Chapter 19: The Journey
Mondar.
It was a name that Bayla Istillo had heard before.
It filled her with memories of her father. If laying in bed as a little girl. Her father's bedtime stories were often of the adventures of his youth. Seeking out evil doers in dark places, or protecting those that those same evil doers wished to harm.
Mondar had featured in many of those tales. He had been her father's first companion on those adventures. The Jedi Shadow had been a stalwart companion, and ally in the darkest of places.
From those stories, most would say that Bayla should have had a positive view of the Jedi Order within the Jedi Order.
Sadly, she did not.
She had never met Mondar until today, but she had had some experience with Shadows. One had been sent to Bantoon to monitor the growing Paladina order. To make sure that the new light side sect was not dabbling in things they should not have.
Through those observations, Master Kit, and the other Paladina had come to a singular opinion when it came to the Jedi Shadows.
They were, and always would be…trouble.
Now one had resurfaced in her life, resurfaced, and was already taking steps to make things…difficult.
A friend of her father or not…she could not help but agree with the old Paladina assessment.
Shadows…were trouble.
The girl frowned.
He had chosen to separate her from Merrit, and now…had all but taken him in to custody. Merrit had been more than happy to leave her in Uncle Coop's custody. He thought, if anyone could find her help, it would be the old smuggler.
He even offered to let her keep the Knightfire, asked only for access to a long-range communication system, so that he could summon another ship.
Mondar had not let him do that. Even if the shadow stayed at his side to make sure that he contacted no one else but another ship. No, the shadow insisted that Merrit come with them, that he speak with Master Vey.
"She wants nothing to do with me," Merrit had said, "She told me never to come back, and so…I will honor her wishes."
The little green Jedi shook his head.
"Insist that you come with us, I do. Speak with Vey, you should."
Bayla pursed her lips.
She didn't like that.
No.
She didn't like that one bit.
Merrit was not a prisoner, yet, she could not help but feel the shadow thought of him as someone who deserved to become one.
That wasn't right.
It wasn't fair.
Merrit had done nothing.
Though, she was secretly grateful that he was not leaving, he still deserved to have that choice.
He had done nothing but help her since returning to her life. He deserved their respect.
"Something wrong, kid?"
She looked over at her companion.
"No, Uncle," she replied, "Just…thinking."
At her side, Captain Gabe Cooper nodded. It had been a few years since she had last seen him. He had stopped off on Bantoon just before she left for basic training with the space force.
He…he looked older than she remembered. He was still strong; a man didn't spend his life spacing and look weak. Yet, he seemed…slimmer, and sadder somehow.
She gave him a worried look.
Uncle Coop and her father had been very close. Now, he was gone, just as Coop's first wife was gone. The three of them had started their organization together…
Now, her uncle was all that was left.
Time, she thought to herself.
It was an enemy that even the Force could not hold back forever.
All around them the small convoy of carts made its way out of the village and into the mountains.
On their way to see Master Vey, he had said, and to restock the various cottages and dwellings where his own people currently were staying.
The fact that her uncle was here, and with so many of his followers had surprised her.
Merrit had told her this place was secret, that only a few knew that Vey was living here.
She was surprised that her Uncle Coop was among them.
The cool mountain breeze tickled her hair as the mountain road coiled up and into the hills. The eight carts that made up her uncle's convoy rattled up the wide sandy track that led up into the mountains. As the path coiled to the right, she got a got view of the town below. Smoke now rose from many chimneys, and even from here, she could see the bustle of its many inhabitants.
Amazing, she thought to herself.
The town had been deserted when they arrived. Mondar had sensed an approaching darkness, and informed the city leaders, who had then warned their people, and then, without thought or complaint, the villagers had fled to their storm cellars and other assorted hiding places.
And all on the word of a single Jedi Shadow. It seemed almost impossible to her, people going along with such an order so easily, but maybe it wasn't so hard to believe.
Vey had lived on this world for centuries. The people here were used to her presence, and with the return of the Sith almost fifty years ago, perhaps this wasn't the first time a Jedi had warned the villagers to take cover.
