Chapter 24: Good Night
"So, peace does still exist."
Bayla took a deep breath, letting the cool night air fill her lungs. She sat upon one of the training platforms scattered around Vey's cottage, letting the Force flow through her.
She did not kid herself though, yes, there was peace here, but throughout the stars conflict continued to rage. The Eternal Empire was tasting true resistance for the first time, and many dark forces were moving behind the scenes, readying their own plots and schemes.
Like what is happening back home, she thought, my world drawn into the plot, my people are suffering.
She shivered.
It was a realization she had tried to avoid these last few years. Running from place to place, trying to hide from the storm raging around her.
Yet, now, for the first time, she was no longer running she was waiting, waiting for one to hear her, and take her into the very heart of that storm.
As she delved into the Force she felt it.
This path felt right.
She took another deep cleansing breath.
Finally…
…it was time.
Vey was currently away. The Jedi Master had been summoned to the village below. She had been true to her word, though. She had reached out to her contacts, looking for help for Bayla. People that might be able to help Bantoon.
It would take time though; the master had warned. Many of her contacts had been scattered by the wars, and it might take a while for them to respond to her message.
Bayla couldn't say how much time was left, but she needed to have faith, that someone would listen and respond.
Her master had taught her that.
In all things that she did, she HAD to remember her faith.
For almost three weeks now, they had remained. She and Merrit, Master Vey had offered retraining, both to sharpen their skills, and, hopefully, help Merrit regain his connection to the light.
She felt the change, opening herself up to the light again. Old strengths were coming back. Merrit was…
She shook her head.
Things for him where not going very well, but again, she had to trust Master Vey.
The Jedi Master was wise…
…she knew what she was doing.
Bayla ran her fingers along the stone of the platform, the days heat was finally fading, but it was still there. The wind tickled her nose, while a bit of rain splashed her face, and the sand and grit on the platform felt rough on her fingertips.
Sun, wave, wind, and stone, the four aspects of the gods. Even here she could sense them, but that was not the only thing she felt.
She could feel her father's presence here, he had trained on these platforms decades ago, but still…a trace of him remained.
Feeling that trace…it brought a tear to her eye.
Dad…
She could almost see his face, not as the seasoned Jedi Master, and father, but as the young man who had trained here all those years ago. He had placed his hands on this platform, in the same place she was placing hers. It was as if they were holding hands as they had when she was a child. She could almost see his grey eyes watching her…she could almost hear his voice.
There is no emotion…there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
There is no chaos there is harmony.
There is no death…there is the Force.
Words her father had lived by, but not her words. She was Bann, and as much as she loved her father, she was no Jedi.
She was Paladina. She still followed the light, but the path she walked was different, but that was not a bad thing.
Different did not mean wrong, her master had taught her that.
Master Kit had understood.
She was the first Paladina, and had understood that the Jedi way was not the only way to find the light. That had been the first lesson she had taught an excited ten-year-old princess, a girl who didn't yet understand what was being asked of her.
It would be years before Bayla would understand.
Master Kit had seen something in her, even then.
She had created her own code, she had listened to the gods and the Force and brought forth the code, and the Paladina had followed it.
It was a code to live by.
The Gods gave rise to our people.
They gave us emotion.
Through emotion comes understanding.
Through understanding, comes knowledge.
Through knowledge comes strength.
Through strength we protect.
We protect with the Gods words in our hearts.
The Gods words…are the Force.
Bayla sighed.
Most Jedi Masters would likely call the code heresy, her Uncle Sy certainly had, but it had served the Paladina well, they served the people, and each other. They protected their world, and their people.
All were one, and one was all.
Sitting here, feeling the Force flow freely, she was starting to understand what that meant. She had first sensed it years ago, but it had been too big. She had been frightened.
She had fled.
She had fled to join the fleet, to protect her people in that way, but in doing so, had cut herself off from her Paladina brothers and sisters…
She frowned.
She had shamed her master, and her fellows.
She had failed…
…but…
…Was there still time to make it right…
…or was she already too late?
She reached out with the Force anew, her psychometrics showing her glimpses of what had transpired here. She saw her father again, but also…Shyra Viel, they had only met once, but the girl born of Sith Alchemy was known to her. Her father had believed the girl had some grand destiny.
