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Furia


Jimcorpus

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It was three thousand five hundred years before the battle at the planet Yavin, in which a group of rebels successfully destroyed an Imperial battle station that was capable of destroying an entire planet.

 

The War of over one hundred years continued to rage across the galaxy. Neither the Galactic Republic nor the Sith Empire were able to get a commanding advantage in the war, with each side only able to win a few battles before the other side successfully stops the advance then counterattacks.

 

As a break from the travails of the war, a group of Wookies on the colony planet of Kashyyykyon were celebrating in the midday the Summer Solstice with festivities and a large varieties of food to indulge.

 

Two unexpected shuttles are coming out of hyperspace, communicating their transponder signals that they are from Ithor, and the short message that they were looking forward to celebrating the Summer Solstice with the honorable Wookies at their new colony.

 

A Jedi padawan is trying to pass a survival training test.

 

 

 

Chapter 1

 

Skirmish of Kashyykyon

 

 

 

 

Two cargo shuttles with the markings of Ithor civilian transport descended, the bottom of the craft causing fire from descending in the atmosphere. One appeared to be coming to the landing area near the Wookie village Sec Kachirho, another to a clearing not far from a picnic area that was a kilometer from the village.

 

The sound of a Wookie stating the two unexpected shuttles were coming in to land at the different locations was broadcast for all in the space control of the village to hear, what few Wookies that were. A Republic squad was at the village for a short mission of checking the village defenses, who could hear the message in their helmets. A small green Jedi with pointed ears heard it from his comlink he had attached to one of his wristbands. Another Jedi, a middle aged man with a beard and moustache that had streaks of gray hair coursing through the brown hair, heard it in his comlink in his own wristband.

 

At a distance from the village, where no one could see, a sole figure was in the forest. Wearing a skintight outfit that came with a miniskirt going down to midthigh, with dark green camouflage colors that covered the entire body, except for the area around the green eyes. The figure seemed to slow the pace a little as if something was sensed. Looking up a shuttle was seen in the air. With a tiny speaker in the head covering, that was able to translate, the message was then also heard by the figure. The direction to travel by the figure changed.

 

The two shuttles came to their landings without mishap and turned off their engines. An automated message came from each, stating procedures were being done to make sure no damage occurred to the shuttles during their journey. In a wooden building at the village were several instruments and individuals. One of the troopers in the squad, wearing a helmet, was conversing with the little Jedi. The other Jedi was looking at a screen set up on a wall, having a perplexed look on his face when he noticed a dot on the screen changing directions.

 

Suddenly sirens and lights went off. On a screen showing the planet Kashyyykyon and surrounding space, sensors showed a Sith Corvette coming out of hyperspace near the planet. “Sith Corvette in orbit” stated a voice nervous and loud into his microphone. He was a Twi’lek of green color with two appendages called lekkus protruding from his head, who was monitoring the screen in front of him. Crew in the building activated shields covering the village and the nearby picnic ground. The area in between the picnic ground and village was not shielded. The village simply did not have the power to cover that large of an area. At least the power generators at the picnic area and the village were available to energize those shields.

 

The trooper that was talking with the small Jedi went out of the building and got on top of a wall, a wall meant to protect the villagers at night from the larger creatures that inhabited the planet. Bringing out macrobinoculars, the trooper looked at the shuttle occupying the landing area as the roof opened then the walls of the craft lowered to the sides. “Dragons! Crimson!” Yelled a female voice from the trooper on top of the wall.

 

Coming out of the shuttle were twelve individuals in dark grey trooper armor. Amongst them was someone in black armor. Also there a Pheo, pink in color with yellow eyes and brunette hair put in two pigtails. She was from the planet Pheo, one of the subject planets of the Sith Empire. She wore a black bodysuit that covered from torso to neck with thigh high black boots covering up her legs. Two armored walkers raised up on their legs, droids built specifically to support their squad with extra firepower. The squad came forward towards the village, firing away. They could not shoot plasma bolts through the shield, however they could apply covering fire to prevent the Wookies from leaving the shielded area. They would drop to the ground to fire when needed, then got back up and advanced. Behind the scouts that occupied the front of the formation were four heavy troopers with hand held assault cannons. The cannons fired away to add to the cover fire.

 

Behind the heavy troopers one individual had a jetpack. That Sith soldier walked behind all, gazing at tops of the walls while carrying a sniper rifle. Three troopers in grey armor were behind the heavy troopers and in front of the one with the jetpack. They were close combat specialists that also supported the soldiers in front of them. They carried with them chains, ready to cuff the Wookies for transport to be used as slaves. Among the specialists were the two armored walkers.

 

Walking with the close combat specialists was Darth Exatio, their leader. The Sith Lord was a human that enjoyed wearing extravagant jewelry that was now covered by his armor. Black was his trooper armor including his helmet, instead of the dark grey of the troops under his command. Exatio’s lightsaber was strapped to his belt, ready if needed.

 

In front of the heavy troopers stalked the Pheo Sadis. In each hand was a lightsaber with a red blade protruding from the handle. How the Pheo looked forward to this mission, the challenge of capturing the beasts and sending them to hard labor for the Empire. She thought about the troopers behind her catching glimpses of her figure in the bodysuit, and she could barely hide a smile at the thought of it.

 

Darth Exatio’s squad was on the planet Kashyyykyon to capture Wookies for labor work in the Empire. Kashyykyon was settled within the past ten years. These Wookies wanted the chance to explore and settle a new world. They were given that chance when Kashyyykyon was discovered and founded. It had tall trees like their home world of Kashyyyk, however the weather was a little cooler and there was more moisture in the atmosphere. The Wookies made a few settlements on Kashyyykyon, growing food and mining in the rocky areas to help start an economy for the colonized planet. Armed were the new inhabitants, however they never thought they would need to be armed for any type of invasion. The Wookies thought they would only need to be armed against creatures that might try to attack them.

 

Alas, this new colony planet caught the eye of Darth Exatio. He hoped to take advantage of this opportunity to make credits and build his esteem by capturing Wookies, then send them somewhere as slaves. His starship Fire Jewel, an Empire Corvette, was now in stationary orbit above the squad, ready to receive the captured Wookies who would then be frozen in carbonite. Only Darth Exatio knew that before delivering the cargo of Wookies, there was to be a detour to the planet Templi for something special there. Not even his Pheo apprentice, nor the captain of the Fire Jewel, knew about that.

 

Coming out of the wooden building was the little green Jedi, standing on a floating platform. “Padawan, come to me” he said to the comlink. Numerous Wookies were now firing plasma bolts from rifles and crossbows, at the invaders, from the gate and top of the walls. Eight Republic troopers, in forest green armor with brown streaks, came from the back of the village. They were working on defense equipment for the village. They ran towards the front gate, but still wouldn’t be able to get there for several minutes. All of a sudden large streaks of red came from the sky to fall near the village, hitting the land and causing explosions on the road to the picnic area and the land near the road. The Sith Corvette was firing at will, making sure it could hit anything that tried to go from the village to the picnic grounds that were being set up for the festivities.

 

The advancing Sith squad made it to the edge of the shield that was around ten meters outside the wall, then walked in. The shielding could protect against plasma bolts, however it could not stop something moving through it. The scouts shot at Wookies they could see, preventing return fire and allowing the heavy troopers to shoot their assault cannons at the gate and the wall nearby. The trooper with the jetback lifted off to get on top of the wall to the left, landing then laying down to begin sniping at targets. Within a few seconds the gate came down, wrecked from the damage of the cannon rounds. The scouts went first through the opening where once the gate was, firing their rifles at targets they could see. The pink Pheo used the Force to jump to the top of the wall, running on top of the wall towards the Wookies firing at her. Gleefully she used her lightsabers to reflect the plasma bolts back at the Wookies, killing several of them.

 

Behind the troops at the opening where the gate used to be were the two armored walkers, firing at the wall to make a larger opening. As the heavy troopers walked through the opening that was at one time blocked by the gate, an explosive round exploded at their feet, then another round that produced a profuse amount of smoke that covered the gate opening, preventing anyone in it from seeing what was around them.

 

The Sith troopers couldn’t see anything until the blade of a blue lightsaber appeared. The smoke was so much that it blocked the view. The soldiers couldn’t see until it was too late, the blue blade cutting the hands or arms off of those still alive after the explosive round. Darth Exatio jumped towards the blue saber, swinging where he felt the blade wielder was with his lightsaber’s red blade. As the smoke cleared, the Sith Lord was able to catch sight of who this Jedi was, a Devaronian male with 2 horns on his head and a beaded necklace hanging from one of the horns, wearing a brown jumpsuit. The two lightsabers clashed, giving out sparks as the beams hit each other. Backing up a little, Darth Exatio was able to shoot a bolt of lightning at the Devaronian, who was only able to block part of it. Seeing the Jedi stunned a little, the Sith Lord pressed his attack. The Devaronian was able to recompose himself and parried the attacks, then he counterattacked with his lightsaber thrusts.

 

Meanwhile, on top of the wall the pink Pheo continued to rush towards the Wookies with both lightsabers cutting through the air. She enjoyed immensely watching her blades cutting into and killing the Wookies. Blaster bolts that were fired at her became deflected onto other Wookies, killing them. At this point with some of the troops killed by the explosive round, there was no hope of capturing slaves. At least she could get herself some fur from their corpses she thought. Looking down she relished seeing blood on her bodysuit. Clearing the enemies around her, she looked back at her master dueling within the gate opening as her ears became dazed from a sonic boom. A sonic round was shot by the Republic trooper with her assault cannon, stopping the Pheo’s attacks and giving the Wookies close to her some time to retreat from her attacks.

 

As the smoke cleared, plasma bolts from rifles sailed into the remainder of the Sith squad. Five were on the ground dead already from the explosive round. The rest of the Republic troopers arrived, defending the colony as they fired away with their rifles into the remainder of the Sith squad. Darth Exatio was able to deflect the plasma bolts coming towards him although the deflections did not hit anyone. His remaining troops were not so lucky. The remaining six with him fell to the ground with numerous wounds as the plasma bolts seared through their armor and burned holes into the bodies.

 

The sniper tried to shoot at the Republic trooper with the assault cannon, but could not get a clear shot. Plasma shots hit his left leg from a different trooper, the horrible pain coursing through his skin as the shots melted his armor and went into his leg at multiple points. Involuntarily he rolled his body from the pain, falling off the wall and fracturing his arms as he tried to break the fall.

 

The black armored lightsaber wielder backed away from the Devaronian and the attack of the Republic troopers by getting behind the armored walkers that were just outside the gate opening. The walkers were destroying the wall by the gate opening, and firing into the buildings in the village. The Devaronian moved to get to a point where nothing would get between him and the Sith. Darth Exatio used his saber to deflect the attack, however the Devaronian Jedi now had a chance to get the upperhand on the Sith. He swung his blue saber and successfully caused a deep cut in Darth Exatio’s left arm before the remainder of the swing could be deflected. The Devaronian took swings to try to cut the hand off the right arm. With desperation Darth Exatio blocked the attacks with increased difficulty. Suddenly jumping from the wall to his side was his apprentice Sadis, viciously swinging her sabers at the Jedi, getting the better of him. As her right blade brushed his left shoulder, she then was able to bring the left blade into his torso, cutting severely into his torso the width of her blade before he could swing back and stop the blade. Seeing the Devaronian severely injured, she swung her left saber with the edge cutting into the right knee of the Devaronian. As she finished the swing of her left saber, she stepped backwards bringing her right saber back for a killing blow, yet she stepped deftly to her right side, blocking what plasma fire was now coming her way, and impaled her right lightsaber into the chest of her injured Sith Lord. She pushed the blade to the hilt in the Sith Lord’s chest as the body started to fall to the ground, the torso being cut open as the lightsaber continued to cut up through the shoulder as the body fell. Before he could try to stop the attack, Darth Exatio realized in the end what his apprentice was doing. The pink Pheo pulled the lightsaber back and turned off the blade, watching the body of her master fall to the ground lifeless. She pulled a couple items off the corpse, then programmed the walkers to fire straight ahead and back up slowly.

 

The little green Jedi saw in the distance his padawan on the ground, appearing injured. Alviss was the Jedi’s name, and he was a Jedi for many years. His platform then became destroyed by the plasma bolts shot by the walkers when they fired at the buildings. He was able to jump to safety before his platform was destroyed. Now he saw the Sith walkers move slowly backwards, with the Republic troopers firing at them and appearing to drain the power from the walkers’ shields. Saddened he was at the loss of life. His little body moved as quickly as he can to the aid of his Devaronian padawan.

 

“Procles” Alviss spoke into the comlink in his wrist. “Save the others at the picnic grounds we must.”

“That corvette in the sky is still raining down fire” came the response from the other Jedi. “The call went out for help but it will be awhile before aid from the fleet arrives. Anyone from the village going that direction will be utterly destroyed.”

 

Jedi Alviss came upon Heilo, his Devaronian padawan. Alviss brought out a blanket, spread it on the ground, and rolled his injured padawan onto it. Alviss then put Kolto gel onto the wounds, trying to stop the bleeding. Heilo concentrated all he could to reduce the pain.

 

“My padawan I will need to move or else the two of us may get blasted to pieces.” Alviss closed his eyes, focused on his padawan, feeling the injuries through the Force. Alviss concentrated and the injuries slowly bled less, and Heilo was able to fall asleep on the blanket. A medic from the Republic trooper squad came over and started putting bandages on the wounds.

 

Alviss looked past the village and saw the attacks from the Sith corvette continue. The starship seemed not to know there were no more Sith troops near the village, or else it would have started firing in the direction of the village. “To help those Wookies, there is no one” he spoke into the comlink. He grieved at the thought of the loss of innocent life at the picnic grounds, people simply trying to enjoy a picnic on a sunny day.

 

His padawan is now resting. Heilo will live, and be able to continue studies to be a Jedi, yet Heilo will never again be able see combat. Hopefully Heilo will be able to accept what his role could be in the future with The Jedi Order. Perhaps he could be a librarian at the Temple Library, or work in improving agriculture. Maybe he can work with studying pieces of history. Alviss knew he needs to be supportive of his padawan for many months ahead. Alviss sighed, fearing the death that would come upon the Wookies at the picnic ground. A couple troopers came with a stretcher, and helped Alviss move Heilo to it. They then moved his body back inside the walls under the protection of the shield.

 

Sadis came upon the shuttle and went into the cockpit. She was the only survivor of her squad. She succeeded in becoming a Sith Lord, the title earned after an apprentice murders the master. She turned on the shuttle’s engines and closed the doors. She had a disturbed look on her face for a few seconds, feeling something through the Force. When the feeling went away, she had the shuttle take off, rising in the sky towards the Fire Jewel, which she intends to now command.

 

“No one” Jedi Procles answered back to Alviss in a disheartening voice then he turned off the comlink. He then lowered his eyebrows. He had a disturbed look on his face. He said out loud to himself “except?”

 

* * *

“Sith Corvette in orbit” was heard in the tiny speaker in the camouflage head covering of the figure. Already going in the direction of the picnic grounds, the figure went faster. In the distance there was turret fire from a starship hitting the ground near the village. A large dead tree trunk was in the way and the figure easily jumped over it, landing on the run. Coming upon a small canyon, the figure continued running, jumping at the very edge into the air over the canyon, flinging a line from the belt with a metal piece at the end to wrap around a branch on the other side of the canyon, swinging effortlessly to the other side then the end seemed to unwrap on its own as the line retracted into the belt right when the figure landed on the other side. Coming upon a cliff, the figure jumped high into the air, rising until a large branch of a tree on top of the cliff was grabbed with both hands. Swinging on the branch in a full circle, the figure flung forward, landing on the run with full speed.

 

Soon the camouflaged figure spotted a Sith trooper in the distance. The distance closed quickly, obstacles on the ground easily hopped over with making the barest of sounds. Jumping into the air the figure went. The Sith trooper looked in the direction in which he heard something, but he was too late. All he saw for less than a second was a boot coming for his head, then he fell to the ground unconscious with a concussion, the sole of the boot hitting him at his lower forehead.

 

Quickly a line came pulled from the belt, and the unconscious trooper had his wrists and ankles tied so he would not be able to walk when he awakened. In a dash the figure left to move closer to the picnic area and saw another Sith trooper. With no fear the figure sped towards the trooper and leapt into the air. The second trooper heard the danger a little sooner, but to no avail. He brought his rifle around to shoot, but the figure’s left boot hit the nozzle to the side then the cylindrical metal object held by both hands came crashing down on his left temple. The figure stop for a second to observe the trooper slumping to the ground, then started running again as it was noticed the second trooper was dead. No worry.

 

“Seven. Trooper Seven. Do you copy? Please respond.” The sergeant for the squad was concerned. Scout Seven was usually reliable in answering. He looked around to check the others until he got a view of the bottom of a boot coming to straight towards him. The pain of the boot hitting his forehead was the last thing he noticed until he went unconscious from a concussion.

 

Eight Sith troopers were not far, with two armored walkers standing three meters tall and with the shimmer of shields on. “Intruder!” One yelled as he noticed the camouflaged figure knocking down the sergeant.

 

Ahead of the group were two Sith, a younger man that was bald and an apprentice, and an older man with long grey hair with moustache and beard that was his Sith lord. Both were wearing black tunics and trousers with red and purple added for color. The Sith lord thought eight of his troops can easily keep care of one intruder. Ahead of him he saw Wookie mothers and cubs, easy targets to slaughter.

 

Rifles were raised. As the eight started to pull their triggers, all their eyes widened when the masked figure brought forth a metallic cylinder and green lighted blades came out of each side. They were in motion of pulling their triggers and couldn’t stop. Plasma bolts were fired at the figure, and with ease the figure deflected them back to the troopers while moving a towards one of the walkers.

 

Four of the troopers fell down to the ground dead as the plasma bolts came back and hit them in the chest or head. The remaining four yelled in pain from plasma bolts hitting their arms of legs. One was able to sit up, face agonizing in pain, looking at the figure then yelled “Jedi!!”

 

The two Sith turned around when they heard the yell of Jedi. Why didn’t they sense the figure earlier? A Jedi was actually here at a picnic? There was no report of that. The two turned around to start going towards their new primary target.

 

The masked figure jumped in the air towards one of the walkers, body turning in the air as the feet went above the head, coming down on top of the closest walker. The droid walker was shielded, but it was no match for a lightsaber blade coming straight down into it. The tip of the green blade sliced through the shield and went down through the armor then disintegrated the central processing unit.

 

Immediately after the end of the lightsaber hilt hit the top of the walker, the figure pushed the hilt down into the droid, propelling into the air, turning in the air and landing onto the top of the other walker. Again the green blade plunged through the shield and armor as if cutting through cream, making the cpu no more and the droid shut down.

 

Using the hilt again, the figure flung into the air behind the walkers, noticing the grey haired man moving, trying to get an attack without an obstacle. The bald one looked stunned for a few seconds, never seeing anyone do such moves before. The grey haired man leapt onto the destroyed walker immediately after the figure flung off of it. Landing on the ground, the figure moved a few steps in random direction, bringing up the double-bladed lightsaber as the grey haired jumped with a red lightsaber drawn to bring it down on this mysterious figure. Feet ever moving, the figure with ease deflected the red blade with one of the green ones. Moving the green blades effortlessly in so many directions, the grey haired Sith had difficulty trying to deflect all the attacks. A destroyed walker was kept in between the fight and the other Sith.

 

The grey haired Sith, getting numerous slight hits from the green blades that caused numerous burns, pushed down hard with his saber, planning to push this masked Jedi back and overpower this figure. What Jedi would actually wear a mask? A few seconds as he pressed down with his red blade, he never remembered a Jedi with a mask. Only a Sith assassin wore such a mask.

 

Suddenly the green blade being pushed on turned off. The Sith lord stumbled forward as continued to push for a second, not noticing the figure had a foot near him that helped with the stumble. The stumble was the second to last thing he felt. The last thing was the searing pain in his head, as the other green blade came home, the length of the blade easily burning away most of the back of the neck and lower part of the head.

 

The figure ever so moving, turned to see the apprentice getting to line of sight. He waited for his Master to die before attacking. “How predictable of a Sith” the figure thought as the apprentice got a little closer. With two red lightsabers out, he flung one of them at the target, then jumped in the air spinning in the air at his target. Timing the swing right, one of the green blades touched the red blade thrown, stopping its motion in midair as the other came around and cut through the hilt, destroying the handle. In continuous motion the first green blade came back to touch the tip of the other red lightsaber the apprentice was holding. That stopped the forward motion and spinning of the apprentice, and quickly the second green blade came around to start to cut the arms and legs. The second green blade then retracted, came out shortened, retracted again.

 

The camouflaged figure looked wide eyed in frustration, but compensated by swinging the first blade in time to cut the arms of the apprentice at the elbows, then the legs at midthigh. The figure stood near the remaining lightsaber hilt of the Sith apprentice, taking one of the green blades above it to stab down. The blade retracted again. If anyone was there to look, behind the mask there was a slight tinge of frustration on the face. The green came forth again, and stabbing down the Sith hilt was destroyed.

 

The figure breathed calmly, looking at where the one lightsaber hilt and the two destroyed ones were. She found each of the kyber crystals in them, making sure there was no trap in the hilts, and used the force to lift the crystals in the air. The figure felt pain, then relief from the crystals. All three crystals started to break apart, perhaps wanting eternal rest after being forced and used by the Sith. Breaking apart so only dust was left, the figure allowed the dust to fall to the ground.

 

Breathing calmly, the masked figure looked up a hill and noticed at the distance several Wookies standing there, adults and cubs, that appeared in the distance to have a stunned look. She moved her lightsaber behind her left shoulder, the green blades extended, as one of the injured troopers tried to shoot the figure from behind with a pistol. The small plasms bolt went straight to the figure’s legs but was easily deflected back to the shooter, hitting in the middle of the head armor, burning a hole in it and killing the shooter.

 

The figure started turning around, as if noticing something in the area of the clearing. The sound of a shuttle’s engines starting was heard. Moving a finger with pointing different directions, eleven troopers and two Sith were counted. Sith squads usually had twelve troopers. Oops. The shuttle the squad came in rose into the air, pointing towards the area with the dead and injured Sith and their troopers. The figure kept the blades of the lightsaber extended as it started moving left and right while slightly going forward. The shuttle fired at the masked figure, single shots each time that missed. A sudden run came from the figure, jumping onto one of the destroyed walkers then launching into the air with a large jump. Lightsaber blades extended, the figure spun in the air as the feet went above the head. The shuttle went forward and continued to shoot with no success, as the spinning saber blades reflected the shots back at the shuttles window. Although the window protected from the reflected shots, the light caused by the shots hitting the window caused the pilot not to be able to see for several seconds.

 

The human piloting the shuttle, a Sith close combat specialist that piloted the shuttle to the planet, stayed at the shuttle while the battle proceeded. “This Jedi is going to pay for what was done, and is no match for the shuttle” she thought. Sith troops are trained that Jedi are overrated, and were weaker combatants compared to the Sith. Jedi belong in libraries.

 

Aiming the shuttle at the figure, the pilot fired at her but kept on missing. Shooting one direction the figure goes left, another direction the figure goes right. Then the figure jumped in the air, and started spinning! The pilot kept trying to hit the figure, and finally seemed to have a good couple of shots. Going towards the Jedi, all of a sudden it appeared the shots were knocked back at the shuttle. Hitting the window of the shuttle, the pilot was protected but for a few seconds nothing could be seen out of the window from all the red light made.

 

The pilot then heard a thud at the top of the shuttle. “It’s on the shuttle!” the pilot yelled to herself as she started to try to move the shuttle to get this Jedi to fall off.

 

Spinning in the air, the figure came down and landed on the shuttle. One would expect this figure to be dizzy, however control of the inner ears by the Force prevented the wobbly feeling. Using the Force to push down, the figure stayed on top of the shuttle near the window, and prevented from falling off. Pointing one of the two green blades towards the shuttle window, the figure stabbed down to start cutting an opening, then the blade retracted again. The figure appeared frustrated for a second then spun the lightsaber around and stabbed down with the other blade. Once most of the blade went into the shuttle, the figure quickly cut an opening then used the Force to fling the cut out hull piece away at a distance. The figure went into the opening of the shuttle and looked at what was left of the pilot. The lightsaber cut a deep hole in the top of the skull, going down the upper half of the spinal cord of the pilot, killing her. Pushing the body to the side, the figure looked at the controls and pushed on the control panel what seemed to be to turn off forward thrust. The engines completely turned off.

 

“Oops” said the voice behind the mask. The shuttle dropped down with what was left of forward momentum. Not seeing what could be the on switch, the figure looked up and jumped through the hole in the hull, doing a flip backwards in the air as the Sith shuttle came crashing down into the ground below. As the figure got in an upright position in the air, legs became bent and hands extended as the figure slowed descent and softly landed on the ground. Lightsaber still on, looking around there were no other enemies.

 

Up on the hill the figure saw three Wookie cubs and three adults standing there, not moving, appearing shocked and scared. Taking a couple steps forward, the figure jump forward, did a summersault while turning off the lightsaber, then landed near the Wookies. Quickly the figure sat down and took off the mask, showing a young lady with ginger hair that had a braid going down the right side of her head, and green eyes with her fair complexion.

 

“Hi. I’m Furia.” The Wookies looked at each other perplexed. She focused with ease on the Force, thinking fun and calm. “I’m a Jedi.” The Wookie cubs smiled now as they looked at each other, then rushed the young Jedi sitting in front of them and gave her a group hug. The Jedi padawan noticed the starship attack was no longer occurring.

 

When the hugs were finished, she motioned for them to go up the hill where the picnic tables were. She walked back to the site of the battle, and saw the living torso of the Sith apprentice. “Jedi witch” he cursed angrily as he stuck out his tongue, trying to shoot lightning, however only a tiny spark occurred.

 

“Aww, that wasn’t nice” the Jedi said as she looked around. “That works” she thought, and used the Force to lift the head and torso of the injured Sith apprentice into the air, floating him half a meter above the ground as he moved a little distance until she stopped the movement. She turned what was left of his body so he looked sideways, then allowed him to drop, dropping the Sith apprentice head into animal manure. She turned back to look up the hill to the picnic area, then gracefully walked to join her new Wookie friends.

 

* * *

One of the Republic troopers took off the helmet of the sniper lying on the ground in pain. Helmet off, the face exposed was a man with red skin, black hair, and red eyes. A Pheo, from the planet Pheo in the Sith Empire whose sentient inhabitants had skin of yellow, pink, or red. The Pheo was moving a little on the ground in pain, having broken bones in the arms, and plasma wounds in the legs. That Republic trooper had the assault cannon, now laid on the ground. Standing above the Pheo sniper, the trooper took off the helmet and put the left arm around it to hold it. There looking down was a woman, red skin and orange eyes, a species just like him. She had black hair that was straight, and held back in a ponytail.

 

“You insolent…” he tried to yell at her before she kneeled down and brought her right elbow down on the side of the sniper’s head, knocking him unconscious.

 

She stood up. “Fool of a Bantha’s backside” she said down to her unconscious prisoner. She was also a Pheo, however she came from the planet Liberty located in the inner rim. Her people escaped Pheo a hundred years ago, finding a new planet to colonize, gladly becoming members of the Republic.

 

She did a motion with her thumb of pointing at the prisoner then pointing at a distance. Two troopers, fully clad in forest green armor with brown streaks in it the same as hers, came with a stretcher and put the unconscious sniper onto the stretcher.

 

“A little rough, don’t you think?” asked Alviss as he walked slowly to the Pheo trooper.

 

“Don’t think so. Maybe it will improve his personality” she said back to the little green Jedi.

 

Alviss sighed. “Well, thank you Captain. Your troopers have been very beneficial, and you helped save the Wookie village. Captain, pardon me. I don’t think I ever got your name.”

 

“Porta. Captain Porta, Master Jedi. Glad to be a service and help these fine people.” She scanned the area, noticing her squad going over the dead, treating the wounded, and communicating with the landing crafts for pickup when a Republic ship arrives. One of the troopers came up to the Captain, and showed her an information chip from the belt on the body of Darth Exatio. It appeared the pink Pheo never noticed it when she pulled the card from his corpse. Captain Porta put the information chip into an information pad, one ready for computer infection in case a program infection was inserted on the chip on purpose. She looked at the information, then handed the pad to the Jedi Alviss.

 

“Pack up and get ready to head out Dragons.” Captain Porta was the commander of Company Dragon, although she had only one squad with her for this conflict. She decided to simply use the name of the Company than the name of the squad with her, Mountain. Her other squads were on the Troop Transport in another system. She was proud to be the leader of Mountain and the other squads: Gundark, Hound, Mudhorn, and Jawa. She laughed a little to herself, thinking of that name. A toast to whoever had the sense of humor to name a squad after the little junk collectors of Tatooine.

 

“I will send this information to Republic Command and the Jedi Council Captain. A thank you to your squad for finding this important information” Alviss said to the Captain.

 

“Republic should have a vessel here soon, that can aid with the injured and help inspect the battle” Captain Porta replied to the green Jedi before she started to walk towards her troopers to head to the picnic grounds. The attack from the Sith corvette stopped, so the squad could go there without risk of attack.

 

Alviss took a comlink from his belt to relay a message to his shuttle, which would relay it to the Jedi Council on Coruscant. He hoped they would know what this interest the Sith Lord had with the planet Templi.

* * *

Jedi Knight Procles came to the picnic grounds, preparing himself to see a slaughter. Instead he saw the padawan falling to the ground in enjoyment while losing a tug of war game with two young Wookies. “Cubbies win! Cubbies win!” the padawan said in glee as the two victors came up to her giving hugs. As she sat up, a third Wookie cub got near her right side and started attaching a wood piece to the bottom of her padawan braid. The rest of her hair was down to shoulder length, not in the bun used when on official Jedi or military business for the Republic. She deserved the recreation, at this time who cares about her hair length.

 

Furia looked at the Jedi Knight. “Hi Master Procles. Join us for a picnic” she stated as she smiled at him.

 

Procles laughed a little. So now he knows why there are so many colorful stories about this padawan.

 

Edited by Jimcorpus
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  • 3 months later...

Chapter 8

 

Before the Journey

 

 

Before the Journey

 

Furia woke up from a wonderful night of sleep. “Nice bed with nice coverings” she thought. “Can’t train to be a Jedi by laying it bed. Be relaxing though”. She got up and started getting ready. She put on a tanned tunic then heard a noise out in the day area. Furia walked into the day area as her bedroom door opened. “Good morning Master. Nice to see you.”

 

“Good morning Furia” as Pricilli turned around then saw her padawan wearing only a tunic and underwear. The Togrutan widened her eyes. “I hope you plan to wear more than that.”

 

“At least they would know I was in attendance today” Furia replied as she smiled. Pricilli sighed as Furia turned around and walked back into her room to finish putting on her clothes. Pricilli thought to herself how thankful it was her padawan was not found by the Sith first. The door closed behind Furia as she put on matching tanned leggings and miniskirt. She walked out of her room to the kitchen area to make breakfast. “You don’t have an early meeting at the library?”

 

“No” Pricilli answered as she sat down to start eating breakfast. “Done as much as could be done there.” Furia sat at the table with her master and ate. “In fact, after classes I will meet you near the turbolift that goes to the Jedi Council chamber.

 

“Really?” Furia asked as she raised her eyebrows.

 

“Yes. That is all you need to know. Look nice.” Pricilli finished her breakfast then cleaned up after herself. “Please don’t be late.”

 

“All right”. Furia finished her breakfast. While cleaning up, Pricilli walked to the main entrance. “May the Force be with you Padawan.”

 

“May the Force be with you Master.” Pricilli walked out of the home, and the door closed behind her. Furia went back to her room to decide what shoes to wear. She put on her dark brown daywear shoes that would match her Jedi robe. She put on her robe, the grabbed her datapad. Putting it into her backpack, she then thought about bringing her tan high heels. Pricilli did say to look nice. Furia put her high heels into her backpack, then put the backpack on. Ready now for the day’s activities, she walked out of her room then out of her home. With the door automatically locking, she made her way to her first class.

 

Furia went through her classes as usual, enjoying the new knowledge she learned. In The History of the Jedi, the instructor asked the padawan “Furia, name something Jedi are afraid of?”

 

“Being totally disconnected from the Force, and people telling really bad stories about them.” The students immediately burst into laughter. “It’s true.” The instructor simply shook his head. He had no response to the spunky padawan.

 

Furia had lunch with her friends, chatting and laughing. This time Master Wassach did not ask anyone a question. He just sat and observed the padawans. Furia had the look of doing a joke when her three friends looked at her. “Don’t” they said.

 

“All right. I was going to do the Hutt wanting chocolate.”

 

The other ladies giggled. “No. I think people have got plenty of Hutt with you talking yesterday” Stacy Organa whispered to her friend. “What’s in the backpack other than the datapad?”

 

“High heels. Master Pricilli said look nice for the Council.” Furia finished the drink she had.

 

“No one wears high heels to the Jedi Council” Dantella replied.

 

“No rules against it. Be different” Furia answered.

 

“Oh it would be different. True though no rules about high heels.” Mecina stated to the group.

 

Stacy chimed in. “You have to tell us how it goes later.”

 

Furia nodded her head with a sneaky smile. Her friends tried to keep the volume down as they laughed. Furia quietly changed her shoes into the high heels at the table. They all finished their tasty lunch meal. After putting their food trays away, the padawans went to the piloting class. This time Furia did not have to practice. Next came her last class of the day, Metallurgy, continuing to learn about metals. Finally, the class finished and she made her way to the main level.

