Twist of Fate/Part 5

While they were still standing, the Omwati woman, Rhosa, said, "Tirien…walk with me, won't you?"

Narasi could see the other Gray Jedi didn't think much of that idea. She was a little offended that they all seemed to believe her master was just waiting for an opportunity to assassinate this woman he hadn't known existed fifteen minutes before, but part of her understood their paranoia. The Jedi minders might've kept the Initiate Clans in the dark about the worst of the galaxy, but even she knew what battle meditation was.

"We can all go," Jylo offered, smiling in a slightly wooden way. Narasi noticed again the way he seemed to hover next to Rhosa, and thought it was more than just protective.

Rhosa laid a hand on his shoulder, and this time her answering look was firm. "Really, Jylo. Enough now."

"Rhosa…" He half-extended a hand toward her, but she stepped out of her circle of Jedi protectors and around the couch. Narasi could look her in the eye, and though Narasi was only thirteen, they had a similar build, too. She had marveled at the way her master had pieced together clues Narasi hadn't even noticed to single out Rhosa as the real power of the group, but as the Omwati stepped closer, Narasi thought she could feel the woman's power too. But Rhosa's eyes were kind, and she felt warm in the Force; to be in her presence was to trust her.

"Tirien?" she asked.

The Pantoran swept the group with his eyes, then nodded. When Rhosa's comrades stayed back, with looks ranging from reluctance to surliness, Tirien finally looked at Narasi. "Go back and check on the ship, Narasi."

She was disappointed to miss whatever Rhosa wanted to tell her master, but she understood that if Rhosa was abandoning all her bodyguards, Tirien could hardly bring his Padawan along. "Yes Master. Can one of you give me directions?"

"We'll take her back," Jylo offered. Narasi looked up at the strong Togruta Jedi, remembering the way he had looked when Rhosa had walked away from him and feeling less than reassured.

"All of you?" Tirien asked dryly.

"We'll go," said the Zabrak Arlya. "Jylo and I."

Tirien and Narasi traded a look. She understood that, for all their being one big, happy family, at the least Jylo was looking at her as an insurance policy; Tirien wouldn't hurt Rhosa while they had his Padawan. But Narasi suspected the reverse was true, too, and while Rhosa was no Padawan, Narasi thought her master could defeat any of these unofficial Jedi if it came to that. Besides, she had promised to follow his lead, and she knew she had to earn back his trust. She nodded.

"Thank you," Tirien said to Arlya, then left with Rhosa. They turned one way down the hall, walking close together and conversing in low tones; Arlya and Jylo led Narasi the other way.

"How long have you been his Padawan?" Arlya asked.

"Um…a few weeks now?" Narasi said, calculating in her head. It seemed like longer; the time since the shootout in the Pandath market had been an eternity.

"You're just starting, then," Jylo said. He seemed to be forcing good humor, but he smiled at her nonetheless. "It's an adventure."

"I always heard that, as an Initiate," Narasi said. "You were both Master Shadeez's Padawans?"

"We were," Jylo confirmed. "I was just knighted last year."

"Three years ago, for me," Arlya added.

"And you've both fought the Sith?" Narasi asked with interest.

"Oh yes," Arlya said. She pulled back her ponytail and leaned down, and Narasi saw the lightsaber scar curving along the back of her neck and disappearing under the shoulder of her tunic.

"Ouch," Narasi said sympathetically.

"Don't worry, I got him," Arlya answered with a dry smile. "His head came all the way off."

Narasi swallowed, and Jylo nudged her good-naturedly. "Sometimes you have to joke, kiddo, because it gets too dark if you don't."

She considered that perspective. "What's it like, fighting the Sith? A real Sith, I mean, not their soldiers."

Jylo and Arlya exchanged a look. "Frightening," Jylo admitted. "They're very dangerous. There used to be more of us—Master Shadeez's Knights.  All of us have fought, but not all of us have won."

"The important thing is to move past fear," Arlya added.

"There is no emotion, there is peace?" Narasi asked, and the Zabrak nodded.

"You've probably heard all about it, though," Jylo observed. "What with your master's exploits."

