Chapter Text
“Do not dawdle, Padawan,” the tall Jedi snapped, “We are on a tight schedule.” He strode quickly along one of the many narrow corridors that crisscrossed the lower levels of the Jedi Temple.
“Yes, Master Jung,” Laoraa panted. She hurried along beside him, trying to keep up with her much shorter stride. She glanced up at her Master. His weather-beaten face was grim – well, a bit more grim than usual.
She quickly brushed a few stray strands of her long blonde hair out of her eyes, tucking it back behind her right ear near her padawan braid. Master Jung hated when she wasn’t presentable, and she had no desire to exacerbate his foul mood. Not that she could blame him. The last few weeks had been hard for everyone.
It had been two weeks since the battle on Geonosis. The battle that had started this awful war. In less than a month, the galaxy had descended into utter madness. The Council had begun recalling Jedi to the Temple to help defend the Republic – something that had irritated her Master greatly. Master Jung had never cared for warfare. This summons included even some of the more eccentric and solitary Jedi, which had done nothing to improve her Master’s temperament.
Her master was a very traditional Jedi, from his plain robes, to his brutally short gray hair, to his relatively simple silver and bronze lightsaber. She had done her best to take after him, matching him in her dress, and even in the design of her own saber.
It was his traditionalism that was bothering him. Rather, she corrected herself, it was the fact that they were on their way to meet with a very non-traditional Jedi.
The Jedi in question was Master Kalzar Dalothok. A reportedly eccentric Jedi, Master Dalothok had been mostly incommunicado for roughly a decade, choosing to spend his years in the Outer Rim, acting as a peacekeeper and enforcing the law in the otherwise lawless rim.
Her Master made a sudden turn down another corridor, heading toward the lower hangars. Laoraa scurried along in his wake. The Council had dispatched Master Jung to greet Master Dalothok and welcome him back to the Temple. She assumed he had been chosen to greet the long-absent Jedi because, based on some hearsay she had gleaned, Master Jung had known Master Kalzar before his departure.
Still, he seemed to grow more tense and displeased with each step they took toward the hangars.
“...Master?”
“Yes, padawan?”
“Are you alright, Master? You seem displeased.”
“I am fine, padawan,” he responded gruffly, “I am merely focusing on the task at hand. It is not every day that we welcome a wayward Jedi into the Temple.”
“Wayward, Master?”
“Yes, wayward. Please do try to pay attention. You know that I hate repeating myself.”
“I’m sorry, Master. I was only seeking clarification. Are you referring to Master Kalzar’s long absence?”
“Of course. Though I could also include his numerous other eccentricities in making that claim.”
“Oh. I see, Master.” She didn’t, obviously. She had never met Master Dalothok. But it was best to simply agree with her Master. Still, his obvious displeasure was only raising more questions in her mind.
She hesitated, wondering if she should bother him again. Normally, she wouldn’t. but her curiosity had been piqued. She decided to risk it.
“If I may ask, Master, why did Master Dalothok leave the Temple?”
To her surprise, he answered. “Master Dalothok and Jedi Knight May’sha, his former padawan, volunteered for a mission a decade ago. When they completed it, they decided to remain in the Outer-Rim.”
“What was their mission, Master?”
He took a deep breath, as if steeling himself, before continuing. “Three prospective younglings were kidnapped, and we lost track of them. Master Dalothok went to rescue them with the help of Jedi May’sha. Master Dalothok and Jedi May’sha found and rescued the missing children, and took them as their padawans.”
“Oh. I thought we were only meeting Master Dalothok.”
“That is incorrect, Padawan. We will be greeting four Jedi. Master Dalothok and Jedi May’sha reported that they felt led by the Force to each take one of the girls as their padawan learner.”
“Why did they not return to the Temple?” Laoraa asked, puzzled.
“Master Dalothok has always had his own opinions on the ways of the Force.” He made no attempt to hide the disapproval in his voice. Laoraa winced involuntarily, even though she knew it wasn’t directed at her this time. “He cited the ancient ways of training Jedi, and the importance of gaining experience by learning out in the galaxy. After the last transmission concluding his mission, we have received only brief updates on Master Dalothok, Jedi May’sha, and their padawans.”
