Danse Macabre/Part 3

A month later

"One-two-three, one-two-three, watch-your-steps Pa-da-wan…"

Narasi grimaced at her master, trying to position her feet properly without taking her eyes off him. He was keeping his face mostly impassive, but there was an amused light in his yellow eyes. She tried to match his movements, concentrating hard.

"One-two-three, one-two-three…"

"Master, this is ridicul—"

"If-you-speak keep-the-time. One-two-three…"

She knew he was messing with her then. Trying to think in three-four time while spinning around to mirror his movements…was this some sadistic test of her focus? She tried again. "Why-do-I hafta-learn-this—"

"That's-chea-ting, no-eighth-notes."

She bared her fangs at him and he smirked as he stepped out, then back in. Ducking under his arm, she growled, "Why-do-I have-to-learn how-to-dance?!"

"Quite-well-done!" He spun her back out, brought her in again to a close hold, then stepped slightly back to give her a bow before letting go of her hand. "And you have to learn because it's a formal ball; dancing may be expected of you, and if you're going to do anything, do it skillfully and to the best of your ability."

"Master, I look silly!"

"Well, Jedi robes aren't ideal for it," he conceded, tugging at the sleeve of his tunic. "We'll have to pick up something more appropriate for the occasion on Anaxes."

Narasi groaned. "Do I have to wear some fluffy ball gown?"

"I think we can dispense with that. We're not going just as guests, you need freedom of movement in case you need to fight."

"So if we're going as Jedi, there's really no need to learn to dance, either…"

"Ah, but sometimes the best protectors are the ones who blend in. Nice try." He smirked at her sour look, then cocked his head to the side, thoughtful. "But no ball gown. The Humans there might wear gowns, but you're not Human.  What's the Zygerrian equivalent for formal dress?"

Narasi shrugged. "I dunno. I didn't go to any fancy parties before I became a Jedi.  Bangles and bracelets, though," she added, holding up her forearms. "We like those."

It was skirting the edge of her past, but Narasi didn't find herself clenching inside as she once had, afraid of the next words that would come from Tirien's mouth—afraid he would ask the question. Since Pantora their truce felt a little easier, and Narasi found herself more at ease circling the topic; though she was not yet ready to bite the bolt, she was more confident he wouldn't pull the trigger.

"I'm certain we can work something out."

"I could get my ear pierced again…"

Tirien shrugged. "If you like."

Narasi considered him. "So how did you learn to dance? I swear, if you tell me Suwo…"

Chuckling once, Tirien shook his head. "No. Suwo had many skills, but artistic grace wasn't any of them.  No, I learned from other Jedi at the Temple."

"When you were an Initiate, you mean?"

"No, when we made it back to Coruscant. I learned a lot of things that way."

Narasi frowned. "You were studying with other Jedi when you were Suwo's Padawan? Was that…okay?"

"Yes—necessary, even. Suwo…"  Tirien sighed, then gestured toward the Second Chance ' s cockpit, and Narasi followed him. "I don't want to speak ill of the dead, but it's not disrespect to be truthful. Suwo was great at the things in which he specialized—infiltration, demolitions, investigation.  But he was a middling swordsman at best, and not much for meditating.  I had to practice on my own to get better."

"Did he mind?"

"Not at all. I think it freed him to concentrate on his own training with a clearer conscience—he knew I was in capable hands."

"And what about me?"

Tirien raised an eyebrow. "Do you feel I've been neglecting you, Padawan?"

"No! I was afraid you were gonna say that—"

"Because I seem to remember you complaining about being stuck aboard the Crescentia with nothing to do but train…"

"Master, it's not that…I didn't mean…"

She struggled for the words, but Tirien smiled and raised a hand. "I'm a different kind of Jedi than Suwo was—I can teach you a lot of things he never could have. But you might end up a different kind of Jedi than me, and I can't teach you everything, Narasi.  If you have something in mind and it's outside my skill set, let me know and we'll see what we can work out."

She relaxed a little. "Okay. I'll think about it.  Thanks, Master."

He waved it off. "We should be coming up on Anaxes. Why don't you tell me about it?"

