Siri grinned at Fay, as Asuna's smirk widened.
"Poor Kas isn't even here to defend himself," Taria remarked, eyeing Fay with a hint of awe, something that was quite common for most Jedi upon seeing the legend.
"Fay, it's great to see you," Siri said.
Fay exchanged a hug with Siri, and then bowed courteously with a knowing smile to Ferus, who returned the bow solemnly before she smiled warmly at Taria, though her smile faded somewhat looking at her.
"You're sick," Fay remarked softly, and Ferus glanced at Taria in confusion, while Siri's eyes widened in surprise and Taria gasped slightly.
"Yes, Master," Taria admitted. "There's nothing that can be done about it. It's terminal."
"Hmm, perhaps nothing the Temple can do about it," Fay said thoughtfully, "but I'm not so sure that there's nothing that can be done about it. I see now why the Force guided me here."
"Master?" Taria said almost breathlessly, and Siri couldn't help but hear the hope in her old friend's voice . . . a hope that Siri knew Taria had long since given up on. If Fay could do this . . .
"Siri, my friend, assuming Taria doesn't have any complaints, I would like your assistance, just as you did once before," Fay said, and Siri remembered when she'd helped Fay heal Obi-Wan.
"Of course," Siri said firmly. "Whatever you need."
"Taria?" Fay asked.
"No complaints, Master," Taria said, a bit disbelieving.
"No need for formalities with me," Fay said with a warm smile. "Now, let's make our way to my quarters."
"Ferus, please assist Rhys and Asuna with anything they need or enjoy some free time," Siri said
"Of course, Master," Ferus replied, looking a bit confused, but shooting a concerned look at Taria.
**The Will of the Force**
"Wicked," Kastor heard a youngling say as he parried Yoda's blade.
Kastor had never, never, faced an opponent like Yoda who's entire movements were guided by the Force. His dizzying and swift acrobatics kept Kastor on his toes, and he was doing almost everything he could to keep up with the aged grandmaster. Admittedly, it was very humbling.
Kastor wasn't so blind as to not know that he was a gifted swordsman, especially in this modern Order, where diplomacy and knowledge of the Force had been prioritized over skill with a lightsaber. Even back during Kastor's original time period though, he'd still been a gifted warrior, one who would have done well as a guardian, perhaps even becoming a battlemaster someday, but he'd let his desire to counter Sith actions guide him as a Sentinel and Shadow.
Still, while he was a very gifted swordsman, one who was among the best of this modern Order, he was finding his abilities pushed to their limits against Yoda, and while Yoda wasn't toying with him, he certainly wasn't in danger of losing. Granted, Kastor hadn't used his Form VII yet, but this was supposed to be a friendly spar . . . a demonstration for a group of younglings and padawans . . . and a way to release some pent up energy and frustrations from his months of trying to uncover the Sith and their activities. Still, his form VII would probably push Yoda a bit, but Kastor knew there was no hope for him to beat Yoda, in a friendly spar or in a real combat situation, especially since Yoda's mastery of the Force was also far beyond Kastor's.
Kastor was using his favored Form III with occasional switches to Form II or Form V to defend against Yoda's mostly Form IV onslaught, but at times, Yoda would chuckle before switching up his style and Form, keeping Kastor on his toes. Yoda was one of the few beings in the Order, that Kastor was aware of at least, that had mastered all seven forms of lightsaber combat, with the only other three he knew being Mace, Cin, and Sora Bulq, though he'd never met Sora, and only knew of him by reputation.
Kastor hadn't had this much fun in a duel in years. The only other people in this age that he'd dueled with that really matched him were Dooku, who had not dueled with him since that first time so many years ago, Obi-Wan, who's mastery of Form III was something truly incredible, Soara, and Mace.
Cin certainly would be a match, but the battlemaster had never reached out for a spar, and was usually indisposed whenever Kastor was looking for one. Soara was an incredible warrior, but sparring with her was not nearly as lighthearted and enjoyable as this was. She was just too brusque and no nonsense. He had learned a lot from her though, as she had from him, and he did count her a good friend. Obi-Wan was close, and someday Obi-Wan probably would be beyond him and just as enjoyable to duel, but it had been quite some time since he'd last had a duel with Obi-Wan. Lastly was Mace. Kastor had never sparred with Mace for enjoyment or leisurely practice. The only time he'd worked with Mace had been when Mace had finally agreed to teach him Vaapad, so all of those spars held at various times throughout two years had been with him as the student and Mace the instructor, so while he had learned much, it had not exactly been a lighthearted and enjoyable set of duels.
Kastor spun, rapidly deflecting Yoda's thrusts and then Yoda jumped and flipped over him, and he barely deflected two strikes at his head, and rolled forward and then pivoted around, checking the space between him and the little green menace.
Kastor grinned at Yoda, who was smiling wide, and then Yoda turned off his saber, and tucked it back into his robes, and Kastor followed suit as they were mobbed by padawans and younglings eager to talk about what they had just seen, and eager to ask questions.
"Master Shan, why didn't you ever show us that when you were our lightsaber teacher?!" one youngling asked excitedly, and Kastor narrowed his eyes at the boy, even if his eyes were twinkling.
"Yeah, you just let Master Antana make us repeat the same exercises," Ahsoka Tano said.
"Plus, you never came back to give us lessons again after you left," Aubrie Wyn added.
"We never got any lightsaber lessons from Master Shan," another girl (Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy) said mournfully, and another younger boy (Cal Kestis) nodded in agreement.
Yoda chuckled.
"Yes, Master Shan," Yoda said. "Why, not show that, to the Padawans, did you? Why not teach them all, did you? Why disappoint the younglings, have you?"
"Alright, hold up before you all turn on the waterworks," Kastor said, and he got giggles from some of the group. "First, Caleb, Ahsoka, I showed you the basics to Form III and Form IV, both of which you just saw me use, so I believe I did show you how. Also, Master Antana's methods are tried and true, which is why she is one of the best warriors in the Order." Caleb (Dume), Aubrie and Ahsoka all gave him unimpressed looks. "Aubrie, I am truly sorry I never came back and retook over classes. Sometimes the Force just doesn't will what we want," he said a bit sadly. "Now, Tallisibeth, and Cal, I will happily come teach your year groups a lesson if you truly desire me to do so. I thought all you little rapscallions (many grins filled the group) knew that as long as I don't have a mission, I am certainly available to all of you when you desire."
"Well, you're not on a mission now," Ahsoka said with a grin. "Can we have a lesson now, then? All of us?"
Kastor chuckled, knowing he'd been outmaneuvered, and then nodded, which widened his smile as he got squeals of excitement from some of the younger younglings.
"Truly a wonder the mind and laugh of a child," Yoda said with content, and Kastor nodded in agreement.
"Truly a gift from the Force," Kastor agreed.