 

Furia walked down the long hallway of the main level of the Temple with grace, wearing her high heels. The click and clack of the shoes on the stone floor echoed down the hallway. Jedi looked at her shaking their heads. Troopers smiled and did a little salute with their fingers. Padawans bowed then did a little fist pump towards her. A group of younglings jumped up and down pointing towards Furia. Citizens looked with open mouths, never seeing a Jedi like that. A small group of women pointed to her feet, then pointed at theirs, wondering how they could do the look and tolerate the walk. As she got near the turbolift, she saw her master just arriving at the door then looked at Furia. The padawan calmly walked towards the turbolift door.

 

Pricilli pushed the panel by the door. “This is looking nice?”

 

“Yes” Furia responded.

 

“High heels?”

 

“You don’t think I look nice? Should I go barefoot?”

 

“How many people walk into the Jedi Council wearing high heels?”

 

“There’s no rule against it.” Furia replied.

 

“What if we get attacked? You plan to do that flying kick in those?”

 

“Attacked? Here? If someone could attack here, this temple has a lot more problems than me in high heels. Besides, a few months ago Stacy and I got to use high heels on practice dummies. You should have seen the results.” The two walked into the turbolift, and Pricilli touched for the level of the Jedi Council Chamber.

 

“Maybe you could walk up in those heels and ask the assailants if they want to buy you an after dinner drink.”

 

“Wonderful” the padawan replied as the door opened. Years ago she would roll up her eyes when her master said something like that, but now she had more control of herself. Furia let Pricilli walk out of the turbolift first then she followed. Keeping at her master’s pace, Furia again walked to the side and back from Pricilli. As the two looked, the door to the chamber was already opened. They walked, with Furia’s high heels making their sound, into the chamber to stand in the middle with Furia at her appropriate place. A few master’s had their mouths opened. Master Jeromia looked at Master Wassach wide eyed. Master Ratcher had a little smile on his Cathar face. “You like the shoes Padawan Furia?”

 

“Yes Master. You like my figure?”

 

“Furia!” yelled Pricilli.

 

“I was just asking. Besides, these high heels make really good projectiles. Stacy and I practiced with them a few months ago.”

 

“I know. I saw” replied Master Ratcher.

 

“Really? How good were we?” Furia asked surprised.

 

“Both of you were ingenious. Compliments to your masters, in an unusual way.”

 

“Oh. Thank you Master Ratcher.” Furia bowed in his direction. Several of the Jedi Council started chuckling at this exchange. Pricilli was holding her forehead, as if she was about to have a headache. Only she has to have a padawan like this. She has heard too many times from other Jedi that Furia was fun to have around. They don’t know what it’s like having her numerous hours every day. “You think the colors blend well?” Furia asked innocently, getting a laugh from the Council.

 

“Yes padawan. The colors look good on you.” Master Wassach said to Furia in basic. “How about you speak in Huttese to get it out of your system, then we can talk why you are here.”

 

Using the Force effortlessly, Furia put out a deep Hutt laugh. “I really would like some chocolate” she said in Huttese. Chuckles came out of several of the Council members.

 

“It is not nice to mock a species, padawan.” Master Wassach was saying to Furia.

 

“I wasn’t. Chocolate would be nice right now.” Furia replied with sincerity.

 

“Let us start.” Grand Master Wassach didn’t remember the last time a padawan had such an attitude. She was a charming girl, but she was so self-willed. “You two will be leaving tonight. We have lost contact with the colony on Templi. Your mission is to reestablish communication with the temple there, and find out what is important about that planet. Your shuttle is being fueled and stocked now so it will be ready tonight.”

 

Furia was keeping a straight face while hearing all of this information. So this must be why Master Pricilli had been gone so much for the past couple of days. She knew to stay quiet and keep her composure. Without thinking of what she was doing, she had already made a show of herself. She hoped she could help out Pricilli. She also hoped she didn’t have problems with her lightsaber.

 

“Any reason we lost communication with Templi?” Pricilli asked. “I would think the Jedi there would be able to work around any communication problems.”

 

“We don’t know. We also don’t know if any Sith military has shown up there.” Master Ratcher answered. “Keep in communication. We don’t want to lose the two of you.”

 

“Understood Master Ratcher” Pricilli replied. “I will let Furia know the other information on the way there.” Furia kept her composure, even though she felt like raising her eyebrows.

 

“May the Force be with both of you” stated Master Wassach as he looked at both of them.

 

Pricilli and Furia bowed their heads to the Jedi Council. “May the Force be with you” they replied in unison. Furia let Pricilli start to the exit first.

 

“And please be careful” Wassach said as they started to turn to leave.

 

Furia turned to the door, then had a smile on her face. She turned back to look at the Jedi Grand Master, her braid swinging in the air. She walked up to the Rodian with everyone hearing her high heels on the floor, then squatted down in front of him. She reached out her right hand and rubbed underneath the Grand Master’s chin as she said “Ahh, you look so cute with those eyes of yours when you say that.” She leaned over and kissed his forehead then stood up. She turned around then calmly walked toward the exit. The click and clack of Furia’s shoes echoed as she exited the Jedi Council Chamber and out into the waiting area until she reached the turbolift.

 

“To my knowledge, never, never, has a padawan done that with the Jedi Grand Master” Pricilli said with a stunned face to her padawan.

 

“Today is as good a day as any for there to be a first” Furia replied. The door opened and they stepped in.

 

Pricilli shook her head a little. “What a display Furia. Officially you haven’t broken any Jedi code.” Furia raised her eyebrows for a second, then Pricilli sighed.

 

“I need to go to the library and look up the layout of the colony in case a landing pad isn’t available Furia.”

 

“May I go out for dinner? It would be a nice break from the home meals.”

 

“Yes, that’s fine Furia. I will meet you at home later then we can go to the shuttle. Please just don’t make a scene.”

 

“Thank you Master.” The door opened and Furia let Pricilli walk out first. Pricilli walked in the direction of the library. Not far Furia saw a few people talking together, then saw standing near them Lieutenant Darci Grahrama.

 

“Hi Darci” Furia greeted the Cathar Trooper.

 

Darci looked in the direction of the voice, and saw Furia walking towards her. “Hi Lady Furia!” The lieutenant was happy to see her new friend. “What’s up?”

 

“Just finished a meeting. What’s going on with you?

 

“I was told to wait for Captain Wright. It regards where the injured are to be reassigned once they leave the hospital.”

 

“Let me get hold of him.” Furia brought out her comlink and contacted the captain. “Antone. It’s Furia. I got Darci waiting here for you.”

 

“Who?” Furia and Darci heard the perplexion in his voice.

 

“Lietenant. Darci. Grahrama.” Furia answered.

 

“Who are you to talk to me that way?”

 

“I’m the Jedi that saved your sorry unit’s backside.” Furia had no problem bringing up how she planned out explosions with perfect timing that killed everyone in a platoon of Sith troopers, which saved troops under Captain Wright a year ago.

 

“Oh! That Furia. Ahh, hello. So Lieutenant Grahrama. Oh her. I, ah, forgot. Sorry. She doesn’t need to wait. The injured for now will stay with their current unit.”

 

“Thank you.” Furia did quite well hiding her sarcasm. She then turned off the comlink.

 

“Thank you Furia”. Darci looked still a little nervous, but not as bad as yesterday.

 

“Happy to help. Hey, you have plans for dinner?”

 

“I was just going to go home and eat a prepared meal” Darci replied.

 

“Want to go out for dinner? I know a place with good cooking. The Grill.”

 

“Sure. Never heard of it. If you say it’s good, I definitely want to try.”

 

“Do you need to go home first?” Furia asked.

 

“No. There is nothing I need to go home for. Now that I don’t have to wait, the rest of my day is free.” Darci was having better spirits now knowing she can have a nice evening with her new friend.

 

“Good. I don’t need to either. Hey, all right if I call some friends to meet us there?”

 

“Sure, I guess.” Darci was a little nervous about the idea of meeting new people, but she would still get to be with her new friend.

 

“Thanks.” Furia brought out her handheld projector, or hhp as it was sometimes called, to send messages. Stacy is with her master, Gianna, for dinner to talk about possible situations she could face for her trial. Mecina says her master, Roger Argentum of Denon, wants her to stay home and practice Huttese. Poor Mecina. Dantella’s free! She wants to try the roast meat. Who else? Furia pondered. What about those troopers she and Stacy met a couple nights ago. Furia sent messages to the four of them. Cathy, Xi, and John were too tired to go out. Ibu said “Yes” with a bunch of smiling rancor pictures. He very much liked the idea of good tasting slow cooked food. Ibu and Dantella will meet them there.

 

“Great. Two friends will meet us there. Both great souls.”

 

Darci wasn’t planning on such an evening. “Busy dinner. I am sure it will be nice to meet them.”

 

* * *

 

Furia led the way to walk out of the temple. Once outside, she brought out her handheld projector to call for a ride. “Won’t be too long of a wait. How do you like it on Coruscant?”

 

“It’s definitely different” Darci replied. “Everything outside is metal, except for some concrete and a few planters. On Cathar its tall trees and an expanse of tall grasses. There’s buildings, but they’re surrounded by green plants. Even on Corellia there were parks with grass and trees.” During those days the Republic Military Academy, and the main troop training base, were at Corellia since it had plenty of damaged buildings and open area to practice military skills. “And so many people.”

 

“That is hard to get used to” Furia replied. “Just not every planet has around one trillion people. It takes time to get used to that, and some people never get used to it.”

 

“Is it easier on the lower levels?” the Cathar lieutenant asked.

 

“No. People don’t care for the life down there, so it’s overrun by crime syndicates. Down there no need to fight the Sith when there’s plenty of gangsters that would like to kill you. More disease, people trying to take advantage of you, and outright more misery.” Furia was standing there saying the facts while they were waiting for their ride.

 

“I would think it would be a large undertaking sending personnel down there.” Darci didn’t know anything about the lower levels until Furia told her about it. An unexpected fact she learned this day.

 

“Quite the undertaking. One would need to know how to properly delegate what people need to do down there to make a difference. Also, have the will to actually want to make a difference, and to do the changes needed to make things better.” Furia was briefly thinking of the few times she had been to the lower levels.

 

The ride showed up and they got into the back seat. Furia waved her card near a sensor, then told the droid that was driving “The Grill. As in the restaurant.” The doors automatically closed. The speeder went into the air to join the traffic. Furia turned her head to the Cathar. “The Grill has numerous dishes to choose from for meals. Some food is cooked slowly all day.”

 

Darci had an inquisitive look on her face. “Furia, how long have you been here in Coruscant?”

 

“Four years.” Furia said calmly to her new friend. Coming to Coruscant was a frustrating subject, but the padawan kept her composure talking about it. “My master and I came here from Tython as part of a project to get Jedi more interacting with the populace. Others came too with us. I understand the reason for it, but I still miss Tython.”

“Tython is a beautiful planet” Darci responded.

 

“It is. Nevertheless, I have to accept coming here as part of the will of the Jedi Council to make life better for the Republic. Better to be mingling than isolating from the citizens.” Furia thought for a couple seconds about the nice mountains and lakes she got to see for the several years when she was growing up there.

 

“But you met some nice friends here?”

 

“Oh definitely” she replied. “Numerous good friends. And definitely plenty of things to do. Just need to stay out of trouble.” Furia laughed for a couple seconds thinking about the trouble she has done over several years.

 

Darci smiled at seeing Furia laugh. She thought to herself that maybe Coruscant won’t be so terrible a place.

 

“Met anyone special here yet Darci?” Furia questioned her new friend.

 

Darci looked at Furia, then looked down, then looked back at the ginger haired padawan. “No, ah, no. I’m trying to get used to Coruscant.” Furia nodded her head acknowledging she heard the answer. Furia left it at that. She didn’t want to disturb her new friend.

 

“I got reservations, so we won’t have to wait long. Every night it’s pretty busy. Good tasting food brings the customers back.” Furia was looking out the side while talking, noticing their speeder was getting closer to the restaurant.

“So it’s popular? Darci asked.

 

“Yea. Many people know about it. Nothing fancy. Simply a lot of good food.”

 

The speeder went down out of the traffic lane in the sky, and slowed down until it finally stopped in front of The Grill. The two young women got out of the speeder. As the speeder took off into the sky to pick up its next ride, they turned to the door of the restaurant and walked towards it. Furia spoke first to Dantella then to Ibu in her handheld projector that she has the reservations and will meet them inside the door. The door slid open as they got to it. Furia stepped through first and looked for her two friends. She spotted Dantella first, or more accurately felt her first through the Force. Furia stuck up her arm and waved to Dantella. She then looked around for Ibubes Wehlathi, her new friend she met with the other troopers a couple nights ago. It shouldn’t be that hard. How many tall Cathars would there be here at The Grill? As Furia looked around, she actually saw a few that weren’t Ibu. “What do you know. The Grill is becoming popular with Cathar on Coruscant” she thought to herself. There he is. Furia waved her arm in the air and a couple times did a little jump to get his attention. She could have jumped all the way to the ceiling by using the Force, but why make a scene? He waved back and walked towards her.

 

“Smells good in here. A lot of nice aromas from the food.” Darci smelled the air, and enjoyed all the scents. Dantella Sidero got to them first. Her friend was the padawan of Cleo Sensus, the Miraluka Jedi that, like all of her species, had no eyes and viewed things through the Force. The Iridonian was in her Jedi clothes, a brown robe that covered a tan tunic, trousers, and shoes. She had short black hair that grew around the protruding horns on her head, with the traditional padawan braid down the right side of her head. She thought in the past of cutting away her hair, but decided not to. She likes having at least some hair, and she gives her respect to the order by having the padawan braid. Oh what a problem it was for her hairdresser though, trying to trim her hair around the numerous horns on her head.

 

In a few seconds Ibu came to them through the crowd. Wearing a black tunic and blue trousers, his brown hair with some black spots looked clean and fresh. Darci looked up at him for a second with wide eyes and ears sticking up. She thought she felt her heart flutter for a second.

 

“Everyone! This is Dantella Sidero, Darci Grahrama, and Ibu Wehlathi.” Furia pointed at each of them when introducing each person. She decided no need to say their title, since it would give a chance to learn about each other. Furia went to the hostess, which Furia thought was too fancy of a title for someone working at this restaurant. The hostess nodded, then showed the party of four to a table not far from where one can see the food being cooked. With slight touches from her hands, Furia deftly got people seated where Darci could look at the food being cooked by looking in the direction of Ibu. Furia was sitting across from Darci at the square table, and Dantella was sitting across from Ibu. Furia touched the glass table to look at the menu displayed on the table surface, then the others did the same.

 

“I’m thinking of the Dewback brisket, chopped. Maybe.” Furia said then she looked up.

 

The waiter came by to the table. A mid-height human with short dark hair, he smiled at the table of four. “Hi, I’m Donnie. Welcome to The Grill. It is so nice to see all of you. What can I get you to drink?”

 

Furia did a hand gesture with her open palm to show the others should order first. Dantella took the clue and ordered first. “Little Lady Rishi Punch.” Furia smiled. “You got me hooked on those Furia. They’re delicious.”

 

The waiter looked at Darci. “Oh, I, ahh, starfruit juice.” Darci seemed uncertain but gave her order.

 

“Coruscant Red Ale” Ibu said with certainty.

 

“Can I change my order to that?” Darci asked the waiter.

 

“Yes ma’am.” He turned to look at Furia. “And for you Lady Furia?”

 

Furia once again wondered why people kept on giving her the title Lady. Her friends weren’t called Lady until after Furia was called that.

 

“CW with lime flavoring.”

 

“No Little Lady?” Ibu asked. Darci was looking at the food being made, then looked at him when Ibu asked the question. Ibu looked back at her. “She ordered it a couple nights ago.”

 

“No. Leaving tonight off world with my Master.” Furia said. The waiter turned and walked off to get the drinks.

Furia and the others looked at the menus while waiting for their drinks. Darci looked up to smell then see the food being cooked, quickly looked at Ibu, then went back to look at the menu. Dantella looked up for a second watching Darci’s behavior. Dantella looked back down at the menu, and with a slight movement of her left hand under the table she used the Force to cause the tiniest of pushes on the shoulder of Furia. The ginger haired padawan had a little smile on her face as she looked at the menu, feeling the slight push on her shoulder from her friend. The waiter came back with a tray of the drinks. As he let the tray float in the air, he gave the correct drink to each of the four at the table.

 

“Are you ready to order?”

 

Furia looked up at him. “We’ll do the click on the menu to order our dinners.”

 

“Yes Lady Furia” he answered.

 

“He knows you?” Darci looked up to Furia and asked.

 

“I’ve been here many times. Probably best food in the district.”

 

Furia and the others looked back at the menu. Furia pushed on what she wanted to order. Furia then looked up at Dantella. “After this I go home to get ready, then off to the shuttle. I will be told more later.”

 

“Good luck. We’ll keep the Temple busy in your absence. You’ll be missed.” Dantella enjoyed having Furia as a friend, just like she enjoyed having Stacy and Mecina as friends. Part of the life of a padawan is your friends are gone at times. Unfortunately, sometimes that friend doesn’t come back alive.

 

“It should only be a few days” Furia responded. Furia then talked about some technical non-classified information about temples, and what might have been built at the sight where these people went.

 

Ibu looked at Darci. “In the military?”

 

“Yes” Darci replied as she looked at Ibu with her pupils a little dilated. “I’m a second lieutenant with headquarters in the personnel assignment section. I recently arrived here to Coruscant from the academy. I’m still trying to get used to this city planet. What about you?”

 

“Seventh Army. First division. Captain. We just got back from a deployment. Resupplying right now.”

 

Darci stiffened, saying “excuse me sir.”

 

“Relax. We aren’t at a base. We’re here with new friends.”

 

Darci nodded her head to Ibu, then did her best to relax. She heard about them in past few days. A successful deployment, but a rough one. There were many casualties and injuries. She correctly decided not to prod with more questions about that deployment. She smelled the food cooking. “What do you plan to order?”

 

“Nerf steak. Cooked well and they put nice spices with it here” Ibu responded.

 

“Think I’ll try that” Darci responded. Both of the Cathars pushed on the menu to order their dinner.

 

Dantella ordered fish with rice. She responded to Furia’s comments about temples, drinking her Rishi Punch, smiling, and knowing exactly what Furia was up to. The skill her friend had with people. “Just amazing” Dantella thought to herself.

 

Ibu and Darci had a stop of their talking. To Furia, it seemed they ran out of things to talk about. “Yesterday was an interesting day” she stated to the group.

 

“What about today!” Dantella replied. “You kissed the Grand Master on the forehead!” Dantella started laughing, having fun like she did at lunch the day before. “That’s a first!”

 

“He was so sweet, showing his concern for me and Master Pricilli” Furia replied.

 

“How many people kiss the Grand Master on the forehead?” Ibu asked with a smile. Darci started smiling too.

 

“Think I’m the first” Furia answered as she drank her carbonated water, tasting the lime.

 

“Wow” Ibu said back. “Speaking of yesterday, were you the Jedi preaching in the plaza yesterday?”

 

“If it was the one between the hospital and the Jedi Temple” Furia answered.

 

“How many Jedi are out preaching?” asked Darci with a surprised look.

 

“Not enough” Furia replied.

 

“How true” Dantella answered. “However no way around it, name someone as good at preaching as Furia.”

 

Ibu and Darci both had the looks on their faces of accepting a profound truth. “That’s true” Ibu replied.

 

“Wait. Was that after you met me at the military hospital?” Darci asked.

 

“Yes. I just felt like it as I was walking home.” Furia said as her gaze went from Darci to Ibu then back to Darci.

 

“You were at the hospital?” Ibu asked Darci.

 

“Yes. I was talking to the active duty about when to return to their units. A bit overwhelming seeing all of them.” Darci was back looking at Ibu.

 

“That doesn’t include the ones not sent to the hospital” Ibu said back to her.

 

Ibu and Darci started talking again to each other about what was known to the public of which unit was at Coruscant and which was away. The two Cathar started to get more focused on each other as they talked about the Republic military. Furia looked at Dantella and mouthed the words to her friend “Force be with ya”. Dantella knew Furia was not trying some mind trick; she simply used her incredible people skills to get these two troopers to get to know each other.

 

After a few minutes the waiter brought their dinners. Allowing the tray to once again hover in the air, the waiter took each of the plates and put it in front of the correct person.

 

Furia lifted up her glass to the others in a toast. “To friends” she said to the group, then took a large sip of her carbonated water.

 

“To friends” the three others replied as they lifted their glasses in a toast, then had a sip. Once the glasses were put down on the table, the group started eating their dinner.

 

Darci had the look on her face that she was really enjoying the taste of her dinner. Ibu looked up after swallowing a bite of food. “Do we need to move the plates afterwards for you to dance?” he asked looking at Furia.

 

“Huh!?” Darci asked with exclamation as she looked up surprised. Furia was smiling, and Dantella was laughing.

 

“No no, not tonight. Besides not a good table to dance on” Furia replied while smiling away.

 

“What?” Darci still looked surprised.

 

Dantella was able to stop laughing and told Darci. “Furia was with Ibu and a few others a couple nights ago and livened up the club by dancing on a table. And good moves Stacy said.” It was a little while ago Dantella realized Ibu was one of those four troopers Furia and Stacy met a couple nights ago.

 

“Do all Jedi do that?” Darci asked wide eyed.

 

The others laugh. Ibu answered “No. Looks like only Furia. We are blessed with a special Jedi here.”

 

Furia beamed in a smile. “Ahh, thank you.”

 

Dantella smiled at the interaction and went back to eating dinner. The others followed and went back to their meals. All seemed to enjoy their dinner, especially Darci. Each of them eventually finished their dinner. The waiter checked on them a couple times. He came back when they were done and took their dinner plates. “Any dessert” he asked.

 

“Any of you prefer something? Furia asked.

 

Ibu said “No no, you pick” while Dantella and Darci shook their heads.

 

Furia looked up to the waiter. “Chocolate cake for each of us.” Ibu nodded his head in approval. The waiter walked away with the plates to put in the order for the desserts.

 

Darci looked at Furia. “Thank you so much for this evening. This has been my best night here on Coruscant.”

 

“Oh your so welcome. Thank all of you for coming.”

 

“This was a great idea Furia” Ibu said to her.

 

The waiter came back with four dishes, each with a moist piece of chocolate cake. The waiter put a plate in front of each of them then left. The four started eating the cake, all enjoying the taste of the chocolate. They finished eating the dessert, then looked up. Ibu patted his stomach with his hand. Dantella wiped away a piece of crumb on the side of her mouth. Darci had a big smile as she looked at the group. Furia waited for the waiter to come back. He picked up the plates and put them on the hovering tray. Furia held up her card. The waiter gave her the billing device, and she moved her card by it then hit the screen to give him an eighteen percent tip of credits.

 

“Thank you all for coming to The Grill. Have a wonderful evening, and come back soon.” The waiter then left to go to another table to get orders.

 

“Everyone ready?” Furia asked.

 

They all got up and started walking to the exit. As they left the building, Furia said to Darci “I could take you home before I pack up Darci.”

 

“I could take her home Furia. You have a trip to pack for.” Ibu looked at Furia, seeming happier than when she met him a couple days ago.

 

“That’s good, I mean all right” Darci said a little clumsy.

 

“All right. See you two soon.” Furia hugged Ibu then Darci. She started walking away with Dantella towards a waiting area set up for people to get rides to go wherever they want. Furia looked back and saw the two Cathars get into a speeder to take them away.

 

“Oh how you are with people.” Dantella was looking at her friend as a speeder came by to pick up the two padawans.

 

“Wonder if they will hook up” Furia said as she followed her Iridonian friend into the speeder.

 

“Knowing you, they probably will.” The speeder took off to take the two home. “They are both nice people. It was nice of you to invite them.”

 

“Really nice dinner before the trip. On a night all of us are off when I get back, let’s get Mecina and Stacy for dinner then a club. Think we all need it.” Furia was hoping she could get all four of the padawan friends together when she gets back.

 

“Oh so right. Good luck with that mission. Oh, before I forget since I already did, you messed up Reyno bad.”

Dantella was telling her friend with a little excitement.

 

“Ahh, he died?” Furia said with blatant sarcasm.

 

Dantella laughed. “Oh you can have a wicked streak at times. Naw, he got discharged from the hospital. His attitude really changed. He hasn’t gone to the gym at all. He avoids all female Jedi, especially your friends. He hardly talks at all. It’s more than he got humility. Think he lost knowing who he was.”

 

“He caused it. I wonder if I overdid it, but he got so arrogant thinking he was going to teach me something.”

 

“Me? Blame you? Not not.” Dantella was making sure Furia knew Dantella was on her side on this controversy. “That move of yours was epic. I would have probably done worse like crushing his skull if given the chance. But he’s not going to any longer be some pompous fool thinking he is untouchable.”

 

“Thanks.” Furia smiled at her friend. A good friend, just like Stacy and Mecina. Furia was grateful Dantella was on her side on this. It still felt good to Furia on what she did to Reyno.

 

‘You’re leaving tonight and not in the morning?” The dark haired Iridonian asked her ginger haired friend.

 

“Probably timing of the hyperjump so we’re close to the planet when we arrive. We’ll switch whose sleeping during the night so one of us is always awake. We’ve done that before.” The speeder was coming to a stop at the front of the Jedi Temple. Furia got out first after paying for the ride, then Dantella. Furia thought one of these days she is going to own her own speeder so she doesn’t have to pay for these rides. The two padawans walked into the building and went to the turbolift. Furia pushed on the panel. The door opened in a few seconds. Dantella stepped in first, then Furia. Dantella touched the panel in the turbolift, then the door closed and they moved upwards. The door opened and both got out. Dantella lived on the same floor as Furia. Looking at her handheld projector, Furia noticed a message from Darci.

 

“Thank you so much for the dinner Furia” she read. “That was great food. Dantella is such a nice Jedi. Ibu is really great, and we are going out tomorrow after dinner. Thank you for giving me the chance to meet him. Good luck on your mission. Your friend, Lieutenant Darci.”

 

“See, you do have such a way with people.” Dantella was smiling to her friend as they walked to Furia’s home. When they got to the front door, Dantella gave Furia a hug. “Good Luck. Be safe.”

 

“I will. See you soon.” Furia parted from the hug then touched the panel and the front door slid open. She stepped through the door frame, gave her friend a wave goodbye, then the door slid back close.

 

Edited by Jimcorpus
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Chapter 2

 

Coming Home

 

 

A shuttle landed without incident in one of the large hangers in the port used by the Jedi Order. The ramp from the ship lowered, then the door opened. The padawan came out, wearing a tan shirt clung to her chest, dark brown belt matching the color of her Jedi robe, tan leggings with matching miniskirt and ankle boots. She moved down the ramp, turning and moving her arms. Those looking at her would think she was relishing the moment. Those knowing about lightsaber dueling would think she was practicing lightsaber moves. Those knowing Furia Tormenta knew she was doing both.

 

As she came to the bottom of the ramp, Furia saw coming toward her three young women. To the side another shuttle landed in the hanger. One of the young women was dark haired wearing the official on duty hair bun, showing the fair skin of Alderaan. Another was dark haired with beautiful ebony skin from the island world of Amanzi Izihala. Last but certainly not least was a dark haired lady who wore her hair short, with numerous horns on her scalp easily indicating she was an Iridonian. All three had the braid of a Jedi padawan.

 

Furia did a little run up then jumped a short distance to her great friends, laughing as she landed by them. They hugged their exuberant friend as Furia hugged them back. “You should have seen the cubbies. They were soooo cuuute!”

 

Furia showed them the little wooden ornament made by the Wookie cubs that was tied to the end of her braid, showing tall trees and the bright day star up in the sky. She raised her arms up and beamed a smile. “Passed!”

 

“With you hon, was there any doubt?” Mecina Chanasa of Amanzi Izihala looked at Furia, the first one of the group that did the survival test of being left somewhere and trying to find the destination point without any help.

 

Laughing, Dantella Sidero of Iridonia pointed to the injured and dead bodies of the Sith squad brought out of the shuttle that just landed. “Now that’s extra credit!”

 

“You really did drop that fool of a bantha backside’s face into manure.” Stacy Organa, a princess from Alderaan, laughed as she noticed slight brown stains on the face of the Sith apprentice, taken on a stretcher as a result of no longer having his legs, not to mention no longer having his arms. “We heard some troops talking about it when we got here.”

 

“Hey. It’s me.” Furia stated calmy a fact her friends knew for most of their lives. She then saw at the end of the hanger near a door a middle aged Togrutan female. “I’m guessing we can’t dinner tonight with all of us having studies. Meet up for lunch tomorrow?”

 

“Got a plan” replied Stacy. The four friends did a group hug, then Furia’s friends walked out through the door, bowing their heads a little toward the Togrutan wearing a dark brown Jedi robe.

 

The Togrutan let the girls have their fun for a bit. Knowing them, they needed to do their welcome after hearing the stories of what happened at Kashyyykyon. Furia Tormenta, the daring padawan who on her own stopped a Sith squad intending to kill innocent Wookies, who slay a Sith Lord and maimed the apprentice, stopping two armored droids, killed or captured twelve Sith soldiers, jumped on a shuttle in the air and stopped it. The only padawan that would have fun by dropping a Sith’s face into manure after a battle. The padawan this Togrutan had to deal with every day.

 

The Togrutan and padawan walked casually toward each other. “I hope you enjoyed the greeting from your friends” stated calmly the Togrutan Jedi Knight Pricilli Tonna.

 

“You know I did Master.” Furia calmed down her excitement, bowed to her master. “That’s it?”

 

“You put yourself in grave danger. I’m responsible for you as your master. What if you got injured or killed? That wasn’t just some apprentice. That was an apprentice with his Sith Lord.”

 

“Ahhh, how bout Congratulations?” Furia kept control of her emotions as she did most of the time, able to control her frustration with her master. She looked at her own body. “Not a scratch.”

 

“So I heard from Procles. The troopers that came to the scene were amazed at what you did. And yes, Procles said how kind and caring you were to the Wookie children. I am certainly not doubting that Furia. You passed your survival test in the most unique way. You passed, which I expected.”

 

Furia was given a backpack from the shuttle with her belongings in it by one of the shuttle crew, and the women walked out of the hanger, with Furia slightly behind and to the right of her Togrutan master. “You know I gave report to Master Procles.”

 

“In the end four Sith troopers lived, an apprentice named Shou that is now without any limbs who was found with his face in a manure pile.” Furia tilted her head and gave her master a sarcastic smile. “Eight dead troops with one of them a severe skull fracture on the side of his head.”

 

“At least the first one lived.”

 

“A woman in the crashed shuttle with a rather large hole at the back of her skull that goes all the way down to the middle of what was once her spinal cord.”

 

“Saber started giving me problems. Blades retracted at times.”

 

“Furia, if this was anyone else, I wouldn’t believe it. Then there is Sith Lord Jian, who now has no back of neck or head, who of course is dead. The troopers never seen something like that before. A big space where some neck and head should be.”

 

“I missed a little bit. I was aiming for the lower head so the neck could be spared and he could breathe.”

 

Pricilli sighed. Her padawan learned well from the anatomy class a couple years ago, even though she used that knowledge in some most unusual ways. “So he can breathe without a brain?”

 

“Sure. Must admit Master it was a good thing I was there to save the Wookies.”

 

Pricilli thought that Furia did it again, subtlety diverting the conversation. “They were very appreciative. It was horrible what happened at the village, but they were most grateful all at the picnic grounds were uninjured. In fact, they invited you there during the upcoming winter for their Life Day Festival as an honored guest.”

 

“Honored guest? Me? I guess so. Wait. As long as no one is making a holovid. Remember that stupid Life Day show-“.

 

“Furia!” Pricilli once again got frustrated with her padawan. She was so talented, but came with such an attitude. “Let’s appreciate they kindly gave the offer, and accept it.” The two walked out of the spaceport, and Pricilli used a wristband comlink to order a ride home.

 

“There’s a holovid picture of you, acknowledging you passed the survival test. You’re wearing a mask. Furia, you look like some assassin.”

 

“Bugs. When walking, jogging, or especially running, it keeps bugs out so I don’t eat them. There’s a survival course, Master. Hang out somewhere for a few days and the only food you’re allowed is bugs you eat while moving since not allowed to wear a mask.”

 

“All right Furia, you made your point” the master stated to her padawan.

 

“It’s nice to be back at Coruscant, Master.”

 

“As I promised, you get a new outfit for passing the survival test.”

 

“There’s this outfit. Light tanned mid-thigh dress, matching belt with hidden pocket on the inside, with knee high boots. All white trimmed. Fits into Jedi regulations for attire.”

 

“You are such a fashionista Furia” the Togrutan said with a little smile.

 

“Nice to be back with you Master” the padawan answered with her own smile. A taxi came to take the two women back to the Jedi Temple.

 

* * *

 

Coruscant Prime, the star for the Coruscant system, was past its apex in the sky. The two ladies met after each had lunch with their friends. Going through the open doorway when the sliding doors moved apart, the Jedi Togrutan and her human apprentice walked, the Jedi a little slow from her age and the apprentice with a grace that on purpose was the same pace as her master and walking slightly behind and to the right of the Togrutan. They seated themselves on one of the sofas in the waiting room, the apprentice sitting after her master on purpose in deference. Both knew of an upcoming assignment. They both knew there was also the issue of the events of Furia’s survival test.

 

“Please stay silent Furia while I talk with the council. Focus on the conversation that transpires. By the way, have you examined your saber to see why it was giving you trouble?”

 

“I shall stay silent, Master. Aren’t they going to ask me questions though?”

 

“Then you can answer them.”

 

“As for the lightsaber, I went over the mechanism last night before bed, and so far can’t see any malfunctioning parts” stated the 18-year-old padawan, sitting patiently in her dark brown robe over a tan shirt with matching miniskirt underneath, her hood down showing her ginger hair in a bun with a padawan’s braid at the right side of her head. The wooden ornament the Wookie cubbies made was now off, her master thinking the Jedi Council may not think it was appropriate to have on the braid during official business. Idiots. She looked straight ahead with her green eyes.