She also saw Zhar, the young boy who had only been walking the Jedi path for a short time. Yet, he remained part of something very old. She could not tell how that would affect him, either for good or ill.
He remained a mystery to her, and that mystery troubled Merrit. Something about the boy didn't sit well with him. Master Vey had tried to reassure him, but he would not be put at ease.
She was not sure what to make of the boy. Vey said he could be trusted; she wouldn't be training him otherwise.
His presence was the most recent, as Vey's new padawan, he was only just learning to walk the path. She…
Her frown deepened.
The Force showed her something new.
She felt a powerful presence, an old man…but…but not an old man. A shadow reborn, someone who was dead, but somehow lived again.
He placed his hand where she was placing hers now, and in that moment, she felt his wants…his desires. He was NO Sith, but his claims to be a Jedi were false.
He was deluded, arrogant, mad…and obsessed.
True power!
My Jedi…
Jedi Twins…
Mine…Grand Admiral…
MINE!
Bayla gasped and yanked her hand away.
She looked down at her palm, the images fading.
She took a cleansing breath.
What she had seen, what she had felt…
Terrifying.
The old man didn't live…not yet, or…or had he already lived, and it only seemed that way?
It was hard to say. In his time, Vey's cottage was long gone, the training platforms nubs of stone on an empty mesa. Her mere presence, and those Jedi that had come before her, their echo drew him.
Bayla rubbed her hands.
Was that vision what was, or what would be?
She couldn't tell…
…sometimes…the Force was complicated.
It seemed impossible to imagine a time without Master Vey. She had been here so long.
All things end.
The thought made her shiver.
Yet another reason that she had fled the Paladina, run from her life.
She shook her head.
Afraid.
Most psychometrics only saw the past, links events had with those things that they came into contact with. As she had trained in her gift, sometimes, just sometimes, she had gotten glimpses of what might come, of those that would interact with what she was touching.
Master Kit had been impressed.
It was one of the reasons why she believed that Bayla could be her successor.
You can see the path ahead, young one, a useful gift if one is to lead. The future is always in motion, always forming before us, but for one that can see, our journey would be that much easier.
Bayla frowned.
Easier for others, she thought, but not for me.
She reached down into the dust next to the platform, scooping up her gloves, she slipped them on, shielding herself from what was, or might yet be. Her arms were sore from the last few days of training, and that training had reawakened her gift.
Perhaps…that had been a mistake.
"Your Highness?"
Bayla shrugged.
"You don't have to call me that, Zhar."
She looked over her shoulder. Vey's Padawan had emerged from the cottage, he stood before her expectantly.
"You are a princess, yes?"
"My mother is a queen, but for the moment, I have no throne and no home, and besides…"
She smiled.
"You are a chieftain, a leader of your own people, if anyone is higher here…it is you."
Zhar snorted.
He had told both Bayla and Merrit about his origin, how his planet had suffered a disaster, a plague killing all those over sixteen. The surviving children had turned tribal to survive, protecting the little ones.
Vey had saved both Zhar and his clan, she had been drawn to him through the Force, and gotten them to safety.
Zhar was grateful to his master for that. If not for her, he would have succumbed to the disease eventually, as would all of his people.
He was wise enough to accept that.
"I was chieftain for only a short time," the boy said, "and now my clan is gone scattered."
"Do you think about them?"
The young man nodded.
"Ood was my family, but now, they have families of their own, the little'uns adopted into new homes, even the olders have found a place, or so Vey has shown me."
He smiled.
"They don't need me anymore, and have found new lives. I'm happy for them, and grateful that they get to grow up and live lives that don't depend on fighting and scavenging. I did my part for them, delivered them to safety, and now, I'm learning things that will let me protect them all. As a Jedi, I can protect everyone."
Bayla nodded.
An honorable goal, Zhar seemed to understand what was being asked of him.
An interesting boy, to be sure.
At about seventeen or eighteen, Zhar Darlighter had the potential to be one of the greats, and learning at the feet of Master Vey would help him get there. For now though, he was a student. His short black hair was cut in the traditional Padawan style with the small pony tail, and braid. He was tall, pale skinned with sharp piercing eyes.