Unlike some of their other missions, they'd had ample time to prepare for this one, and Narasi had known Tirien well enough to use it wisely. "They call it the Defender of the Core. It was one of the founding Republic worlds, and the Republic Navy's headquartered there…and the Navy War College, but…"  She frowned as she slipped into her copilot's seat. "I was confused about that, actually. If the War College is on Anaxes, what's Prefsbelt for?"

"Was that a pun?" Tirien quipped. When Narasi just stared, he sighed. "Prefsbelt IV is the Naval Academy, where midshipmen become officers. The ones who are selected for Anaxes get another year of specialized tactical training.  They're the best of the best.  Admiral Arstyn graduated from Prefsbelt IV and Anaxes."

Narasi frowned, remembering, but then pressed on. "Anaxes is the most fortified Core World."

"Debatable, but it's up there. Any other habitable worlds in…what's the system?"

"Axum system, Azure sector," Narasi rattled off. "And yeah, one—Axum. They're both Core Founders."

"Good." Tirien checked the hyperdrive countdown. "Population?"

"Almost all Humans."

Tirien raised an eyebrow, maybe at the twist in Narasi's tone as she said it. "True. I would also have accepted 'a few hundred million'."

Narasi grimaced, caught. She should've known better; the man could make a dance cadence a test of mental agility.

"Go on, follow that thought to conclusion," he said. "Your thoughts are going there anyway."

"They're not gonna be thrilled to see a Zygerrian."

"Ordinarily that might be true," he admitted, "but there may be some leeway for you, since you're my apprentice."

"We're kinda hit-or-miss on that helping, Master."

He smirked. "But we've been together two and a half years now; people are starting to associate you with big events, not just adding you in as an afterthought. Milagro, at the very least."

The disapproving glances and disappointed sighs had become fewer aboard the Crescentia, but… "Is that good or bad thing here?"

"I think they'll respect warrior skill. It's Anaxes."

He pulled the hyperdrive lever back when the countdown timed out, and Narasi understood immediately how Anaxes earned its nickname. The Core looked quite well-defended indeed; she wasn't sure Lady Gasald's fleet and Lakalt's together could've fought through this armada. They had so many ships to spare that Narasi saw cruisers on a picket line where she would've expected corvettes.

"Go on, take the comm," Tirien said as it beeped.

"Republic freighter Second Chance," she said, transmitting their authorization code.

"Acknowledged," came the crisp reply, then a series of coordinates. "Follow your lane and do not deviate."

"Got it." Narasi looked at the display as she switched the comm off. "Aren't we supposed to be going to the capital? This is way outside it."

"They don't allow repulsor traffic in capital airspace," Tirien commented as he banked the ship down through the atmosphere.

"But we're Jedi!"

"They'll probably make an exception for the Chancellor, but I think that's about it."

"That's dumb. It's so much less efficient this way!"

"They're preserving a sense of decorum and grace in the most important space on their planet." Tirien's face became critical. "Observe and try to understand before you judge, Narasi."

She bit back more grumbling. "Yes, Master."

After a moment, she looked down at Anaxes and felt a little thrill of anticipation. Tirien's glance told her he had sensed it, and she smiled sheepishly. "I know. It's just…I finally get to meet Master Phnyong."

The stern set of his mouth didn't mar the indulgence in his yellow eyes. "No asking for his autograph."

"Well, I figured now that you've given one out…"

Tirien glowered at her until she laughed and turned back to the viewport. The orderly traffic lanes reminded her of Coruscant, although the surface below ruined the comparison. Here were the rows and rows of gleaming cloudcutters, of course, but here too were green parks and grassy fields she had never seen in Galactic City. Circular enclaves rose like castles, tiers of buildings stretching progressively higher; one even sat inside the flow of a river like it had its own moat. Estates sprawled over hills outside the capital region.

"It's kinda pretty."

"And just imagine how peaceful it is, without all that air traffic making noise," Tirien needled, and Narasi rolled her eyes.

They set the Second Chance down in a military spaceport and found an escort waiting for them when they debarked. Four of them were unarmored Republic Army soldiers with blaster rifles; the young Human at the group's head snapped to attention and saluted. "Sir and ma'am, Ensign Davreed. Welcome to Anaxes, sir and ma'am."

"Uh…thanks." Narasi started to return his salute; Tirien caught her wrist without looking at her.

"Mali Darakhan's the general, Ensign. We're regular Jedi.  But thank you.  I'm Tirien Kal-Di, and this is my Padawan Narasi Rican."