 

“Studying men instead of the proper workings of a Jedi lightsaber”? The Togrutan said in a slight belittling way to her padawan.

 

“No, Master” she calmly replied to her teacher. Quite cognizant of the attitude her Jedi Master had towards Furia, the padawan kept calm her emotions. Pricilli must have heard numerous opinions this morning at how could Pricilli have allowed her padawan to put herself in danger with the Sith. In danger. During a survival course. Pricilli will probably have an irritable attitude for a couple hours, knowing her master all these years. Of course, Furia lied. She would daily enjoy studying people of all type, including men. That included those troopers she had seen recently. Nevertheless, Furia knew the parts and how a lightsaber works. “Wish I knew what was going on with the saber though”, she thought to herself.

 

The voice from the speaker told the two Jedi they could come in. “Master Ratcher” Furia thought to herself, knowing the man behind the voice. Waiting until her master stood up, Furia allowed her master to walk past her towards the door to the Jedi Council Chamber, then she stood up behind Pricilli. She walked lock in step again to the side and behind her master. This took no effort, she had done it for thirteen years.

 

The two women walked into the renowned Jedi Council Chamber on Coruscant. Pricilli, the Togrutan Jedi Knight teacher of Furia, was in her middle ages. There was nothing particular about her Togrutan look, and she never caught the attention of people throughout her life, to the chagrin of Pricilli when she was younger. She was found by the Jedi when she was five, like her apprentice. Pricilli Tonna was found at her school when some Jedi came there to talk with the students. Later that day they came to her home and talked with her parents, who eventually agreed for their daughter to go with the Jedi for training. A few days later Pricilli went with the Jedi and started the training to be one of them.

 

Furia, however, had a much different story, the teacher thought about numerous times. Furia’s mother noticed some Jedi on Stella III when they came to investigate possible pirate activities on the planet that interfered with shipping. The Force was felt in the five-year-old girl, and the Jedi took the girl with the blessings of her mother to get her away from harm. Furia’s mother Grace Tormenta worked as a bartender and waitress at a local tavern on Stella III. They didn’t meet her father. They were told by Grace that her husband Thomas Tormenta died at a construction site before Furia was born while Grace was pregnant with her. Grace talked about slavery done by the pirates on Stella III, although the group of Jedi didn’t notice it. After a few months at the Jedi Temple, Pricilli chose Furia to be her padawan. The Togutan Jedi accepted Furia, hoping to make the girl into a proper Jedi. Yet Furia became quite different from her teacher. She easily got the attention of others, which numerous times got the irritation of Pricilli. She learned her lessons, and became quite proficient with her lightsaber. Nevertheless there was something about Furia that troubled Pricilli, but she couldn’t put it to words. Perhaps it was her padawan’s engrossing interests in the thoughts and behavior of people, which was quite more extensive compared to the other padawans. She shouldn’t be so harsh on her padawan, she thought to herself, as she and Furia walked into the middle of the room. Furia had aided her master numerous times, and learned much in the classroom. Pricilli just wished Furia would be the model padawan with behavior inside and outside the classroom.

 

“Greeting Jedi Pricilli and padawan” Master Ratcher said while looking at the two women that came walking in. Master Ratcher, a grey haired Cathar, was considered the unofficial second in command in the Jedi Council, second to the Rodian Grand Master Wassach. Both women nodded their heads to the council, then turned to the grand master as he spoke.

 

“Pricilli, what is your report about the events on Kashyyykyon?” asked Wassach with the nasal sounds in his speech Rodian. The Rodian’s speech wasn’t the most difficult language to understand, although many languages were easier to comprehend, reflected the padawan. Master Wassach found it easier to talk in Rodian than Galactic Basic, but would speak Basic when needed to. Although she could understand Rodian easier focusing with her Force abilities, Furia preferred to try to understand languages without falling back on using the Force.

 

Because her padawan was part of the incident at Kashyyykyon, the council instructed the previous day for Pricilli to gather the information from all involved and give a report to the Jedi Council. The Jedi Knight Alviss was currently at the side of his padawan in the hospital, who was recovering from his injuries caused by the Sith. “That can be ascertained so far, the Sith were able to commandeer two civilian Ithorian shuttles without no one noticing in time. The crew are most likely dead. Darth Exatio was probably trying to make more of a name for himself by destroying a colony. Lord Jian was a friend of his, that we understand, and came to help out Exatio, and help build a name for himself.”

 

“The village took much damage, but the picnic grounds were unscathed? Also, I heard many people in the village were traumatized, but the Wookies at the picnic ground were able to enjoy the Summer Solstice after the attack?”

 

Without moving her eyes that were looking at the back of her master’s head, Furia noticed Master Wassach looked at Pricilli however occasionally looked at Furia, Master Ratcher looked back and forth at the two women, probably wondering if it is time for Furia to be tested to be a Jedi Knight, several seemed distracted and not focusing on the report, and Master Jeromia would focus fully on Pricilli so he wouldn’t look at Furia, the padawan surmised.

 

Pricilli waited a second before answering. The report to the Jedi Council was starting to get to the area she definitely did not want to talk about, Furia deduced. The padawan without a doubt knew her master.

 

“Yes Grand Master Wassach. All the damage to the Wookies occurred at the village. Both locations were a loss to the Sith. None escaped the picnic grounds, however at the village it appears Darth Exatio’s apprentice escaped after assassinating him, then left the system on his Corvette.”

 

Furia thought it was typical of her master to minimize her accomplishments. Furia got to see the report once Pricilli completed it. That apprentice was a good duelist and opportunist. Maybe as good or even better than Dantella with twin blades. Also that apprentice seemed like a typical Sith sleaze.

 

“Furia was the only one initially at the picnic grounds”? Wassach asked.

 

Now Pricilli waited a couple seconds before answering. “Without following anyone’s instruction, she alone went initially to the picnic grounds instead of the destination point for her survival training” answered the Togrutan. Furia thought typical for her master to put in a little dig, after Furia helped save the Wookies there.

 

Several of the masters had a concerned look on their face, bothered by the thought of a padawan appearing reckless. Grand Master Wassach kept a calm look on his face. Master Ratcher couldn’t hide his smile completely, impressed at what Furia did. Furia liked Master Ratcher. He was a fun instructor when she and her friends took Galactic Economics with him a year ago. He gave her honors on her report about how to get smugglers to unintentionally do legalize work transporting unique fabrics and attire.

 

Master Jeromia chimed in. “What information was gathered from the chip found on the Darth’s body?”

 

“Darth Exatio had an interest with the planet Templi, and it does not appear to be because of the new colony and Jedi Temple set up there. He may have hid his intentions from his apprentice and Lord Jian. As the council agrees, I will be part of a team to learn what this is about, and how to respond to this intention.”

 

“Why attack Kashyyykyon?” Grand Master Wassach was trying to get the full understanding about this attack from the Sith that failed.

 

“It was not a fortified target. It would be a good location to build a new base as a jumping point to try to attack the Galactic Core.”

 

“Padawan Furia, how did you know those shuttles had Sith in them? The villagers were caught off guard, as were Jedi Alviss and the troopers there. At least until the shuttles arrived” replied Wassach.

 

Pricilli eyes suddenly widened. “Master Wassach, you wish for her to answer”? The Rodian nodded his head.

 

Furia turned to look at the Grand Master, causing her braid to move in the air with the turn of her head. “I didn’t know, Grand Master Wassach. I simply noticed something. Unexpected shuttles arriving. These are Sith. Sith like carnage. We are in this war with the Sith. Kashyykyon is such a nice colony, but had no protection if attacked. It was not a military target. Yet there were numerous sentient beings there, the Wookies of the colony. If I wanted to cause carnage like these Sith, a great way to do it would be to slaughter the innocent Wookies. A great way to damage morale for that sector of the galaxy, and especially to the Wookies.”

 

“Furia, on your own stopped the Sith from harming those at the picnic grounds.” Master Ratcher made sure her actions were not unnoticed.

 

“I simply put my humble self to be a peacekeeper for these Wookies. With the dueling skills I learned from my wise instructors here, by the Force I was fortunate to be able to defend those honorable people.” Pricilli started to roll her eyes, but was able to stop herself. Furia put a little emotion in her shallow modesty of her skills with a lightsaber. She is currently one of the best padawans.

 

“I commend you, padawan” replied Wassach.

 

“Thank you, Master” Furia answered as she curtsied, showing her legs in the process as her Jedi robes parted.

 

“Furia!” Pricilli said slight angrily to her padawan as she turned to face her. Pricilli soon got back her composure and turned back to Master Wassach. “Was there anything else you wished to discuss Master Wassach?”.

 

“No, the two of you have quite satisfactorily answered the council’s enquiries. The council thanks you for coming to this summons, and we hope the rest of the day is joyful to you. May the Force be with you”. The council bowed their heads to the two women as they bowed their heads facing Master Wassach. Pricilli and Furia turned to face the door, and they walked out with Furia allowing Pricilli to go first so the padawan could walk behind her teacher to the side again. The teacher and apprentice walked out of the room and had the doors close behind them as they continued to walk.

 

“Act appropriately when you are in front of the council young lady” Pricilli said to Furia in a stern voice.

 

“What?” replied the padawan. “Since when is a curtsey not appropriate? It’s not like I asked one of them for his or her number” Furia replied hiding her frustration. What’s wrong with a curtsy? So what if it’s not a typical bow that has been done for thousands upon thousands of years. It’s not like she took her clothes off. She was being respectful to the elder Jedi.

 

“Furia, keep yourself composed” replied her master. “You are strong with the Force, and I don’t deny your accomplishments in the classroom, passing the survival test, and your skills with lightsaber training, but you need to always compose yourself. Jedi don’t curtsey in a hint of seduction when they can bow in respect”.

 

No point to counter answer, thought Furia. She didn’t think of herself as seductive when she showed her respect to the council. She decided to pick her battles and not say anything. She continued to follow her master into the turbolift. Pricilli pressed on a screen to go to a lower level. The turbolift moved with the slightest of sound. Furia thought in the elevator that a better trainer could have picked her. Then again she knew she definitely could have gotten a worse one. The two Jedi exited on the main level. While walking the open hallway of the main level of the Jedi Temple, the two walked near a fountain with several people gathered near it. Furia noticed some troopers standing and chatting near the fountain. When a few looked at her, she winked back at them and nodded her head. She barely hid her smile as she noticed all raised their eyebrows in surprise at the friendliness shown by this Jedi. One stated to the others out loud “That’s her. She’s the babe. Should have seen what she did.” Furia then noticed some galactic senators talking to each other about how the Jedi could help their planets. “I bet” Furia thought; more likely how they were thinking of trying to use the Jedi to help themselves.

 

Furia calmly walked at the back side of her master, reflecting on what she needed to do for the rest of the afternoon. No slouching on a couch for a padawan. She had a nice lunch with her friends before meeting the Jedi Council. She would go to her last class to study metals conducting power, which she thought was something she totally did not know, like not knowing droid language with its beeps and whistles. She would also practice her moves going from one foot to the other in the practice area, which she was getting quite proficient with. She knew it would help with her saber work, and she kept to herself it helped with dancing. They walked the long hallway to another turbolift, which would take Furia to her class. Looking outside Furia was able to see Coruscant in the windows during the afternoon. Nice view if someone likes a massive city, but just didn’t have the nice look that Tython had, where she lived with Pricilli before coming to Coruscant.

 

“I miss Tython. That’s the place to study the ways of the Jedi, not some city planet”. Furia so missed the views of the mountains, trees, and the lakes.

 

“You know the council is trying to reestablish the Jedi presence on Coruscant so we appear more in connection with the citizens of The Republic, Furia”.

 

“I know Master” the padawan replied. “Still think it would be better back in Tython, then could always come to Coruscant once the training is done. Better yet, go to one of the tropical worlds”. Furia liked the feeling of the crowds of Coruscant, but she so much missed the outdoors feel of Tython.

 

Pricilli answered “It is one of the things you have to accept for being a Jedi, young lady”.

 

“Anything you need help with this afternoon Master?”. Furia looked at her master’s face, waiting for the answer. There were definitely a few wrinkles from all of Pricilli’s years she had been alive, especially the years as a Jedi taking part in the Galactic War with the Empire.

 

“No padawan. I will be spending the afternoon and evening at the library to help them out with some information gathering. Please work on your studies. I may be home late tonight”. No rudeness, Furia discerned, however seemed once again the cool distance without any friendly demeanor. Furia had accepted this for a long time now. Pricilli wondered if her padawan was planning something while she would be away. That girl can be sneaky. Yet when she says she will study, she studies.

 

“Yes Master. May the force help guide you in your studies”. Furia got on the turbolift when the door opened.

 

Pricilli walked towards the Jedi Library. She looked at a message that was sent to her comlink. There was a message about the Sith interest in the Arma Procul system. There is a little change of plans for the afternoon, however she is to still meet her group at the Jedi Library. She erased the message on the comlink on her wrist, then proceeded for the Jedi Library.

 

Edited by Jimcorpus
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Chapter 3

 

Afternoon at the Jedi Temple

 

 

Pricilli walked into a side room at the Jedi Library, then pushed a button and locked the door. She and the other Jedi would not be disturbed. Three Jedi knights were sitting at a circular table that surrounded a holoprojector that showed a picture of the galaxy. Melanie Boot, a human from Corellia, sat in between the two others. Lee Street was a human born and raised on Coruscant. To her other side was the Mon Calamari Gial Oki. He was back at Coruscant after spending many months commanding a republic cruiser in the fleet. Pricilli sat on the other side of Gial from Melanie.

 

“Good afternoon Pricilli” stated Lee. He looked at the galaxy then pushed a button. The projection magnified to the Arma Procul system and the surrounding solar systems. Data popped up on the projection of Republic fleet activity, and then Sith fleet activity. The projection then focused on the planet Templi of the Arma Procul system. “Our recent new colony seems to be getting a little attention.”

 

“Although a large invasion is quite unlikely, there are reports of Sith fleet movement nearby that indicates they might be ready to send a small force to Templi” noted Gial. “Also, an information chip that was found on the body of Darth Exatio on Kashyyykyon showed he planned to go there.”

 

“It is an agrarian colony with a new and small Jedi temple nearby” replied Pricilli. “Why would they be interested in that? It doesn’t make sense since it is not near a route they would use to attack republic space.”

 

“We don’t know, however we may have to send aid to help defend it” stated Melanie. “Six Jedi are there with some younglings. The main colony has a little more than two thousand people. Houses, storage facilities for the food, and some small support businesses are the structures there. The farms are doing quite well growing their first crops.”

 

“We still have communication with the temple there, and they haven’t reported any problems from the Sith in that system. Actually, no serious problems have been reported. At this time we won’t send any extra help, however we should be ready in case the need arises. Pricilli, would you be able to go if need to?”

 

“I can if need be. It wouldn’t take long to get my ship ready. Adequate supplies would be on the shuttle. Furia would be with me. We could keep in constant communication. If evacuation is needed, we could send the alert. We would also notify if troops are needed.”

 

Gial looked at the projection of Templi. “If they do attack, it would likely be a troop transport with escorting corvette for support. If the Empire would send more ships, it would potentially cause a shortage of forces in another area. There just isn’t anything in particular here that a Sith would want. There are no reports of shortage of food. No particular resource in short supply. There is no history of the Sith being here before.”

 

Lee looked at the group. “The team there haven’t reported anything special. They are doing what they wanted, to interact with people so the population has a better understanding of the Jedi, and help a new colony thrive. All six seem to be enjoying themselves and teaching the younglings to eventually be padawans.”

 

“Wasn’t that a little risky taking younglings in close proximity to the conflict?” asked Pricilli.

 

“The group told the Council it would be safe and showed no Sith activity at the time near Templi. We still don’t know if the Sith will attack the Arma Procul system. So far there hasn’t been any problems. They report the situation as mostly calm. They aren’t near any Sith bases or military campaigns.” Melanie answered.

 

“Let me start researching to see if I can find anything special about Templi” Pricilli responded as she began searching to see if there was any relevant data stored in the computer or a holocrom about the Arma Procul system.

 

Lee looked at the Togrutan. “Oh before I forget, that is an impressive flying spin Furia has developed.”

 

“What flying spin?” Pricilli said with a raised voice.

 

* * *

 

Furia walked to the martial practice area after her Metallurgy class. She was done studying about the conduction of silver, auordium, aluminum, silicon, phrik. Mandalorian steel-tough stuff but not the best for a wire. She practiced her steps alone before deciding to unwind in the main practice area. Underneath her dark brown jedi robe was a red jumpsuit. An eye catcher, people have responded to her numerous times when she wore it before, however it was quite comfortable when she needed to workout. Strapped to the side of her hip was her lightsaber, ever near her, however pretty much an absolute not to activate in the practice area. She left the smaller room for the hallway. She traversed a small distance until she came to the entrance of the main room. The double door opened for her and she walked into the main practice area.

 

She saw numerous students around the Kel Dor Master Plootu of the Jedi Council. He held the position of martial arts trainer, a position he enjoyed with honor. Furia walked to the side, hung up her robe, then grabbed an artificial double bladed lightsaber, or art double as she and others nicknamed it. It had the same weight and does color of a blade, except it simply was not a lightsaber and couldn’t turn on or off the blades. Foolish for people to think practice should be with a lightsaber she thought once again. The lightsaber could cut through the floor on an accidental swing, and plasma from the blade really, really hurts when it hits flesh.

 

She grabbed it firmly and turned it in her hands, hearing the color blades cutting through the air. Feeling the weight of the blade in her hands, she then gracefully moved around in a random path, turning, thrusting, then holding the weapon as if blocking. The speed in which she moved the blades in the air increased, causing the weapon to soon be a blur. The younger padawans became distracted, admiring her form with the double bladed weapon. The older boys were looking wide eyed at how Furia looked in the outfit. The older girls all sighed watching Furia once again catching people’s attentions.

 

Master Plootu noticed he could no longer keep the attention of the students with Furia practicing. She had every right to be there. She communicated to him earlier she finished the studying she did on metals, allowing him to defend her in case her Togrutan master asked why she was at the practice area instead of studying. She was one of his best students. She had a long history of being a distractor, however the students needed to learn how not to be distracted, especially because of clothes that are worn. At times she would help him with the younger padawans. She seemed to enjoy working with them, and had appeared to have the wisdom to learn from the questions and movements of the young padawans.

 

“Furia, will you please come here?” said the Kel Dor Jedi to the ginger haired Jedi padawan.

 

Furia stopped her movements and brought the weapon to her side, holding it ever ready in case there would be a surprise attack. She definitely learned her martial skills over the years. “Yes Master Plootu, I would be happy to.” Furia bowed to Master Plootu then she walked to be near the middle of the large room in her red jumpsuit.

 

“We are now going to learn how to react to a surprise move. When in combat, not only do you need to be aware of the weapon of your opponent, you also need to know the position of your opponent’s body. Instead of cutting your ankle with a lightsaber, your attacker instead could kick your feet in front of you. A stab to the head could be replaced by a kick to the head. Furia is going to go after me with a surprise move, and I am going to respond to that surprise. After that, we will talk about the move and response.”

 

“I am?” Furia responded with eyebrows raised.

 

Master Plootu gave a short laugh. “Don’t worry. You can’t hurt me. I will even put on protection so you won’t be so worried.”

 

“Ahhh, Master. You sure?”

 

“Don’t worry.” He will be ready for the kick to the head if she tries it instead of using the double blade, which she probably would. She became quite proficient with that move. He put on a padded helmet and suit to protect him, which he knew he didn’t need to. He just hoped he didn’t hurt Furia.

 

The Master and the Furia stood 8 meters away from each other. “Do not hold back Furia. Reyno, you say when to begin.” Reyno was Master Plootu’s apprentice, a human from Naboo.

 

Reyno took a few breaths. He is going to enjoy his Master overtaking this princess of a padawan. Reyno was physically attracted to Furia, but thought she got too much attention and was overrated. “Go!”

 

Planting his feet, Master Plootu had his artificial single blade, art singe as they’re nicknamed, held in front of him. She may do a regular stabbing with her weapon so he could easily deflect it. However, he was ready for her recently learned flying kick to his head.

 

Furia went and stepped forward with her left foot, then her right foot. When she stepped again with her left foot, she jumped into the air towards the Jedi Master. She has learned to swing with her left leg and her right leg towards different parts of her opponent’s body, yet this is not what she did this time. She brought her right knee quickly into the side of the Master’s head, causing a loud sound with the contact, even with his padded helmet. He instantly fell to the floor. Furia landed near him, a bit of a worried look on her face. She knelt a little so her knees weren’t straight, a habit she picked up to protect against surprise attacks against her legs. “He did say do not hold back” she thought to herself. She saw the Master hold himself up with his arms into a sitting position. She held her right hand down to help him up.

 

“Get away from him!” yelled Reyno as he came close to his Master and kicked at her leg, hitting Furia’s left thigh.

 

“Reyno, stop” said Master Plootu calmly. “She did what I asked, and I was not prepared. You did no wrong Furia. That is a nasty move, padawan.” He slowly helped himself up so he could stand.

 

Furia stared for a second at Reyno, then stood up, rubbing her thigh a little at where she was kicked.

 

‘”I, ah, glad you are not hurt bad Master Plootu.” She really didn’t want to hurt him. He did want a surprise though.

 

“Class, let us go back to practicing your warm up moves. We will talk tomorrow about what happened here and how we can learn from it.” Master Plootu shook his head a little as he walked to a bench at the side of the room so he could sit and watch his class practice.

 

Furia walked back to where she was practicing her moves before. She brought the art double up to chest high, then began to swing it around first with a pace people could follow, then at a random pace that couldn’t be followed. She breathed with regular movements of her chest to calm herself, not the deep breaths that people have suggested over the years that would cause her to feel light headed. The weapon felt comfortable in her grip, almost as good as a lightsaber. On purpose she kept the speed that she moved the blades slow. She didn’t want to get herself revved up after what she did to Master Plootu. Calmly she worked with random steps while keeping the blades constantly moving, changing the speed, time after time, that the blades sung through the air. She changed her moves at times to practice as if someone was trying to stab her directly forward. She didn’t have to look to notice the hatred that was on Reyno’s face; she felt it with the energy of the Force emanating from him. He was known as the best of the padawans with martial arts, but she thought of him now as a fool of a bantha’s backside. No matter. It didn’t affect her training or her life. It felt good though to get the practice this afternoon. After practicing her moves for a good amount of time, she put the weapon back on a rack where she got it, grabbed her robe, then headed for the showers. “Jedi don’t sweat” she has heard before. She wished.

 

 

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Chapter 4

 

An Evening After School

 

 

Furia walked through the doorway of her home, then turned to walk into her room. Master Pricilli was not home yet. “Might be a long night at the library” she thought to herself as she hung up her robe, put the red outfit in dirty clothes, then brought out a tan shirt and shorts and put them on. She headed to the kitchen and looked for what she could have for dinner. Artificial milk to drink, leaves with some fruit she can mix in a dish for a salad, put a little bit of nuts in the dish, veggie steak flavored with herbs. Steak flavored with Spice; now that would be interesting although a bit disturbing. Grilled Kowakian cooked with sweet smoking sauce, now that would be a dinner! She put the steak in the food heater and let it cook while she made the salad and poured some milk into a glass. She put the bowl with salad in it on the kitchen table, then put the glass of milk on the table. A bell went off with the food heater, and she opened the door and touched the plate. It was hot, but the plate cooled down quickly and heated the air to her right for a bit. A little trick she learned on her own about the Force, moving fire and heat in different ways. No one else seemed to do it, and she wondered why since it seemed so easy for her. She put the plate on the table then sat down for her dinner.

 

While eating her meal she thought about what she did today. She did learn from her studies. Some metals are better than others for wiring. Silicon was an important part of making holocrons. The crystals inside the holocron could still grow even when the holocron is made so it could then store more information. She wondered why there wasn’t much information about comparing silicon with carbon in different uses. Numerous other facts she got to learn with her studying in the afternoon. The workout in the practice area felt good, despite a little guilt hurting Master Plootu. Tomorrow will be another class day, which she will continue her studies on the force, cultures on different planets, history of the Jedi, and her language course which she picked a while ago Huttese. The language of the underworld, Furia thought it would help in the future. It wasn’t a difficult class since the language was similar to Rodian. She already knew some Rodian to help with talking to numerous Rodians like Master Wassach. She wasn’t the only one taking Huttese. Numerous padawans and even some Jedi Knights were in her class learning the language. One of these days she knew she would have to take the class to try to learn the droid speak. She really didn’t want to have to take that class, yet it probably would be beneficial in the future when working with some mech droids. It certainly would be better to take that class than have some assassin protocol droid do the translating with the mech, and then gloat about itself she mused. Then again, maybe it would be more fun to take that Jawa language class. That class would be a blast.

 

After the classes she would go again to the practice area to learn her martial skills. Some people would say lightsaber skills, but she knew there was more to a Jedi being in combat than simply using a lightsaber. There was a reason the practice area was called martial arts area and not lightsaber area.

 

She finished her meal, put the dish with bowl and glass in the dish cleaner. The eating utensils she put in the cleaner next. She went to see what she could have for dessert. Looking different places she found it. Chocolate pieces. Correlian Chocolate pieces. Yummy! She put some pieces on a plate then took the plate to the main room. After putting the plate on a table, she grabbed one piece and ate it then grabbed another and likewise ate. She went to stand in the middle of the room. She unstrapped her lightsaber then held it in the middle of the room. Twirling the hilt in her hands, she felt the weight of the saber and tried to hear for any loose pieces. So far, so good. Nothing seemed wrong. She turned the switch then watched to see the green blades of plasma come out. Raising her eyebrows, she watched the blades only come out halfway, sputter back and forth, then retract back into the handle. “Stupid lightsaber!” she yelled, finally losing her patience, then she got back her composure. She sat down in the middle of the room and held the hilt horizontally. She reactivated it, seeing the blades come out mostly, but then sputtered again.

 

Furia turned off the lightsaber then closed her eyes and focused on her tool. She had always called it her tool; much better than calling it her weapon since sometimes the lightsaber was very helpful in a use other than defending herself from an attack. She just then had a quick memory of using it to free people on a large space freighter that were trapped behind a blast door that got triggered to close.

 

Her thoughts went to trying to sense her kyber crystal, the crystal that created the plasma blade of the lightsaber. The crystal seemed right, but then she felt something in the Force. A crack in it? That is not supposed to happen. Those crystals are supposed to be practically indestructible. The only time she had heard of that is a couple stories of Jedi turning to the dark side, like when joining the Sith or going to be their own tyrants. There was no way Furia was thinking of joining the Sith. The feeling of a crack went away. Was that sense of the crack real, or was she having problems focusing with the Force? Opening her eyes she switched the lightsaber on again, and this time the green blades came out appropriately and stayed out. Hopefully the blades will work if she needs to defend herself. Walking back to the table she ate the rest of the chocolate. She sighed after eating the last piece of chocolate, satisfied at her choice for dessert.

 

It was now evening. What to do? Thinking of what she can do, there came the idea. A few hours in a nightclub with a friend. Stacy might be free. She was a little older and given a little more freedom from her master. Within a couple years she is going to have her trials to become a Jedi Knight. Furia went over to the room’s holoprojector and pushed the buttons to call Stacy’s home. After a few rings, the hologram above the device went from distorted to the picture of her friend, Stacy Organa.

 

“Hey!” Furia greeted her friend.

 

“What’s up?” Stacy answered.

 

“Let’s go out. Mecina and Dantella can’t, work. We could try that new club in the restaurant district.” The restaurant district Furia alluded to was not far from the Jedi Temple. “Younger crowd there.”

 

“That the Solar Flare?” Stacy had heard of the place.

 

“Yea. I will call for a ride and can pick us up in an hour.”

 

“Sounds good. Go with the blue suit with the mini?”

 

“I can go with my black one” answered Furia, referring to her one piece body suit that has a miniskirt that goes mid-thigh as part of it.

 

“Doesn’t Pricilli complain of you looking like a Sith in that, and that you are inappropriate speech?”

 

“Sometimes. I’ve got to go out at times and be able relax. What she want, me to go out in the public with an EVA suit?”

 

Stacy laughed. Her friend could be funny at times. “K, I’ll be ready when you get here.”

 

Furia went to her room and changed her clothes. The black body suit covered her from her neck to her toes. At the middle was a minidress that went down to mid-thigh. The suit and skirt had a red trim which accentuated the look of the outfit. Around her waist was a matching wide black belt. Her black boots were ankle high with a snug fit. They were easy to walk in, with few knowing it was easy to run in, and only she knew easy to kick in. “No need for high heels” she thought to herself. She had no desire to exaggerate her look tonight. Maybe some other time. Going over to a small vanity table in her room, she put on a little makeup. She didn’t need to put her hair in a bun since she wasn’t going to do Jedi Temple business, but she kept her padawan braid for her shoulder length ginger hair. Looking at herself in the mirror she proclaimed “Looks good.” She stood up and stretched, sensing all of her body and enjoying the feel. “It’s nice to be healthy” she thought.

 

Furia walked into the main room of her home. She kneeled down in the middle of the room. Extending her feet so the tops of her toes were touching the rug, she closed her eyes to meditate for a couple minutes. Several years ago she learned from one of her Jedi teachers to sit in this fashion while meditating instead of cross legged because it was easier to get out of the position in case there was a surprise attack on oneself. With her eyelids closed, she looked down as if she would be looking at her thighs if her eyelids were open. Calmly she breathed. She felt the Force emanating from herself. She felt the Force flowing through this part of Coruscant, flowing through her home. The joys, hurts, boredom, fears, irritations, she could feel the emotions of the people near her home. The serenity of several Jedi near her home. The lust of someone not that far away. Hopefully that isn’t a Jedi. It wasn’t as strong of a feeling as that time several months ago she was at the open market with Master Pricilli. Calming herself on the bench, her Master told her to stay there while Pricilli was looking at art to buy for Pricilli’s room. Furia felt those two probably at a residential unit not far from the market. Those two were wild. There was the worry of someone that was not difficult to detect, probably someone worrying about that awful war. There in the Force she just felt the feeling of exhaustion with success. Good for that person.

 

Furia prepared herself for her next action that was not easy to do. Keeping her calm, she put all her concentration into snapping apart her connection with the Force. The flow of the Force to her became now barely a trickle. She felt a massive stab as if to her entire body. She became mostly detached from the Force. No one could read her mind, no one would notice her by using the Force. She could not sense anyone except herself. An ability she learned a couple years ago studying in the Jedi Temple Library from a holocron that was a few hundred years old. She also studied there were attacks within the Force in which there was no defense. Perhaps from detaching, there would be a defense. She counted her breaths, keeping her breathing even. Twenty eight, twenty nine, thirty, she now focused on reconnecting to Force. She felt the Force at a distance as if it was a stream. Her mind sensed and tried to pull that stream towards her. Energy of the Force flowed from her. Pulling the Force from far towards her, it came to contact with that emanating from her. Furia felt the jolt as the two parts met. Before this would shake her, but now she became used to it. Keeping her body calm, she sensed the Force becoming a natural flow again through her. Master Pricilli doesn’t know about it, and probably shouldn’t since she would think Furia was doing a terrible and unnatural thing. As Furia would continue practicing this, she knew someday someone is going to notice this unique disturbance of the Force. At that time she would explain herself. Furia learned from her own studies that the Force does help a Jedi, but she can’t be dependent on it and one must be wary of an unusual attack through the Force.

 

* * *

 

Furia allowed a little smile on her face, then she got up and stood. It would be a little early to leave to go over to Stacy’s. Furia turned on the holoprojector to the program practicing speaking in Huttese. There was the holovid of a Hutt, saying a sentence then Furia would reply back, sometimes saying one sentence and sometimes saying a little more. Sometimes Furia would respond with her own voice, sometimes she would with the help of the Force speak like a Hutt, which never stopped entertaining her. Tonight she had the program set to practice on financial dealings. She hoped in the past the program would allow practice with hostage negotiations, but it was at least not yet set up for that. A Jedi padawan trying to learn being a diplomat, yet the Jedi program doesn’t allow it. Figures.

 

The padawan finished her practice of speaking Huttese, then turned off the holoprojector. It was time to leave and get her friend. Furia attached her lightsaber hilt to the belt, having it loosely covered with fabric from the belt. Her identification card she put in a pouch on the belt. She called for a ride to meet at the front of the Jedi Temple. She walked out of her home onto the main passageway for her level, then walked towards the turbolift. She pushed a pad by the turbolift, and waited for the door to open. She heard the turbolift come to her floor and the door opened. She walked into the empty lift. She pushed on a panel in the lift, the door closed, then started moving lower. Hopefully this will be a fun night. The turbolift came to the level where Stacy lived, stopped, and the door opened. Furia walked out of the turbolift then turned to walk in the direction of her friend’s home. She walked the passageway with her graceful walk and finally came to the unit where Stacy Organa lived with her master, Gianna Magister of Alderaan. Furia pushed a panel on the wall and waited.

 

The door opened with Stacy Organa near the doorway. “Hi” she said with a smile as she gave her friend a light hug, then walked out of her home. “Ready to go.” The two padawans walked the passageway to the turbolift. Stacy wore a blue body suit of the same style as her friend’s, also with a miniskirt and wide belt. Her lightsaber was attached with loose cover just like Furia’s. The blue color of her outfit matched the color of her eyes. Stacy Organa of Alderaan, born in a royal family from the planet of mountains, forests, crops, and nice wines. She had many relatives on that planet. Some were born into families with father and mother married, and plenty were born with parents not married. A bit too many times a member of the Organa family would have a fling with someone with a surprise pregnancy as a reward. She and her siblings were born into a family with her parents married, luckily for her. Her father worked in finance at a bank in the capital, and her mother worked part-time with the Agriculture Department. Jedi Gianna Magister knew numerous of the Organa family members, and on a trip back to her home planet she sensed the preschool aged girl’s force sensitivity. After some discussion with Gianna Magister and other Jedi, the Organa family allowed for Stacy to go with the Jedi for training. Although it was frowned upon for younglings or padawan to have contact with family members, Stacy was allowed to have chats with her relatives from time to time, and a few times went with Jedi Gianna Magister back home to see her family. Master Gianna was glad she did that with her padawan. It did not disrupt nor corrupt Stacy.