Had Sith come hunting for Master Vey? Had battles been fought on this world while its people hid? She didn't sense anything like that, but it was possible.
Regardless, it was clear that the people that lived here, put their faith in the Jedi, either because of Vey, or something she might have done in the past.
Bayla tried to look behind her, to catch Merrit's eye, but by then the road twisted and the cart he was riding in out of her field of vision. Ritt was riding with Mondar, and a dozen of Uncle Coop's enforcers in the center of the convoy. It, like the other six wagons, were all wide based transports using for hauling cargo, or eight to ten people. Each of them had two sitting up front, one driving the other with a blaster rifle providing security, what kind of dangers existed on this world. Bayla didn't know.
She rode in the lead cart with her uncle. This one, a small two-seater, resembled something you might find the wealthy going around in on more civilized worlds. The seats were well cushioned, and a silky white awning kept the sun off the two passengers.
Bayla ran her fingers down the wood of the transport. She got the sensation of her uncle's presence. He had ridden in this small wagon many times, on many journeys.
"Have you and your people been here long?" she asked.
"About eight months," he answered, "Before that, I've spent the last few years jumping from base to base. Usually leaving a day or two before the Sith or one of my rivals turned up looking for my head."
Her uncle sighed and shook his head.
"I get the feeling that someone wants me dead. Not surprising in my line of work, but I am surprised how doggedly we have been pursued. I can't help but feel my involvement with the Survivors is to blame."
"You think that people are trying to kill you because of Dad?"
"I think someone is trying to erase what your dad accomplished. I'm not the only one among our old allies who have been hit in the last few years. My organization gave me a bit of shielding…but…"
The old man scowled.
"People I've worked with for decades have turned their backs. I had deals running on over a hundred worlds once, now my influence extends to around ten or twenty. Sure, I'm not as active as I once was, that comes from going into semi-retirement, but this…this…"
His eyes narrowed.
"I'm down to a crew of two hundred, spread across three ships. My Folly, and two fighting vessels are all that I can call on now. So many of our bases have been raided, blown to pieces."
Bayla touched his arm.
"I'm sorry uncle."
Coop gave her a sad smile.
"Its nothing I haven't dealt with before, kid. I just thought that I reached the point in my life where I didn't have to hustle to stay one step ahead of my enemies. I had hoped to spend my remaining years on Pee Bee, brokering deals and watching my grandkids grow tall."
"Do you blame Dad for this," she asked, "Do you blame me?"
"Nah, this is the life I chose, kid. I can't complain because it decided to turn rough on me again. It has done that plenty of times over the years. I just thought, at my age, I was done running."
She nodded.
"How did you end up here?"
"I'd call it dumb luck; your dad would say it was the will of the Force. We were in the middle of breaking down one of our old bases when Mondar showed up. Offered to bring us somewhere that we could recover, a place my old allies and enemies knew nothing about. He brought us here, and here we have stayed."
"Is Aunt Kimora still with you?"
"Yeah, she is back at our cottage," the smuggler smirked, "She won't admit it, but I think she may have decided that we should retire here. She and the kids have got things fairly settled. It is nice, not as good as we had it on Pee Bee, but still nice."
Bayla smiled.
That was good at least.
Kimora, her uncles Zeltron wife, was twenty years Coop's junior, but had been a good partner and companion these last few years. She had also given Cooper three more children, his daughters Alya and Nuna, and a son named Galyn.
She had known Alya and Nuna fairly well, they had visited Bantoon a time or two. Galyn had chosen to handle his father's off world business, he was the eldest of Coop's children, and had caused a bit of a rift between her uncle and the children from his first marriage.
Galyn had been born before Coop's first wife had died, and his presence had opened a rift between his son Quire and his sister Tru, both had been working with their father before their mother passed and Coop remarried.
The timing of the marriage had made things difficult.
She had thought to ask after them, but thought better of it.
Things were strained enough.
She didn't wish to bring up old problems, especially with so many current ones on the horizon.
She settled back in her seat, trying to think of what she was going to say to Master Vey when they met.
How best to play this, she wondered, ask straight up for help, or play up the fact that she was not defenseless?
I'll also have to explain Merrit's presence, she realized.