He sighed heavily. “But with the start of the war, the Council believes that we need every Jedi available, even those with rather unorthodox views.”
“Yes, Master. But why did the Council allow them to train their padawans on their own?”
He scowled and gave Laoraa a stern look. “As to why, the Jedi Council saw fit to approve his decision. And as Jedi, we do not question the wisdom of the Council. Is that clear, Padawan Laoraa?”
“Of course, Master.” Laoraa felt her face burning and she hung her head. She gently tugged at a lock of her hair, twisting it around her finger. “My apologies, Master,” she said quietly, mentally berating herself. It had been foolish to ask. If the Council had decided it was appropriate for Master Dalothok and Jedi May’sha to train the three younglings themselves, she had no right to question them.
Abruptly, something Master Jung had said clicked. She opened her mouth to speak again, but quickly closed it. She had already asked too many questions, and one more would only make him more irritated with her. Still, what he had said didn’t make sense. She agonized over whether to ask him for several minutes, until her curiosity finally overpowered her fear.
“Master?” She asked after another moment
“Yes, padawan?”
“Before,” she paused momentarily, but pressed ahead, “before, you said that there were three younglings, but Master Dalothok and Jedi May’sha each took one as a padawan.” She looked back up at him with a frown. “What happened to the third?”
“We are almost there,” Master Jung announced, ignoring her question. “Now remember padawan, that you are-”
He was interrupted by a beep from his commlink. He raised it to his lips and keyed the switch.
“This is Master Jung, go ahead.”
He paused, listening. “A cruiser? Yes, yes give them permission. No, do not allow it to dock. I’ll be in contact again shortly.” He clicked the commlink off with a scowl and quickened his pace. Laoraa scrambled to keep up, practically running alongside him.
“As I was saying, remember, padawan, to only speak if spoken to.”
“Yes, Master.” Laoraa bowed her head slightly as she continued to jog after him. She hadn’t gotten an answer, but he seemed particularly irritated now. Best to wait until later, once he had calmed down a little.
They made several more turns, heading deeper into the Temple. They finally reached a long, wide corridor that in one-direction ended at a large blast-door. She followed her Master through it, entering into a massive hangar.
On one side of the hangar, several Delta-7 starfighters were docked. A handful of Temple maintenance workers and Jedi were working on them, aided by astromech droids. The rest of the hangar was mostly empty, apart from some supplies stacked randomly throughout. Beyond them was the main entrance to the hangar which opened up to the massive Coruscant city-scape beyond. However, the view was somewhat obstructed by the ship parked before them.
A brown-orange XS-stock light freighter was parked in the center of the hangar, steam venting from its landing gear. Laoraa noticed that the ship had just barely avoided hitting several supply crates with its landing gear. The pilot was either completely oblivious or remarkably skilled to have landed the ship where they had.
She pulled her mind back to the present as Master Jung led the way toward the ship. She quickened her pace to walk beside him.
That’s an odd choice for a Jedi’s ship, Laoraa thought to herself. I expected a shuttle.
The main ramp of the freighter slowly lowered as they approached. As the ramp descended, a massive Cathar in long brown robes emerged from the ship. He surveyed the hangar, then broke into a broad smile when he saw Laoraa and her Master.
“Master Jung!” The tall Cathar boomed, spreading his arms wide. “It has been too long, my old friend!”
He leapt down from the ramp, not bothering to let it reach the hangar floor. As he jumped, a new figure was revealed in the freighter’s hatch. A tiny female Mirialan, probably about 18-19 standard years old, emerged onto the ramp, gingerly making her way toward them. Two more figures emerged behind her, but Laoraa couldn’t make them out from a distance.
Laoraa shifted her focus to the big alien bearing down on them. Master Jung stopped short and flung out an arm to stop her, catching her across the chest. Laoraa adopted her best formal stance as Master Dalothok crossed the ten or so meters between them and the freighter.