 

Furia and her brunette friend from Alderaan made it to the turbolift. Furia pushed on a panel and the two padawans waited for the turbolift. Looking at her friend with the same type of padawan braid as her, she smiled thinking how similar their hairstyles were. Stacy also wore her hair shoulder length. The two padawans got along great over the years. They had fun in the classes they had together, and practiced well in their dueling. She was a good friend. The two walked into the turbolift after the door opened.

 

“We can’t drink too much booze Furia” Stacy said to her younger friend. “Wouldn’t look good at the Temple tomorrow with a hangover. Funny, but not good.”

 

Furia laughed a little. “All right. I wasn’t really planning on much anyways. Main thing is for us to hang out together and have some fun.”

 

“Got that right” Stacy replied. The turbolift came to a stop then the door opened. The two padawans walked out of the door onto the main level of the Jedi Temple, then walked to the front entrance and awaited at the area for picking up rides. Waiting for less than a minute, a speeder driven by a cylinder shaped droid showed up with a roof and two comfortable seats in the back. The two ladies got inside then the doors lowered and shut lock. The top part of the droid spun its head to look back. Furia spoke to it “Solar Flare in the restaurant district.”

 

“Droid driver. That’s probably better.” Stacy commented while she looked at the droid then turned her head and looked at Furia. “Droids at times are better than the breathing ones.”

 

Furia laughed. “Remember that Twi’lek that asked why we weren’t modeling lately and wanted our home addresses because he was going to find us a job?”

 

Stacy Organa laughed with her friend. “Or that Corellian creep that said he could set us up to do those diet drink commercials?”

 

The two padawans laughed for many seconds as the droid driver took them into a traffic lane. It drove the speeder effortlessly in the lane, avoiding other vehicles, taking the ladies from the area of the Jedi Temple to the restaurant district. The craft moved through the air with ease. After several minutes it took a turn to the right and went downwards towards the ground. Gently it came close to the ground, moved to an area in front of the Solar Flare nightclub, and then stopped. Furia flicked her identification card near the droid, and the ride was paid. The doors opened and the ladies stepped out onto the pavement. The doors of the speeder closed and the speeder sped up into the sky. Furia and Stacy turned towards the front of the Solar Flare and walked to its front door. Both of their miniskirts moved a little as they walked. Stacy stopped first then Furia by a man at the front door. Stacy Organa brought a card from her belt and held the corner of it while the man scanned it with a device. He nodded to the brunette and she walked forward a couple of steps then stopped to wait for her friend. Furia brought her card out, and then the man likewise scanned the card then nodded to her.

 

Both padawans walked through the doorway into the large room with loud music that played on speakers in the walls, and multiple colored lights going off and on illuminating the room. There was for a couple seconds less noise as the crowd noticed the two Jedi walking into the night club, each with their braid so those that noticed would have known these two were padawans. Solar Flare had its elongated bar and many small tables with chairs. There were so many bottles of different types of alcohol and mixers from different parts of the galaxy in their appropriate spots covering the wall. The young ladies looked around at who was there, and found a space at the bar they could go to so they can order their drinks. In the large room there were many people who worked at the nearby businesses. Furia noticed tailors, bankers, government officials, and merchants from the different businesses she has visited near the Temple and the Restaurant District. On the far side were some troopers in a circle talking, probably recently back from a deployment.

 

There were several species in there, yet a vast majority were nevertheless people that lived not that far away and all were speaking Basic. Furia was thinking this was definitely a nice place. Certainly better than some dingy bar with its scum and villainy at some outlying world that she unfortunately had to visit with her master a year ago.

The bartender came up to the two padawans. “What would you two ladies like to drink?” He looked at both of them when he asked, and waited patiently for their order.

 

“Starblossom Nectar. I’m buying for the two of us.”

 

“No, I can pay” replied Furia.

 

“You paid for the ride. Beside, I’m older. My credit is a bit larger.” Stacy Organa said to her friend, then turned to look at the bartender.

 

“All right” answered the ginger haired padawan. She looked at the balding human bartender. “Little Lady Rishi Punch.”

 

“All right ladies. Coming up” he replied to the two ladies and then walked a little to the back to get the ingredients then make the drinks.

 

Stacy laughed a little. “Keeping low on the alcohol tonight?”

 

“Don’t want to get tipsy then have a headache tomorrow with class. The dash of rum is enough. And leave it to an Alderaanian to order Starblossom Nectar” said Furia as she smiled to her friend. Furia was enjoying herself, relaxing with the beat of the music, coloring of the lights, and being with one of her good friends.

 

The two padawans looked around at the nightclub until the waiter brought their drinks in tall multicolored glasses. Stacy brought out her card and gave it to the bartender. He moved it above a machine behind the bar surface. The machine flickered lights then he gave the card back to Stacy.

 

“Force be with ya” the two said to each other as they clicked the glasses touching each other, then had a drink. Both swirled the drink in their mouths before swallowing, savoring the taste. The group of troopers looked back occasionally at the two padawans, admiring the free spirit of the two. The troopers were unwinding, talking about their recent deployment in a generic way. They all knew not to give specifics. Who knew who might be listening.

“Still having that saber problem?” Stacy asked her friend while the two chatted at the bar.

 

Furia shrugged her shoulders then leaned in close to whisper in her friend’s ear. “For a little bit I felt as if the crystal was cracked.”

 

Stacy raised her eyebrows. “That’s different.”

 

“I know” Furia replied, took another drink, then noticed a group coming towards her. Three men and one woman. It was the troopers. Although not in armor, they wore nice long sleeved shirts with the Republic Army logo on them. Stacy then noticed them, had another drink of her Starblossom Nectar as the group walked towards the two ladies.

One of the tallest of the group, a man in his early twenties with brown short hair, said to Stacy and Furia “Hello ladies”, and bowed his head a little.

 

“Hi” Furia and Stacy said together.

 

“I’m Stacy.”

 

“I’m Furia” she said next. The two of them got this down. It certainly wasn’t the first time the two of them had been approached by people at a night spot.

 

“I’m John Brotch.” He then pointed with his human finger at his three companions.

 

“Xi Shien” said the other human male with dark hair.

 

“Cathy Rilie” replied the human woman with brown hair that was on the short side.

 

“Ibubes Wehlathi. People call me Ibu” said the Cathar in brown hair.

 

Furia and Stacy bowed their heads a little. “Nice to meet you” they said in unison.

 

“You two waiting for others?” asked Xi.

 

“No. It’s simply the two of us enjoying drinks after dinner” replied Furia. “All of you back from a deployment?”

 

“Reading our minds?” Cathy replied. She was joking a little, however it was evident with the braids worn, that these two who were catching the looks of numerous people in the nightclub were Jedi padawans.

 

Stacy giggled. “No. It’s just with all the movement of people we see at the ports. Not a difficult guess.”

 

“Got that right” answered Ibu. “We’ve been gone for months. Nice to be back home.” The Cathar then gave a sigh, then took a drink of Coruscant Red Ale. “Nice to have some sanity.”

 

“Definitely nice to be back home” said Xi. The four troopers all drank some of the ale that they bought together.

Stacy had a look of sympathy for a few seconds, then had a drink of the Nectar. Furia kept the composure of her face smiling, although inside she was thinking these troopers recently got back from a deployment in the war, and they saw some combat and are having a hard time coping. Furia was able to tell that without using the Force. With the slightest concentration with the Force, she was able to discern all were occasionally having nightmares, the Cathar more often than the others. They probably have been debriefed by Command about what they saw, however no one seems to have helped them since they have been back to Coruscant. Furia looked to the side and saw two tables right by each other became open. “Hey, let’s grab those tables” she said to the group. The four soldiers walked with the two padawans to the two empty tables while holding their drinks. Furia and Ibu scooted the tables together. The others moved six stools to be near the tables, then all sat on the stools.

 

Ibu looked at Furia’s drink. “A Little Lady for the lady” he said as he pointed at her drink.

 

“Why thank you” Furia answered. “A nice after dinner drink that doesn’t cause a hangover the next day.” The group smiled at her response.

 

“This is a nice new club” Stacy said as she surveyed all the lights and decorations.

 

“And a good selection of drinks” John replied. They all nodded.

 

“Seems better than the other clubs in the district” Cathy then said.

 

“With a crowd easy on the eyes” Xi said as he looked at the different people in the nightclub.

 

“A good pickup place?” John asked.

 

“Wouldn’t know” Stacy replied.

 

“Jedi don’t pick up one night romances?” Cathy said with a little smirk.

 

“The Force is not good birth control” Furia answered as she raised her eyebrows a little.

 

The group laughed heartily at Furia’s response. “Good” she thought. It will help the troopers unwind from what they had faced on their last deployment, which appears to have been a rough one.

 

“Neither of you someone special in your life?” Ibu asked.

 

Both padawans shook their head. “No way” Stacy responded. “First, it’s against the Jedi Code. Second, that is drama that would be hideous and draining.”

 

“You two got a presence” Xi interjected.

 

“Guess it’s the braids that give us away.”

 

“You two got a special presence” Ibu said. “Not all Jedi have it, but you two do.”

 

“Really?” Furia said. “That could be a good thing or a bad thing.”

 

“Well with you two it is a good thing” John replied.

 

Stacy and Furia nodded their heads a little in a thank you to John for the comment. The two ladies then had another sip of their drinks. Another song started on the speakers. “Good music, wish this place had a dance floor” stated Xi.

“Either of you four being naughty and should be home with someone?” Furia asked.

 

“Not not” answered Cathy. “I know where you’re coming from talking about drama. Don’t need it. Have enough to worry about with our missions.”

 

“I’m looking” said Xi. “But not in a rush. When I find someone that sparks my interest, I’ll then check.”

 

“Nope. Be nice though” Ibu replied then gave a little involuntary sigh.

 

“Want to wait until we are done with deployments. I’m not into long distance relationships. And far away star systems is quite long” stated John.

 

Furia then just thought of an idea. She looked at the bartender who noticed her after a few seconds. She made a quick motion with her thumb to the table then moved two of her fingers like they were doing dancing. The bartender laughed a little, nodded his head in her direction then mouthed the word “yes” to Furia. She smiled then had another drink of her Little Lady Rishi Punch. The others were discussing the different restaurants in the district, and didn’t know what Furia was smiling about.

 

“What’s your favorite restaurant in the district Furia?” asked Xi.

 

“The Grill” Furia replied. It had a simple name and nothing fancy about its furnishings, but it cooked its food slowly with numerous spices added for a great taste. Master Pricilli would take her there once per month as a break from the home meals, and she has done that since Furia was a young padawan. Furia was listening to the music to wait for the right song to do her idea.

 

“Good food” Cathy said. “And a great variety. I like the Bantha steaks.”

 

“And tasty desserts. Good cooks they have there” replied Ibu.

 

“You two still got awhile before your knights?” Asked Cathy.

 

“You want to answer first?” Furia said to Stacy.

 

“Sure. It’s not like an exact amount of time, like when you do basic training. You keep on learning and training until your master and the Jedi Council decide you’re ready for a test. Test can be quite an ordeal. When finished, the master and council decide if you have proven you’re a knight. There rarely some that become knights around our age, some a bit older, some a lot older, and some never become knights and are always padawans helping out here or some remote temple.”

 

“Who knows when our masters will decide” then stated Furia. “Don’t want them to drag it, but no rush. It’s not the worst life right now to be a padawan.”

 

“But don’t you want your little padawans?” asked Cathy.

 

Stacy and Furia smiled with a little laugh. “That be different” answered Furia.

 

“Be a combo single parent and teacher. Definitely be different” Stacy said next.

 

Furia just thought of something. “Hey, weren’t you two near the fountain earlier today?” she asked pointing to John and XI.

 

“That was us” chuckled John. “We heard of your adventure at Kashyyykyon from one of the Dragons. You seemed to be occupied walking with that older woman.

 

“Yes” Furia said with a little irritation then took another drink of her Rishi Punch.

 

“Pricilli?” asked Stacy.

 

“Yea” responded Furia.

 

A new song started in the nightclub. Furia listened to the beat for a few seconds, liked it, then moved the few drinks from her table to the other table. She jumped up to a stool, then immediately jumped onto the table. Moving her body to the beat of the music, she danced in place on the table. Lifting her arms up then moving them to the side, she moved her hips and swayed her head, catching the attention of everyone in the nightclub. The troopers were all in awe with open wide mouths. Stacy was laughing and started cheering her friend along. After a little while, the whole crowd of Solar Flare was cheering the ginger haired padawan, enjoying the show Furia was giving. The bartender was watching with a big smile on his face. “That girl is the life of a party” he thought.

 

Furia kept up the energy with her dancing until the end of the song. When it ended, she stood, then gave a long bow to the cheers of the crowd in the nightclub. She took a little jump onto a stool, then jumped onto the floor. Stacy was laughing away. “Why am I not surprised” she said as she did a light slap to Furia’s shoulder. The four troopers were stunned with wide eyes. Here was this Jedi padawan dancing right by them with her heart’s content enjoying herself. No Jedi they have worked with, few times it had been, ever did anything like that. Not to mention she looked good doing it.

 

Furia finished drinking what was left of her Rishi Punch in her glass then put it on the table she just danced on. The others then finished what they had left of their drinks. “Want another round? I’ll pay” John asked.

 

“Thank you, but we have to go home and rest for tomorrow” Stacy replied.

 

“But thank you for coming over to be with us. It was nice. And fun.” Furia then said “Hey, let me get your numbers so maybe we can get together again.” Furia was thinking of using the word blast, however she knew the four soldiers needed to relax without some reference to a battle. Furia and Stacy tapped their cards to the four soldiers’ cards. Unofficial numbers were exchanged among the two padawans and the four troopers so they can contact on another day if they want. The unofficial numbers were given, not the official. That was a standard policy so a person would know it is leisure and not official business that they were being contacted.

 

Stacy put her hand out to shake the hands of each of the four soldiers. Furia instead stepped close to the troopers and gave each a quick kiss on the cheek, giggling as she had to get hair off her lips from kissing the Cathar’s cheek. John, Cathy, and Xi blushed, while Ibu raised his eyebrows. “Nice meeting all of you. Have a great rest of the night. Force be with ya.” Furia then gave a little wave to all of them.

 

“Bye. Hope to see all of you soon” Stacy then said with a big smile on her face, following her friend as they walked towards the door of the Solar Flare.

 

“Bye.” All four troopers said to the two ladies as they walked away.

 

“Wow” Cathy said with a little exclamation.

 

“You don’t see Jedi like that every day” replied Ibu.

 

“Why can’t we have Jedi like that working with us in our Company?” asked Xi.

 

John shook his head a little. “Because there are no Jedi like that. Stacy, and especially Furia, are one of a kind.”

 

Xi brought out a comlink and spoke into it. Putting it close to his ear, he heard the response. “Should be only a few minutes for the ride to get here” he told his other soldiers.

 

The four troopers walked to the entrance of Solar Flare then walked out. They stood outside waiting for their ride. All four looked more relaxed compared to when they first got there. A speeder showed up, and they got into the back and sat in the comfortable seats. They chatted to each other about going there again and about the restaurants in the district they should try out. Comments were made about hobbies they can take up while they are on leave. Ibu brought up a couple relatives he should send message to that he hasn’t contacted in a while. The others talked about people they are overdue to get in touch with.

 

The speeder sped effortlessly through the air until it turned and lowered itself in front of several tall buildings. “The barracks”, as the buildings were nicknamed, were not far from the Jedi Temple. They were housing units for the active duty stationed at Coruscant. One building was for singles, the other for active duty that were married, or had children. All four of the troopers walked into the front entrance of the singles’ building. At the entrance were four soldiers in armor guarding the building. It was a protection to make sure no one tries a surprise attack when most of the active duty were sleeping.

 

 

 

The four walked to a turbolift. Cathy pushed a panel near the door and the group waited, feeling at ease. The door opened and they all walked in, pushing a panel in the turbolift for the floors each lived on. The turbolift brought each to their floor. Saying goodnight to each other, they went to their single living units. All had the first good night sleep in a while. Instead of dreams about the conflicts they were in, all of them dreamt of people enjoying themselves at one place or another, laughing away and being merry. Also, in the dreams, there was a wild ginger haired young woman dancing amongst the crowd.

 

 

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Chapter 5

 

Coming Home

 

 

Furia walked with Stacy to her home. They hugged each other and said goodnight. Furia walked to the turbolift then took it to her floor. She went to the door of her home then went to push the panel to open it. As she pushed it, she heard a familiar voice behind her. “Enjoyed the night?” she heard from Pricilli.

 

“Ohhh yes Master.”

 

“I am surprised you did not bring someone home with that outfit. You going to be able to wake up tomorrow? “

 

Furia decided not to make a comment about bringing a man home. “I had one Little Lady Rishi Punch. Not the regular one, a Little Lady one. You know, the one with a touch of those two carbon units?” Furia was getting a little frustrated and showed that frustration in saying two carbon units instead of simply alcohol.

 

“I very well know. I thought you were going to be doing studies tonight?”

 

“I did earlier today. Also did a workout keeping the skills up.”

 

“Oh I heard about that. Lucky you didn’t hurt Master Plootu permanently” Pricilli said with a little frown.

 

“He told me not hold back. I didn’t want to hurt him.” Furia was trying not to get irritated after a nice evening with Stacy Organa and the new friends she met.

 

“Yes, he explained that. He called later. He said several times it was his fault and he underestimated your martial skill. He actually complimented me at being a Master of such a fine padawan, and congratulated you at how much you have improved over the years. You certainly have been learning martial skills on your own. Nevertheless, you have to restrain yourself Furia. You can really hurt someone.”

 

Furia was doing her best to keep calm, and was mostly successful. Walking through the doorway to their home she replied “I’m not out of control. You want a glass of water?”

 

“I wonder at times. And, yes, I would like a glass of water. Thank you.” Furia’s master noticed once again how sly she was at diverting the conversation. Pricilli did admire that about her padawan, among Furia’s other skills. Pricilli looked at her padawan getting the glasses of water. Furia was not tipsy one bit. Once again, Furia was not lying to her master. Despite her flamboyant behavior at times, Furia was not a liar.

 

Furia filled the two glasses with cold water then walked over to Pricilli and gave her one. She took a long sip then said “Successful afternoon Master?”

 

“Oh she’s good” Pricilli thought. “Not exactly. Something may be going on in a system we don’t know much about, and I couldn’t find anything special about it.”

 

“Need help tomorrow? I could skip the classes as long as I tell them ahead of time.”

 

“I’m fine. The council have the people they need doing the assignment. Plus who knows what you may learn tomorrow.”

 

Furia finished drinking the water in her glass. She took the glass from her Master who also finished drinking the water, and put both glasses into the dish cleaner and turned it on. “Going to my room to rest. Good night Master.” Furia and Pricilli knew when Pricilli said the council have the people they need, it is a hush hush assignment for only people that need to know, and right now there was no reason for Furia to know. Pricilli knew Furia meant she would meditate before going to sleep. Furia walked into her room and the door closed. Changing out of her outfit, Furia put it into the dirty clothes hamper in her room. She put on a tan colored sleep shirt with matching sleep shorts. She went to sit at the middle of her bed, noticing the corner of her sight the lightsaber hilt she put on the nightstand. There are actually people who sleep with the lightsaber hilt in their bed, she has heard before. Although no stories of it happening, it wouldn’t be fun if somebody accidentally started moving their body while dreaming in bed, and accidentally turned it on. It certainly would be painful if someone was carrying an active lightsaber while sleepwalking, and the blade hit the skin. Ouch!

 

Sitting in her meditation position, Furia looked down with eyelids closed and concentrated on her breathing. The thought came to her about Master Pricilli being a little irritating tonight when she met Furia at the door. Furia immediately went back to focusing on her breathing. She felt calmness inside her, feeling the Force flowing through her. Furia was not trying to reach out in the Force. She was bringing herself serenity before going to bed, to allow a peaceful slumber instead of the possibility of an irritating dream. She also knew she was helping to prevent unwanted dreams during the night that she would not even remember. Focusing on her breathing out and breathing in at a constant and comfortable pace. The energy of the Force flowed through her body. All the trillion people on Coruscant helping to create the Force, surrounding everyone, flowing throughout the city planet, penetrating through her body. The energy felt good and helped give her the feeling of serenity, not some rush like a stimulant drug or drink. She had in classes gone over many times with other students and instructors about the temptations and dangers of the dark side of the Force. However right now she was not even thinking about that. She was focusing all on her breathing. Jedi noticing her through the Force when they were in her town on Stella III and taking her away. Why now that memory? She immediately went back to focusing on her breathing, which was at a constant pace but she wanted to keep it that way. She kept on breathing this way for many minutes. Focusing on herself she sensed from the top of her head all the way to the tips of her toes, feeling the calmness and relaxation at all the places of her. Satisfied that once again she was able to bring peace to herself, she opened her eyes and smiled. She got underneath the thick sheet on her bed. “Good night galaxy. Force be with ya” she whispered as she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

 

Pricilli sat in her room with her eyes closed. She was getting a bit old to kneel without help. Her knees were not what they used to be. She focused on her padawan in the other room. Sensing the flow of the Force, Furia was not doing anything unusual. She was calming herself. Despite that, Furia had an exceptionally strong attraction for the Force, as if it was pulled towards the padawan. It was strong even for a Jedi. Then there was the unmistakable pulsing of the Force from Furia. Although much of the time it seemed only a little strong compared to a padawan of her age, a few times Pricilli would feel it pulsing from her padawan with an awesome amount of energy. It was a feeling Pricilli never felt with another Jedi. When the issue was brought up with the Jedi Council, the Masters all said they didn’t feel it from Furia when she was with them. It wasn’t a feeling like from a Sith, but it was something Pricilli worried about with her padawan. Pricilli admiited to herself she wasn’t the best fit of a teacher for her padawan, however she wasn’t the worst either. Over the years Pricilli had noticed matches of Master to padawan that should never have happened. Furia was now asleep, and Pricilli needed some too. She was going to have a full day at the Jedi Library tomorrow to find out what was special about Templi.

 

 

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Chapter 6

 

An Interesting Day on Coruscant

 

 

After having breakfast, Coruscant Chocolate Breakfast Bar with bean milk, Furia cleaned up and got ready for the day. Master Pricilli was already gone from their home. “Must be an important project” Furia said out loud when she noticed her Master was not there. She dressed in a tan long sleeve tunic and trousers, then put on her dark brown Jedi robes. She packed her pink two piece bathing suit. After the workout at the martial practice area, she would go get a nice swim at the pool. She put on her workout shoes. There was no need to pack them. She can wear them throughout the day. No need to have fancy shoes for classes. She will eat lunch at the dining hall by the classrooms. After putting on the backpack, she walked out of her home. The door automatically locked so no one could go in other than herself or Pricilli. Furia liked walking with her backpack. One day she hoped she could go to a distant planet and explore it, where she would then be comfortable trekking with a backpack full of gear to make the journey more enjoyable. Using the backpack was good practice, not to mention increasing her stamina.

 

She proceeded to her first class: Study of the Force. She went into the classroom with numerous older padawans. For not the first time once again the discussion was about if The Force was alive. Arguments and counter-arguments were made if it was. Some like her thought it was an energy, vaguely like fire. Others thought it was alive, which brought talk if you can kill it. An interesting class that was today, with Furia spending the time listening to all the different views.

 

Next was The History of the Jedi. Today the lecture was on a totally benign subject, she thought to herself sarcastically. It was on the subject of a few hundred years ago about those Jedi that disobeyed the Jedi Council and went to protect many planets led by a legend. Furia noticed a few Jedi would involuntarily wince when hearing the name. Today’s class was not to be a discussion, but a lecture about where those Jedi started their defense against the assault and how they did it.

 

Her third class was Galactic Cultures. Today Rodia was talked about. The jungle planet with its domed cities, and the crime rate a little bit higher than average. “Do the Hutts have influence with any of the politicians there?” Furia asked during the class, which the professor said not that is known with a little bit of a frown on his face that Furia would ask such a question.

 

Her final class for the morning was her favorite of the ones she was taking right now, the entertaining language class of Huttese. All the chairs were full for that class. Students would learn then practice with the teacher and each other speaking the language of the Hutts. Furia was not the only one who liked pretending to be a Hutt, using the Force to speak with a deep voice the Hutts were famous for. Going over the appropriate ways to discuss food and meals, the instructor got the students to work together with a partner. Furia worked with her friend Mecina Chanasa, the padawan from Amanzi Izihala. Ebony skin with toned muscles, brown eyes, dark hair that had strands that came down to mid neck, she was a child of two Jedi that left the order to have their family on the hot planet of islands and oceans.

 

“Let me sell you this incredible meal. Crunchy leaves with a bounty of vitamins sprinkled with vanilla spice to add that special taste you so much deserve. Added to it these tasty nuts to supplement the taste of your well-deserved meal. It will help lower your lipids in your blood to give you such a wonderful longer life. All for the price of 100 credits.” Furia laughed as she finished her practice statement in Huttese. Mecina couldn’t help herself and laughed with her friend.

 

“Furia.” The instructor said to her. “You are supposed to be learning to appreciate the language, not to mock them.”

“You got to admit it was funny.” Furia replied.

 

“No it wasn’t” her instructor answered with great difficulty trying to keep a straight face.

 

Furia had a little smirk on her face, knowing that the instructor was lying.

 

After finishing Huttese, Furia went with Mecina to the dining hall near the classrooms. They went to the buffet and looked what was available. Mecina got some grilled fish that was grown in the tanks of Coruscant. Not as good as the fish from her home Amanzi Izihala, but good enough. Looking at the buffet, Furia was still thinking of the fun she had in the Huttese class and got herself some leaves and nuts, with vanilla spice sprinkled all over it. Both padawans got a glass of water, then saw Stacy Organa and their Iridonian friend Dantella Sidero at a table and went to sit with them. All four were ladies in their late teens, still padawans, and good friends for many years. They sat and chatted about their morning classes. Stacy talked about the fun she and Furia had at Solar Flare the night before.

 

Grand Master Wassach liked to eat lunch as much as he could in the dining hall so he could talk and be with the padawans. Perhaps his greatest honor as the Grand Master was watching the younglings become padawans, and grow as padawans to become Jedi Knights and add rich character to the Jedi Order. Looking calmly around the room, he got diverted by the laughter of the padawan who recently passed her survival test. There she was, Pricilli’s apprentice, laughing and having fun with her friends. She seemed to bring more energy to a room when she was present, he had noticed more often. Even yesterday when she was still in deference to her master in front of the Jedi Council, she seemed to bring a spark to the room. He wondered how she would respond to a question.

 

“People, may I have your attention? I would like to ask one of our older padawans a question. Furia, could you give a summary of what you have learned this morning putting all your classes together?” Master Wassach liked the concept that a Jedi should think of learning as one encompassing subject that combined all the classes with at least in a little way they were all connected, instead of the idea they were separate classes.

 

Furia raised her eyebrows in surprise, then put her index finger to her chin to think for several seconds. She then stood up slowly. All three of her friends raised their eyelids, knowing their friend all too well. As she stood up, Furia extended her arms and looked around the room. With a little focus of the Force, she was able to change her voice to sound like what she would be if she was a Hutt. “Ho ho ho ho ho ho” she laughed just like a Hutt. Furia then did her speaking in Huttese with the deep voice that got her friends laughing. “With the blessing of the Force, we Jedi as servants of the Republic, will gladly go forth to help the great people of Rodia purify their government from corruption, and introduce them to the cuisine of Rishi punch and vanilla cake.” She grabbed some vanilla pieces off her lunch tray and tossed them into the air, falling into her mouth and her friends balled up in laughter. After bowing to the crowd, Furia gracefully sat down and went back to finish eating her lunch as her friends tried to compose themselves.

 

The older padawans that have taken Huttese were also laughing, younger padawans and the younglings at the tables were looking perplexed, and the knights either sighed or had a stern look on their face. Master Wassach remembered while Furia was giving her speech, that he talked in front of her around 30 days ago about his frustration with corrupt Rodian politicians. Now he realizes Furia was definitely paying attention then.

 

“Thank. You. Padawan. Furia.” Wassach said in basic. Furia was difficult to say, since it was not a natural word in the Rodian language.

 

“Your welcome.” She lifted her glass in a toast to the Grand Master, and finished drinking the water in the glass. Her friends were composed for a few seconds, but they couldn’t help themselves as they burst into laughter again. The older padawans were smiling away, the younger ones were asking their Jedi teachers what was so funny. A few Jedi were shaking their heads. Master Wassach was sitting calmly, realizing the comedy situation he unintentionally caused by asking what he thought was an innocent question to Pricilli’s padawan. Again, she brought more energy to the room.

 

As the four friends finished their lunch, Mecina said to Furia “there’s a reason we all love you.” Furia had a look of innocence on her face that looked faked on purpose.

 

“I’ll get the trays.” She grabbed the lunch trays of her three friends, and with hers put it where the dirty trays and dishes go to get washed. She walked back to her friends. “We ready to go?” she asked her three friends.

Stacy looked at the others. “We’re ready.” The three padawans got up and walked with Furia out the open doorway of the eating hall.

 

Dantella laughed a little again. “Furia, we need to get a copy of the holovid of your speech. That was classic!” Mecina then did the Hutt laugh, and the four friends laughed again for several seconds. After they composed themselves, they went to the one class they all had together.

 

Piloting. If there was any class that Furia did not like and had problems with, it was this one. She was good if not great riding a speeder bike, but piloting a starship had always been a problem with Furia. There was no way she was anywhere near as good as Stacy or Dantella. Dantella seemed good at anything mechanical, and the princess that was her great friend was a natural pilot.

 

The four friends sat in the middle of the seating area in the theatre that was used to simulate the bridge of a ship. Two seats and a large holoprojector were in the front. The instructor was teaching today about piloting a small maneuverable passenger vessel, the abilities it has and how to take advantage of it. He spent the usual first third of the class lecturing, then the remaining third he would have three students use the simulator.

 

First was Stacy. She went down and sat in the pilot’s chair, took a breath, then was ready to go. The simulator started with her piloting the ship through an asteroid field. Effortlessly Stacy swerved the ship around the asteroids, only having the smallest of touches a few times. A surprise Sith battlecruiser started firing at her, yet she easily avoided the shots, numerous times putting asteroids between her and the battlecruiser as protection.

 

Second came Jason Poseidon, the twenty year old man who soon should have his trials to become a Jedi Knight. Piloting over landscape of a airless planet, he was to avoid numerous mesas and chimney rock formations. For several minutes he did well, then he started clipping the formations, slowing his speed, then forced him to land early from losing control.

 

Finally came Furia. She walked down calmly to the pilot seat as her three friends controlled themselves with much effort, preventing laughter at what they knew was to come. Furia was incredible with a lightsaber, but she was no expert pilot. “Ready” she stated after she settled in the seat. The simulator had her piloting the ship into an artificial ravine, moving through it for a while until she would reach the end point. Once reaching the ravine, it was a few seconds until she banged the ship on the side of the canyon, spun out of control, and exploded after it crashed through two enemy fighters. All three of her friends burst into laughter. Furia kept a straight face, controlling her frustration.

 

“Let’s try another” stated the instructor. The holovid showed the asteroid field Stacy just went through. Furia swerved her ship through the asteroids, but for only a few seconds. The front right of her craft hit an asteroid and spun out of control. Instead of a surprise battlecruiser, she had a surprise space monster appear out of a crevice in a large asteroid. Continuing to spin out of control, Furia’s ship crashed into the creature’s eye before it spun into an asteroid, destroying the entire ship. Her friends fell to the ground in laughter. Furia kept her composure, giving herself a fake smile.

 

“I, have, never seen that before. Padawan Furia, I know this is difficult for you. Let us try one more.” The simulation was for Furia to land on a desert planet. She brought the ship down through the atmosphere, seeing at the distance the landing field. As she neared it, the surprise came as a large gust of wind emerged. Furia did not compensate. She missed and went past the landing field, hit a sand dune, went into the air for a bit, then crashed into the side of a sandcrawler, watching Jawas scream as they fell off the crawler. Laughing the loudest now, her friends had watery eyes from how hard they were laughing.

 

“Furia, all I can say is you need to practice with starship simulators. Not all of your traveling will be by speeder bikes.”

 

“Yes. Thank you” she replied. Class was now over.

 

“See you later” Dantella stated as she slowly ended her laughing. Furia had her sarcastic smile as she left and went to her last class, Metallurgy.

 

For her last class, the discussion today was on different metals that could be used in combination to make starships. Certainly it was an easier class for Furia than her previous dealings with the piloting class, although less entertaining.

Done with classes, Furia headed to the martial practice area. She went to change into her one piece white bodysuit with miniskirt attached. She put her bathing suit and backpack in the locker. Her lightsaber was strapped to the appropriate place on her outfit. The padawans were taught not to be far from their lightsaber, but not to activate it when practicing with others.

 

She walked into the main practice area, then walked near the wall so not to be in someone’s way. She came to where the practice weapons were, and noticed no art doubles. That’s odd. One single blade was there. Beside it, was a practice piece of padding around a metal core, the length and weight of a single blade lightsaber. It was meant for beginners to practice learning using the swords. While holding the handle, she looked to the side and noticed the handle was loose on the art singe, so she opted not to grab it. Grabbing the metal handle of the practice piece, she started practicing moving the piece. Looking up she noticed the light was off for the recorder. That’s odd. She heard the double doors close, then looked to see the doors toward the pool were closed shut. Master Plootu wasn’t there, but Reyno Spurr was with a few padawans a couple years younger than her.