He was also very strong in the Force. Vey believed he had great potential.
Bayla could testify to that, she felt it every time they sparred.
"How are you doing," she asked him, "Merrit didn't hurt you did he?"
The boy gave her a humble smile.
"Only my pride," he admitted, "Which needs to be pricked from time to time, Vey likes reminding me that I'm not as good as I think I am."
Wise, that, Bayla thought, a Jedi should remain humble, but the kid was good, especially with a lightsaber…
…scary good.
The boy shrugged.
"He surprised me when we sparred. That move at the end…it caught me completely off guard."
So you harbor no ill-feelings then?"
The boy smirked.
"Only if he doesn't show me how to execute the move myself."
His humor made her smile.
A rare thing in these troubled times.
"You left this inside," he said, holding up her own weapon. She had forgotten that she had left her saber on the table, the result of feeling safer here, she guessed.
A mistake that, one she would have to avoid in the future.
In a galaxy at war, was anywhere truly safe?
He held up her weapon, examining it. It single, cross guarded hilt, was sheened in white, with a chrome metal cross guard, with four symbols engraved in the center.
Zhar nodded thoughtfully.
"I don't think I've ever seen a weapon like this."
"You should visit Bantoon," she responded, "They all look similar. We construct our lightsabers in a group. We all have our styles, but as a whole, we try to keep our weapons close to the same design. It is a sign of our unity as an order."
Zhar flipped the weapon over.
"Why the metal cross guard, and the symbols?"
"The cross guard helps protect the emitter, and it offers a few tricks if we need them during a duel. The symbols represent our gods. Sun, wind, stone and wave, the gods gave rise to our people, and through their voices we hear the Force."
Zhar nodded.
He didn't seem taken aback by her talk of the gods, a good sign in the perspective Jedi.
Too many in the order viewed the Paladina as backward heretics.
"A sensible weapon," he said handing it to her, "And you use it well."
"Thanks, though not as good as you."
"I've had a lot of time to practice."
"And I'm badly out of shape," she admitted, "I didn't use it much serving in the fleet."
"Vey will change that," he promised, "You have only been here a few weeks, and I've already seen the improvement."
Bayla nodded.
She couldn't deny that either.
Vey Ilo was a harsher task master than Kit Shalya had been, but she had relearned much, and was regaining her strength in the Force.
If only Merrit could be doing so well.
She smiled slightly.
"May I see your saber? It…it is quite different from others that I've seen."
The boy nodded and removed his weapon from his belt. It was a double-bladed weapon, but the hilt was shorter than the standard saber-staff. Its duel yellow crystals powered by a single power cell. Some would call it a foolish design, but after they saw the boy fight, they would not doubt its effectiveness.
Zhar's style was a very aggressive form of the Niman style of saber combat, and had designed the weapon with that in mind. He could also toggle the blades on and off during combat, switching quickly from the double blade to a single hilt style. It was confusing, even for someone familiar with lightsaber combat.
She had watched Zhar and Vey spar, the boy held his own against his Jedi Master. The two of them getting lost in the Force when they danced back and forth. Bayla had just crossed blades with him today, and had been hilariously outclassed. Merrit had been watching, and not been happy about that, fearing for her safety.
It had led him to spar with Zhar, and that…had not gone well.
Zhar bowed slightly as he handed his weapon to her.
She took it, and closed her eyes.
Despite her gloves, she focused on it with the Force. Calling on her gift.
Her talent took over.
She saw the recent past through Zhar's eyes felt his confidence as he sparred with Merrit. Yellow white blades wove their way around Merrit's orange colored weapon. Bayla saw herself as well, she had a worried look on her face.
And why not, she could sense Merrit's frustration. Even with Vey's help the light side of the Force remained blocked to him. Now he found himself facing someone he didn't trust.
Merrit had not liked Zhar from the moment they had meant. He said that there was something familiar about the boy, familiar…and dangerous.
Seeing Zhar kick her during their duel, knocking her down, had done little to curb that distrust, now he and the boy were dueling, their blades flashing with an intensity that was only a few steps from a real fight.
Why would she not be worried?
When the end came, it came quickly.
