StarWars. A Lifetime with Darkness. Padawan

[Tinkerware]

I enjoyed this arc a lot, thank you for sharing. There's an economy to the writing, and how it leaves enough connections implicit rather than spell everything out. There were only a couple times where that balance went too much towards the implicit and made me feel lost instead of intrigued. The character interactions are well-written, and the characters themselves seem well-realized instead of being puppeted around.

I tend to prefer larger chapters to less than 1k words of single scenes, but at least you posted them all at once .

Looking forward to reading more.

 

[GorMartsen]

Looking forward to reading more.

Click to shrink...

Thank you! This arc was a hell of a twist

 

[jacoby]

I enjoyed it after binging it all! Sometimes however I can get confused at quite what is going on, much like our protagonist I think lol.

Poor buddy just needs some time off (and not get sexually harassed by alien women all the damn time lmao)

 

[GorMartsen]

Poor buddy just needs some time off (and not get sexually harassed by alien women all the damn time lmao)

Click to shrink...

I am wondering what Arla's father would do when he hears his precious daughter found some one.

It's one thing being harassed by alien women, and totally another by fathers lol.

 

[GorMartsen]

Summary:
A new day in the Temple, a training under Master Cera and a date with R'ana.
A simple day, really.

Not for long.

 

[GorMartsen]

"Again," said Cera in my mind.

Swatting away a bead of sweat, I slowly inhaled, focusing on my breath, and sharply exhaled before returning to the initial position.

My lightsaber facing forward, my feet even, shoulders slightly up.

"Why Shii-Cho?" I asked in my mind before committing to another Shii-Cho velocity. "Don't you know anything else? Ataru, perhaps?"

"Because it's simple," she said. "And you need simple to recognise when your control slips. Begin."

Letting the Force flow, I swung my saber, taking a step forward and attacking Zone 2—right shoulder—and immediately stepped back, swinging through Zone 5—right leg. Sarlacc lashing out.

Projecting the intent to cut, to take the limbs away, I recalled the smell of Totto's burning flesh, beginning a Force-induced loop.

Cut. Burn. Maim.

Boosted by the Force, feeding the loop of totally not Jedi desires, I picked up the speed, slicing air with my humming saber.

Breathe. Focus. Let it go.

Breaking and starting the loop again, I tethered to the edge and increased speed.

More.

And it was working. I was faster, stronger. Lethal. But most importantly, in control. Almost.

Breathe.

Working myself to the bone, I taught myself to let it go when everything in me screamed for more.

Focus.

Finishing the Sarlacc Sweep, targeting multiple imaginary enemies, I changed the last swing from cutting a head off to the Sum djem, swinging at the weapon of my imaginary opponent.

Let it go.

The Force vibrated around me as I rested back into the initial position, my saber facing forward.

"Who taught you that?" Master Vin's voice echoed through the empty salles. Shit. I was sure I was alone…

"Master Vin," I said, turning around. And sure enough, here he was, standing by the closed door. Was he here all this time?

"Answer the question, Knight Lose," he said, staring into my eyes.

It reminded me of the time we spoke last, when he told me about the choice. And about the one I had made. Back there, on Ryloth.

"I live to serve," I said, calmly staring back.

He tilted his head as something changed in his eyes, taking away a sharp edge I had just felt.

"That you do," he finally said, echoing Cera's words I had heard on Ryloth, right before everything changed for me. "Your form is shit."

A laugh escaped my lips. They are so alike.

"Tell him," said Master Cera, appearing in her ghostly form before him and placing her hand on his cheek. "Tell him about how I died."

Glancing between her and him, I realised that for whatever reason, he didn't see her. Nor did he feel her touch.

"Master Cera said the same," I said, looking down at my saber and turning it off before beginning to flip it lazily in my hand.

"You know, before she died, she used everything she had to save kids. Everything. Even her body was just gone," I said, looking up.

He stared at me through her ghostly form, saying not a word.

"She could have just saved herself, maybe even restored her health, by simply absorbing them, but she didn't," I said, remembering the pull of the Hunger.

"She would never," he said, closing his eyes. "She is one with the Force now."

If you only knew.

"Tomorrow, at six," he said, sharply opening his eyes. "Don't make me wait."

And before I had even a chance to open my mouth, he was gone, leaving the door wide open.

"Lesson is over," said Cera, staring after Master Vin. "I will be away for some time. Don't get into trouble."

And she was gone, too.

How fortunate. I didn't want her to come on my date anyway.

—

"So, where do we go?" R'ana asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"It's a surprise," I said, hiding a smile.

Walking down the Temple's main stairs, we didn't look like Jedi. No robes, no lightsabers hanging on our belts. I was in the jacket I bought on Corellia. She was in a nice summer dress, with a green shawl over her shoulders. A totally normal-looking couple, on a totally normal date on a sunny day. The way I wanted.

My wrist-comm beeped, and I glanced at the message. Just in time.

"This way," I said, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the landing cab. Her cold and delicate fingers in my palm almost made me fly. She laughed, squeezing my hand, and didn't let it go.

The cab door opened, and we squeezed into the back seat. Still holding hands.