 

“Look class, it’s the princess.” Reyno made the statement then looked at her. “I’m the teacher today.”

 

Interesting that no Jedi Knight was here. That did happen sometimes, and if it did an older padawan would be considered in charge to help the younger padawans. The art singe that Reyno held had a glint of light come off the end, which Furia knew it meant that the art singe was at least a little sharpened at the end.

 

“Today we are going to learn a lesson. We are going to teach Furia a lesson. On respect.” Reyno started walking towards her. Holding his art singe with his right hand, he quickly brought his left hand up to slap Furia with the back of his hand. She backed away, but the two padawans that closed the doors were behind her and got in her way so Reyno was able to cause a light cut with a fingernail in addition to reddening of her skin where he hit her at the lower part of the left side of her face.

 

Keeping calm, Furia raised her eyebrows at him. Reyno screamed and brought his art singe up to swing while trying to grasp her right wrist. Ducking then sidestepping to her right, Furia brought the practice piece up to block the swing. Quickly stepping in a circle, she deflected the blows Reyno swung at her, and now did not have anyone behind her. She jumped backwards to avoid his attacks. Furia, sweating some, grabbed the top of her white bodysuit with her left hand and rubbed the sweat from the top of her chest with it. Reyno looked wide eyed at Furia, aroused at seeing what she was doing. With his eyes widened, Furia thought “got him.” She took a step with her left foot. Reyno was ready. He saw what she did with Master Plootu yesterday with the three steps then jump, and seen her do it before practicing the move. He will catch her in the air after the third step. Furia did her second step with her right foot but did not do a third step. She instead did a surprise jump into the air with her right foot. She caught Reyno by surprise. She blocked his swing of his art singe with the practice piece, brought her left knee to hit Reyno in the face, then while holding the practice piece with both hands slammed the metal base of it into the side of Reyno’s head.

 

When she landed on her feet, Reyno collapsed onto the floor. He was knocked out. His body shook on the ground for numerous seconds then stopped shaking. Furia grabbed his art singe then jumped into the air, spinning in a circle with her feet going into the air, then landed on her feet, ready to be attacked. She looked at the two padawans that were earlier blocking her. They dropped their art singes. Furia then noticed the younglings in the room looked scared of what happened. Reyno started waking up, moaning and grabbing his head. Furia walked towards Reyno. As she got close, Furia looked down at Reyno. “Beware the dark side of the Force. For once down its path, forever will you be on your sorry backside.” Furia then went near the younglings and sat by them. “Hey, let’s go to the dining hall and get some Amanzi nuts with frozen sugar crème. Yummy!” The younglings smiled, and started following Furia as she walked towards the double doors.

 

Turning to look at the two padawans, she said in her calm voice “Never do that to anyone again.” Furia unlocked the double doors, then took the younglings and the treats with them.

 

* * *

 

People in charge of the younglings came to pick them up. All the younglings hugged Furia and thanked her for the treat. When all left, she walked to the locker room to change for her well-earned swim. Alone in the locker room, she meditated for a few minutes. “Perhaps I should have just let him hurt me, then he and his buddies would have been kicked out” she thought to herself. She was unable to clear her mind. “Then you would have been hurt bad. Perhaps he and the idiots with him should have had their heads cracked open.” Furia was arguing with herself, something she would do time to time. It was her own voice that she argued with, that at times would remind her of what her mother or Master Pricilli would say. Sometimes it would say something neither would say. “Given the situation, did best you could have done. Again the Force flowed through you, protecting you and giving you victory.” Furia then smiled as she opened her eyes and went to the pool. Furia laughed as she came to the pool. She walked to the deep end, then dived in and started her well-earned swim.

 

* * *

 

Pricilli spent the second day in a row working with her three fellow Jedi. They were figuring out what was significant about the Arma Procul system. There was no significant mineral deposit to mine. It was out of the way to be used for a port to try to invade the core worlds from the Sith Empire. In fact, a military force there would be more likely to invade Dathomir. Since no significant mineral deposits, it would not be a good place for a shipyard. A repair dock? That was a possibility the group thought of. A Sith Empire capital ship could be repaired there if it could make it to the repair dock. An out of the way spot, so most likely would not get attacked while repaired. Working with a cartel for smuggling of goods? Neither Lee, Melanie, nor Gial could see that being realistic. No cartel nor gang would want to lose their freedom working with the Sith Empire. There were no significant structures on any of the planets to set up a base quickly. There was no history of a Sith Temple there, nor a Jedi Temple. There was only the new Jedi Temple recently set up, and that is a small one.

 

“There was a mention from around one thousand five hundred years ago about the planets in the system being explored by a group led by a Chrat, Mendar, and Tor” said Pricilli as she looked at reports and stories in the Jedi Library. The group was once again in a room locked so no one could bother them, nor look at what they were doing. “There was some disagreement and only one stayed. However no community prospered there. Here’s a mention about the group setting up a fashion with silicon.” Pricilli widened her eyelids when she read that. “Decorations? I could only see that with a permanent colony. Yet no colony stayed there. Ours is the first one in at least several hundred years. Maybe the Sith aren’t interested in the Arma Procul system, but instead a different one.”

 

“For a little while recently there was some arguing back and forth over the communications between a Darth Exatio and a Lord Belkath. So much grumbling they couldn’t keep it secret.” Gial was summarizing the reports coming from that section of the galaxy. “Exatio was recently killed by his apprentice, on the Wookie colony of Kashyykyon. Pricilli, that’s where Furia was.”

 

The Togrutan sighed. “Exatio was killed by his apprentice near the village. Furia was near picnic grounds that were celebrating the Summer Solstice at the time.”

 

“Typical of the Siths” replied Melanie about the apprentice murdering the master. “Do we know what they were arguing about?”

 

“Just who should be there. Each one thought they were more deserving than the other” answered Gial. “Yet no mention what was planned to be found there.”

 

Looking at the map of the solar system, Lee stated “This does not look like some invasion of the planet. What Gial said yesterday is the probable scenario, a troop transport with a corvette for protection against other ships. The troop transport would carry a Sith platoon of 36 soldiers. Some of the civilians in the colony have military experience, so with the Jedi there they should be able to defend themselves. I just don’t like the idea of innocent people being in harm’s way especially all the children.” After finishing with talking Lee noticed a light blinking on a side panel and he walked over to it.

 

“No movement yet of any Sith ships into the Arma Procul system or any by it. Still, it would be a good idea if I went there to find out what is going on, and give any help I can” Pricilli said as she looked at the map of the solar system.

 

“It wouldn’t hurt, and it may help. You or your padawan might be able to find some useful information there to help find out if there was something special in that area of the galaxy. If you leave within a few days, you should be able to get there before any Sith military.” Melanie was saying to Pricilli as she faced her Togrutan friend.

 

“Pricilli” Lee said as he faced her after looking at the message on the panel. “There has been an incident at the martial training area.”

 

Pricilli sighed. “What has she done now?”

 

* * *

 

Furia was thoroughly enjoying her swim. She then felt a presence in the Force and looked up to see her. Master Pricilli was walking to be near the edge of the pool. Furia paused swimming, then went to swim towards her master. She got to the edge, then pulled herself out of the water. A few attendants of the pool and a few Jedi were looking at her coming out of the pool with her pink two piece swimsuit, dripping with water as she got out of the pool. She pointed to the cut on her face that was covered with bacta gel and a thin clear bandage. “Him first”. She walked past her Master to a clean towel to dry off.

 

“You could have killed him” Pricilli replied. “He is in the hospital, and will be there for a couple days.”

 

“You rather have me in the hospital?” Furia paused from drying herself as she looked at Pricilli. “He is the one that set it up. Noticed the recorders were out?”

 

“Reyno didn’t know this, but Master Plootu put in secondary backup recorders in case someone tried to mess around with the primary and the backup. Myself and several others, including Plootu, saw what he did. I’m not condoning that. Furia, you have this habit of causing turmoil. And then walking over here, I get to hear from troopers talking to each other that on the Holonet there’s a redhead Jedi dancing on a table at a nightclub!”

 

Furia felt like yelling in frustration, but kept her calm. “Bartender said it was fine. And I was pretty good. Got the crowd going. That time at Solar Flare has nothing to do with some padawan trying to set me up to get hurt.”

 

Pricilli took a deep breath. “I have never heard of any teacher having to deal with the antics that I have had to put up with you.”

 

“Certainly you’ve heard about the ones that defected to the Sith though. Think they get all that stupid personal power. And those kinky parties with the bloodbath stabbing each other in the back. Want me be like that?” Furia voice raised a little the volume which she was trying to control.

 

“So kill a padawan and throw flowers at your feet since you didn’t join the Sith?” Pricilli was getting more frustrated with her padawan.

 

“What would you have done?” Furia asked her Togrutan Master.

 

“Walked immediately out when noticed none of the teachers were there. And as you have told me numerous times, yes I know that is hindsight bias, but with how upset Reyno got with you the day before you should have had the perception to know you shouldn’t be in the practice area if no teachers were there.”

 

Furia pondered for a moment. “That’s true. By the way, what happened to that little irritating pimple?”

 

Pricilli was a little surprised her padawan admitted to a mistake. It wasn’t the first time, but it was as rare as a Wookie doing choreographed dancing. “He is not your concern. He will have consequences for his actions.”

 

“Like what? Give him a participation trophy because I hurt his feelings?” Furia was getting sarcastic, showing her frustration with the situation.

 

“Furia! Let it go. Worry not about his consequences. Master Plootu won’t have him go unpunished. The other two will also have consequences, so don’t ask.” Pricilli was trying to not have Furia think she was getting targeted for something she didn’t start.

 

Furia was going to make a statement about the two, but she quickly decided not to, so she wouldn’t get her Master more agitated with her. “The young ones OK?”

 

“Yes. They were actually quite pleasant. You have that knack about you that once again you calmed down the little ones.” Furia had shown over the years she can calm down a lot of people when she tried.

 

Furia was finished drying herself. “I’m going home. I’m going to study Huttese tonight.”

 

“No. You are going over to the soldiers’ hospital and work as an aide this afternoon as a penance.”

 

“What?” Furia can stay calmer than most, but even she has her limits.

 

“That is fair. Some of the Masters want to send you away for a while and exile you for-” Pricilli stopped mid-sentence, knowing what she just launched from her padawan.

 

“Bet at a Hutt Casino they do! Exile me? They’re stupid enough to do it. Maybe they should! Then I can rebuild the Jedi Temple somewhere and set it up with competent people. I defend myself and they want to exile me for a time? Wonderful! Next thing you know I’ll defend a bunch of innocent people, and they can exile me like permanent! And what happens to those fools that tried to not let me walk out? How about put them on the Jedi Council for their infinite wisdom! You said the Masters saw it. What if Reyno succeeded, especially with the little ones there? Still send me away? He thinks he can teach me a lesson, and I get in trouble? I get hurt in front of little ones, and he probably gets a service medal because he’s Master Plootu’s pet. How about I get sent away, I help out a bunch of people, I come back and help here, then they can exile me again and send me off to the Outer Rim! Jawa used speeder sellers show more common sense. Masters Wassach and Ratcher want me temporary exile? Jeromia wants me exiled since he gets all hot and bothered on the inside when I am around.”

 

“You done?” Pricilli asked politely.

 

“Yes.” Furia calmed her breathing. “Sorry. I know I need to control my emotions, not my emotions control me.”

 

“Perhaps exile is not the most appropriate word. Some wonder if you need to go somewhere to get away. Clear your thoughts. Meditate without interference of classes. Know what it is to be a Jedi.”

 

“I know what it is to be a Jedi. I just know there’s more than being in a temple. Get out and be with the people. You know, the Force is made from all living things? Not walls of a building or words of a code or regulation.” Furia was calm again, although frustrated with her situation. “Know what? I should do the penance there. At least I will be appreciated.”

 

Pricilli wasn’t thrilled with Furia thinking she wasn’t appreciated by her or the other Jedi, but at least she will do what was told for her to do.

 

Pricilli was then noticing the males in the pool area looking at Furia. She moved her eyes towards them, and Furia noticed. The padawan gave a sneaky smile for a second, then had an even demeanor on her face. Pricilli then walked with her padawan to the female’s changing area. Pricilli thought about how skilled Furia was as a manipulator, and in so many ways.

 

Pricilli remembered doing a mechanics class with Furia and her other padawans several years ago. One thing that was taught was shock tubes, which looked like lightsaber hilts. It was a way to disrupt people trying to steal lightsabers. Furia took that class to heart, and had done several distinct looks with the shock tube and the lightsaber hilt. That was an enjoyable time. Not many times Pricilli got along with Furia, but that class they did. Then there was seeing Furia have such fun with her three friends in that class. Stacy, Mecina, and Dantella had such fun with Furia in that class. They were all great students. It may have been the best time she had with Furia teaching that class. Mechanics. Pricilli talked the basics on doors, speeders, holoprojectors, comlinks, and the mechanics of other daily items. Furia was not the best student, certainly not as good as she was at Sentient Behavior classes. She certainly was not the worst. Yet Pricilli interacting with the padawans and especially Furia’s friends was such fun. It was unfortunate Pricilli didn’t have the opportunity to teach more classes to Furia.

 

Pricilli waited for Furia to change, then they walked outside of the Jedi Temple. “Go to the hospital. They are waiting for you at the recovery floor. After that I want you to go home. Please, nothing out of control Furia. I will be late home again tonight, so don’t wait. Fix yourself dinner.”

 

Furia controlled herself to not raise her eyebrows. Something is up. She knew right now she should not pry because it was none of her business. “Yes Master. May the Force help guide you in your studies.” Furia did a little bow with her head towards her master, then turned to walk to the hospital.

 

Pricilli looked at her padawan walk away for a couple seconds, knowing that Furia was cognizant that Pricilli was watching her. “She’s not a bad person” Pricilli thought. “But by the Force she is wild at times.” She didn’t want to tell Furia that part of the temporary exile, oh don’t use that word she thought to herself. Temporary separation, that sounds better. Part of the temporary separation was because the Jedi Council told Pricilli today they think Furia will soon be ready for her Trials of Knighthood, even though she would be at a young age to do the trials. Pricilli told them what they already knew. Furia is strong with the Force. She is ever learning. She is very skilled with martial arts. Pricilli wasn’t surprised, when Master Ratcher told her after the incident with Reyno, that people believe Furia was the best duelist of all the padawans. She likes to help people, oh how she enjoys that. However there are those times that she has that reckless abandon style, going by the beat of her own drum. With her abilities she may harm someone unintentionally if she doesn’t watch herself. Pricilli turned to walk back into the Jedi Temple and then proceeded to go back into the room in the library she was at with her team.

 

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Chapter 7

 

The Hospital Then the Plaza

 

 

Furia was in the clothes she wore to school when she arrived at the Republic Military Hospital. Once she was inside she went to the desk by the door and had her faced scanned. There at the door to check people’s credentials was the old Transdoshan Sergeant Crassi. He had known Furia for around 4 years. Padawans at times come to the hospital to help out. “Am I allowed to enter?” Furia asked the old Transdoshan, and he did a little reptilian laugh and waved her to go through. She went to the turbolift. When the door opened, she went in with a few others and pushed the panel for the fifth floor. She exited on the recovery floor. This floor was devoted to the troopers that were injured and got their surgeries or other treatment, but needed to rest and recuperate from their injuries. Furia went to the desk and bowed her head a little. “Hi.”

 

“Nice to see you again Lady Furia. How have you been.” Nurse Jin said to the padawan that had come here occasionally for a few years. Furia and several of the padawans were known for the help they have done at different times.

 

“Doing pretty good.” Furia wondered at times why people at times called her Lady Furia since Lady was not an official title with the Jedi. She had heard conflicting stories of women in the Sith Empire called that. Some stories the women were called Lord, and other times called Lady. Furia didn’t mind being called it, just unusual other Jedi weren’t called that. Pricilli would be called Jedi Pricilli, not Lady Pricilli. “How have you been?”

 

“Busy unfortunately. Numerous wounded coming back lately from the battles. One good thing though. You certainly are popular with the troops. There is talk about the fun they had watching your dancing yesterday. But back to business. We heard you were coming. If it is all right with you, rooms 9 through 12 will be the ones you will be helping with.”

 

“I’m ready to start.” Furia was going to make the best out of the situation. She has for several years had the attitude of getting a bad situation and trying to turn it into a good experience. This “penance”, irritating Jedi Masters, was no different. She was going to make the best of it. Who knows, she may meet new people. That’s always a good thing.

 

Going into room 9, she saw a med droid scanning a man. She did not know his treatment, but he was being scanned for his electrolytes. He was injured on a desert planet in a firefight, and the salts in his body were off. The droid was making sure the trooper got appropriate amounts but not too much of electrolytes. “Hi. Need any help?”

 

The droid answered. “No assistant. Thank you.”

 

The man sighed and smiled. “Hi miss. Any chance you can get me some Moogan tea?”

 

“Served cold?”

 

“Yes. That would be nice.” He smiled at the young lady who was helping, not realizing she was a padawan.

 

“That would be a sufficient intake for the patient” the droid said as it turned to Furia then back to the patient in the bed.

 

Furia made a little sarcastic smile to the droid then left for the food galley. The trooper laughed a little as she walked out. Since Furia had been on that floor of the hospital before, she knew where to go. The galley was not being used by anyone. She touched a few times on a screen on the wall and then below the screen a glass came out then it was filled with the tea. Feeling the glass to make sure it was cool, Furia went back to room 9 and gave the trooper the glass.

 

He smiled at her. “Thank you.” She turned around and started walking out. As he saw her walking out of the room he noticed the braid of her hair. “Padawan?” he asked as she walked out the doorway.

 

Furia turned around and smiled at the trooper. “Yes.” She then walked away to the next room.

 

He shook his head a little. “Wow. She’s the babe.”

 

Room 10 had a Duros, a younger male. He was resting in bed with eyes closed. Blue skinned, it was evident there was some explosion because of the burns on one part of his body that was bandaged up. Connected to his headboard was a screen that she could look at to see what happened and his treatment, but she knew “need to know.” She is not treating him, so she had no business to look at his medical treatment. He appeared to be shaking a little bit. He opened his eyes, and his red eyes looked at her. “Fuel explosion. Nice tattoo it gave me. Any chance you can get me an extra blanket?”

 

Furia knew a few languages, but not Durese. Focusing with the Force she was able to pick up some of what he meant, but she had to look at a translator screen above his head to understand all that he was saying. Without the screen she sensed he was cold, but not how he got his injuries. She nodded her head and went to a shelf built into the wall in the room. There were two folded blankets on top of each other. She grabbed the top one. It wasn’t that warm. She unfolded it a little bit while walking back to him. She unfolded and spread out the blanket on top of the blanket already covering him.

 

“Ahh, warm. Thank you.” The Duros closed his eyes and smiled as he appeared to be falling asleep. Furia felt no need to tell him how she warmed up the blanket.

 

Walking into room 11, a middle aged trooper was sitting up in her bed. Seeing the insignia on the sleeve of a jacket that was draped over the chair in the room, Furia could tell she was a nurse for one of the hospital ships, probably one recently attacked. “Go out!” the woman yelled at Furia. “I don’t need some teenage flunkey in here trying to pick up on a soldier. Now go!” Furia smiled, turned, then walked out. It was easy for Furia, while she walked out of the room, to sense why the woman was so agitated. No husband, she wasn’t promoted in her unit, then before she left for this most recent deployment she met a younger man at a tavern. She brought him home and got romantic, he left the next morning without telling her, and she hasn’t seen him since. She now has to take an antibiotic for the infection he passed on to her. No wonder that she was bitter.

 

Furia finally checked the last room, room 12. A younger human was laying on the bed. He was half asleep in his bed, moving a little bit and moaning at times. Furia walked out to the desk and told the nurse stationed there “did the patient in room 12 receive his comfort meds?”

 

“Honey, he is maxed out on his comfort medicines. He can’t get any more for a while.” The nurse said with a matter of fact look towards Furia.

 

The padawan turned and walked back to room 12. Going close to his bed, she noticed a datapad on the bed beside him. On the screen was simply a short letter. It seems he, Private John Smithson, sent a letter to what appears his mother about his injuries. She, Gwyn, sent a short response. “You could have done better”. She did not put anything else in the letter, not even signing it. Furia went out of the room for a few seconds to see if he had any visitors since it was now visiting time. Several other of the troopers that were patients had visitors of family, friends, or fellow troopers in their unit. Private Smithson had no one. Furia walked back into room 12 and made sure the door was closed. She walked to be by his bed. Leaning down, Furia kissed the injured trooper on the forehead. He immediately started to relax a little. “No wonder” she said softly. She didn’t need the Force to know he was hurting as much or even more emotionally compared to physically. She looked at the door, then looked back at the private as she took off her shoes. Pulling the blanket up that was covering him, she slipped into the bed under the blanket. She lay on his right side, facing him. She moved her right arm to lay it on top of him. Furia snuggled her body next to his, feeling his skin except for the single pair of shorts he had on. He was no longer moving in the bed, but resting calmly with the look of peace on his face. She could tell he no longer appeared in pain, nor restless. He was in peace and soon began to fall asleep.

 

After several minutes Furia got out of the bed, put on her shoes, and walked out the door. She avoided room 11, and went to check on rooms 9 and 10. In 10 the Duros soldier was sleeping comfortably. In room 9 the man said he was good. He didn’t need anything. He thanked her again for the tea. Furia went up to the nurse’s desk.

 

“Sorry about that nasty one in room 11. And whatever you did in room 12, his life signs have definitely improved.”

 

“Just some tender care” Furia replied. “Anything else?”

 

“No. That little bit of time you gave definitely helped. Two of them are now asleep, one didn’t want you in the room, and the last one was quite thankful you got him that simple glass of tea. Nothing else for you to do here. It’s leaving early, but no need for you to bother a patient that’s sleeping. We’ll send a message to your Master. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon Furia.”

 

Furia nodded to the nurse, then walked to the turbolift. As she walked to the door, she heard from a distance “Get ready for tomorrow. New set of admits.” When the door opened, she walked in and pressed on the panel for the first floor. She rode the it down to the first floor. She walked out of the turbolift, and started walking to the entrance of the building. To the side she noticed a Cathar trooper standing alone. She appeared nervous standing there. Furia walked over to see if she needed any help.

 

“Hi. Do you need help with anything?” Furia smiled a little as she asked the trooper who still appeared nervous.

 

“Oh, ah, excuse me. Hi. I need to talk with a few of the soldiers about return to duty. I’m not sure where to ask for where their rooms are. The sergeant looks too busy to ask.”

 

“Let’s see if he knows where they’re at. I’m Furia.” The padawan started walking to Sergeant Crassi, keeping pace with the nervous trooper who had the patch of a lieutenant on her uniform.

 

“Hi, um. I’m Lieutenant Darci Grahrama.”

 

“New to Coruscant?” Furia asked.

 

“Why, um, yes. And thank you for helping.”

 

The two women went up to the Transdoshan Sergeant. “Hey Sergeant. This is Lieutenant Darci Grahrama. Lieutenant, this is Sergeant Crassi. Don’t worry, he doesn’t bite. That hard at least. Can you help us find some troopers she needs to see?”

 

Sergeant Crassi laughed as he looked at Darci’s list that she had on a datapad. He held it close to a monitor he had on his desk. With a motion of one of his fingers back and forth, information from his monitor went on to the datapad. “There you go” he said in Dosh, the Transdoshan language.

 

“Thank you, Sergeant, sir.” Darci appeared thankful, but still nervous. Furia surmised the Cathar Lieutenant was probably not many days out of finishing training. Darci turned to Furia “Again thank you Furia.” Darci then noticed the braid. “Oh, excuse me, Master Jedi Furia.”

 

Sergeant Crassi was smiling at the interaction between the two women while he continued to do his work checking credentials to allow people in. Furia smiled. “It’s just Furia. Or Padawan Furia. I’m not yet a Jedi Knight.”

 

“Yet” said the Transdoshan sergeant. Furia smiled a little more. It’s nice when people outside of the Jedi Temple appreciate her.

 

“Oh” replied Darci, a little surprised. “I’m sorry Furia, I mean Padawan Furia.”

 

“Hey, nothing to apologize for. You know where to go?” Furia was still smiling, enjoying the time she was having meeting Darci.

 

“Yes ma’am. That I know. Thank you.”

 

Furia laughed. Sergeant Crassi was so much enjoying the exchange between Furia and Darci. “Ma’am. You’re going to make me feel old.” Furia was smiling away. “Hey, let’s get numbers. We can meet later this week in the evening. Furia brought out her card, then touched it to Darci’s when the Cathar brought her card out.

 

Darci was now beaming. She liked this Jedi. “That would be nice. It was nice meeting you Furia.”

 

Furia leaned over a little and gave Darci a little hug. “Nice meeting you too. Bye.”

 

“Goodbye” replied Darci. The lieutenant turned then walked to the turbolift with what appeared a little more confidence. As the door opened, she went in it, turned around, then waved at Furia and Sergeant Crassi. The door then closed.

 

Furia turned back to the Transdoshan. She leaned over and kissed his forehead. “Thanks. Bye.” The padawan then walked out of the hospital. Sergeant Crassi laughed and smiled as he saw one of his favorite Jedi walk out of the building.

 

* * *

 

It was late afternoon as Furia walked from the Republic Military Hospital to the Jedi Temple. She was walking across the plaza. Numerous flowers were in bloom in flower plots, blueblossoms and roses of different colors. A plaza connecting something of the Jedi with the military.

 

As Furia looked around the plaza she had walked through many times, she saw people walking through, and people sitting on some of the benches. At her left across the plaza she noticed an empty bench with people walking by it. Taking her index finger to her chin, she did her pondering look as she had an idea. Walking over to the bench she greeted the people walking near her. She went to the bench, turned, and sat on it cross legged. Sitting there in her dark brown Jedi robe, she greeted more people as she thought she likes the look of a skirt better than the trousers. “Skirt is just more me” she thought to herself. Nevertheless she knew she looked like a Jedi sitting there on the bench.

 

“Blessed are all of you” she started saying to the people walking in the plaza. “For all of you are blessed by the Force, and you are all special. The Force, that which binds our galaxy together, is created by all of you. We are in a horrible war, but through that there are bright spots where the Republic shines brightly. Each of us have bad days, like the Republic has bad days. Yet with the help of others, we persevere through the bad days to become better people, and be grateful of the good days. For each of you is a Temple. A part of the great Force. No one is insignificant. For each one of us is special. Do not damage your Temple. Life is hard, and sometimes it is so hard people turn to quick fixes to cover up the pain. Narcs, alcohol, spice, all feel good but in the end cause cracks in your Temple. Yet if you take the time to stop for a little bit, rest, let your body and mind come to calm, the hardships will flow away from your Temple, and you become one in peace with the Force. Not only would you help yourself, but others”.

 

“Little girl, who are you to preach?” A middle aged man came walking up to Furia with his daughter who appeared ten years old. The girl stood a little back and to the side of her father. Furia thought that was interesting since padawans would many times stand that way with their Masters. “You don’t even look old enough to drink alcohol. Who are you to tell us? You dress up thinking you are some Jedi.” Near the father and daughter was a hovercart. In it was a large box. They must have bought something earlier. “You are no Jedi. You don’t know about people dying.” Furia thought of a few Sith apprentices whose bodies met the blades of her lightsaber, and the Republic Army personnel she saw die near her. “We are just people. We don’t have any special privilege like those aristocrats that live over there.” The man was using his thumb to point back at the Jedi Temple, not noticing that the hovercart was raising higher off the ground. “Your father and mother make you responsible enough that you even know what a chore is? Do your parents even know you are here?”

 

The hovercart was raising even higher off the ground. “Dad” the girl said as she looked at the hovercart going higher without someone touching it, then looked at her father.

 

Being able to smile without mocking the man, Furia continued to preach. “What I look like does not matter. We are all lovely beings that create the Force. All of us, including Jedi, become better beings when around people that care for themselves and others. For no matter who or what makes the words, the words are truth. Don’t look down or criticize another, for that life is as valuable as your own and may be great if allowed to grow. The great mistake of a child may become that child’s greatest learning experience. The mistake of cooking a recipe may become a new way of cooking food that so many will enjoy. The spouse that seems not to listen now may be planning on something better for the family in the future. The injured soldier that can no longer battle, may become the future teacher of perseverance, and how to successfully avoid battle.”

 

“You have no idea what you are talking about!” The man yelled at Furia while others walking in the plaza stopped to listen to the conversation. They also were noticing the hovercart that was floating a meter in the air behind the man. “You spew nonsense dressed up as some Jedi sorceress. My employee that keeps on failing won’t change. The waitress that got the order wrong gets another’s order wrong. My wife, ahh” he stopped mid-sentence. “You don’t even know what it’s like to be a mother.”

 

“Thank the Force” Furia said silently to herself, thinking for a brief second what it would be like being a mother.

 

“Oh Daaad” the girl said to her father.

 

“For when we help one do better, that one causes another do better. It continues like a reaction. The Force flows more free, giving more energy to all life. Do not fall to hate, for that causes disruptions to the Force and unintended harm to others.” Furia was speaking as she went, with no set speech but talking about what she felt as if coming from her soul.

 

“Those Jedi don’t even talk like that” the man said in a derogatory way towards Furia, as his daughter pulled on his clothes.

 

“Dad!!”

 

He turned around to scold his daughter, then looked at the hovercart floating in the air. Looking frustrated, the man took his daughter’s wrist. “Let’s go!” He walked away from Furia, holding on to his daughter and bringing the hovercart. After walking several meters, the girl did a quick turn of her head and waved at Furia. Smiling, Furia waved back at the girl.

 

A woman standing not far from Furia asked the padawan “Master Jedi, how does us being blessed by the Force explain the war?”

 

Furia made a little bow of her head towards the woman. “When one does not treat well someone even in the far past, the results can be like waves then ripples coming from a splash of a great rock falling into a pond. The ripples continue until something blocks them. The block could be something bad, but could also be something good that stops the ripples and helps bring more life into the pond. Such can be like when someone steps in a pond to stop the ripples, and causes a little water to flow to a plant nearby that needs water because it is in dry dirt.”

 

Several floors up, watching out of a window in the Jedi Temple, a Togrutan and a Mon Calamari Jedi were looking down on the plaza. Even from the distance, both knew who the crowd was gathering around.

 

“Did someone actually tell her to do this?” Gial asked Pricilli.

 

“No. This is on her own. She talks numerous times that Jedi need to be out more interacting with people, other than in a battlefield. This is her own idea.”

 

“Is this even allowed for a padawan?” Gial appeared to have a perplexed look on his face, or at least something that one would think looked perplexed on an aquatic being.

 

Pricilli looked at her padawan in the distance. “There is no rule against a padawan preaching. I checked. It doesn’t interfere with her studies. She is not doing anything that is giving the Jedi Order a bad name. She doesn’t think of what she is doing as a chore. She enjoys it. At times I admire my padawan’s free spirit.” Pricilli sighed, knowing she had to stop looking at her padawan’s preaching to the crowd. “Let’s get our snacks. We need to go back.”

 

* * *

 

After speaking to the crowd, Furia went home to see Pricilli was not there again. “I’ll find out soon enough” Furia said out loud as she went into her bedroom to change into some nice fitting shirt and shorts. She started cooking a prepared meal, Wild Herbs and Nuts. “Wild, yea right” she thought. It was from food grown on a farming space station. While it was cooking, Furia talked to the holoprojector and sent a message to her Master. “I’m home”. She heard the sound that her dinner was finished cooking. She took the dinner to the table. She got a glass and filled it with water, then set it by the dinner on the table. She thought about how her day went. Good day. A fun time at lunch. Got to meet a new person at the hospital. Preaching at the plaza felt good. Needs practice, but felt good. Furia ate her dinner, enjoying the taste despite knowing the term wild was fake.

 

Finishing her dinner and water, she put the plate and glass in the dish cleaner. She went to the main room, then sat in her meditation stance. She is not going to practice tonight the disconnect from the Force. That is not the easiest thing to do with one’s body. She closed her eyes, looked down, took several calm breaths. She then took a few deeper breaths then stopped breathing. Focusing on the extra oxygen she put into her body, she calmly thought of different moves she could do while dueling. Cutting the hands off, slashing the back of a leg when someone tried to kick her, cutting the sides of hands when trying to grab her lightsaber or her wrists. She went several minutes without breathing. She stayed awake and did not pass out since she prepared her body by having extra oxygen in her. After what appeared ten minutes, she did a large exhale of carbon dioxide straight ahead of her. Looking forward for a few seconds, she breathed at a normal pace to help get excess carbon dioxide out of her. She closed her eyelids again, and looked down. Feeling the energy of the Force flow through her, she didn’t think of anything. No disturbance with the natural flow of the Force. Barely could Furia feel the force emanating from Pricilli. Her master is probably at the library still. Furia now focused on her lightsaber. With the Force she disconnected it from its holder. Allowing it to float in the air in front of her, she grabbed her lightsaber with her right hand and turned it on. Sensing something wrong with the blades, she opened her eyes. The green blades would go fully out then slightly retract, then go back out.

 

“At some point I am going to have to take it all apart and look at all the different parts” she thought. Furia turned off the lightsaber and strapped it back in its holder. “Enough of meditation for now”. Furia thought what she could do. Go out and rent a speeder? Fun, but not the best thing to do with Master Pricilli still upset for the devastating hits Furia did to Reyno. Holovid someone, later. Her friends are probably studying. Go to practice dueling? Master Pricilli said it was asked for Furia not to go there for a few days. Club hopping? Did that yesterday with Stacy, which was fun. Giving a sigh, Furia decided to study. Galactic Cultures and Huttese would be good, with Huttese last since it was the most fun. Study of the Force and History of the Jedi she had a firm understanding, so no need to study tonight. Going to her room, she sat at her desk in quiet to study.

