Twist of Fate/Part 7

Mostly to please her master, Narasi had given prolonged meditation an honest effort. Seating herself in the hold of GX-521-A3, she had tried to immerse herself in the currents of the Force, wondering if the presence of so many other Jedi nearby might make it easier. At one point she thought she caught an encouraging nudge in the Force.

Her mind was still close enough to the surface to be distracted by sound, though, and her eyes opened as Tirien walked into the hold.

"What's going on, Master?"

"We have an in," he said, brisk but intent. "General Shadeez and Admiral Arstyn have invited me to speak with them."

"That's great!" He had not shared much of his conversation with Rhosa the previous day, and Narasi hadn't been sure what to expect. She got to her feet, shaking the wrinkles out of her tunic. "Can I come with?"

The Jedi Knight thought it over, then nodded. "I think Rhosa's going too, and I'm sure the admiral will have some people there. It'd probably look best if I wasn't there alone.  Just make sure—"

"—I follow your lead and don't speak," Narasi completed, smiling a little. Tirien didn't smile back, but Narasi promised, "Got it, Master. No problem."

Their escort was waiting for them—not the Republic soldiers from the previous day, Narasi was pleased to see—and led them to the opposite side of the weapons ring, where a massive durasteel strut anchored the ring to the core of the battlestation. A turbolift set inside the strut conveyed them down into heart of the battlestation.

Narasi could tell the difference here; there were more intelligence analysts and logisticians, and fewer combat troops, though she also noticed more guards. There was a little more decoration, too, as if people could live here, not just be barracked. She and Tirien were led to a conference room where four Republic troopers and Arlya Kesk stood guard at the door.

Inside, they found a long, rectangular table; a Human sat at the opposite end. Admiral Herqilius Arstyn's beard had fully transitioned to gray and was starting to take the final step to white, but his deep-set eyes were alert, and even his bushy beard did little to hide the strong set of his jaw. A uniformed Bothan stood behind him. Karr Shadeez sat on the admiral's right, Rhosa behind him. Tirien took the seat at the Human's left.

Rhosa smiled across the table at her. "Did you have a pleasant meditation, Narasi?"

The Zygerrian grinned. "I sensed you."

"I hope I didn't disturb you?"

"No! No, if anything, it helped…"

Tirien cleared his throat, and Narasi adopted a more formal pose behind him, hands clasped behind her back. Rhosa winked, but then her face grew serious.

"Admiral Arstyn, I'm Tirien Kal-Di," her master said. "Thank you for seeing me."

"Hmph," Arstyn grunted in reply. "I've heard of you, Jedi Kal-Di, and Master Shadeez speaks well of you, so I thought you merited a hearing. But if you're here to tell me Gizer can't rely on Master Shadeez's fleet because the Jedi Council doesn't like his tactics, you can tell your Masters to shove it up their airlocks.  I have a duty to Gizer."

Narasi wondered if the Human's bluntness would pique her master's temper, but Tirien seemed unfazed. "The Council won't stand on formalities when lives are at stake, Admiral," he said. "We all have a duty to the Republic's worlds, and I don't fault you for doing yours as you see fit."

Arstyn blinked; it seemed to Narasi he had been expecting more of a fight than that. "Oh. Well, good then!  We're all agreed."

"Master Shadeez's concerns, and those of the High Council, are an internal Jedi matter," Tirien went on; Narasi did not fail to notice he was calling the Gray Jedi 'Master' now. "But holding the Perlemian is vital to both Gizer and the Republic. Whatever structural concerns we have, we're united in our desire to see the Sith defeated."

Arstyn studied him, then looked at Shadeez. "And what do you say, Master Jedi?"

"Defending Gizer and the Perlemian are noble goals I'm happy to support," Shadeez said through his breath mask. "But my forces aren't prepared to come at the beck and call of the Republic—even with Master Phnyong at the Chancellor's podium."

"Yes, the Jedi Chancellor," Arstyn said, frowning.

"If I may," Tirien interjected. "One day perhaps we'll all be back under one banner, but that isn't the priority right now. Master Shadeez, I ask only that you open yourself to doing what you're already doing here—sharing your information, your ships, your…other resources, for the greater good."

Narasi glanced at Rhosa, but the Omwati warned her with a look, and she looked back down immediately.

"My ships and my spies and my Knights aren't the Council's to order, Tirien," Shadeez reminded him.

"But I ask that you be open to the Council's guidance, Master," Tirien answered. Narasi realized she was leaning toward him, hanging on the words of the discussion. "Why else are you here, rather than pressing your war on Lord Lakalt? Because Admiral Arstyn is the key to the Republic's war effort, and because the Perlemian has to hold for the good of the entire Republic—in short, because your forces were more useful here than anywhere else."

"Key to the Republic's war effort, eh?" Arstyn grumbled. "Pretty words, Jedi Kal-Di, but I'd trade all the praise from every diplomat for a well-stocked battleship and a good lot to crew her. Words don't win battles."

"Not the kind with cannons, perhaps," Tirien said; across the table, Narasi saw a smile flit across Rhosa's lips. "The Republic has to defend all its worlds, Admiral, and resources are spare. I've seen that myself; I've fought to hold Republic systems with only a battalion of regulars, a lightsaber, and the Force.  But that's exactly why the Republic and the Jedi Council support this agreement—because we need to utilize every resource to keep the upper hand."

"And it's why the Council hopes you'll continue to work with us, Master Shadeez," he added to the Kel Dor. "Because the right resources in the right place, at the right time, can be the difference between victory and defeat. Holding the Perlemian is key, but it won't end the war alone."

Arstyn growled in his throat and leaned back in his chair with crossed arms, but he eventually nodded. "There's truth in that, Master Shadeez. I still need you here, but I've seen what you Jedi can do when you put your minds to it, and there'll be more battles when our business is done."