Zhar tried a sidestep, shutting down one of his blades, trying to come at Merrit with an overhand strike. Ritt didn't even try to parry it.
He reached out with his frustration. Pinning the blade in place, Zhar found himself stopped in his tracks.
"Hey, what are you…"
Merrit didn't let him finish. He kicked the boy in the belly sending him sprawling. As he stumbled back, the Dark Jedi flicked his wrist, lightly burning the boy's hand, causing him to use his lightsaber.
Zhar ended up on his back, his opponent standing over him, his blade merely an eyelash from his eye.
"MERRIT!" Vey called out. She could feel the darkness radiating off the victor, perhaps even thought he had given into his rage and anger.
She need not have been concerned.
"Don't worry, master," he answered dryly, "I'm in control."
He looked down on his beaten opponent. A cruel sneer came to his face.
"You are good, kid," Fallenstar purred, "But you rely too much on your physical skill. You were ignoring the other gifts of the Force."
"This was a saber duel," the boy spat, "We weren't supposed to use Force powers!"
"No, your master told you, no Force powers, she said nothing of the fact to me."
His smile widened.
"An enemy would not warn you if they were trying something devious. You have to anticipate. You knew that I wield the darkness, yet you didn't expect treachery, why?"
He shut down his blade and stepped back.
"In dealing with dark opponents suspect everything. WE are cunning, and sly. You must remain on your guard."
He held out his hand.
"You must always remain on guard. It is a lesson that I learned the hard way."
Zhar had stared up at him for a moment, his own anger flaring, both for his defeat, and Ritt's condescending tone.
He took a deep breath, and let that anger out.
Zhar smiled.
"I'll remember that for next time."
"Good."
He helped the boy to his feet.
"Where did you learn that, that hand strike?"
Merrit frowned.
"From someone I thought I could trust."
"Could you show me how, it could be useful."
Fallenstar watched him for a moment, perhaps seeking some sense of mocking from the boy.
Sensing none, he shrugged.
"Some knowledge should not be so easily shared. Excuse me Zhar, Bae, Master."
He strode off then, heading for the small exit in the side of the rocks.
Bayla watched him go; her expression curious.
She felt her old friend's frustration. He had come here to free himself from the darkness, but he had needed it to end his duel with Zhar.
He was not happy about that.
No.
He was not happy at all.
Bayla blinked, returning to the present.
She smiled, inspected the boy's odd lightsaber, and handed it back to him.
"A sensible weapon," she replied.
The boy nodded pleased.
He was a proud young Jedi, make no mistake, but…
…he was not TOO proud.
"Have you been friends with Master Fallenstar long?"
"Long enough," she said dusting off her robes.
"Why do you ask?"
The boy shrugged.
"Before our duel, I sensed a sense of possessiveness from him."
She blinked.
"Possessiveness?"
Zhar nodded.
"He was worried about you. He didn't even try to hide it."
"Merrit isn't a Jedi," she reminded him, "not anymore."
"But he wants to become one again, doesn't he?"
Bayla pursed her lips.
She wasn't sure if that was an accurate read of the situation. He wanted to be able to access the light side again, and hoped that Vey would be able to help him with it.
So, far, that had not happened, she could sense it from him.
He was growing more and more impatient, angry.
He tried not to show it, but…
…it was hard for him to hide things from her.
She had come to know him well over the last few weeks.
He trusted her.
She was grateful for that.
She had been alone for so long, it was good to have someone she could turn to, and Merrit…well…
…he might not say it, but she felt that he was glad to have someone he could speak openly with as well.
"Um…Your Highness?"
"Bayla please, Zhar."
"Okay, Bayla…um…can I ask you something?"
She nodded, wondering what was going on, the boy had suddenly turned pensive.
And was he…blushing.
He smiled slightly.
"I've heard that the Paladina can have…relationships."
"That is true, there are too few of us back home, we need to spread our gift, it is the only way it has survived."
"I can see that, but…"
"But what?"
The boy's blush darkened.
"Are you and Merrit…together."
She blinked, now it was her turn to blush.
"No."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"But I got the feeling that you two were…"
"No," she said flatly, the coldness in her voice stopping him in his tracks.