 

After studying for a few hours, she concentrated for a second with the Force to know what time it was in the evening. There was some time before she would be going to bed. Thinking what to do, she had an idea: holovid! None of her good friends would be studying, hopefully, and it would be fun to chat. Going in the main room, she pressed several times on the control panel of the holoprojector. Within a few seconds Furia got to see the holograms of her friends Stacy, Mecina, and Dantella. “Hey. Oops, let me get a drink.” A little laugh came from Dantella as Furia quickly went to the kitchen and got a bottle of tropical lunch drink from the refrigerator. Coming back to the main room, she noticed the holograms of the other three were reemerging on the holoprojector. The others also got a drink after seeing Furia get one. Furia spoke like a Hutt in the deep voice “that was fun at lunch”.

 

Mecina responded, also as a Hutt. “I do not think you will be asked a question at lunch for a while”.

 

“Heard what you did at the training area. Scum deserved it.” Stacy said. “It was talked about in the Jedi Temple by numerous students.”

 

“Not going to mess with you Furia Tormenta. You were rough.” Dantella responded.

 

“He set me up. He shouldn’t mess with anyone like that.” Furia was going to ask about Master Plootu, but decided against it.

 

“That’s true.” Stacy said. “Wonder if anyone will ask you out for dinner now Furia?”

 

“Don’t think anyone is going to ask her out. Cause ‘em to shake in their shoes” Dantella the Iridonian replied.

 

Furia laughed. “Oh what a headache that would be. Can you see the guys at the Temple trying to go out with me? Making stupid statements about the size of their sabers, or mind trick me to kiss them.”

 

The other three laughed. Mecina replied. “Mind trick you girl? You would have them licking the ground.” All of the four friends were laughing. “Bad enough a month ago that Senator’s aide try to ask you out.”

 

“Oh did that get Pricilli ticked. She took the Senator to a room and when they came out he looked freaked. Didn’t see that aide again.”

 

“That pool maintenance guy that wanted to dry me off when I got out of the pool. Remember that?” Stacy chirped in.

 

“Oh I do. Did he ever back off when we all stared at him.” Dantella remembered that day, seeing the guy trying to be flirting with her friend when they were at the pool.

 

“So nice not to have to deal with a boyfriend. Too much drama. And motherhood, oh no” Mecina said as she shook her head.

 

The girls chatted for a while on clothes, and what should be new styles they could wear as Jedi robes. Stacy talked about the Solar Flare and how much fun it was the previous night.

 

“Girls, getting bedtime. I need to go to bed.” Dantella then gave a yawn.

 

“Was fun chatting” Mecina replied.

 

“Good night” said Stacy Organa.

 

“Good night.” They all replied.

 

The holovids of all three of Furia’s friends disappeared. “Good chat” she thought to herself. Furia then went to her room to get ready for sleep. Master Pricilli is still not back. This isn’t some tiny assignment.

 

Furia cleaned herself up, then changed clothes and put on her sleep shirt and shorts. She went to her bed, and positioned herself in her meditation stance. Closing her eyes, she meditated and felt the Force. Master Pricilli seems to be getting a little closer. Hopefully that means she is done for the night at the library. The flow of the Force caused by all the life on Coruscant was easily sensed. The move she did today on Reyno was thought through, how she should position her body throughout the move, and different alterations of the move if someone tried different defenses. Faint from the great distance, she felt the pain and suffering from the war. That horrible war. There must be more casualties today. Numerous days Furia would not have that feeling. A pillar of fire shooting up for a second at a great distance then it disappeared. What is that from? Numerous small disruptions of the Force from the lower levels of Coruscant. That must be from the people living down there. The struggles for safety, food, a place for a home. Coruscant’s government seem to care for those citizens they do see, but not those they don’t see. The flow of the Force from all the Jedi that live nearby, strong does it feel tonight. A little special flicker of the Force Furia was able to perceive from her three friends. She couldn’t help it when she smiled at feeling the presence of her great friends. Furia opened her eyes, and focused at what was around her. Feeling calm, she laid down to go to bed, put the lightsaber on the nightstand, turned off the light, and soon after went to sleep.

 

 

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Chapter 9

 

The Trip to Templi

 

 

Noticing the time and dish cleaner was going, Furia realized Master Pricilli was home earlier and left, probably for the hanger. She then saw a message on the holoprojector in the main room. “Meet me at the hangar” from Master Pricilli. Furia erased the message. She went into her room and changed. She put on tanned tunic with matching tights, skirt, and ankle high boots. “Needless to say, no high heels for this trip” she thought. The boots would be good for running, jumping or any other activity she could do. Skirt was mid-thigh, the length Furia preferred. Her lightsaber was strapped to her right hip, easy to grab if need to. The question is will it work properly. She put on her dark brown Jedi robe. She put her black outfit with the red trim into her backpack, and then put the matching black boots in a little bag then put that into the backpack. It would be comfortable to wear on the trip home. Her handheld projector, hhp, and datapad were then inserted into the backpack. At times these missions can get boring, and something to read would help. She slipped the backpack on. She already had a small case packed with clothes and cleaning supplies for the trip. She was taught years ago to have something prepared for a trip in case there was a sudden need to quickly leave. That way, nothing important would be forgotten. Looking around to make sure she didn’t forget anything, she walked into the main room, pulling on the case as it glided on wheels. Using the handheld projector, she ordered for a ride to come to the front of the building. Looking at her home one more time to make sure she didn’t forget anything, she turned to walk out of her home as the door slid open. She then walked out the doorway into the hallway. There was no worry about the lights, they would turn off automatically later in the night.

 

Walking to the turbolift, she pushed on the panel. It was only a short wait before the door opened and Furia stepped in. Pushing the panel in the turbolift, it went down to the main floor and the door opened. She stepped out then went to the front of the building. It was only a short wait until a speeder came by, again with a droid driver. Furia ordered it specifically that way so she didn’t have to bother with a driver talking to her. She wanted to relax on the way to the hanger. The door for the speeder opened, then she put the two bags into the vehicle. She stepped into the vehicle and the door closed.

 

It was a short ride to the hangars that were near the Jedi Temple. The speeder stopped. Furia moved her card near a sensor to pay for the ride. “This is a waste of credits” she thought. ”It’s about time she owns her own ride. A four seater with nice soft cushions. No, better. A speeder bike. Black and fast.” No garage for it though, and Master Pricilli probably wouldn’t even allow it until after Furia’s knighted. Furia laughed to herself. Jedi Knight Furia Tormenta. That would raise eyebrows and emotions. One of these years though, that’s who she will be.

 

She got the two bags and stepped out of the speeder. Putting on the backpack, she pulled the case on its wheels toward the entrance of the Jedi hangar. There were many spaces in that building. It was one big square going many meters into the sky. Looking at the sky, it was clear and she could see two of the moons. Some stars could be seen, but numerous of them was obscured from the planet’s many lights shining in the night. At the far end of the building she could see a shuttle leave it’s hangar and go off into the sky. Those shuttles were not the fanciest of crafts, but then not every Jedi had the credits to get themselves a corvette or a cruiser. Stacy probably would have the credits though, she laughed at thinking about her close Alderaanian friend.

 

Furia walked to the entrance. At a window there was a man who would scan the badges. He knew the padawan, but by policy every badge had to be scanned. “Hello padawan” he said as he scanned her badge.

 

“Good evening” she replied as she extended how long it took to say evening. She might as well have a little fun with this necessary but tedious step. The front doors soon opened. As she walked through the entrance she smiled at the two troopers guarding the doorway while wearing full armor. Holding their rifles, they were ready for anything that could happen.

 

As she got into the building, Furia turned to walk to a row of turbolifts. She pushed on a panel near the doors and waited. Another turbolift. At least it was better than having to use stairs, especially with the bags she had. A door opened not far from her and she walked over to it and entered. There was another padawan in there with his master, the padawan a few years younger than Furia. Hopefully it’s not a battle he has to go to. The turbolift went up a few floors then opened its door, with the padawan and his master exiting. The door closed and the turbolift went up two more floors. The door opened and Furia stepped out, pulling the case. She turned to her left and walked down the hallway until she came to the entrance to Master Pricilli’s hanger. Touching the panel in the wall, the door opened and Furia walked into the hangar.

 

Taking off her backpack, she opened it to bring out her handheld projector to send a message to Stacy and Mecina. “See you two soon. I’ll contact you when I get back. Fun time at The Grill with Dantella. Wish you two were there. Take care. Bye.” She looked and noticed there was a message for her. Coruscant Package Service. A package is waiting for her that came to Coruscant this afternoon. They’re holding it since no one is home.

 

“Something interesting on your hhp?” Master Pricilli was at the bottom of the ramp of the shuttle. She just arrived a short time ago and had put her belongings on the shuttle. Although she thought her padawan might be late from spending too much time with her friends at dinner, Furia showed up on time. “That girl can be unrestrained at times, but she is reliable when it comes to missions” Pricilli thought to herself. The two walked around the shuttle, making sure everything looked proper and functional on the spacecraft.

 

“I got a package. Definitely for me. From Aunt Celia. Celia Tormenta of Stella III. Weird. That’s my aunt all right, but what would she send me?” Her paternal aunt never married, but had two children. Furia saw her a couple times when she was young on Stella III before she was found by the Jedi. A few times she sent letters back and forth with her aunt, but the last one was two years ago. The letters were more about this was what was going on in life. There wasn’t any deep discussion about Dad or the family in any of the letters. “Why she sending me something now?” Furia sent a message to the company that she will contact them when she is back on Coruscant.

 

“A little bit unusual since you two haven’t contacted each other in two years. You can find out when we get back. Hopefully this mission will only be a couple days.” Pricilli let her padawan go up the ramp first with her bags, then followed her. Once up the ramp, Pricilli hit a control and the ramp was raised. She walked to the bow of the shuttle and sat down in the pilot chair. She turned on different functions of the shuttle. Looking at navigation, she saw she had a clear path for departure from Coruscant all the way to the hyperspace jump point.

 

Furia put her hhp back into her backpack, and put her bags into the little room that was set aside for her. It was more a tiny room with storage underneath the bed, and very little remaining space. She then walked to the bow and sat in the co-pilot chair. “All set Master.”

 

“Let’s go then. And hopefully the Force will be with us. How do you say that with your friends?”

 

Furia smiled. “Force be with ya!”

 

Pricilli’s face twisted a tiny bit when she heard that. “Coruscant Space Control. This is Jedi Pricilli Tonna. Request permission for departure.”

 

“Shuttle Pricilli Tonna, this is Space Control. You are clear for takeoff. Safe travels.”

 

“Wish the craft had a more original name” Furia thought. She mentioned that a couple years ago, when her master replied that there are more important things in the galaxy. There was no need to bring it up again. Furia let her master do all the controls. Last year she hit the control for the landing gear. It retracted the gear properly, however Master Pricilli yelled a bit. She is not to touch the controls while someone else is piloting.

 

Lifting into the air, Pricilli slowly piloted the shuttle out of the hanger bay. With no other craft in the area to impede it, she piloted the shuttle into the night sky. As it raised into the air, both could look down at the lights of the Coruscant night. Above they could see the two moons. The stars got brighter as the shuttle flew higher in the night sky. Furia was watching her master pilot the shuttle. Pricilli noticed her padawan watching her again pilot a ship. Furia was ever learning. Her padawan was known to be gifted in several areas, but piloting was definitely not one of them. She was learning as she can, but it was difficult without her having the time spent behind the controls.

 

Within a few minutes they were in space. Coruscant with its city planet lights was getting smaller. The star for the system, Coruscant Prime, was bright in the distance. Many spacecraft were coming to Coruscant and others leaving. The shuttle continued on its path away from Coruscant and towards the hyperspace point. Furia looked to her left, and noticed a comet. Sunlight reflected off the comet’s head, and the tail looked magnificent as it extended away from the head of the comet.

 

“What are you looking at?” Pricilli inquired.

 

“The comet.” Furia kept on looking at it as she answered Master Pricilli. “Looks nice.” Furia rarely was in space. She was more appreciative of the wonderful sights one can see in space. The comet got out of sight, so Furia looked ahead.

 

“Everything looks functional” Pricilli stated. A little bit later she started counting backwards. “Four, three, two, one.” She pulled down on a lever, and the shuttle jumped into hyperspace. From the bow window, the two Jedi could see the well-known white lines as the shuttle made its jump. After a few seconds, the view from the window showed the blue and white colors, as if the spacecraft was traveling in a tunnel.

 

* * *

 

Pricilli turned in her chair and looked at her padawan. “So now that we are in hyperspace, I can tell you about the mission. The planet we are going to is Templi, in the Arma Procul system. A year ago a colony was set up there as a farming community. Alpha Templi.”

 

“Didn’t take much energy to think of that name. Who named it, a bureaucrat that failed a writing class?” Furia was replying without any tone of her voice of sarcasm, even though her Master knew her padawan was once again being sarcastic.

 

Pricilli sighed. “Focus Furia. The settlement is nothing special, simply another source of food to help feed the Republic. The Jedi sent a few people with them to set up a small temple. Have the Jedi interact with the people so we don’t look like we don’t care about the citizens, just like coming back to Coruscant.”

 

“Jedi hardly mingle with a planet of one trillion. I think I do more than ninety nine percent of the order” Furia replied.

“Furia! Not this again. Jedi are peacekeepers and negotiators, not social group moderators. Besides, you keep on missing Tython, and that was more isolated from the citizens of the Republic than at Coruscant.”

 

“True.” Furia admitted that was the case. “Although there still were some villages there we were able to mingle with if we wanted to. But back to this Templi.”

 

Pricilli started again her briefing. “There is one colony of around two thousand people. The Jedi set up a small colony of six Jedi with six younglings. As the colony grows, the temple will grow. The temple is set up near the town.”

“Why not in the town? Wait, younglings?” She looked at a star map on the console. “Isn’t that a little unsafe with it not far from Sith territory?”

 

“That’s what I thought. I was told there hasn’t been Sith activity at Arma Procul for a while. None recently before we got there, and none since. Now there has been a little activity. Also, we just lost contact with them.”

 

“Wonderful.” Furia said while controlling her emotions. “Wait, what do you mean for a while?”

 

“There’s records a long time ago the area was explored by three Sith. Chrat, Mendar, and Tor. No base, no settlement, no Sith Temple. Quite recently, there were reports of two Sith wanting to go there, but only one was allowed. A Darth Exatio, and Lord Belkath. Darth Exatio was recently killed on the Wookie colony by another Sith, probably his apprentice.”

 

“Apprentice made the power play.” Furia surmised what likely happened with that situation, then had a little smile. “Aren’t you glad your apprentice doesn’t do that Master?”

 

Pricilli sighed. “Take this seriously Furia.”

 

“I am. So how long ago were these records talking about?”

 

“Around one thousand five hundred years ago.” Pricilli answered with little emotion.

 

Furia had the look of remembering something. “That was around the time of that Sith purge where a bunch died and one became a lot more powerful.”

 

Pricilli had the look of a little surprise on her face. “That is interesting. None of us thought of that when we went over this.”

 

“So three. Chrat, Mendar, Tor.” Furia was saying out loud. She didn’t remember studying any of those names before. “Tor, Mendar, Chrat.” She then had a little puzzled look on her face. “Wait, Tor, Mendar, Chrat. You sure it was three and not two? Tormendar and Chrat?”

 

“Yes, the three other Jedi and myself studied it and it was three and not two. What are you getting at?” Pricilli was getting a little irritated with her padawan. She wasn’t as good as Furia at controlling emotions. Many hours the four of them worked in the library, and Furia is saying something without any proof. Maybe Pricilli should have taken the help Furia offered a few days ago. It would have gotten her to research, she wouldn’t have some wild idea, and she wouldn’t have injured Reyno.

 

“What if it wasn’t three but two. Don’t you find the names Mendar and Tor a little bit interesting Master?” Furia had the look of discovering something on her face.

 

“Mendar, Tor. No I don’t find interesting.”

 

Furia replied. “Tor, Mendar. Tormendar. Tormenta.” Furia had the look of see, I told you so on her face.

“Now you are getting silly and entitled. You are from Stella III, which is at another part of the galaxy very far from Templi. So was your family. You don’t have some Darth as an ancestor Furia. And again it was three people. Think you are getting a little dramatic.” Pricilli was ready to stop this briefing if Furia would continue this foolishness.

“But this planet.” Furia was calm when replying to her master. It was certainly not the first time Furia stayed calm when Master Pricilli was irritated with her. “Maybe an ancestor set up a new house.”

 

“Furia, what if it was. Why would you have an ancestor go to a planet a distance from the Sith Empire? Only one stayed. Two left. Then there’s the mention of fashion with silicon.”

 

“Silicon fashion. What?” Furia had a weird look on her face. She thought Sith can do stupid things, but that would be real stupid. “Maybe someone was on spice when they wrote that. Don’t think I would have a relative doing something like that.” She tilted her head a little. “Then again, knowing my relatives, someone could do something like that.”

 

“Furia, let’s focus. We reestablish contact, then find out what’s important that two Sith were wanting to go there even though it is an out of the way planet to do something important.”

 

“Even though out of the way, any chance this Exatio and Belkath were wanting to make it their new colony with one of them the lord of the planet?” Furia was looking on the console the information about the planet. Uneventful planet. Maybe grow stuff as a farm planet, but that would be it.

 

“Doubt it, but always possible. Ruling one planet better than none in a Sith’s eye.” Pricilli answered then gave a yawn. “If you don’t mind Furia, I am going to lay down first.”

 

“That’s fine Master. I will wake you up later to switch once you have a good several hours of sleep.”

 

“Thank you.” Pricilli got out of her chair and walked to the back of the shuttle where her bed was.

 

Furia was sitting in the co-pilot’s chair, propping her feet on top of the ship’s console which her master told her numerous times not to do. Master Pricilli was with others working on this. Furia didn’t even know how many were in the group. They look at something around one thousand five hundred years ago, and definitely think it was three people. How can they be sure? What if it was two Sith, this Chrat and a Tormenta? Why not? What little Furia knows of the family, she is the only one Force sensitive. Mom sure wasn’t. Furia never heard stories of her father being Force sensitive. No other living relatives are. There’s no stories of some ancestor that was a Jedi or a Sith. Certainly no lightsaber or holocron lying around. “Maybe Master Pricilli is right and I’m being entitled with dramatic thoughts of an ancestor that doesn’t exist” she said softly. She looked out the window at the usual bluish and white light like in a tunnel when in hyperspace. Calm it looked. Repetitive, but calm. Then there was that time last night in meditation when saw, no felt, that pillar of fire for a second. What was that? Furia never felt that before while meditating. What does that have to do with her? Does it even have to do with her, or was it something random. Certainly at times Furia was able to pick up random thoughts of people nearby when she has meditated before. Maybe the fire was something similar. Or could it be something that has to do with Furia’s ability to affect heat? That’s a thought.

 

Furia thought she could do her studies about the Force with the holocrons, but right now she would probably fall asleep studying that. Better to just sit, relax, and think. One of these years Furia is going to have her trials, and if she passes she will be a knight. No more Master Pricilli being her teacher and guardian. She could have her own home. Pricilli wasn’t bad, she thought, but it’s soon time to live in her own home and not have someone overlooking her. But that won’t be anytime soon. Stacy is more likely to get the trial first. Furia did wonder what her trial would be though. She grabbed her lightsaber and held it in front of her. Holding it horizontally, she turned it on. The green beams came out, then started going a little back and forth. They cut out, then started again coming out of the hilt, but only partially. Wonderful. She turned it off and reattached it to her side. One of these days she knew she was going to have to take it apart and look at everything. Wonder if it was the crystal. Only way she knew a kyber crystal breaking was if some big change occurred with a Jedi, like Jedi getting power hungry and joining the Sith. A Sith quitting the ways of that lifestyle and wanting to be a Jedi could have a crystal change from the red color. Even so, there’s some people who change and the crystal of their sabers don’t change at all. Furia is going to need a day without interruption to take apart and look at her lightsaber.

 

“Life’s not bad” Furia said softly. She definitely could of had a worse master. She has great friends. Coruscant isn’t Tython, but it’s better than a bunch of other planets. Jedi Order has its faults, but galaxy is the better that they exist, and it’s rewarding training to be one of them. Would it have been better if she was never found by the Jedi? Oh No! Grow up with the crime and slavery of Stella III? Oh no. Or get found by the Sith instead. That’s a fate worse than death. Furia realized she really didn’t have anything to complain about. She’ll be a different master with a padawan if given the chance though.

 

She put her feet on the floor and looked on a screen of the console and looked up Templi. It’s the second of five planets in the solar system. Climate has warm weather, a bit hot at the equator, and gets below freezing at the poles but not severely below freezing. It has numerous hills and rock outcroppings, but not much for mountains. It has a lot of soil though, so easily could be a farming planet. No information about minerals, that’s interesting. That silicon fashion, who knows what that was about. Probably a bad translation. Hope they weren’t looking at some secret Sith holocron they had at the Jedi Library. That’s only bad news, and would mess them up trying to use it. The village isn’t far from the temple. There’s a landing pad both at the temple and at the village to land a starship. One village. Wonder why that is? Furia thought for a few seconds. There should be several villages scattered across the planet instead of one. Several villages give more of a chance of a colony growing roots and be permanent instead of one that becomes a one chance of a hit or miss.

 

Furia looked at the time on the console. Time to switch and get some rest. She looked at the console, then out the window to make sure there were no problems. There were none. She got up out of the chair and walked back to where her master slept. She yawned before she came to the door of the room her master was sleeping in. She opened the door, leaned in, then tapped her master’s shoulder. “Hey. Time to switch.”

Pricilli opened her eyes, turned in her bed and looked at her padawan. “Any problems?”

 

“Not a one” Furia replied.

 

Pricilli got out of her bed and walked out of her room once Furia got out of the way. The Togrutan walked to the front of the shuttle and sat in the pilot’s chair. Furia looked at her master walk to the front, then turned to walk into her little room. She sat on the bed, took off her boots, then laid down with her head on the pillow. She pulled the blanket over her. Yawning again, she closed her eyes and felt nice and comfortable. Within a few minutes the ginger haired padawan fell asleep.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Chapter 10

 

Arriving at Templi

 

 

Before Furia felt the touch of her master’s hand on her shoulder, she felt her presence and woke up. She laid there for several seconds with her eyelids closed, resting calmly after the several hours sleep. With the touch on her shoulder, she heard “Wake up Furia” from Master Pricilli Tonna. “We are about to arrive.” Furia opened her eyelids and got out of bed, then followed her master to the bow of the shuttle. Pricilli again sat in the pilot chair, and Furia in the co-pilot chair. “The shuttle is about to jump out of hyperspace” Pricilli said as she observed the console.

 

“Don’t forget the shields Master” Furia replied as she turned to look at her master with a little smile and pushed a part of the console. A light went on indicating the shields were on.

 

“Did you learn that talking to a smuggler?” Pricilli said. Furia had been turning on the shields for a while. It was a good practice, but she wonders at times where her padawan learns things.

 

“From the library” Furia replied as she looked forward. “I’m sure plenty of smugglers do that strategy, but it’s there in the library. And not in some holocron of Jedi smuggling.” Furia had a little laugh after saying that. It drains power for the shield on in hyperspace, but it would only be a few seconds before getting into normal space.

 

The shuttle came out of hyperspace uneventfully, then within a few seconds turbolaser bolts came shooting by them, then one hit them in the front of the shuttle and caused to shake.

 

“Sith battlecruiser Master. That’s no corvette.”

 

Pricilli tried to weave the course of the shuttle so it would not be hit. “I see padawan. Good call on the shields.” Another bolt from a turbolaser hit the shuttle again. “Shields down to thirty percent. I’ve got to land this quick.”

“And no time to hyperjump out of this.” Furia quite well knew the predicament they were in. Another bolt hit the back end of the shuttle as it entered the atmosphere.

 

“Shields are out. Stabilizers and engine damaged. We got to land this, and it won’t be smooth.” Pricilli did her best to set the shuttle on a course to bring it near the temple and village. Shaking as it went into the atmosphere, smoke started billowing from the engine. Pricilli did her best using retro thrusters to slow the descent, trying to pilot the damaged shuttle in the night sky. She was able to lessen the steepness of the decent. The ground was seen below them, and far off appeared a large pit, as if there was mining there. Barely able to see a level clearing in the distance, she leveled off the shuttle to fly almost parallel to the ground. “Get Ready.” The shuttle skirted for a few seconds on the ground, then came hard down onto the planet surface. It went many meters sliding onto the ground, building up dirt in front of it. The shuttle slowed down, then came to an abrupt stop as it hit a rock outcropping. Smoked started building up inside the shuttle.

 

Unbuckling the straps that held her in the chair, Furia quickly noticed on the console of the shuttle that although the engine in wrecked, the fuel lines were never damaged. She walked quickly to the back of the shuttle to get her two bags. She went to the side and opened the side door. As it raised to open, she stepped out into the night air, then held out her hand to help her master out. Going to the other side of the outcropping for protection in case the shuttle exploded, Furia unpacked her black suit and shoes and put them into her backpack. There wasn’t room for anything else, so she pushed the case underneath part of the rock. Turning on her lightsaber, she quickly took a green blade to it, destroying the case and what was inside it, leaving less evidence when the Sith come to look at the shuttle. As she finished, the blade started to falter.

 

“So you never solved it, did you?” Pricilli stated with irritation. The Togrutan did the same, putting another outfit into her backpack then used the blue blade of her lightsaber to destroy her case and what was left inside it.

 

“No Master. It’s not the components. I am going to need time to examine the crystal.”

 

“Furia, the only times I hear a crystal going bad is when it is starting to break. That only happens when there is a disconnect between the crystal and its owner. Something I need to know about?”

 

“No Master. I’m not a Sith. That’s not going to happen. I’m not some crime boss. I’m not pregnant.” Pricilli rolled her eyes up when she heard that. “There’s stories of a couple Jedi finding new crystals because there old ones don’t work.”

 

“That’s when they are exiled. I don’t want to hear it now!” The last thing Pricilli wanted to hear was another lecture, as they were in quite a predicament with a wrecked shuttle on a hostile planet.

 

“Even though it is night, the shuttle coming down is going to bring some company” stated Pricilli calmly. Furia knew they were in a bad situation, but she had always liked to face challenges. This will probably be the biggest challenge ever. A crashed ship, only her master as an ally, and a bunch of Sith military that will be in the way. Fun.

 

Although she had her own idea of going to the village to see if the people were in trouble, she was going to follow the lead of her master, especially on such an important mission. “What’s the next step Master?”

 

“We have two areas of concern. The temple, and the village. With the ship orbiting the planet being a battle cruiser, the odds are they came with a company of 150 troops. This is more important than what we thought in the library. We need to find out what is going on before we plan on how to save the people. You go to where the town is, and I will go to the Jedi Temple. Find out what you can, help the villagers if possible, but don’t engage. Do not try to contact anyone. I will communicate with you when it’s the proper time. Understood Furia?”

 

“Master, with that up there being a battle cruiser, that comes usually with a Sith Lord and a lot of times an apprentice following along. Shouldn’t we stay together?” Furia didn’t like the idea of her master going alone at what is most likely the prime target, the Jedi Temple. “Something is more interesting here for the Sith than a simple temple.”

 

“I can handle myself padawan. I don’t think you will be much help with that saber of yours being dysfunctional.” Pricilli was quite confident that she didn’t need help from her padawan, especially with Furia having problems with her lightsaber. Besides, it will be faster to figure what is going on if they split up.

 

“But” Furia was then interrupted by her master.

 

“No Furia. Do what you are asked. I don’t need you going loose cannon. And don’t engage.”

 

Furia felt like sighing but didn’t. “Yes Master. May the Force be with you Master.”

 

Pricilli nodded to her padawan, then left in the direction of the Jedi Temple. Furia watched her go farther away into the darkness, then put on her backpack and headed off in the direction of the village. She felt with the Force that there was no person around, but she wasn’t going to trust solely in it. She saw no one near, at least what she can see in the darkness. It was a mostly clear sky at night, although there was a new moon that was dark currently. What Furia read earlier, it was the only natural satellite orbiting Templi.

 

Pricilli’s group definitely underestimated the Sith interest in this planet. What is so special about Templi? More farmland? One would think there is something of real interests here at Templi, but no one said anything important on the planet. What, silicon fashion? That’s silly. Whatever it was, hopefully Furia and her master would find out. Wonder what else they missed? Furia thought for a bit. What if Master Pricilli was wrong about there being three Sith long ago instead of the idea there were two? Furia never heard of any ancestor being a Sith, but this would have been one thousand five hundred years ago. Being a descendent of a Sith is a story that people passed on to the family, even if one was a Jedi. Furia knew of one lady that recently was knighted who had an ancestor that was a Sith Lord over three thousand years ago. Then again it could be Chratmendar and Tor as two people. Just because it would be two doesn’t necessarily mean one was Tormendar.

 

Furia looked into the night sky. Numerous stars, but Furia wasn’t used to the star pattern since she never lived on Templi. At least no Sith ships flying in the sky. She walked a circular pattern to the village, making sure she would avoid any patrols that would search the shuttle crash site. The padawan focused on making sure no one was close to her as she traveled her path to the village. She hoped her master was all right. Furia did not like the idea one bit that they were split up. She knew Master Pricilli’s intentions, but still this wasn’t a situation they should be apart. Who knows who the Sith are, not including all those troops.

 

Furia kept on walking in the night, and finally saw a few lights of the buildings in the distance. She felt the presence of numerous people int the village, but nothing that was a person strong in the Force. Sometimes a Jedi, or a Sith, can minimize their presence in the Force. Furia herself practices an almost total disconnect. However she felt none in the town. Then there are times there are numerous people and other forms of life that create enough of the Force that it becomes too difficult to notice one strong in the Force. Not this time though, Furia thought. They were probably dead protecting the settlement. Then there’s the younglings. Who was the idiot that thought of bringing them? Wonder if they are still alive.

 

She walked closer to the settlement, making sure she wasn’t noticed. There walking in the night was a Sith soldier, unmistakable even in the dark with the design of the hat. Ahh, a weapon. Most likely the soldier had a blaster rifle. Standard armament for them, with a pistol for a sidearm. Wouldn’t be difficult to knock out, but then he wouldn’t be able to answer when called, which would warn them someone is probably here. Avoiding the soldier, Furia walked around the settlement, looking for more soldiers and making sure she wasn’t seen.

 

No people were outside. This was an occupation. The Sith didn’t destroy the town. One building in the distance looked damaged, but none others. Why not destroy the settlement? They needed the buildings for an army? That’s not right. What was it? Dear Force, that was it. They’re looking for something or someone. It was important enough they didn’t want to blast it to pieces in a bombardment.

 

Surveying the town, she noticed the different buildings. A cylinder that was an unmistakable grain storage unit. A general store. Houses in the distance. One building had the sign of a rejuvenation house. “A rejuvenation house in a new settlement? Wonderful. I’m sure there’s a bunch of healing there.” She shook her head a bit as she looked around more. There was something on the ground. She moved some to get a better look, making sure she wasn’t noticed. A body, and looking at the clothing she picked out what the outer garment was. A robe. It was most likely a Jedi robe. Controlling her emotions, she thought why the Sith would leave a Jedi body out lying on the ground in the settlement, then quickly realized the answer. It was for the intimidation effect. This was a way of scaring the populace of the settlement into doing something or telling something.

 

Keeping in the shadows, Furia focused for a moment and felt a little disturbance in the Force. It wasn’t the presence of her master, but someone else. A Jedi, doubtful. One of the Sith more likely. Focusing a little more, she felt a bit of the force flowing around her, minimizing her presence to those force wielding. Moving again, she saw in the distance a small troop transport coming into the town. Furia looked at the different buildings and around the town. She saw the troop transport slow down then stop. Four people stepped out, with two seeming guards for the other two. She noticed the direction they started walking. “Really?” She thought to herself. They were walking in the direction of the rejuvenation house. An idea started forming in her thoughts. “Perhaps I can kill, I mean neutralize them there. Wait. Better yet, get them to bring others.” Furia started moving silently towards the house.

 

“Furia, are you all right?” Master Pricilli seemed worried on the comlink attached to Furia’s wrist.

 

“Yes Master. Despite seeing a dead Jedi lying in the street, I’m fine.” Furia was controlling her frustration at being interrupted now by her Jedi Master.

 

“I can’t feel your presence. Are you sure you’re all right?”

 

“Yes Master. Some soldiers are patrolling the town. I’m hidden. None of the population is walking the streets, probably in their homes. Sure you don’t want me with you?”

 

“I am sure Furia. Whatever is going on that I can’t sense you, I wonder if that is causing your lightsaber crystal to give you problems. Anyway, do not engage.” Pricilli turned off the communication.

 

Furia wondered if her practicing the Force disconnect was causing her lightsaber crystal to appear to have cracks. She never heard or read about that though. Only one Jedi was known to completely disconnect from the Force, and she had no problems with a lightsaber crystal. At least no reports of it. In fact, she was completely cut off from the Force for a while, and no stories of a crystal problem. Furia only practiced a partial disconnect. Good though Master Pricilli never knew about that.