Davreed lowered his salute slowly, but recovered himself after a moment. "Yes sir. Understood sir.  We've been given orders to escort you to Anaxes Citadel, sir and ma'am."

Narasi couldn't remember a Human ever speaking to her with that level of deference, but Tirien took it in stride. "Lead on, then."

A government speeder marked with the Republic's insignia ferried them through the suburb. Ensign Davreed sat ramrod straight as if he wanted to be at attention without standing, and of course Tirien would never start a conversation he didn't have to, so it fell to Narasi to ask, "So…you're in the class at the War College?"

"Yes ma'am."

"So this party's for you, then?"

She finally got a little hesitance then; she could sense him trying to formulate the right answer. "I'm in the graduating class, ma'am," he said, "but there's a whole ensign class. Plus the graduate students, ma'am."

"Senior officers return to Anaxes for advanced study," Tirien explained.

Narasi frowned. "We don't do that, do we?" When Tirien raised an eyebrow, she added, "When I'm a Knight, will I have to be some Jedi Master's Padawan again?"

Tirien rolled his eyes, and Ensign Davreed said, "It's higher-level strategy, ma'am. Mostly commanders and captains."

"Who will grow up to be admirals," Tirien added.

"Have you visited Anaxes before, sir?"

"No, but I've worked alongside the Republic Navy from time to time. And General Darakhan is a friend."

"I served with him at Ord Mantell, sir," one of the armed escorts commented.

"Is he as good a commander as the HoloNet makes him out to be?" Tirien asked with a dry smile.

The soldier didn't smile back. "Yes sir. I'd follow that man anywhere."

Tirien's smile faded in response, and he nodded seriously. Narasi's instinct was to break the sudden gravity of the moment, but she forced herself to follow her master's lead, letting the rest of the ride pass in silence. The speeder finally stopped at a government checkpoint, and they piled out to find a pack of horned quadrupeds waiting for them—keffis, Narasi remembered from her research. They were all scarlet with burgundy manes, and even as they paced restlessly Narasi could see in their powerful limbs how swift they would be at full speed.

"We can bring up a carriage for you, sir and ma'am," Ensign Davreed offered as the escorts got onto individual mounts.

"Wait, like…no repulsors in the capital?" Narasi asked. "Not even speeders?"

"None. And that won't be necessary, Ensign Davreed." Tirien studied the pack for a moment, then selected a keffi and mounted it, taking the reins and arching his head back to avoid its horns as the keffi shook out its mane, prancing in place.

Narasi tried to do the same, but the keffi she approached tossed its head, swinging the reins out of her reach as it scraped the ground with its clawed forelimbs. A stablehand jogged up to get it under control, but Tirien held a hand out. When the woman paused, Tirien asked, "Why did you pick that one, Narasi?"

Narasi looked at the keffi, then back at her master, baffled. "I dunno. It was the closest."

He shook his head. "Use the Force to get a sense for them. They're living things, not ships.  The speeder won't care who's piloting it, but your keffi seems to."

Narasi sighed, but looked at the keffis, trying to do a little on-the-spot meditation. She could sense the escorts watching her, and moved her eyes quickly from one keffi to the next.

"Patience, Narasi. Aim well for a single lunge."

Containing her growl in the back of her throat, Narasi studied the keffis more closely, feeling like an idiot while she did so. She tried to look at them with the Force instead of her eyes, and after a minute she wandered over to a smaller one. It regarded her imperiously for a moment, then turned and bumped her with its thick, stubby tail. She staggered for balance, but there was an oddly affectionate feeling from the animal's mind, and when she tentatively put one foot in the stirrup it didn't so much as blink.

"You see?" Tirien asked as Narasi slung herself into the saddle.

She wasn't sure how much difference it would make in the long run, but she sighed and nodded. "Yes, Master."

They rode through the capital city, Ensign Davreed leading the way, their armed guards bringing up the rear. Narasi half-expected the streets to be cobblestoned, but everything she saw was sleek and modern apart from the citizens traveling on keffi-back or in keffi-drawn carriages. A few people they passed looked at her with disquiet, turning to whisper to their colleagues, but Narasi tried to ignore them. As they crossed a bridge over a river, she looked up at the green, terraced hills. "It's a pretty view."