Vey had sent him away last time. She didn't know why, but…
She turned to Coop, there may not have been any blood ties between them, but he was her father's chosen brother, the two men had loved each other.
She hoped that he would be open to helping her smooth over any issues between the Jedi Master and the bounty hunter.
"I'm grateful that you are here, uncle, but I fear that I must ask for your help with something."
"What you need, kid? I'll help if I can, you know that."
She smiled, relief showing on her face.
"Merrit is likely going to need our support. I'm prepared to do what I can, and hope you are too."
Coop didn't answer.
Bayla frowned.
"Uncle?"
"I'm not sure what you want me to do, or if we should even do anything."
"We may not need to," she clarified, "But the sad fact is that I have no idea what that shadow has in mind. Merrit's mere existence may be considered a problem. Jedi Shadows are known for their reputation. I can't say if this one is willing to live up to that reputation."
"And what reputation is that?" her uncle asked.
Bayla frowned.
"Jedi Shadows kill Dark Jedi."
"That they do," Coop agreed, "But Mondar isn't like your typical Shadow. He was the one that brought your dad back into the Jedi Order, always treated him fairly.
Bayla nodded.
She had gotten that impression from her dad's stories, but still…
This was Merrit she was talking about.
Could she afford to accept anything at face value?
Her eyes narrowed.
The first Jedi Shadow I ever met was sent to Bantoon by the Jedi Order. He was sent to evaluate the Paladina, make sure that we were not a threat to the galaxy."
"Can't blame the Jedi for being careful," Coop said.
Bayla frowned.
"He had also promised us a fair evaluation. Yet, everyone one of us got the impression he was just looking for an excuse to declare us a danger, and demand that we disband. All he seemed to want was to abandon everything that made us who we were. He thought it a mistake we maintained ties to our families. He had certainly not liked that we continued to worship our gods."
She shook her head.
"It was his report that kept us out of the war. The Jedi thought us too dangerous to mix with their other members. We were ordered to stay home, and defend Bantoon."
"That is the same deal the Corellian Jedi got," Coop reminded her.
"But we wanted to do more, Uncle," she hissed angrily, "And all because some Jedi Shadow feared we would contaminate the order with our ideals."
Again she tried to catch Merrit's eye. The cart had shifted just enough, and for the briefest of moments, she had thought she saw his face.
She just wanted him to know he wasn't alone.
He had saved her in her time of need.
She…was prepared to do the same.
She returned her attention to the old smuggler.
"I just wish you to know that I'm prepared to defend Merrit if it comes to it. If Vey and Mondar decide that it is in their best interest to do him harm."
The smuggler frowned.
Bayla paused.
Something in the tone of her voice or her words had got his attention.
"Are you sure you want to go this route, kid? Merrit Fallenstar, Fenn, whatever he choses to call himself…well…he has a reputation too."
"He saved me on Kafrene. He has done nothing but protect me since we met. I trust him."
"Again, are you sure that is a good idea?"
She scowled.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Coop sighed.
"Fallenstar's name has turned up many times in my intel reports, kid. He is not known for being a hero. He is a ruthless hunter, and not afraid to bring in someone dead, even when he might make more bringing them in alive."
She pursed her lips.
She remembered the feeling she got when she touched the cage aboard the Knightfire.
Still, this was Fenn…Merrit…
…how could her uncle think such things?!
"He protected me."
"I'm not doubting that, but you have to think, Bayla. What was he protecting you for."
"I don't understand?"
Cooper clarified.
"Do you know what Bounty baiting is?"
She shook her head.
"It is when a hunter holds onto a piece of merchandise, keeps it out of sight, in order to drive the price even higher, or to improve their own reputation by being the only one who seemed to know how to find said merchandise."
Her mouth fell open, as anger flashed in her eyes.
"How can you say that?! You know him! You knew his mother!"
"Yeah, I knew Miri, she was a trusted friend and associate, but I also understood that she had her issues. They made her…unpredictable at times. I came to trust her, but when she was on her own, she did things. Her son has done things too, kid. Bad things."
"Don't talk about him like that!"