"We…haven't really talked about them," the Zygerrian admitted, feeling uncomfortable as both Jedi looked puzzled. "I mean, we heard about it at the Temple and all…"

"Well, you're new to your apprenticeship," Arlya reasoned. "I'm sure you'll learn more as time goes on."

Narasi wondered.

"What's it like in the Temple?" Jylo asked.

Narasi wasn't sure, but she thought she caught a hint of wistfulness in his voice. Wondering if she could help her master in his mission, she said, "It's great! I still miss my Clan mates sometimes; we were together for so long.  It's hard work, but I learned a lot.  And the Force is so strong there."

She looked at the two Gray Jedi. "What about you? What did you do before you were Padawans?"

"It's a little different for us," Jylo admitted. "We were apprentices pretty young."

"With only Master Shadeez for years, there wasn't any purpose differentiating between Initiates and Padawans," Arlya added.

"Did he just find you, or…?"

"One way or another," Jylo said. "He sensed the Force in me when I was a little boy."

"What about you, Arlya?" Narasi asked.

The Zabrak looked introspective. "He saved me."

"From who?"

"The Sith," Arlya said quietly. "I was a slave."

Narasi shivered. As a Jedi she abhorred slavery on principle, but even hearing the word made her uncomfortable, because she knew it was the evil behind every glare and insult that came her way. She wanted to raise her hood, but she remembered her master instructing her not to and forced herself to stop.

"You probably started as a Jedi a lot younger than either of us," Jylo observed.

Though she could tell from his light tone that he was trying to smooth over the moment, it did not have the intended effect. Narasi's stomach twisted uncomfortably, and she managed a quiet, "No. I didn't."

She knew the Gray Jedi were looking at each other—even she could sense their confusion and interest—but they had reached the hangar bay, and she picked up the pace toward the freighter. It looked a little dumpy compared to the sleek fighters lined up along one side of the hangar bay, but Narasi still thought it had potential. With a few renovations it could be cozier inside, and Tirien had already spoken of changing out the cockpit systems. If she could just sell him on naming it, too…

As they neared GX-521-A3, the Force warned Narasi of a sudden sense of hostility. Two Republic soldiers approached, looking at Jylo and Arlya. "Prisoner transfer?"

"What? No, I'm a Jedi!" Narasi snapped, incensed. She knew she should control her emotions, but the conversation had brought bad memories to the surface. In the face of their clear disbelief, she drew her robe aside to expose her lightsaber; both guards half-hefted their rifles when she moved.

"She's Jedi Kal-Di's Padawan," Jylo added.

"Ugh," one of the Humans replied. "I see why your boss doesn't want anything to do with Coruscant, if they're letting Zygerrians into the Jedi."

"That's enough," Arlya said. "I have just as much reason to hate the Zygerrian Empire as anyone, but Narasi's a Jedi, and you will show her the respect that deserves."

The Human seemed ready to snap something back, but Jylo and Arlya stared him down, and he seemed to rethink the wisdom of openly challenging three Jedi. Settling for a look of disgust, he led his comrade off.

"Yeah, that never gets old," Narasi grumbled sarcastically.

"This is why there is no ignorance," Jylo said, giving her a smile. "Without knowledge, we wind up being that."

He affected a little shudder, and Narasi laughed once despite herself. She remembered his earlier comment about black humor and thought there might be some merit to it after all.

Strolling up to GX-521-A3, Narasi gave one landing strut a little kick, then turned back to her companions. "Well, looks okay so far!"

Jylo laughed, but Arlya merely smiled faintly as they started to walk their way back. Sensing the older woman's introspection, Narasi offered, "I hate them too. I hate that whenever I walk into a room people think I'm like that."

Arlya nodded, but moved on ahead, and Jylo slowed his pace. Dropping back with him, Narasi asked guiltily, "Did I say something wrong?"

The Togruta shook his head. "No, just bad memories."

Knowing something about bad memories, Narasi asked, "Did she fight my—the Zygerrians?"

Jylo stopped, giving her a strange look. Once Arlya was out of earshot, he asked, "Narasi, who do you think sold her to the Sith?"