Our training began again early the next morning and lasted until midday. Having been cooped up in a ship for so many weeks, I was not used to the physical activity, but I felt I did not perform too poorly. After the training was over it is time for chores. The concept of forced work is not something I am familiar with, but I felt I should try to do my part and so I follow the large bearlike trainee named Kodanaka to the garden. The sun was high in the sky, and the day was clear - I rolled up my sleeves and commenced pulling weeds.
I must admit at first I had to have my companion point out to me which growths were weeds and needed pulling and which were valued crops and should be left alone. As I said, this kind of activity was completely unfamiliar. More than a few of my fingernails broke during the process, but I believe I handled the loss with a measure of decorum. During the course of the afternoon I conversed a little with Kodanaka, learning what more I could about the Jedi. I am still not sure if this is the path I wish to take, to become one of them, but I do feel a certain attraction to it.
A while later we are finished, and Kodanaka takes his leave of me. Left with nothing better to do, I walked about the compound some more. I did not get far before the Jedi Kirana Ti approached me, the crystal staff as always in her hand. She told me a little about Dathomir, the planet she hailed from - the wildness of the place, and that the women there held the power of governing and leadership. Because of this similarity, she felt a certain kinship with me. My heart rose a bit, since I had been deeply impressed by this powerful warrior, and I replied that I shared her sympathy. This kinship, she explained to me, was the reason she felt able to ask of my what she did then. The crystal staff, she said, was the last remnant of a powerful Jedi and Battle-Priest name Aerth Choerash who had been her teacher. The staff formed itself from the weapons he carried with him and, like the Holocron device, was imprinted with a part of his personality. Kirana Ti had apparently for some time been able to commune with the spirit of her former master through the staff. But now she wished to part from it, and send it to the Singing Mountain Clan on her homeworld. The Clan sisters were trained in the use of the Force through chants and spells, but Kirana Ti said their training was without wisdom and awareness of the dark side. Even more distressing to her was the presence of the Nightsisters, witches who have succumbed to the dark path. She feared her Clan could be engulfed by the dark side without some way of proper teaching, and so she asked me to take the staff to her Clan mother on Dathomir. In return, her clan mother would give me something to bring back to her, but she did not say what that thing was.
This would not be an easy task. The planet's name was familiar to me, only because it had been recently annexed by the Hapan government, and was now blockaded and off-limits to all traffic. Most in the New Republic have never even heard of the place. I knew not why this blockade was in place, until Kirana Ti revealed that my people feared to loose the Nightsisters upon the galaxy. Their leader, Gethzerion, had once tried to take her clan to spread their brand of evil among the stars. She failed, but the Royal Family was not going to take any chances. And so we would have to sneak the staff in past the Hapan blockade, which was bolstered by ships from the New Republic. A daunting task indeed - I know very well the prowess of my people's military.
My head bowed for a moment - this was not an easy thing the Jedi woman was asking me. She knew this to be true, saying that she would only ask in the greatest need. Her Jedi duties kept her on Sanctuary, but she felt it imperative the staff reach her people. It only took me a moment to get over my reservations, however. I wanted to help this woman, who I felt could be a good friend to me in time. And I have never been much for thinking through possible risks. So I raised my head and told her that I would be honored to aid her in this matter, but that the minds of my companions would have to be made up as well.
It was then I noticed Bleez Nondo and Gorrix approaching, conversing among themselves. I excused myself for a moment and told them about what the Jedi had asked of me. Bleez's brow darkened for a second, but in the end he agreed to help. Gorrix was, as always, eager to follow the older Jedi in whatever he did. There was only one thing left. I went back to Kirana Ti and explained the final obstacle - Regis and Tiki. They would not likely agree to such a dangerous trip without a certain level of payment. She said that would not be a problem, so I commed the Tynnen to explain the situation to him, letting him know he would be well paid for his assistance. The opportunity to acquire currency was enough motivation - it was only a little while before the Gamera landed at the complex.
At this point I found myself very impressed with the Tynnen engineer. I had been planning to suggest we repaint the ship to be less garishly noticeable, and perhaps changing the ship's ID to something other than what it was. But Tiki had already thought of that, and the ship when it approached looked nothing like the turtle-esque boat that had left us here. It seemed run down, scratched, less space-worthy than it was - this pleased me to no end. I met Tiki outside the ship and handed him the payment I had received from the Jedi, a bag of rare stones. They appeared to glow from the inside, though not as much as the Fell-possessed rainbow gems. Tiki examined the stones, pronounced them worthy, and we departed once Kirana Ti had entrusted me with the staff. I gave her the most sincere vow that I would not rest until it had reached its destination.
A mantle of responsibility settled upon me as we left the planet - a serious trust had been placed in me. I hoped I was up to the challenge, but only time would tell me that. In the meantime, I should not waste my time on self-doubt and reservations, but plunge ahead to whatever awaited me at Dathomir.
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