Ensign Davreed looked that way. "Yes ma'am. Some of the Navy's oldest families have estates there."

"You too?"

The Human's composure didn't change, but Narasi sensed something off in his mind…embarrassment? No, that wasn't quite right… "No, ma'am. I'm from Tepasi, ma'am.  I had an uncle who was a lieutenant in the Navy, but that's it."

"And yet without those connections you were selected for Anaxes anyway," Tirien remarked quietly. "So much the better; the Navy needs skill, not just heritage. As I understand it, Admiral Arstyn didn't come from a naval family either."

"Yes, sir." Ensign Davreed didn't seem to know what to say, but his brief mental turmoil had smoothed out. He pointed ahead. "That's our destination."

Anaxes Citadel stood sentinel over the city before them, a colossal fortress with dark gray walls marked only by occasional windows and hundred-meter-long banners boasting the eight-spoked wheel of the Republic, the diamond scimitars of Anaxes, and the chevron and starburst of the Republic Navy. Troops were marching in long columns outside while smaller units moved more slowly and vigilantly, on patrol. Narasi saw military officers of every service and rank conversing in the enormous plaza that fronted the Citadel's main gate.

Sentries at the gate relieved them of their keffis and they proceeded on foot into a parade ground as huge as the plaza they had just left, but walled in on all sides by viewing stands that stretched hundreds of meters up. Narasi was still gazing at them when Tirien paused at her side, a curious look on his face.

"Sir?"

"Are there other Jedi here, Ensign?"

"Yes sir, a few others. We—"

"Hey!"

The voice echoed across the stillness of the parade ground, so bright and enthusiastic it jarred against the dark colors and military decorum. Narasi followed Tirien's gaze into the stands in time to spot a figure leaning over the railing a hundred meters up. She waved, and Narasi waved back automatically. Then the woman planted her foot on the railing and vaulted over the edge.

"No!" Narasi cried, shocked. Tirien stepped to her side and started to raise a hand, but then stopped, frowning in uncertainty. Narasi stared at him. "Do something, Master!"

"I don't think she needs me to…"

Narasi knew it would be too late by the time he got his act together, but even as she wondered whether she could catch the falling woman with the Force without snapping her neck or spine from inertia, her fall seemed to slow, as if she had hit an antigrav field. Did Anaxes Citadel have those? But the woman was still falling, just slower…

Then she hit the ground with barely more velocity than she would've had from jumping off a ladder, rolled, and bounded to her feet with light, easy grace. She jogged over, tugging up the hood that had dropped off in the wind, and Narasi finally realized the woman was another Jedi. "Are you crazy?! You could've killed yourself!"

"Nah, it wasn't too bad. Shoulda slowed a little earlier, but I rolled it off." She was just a shade taller than Narasi and lithely fit; her bright smile shone against her tan skin. Narasi saw to her shock that the woman was wearing what looked like a sleeping mask.

"You did that blindfolded?"

"Psh! That was easy.  I'm such a great Jedi, I even do my swordfighting blindfolded!"

She laughed and Tirien rolled his eyes, though Narasi was a little surprised to hear a Jedi boast like that. "Uh…"

"She's a Miraluka, Narasi," Tirien said. "She's teasing you."

"Wait, Narasi?" the woman asked; not being able to see her eyes made her hard for Narasi to read, but there was a definite burst of surprise. "Narasi Rican?"

Narasi's own eyes widened. "Uh…yeah, that's me."

The masked woman turned to Tirien. "Then you're Tirien Kal-Di? Oh, that is awesome!  It's so great to meet you!"

Tirien extended his hand; somehow the woman caught it with both hands, shaking enthusiastically. She gave Narasi the same treatment. "Mali's told me so much about you both! And…well, obviously I've heard all about you, Tirien, even when I was a Padawan."

Narasi looked at her master for help in time to see his eyes narrow. "And he mentioned you too…I'm sorry, he only said your name the one time…"

"Oh, geez, sorry!" The woman smacked the side of her head comically. "If I had one more brain it'd be lonely. I'm Kenza Rowkwani!"

Tirien nodded. "The honor's ours."

Kenza flapped her lips in a dismissive way. "Are you kidding? All the awesome stuff you two have done?"

"Mali said you were Knighted without Trials," Tirien noted.