Bayla glared.
She didn't want to talk about this, not now…maybe ever.
It was none of the boy's business, their past. Her foolishness…she…
She took a deep breath and centered herself, she remembered her training.
She managed a sad look.
"I pursued a relationship with him when I was younger, but he rejected me. He wanted to be a Jedi, and my path led away from him. I came to accept that."
"But he is not a Jedi anymore, not trying to be one anyway."
"That is true."
Bayla shook her head.
She…she didn't want to think about this, not now.
She wanted Merrit to find his way back to the light, he deserved it.
She hated seeing him wrestling with his own darkness. Suffering because of the choices he had made.
He had told her he had only reached out to the dark side to save a life. Wasn't that a good enough reason?
Was that a reason to cut him off from the light forever?!
How was that fair?
She reached out to him through the Force, she felt…felt…
She blinked.
Oh my.
She turned to Zhar.
"Excuse me," she said, " I need to go."
The boy nodded, and let her pass.
"Tell him that I am not angry at him. He is quite skilled, and I think he has much to teach."
She nodded.
Though at that moment, she was not thinking about the Force.
She felt it.
Pain.
Loneliness.
Fear.
Fear above all.
Merrit was suffering.
She wouldn't allow that.
She couldn't.
She followed that fear. It was like a beacon.
He was in pain.
He needed her.
IOI
She found him outside the cave where they had moved the Knightfire.
She looked at the makeshift hangar, Vey had been using it for centuries. Large enough to hide several ships from anyone who might be looking down from the air or space. The rock formations around it rich in minerals that blocked sensor scans.
Perfect for a Jedi Master seeking privacy. At the moment, only the Knightfire, and Vey's personal ship were docked there. She could see Cee-Cee moving around the outside, closing up this maintenance panel or that one.
The droid nodded to her before slipping back inside the ship.
She nodded back, but her attention was focused on the figure kneeling in meditation before the entrance.
He was dressed simply, black pants and a white tank top.
"Merrit?" she called out.
"Yeah," he answered.
"I'm not disturbing you, am I?"
He shook his head, and gestured for her to approach.
She did, though he didn't rise from his meditations, his eyes were closed, his glasses off, pinned to the collar of his shirt.
"Hi," she said.
"Hello."
"Is everything okay?"
He sighed.
"That is the question, isn't it?"
She didn't answer.
She didn't think he wanted her to.
He finally opened his eyes, their golden glow bright in the twilight.
"Is there something you need, Back Up?"
"I've just came from, Zhar. He is not angry about your little…duel earlier."
Merrit shrugged.
"You think that I was worried about that?"
"Yeah," she answered.
He frowned slightly; she sensed the mocking response on his lips. Yet, it went unsaid.
"Clever girl," he mumbled.
She sat down in the dirt across from him.
"Wanna talk?" she asked.
"Not much to say," he answered.
"Are you sure?"
He glared at her.
"What do you want me to say, Back Up? That I was a fool for coming here? That I was wrong?"
"Wrong about what?"
He hissed and rose from his meditations, he paced angrily.
"After my fall, I spent almost six months searching for any Jedi that I thought might be able to help me regain the light. Vey was only the first, but each one gave me the same answer. I can't help you. You are too far gone. The light is not yours anymore…"
"I don't believe that."
"Then you are in the minority," he replied dryly, "I'm not even sure that I believe anymore."
"Ritt?" she said shocked.
"I CAN'T FEEL IT ANYMORE!" he snarled, "I thought retraining would be easy, but it isn't. Zhar is just a novice, and he can do things that were difficult for me as a Jedi. Things that were so easy for me as a youngling are impossible now. I can't touch the light, can't use it. It has abandoned me. It…it…"
He stopped and fell to his knees.
"Maybe the darkness is all I am now; all I will ever have..."
He took a shuddering breath. When he looked up at her, his eyes were shiny, not quite tears but so close…oh so close.
She looked into his pained expression speechless.
Oh Ritt.
"Is it hopeless, and if it is maybe I should just accept it. Go where I'm supposed to be. I could be…"
She blinked.
"You could be…what?"
He didn't answer.