"Bae…"
"You don't know him! I do! You…you…"
She paused, seeing something in her uncle's eyes that surprised her.
Fear.
She was glaring at him, her eyes flashing, her hand…
She looked down.
Her hand was on the hilt of her lightsaber.
She pulled it away.
She…she…
She shook her head.
Gods, she thought.
Where had that come from?
"Hadn't realized you two had gotten that close, Bae," he said.
His expression turned serious.
"Um…the…ah…the two of you aren't…?"
She gave her uncle an icy look. She was pleased that it stopped whatever comment he might have made in its tracks.
How dare he?
How could he think that she…that Merrit?
She could not entirely kill the blush that came to her cheeks.
Even if they were, were doing that. it was none of his business! They were both adults, were they not?
Besides, she wouldn't. Not after what happened between them years ago.
"I…I would not make that mistake, uncle. I understand that dangers of doing things in dangerous situations."
He nodded. He had been put at ease by her admission.
Meanwhile, she was anything but.
"If your dad was here, he would say something about making sure your feelings were clear on this matter."
Bayla nodded.
"They are clear, uncle."
"Good, another thing your father would say. Your anger at me…suggesting certain things. He would warn you about the dangers of feeding emotions like that. Anger…it is not good for someone in your situation, not with the powers you have."
Again, she nodded.
Her uncle was right, her father would have cautioned her, and Master Kit would have likely given her a disapproving look.
"She was not some random acolyte. She was the daughter of the queen and Lord Castellan. One of the founders of the Paladina order.
She knew better. Still…Merrit…
She clenched her fists.
Her desire to keep him safe. That…that sense of protectiveness…where had that come from?
Is it really so surprising, her conscience chided. You have been alone for so long. Keeping people at arm's length.
Merrit is an old friend, or Fenn was.
Why wouldn't you feel safe around him?
Why would you not drop your guard?
No.
He was her father's old student, and he was helping her for that reason.
She tried to say that was all there was to it, but…was that true?
She said she was over her past feelings, but…
She chewed her lip.
That didn't explain her willingness to go up against a Jedi Shadow for him.
Had she truly put the past to rest, or…or…?
She shivered.
No, that couldn't be it.
No.
She was no fool.
She had learned her lesson.
The past was gone. Her feelings for him had not been real.
Hadn't they?
She shook her head.
No.
It had not been real…
…right?
IOI
Merrit tried to catch her eye as the cart turned, but again, he barely got a glimpse of her.
The bounty hunter frowned.
He was starting to think this was a mistake.
Coming here, seeking out Vey…
He should have known better.
Of course, if not Vey…who could he have gone too? All of his contacts in the Republic military had been in the Survivors, and they had all died when Survivor base fell.
He almost growled with frustration.
This was not good.
He trusted Cooper, the man's love of Jas Dar Bynn would keep his daughter safe, but it wasn't just Coop here, was it?
All these people, the enforcers and servants that followed in Coop's wake. If any of them knew about the bounty…
All it would take was one informer and hunters would swarm this world. If Avy didn't show up herself.
That thought…the thought of facing his old lover…the mother of his child.
He…he was not sure what would happen when he looked upon her once again.
"Fear for the girl, you do?"
He looked down at the tiny green shadow. He had seen their species before. There had been a very old one serving in the Republic military, though he couldn't remember his name at the time.
This one, Mondar, was in the prime of his life. His green skin unwrinkled, his brown air tied in a topknot. His robes, though still having the look of a Jedi's had a different cut, and were common enough to allow the little creature to blend in on dozens of worlds.
"Her safety is what concerns me," he told Mondar.
He didn't bring up the bounty, he didn't want to give the enforcers around him any ideas.
Mondar smiled.
"Much anger in you, young Fallenstar. Much like your mother, are you."
Merrit's eyes narrowed.
"You knew her?"
"Hunted her for a time, I did. Sought to bring her home, I did. Back to the temple, for retraining. Lost she had been back then. Angry and lost."
The shadow's smile widened.
"Found your master, she did. Helped her, he did. The Jedi she might have been, gone she was, but helped her, your master did."
The little creature nodded.
"Saved her, Jas Dar Bynn did."