"You're taking the fight to the Sith, Admiral?" Tirien asked.

The Human glanced at Shadeez, who nodded. Considering a moment more, Arstyn finally nodded too. "The Council of Five has dictated the course of this war too long, Jedi Kal-Di. A hard, deep strike will remind them that they're mortal."

"And perhaps sow discord among an enemy growing too sure of itself," Shadeez observed.

"If you're willing to commit to sharing resources when possible, Master Shadeez," Tirien suggested, "then Narasi and I can stay here in the admiral's absence as well. We only have our freighter—but we're two more Jedi."

"Every Jedi helps," Arstyn conceded.

"And what if it is I and not the Council that needs resources, Tirien? What if the Jedi Council calls upon my Knights when I need them?"

Narasi rather thought that was inevitable; facing an army of dark siders, no number of Jedi could ever be "enough". But her master said, "War isn't always convenient, Master, and yes, sometimes the Council might ask for your help when it's inconvenient. But cooperation goes both ways; it might not always be convenient when you ask for help.  But we're all Jedi—we're a family, and family look after each other.  If you're the one calling for Knights, I think the Council would answer."

"Perhaps," Shadeez allowed. "Perhaps they would."

"If it's all the same to you both," Arstyn said dryly, "I'd rather leave the 'internal Jedi matters' to you Jedi, and make sure my homeworld is protected."

The discussion carried on at length after that—Narasi found the tactics interesting, but much of the specifics went over her head. Battlefield strategy was among the many things for which there was no course at the Jedi Temple. She wondered if she could persuade her master to teach her; although Shadeez and Arstyn dominated the conversation, with occasional input from Rhosa and the admiral's Bothan aide, on occasion her master chimed in as well. His input seemed to be more grand scale than tactical, but neither Arstyn nor Shadeez dismissed it out of hand, which Narasi took as a good sign.

Eventually the three men stood and shook hands.

"We'll sign the accords tomorrow over lunch," Arstyn announced. "It's Gizer's tradition; any pact of importance is signed with Gizer ale."

"As you say, Admiral," Shadeez replied.

"We'll be there," Tirien added.

Arstyn looked at him askance. "You're certainly welcome to be present, Jedi Kal-Di, but there's no need for you to sign anything. It's an accord between Master Shadeez and the Republic forces of the Perlemian.  Now that your Master Phnyong is making the Jedi and the Republic the same thing, I'm as a good a Republic officer as you, wouldn't you say?"

The fur rose around Narasi's temples; she didn't like the way the Human spoke about the Chancellor, or how he brushed her master to the side. Across the table, she noticed Rhosa's dark eyes widen in apprehension. Karr Shadeez simply watched.

Tirien drew a breath, and Narasi felt the Force in him. "As you say, Admiral. We'd be honored to be your and Master Shadeez's guests for the ceremony."

Narasi unclenched her teeth and saw Rhosa exhale silently. Arstyn nodded sharply. "Right then. Good day, gentlemen, ladies."

He marched from the room, his aide in tow. Shadeez watched him go, then nodded once. "Your humility does you credit, Tirien."

"It's not about recognition," Tirien answered, and Narasi thought she saw a hint of a smile on her master's face. "It's about protecting the Republic."

The Kel Dor studied Tirien, then bowed slightly. "A wise observation."

"Well, it was yours, Master," Tirien said with an answering bow.

The Kel Dor chuckled, then grew serious. "While we're protecting Gizer in Admiral Arstyn's absence…perhaps you and I should discuss sharing intelligence. If the Council demonstrates to me that we can work together as you say…then we can consider what other resources we might exchange."

Tirien nodded. "Yes, Master. Until tomorrow, then?"

"Indeed. May the Force be with you."

"And also with you."

Narasi saw her master and Rhosa exchange a smile too, and she thought she saw a deeper bond than mere Jedi camaraderie there. She wondered again what they had talked about.

She could barely contain her excitement on the way back to the ship. Once they were in the turbolift, Narasi exclaimed, "You did it, Master!"

"Not here," he said sternly, glancing around them. Narasi wondered whether he suspected the Republic soldiers were eavesdropping. She wondered if the Republic soldiers were eavesdropping.

Some of her enthusiasm had waned by the time they were back in GX-521-A3, but as the ramp clicked shut she smiled at her master, wide enough that her fangs were visible. "You did it."

"I did something," the Pantoran said, throwing his robe onto his bunk and rolling up his sleeves as he paced in the hold. "Which is better than nothing. I'm not sure how much the Council will actually toe the line I set for them."

"Well, they gave you the assignment," Narasi reasoned. "They probably trust your judgment."

"There has to be a limit," he pointed out. "The Council trusts Knights to carry out their tasks to the best of their ability, but I don't think they'd go for the deal if I promised Shadeez a seat on the Council and Arstyn election to Supreme Chancellor."

"Yeah, what was that about?" Narasi asked, frowning. "Does the military not like Master Phnyong?"

Tirien waved it off. "There are concerns about the Jedi taking too much control of the Republic. Some Jedi Masters feel the same way, honestly.  But it's a lesser issue; Arstyn isn't happy about it, but he's still loyal."

It bothered Narasi, but ultimately she shook her head; she wouldn't let the soldiers' paranoia dampen her pride in her master's accomplishment. "Well, you didn't hand out any Council seats, so I think you did great, Master!"

Tirien looked at her and mustered a half-smile, and Narasi felt a rush of pride and warmth. After a moment's reflection, she realized he had never smiled at her before.

"Well, the accord isn't written up yet," he mused. "But I think we've…made a beginning. Or at least we will tomorrow."