Resolution (Week 7)

The two figures that approached us were women, and I admit I was relieved. It has been hundreds of years since my foremothers swore a man would never rule them again, and old ways die hard. They presented an interesting contrast, these two Jedi. The one in the lead wore robes of all while, and her skin was not much darker than her clothing. I could read a calm passion from her, but did not know from whence this knowledge came. The other, who stood slightly behind her, was as fierce a creature as I have ever seen. Her robes were dark, made of leather, and her hair grew into wild dreadlocks. Her face was solemn, but her eyes seemed to glitter with a perpetual readiness. She carried a most curious artifact, a staff made of blue crystal, which puzzled me since I had thought the laser sword was the chosen weapon of her kind.

The white-clad Jedi spoke, first saying her name was Tionne and her companion was called Kirana Ti. She said we had been expected for some time, but this puzzled me only a little. We had been seeking out the Jedi after all. Tionne asked me then what I desired from her and her kind. Having never before played the part of the supplicant, I was for a split second unsure how to proceed. My instinct was to present myself as formally and courtly as was possible, and so I followed it. Giving the two Jedi the formal salute of my family, I told them my name and my two wishes from them - asylum and information. Tionne bowed to me solemnly and said I was welcome to stay before turning to Xan. I find it strange that these people welcomed us so readily and without suspicion. Wither they are dangerously trusting, or they are certain we can pose them no threat.

My brother was asked the same question as I - what does he desire from the Jedi. I had to sigh when he brought the coin out of his pocket, and attempted to levitate it from his had. Expected, perhaps even as inevitable, as this was I could not keep irritation from my mind. We have been chased halfway across the galaxy and back, stopping only for a while and doing our business furtively and under cover. Yet the only thing he is concerned with is his ability to move objects with his mind. But enough. After making the coin move a couple inches above his open palm, he asked the Jedi what this peculiar power was and how he could learn to do it better. They did not dismiss his display as irrelevant as I thought they would, but said with all seriousness that the ability to use the Force rarely manifests itself without training and that careless use of it was very dangerous. They invited him to stay and learn more, and then turned to Bleez Nondo.
The older man merely introduced himself and said he was interested in learning about the new order of Jedi.

After introductions were made, Tionne explained that most of the Jedi were off-planet on various errands. The two women before me and one other, Jedi Master Thurman Xavier, were the only knights on Sanctuary. We were, however, welcome to stay and make ourselves comfortable. Tionne then turned to me and asked how long we planned to stay with them, so that quarters might be arranged. I hesitated a moment, and then explained what happened in the Devon system. Despite my protestations, the suspicion that I was at fault for the violent battle there remained with me. I would not wish to impose my situation on anyone else. Tionne responded to this by saying that it was not my place to take responsibility for actions that were not of my choosing and that I had no control over. Nodding in agreement, I secretly prayed that the Pentastar Alignment would not find us here. There was something about these two... I would not see them harmed. They then explained they had responsibilities elsewhere about the compound, but invited me to look around to my hearts content. I decided to go with Bleez to the training ground.

When we arrived, there was a group of young people doing exercises with lightsabers. Having only see the one in Bleez's possession previously, seeing dozens of them all arrayed together was quite impressive. The training was lead by a young man named Mercury, who approached us and asked if we were interested in participating. I was enchanted by the display, and was eager to try. However, my fortune with weapons of late has not been good, and I so asked if there was somewhere more isolated where I could practice. I would not like to have the device suddenly fly out of my hand and impale someone. Mercury laughed and said that we were already about as secluded as we could get, and assured me that he would jump out of the way should I loose control of the lightsaber. He showed me a couple basic moves and I moved off for a while to practice them on my own. After a while I was able to perform them without too much difficulty, but I found I was using muscles I did not realize I had before. It was tiring, but strangely satisfying.