Kenza waved a hand. "Yeah, but you did that first! I'm just trying to keep up with all the stuff you guys do!"

"I've never seen my master jump from a hundred meters up," Narasi pointed out.

"For most sane beings, that might even go unstated…" Tirien remarked wryly.

Kenza laughed merrily, and Narasi found herself smiling too. "Hey, it's good practice! Oh," she added, looking past them, "I can take 'em from here if you want."

Kenza's presence all but commanded focus; Narasi had almost forgotten Ensign Davreed. He came to attention. "We can drop your things in your quarters, sir and ma'am."

"Thank you, Ensign," Tirien said.

"Congratulations on graduating!" Narasi added. "Maybe we'll see you at the party."

"I…thank you, ma'am. Good day, sir and ladies."

He and his troops carried their few parcels away as Kenza gestured toward a door in the distance. "C'mon, I'll show you around. It's a lotta grim and grave, though; not like the Temple at all."

Tirien fell in step with her, but Narasi trailed, and after a few paces Kenza spun gracefully on the ball of one foot, continuing backwards seamlessly as she asked, "What's up, Narasi? You're feeling all mind-boggled."

She stared right at Narasi as if she wasn't wearing a mask, and Narasi shook her head in frustration. "I'm sorry, I'm just…I don't get it. Why the blindfold?"

"You've never met a Miraluka?" she asked. Narasi shook her head unthinkingly, but before she could catch herself and speak, Kenza grinned and looked up at Tirien. "Oh, you gotta let me. Please?"

Tirien rolled his eyes. "I suppose she did walk right into it. Fine, go ahead."

Kenza beamed and threw back her hood, exposing cascades of sun-kissed blonde hair. The blindfold was no simple sleep mask; it was snugged to the back of Kenza's head with a solid band and latching clip. She unlatched it and drew off the mask, shaking out her hair like a model for effect, then laughed as Narasi gasped.

Kenza was blind—not just sightless, but eyeless. Where a Human would've had eyes—where her facial structure suggested even she should have had eyes—Kenza had only tan skin stretched over hollow sockets. Narasi had the horrible suspicion that if she pierced that flesh she would see right back into Kenza's brain.

"Oh my gosh. Kenza…" Narasi breathed, feeling a little sick. Then she realized how rude she was being and flushed. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I just—"

"Freaky, huh?" Kenza laughed.

Narasi was unable to look away. "How did that happen?"

"Well, you see Narasi," Kenza said in a motherly voice, "when a Mommy Miraluka and a Daddy Miraluka love each other very much—"

Tirien threw back his head, staring at the blue sky above the parade ground; Kenza glanced at him and grinned as if she could see the movement while he said, "All Miraluka are born without eyes, Narasi."

Narasi stared. "But…but it's like you can see us."

"Oh, I can," Kenza assured her as she put her blindfold back on. "Through the Force. Hasn't Tirien ever had you do exercises with your eyes closed?  Blaster bolt deflection and stuff?"

"Well, yeah…"

"It's like that! Just think of Miraluka as extra good at it."

She grinned, and Tirien didn't seem surprised by anything she had said, but… "But all the time?" Narasi asked, still bemused. "It doesn't get hard after a while?"

"Nope."

"Slejux doesn't have eyes either," Tirien reminded her.

Kenza perked up. "Slejux Nissatak? Is he coming to this thing too?"

Tirien shook his head, and Kenza frowned. "Bummer. I really want to meet him too.  But hey, at least you two are here!  You can tell me about all the wizard stuff you've done."

Narasi was still grappling with this new discovery about alien biology, but fortunately Tirien seized the conversation for once. "Maybe later. When is the Chancellor arriving, Kenza?"

Narasi perked up at the topic as Kenza answered, "Two days? Three?  He's gonna get here before the day of the party, I know that much.  I came ahead from Coruscant as part of the advance team.  Scout the place out, y'know…keep an eye on things…"

She laughed and elbowed Narasi gently in the ribs. "I'm sorry, it's just so much fun. My friends at the Temple all hate me; every time something's 'a sight for sore eyes' or it's 'good to see' someone, I make them feel so bad…"

Despite herself Narasi giggled, and Kenza grinned encouragingly. Wrapping an arm through Narasi's, she towed her along with Tirien on her other side.