 

Coming close to the rejuvenation house, Furia came behind a medical building. “Wonder if something useful in there” she pondered. Looking at the back door, it was set up with an alarm. Closing her eyes, she felt the wires inside the wall and concentrated on pulling a couple of them. Inside the wall, two wires got pulled out of the alarm mechanism. She touched a panel on the wall, then the door opened without any alarm sound. She walked in the near dark, with a small light on over a counter. Looking around, she noticed no cameras. “Good” she thought. She looked around. Bacta tank, no surprise with that. Ketazizz. The anesthetic when surgeries need to be done. Bacta is nice, but doesn’t set in place broken bones nor take out a blood clot. A Lasat blood clot. That was nasty to see on one of the days she did volunteer work at the hospital. Antichol aerosol. In fact, a large cannister of it that can be pumped into little bottles or sprays that was on a shelf. Why would new farmers have breathing problems? It doesn’t seem this is a planet for dust storms, at least not where Furia had walked. Then she thought about that pit that was seen in the distance before the shuttle crashed. She put under her arms the large cannisters of Ketazizz and Antichol, then headed out the back door.

 

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Chapter 11 Part 1

 

Time at Alpha Templi

 

 

Despite carrying the cannisters, she easily snuck in the shadows to the next building. No back door, but a window was left open. Slowly she stalked until she was under the window frame. Peering into the window, she didn’t see anyone. She put one cannister then the other through the open window and on the floor. Effortlessly she jumped through the opening into the back room. Quietly walking in the building, she came by a set of stairs at the back of the building. She went up the stairs to the second floor. She heard several women down the hall. Coming to the first set of doors, one to the left and one to the right, she sensed no one in the left room. The door slid open for her, then she looked and saw no one was in there. She put the cannisters on the floor on the other side of a bed. Looking at the room, it appeared a generic bedroom. There was an opening in the wall that appeared a closet. She then thought of an idea. Changing clothes into a white body suit that had a zipper in the front, she put her own clothes in another corner of the room. Going out into the hallway, she went walking down the hallway, pushing on the panels to open all the doors.

 

As Furia walked to the end of the hallway, four female humans came out, all looking a little older than her. “Who are you?” The closest one said, wearing the same white body suit that Furia was.

 

“You are amazing workers that have worked long days. You deserve a restful sleep for the rest of the night” Furia said as she walked to them.

 

“We deserve restful sleep. We are going to bed” they said in unison. They turned and went back to their rooms, locking the doors from the inside.

 

Furia had seen Jedi doing the famous Jedi mind trick standing there and moving an arm, but so many times that gets boring. She was quite skilled at doing the mind trick walking and standing, moving different parts of her arms and even has done it simply standing at one place without moving. She realized she hasn’t tried it yet running or on a speeder. “Now that would be different” she thought.

 

Walking to the stairs, she went down them to the main floor. She walked in a hallway towards the front of the building. There to the right was a room with no door that had food, cooking units, and fridge in the shape of a droid. Funny. Kitchen, can’t be anything else. To the left was what appeared a maintenance room. “That looks like air vents and a control panel to open the vents and do the temperature.” On a wall was the power grid for the building. Cleaning supplies and cleaning tools were on the floor. “Guess they don’t have the credits yet to have a cleaning droid” she thought to herself.

 

She walked out of the maintenance room and walked down the hallway, seeing three rooms on each side with massage platforms, and running little waterfalls. She went out to the lobby in the front of the building, looking at a sign in the room that said “All Fingers Rejuvenation House.” She heard the noise of people talking out front and stood there in the lobby smiling. As the front door slid open, in came a middle aged man and woman. He was in the military uniform of a Major in the Sith Army, and she was wearing a hooded black robe over a long black dress, with a black belt having a lightsaber clicked to it. It was pretty obvious she was the Sith that was in charge of this group.

 

“Welcome dear guests. Welcome to the All Fingers Rejuvenation House.” She smiled as she bowed to the two customers of the establishment she was now pretending she worked for.

 

“Where are the others?” The Sith was saying in a slight angry voice, trying to intimidate and control the woman in front of her without doing any action. How Furia had the experience of people trying to do that to her over the years, and a few wholeheartedly regretted it.

 

“Alas, my lady, they are unavailable at this time. It is only my humble self.” Oh how her friends would be rolling on the floor in laughter hearing Furia say the word humble. So far Furia had been able to minimize her presence in the force. The Sith so far had no idea Furia was a Jedi padawan. Then again, Furia quickly thought, how often are padawans giving massages?

 

“Then we will have to deal with you servant” replied the Major. He was a human that had graying in what used to be chestnut colored hair with mustache and beard. He was mid height, standing there in his Sith military uniform. Without looking directly at his waist she noticed a sidearm at each side. “You were not here yesterday.”

 

“I was a little shook up and didn’t come in. I’m better now.” Furia responded with her smile. Making her statement that was not a lie, yet deceptive. The Sith won’t be able to pick up Furia was misleading. For them to come to a rejuvenation house yesterday, the invasion must have occurred at least before yesterday, and maybe more days before that. With hardly any buildings wrecked and this one not occupied by troops, she deduced the Sith are looking for something, then maybe later make the town into an outpost connected to a base.

 

“You are to treat us well, then you will have no worry about getting harmed. You are not hiding any artifact in this building.” Looking at Furia’s figure in the white bodysuit, he then said “you are not hiding anything in that suit either, right Lord Belkath?”

 

“She definitely is not. Perhaps when done excavating the lost temple and this lost tomb, we can take her to the battlecruiser to serve the whole crew.” The Sith was admiring Furia’s figure as much as the Major.

 

“We could simply force you to serve us now, but like yesterday we know you can’t live on free service, so you shall be paid in Hutt credits at the end.” The Major was being as polite as someone from the Sith Empire military could be. They were definitely not known to be kind to others. Hutt credits was a well-known way of paying with a neutral currency, that could then be changed to Republic or Sith credits. That doesn’t even include in the underworld of numerous planets, where only Hutt credits were accepted.

 

“Yes sir. Will you two be in a room together, or in separate rooms?” Furia stated the question as best as she could faking an honest smile. Wouldn’t it be entertaining if these two wanted to be together. She was so far doing a good job acting the role of a servant at the rejuvenation house.

 

“Separate rooms servant.” The woman pushed back the cowl of her robe, revealing a graying hair that once was dark colored. A human, she had paling skin and veins easily seen, with yellow eyes. The padawan had seen holopics before of Sith with worse skin as a result of using the dark side of the Force too much. Included with that were former Jedi that went to the dark side. Those holopics were a warning to the padawans in the class of what could happen when one gets consumed by the dark side. Furia bowed in showing respect to the two that was totally acting, but neither of the two could notice. How good Furia was at hiding her emotions. She walked down the hall, turning back to make sure the two were following her. She gestured her right hand one way to show the Sith her room, then her left hand another way to direct the Major to his room.

 

Furia started to walk into room that the Sith Lord Belkath walked in, but the woman turned towards her and said to Furia “Perform for Major Zhuov first servant. I will be waiting. No need to rush.”

 

“Yes my lady.” Furia bowed her head to the Sith, then turned and walked calmly into the room of Major Zhuov.

She walked into the room in which Major Zhuov laid on the massage platform. On his left hand she noticed a ring. Ahh, Sith Empire matrimony. What a joke. “Sir, would you like the door locked?”

 

“Yes. I do not want anyone to walk in on us” he stated as he turned his head and looked at Furia. She touched the panel on the wall to lock the sliding door.

 

“You will need to turn over to face down. That is usually how I start the rejuvenation”. The Major complied and turned over. She walked over to a counter where she noticed some ocean scented lotion. She grabbed a small cannister of lotion then walked over to the platform. She began to massage him, moving from head to neck then shoulders. She massaged his arms then back. “The tension from such duty sir, you control it well.”

 

“It is not easy. Trying to satisfy a Sith Lord while controlling the soldiers under my command. To add to that, trying to find a Sith Temple and the tomb of an ancient Darth.” With his eyes closed and partially somnolent from the exquisite massage he was getting from Furia, he didn’t even realize the slight mind trick she was doing to him to give out information. He was lying on the platform enjoying the best massage he ever got. The girl from yesterday was nowhere near as good.

 

“Yet you handle the tension so well.” Furia was puffing up his ego, seeing if he would accidentally say even more information. Why do a blatant Jedi mind trick, when she could use subterfuge in an entertaining way, to get as much information or even more without being noticed.

 

“You are incredible yourself. Lord Belkath will enjoy the attention you give her. Especially with the frustration of trying to find this tomb, and wondering when her apprentice will try to kill her.”

 

“Turn over sir. I hope I am acceptable to the lady.” Oh how Stacy, Mecina, and Dantella would be rolling on the ground in laughter if they saw this. As Furia massaged his face, temples, then scalp, she thought about how entertaining it would be to film this and play it for her friends on a holoprojector one night. They wouldn’t be able to sleep with how much they would laugh.

 

“She seems to like you. I am sure she will enjoy your attention.” His muscles continued to progressively relax more as Furia continued her massage on his front side. She massaged his thighs then went lower to his feet. “Your touch is so nice.”

 

She was done rubbing his feet. She moved up to be near his head. “Sir, if it pleases you I hope to spend more time with you and your command.” She leaned over to kiss his forehead.

 

Lord Belkath sensed with the Force there was no harm to the Major. She awaited with anticipation for this new girl at the rejuvenation house. Her apprentice could keep himself busy trying to find the tomb and temple.

 

Furia finally entered the room with Lord Belkath. She saw the Sith lying there on the massage platform. “Wonder if they hook up on the ship. At least she isn’t married” she thought to herself. Furia was looking at the Sith’s hands, then to the rest of her body. Furia noticed the paleness with the veins all over the Sith’s body. “The easy path definitely at times can have consequences” Furia thought to herself.

 

“Ever seen a Sith before servant?” The middle aged woman was smiling as she turned her head to look at Furia, hoping to see the young ginger haired woman in shock.

 

“Never seen like this, my lady.” Furia responded calmly, making sure the Sith did not realize that she was a Jedi padawan, and making sure she wasn’t baited for something the Sith was trying. Furia also felt no need to be more specific about the few Sith she has seen that took her lightsaber blades.

 

“Don’t stop because of me. Let your fear power you to give me your best.” Lord Belkath smiled and seemed to be doing a mind trick on Furia. That impulse of the mind trick appeared to go past Furia as she walked to the counter and noticed rosheen scented lotion. She picked up a cannister and turned around to start walking towards the Sith Lord.

 

“My lady, please turn over so I may start.” Furia was smiling as she gracefully walked to the massage platform. Lord Belkath looked a little irritated as she turned over to face down. The Sith briefly looked at the pile of clothes and her lightsaber on top of the pile, making sure she can easily get the saber if needed. Furia knew exactly what the Sith was looking at without looking herself. She applied the lotion to Lord Belkath’s neck and shoulders, then applied her exquisite touch rubbing it into the pale skin. Furia was able to keep her composure and not look nauseous at all at the appearance of the Sith’s skin, that looked poisoned. No, that wasn’t the correct term. Not right, that was as accurate a term that Furia could think of. She applied the lotion to her back then to her arms. Lord Belkath could not tell anything special with Furia using the Force. Furia rubbed what was left of the rosheen lotion on her fingers into the hands of the Sith, rubbing them gently. She then put all her fingers onto the scalp and rubbed it. She could try to choke the Sith, which her master and other Jedi would be appalled if she did that to someone helpless, however Furia had a better plan.

 

Furia continued after the scalp to massage the back of the Sith’s legs, feet, then hips. “You seem to not be traumatized servant.” Lord Belkath was saying with a softer voice, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the best massage of her life.

 

“I am not now, my lady. Please turn over.” Furia continued to show great composure at what she was doing.

 

“Where I am from, they call me Lord. But you can call me lady if you wish.” The Sith seemed to be even more relaxed as she turned over to face up.

 

There the Sith Lord was, facing up, with her eyes closed. Furia put some lotion on her hands and started on her feet. Thoroughly she rubbed the Sith’s feet, then went up to shins and thighs. On purpose Furia skipped the hips and moved to the abdomen, making sure she didn’t press too hard. Lord Belkath was even more relaxed, lying on the massage platform with her eyes closed. At times it appeared the Sith was about to fall asleep. Furia massaged the shoulders and upper parts of the chest. “I am grateful I have been able to serve you, my lady, for you had such tension in your body from all of your great responsibilities.” Furia then moved her hands up to lightly rub her face and temples. “You so much deserve to relax. To be able to have knowledge of what truly feels good for you.”

 

Furia then move her hands to the Sith’s arms, rubbing and kneading all around her chest with a delicate touch. She then moved her hands to rub at the waistline, applying the rosheen lotion to the skin. “You deserve to be in harmony with life.” Furia then moved her hands back to the face, gently massaging all around. Lord Belkath lost all muscle tension and relaxed. Furia bent over and kissed Lord Belkath on the forehead. She whispered “I give you, peace.”

 

Furia dried her hands on a towel, then backed up near the door. She allowed Lord Belkath to rest on the massage platform, knowing that a word was starting to go around in the Sith’s mind. When the middle aged woman fully awakened, she looked around then saw Furia standing near the door. “I will let the Major know you are almost ready.”

Lord Belkath looked around the room, then looked at her clothes and lightsaber that were at the same place she left them. She turned her head and looked at Furia. “Thank you.” She blinked a couple times before she started to move herself off the platform.

 

Furia went out the door and it slid closed behind her. “The lady should be out in a little bit, Major. We are open until at least midnight.” Furia smiled at the middle aged man who was back in his uniform as she told him the information. Seeming a little overwhelmed by her massage, the Major did not say anything, but bowed his head a little bit in acknowledgment he heard her statement.

 

After a little bit of time, Lord Belkath came out of the room with her long black dress with the hooded black robe on. The Major brought out a hand device and moved it near a device on the counter. Furia kept her smile, as she noticed Major Zhuov gave her a tip that was equal to the price of the service. “Are you ready to go back to camp Lord Belkath?”

 

The Sith had a little confused look on her face. Furia also noticed the skin was a little less pale, less veins noticed, and slight less yellow to her eyes. “Interesting” Furia thought to herself while continuing the smile.

“I will meet you there. I need to walk a bit.”

 

Major Zhuov raised his eyebrows a little bit. “As you wish my lord.” He walked out of the building into the night in the direction they came earlier.

 

Lord Belkath had a confused look on her face. “Thank, thank you servant. My recollections, I never got your name.”

 

“Furia, my lady, Furia”. The padawan was doing an incredible job hiding that she was a Jedi, but she knew the Sith would probably tell if she lied the name. Besides, all she gave was her first name so she was able to conceal information without lying.

 

Lord Belkath smiled, still with the confused look on her face, then pulled up her hood and left the building. She started walking in a different direction from what the Major took, as if she was planning to walk out of town into the darkness.

 

Furia decided to wait until early morning to go out and see what she could do to help the people at the village. Furia went to the back of the building and got the two cannisters. She took them into the maintenance room. Listening for noise on the second floor, she didn’t hear anything so the women up there must still be asleep. She walked to the front lobby again, doing what she could to see out the front window without being noticed. One guard was at a particular post. The one she saw appeared to be reporting his check in a few times per hour. No one was walking around the settlement to check all the posts. The one guard was armed with a blaster rifle, and had a blaster pistol as a sidearm. At least what she saw, there was no indication they would leave the settlement soon.

 

Furia got into her meditation position in the lobby. She closed her eyes and looked down. She focused on how effective she was minimizing her presence in the Force. She was still able to show no impression in the Force that she was a Jedi. Because she was minimizing her presence, it was a lot more difficult to tell if any Jedi or Sith were nearby. She could not sense Lord Belkath anymore. There was no impression of someone that could be the Sith’s apprentice. She did not feel any Jedi in the settlement, yet there were two lives that might be the younglings. She couldn’t tell how many townsfolk were still alive in the settlement, however there were several and none right now in acute distress. Then there was her lightsaber. She had little difficulty focusing on the Kyber crystal, and once again it was as if there were little cracks in it. She hoped this didn’t mean problems again with her lightsaber.

 

She opened her eyes and got up. She then sat in a chair in the lobby to wait until sunrise. She wondered how Master Pricilli was doing. What are the Sith looking for? Where are the other Jedi? Furia had to wait until near sunrise to execute her plan.

 

It wasn’t that long after the Major left, and certainly not morning yet, that she heard several voices conversing outside. Peeking out the window, she saw what appeared four people in uniform coming to the front door. Furia stepped back and smiled as the front door slid open, with four Sith soldiers in uniform with what appeared Lieutenant insignias on each of their attire, all with a blaster rifle and blaster. Her plan of trying to get the Major to tell others so they would come to the rejuvenation house appeared so far to work. “Welcome all to the All Fingers Rejuvenation House.”

 

Three men, and one woman. “The Major told us about this place, and can be open past midnight.”

 

The woman looked around. “Only you. Hard to believe you could serve all four of us.”

 

“While you are getting prepared I will get one of the other ladies. Let me show you to your rooms.” Furia continued her smile and walked down the hallway, pointing out a room to the left and right, and later down the hall other rooms to the left and right. “Please lay down on the massage platforms. Sheet is on the platform to cover yourself if you so desire.” Furia made sure they all went into their rooms, then walked down the hall. She entered into the maintenance room. She was hoping the ones that the Major would talk to would come around at sunrise when there would probably be a change of shift of the soldiers stationed in the settlement. The lieutenants probably heard a glowing review from the Major that they had to find out at night. Furia smiled at the thought. That also meant nothing important is planned for tomorrow that they would need to be fully caught up with rest.

 

Furia looked at a panel for the ventilation. She saw with the air ducts where she could put the cannisters to release the gases. She put the cannisters inside the air ducts, but did not open the cannisters yet. She looked at another panel for the doors of the building. Time to start the plan. She pushed a few places on that panel and locked the doors to the four rooms. She pushed places on the panel for the ventilation to change the air flow for the building. She turned on the valves of the cannisters partway, and the gases of the Ketazizz and Antichol came out of the cannisters and into the ventilation system. With changing the vents so that some were opened and some closed, the two gases went into the four rooms the lieutenants were in. Furia closed her eyes for a few seconds, and focused to fully reconnect to the Force.

 

She could kill them, end the harm they do to others. How enjoyable it feels to end their existence. “No” she said softly to herself. “Defense and knowledge.” Ending their lives so easily would put a little trauma into the Force. Better they become prisoners. Opening her eyes, she sensed the four lieutenants were now unconscious from the gases. Furia put her hand into the ventilation system and closed the valves of the canisters. She carried them into a spare room then put them on the floor. Now walking to the stairs, she proceeded back up the stairs and went into the room she put her belongings. She changed out of the white bodysuit and put back on her tanned outfit. She strapped on her lightsaber, then put on her Jedi robe. Next she put on her backpack. She then went back down the stairs. Going back into the maintenance room, she pushed on the panel again that controlled the vents. She allowed normal air to flow into the four rooms, and had the two gases sent up to dissipate above the building. She unlocked the doors, then went into the four rooms and tied up the lieutenants with the lines she had in her belt while the four were still unconscious. She slung over her shoulder the blaster rifle of one of them in case she had problems again with her lightsaber. She took all the other weapons so there would be no chance the lieutenants could use them. Going back to the panel she locked the doors again. She then went into the hallway and walked to the back of the building. She took out the power cells of the weapons she was holding. Leaving the weapons at the back of the building, Furia put the power cells in her backpack. Finding the window she slipped in, she quietly went outside into the dark of the night.

 

* * *

 

Furia crept with stealth through the dark until she saw the closest soldier near her. She could easily kill him with her saber, but she remembered the saying: “A Jedi uses the force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.” There was the issue of semantics with that, numerous times discussed in the class studying the Force. If a Jedi attacks a slaver or soldier trying to harm a person or people, is it attacking because the Jedi is trying to harm the assailant, or defending since guarding innocent people? Furia on several occasions brought up in class that it is defense, which got the class and instructor at times in a more heated debate. This time she will try not to kill them, but instead stop them. Cutting off the arms if need to wouldn’t kill them.

 

She grabbed her lightsaber and turned it on. The dual beams went out a little bit, then totally retracted back into the hilt. “Wonderful” she thought to herself. Furia needed to get these soldiers out of the way so she could help the population of the settlement. She knew she will have to improvise, taking out one at a time. When back home on Coruscant, she will get a good look at the crystal. If it actually is cracked, she knew she would have to do some traveling to try to find a new one. That would mean most likely to go to Ilum. Cold. Been there, don’t like it. Too bad kyber crystals weren’t near beaches. Now that would be a nice pilgrimage for a crystal.

 

If she used the blaster rifle, the sound would alert others. She studied him for a minute. Gray armor covering every part of him. A kick to the head would probably knock him over, but the helmet would protect from causing a concussion. The neck had protection from the chest piece and the helmet. There may be no choice but to use the rifle on kill setting since the armor gave protection from the stun setting. A mind trick to get him to go to sleep wouldn’t work since right now he isn’t tired, unlike the young women at the rejuvenation house. There was no way the settlement could be saved until the Sith troops were out of the way. She then heard him say into the microphone of his helmet “Five checking in”. Standard Sith military procedure to check in several times per hour. A quick run and jump into the air, the Sith trooper did not even realize what was happening until he looked up a little and saw the muzzle of the blaster rifle coming straight towards his helmet, then the bright flash from it. The sound was a little muffled from being shot close to the helmet, but nevertheless the sound of the blaster rifle could be heard amongst the town at it caused a burning hole in the helmet and head of the soldier. With the Sith soldier falling to the ground dead from the headshot, Furia quickly went off to find the next one.

 

The next one came walking her direction, still apart from the others. Their helmets had different vision settings. They would probably still use infrared since it was dark. Furia smiled at that thought. With slight effort she could dissipate her body heat to the air around her so she couldn’t be noticed with infrared. That thought gave the padawan an idea. She saw windows sills at the next building, that appeared to be a small bank. With a quick run she jumped onto the window sill, then jumped up to grab the roof. Pulling herself up, she laid on the roof and looked down on the soldier that was walking near her. She shot the blaster rifle down so the shot hit and went through the top of his helmet and head, killing him. Furia then focused on a space in an open area that was between two soldiers, concentrating to make a heated area that appeared the shape of a woman.

 

One of the soldier’s saw the heated shape. “Enemy found!” He shot in the direction of the shape a plasma bolt. Going through the heated area, the plasma instead hit another soldier in the thigh. The soldier fell down, and took out his side arm. “Idiot!” He shot at the other soldier, hitting him straight in the chest. With the side arm on kill setting, the chest shot killed the other soldier, his body falling backwards to the ground.

 

“Stop!” Another one yelled into his helmet. He didn’t notice the heat image that now stood near him, but others did. Bringing their blaster pistols out quickly, they shot at the image and their shots went right through it and hit the soldier trying to stop the shooting. Holes were in his chest piece as he crumbled to the ground with his dead body.

 

“Fools!” One of the other soldiers quickly brought out his side arm, shooting at the others to make sure they didn’t shoot at him. A quick draw, he shot the other four still standing.

 

The injured one on the ground was panting from his injury. “Where did that woman go?” As he looked up at the other soldier, he saw the plasma bolt from above hit that soldier in the chest. That was the last thing he thought before the incredible burning feeling in his chest. He slumped on the ground, dead with his own chest injury from a plasma shot.

 

Furia saw from the distance four people coming out of a two story building. These, at least from a distance, did not appear to be in armor. A specialized role for them, she thought. They were not wearing any visors, so the heat image would probably not work. She saw the four come into the open area. Switching the blaster rifle to stun, she was able to pull off two shots before she had to back away from the edge. With both shots aimed true, two of the Sith soldiers in combat uniforms dropped stunned, lying on the ground unconscious. The remaining two took shots, but Furia easily got back from the edge before the bolts came near the edge of the roof. She crawled backwards on the roof, knowing they will try to take advantage of her on the rooftop. Too bad the lightsaber wasn’t working. It would have been quite helpful right now. Focusing on where they were at, she sensed them trying to go around the building to her left. Crawling quietly to the left side of the back of the building, she put her hand out and made a movement.

 

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Chapter 11 part 2

 

Time at Alpha Templi

 

 

All of a sudden, Furia heard both of these soldiers say loudly “Ouch!” She quickly looked down and saw each of them grab one of their cheeks. Quickly she brought the blaster rifle pointing down, and pulled the trigger twice. Both soldiers slumped to the ground stunned. Furia slipped quietly off the edge and landed on the ground with the tiniest of noise. She took the uniforms off a woman and a man, both with what seemed a reddened cheek, then tied up their wrists and ankles. Taking all of their weapons, she walked into the open area where the other two were stunned. Likewise to them, she took off their clothes, took their weapons, and tied them up. Carrying all the weapons with her, she calmly walked in the direction the four soldiers in field uniforms came. She was cognizant that no one was trying to attack her, surprise from behind, nor snipe her. She did notice some people starting to take quick looks from their windows, probably the citizens of the settlement having curiosity overcome them. It took little effort from Furia to sense they were all in fear in their homes. These Sith soldiers definitely terrified them.

 

Tying the weapons into a bundle that she swung over her soldier, Furia came to a building with a porch and numerous decorations on the sides of the building. It appeared a convenient shop with all the necessities for someone in a settlement to need, but nothing fancy. Jumping up, she grabbed hold of a sign and pulled herself easily up onto the roof. Looking around, she noticed all the roofs were flat. “No originality with this architecture” she thought. She crawled to the edge to look over, noticing on the horizon a tiny bit on light. Morning will come, when she will be able to look around easier. The catch was she would be easier to spot. As she crawled to the edge, she saw a building near the one she was on top of with no one out front, but a couple soldiers trying to take cover at windows but able to scan the outside. Thinking of the weapons on her back, she had another idea. She moved the tied up weapons beside her. Focusing, the weapons started getting hotter, and started to have a little bit of an orange glow. Furia tossed them so the tied up weapons went flying through the air and landed close to the front door. Pulling out the blaster rifle, she took shots at the tied up weapons as they landed near the front door. “Got it” she said quietly as the weapons exploded. She got up to a squat position then moved to fall off the side of the building, landing gently on the ground then quickly started moving to the building. The front door was destroyed. The front windows were blown out, and two Sith soldiers lay dead on the floor. Furia took out the blaster rifle and set it to stun in one motion.

 

Sensing four more in the building, Furia went close to a stairway but made sure she was not in sight. It was a long time since she tried a Force Pull on anything, much less a person. Closing her eyes she focused for a couple seconds. One of the soldiers came flying down the stairway. As he hit the floor at the bottom of the stairway, Furia moved the blaster rifle and shot him with the stun setting. Moving up the stairs, she knew someone was around the corner. Continuing up the stairs, she heard “Ouch!”. Quickly turning the corner, she shot the soldier at point blank range. As he fell to the ground, Furia noticed a sunburn on his cheek. “Whoa” she said softly. She definitely now had the knack for controlling heat.

 

Turning to her left, she walked in a hallway and saw at a room at the end two soldiers on their knees. “We surrender” they said before Furia brought forth the blaster rifle and shot twice and stunned both of them. They fell to the ground, showing the sidearms they had tucked in their belts at their backs.

 

“Such honesty” Furia said in a mocking way to the two stunned Sith soldiers unconscious on the ground. Looking in the room, she saw what appeared one of the settlement citizens tied to a chair unconscious. He was alive, but did not appear well with what appeared several recent burns on different parts of his skin. She untied him then gently laid him to the floor. She then noticed something on the floor in a corner of the room. There slouched over in Jedi robes was one of the Jedi. Dead for at least several hours if not several days. Furia deduced the dead Jedi’s body was there as an intimidation while someone was being tortured. “What was so important that the Sith had to do such revolting behavior?” Furia thought about how morally depraved the Sith Empire was. Fura wasn’t surprised about what behavior the Sith were willing to do as long as it brought them more power.

 

Furia got to the task of tying up all the people she stunned in the building, again taking off their clothes and leaving only underwear on. Her friends would wonder how weird Furia was getting. She wanted to make sure they would be more hesitant to try to run away when they would be awake. She went into another room on the second floor. An office with a large desk in the center. “Someone knew what they were doing” she thought. A desk near the window would invite the risk of a sniper killing the person sitting at the desk.

 

On the desk was a datapad, and showing on its screen was the title Mission Objectives. Four objectives were listed. One, find the temple of Darth Chratiak. “Wait” she said out in the open but with no one to hear. “Master Pricilli said one of those people that explored all those years ago was Chrat.” She thought for a couple seconds about Tor and Mendar, and still wonders if that was actually one person Tormenta. “Chrat was Darth Chratiak, and that Darth did something special enough that a temple was built here. And when they did the research at the Jedi Library, they didn’t find this out. Wonderful.” She continued reading. If proper information is not found about holocron interface with wiring, find the tomb of Darth Chratiak. “What!” She said a little on the loud side. Furia read more. Two, once information is found on the interface, have appropriate area set up for building a ship that can serve a crew of 12. “Sounds like for a Sith squad.” Three, either population helps with construction, or eliminate them then notify High Command for need of additional workers. Four, test flight new ship then let High Command know of results. Below that was what appeared an appendage at the end, which stated that all communication to High Command is to be delivered to Lord Belkath, and she will correspond with High Command.

 

“The Sith were trying to find the information about this interface of holocrons with ship wiring. That’s why they are here. Why the Jedi didn’t, wait, or did they know?” Furia started thinking about all that this meant. Going through other notes on the datapad, she started reading the summaries of people tortured. No one knew anything about this. No one knew about a holocron of Darth Chratiak. As she quickly scanned the rest of the information, she realized the occupation force doesn’t know where the Sith temple, nor the tomb of Chratiak were located. Looking around the room she saw two thermal detonators. “Those would be handy” she thought. She put the two of them in her backpack. She then looked in drawers in the desk. Unlocked she noticed, she pulled on the top right one to open it. As it opened she noticed two lightsabers. She picked them up and examined each. Someone on purpose broke them, one with the controls on the handle wrecked, the other the focusing lens cracked. Most likely done so that no one tries to use them. Two, that means most likely four were at the temple. Furia was able to pry open each lightsaber and saw the kyber crystals were still present. Usually Sith like to keep lightsabers as mementos. Maybe these two weren’t killed by Sith. She noticed both of the crystals appeared to be starting to degrade, which wasn’t a surprise since the Jedi the crystals belonged to were now dead. She put the two lightsaber hilts into her backpack. Going through the rest of the drawers, she saw nothing. This building must have been set up for gathering information quite recently with little in its drawers.

 

Furia looked outside and saw a bit more light. Sunrise will come. That means the day shift duty of soldiers will be here soon. She could go down the stairs, but instead she opened the window and jumped out. With the help of the Force, she easily landed on the ground on her feet then started jogging at a fast pace in the direction she thought the soldiers would come from. A tall container could now be seen in a distance, and near it a speeder set up to carry cargo. Far to the distance she sensed people coming closer, then she saw a speck that started getting larger. She then thought of the two thermal detonators in her backpack. Taking the backpack off, she then opened it and procured the two detonators. Closing the backpack, she put it back on. Furia put a detonator in each hand and crouched, making sure she had the tall container in the line of sight with the vehicle bringing the soldiers for the new shift. Slowly she traversed to get closer to the speeder. She started hearing the sounds of the transport, and with it the sounds of voices coming from helmets. Definitely the replacements for the day, and definitely opened air transport with no roof. Keeping her breathing calm, she patiently waited for the transport to come closer. Louder was the sound of the engine of the transport. With it close enough, Furia got out of her crouch and ran towards the speeder. Still with the tall container between her and the transport, the soldiers had no idea she was there. Jumping onto the hood of the speeder, she jumped up to the top of the container. Seeing the transport was close, she continued in her motion with one step then jumped into the air. Going high in the air, she activated the detonators with her hands above her. She then threw down forcefully the two thermal detonators into the transport, bringing her hands to her side. With no roof, the thermal detonators were easily thrown into the transport. Arching her head back as she went to the apex of her jump, the detonators exploded in the transport below her, destroying the vehicle and killing everyone in it. The armor of the soldiers was not enough to protect them from the power of the explosion. As she started falling down, Furia looked forward and brought up her arms almost halfway with her palms facing down. She bent her knees as she came close to the roof of the container. She slowed down her descent the last second, gracefully coming to a landing on top of the container without being hurt. She turned towards the settlement, walked to the edge of the container then jumped down onto the ground, again slowing the descent the last second.

 

The padawan then went over to a rectangular box that was near an open area. The landing field for the settlement, and the shield generator control. It definitely was not the best place to put a shield control, but if it worked it worked. She pushed on the control panel, and then a shield enveloped the town, protecting it and the landing field from turboblasts. Someone thought the landing field was just as important as the settlement.

 

Furia started walking to the middle of the settlement. As she looked at the different buildings and people peering out of the windows, she thought how much easier it would have been to do that jump without the Jedi robe she had on. Then again, how inspiring it would be to someone looking at her, seeing that it was a Jedi that did it. “Maybe the council would approve official Jedi ponchos. Easier to move, and looks good” she thought as she continued to walk to the middle of the open area. There were the bodies of the dead soldiers, and the tied up ones that were living. There was the dead Jedi to the side. Looking at his body she saw several blaster wounds that seared through his body. Those should have been blocked. Wonder if he was diverted trying to protect something. Focusing on the Force while walking, she sensed the small presences of two younglings. “They must be scared. Need to help those little souls” she thought as she looked around at the different bodies, picking up the remaining soldiers’ weapons that were still lying on the ground.

 

“Good Morning! How are all of you doing?” she yelled with a smile. “Such a nice morning it is too.” She put the weapons into a small pile near where she was standing in the middle of the open area. Furia looked around and noticed people starting to come out of the buildings. “They’re gone, at least for now. And don’t worry, I don’t bite. At least not that hard.” Master Pricilli would start scolding her right now for saying that, but who cares considering the situation everyone on the planet was in.

 

“Good morning” a woman said coming out of a house appearing building to the left side of the town square. “They are really gone?” More people started coming out, standing in front of buildings, looking a bit shocked at the dead bodies of the soldiers, and the ones still alive on the ground that were starting to moan as they woke up from being stunned.