"Should I close my eyes?" she asked, leaning on my shoulder as the cab lifted from the ground. "So I don't see where we're going?"

"Should be fine," I replied, gently playing with our intertwined fingers. "We can play a game to distract you."

"What game?" she asked, moving slightly away and looking at me, and I already missed her warm touch on my shoulder.

"You need to guess what kind of gift I have for you. I'll say whether it's warm or cold," I said, looking into her green eyes.

"Like the Hot and Cold game?" she asked, raising her eyebrow.

"Exactly! But no cheating, no using the Force," I said, smiling.

"Alright!" she said as her eyes briefly ran over my body. "It should be small, probably in your pocket."

"Hot," I said with a nod.

"A necklace?"

"Cold," I said, enjoying it. "Freezing cold."

—

Helping R'ana out of the cab, I couldn't hold my smile. Neither could she. Gently pressing the perfume bottle to her chest, she left the cab and accidentally leaned on my chest.

Just for a second, I lost myself in her eyes, forgetting where we were or what we came for. My heart drummed in my ears as she leaned her head back, almost offering her lips for a kiss—

"Sorry!" Someone bumped into us.

On instinct alone, I caught their hand, already in my pocket, and looked down, and down. Aleena.

"It was accidental!" the aleena specimen exclaimed, looking up at me. "Let me go."

Ignoring the wriggling, I looked around, sensing attention directed at us and immediately spotted two massive besalisks moving our way. Fun.

"Let them go, Taren," R'ana asked me, placing her hand on my shoulder. "No harm done."

Looking into her eyes, I nodded and let them go. There was no point in ruining our date.

"Is this where we go?" she asked, nodding towards the restaurant behind me. "Little Keldabe. Interesting."

"I hope you like spicy food," I said, smiling. "But if you don't, I have a backup plan."

"No, no need. I love spicy food," she said convincingly. Too convincingly.

"You sure?" I asked, glancing at the wooden door over my shoulder. What is wrong?

Instead of answering, she grabbed my elbow and pulled me across the sidewalk. The door dinged as she forcefully opened it, and I had no choice but to enter after her. Something was really wrong here.

"Welcome to Little Keldabe. A little home away from home!" the waitress greeted us. "A table for two?"

"Kajir par t'ad, cyar'ika," said R'ana, surprising me. Table for two?

"Jiila," the waitress said, turning around and pointing at a table. "Olar."

"Vor'e," replied R'ana, waving her away and pulling me to the table.

"I didn't know you spoke Mando'a," I said as she dropped me in the chair and walked around the table to take her seat.

She froze before slowly turning toward me. Her eyes found mine, and she searched for something in my gaze.

"You don't," she whispered. "You really don't."

"No, I don't?" I said, looking at her. What kind of minefield did I land in?

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, hiding her face in her palms and dropping into her chair. "Of course you don't. Stupid me."

Leaning forward, I gently touched her hand. "Care to share?"

"Me'copaani gaa'tayl, ori'vod?" the waitress asked, appearing at our table with a leather-bound menu and a smile that made me feel like I was at gunpoint.

This was a mistake.

"Vor'e," R'ana said, rubbing her face before looking up. "Ni jate."

Definitely a mistake.

Waving the waitress away, she turned towards me, and I felt her closing up. Whatever had caused her reaction, she just buried it deep inside herself.

"I was almost seven when I was brought to the Temple," she began, shifting her gaze away. "I only spoke Mando'a back then."

Listening to her story, I nodded along. It wasn't bad per se, but neither was it pretty. Kids never needed much to start pushing buttons.

I knew it very well, being the last in class. Or ginger, back on Earth.

—

"… and that was why I chose to become a healer instead of competing for a Padawanship," R'ana said, sipping on her tea.

"It suits you," I said, sipping my own quite spicy tea. Way better than a sweet one.

Whatever hiccups and bumps we had were gone now.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," she said, placing her cup down and reaching for my hand. "Now you must tell me why you have chosen this place. Only truth."

Feeling her now almost hot-to-the-touch fingers on my hand, I realised that… I hadn't thought about that. It was a decision on a whim, perhaps influenced by the spice Jasper had shared with me, but remembering Lady Vizsla…

Looking around, I realised that, perhaps, it was a really bad idea to come here.

My wrist-comm beeped, then beeped again, and using it as an excuse, I glanced at the screen. Oh fuck.

"What is it?" asked R'ana.

"I've been summoned to the High Council," I said slowly. Cera, what did you do? "Urgently."

"That's unusual," she said, letting my hand go and waving to the waitress. "Do you know why?"

"It didn't say." But I have my own suspicions. "Sorry. I really should go."

"Not your fault," she said, sadly smiling. "You are a Knight. That will always be your priority."

"Those old farts. They ruined our date," I sighed dramatically, fetching a credit chip.

"Don't say that." She playfully clapped my arm, smiling. "They deserve respect."

"Of course," I smiled back, remembering that at least one of those old farts could read my mind. Cera, we are in trouble.

But wherever she was, she was either busy or didn't hear me. What did you do?

"Your bill," the waitress said and, spotting the credit chip in my hand, fished out the reader.