"It doesn't matter. The light will win eventually, the Eternal Throne will fall, and so will the Sith. When that happens. The Jedi will rebuild the Republic as they always have, and then…they will come…"
He shuddered.
"Once the Sith are gone, they will hunt down all the Dark Jedi, we're too dangerous to let around around free. They will hunt me down, and kill me, that…or…or…"
"They wouldn't do that!"
He gave her a sad smile.
"I know my value, Back Up. The council will not care about my motivations. I'm too dangerous, and they are right."
He shook his head.
"I should have accepted that long ago. They are going to lock me away, and I deserve it."
"No…you…"
He stopped her with a sad look.
"I should leave, Vey's help is a waste of time. I might as well try to do some good while I can. Hunt down monsters like me."
"You are not a monster."
He shrugged.
"Are you sure?" he hissed sinisterly.
Something in his eyes almost made her back up, almost made her leave.
She…she…
Her eyes narrowed.
No.
She would not be frightened off.
"I know what you are," she said, "And I'm not afraid."
He snorted and shook his head.
"That makes one of us…"
He looked up at her then, a single tear ran down his face.
"Bayla…I'm scared."
His words were all it took, three words that were more plea than anything else.
Something in her broke.
She put her arms around him, even as he knelt at her feet, she sank to her own knees, holding him.
He didn't resist.
He lay his head against her shoulder, holding onto her for dear life.
"You should go," he murmured.
"No."
"Bayla."
"No, I said."
She forced him to look her in the eye, his golden gaze meeting her blue grey one.
"You are NOT a monster, and I'm not going anywhere. I'm here, and here I will stay. I won't abandon you. I will NEVER abandon you."
He looked at her, his expression unreadable. She felt his emotions roiling like a bubbling cauldron.
What more can I say, she wondered.
How can I prove to him that I won't leave.
She took a shuddering breath.
He was so close…too close.
It happened almost on instinct.
She touched his face, her hands gently cupping it, and then…
She kissed him.
It was a soft chaste kiss, but it was a kiss.
His golden eyes widened with surprise.
She…she immediately realized her mistake.
Oh no.
"I'm sorry," she gasped, "I didn't mean…"
He stopped her with one raised finger.
"Shh!"
Before she could say more, he was there. They were there.
He kissed her back, pulled her tight against him.
She…
HE…
OHHH!
The galaxy fell away, and everything became heat, heat and desire!
The world spun crazily.
Bayla found herself on her back, wrestling with Merrit in the dust, grabbing hungrily at each other. She…she…
Oh gods…
OH YES!
She was so hot, so wet…she…she…
He pulled away, he rolled away and regained his feet, leaving her gasping, panting in the dirt.
She looked up at him, not sure what was going on?
What?
Why had he…?
She thought he would be angry at her, and as he looked down, she saw that he wondered if she was angry at him.
She was not angry, just confused.
What?
She was about to speak, but he stopped her with one raised hand.
"Don't," he growled, "Do not say you are sorry."
He smiled wickedly, hungrily.
"I'm not."
She blinked still not sure what was going on, her fingers brushed her lips. She…
Oh my.
Oh no.
She had told herself she had moved beyond this, this crushable crush.
One action had changed that.
One kiss had brought it back.
"Merrit," she croaked weakly.
"You should go back to Vey's," he said motioning in that direction.
"But what about…?"
"I'll be fine," he promised, "I'm going to spend the night aboard ship. I…I need to think."
She nodded dumbly, stumbling unsteadily to her feet.
She…
She couldn't…
Oh, Ritt!
Ask me to stay, she thought.
Say the words and I will…I will stay with you.
I…will be yours.
He didn't say anything.
Why?
He had to know.
He had to feel it.
He shook his head.
"I will see you in the morning," he said gently motioning back towards Vey's cottage.
"Goodnight, Back Up."
She nodded, and turned like a droid with a malfunctioning motivator. She walked back on unsteady legs.
She rubbed her lips again.
The kiss.
His kiss.
She took another shuddering breath.
"Night, Ritt," she mumbled.
"Good night."
A/N: Happy Halloween everyone. Been a bit distracted of late, but hope to get the chapters flowing more quickly in the next month or so, hope you are enjoying the ride so far.
DG