 

“They are.” Furia walked to the woman then noticed two children coming out of the door. Furia stuck her right hand out and made a movement for the children to go back inside. There was no need for them to see all the dead. They have already gone through too much. The woman gave the two children a gentle push with her hands while saying something to them. The children went back into the building as Furia picked up her pace a little. Furia got to the front of the building the woman was standing at. As the people of the settlement started walking a little in the town square, they were shocked from what happened.

 

The woman took a look at Furia’s robe, then looked at Furia’s face. “Thank you Jedi. I thought, wait, you are not one of the Jedi assigned here.”

 

“No I am not. ” Furia entered the building and saw the two younglings standing in the middle of the front room. Numerous plants and animals were in the house, all helping to create the Force. Furia knew why the Sith did not detect these two younglings. Their presence was covered up by the living things in the house, and the Sith weren’t specifically looking for them. At least this one time someone did something right with helping to protect these younglings.

 

She sat down, looking at each of them as she put a hand gently on each of their shoulders. “Hey, you two all right?”

 

“Yes ma’am” said the boy, around eight years old. He had auburn hair, brown eyes, and wearing a long tanned tunic with a brown belt, pants, and boots. A braid went down the right side of his head. He definitely was one of the younglings sent to the new settlement.

 

Furia looked at the girl, around the same age, with blond hair in a bun, blue eyes, and same style of clothes. Like the boy she also had a braid going down the right side of her head. “Yea, I’m all right.” The girl then had a surprised look on her face. “Hey, your Padawan Furia! I saw you when watching the martial arts class at the Temple. Those moves you did with the practice double-blade were WOW!”

 

Furia smiled. “Yes, that was me. What are your names?”

 

“I’m Sheila.” The girl made sure she was first to answer.

 

“I’m Samuel, ma’am Jedi Furia.” The boy seemed a little reserved. He was very well mannered, and might have been a little scared from what had happened.

 

“You don’t have to say ma’am.” Furia was talking as she tried to be calm and friendly to the two younglings. I’m simply a padawan. See?” Furia flicked her braid of ginger hair that hung to the right of her head. “We need to make sure you two are safe.”

 

“Are we going to be able to go home?” Sheila asked while appearing a little worried on what might happen.

 

“Yes.” Furia was showing calmness at the situation. “We just need to find a way to safely leave.”

 

The two younglings nodded their heads. Furia went out the door. She looked at the woman that came out of the door with the two younglings. “Thank you for watching out for them. I’m Jedi Padawan Furia Tormenta.

 

“Hello miss. I’m Thena.” The woman appeared a little nervous. Pointing at the right side of Furia’s head, she spoke as someone worried “I, I could tell you are a padawan.” Looking quickly at the town square, she looked back at Furia. “Thank you for saving us. Wish you were here before.”

 

“What happened?” Furia looked at the woman then out to the square. “The townspeople and the Jedi here couldn’t stop the soldiers?”

 

“The other four Jedi were at the Temple doing the work. Jedi Sai Lo and Justin were caught unprepared, just like the townsfolk that came out to defend us. Most of the soldiers were killed, but everyone that defended here was killed. Sai Lo told me to keep these two in the house, and told them not to use that Force. He and Justin were trying their best to defend the town, but there were just too many. When the fighting was done, the Sith soldiers took away their dead but left ours here. I think they were trying to scare us.” The woman shook a little bit for a second then composed herself.

 

“Were any Sith here. You know, the ones with lightsabers?” Furia asked as she walked a little forward.

 

The woman shook her head. “No, no.” Furia could tell the woman was telling the truth. The town, at least initially was not the main target. That means the temple set up here was the main target.

 

“Wait, what work at the temple?” Furia had a curious look on her face.

 

“I, I don’t know. Some project.” Furia could tell the woman wasn’t lying, but seemed not to know something on purpose.

 

Furia walked into the middle of the square. “Folks, for now you are safe. However I suggest you grab a firearm to protect yourself when the Sith soldiers come back.” Furia didn’t know if they would come back, but it was better to give the townsfolk an incentive to protect themselves than think everything now will be safe. A few people came walking to her, and she handed each person one firearm.

 

“So who are you?” An older man said in a little derogatory way, looking at her braid.

 

“The one that saved you. If you want I can leave and call the Sith, and tell them I left and they can come back.”

 

The man looked a little startled for a couple seconds, then composed himself. “No, no, that is all right. I and the rest of the people here should be grateful.”

 

“You have a storage area for the food grown?”

 

“Over there.” He pointed to a large two story building with what appeared at each corner openings where food that is harvested could be poured in.

 

The remaining weapons were all taken. “At least now you can all fight back if needed.” Furia walked over to where the speeder was that she used to jump onto the container. Concentrating for a couple seconds, she sensed no traps and hopped into the driver’s seat. Slowly she drove the speeder over near some of dead bodies and started picking up the bodies and throwing them onto the transport bed of the speeder. Looking up she yelled “any help here?” Several people came over. Although resistant, they helped grab the remaining dead bodies and carried them over to the speeder. “Thank you” Furia said, trying not to sound sarcastic. These people seemed not the most grateful. She walked over to the place where the man and woman lied on the ground with only under garments on. Tied up without their uniforms on, Furia walked over to the woman first.

 

Looking up, the woman without her uniform had a hateful look as she saw Furia walk towards her. “Untie me!” she yelled as best as she could at Furia while lying on the ground.

 

“Aww, you look so comfortable there. And don’t worry. I don’t think anyone is going to throw up if they see you in your under garments.” Furia knelt down and took an identification card from the clothes of the woman. Lieutenant Verg Harrison.

 

“Jedi witch!” she yelled as best she could at the top of her lungs.

 

Furia smiled, looking down on her, then spoke in the woman’s voice. “We are going to have so much fun.” Furia focused for a second, then the woman started raising in the air. With a startled look on her face, the soldier became quiet as she floated in the air towards the speeder. Once she was above the back of the speeder, she was unceremoniously dropped on top of the dead bodies. The woman made a moan but then was quiet, a little horrified about being on top of several dead bodies.

 

Furia walked over to the man lying tied up in his undergarments. “Why don’t you just kill me Jedi and get it over with?” The bald soldier said calmly as he looked up at Furia.

 

“Dead men don’t tell info my dear sir”. Furia focused for a second and the man was raised into the air. He said nothing more, as his face had the look of accepted dread while he floated towards the speeder. As he floated near the speeder, Furia had a smile on her face, turning him face down in the air, then dropped him on top of the woman.

 

Furia hopped into the driver’s seat and drove the speeder for a few seconds to where the other two soldiers that were stunned laid in their undergarments. Both looked up. One stayed quiet, however the other looked up at her and said with a little anger “When Lord Belkath or her apprentice Venhoor come here, you will wish you never came to this planet.”

 

“You have no idea. Maybe they will make a deal with me that they give me a shuttle, but I have to take you with me.” Furia walked calmly, lifting up the man that was talking, floating him while he tried to spit at her but failed to get anywhere near her. She floated him over to the back of the speeder and dropped him unceremoniously onto the pile of bodies. She lifted the other soldier, as he stayed quiet with a stern face while she moved him and dropped him likewise onto the pile of bodies.

 

“I forgot how many there were” she said out loud. She drove close to the building she got the detonators from. Going in and out, she floated each of the four Sith soldiers outside and onto the back of the speeder with the other bodies. She gave those soldiers weapons to a few more people that didn’t have a weapon.

 

Looking to the distance she saw the two story building for food storage. Furia got into the speeder and started to quickly drive that way. She felt a few people in the crowd seemed concerned when she started driving that way, but it did not worry her. She needs to get these bodies someplace inside. She went to the side of the building and stopped. She got out of the speeder then turned to a doorway. The door was already blown apart, apparently by the Sith soldiers several days earlier. Furia walked into the doorway, then looked for a control for one of the side doors. Looking up, she saw a crack going across the ceiling, indicating the roof opens.

 

“That’s weird” she said as she saw the panel on the wall and opened one of the large doors. At one corner of the large room she saw a freight lift that would go to a lower level, taking whatever cargo was on it. To the sides she saw a few pieces of starship equipment. With how this building was set up, it was quite unusual for agriculture. She jumped into the speeder, then drove it inside and stopped near the back wall. She got out and pick up by her hands the Sith soldiers that were still alive, dropping them unceremoniously on the ground. As she dropped the last one, several people came inside the building.

 

“We can take over from here, padawan.” A man with dark hair that looked around ten years older than Furia came walking up to her in a little bit of a quick pace.

 

It was interesting to Furia now that she was in this building, some people of the settlement were now more helpful. She looked at the Sith soldier weapons they had, which earlier she handed out to them for protection. “Who is going to guard the live ones?” she asked as she looked at the different people around her. None were threatening, at least right now.

 

“We will” the man replied back as he motioned to himself and another man around his age that was now standing near her.

 

“Make sure they stay alive. You know, water, a little food. Definitely don’t give them clothes. And keep them tied up, if for nothing else it’s real entertaining.”

 

“Jedi witch!” The one woman of the soldiers that was still alive yelled as best she could after Furia’s statement.

 

Furia stood there with full composure. The people had a little laugh after Furia made her comment. Something was up, but she was not going to let them know she knew something wasn’t right. “Now that the town is free, at least for now, I have other duties to perform.”

 

As she went back into the speeder the man said “we will assist you later.”

 

Furia smiled as she looked up and said back “thank you.” She drove for a few seconds to a far wall then stopped. She noticed near the corner there was a stairwell to go to the lower levels. She went out of the speeder then went back and started throwing the dead bodies on the ground by the wall. As she finished, she went back into the speeder. She started driving it out of the building, and drove into the town square then close to the building where the Jedi younglings were. The woman, with Sheila and Samuel, were standing in front of the building. She got up then jumped out of the speeder.

 

“Thank you so much for watching them.” Furia reached out her right hand and touched the woman’s hand as a gesture of how grateful she was. “I need to leave, but I will be back soon.” Furia knelt down and put a hand on each of the younglings shoulders in a gentle way. “You two have been so brave. The Jedi are proud of you. Now please stay with Thena.”

 

“All right” they replied in unison.

 

Furia smiled at them then got up. She looked at Thena. “You’ll be able to take care of them?”

 

“I will be happy to. We will stay in this house.” She pointed to a Sith soldier blaster she had in a small bag hanging from her shoulder, one of the weapons Furia allowed people to get from the pile. “I will protect them.”

 

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Chapter 12

 

The Call

 

 

“Thank you.” Furia slid into the driver’s seat and started driving in the direction of the small Jedi Temple. She got past the outskirts of the settlement. She kept on driving for a few minutes then heard a voice on her comlink.

 

“Furia. Are you there?” Finally, Master Pricilli was calling. Furia stopped the speeder and got out. If there was a surprise attack on her, Furia would more likely be able to protect herself standing than sitting in the transport speeder.

 

“Good day Master.” Furia answered, observing her surroundings to make sure she was safe.

 

“ I am near the new temple. What is your status?”

 

“I am safe Master. I found two younglings alive and safe in the town. Samuel and Sheila are their names. Jedi Sai Lo and Justin were killed defending the town. It looks like by blaster wounds. Numerous townspeople were killed when they were attacked by Sith soldiers. Something however is just not right. Some seem to be protecting or hiding something. When I took the bodies to a building that is supposed to be for storing food, there were a few starship parts on the floor, and the roof can be opened so it is like a hangar. The Sith leading this is a Lord Belkath and her apprentice Venhoor. At least Belkath may not be an issue anymore. And the people in the settlement at least for now are safe, and they are armed in case they get attacked again.”

 

“Wait. Furia, why is this Lord Belkath not an issue?”

 

“You know those sentient behavior classes I’ve taken all those years? They helped. I was able to get her thinking about peace without her knowing about it while I massaged her. She really enjoyed it. Probably the best massage she ever got.”

 

“What!!!”

 

“I snuck in and acted like one of the girls that worked at a rejuvenation house. Oh, by the way, Chrat was Darth Chratiak. He set up some temple here and somewhere is his tomb. That’s what they are looking for. Something about interface of holocrons and wiring, and then the Sith would build a ship here.”

 

“Furia, I specifically told you not to engage. Please don’t tell me you killed any. That would bring fire from the battlecruiser.”

 

“Yea, I remember that. But it’s a little hard to save adults and children when there are a bunch of Sith soldiers around. Let’s see. Four, two, then there’s that squad of ten that I blew up. Oh, the four I could have killed by gases in the rejuvenation house, but I gassed them unconscious and took them prisoners. The Major really enjoyed the attention he got, so he told his lieutenants. He is now the only officer not captured I think.”

 

“In the name of the Force, Furia. I told you not to engage. I can’t wait for this answer. How were you able to hide that you were a padawan from this Sith lord?”

 

“Partially disconnect myself from the force so I minimize my presence.”

 

“Oh please no. That causes unpredictable changes in the Force. We don’t have a Sith holocron at home. I would hope you don’t have one hiding somewhere back on Coruscant. Where did you learn that?”

“The Jedi library. It’s from a few hundred years ago. It’s not forbidden knowledge from some stupid Sith holocron. I don’t think anyone has read it for a long time, but it’s there.”

 

“And you studied it without asking me? I am supposed to be guiding you on your studies, not you going off on some reckless endeavor to do whatever you want.” Master Pricilli was more frustrated with her padawan than ever before. Furia had over the years gone by the beat of her own drum, but what she was doing on Templi was totally out of control.

 

“It worked. And although the Sith lord is somewhere walking, there is still her apprentice around. Whatever they are looking for, they still haven’t found it and that’s probably why the settlement hasn’t been attacked by the battlecruiser. They need to make sure they don’t destroy clues for where this tomb and Sith temple are.”

 

“Furia, you went directly against my order, and you are doing studies that I would have forbidden. I’m surprised I don’t feel the cold of the dark side of the Force from you.” Furia thought that was ironic because Stacy, Mecina, and Dantella have more than once said Furia’s presence in the force was at times like a raging fire. “Stay in the town with the younglings. I will be back there in due time. Once we are back at Coruscant, I am going to ask the Jedi Council for you to be dismissed from the Jedi Order, and that you be sent to a distant temple so that there is no risk you would be tempted to join the Sith.”

 

“You’re kidding. Would you rather I take a few innocent people out into the farmland where they could be target practice for some fighter craft while others get tortured? One of the dead Jedi was slumped in a corner in an interrogation room to try to scare whatever citizen they were trying to get information from. Another Jedi was left dead in a town square. Not including many dead people from the settlement.”

 

“Those Sith are going to attack those people more severely now.”

 

“What you want me to do Master? Call up the Sith base and say Hi, you want the town back? They are at least free now!”

 

“Don’t talk back to me Furia!”

 

“Why? You don’t even want me to be your padawan anymore. I could have stayed out of the way and let more people get tortured, but you know, for some reason I wanted to help them. My, what an awful thought for a Jedi.”

 

“There’s always choices Furia. If you would have waited, I could have joined you and I could have figured out a way without indiscriminating killing people.”

 

“I still think I should be with you, Master. Even if I got that Sith lord to contemplate off wandering, there’s still some apprentice out there. You are going to need help.”

 

“I don’t need your help Furia. I can handle it myself. Besides, your lightsaber is probably not working.”

 

“I will improvise. I can certainly stop most Sith even without my lightsaber.”

 

“No Furia. Stay there.”

 

“Me get kicked out. There’s something not right about this temple at Templi, but no. If they are still alive let’s give these Jedi a nice banquet for how wonderful they are while I get kicked for saving people. Sith would laugh at the Council if they knew the Council would do such a stupid thing.”

 

“Enough Furia! Stay at the settlement until I come back. I am still your master until you get dismissed from the order.”

 

“Maybe the Jedi Council will assign me to a master that is more appreciative of me.”

 

“Oh you!” The signal stopped. Master Pricilli must have turned off her comlink. There was no use to try to call her. Furia looked again at the area around her to make sure it was safe, then hopped into the transport speeder and turned on the engine. She turned it gently in a circle, then started driving back to the settlement.

 

“Free people from occupation so you can get kicked out. Never let a good deed go unpunished.” Furia was thinking about her situation, and doing her best to keep calm. “What would have Master Pricilli have done? Save them by cutting their arms off? Idiotic.” Furia decided to drive around the edge of the settlement instead of having to drive through it. No need to accidentally hit someone while driving. She had enough to think about. Around 50 meters from the back of the building where the younglings were kept safe, Furia stopped the transport speeder. She got up and swung her legs over the side of the speeder and dropped gently onto the ground.

 

“This is ridiculous” she said softly to herself. She looked at her robe. “Why even wear a Jedi robe if my own master wants to get rid of me.” Furia was more frustrated than sad over the situation. She knew she needed to calm herself down. Looking around to make sure it was safe, Furia knelt down into her meditation position. Closing her eyelids, she looked down and focused on her breathing. She calmed her breathing, and allowed the Force to flow to her, feeling what was happening around her. The joys of the people in the settlement that they were free, yet also a little greed. What was that about? She sensed the life of all the plants around her, and the small creatures walking on the ground. She felt the small creatures flying through the air. To the distance she barely felt Lord Belkath, somehow changed. She seemed in confusion, but no longer anger. Barely she could feel the remaining Sith soldiers, but could feel their apprehension. There was Master Pricilli, with what appeared to be anger calming down, but also curiosity. She must be near the Jedi Temple of Templi. Yet the anger, who is her master to lecture about anger leading to the dark side. She still should have taken Furia’s assistance. Then Furia felt a disturbance with what appeared to be greed and desire. That must be the Sith apprentice. At least he or she, or even better it, was not coming closer. “In the name of the Force, I was and still am trying to help and save people. She complains about me killing soldiers that murdered people and tortured people.” Furia thought that if she could stay calm for the rest of the mission, maybe the Jedi Council will give her to a Jedi that doesn’t have a padawan. Furia knew she was still helpful and a great asset for the Jedi. Maybe the Council would understand why Furia killed the soldiers, who happened to be mostly in armor that prevented them from being stunned.

 

Suddenly Furia felt a slight disturbance in the Force. This was more distant, and it wasn’t the Sith apprentice. Cold, as if from the dark side. No longer there, it went away. “Wonder what caused that?” she thought. She now sensed the brilliance of the Force, it’s power surrounding her, coming from all the life around her. How good and peaceful it felt.

 

Furia suddenly had a worried look on her face, still with eyes closed. There is a lot of emotion Furia can feel through the Force coming from her master. Something is wrong. Master Pricilli should have accepted Furia’s help. Why did she have to be so stubborn? Furia opened her eyes. She needs to go assist Pricilli. What would she do, complain that Furia didn’t do what she asked and recommend her to be kicked out? Furia opened her eyes and started to get up.

 

“NO!” Furia felt a burning in her chest for a few seconds, and was on her knees in pain. She could no longer feel her master in the Force. The pain subsided after a few seconds. She knew what happened. Master Pricilli is now dead. From that pain, Furia knew her master was killed by a lightsaber. Most likely from that Sith apprentice Venhoor. Furia took a deep breath, then got up. She is alone now. Her master of thirteen years is now dead. Pricilli was difficult to have as a master at times, but she certainly didn’t deserve this. There was now no point waiting with the younglings for Pricilli now that she is dead and will never see Furia again.

 

She hopped back into the speeder and proceeded to the temple. Furia wished the transport speeder would go faster, but she accepted the speed she got. This was certainly no speeder bike. She will have to try to deal with this apprentice without a reliable lightsaber. Maybe a wild miss from the apprentice could be retaliated with a kick to the head. And what is it that the town seems to hide? Then there’s the Jedi Council. What will they do when Furia gets back to Coruscant. Dismissed? Given to another master? Who knows.

 

Eventually Furia began to see in the distance a structure made of stone. Getting closer, she got a better look. What a wreck. Unlike the settlement, the Jedi Temple was severely damaged. Little was left of the four walls. There were what was once towers at the four corners, were now round piles of rubble. The center tower still had its base, but the upper part knocked off. She sped closer and looked to see if she could see anyone else, but she appeared the only one around. She came near the temple, then stopped the speeder. She got out and slowly walked to the ruin that was once the new Jedi Temple of Templi.

 

Furia walked around the edges towards the front. There on the floor of the temple she saw in Jedi robes the bodies of four Jedi and three younglings. Lives ended by a lightsaber. She walked to what was once the front of the building, looking into what was once an elegant doorway. There lying in front of the center tower was her master, lying on the stone floor dead. Furia gently walked up to be near the corpse, and knelt down beside the body. Furia looked down at her master. “It didn’t have to end this way Master Pricilli. It didn’t. I hope you are at peace as one with the Force.” Furia was a little surprised she wasn’t crying. Perhaps it was because of all the thoughts and emotions of what all has transpired so far at Templi. She got up and looked up. The second floor that must have been for housing was completely destroyed. There was no floor for a second story. She then looked back at Master Pricilli, the four other Jedi, and the three younglings. “Wait” came from her lips, as she got a closer look at the bodies. The younglings seemed killed by blaster fire. Some of the injuries on the Jedi looked similar style to what happened to Pricilli, but two of the Jedi appeared to have different injuries. It was, like, “wonderful, one of the Jedi stabbed two others in the back. That’s how a Sith apprentice defeated four Jedi.” What made a Jedi do that? Furia looked around the temple.

 

Secured on the base of the central tower, facing away from the front of what was left of the Jedi Temple, was a stone chest. It’s top part was cut into little pieces. Nothing appeared now in it except some of the broken pieces of the chest.

 

“Tormenta” she heard what appeared a man’s voice, an old voice. She looked around what was left of the temple. On the floor near the edge, as if tossed to the side, was a red pyramidal shaped object, a Sith holocron.

 

“Wonderful” she stated out loud as she got close to it. The padawan did not remember information or stories of Sith holocrons immediately knowing the name of a Force user near it. Why does this one know her last name? And what was a Sith holocron doing at a Jedi Temple? She walked closer to stand nearly above it.

 

“Tormenta, come” she heard again. Furia quickly brought out her lightsaber and lighted it, using one of the green blades to cut all the way through the holocron, from top to bottom. As she totally destroyed the holocron, she heard a loud break, and both of the green blades of the double bladed lightsaber disappeared. She sensed the break in the kyber crystal, and as she shook the hilt of her lightsaber, she could hear the broken pieces inside the hilt. “This just keeps on getting better” she said out loud. She attached her lightsaber to her belt. She then noticed a hill to the distance. As she walked to the what was once the entrance, she got a better view of the hill. Part of the top appeared to be covered by rock sticking out in front of it. To the right there appeared something angled, going lower as it went to the right. “These idiots needed some holocron to tell them where a Sith tomb is? Look for a place they think they can show off their dead body” she said for only her to hear. Furia wouldn’t be surprised if that is where this Sith apprentice went. That will have to be a problem to deal with later.

 

Looking to the east side of the floor she saw an altar that could have been decorated as a dining table, and a field with grasses growing as you looked past the altar. “Wait” she said as she looked more closely at the altar. This was quite off. Jedi temples don’t have altars. Sith do, but not Jedi. Feeling with the Force, she could tell this altar could move if one focused. Furia was about to try to see what it would do, then she thought about the bodies at the temple. Master Pricilli, four Jedi, and three younglings. Fools to bring them. There was no need for them to die. Where is the fourth? Furia looked on the floor of the temple, then looked around outside the temple. There was a little break in the grass, as if someone small ran that way a while ago. It was to the Southeast, as if to go away from where the Sith camp would be. She looked to the distance and saw rock outcroppings. She wondered if the fourth youngling was still alive, and went that direction. Luckily the Sith apprentice seemed not to notice. She closed her eyes for a few seconds. She sensed someone in that direction, one sensitive to the Force. She could drive with the speeder, but that would risk moving the grass that was stepped on while this child walked or ran from the temple, even if it was a speeder moving above the ground instead of rolling or sliding on the ground.

 

Furia started walking in a little fast pace in the direction the grass was moved. No one was near. It was midday. She was a little surprised she wasn’t hungry, but then there has been so much that has happened in the past day. Ever paying attention to her surroundings, she knew no one was near. She walked for a little over a kilometer, and came upon some rocks sticking out of the ground, taller than she was. Furia walked around this outcropping and came upon another one. She sensed him, and for some reason knew this person was a him. Young he felt to her as she felt the Force coming from him. There was an opening between two rocks. She also sensed he was outright scared.

 

Furia walked gently to be near the rocks. She sat down and looked into the opening and smiled. In the shadows of the rocks she could see him.

 

“Hi” she greeted him, sitting there with her hands resting on her knees. “My name’s Furia.” She grabbed hold of her Jedi robe with both hands and flapped it a few times. “See, I’m a Jedi.” She looked around. “Nothing scary out here. It’s safe.”

 

“You sure?” said a little boy’s voice. “What if your one of them?”

 

“Hmm. Let’s see.” She looked around. “No one else here. That was a real scary bunch of people that came.”

 

“Yes” the voice said with a squeak. He was still scared.

 

“Here it’s just me. A little ol Jedi.” Furia did a little toss with her lightsaber into the air, then focused on it to stay floating in the air in front of her.

 

“Really? You’re not one of those Sith?” His voice seemed a little less scared.

 

“Nope.” She flicked her braid of ginger hair. “See, I’m a padawan.”

 

“Wow. One day I’m gonna be a padawan.” He seemed a little more confident.

 

“I bet you will be a great one. Hey, there room for me in there?”

 

The boy laughed. “No, you’re too big.”

 

“But it’s more fun when you can see the person you’re talking to. Without seeing them, talking is like this.” Furia made sounds of static on a comlink. “I need some dinner bread topped with meat slices.” She made more static sounds.

 

The boy laughed again. “All right, I’ll come out.” The boy crawled out from in between the rocks. Furia patted the ground in front of her. He appeared to be around 7 years old, dark hair, blue eyes, and fair complexion. He seemed a bit bulky for someone of 7 years. At first he appeared nervous, but then he relaxed and sat down in front of Furia. He looked at her face with a little wide eyed look. “Wow, you are pretty.”

 

“Why thank you” Furia replied with more of a beaming smile. “That was so kind of you. Now I told you my name. What’s yours?”

 

“Telos. Telos Barcello” he said with a little confidence. Furia took her right hand to his right hand and shook it.

 

“Very nice to meet you Telos Barcello.” Furia smiled as she looked in his eyes, sensing he was becoming more at ease. He did seem tired though. That was no surprise for her, knowing what he has been through recently. While smiling, she was sensing with the Force that no one else was near. “You hungry?”

 

“Yea!” he said loudly. She took off her backpack, went looking through it, and brought out a chocolate protein bar. She gave it to him. “Thank you!” He took it out of the little case that it was in, took a big bite, then gave the case back to Furia. “Do you need any Master Furia?”

 

Furia gave a little laugh. “I’m not a master. Just a padawan. But thank you for offering. I’m fine.” Furia was glad she had the survival training. It helped with overcoming situations in which no food or water was available. Actually, it was kind of fun since she got to do it one time with Stacy Organa, Mecina Chanasa, and Dantella Sidero. The Jedi knights were a little irked when they came upon their camp. Instead of four girls begging for water and food, there were four teenagers who made hammocks, bored deep into the ground with their lightsabers for water and put the water in makeshift waterbags, and roasted a large animal while singing and dancing away. Fun times. They on purpose went four days without food or water, but they endured easily with their pristine fitness and decided to have the fun of it with the remaining four days. Still, Furia was ready if need to for no water nor food, but a little youngling was not trained for that. Hopefully she could get him to the settlement.

 

“That tasted good.” Telos finished eating the chocolate bar, and definitely seemed to like it.

 

“I know. Those chocolate bars taste good.” Furia liked it that Telos now seemed at ease. “How tired are you?”

 

Telos gave a little sigh. “Pretty tired Master Furia.” He was looking up to Furia’s face. She was probably the most amazing person he ever met. It was so easy for him to talk with her. The sun in the sky was behind her head as he looked up at her. It made like an aura around her hair.

 

Furia kept her smile as Telos once again used the term Master for her. This time she decided not to say anything about it. She took a strap out of a side pocket of the backpack and loosened it so it could go through the belt loops of Telos’ trousers and then around Furia’s torso. “We need to get going soon. Will you allow me to carry you?”

 

“Sure.” Furia got Telos to wear the backpack. She slid the strap through his belt loops. She squat down and got him to get on her back. Standing up, she bent over a little and she fastened the strap around the bottom of her ribs. She took her hand and gently put his arms around her neck. Furia then move her arms back and put them below his thighs. As she stood up, she made sure her padawan was safe and secure on her back. “That was an interesting thought” she silently said to herself. Why did she just use the term padawan for Telos? He’s a youngling, not a padawan. Add to that, she is a padawan.

 

Furia started walking around the first rock outcropping she came to. Telos felt so comfortable and protected while being on Furia’s back, making sure he had his arms around her. As she got past it, she looked around and sensed with the Force to see if anyone is near. Numerous animals and plants, but no people. That means no one to attack her and Telos. She saw the way she came here from the small Jedi Temple, and decided to veer off from that and walk another way back. She figured better to take a new way than the one she took which might be someone following or someone watching that path. Veering around a hundred meters to the south, she walked on uneven ground, making sure she had her footing. Going up and down little hills, she continued to scan the area and found herself and Telos to be safe. As she walked for a while, she noticed he was falling asleep with his arms around her neck.

 

As it became later in the afternoon, she saw the destroyed Templi Jedi Temple in the distance. Furia never thought of doing something with the bodies while she was there. She didn’t want Telos to see them. She decided to slow her pace a bit and to try to have him not facing the bodies on the floor of the temple when she got there. She and Telos could use the rest for a bit before they went to the settlement. She walked at a slower pace towards the temple. First thing she wanted to check was that fake altar. What was that doing at a Jedi Temple, that happened to have a Sith holocron?

 

Furia eventually got close to the remains of the temple. A piece of wall blocked the view of the bodies on the ground. She turned her body and started walking sideways, facing the altar and not facing the dead Jedi and younglings on the stone floor. Soon she got near the altar. She decided to work with the altar as she would with a holocron. If it didn’t work, she would try something else. She focused on the object, as if she was trying to turn it on. She saw many Jedi waving their hands when using a holocron. She didn’t need to , she would just focus on the holocron to get it to work. However there were times she would wave one or two hands in a silly way to get a holocron to work. How Stacy laughed that one time Furia moved her arms and hands while dancing and got a holocron to work, showing an ancient master talking about the difficulties that arise when a Jedi Knight got involved in a romantic relationship.

 

Furia used the Force and focused on the altar. Lines that were not on the altar before were lit up, covering much of the altar. It slid forward, and uncovered a stairway going into the ground. “Wonderful” she said softly. The Jedi here were covering up something. A temple for Jedi to work with the settlement. Sure. She got near the top of the stairs, having the altar blocking the view of the bodies. Turning her head she tapped her chin a few times on Telos’ hands. “Hey, brave Jedi. Time to wake up.”

 

Telos moaned a little as he awakened, still having his arms around Furia’s neck. She undid the strap around her as she squat down. Telos opened his eyes and stretched out his legs. Furia gently lowered him to the ground, then pointed at the stairway. “Down there we go.” She took the backpack off him and brought out a blue light stick, turned it on, then put the backpack on. Furia went down first, and Telos followed. After they went down several steps, Furia turned and concentrated on the altar. The lighted lines showed up again covering the altar, and it slid back in its place, covering the stairway. Furia looked at where the altar was, then looked at what was around it. The Jedi built the temple right on top of something. Furia turned around again and went down the stairs with Telos following her.

 

As they went down the stairs, Furia moved the blue light around to see the medium sized room. “I hope this isn’t” Furia said as she started walking to a wall.

 

“Hope it isn’t what Master?” Telos looked up at her as he followed her.

 

Furia looked at Telos and smiled again. She flicked her braid. “Hey, remember I’m not a master. If the Jedi Council heard you call me Master, they would go craaazzzyyyy.” Telos laughed when Furia finished, emphasizing crazy.

 

She went near a wall and looked at the letterings and pictures on the wall. She didn’t like it one bit what she realized, but she decided no need to hide everything from Telos. She already made sure he didn’t see the bodies. “This is a Sith temple. The Jedi that came here built our temple on top of a Sith temple, then hid the entrance.” She looked down on the dark haired youngling. “Telos, were you here when they built the temple?”

 

“No Master. Oops, sorry Master Furia. There I said it again, I mean Furia. Me and the others stayed in the town with Master Justin. I didn’t start living here until after it was finished. “Hey, are Tai Lu, Sheila, Aere, Peader, and Sam all right?”

 

Any smile on Furia’s face was gone as she sat down in front of Telos. She put the blue light on the ground then gently put her hands on his. “I’m sorry Telos. Sheila and Samuel are at the settlement staying with a nice lady, but the others died. I’m so sorry.”

 

Telos started crying. Three of his friends of the last several months are dead. Furia moved her hands to his shoulders to pull him a little closer for a hug. “Why them?” Telos asked as he was crying.

 

Furia held onto him with a hug, quite easily feeling his sadness. “I don’t know Telos. They didn’t deserve this. They were so great. They shouldn’t have died.” She moved her head back a little to look in his blue eyes. “But they won’t be gone.” She tapped her chest then his. “We will always remember them, about how special each of them is.” Furia made sure she said is instead of was.

 

Telos stopped crying, taking a big sigh as he looked at Furia.

 

Furia kissed him on top of his forehead. “I’m proud of you. Telos, you are doing really great with all that is happening.” She got up off the ground, used one hand to hold onto the blue light, and her other hand to hold onto Telos’ hand. They went around the room, noticing the designs and lettering on the walls. The room appeared old, definitely over a thousand years old. There was no furniture. The Jedi here appeared not to be using the room for anything. At one end was a little area with a few stairs going up to a raised area the shape of a square right by a wall. “That was probably for a throne” she surmised. They saw several passages. One appeared to be a hallway with several rooms connected to it. Furia thought that was probably a living area. One seemed to have a little bit of a pull in the Force, as if wanting the two of them to go that way. She felt no danger, and decided for the two of them to go down that passage.

 

 

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