Merrit was surprised that his mother didn't comment on that, but the Force remained silent.
Did she agree, or know that he would not take such a tale at face value.
"Master Jas spoke often of you, Mondar."
"A good friend he was."
Merrit gave him a wicked smile.
"He said you had died. He had not seen you for years, no one had."
"Away from the order, my duties drew me."
And what might those duties have been, Merrit had to wonder.
What would keep a shadow away when the order fell to pieces? First with the fall of Coruscant during the first war, and now again, with the coming of the Zakuul.
He could have demanded answers tried to shake the little shadow, but chose a different tact.
"In the absence of light, a shadow cannot be seen."
Mondar smirked.
The quote was from Satele Shan, she had said it once during an address to the Jedi Order during the cold war with the Sith.
There had been many in the order that demanded retaliation for the sacking of the temple. Sy Dar Bynn had suggested using the shadows to strike at the empire directly. Master Satele had refused. She thought that such a strike was dangerous, that it was too close to revenge. That…
Merrit paused.
Was that what had motivated his master's brother to take it upon himself to try and bring the Sith Empire down with his conspiracy?
Probably.
"Unseen, I was," Mondar replied, "Serving the order in my own way, I did."
He leaned forward, Merrit felt him reaching out with the Force.
He was not sure he liked what he sensed.
The creatures touch through the Force was gentle and probing, but the light within him too bright!
He winced and looked away.
The shadow withdrew his touch, his expression concerned.
"Cut off from the light, you are?"
Merrit sneered.
"Ask any of the Jedi that I approached these last few years. They would have verified that for you."
The little one reach out, put a small green hand on his leg.
"For one trained in the Jedi way, torture this must be for you."
Merrit snorted.
"I've learned to live with it."
"As did your mother before you."
"Save your pity," Merrit spat, "I don't need it."
The shadow didn't respond, he simply continued to watch him.
Merrit quelled under that gaze.
"I don't need your help. Bayla does. You want to help me, get Vey to help her. Convince her it is for the best."
The shadow smiled.
"Lost you are, Merrit Fallenstar, know that you do, but the first step that is."
The first step to what?"
"To being found."
Merrit almost rolled his eyes.
More Jedi platitudes, how wonderful!
"Even if I'm found, Shadow. I will not be able to go back to being a Jedi again. I know that to be true."
Mondar nodded.
"Not wrong you are."
His words shocked Merrit.
"I thought you believed in saving people?"
"Yes, I do."
"Yet you say that I could never become a Jedi again."
"Being a Jedi is not the only way to be saved, you know."
The hunter glared at the shadow.
"What would I be if not a Jedi? I would never become Sith, but…"
"Become a man you would, but already so close to that you are already."
That made him pause.
A man?
But…did that mean that he would have to give up the Force? He was not sure he could do that.
Again the Shadow patted his knee.
"Help you, Vey will. Trust her, you should."
Merrit didn't respond.
He had sought out her help before, and been rejected.
Don't come back, she had said.
Never come back.
Well, he had already disobeyed that order.
He was here, but not for himself.
This was about Bayla not him.
He was lost, he accepted it.
She…she could still be helped, needed to be helped.
He thought of the vision he had had again. The two of them, Bayla and him, lovers…
…both lost to the dark side.
He would not allow that.
He owed it to Master Jas.
She wouldn't fall.
He wouldn't let her fall!
The journey continued on; three carts disappeared down different mountain passes. Merrit tried to keep his presence in the Force small, not wishing to draw the Jedi Master's attention.
He need not have worried.
He felt it then, a sense of ageless calm and wisdom. It surrounded him, causing him to retreat back into himself.
In the distance he could see smoke rising from a small cottage, but so close by, was something more, a beacon of light.
He felt it reach out and embrace him, causing him to retreat into his own darkness.
"Hello, master," he whispered into the Force.
He expected anger or disappointment at his presence. She had sent him away after all.
Never come back.
Instead, he felt the light withdraw, and he could almost see her face. That calm forever young face he remembered from several adventures together. Her voice echoed through his mind and the Force.
Hello Merrit.
Welcome.