It didn't take me long to pay it.

"Let's go?" I said, returning the reader to the waitress. "I'll call the cab."

—

Getting out of the cab, we both looked up at the stairs leading back into the Temple. This is it.

"You know, I wanted to tell you something," she began, taking my hand, "but then that aleena happened, and, well, the Little Keldabe made me totally forget about it..."

"Hm," I hummed, looking away from the stairs and getting captured by her gaze. She was so close.

"I don't remember much about my mother. But when I tried the perfume back there in the cab, I… It smelt like her," she said as her face got closer and closer to mine. And before I knew it, she pecked me on the lips, leaving a burning aftertaste. Spice. Spice and wood. "Thank you."

And then she ran.

Watching her hurry up the stairs, I felt like… like… I am in love, am I?

"I hope your panic calls have nothing to do with kissing a woman. I refuse to give you the Talk," said Cera, appearing at my side and watching R'ana, too.

Oh, for God's sake.

"I have been summoned to the High Council," I thought, sighing heavily.

"On the other hand, the Talk doesn't look like much trouble now," she said, turning towards me. "What did you do?"

"Sure it's not your doing?" I asked, raising my eyebrow and looking back at her.

"Absolutely. Now, let's put you back in robes and make a quick stop somewhere before you go to find what the hassle is."

It felt like trouble.

—

"What do you want?" Master Vin questioned me, opening the door. To his private quarters. She didn't warn me.

"Would you agree if I did?" she asked, appearing behind Master Vin.

No, of course not. What am I doing here?

"He ignores me," she said. "Stupid reek."

"There is something you need to know," I said with a sigh. Women. "Privately and urgently."

He silently stepped aside, and I squeezed in, curiously looking around. His quarters were as old as he was, with a few things collecting dust here and there.

"Be short," he said, closing the door. "I'm in no mood for talks."

"As you ever were. Tell him you see me too. That I am not his stupid Dark Side Temptation," she said, dramatically throwing her hands up in frustration.

"I see her too," I said, turning around and pointing at her projection or whatever it was. "She is the one who taught me that technique you saw me doing in the salles this morning."

"Cera." Her name vibrated in the Force in his voice as he slowly turned towards her. "Is it really you?"

"Finally, you dumbass."

"I thought…"

"I know what you thought. Now let me block his memories before he goes to the High Council, and you tell him to come back here after."

Wait—

~

Blinking bright spots away, I looked at Master Vin's face. Where am I?

"Hm, you seem fine," he said, moving away, and I realised I was lying on a sofa. Master Vin's quarters.

How did I get here? Right, after a date with R'ana, I stopped to tell him about the High Council summons… Why?

"Come back after the meeting with the High Council, and we'll figure it out then," he said, turning away. "Now go, don't make them wait."

Figure out what?

Right, I came to ask about… about something… training. Yes, training.

"Alright. Thank you, Master Vin," I said, rising from the sofa. Why am I on the sofa?

Later. Hurry up.

Leaving his apartment, I glanced at the door that had closed behind me. I was missing something. Something important…

My wrist-comm beeped, receiving a message. A summons to the High Council with no further delay.

Great.

—

"Masters," I greeted the full council with a bow, glancing at Librarian Tan standing at the side. What is she doing here?

"We reviewed your report," began Master Vocu Dam as other Council members stared at me. Some with curiosity, others disapproving. "And while none of the tragic events were your fault, some of your actions raised questions in the Senate."

"You are too polite, Master Vocu Dam," snorted Master Ater. An old cathar, with his fur sporting white strands here and there. "Knight Lose. We summoned you because apparently you couldn't just do a simple mission without leaving havoc behind you. In what world does a simple delivery mission require a race across an old battlefield, hm?"

"It's obvious, Master Ater," said another Master and to my surprise, I didn't remember his name. Something Something Mek, a blond human in dark robes. "A hot girl challenged him to the race, and he couldn't resist showing off. And now we have to pay a fine to Denon's officials."

"Fortunately, it also made us aware of an old Sith corsair warship, and Knight Lose did one right thing and escalated the issue immediately," Master Corn calmly said, holding all four of his hands interlocked on his chest. Besalisks.

"And that the shuttle he recovered in the old wing still has a working transponder from the New Sith War era," chimed in another Master. Wild-looking feathers instead of hair on their head and a sharp-looking beak, a bird in robes, really. Master Shi-Khen. Fosh.

"Which brings us back to the matter at hand," Grandmaster On said slowly, silencing everyone. A dark-skinned near-human of the delphidian species. Like my Master. "Knight Lose, your mission is to accompany Librarian Tan to the Denon system as Captain James Cameron, a captain who just so happens to have found an old shuttle from the New Sith War era and become our trusted chartered freighter captain. Questions?"

"Why as James Cameron?" I asked with a bow.

"Because Knight Lose was never on Ryloth," he said with a sigh. "But Captain Cameron left too many trails. Anything else?"

"No, Grandmaster."

"Dismissed."

 

[Gaffhook]

You know the council are gonna milk the second identity. Nothing like having a Jedi that can actually blend in with the common folks.