The training ended a bit later and all the students moved off to their various chores and other occupations. With nothing else to do, I wandered the compound until everyone gathered for dinner. It is a peaceful place, and I do admit I feel safe here. Strange - it has been many years since I felt this serene. Even the newest threat of an Imperial army seems far away. In any case, I spent the day in contented inactivity, returning to the ship in the evening to wash and dress for dinner. The meal was simple but well-prepared, and I found I had a great appetite from the hours I had spent in the beginnings of training. Not long after we began to eat, another Jedi entered the room, and I assumed it was the Jedi Master Tionne had mentioned. Thurman Xavier was his name. I expected him to take a seat and begin eating, but he came straight towards me and speared me with a most frightening gaze, demanding to know who I was. I give him my name and my place of birth, but that does not seem to quiet him. Next he asked what I am carrying, in a tone that brooked no dispute. I did dispute, though, and told him only that I carried what wealth I have left from my home and did not wish to parade it about without knowing why I should do so. His eyes flashed at me and a second later his lightsaber was ready in his hand, glowing blade pointing straight at me. He asked again, and this time it seemed he would kill me if I did not answer. By this time I was on my feet, angry at this unexpected intrusion into my space and affairs. I studied his face for a moment, and knew immediately that he was deadly serious. He would see the crystals, whether I produced them or not. The voices of the other Jedi reached my ears dimly - apparently they were just as shocked as I. Xan also urged me somewhat testily to hand over the gems, but I ignored him. This was not his concern. I glared back at him, reaching into my clothes for the gems, and asked if this was normally how strangers were greeted by the Jedi. He was unaffected by my questions, demanding again to see the crystals. I had no choice, but I did not have to be happy about it. Terrified as I was, I managed to bite out my opinion of bullies between clenched teeth before setting the crystals on the table out of his reach.

The moment they were on the table, he extinguished his lightsaber and seemed to relax somewhat. Tionne and Kirana Ti rebuked him loudly and apologized to me, saying this was an unexpected and shocking turn of events. Xavier seemed unaffected, staring fixedly at the crystals and nothing else. After a moment, he raised his hand and they floated off the table towards him. They remained above his hand, spinning a little in the air, never touching him. He asked my if I had any idea what it was I had been carrying. Well, obviously I had not. The crystals were valuable, yes, but it was obvious their monetary value was not this man's concern. He handled them (or didn't, rather) as though they were dangerous and volatile.

Apparently I had stolen gems from the treasury that were possessed by evil spirits known as the Fell. They were beings who had been strong in the dark side of the Force during life, so much so that part of them remained in this plane of existence and sought to infect other beings with their evil. Xavier told us that he had sacrificed a great part of himself to cleanse a temple of these malevolent beings, and suffered greatly because of it. He apologized for his behavior, explaining that the Jedi had believed that all the Fell had been trapped in human bodies, many of which were known to them. It was not only the presence of their darkness that had perturbed him so, but the fact that they resided in my crystals. It implied, he said, that these Fell were able to transfer their consciousness to other vessels after all, and that was a disturbing thought indeed. I did not understand much of this, but enough to be frightened. Upon asking, I learned that it was almost certainly the spirits dwelling in the crystals who had reached out to me in that dark place, promising me life and power. Further, Xavier told me that it was surprising that I had not been dominated by them completely given how long I'd had them in my possession. Suddenly things began to become clear to me. If these things were as evil and as dangerous as Xavier indicated, it was no wonder certain people would go to such great lengths to obtain them.

They had to be taken off my hands, that was certain, and the Jedi Xavier practically offered me whatever I desired if I would relinquish him. Well, what I desired was not something he could give, and after what I had just heard I was almost ready to give them to him outright. But the practical part of my brain fought through and kept me from doing so. After some internal deliberation, I asked for the sum of the crystals worth, 10,000,000 credits, in a credit account accessible only to me. I did not wish to be carrying such a large sum about with me, my nerves would never be able to handle it. I did, however, but enough money on a small credit chip so that Tiki could pay the rental company for their speeder. They would not be giving it back. He rushed from the dinner hall, and I think he looked someone jubilant. Perhaps I gave him more than I had to. No matter, it is not as though I will run short soon.

The rest of the dinner passed without incident, and shortly after I retired. Training began early the next day with a run around the compound. It had been a long time since I had exerted myself so - back on Gallinore I spent many hours keeping my frame from softening into a regal and languished lifestyle, but lately I had not had time for calisthenics. The run was hard, but I forced myself to keep up. After all, I was used to a different sort of running which I found much less pleasant that simple physical exertion. Xan and Bleez were unable to keep up the pace, however, and I looked back for a second to see them fight off another couple of those horrible invisible felines. I supposed the predators had thought them weak and sick to be straggling from the herd, but a moment later I heard them yelp in pain and saw that my companions were not so winded as to be unable to defend themselves. That incident was the only thing exciting about the day, the rest of it we spent in training and chores, which is not to say I was unhappy. The lack of excitement was a welcome respite, and I slept better that night than I had in a long time.