He was huge. At least 2 meters tall, with thick red-brown fur which formed a mane around his head.
He embraced Master Jung with a backslapping hug, which the old Jedi did not reciprocate. The two stood there awkwardly, her master’s arms hanging loosely at his side, until the Cathar broke his embrace and stepped back.
Master Jung cleared his throat. “It is good to see you again as well, Master Dalothok,” He said with a stiff bow. He gestured to Laoraa. “This is my learner, Padawan Laoraa. She has no surname. Padawan, this is Master Kalzar Dalothak.”
Laoraa bowed to Master Dalothok. “It is an honor, Master Dalothok.” She managed to keep her face blandly polite, despite her Master’s casual reference to her missing name.
“A pleasure to meet you, Laoraa, and please, just call me Master Kalzar.” He bowed deeply. If he found Master Jung’s comment unusual, it didn’t show. He turned and gestured behind him. “Allow me to introduce my fellows as well.”
Three other Jedi had emerged from the freighter. A dark-haired human woman approached them, closely followed by the Mirialan Laoraa had seen earlier. A female Pantoran followed just behind the Mirialan. Both of the aliens had padawan braids.
“Master Jung, you remember Jedi Knight May’sha?” Kalzar asked, gesturing to the woman. “May’sha is my former Padawan,” Master Kalzar explained to Laoraa.
“I do,” Laoraa’s master answered gruffly. He offered her a stiff bow. “It has been some time, May’sha. This is my padawan.”
“Yes, I overheard.” The woman bowed and smiled at Laoraa. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Padawan Laoraa.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you as well,” Laoraa responded dutifully, bowing in turn. “Welcome back.”
“Why, thank you.” She smiled wider, her brown eyes sparkling. “I have missed Coruscant. I hope to have some time to explore before the Council sends us on our next assignment.”
“And this is my current padawan, Nellie,” Kalzar said, waving to the Pantoran. The young alien stepped forward. She was remarkably attractive, with facial features like that of a holozine model. Her dark blue hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her pale blue skin was devoid of the tattoos customary to her culture. She moved with a sensuous grace, yet somehow seemed uncomfortable in her robes.
Laoraa found herself staring. She quickly bowed to hide her embarrassment. “A pleasure, Padawan Nellie.”
“Likewise, Padawan Laoraa.” Nellie replied, with a bow of her own. “I look forward to getting to know you better,” she remarked slyly, winking at Laoraa.
Laoraa blinked in surprise and deepened her bow to hide her burning face. She started to reach for a dangling lock of hair, but stopped herself. Master Jung hated when she played with her hair, and he would be livid if she did something so unprofessional in front of a Jedi Master.
Kalzar cleared his throat and shot an odd glance at Nellie. He turned his attention to the final Jedi, the Mirialan, and beckoned her forward. “And finally, this is Jedi May’sha’s padawan, Padawan Ellcie.”
“It is good to meet you, Padawan Laoraa.” Ellcie stepped toward Laoraa and bowed. “And you, Master Jung. It is honor to meet another Jedi Master.”
Unlike Nellie, Ellcie was adorned with some of her own culture’s signature tattoos. A line of black diamonds ran across the bridge of her nose from cheekbone to cheekbone. The deep black ink matched her long hair, which hung freely over her shoulders, aside from two neat tassels just forward of her ears, and her padawan braid, tucked behind her right ear. She was cute, but in a way that contrasted sharply with Nellie’s beauty.
Laoraa realized she was staring again, and forced her mind back to the situation at hand.
Snap out of it! Don’t get distracted!
“Again, a pleasure Padawan Ellcie,” Laoraa responded dutifully, bowing yet again.
“Well met, Padawan Ellcie.” Master Jung offered a respectful bow. “At least one of you knows to respect her superiors,” he grumbled.
Nellie scowled at him, and Laoraa swore that Master Kalzar’s face darkened for a moment.
“Padawan Nellie meant no offense, Jung, and-“
“Neither of your Padawans have surnames, Kalzar?” her master snapped, cutting him off. There was an oddly accusatory tone in his voice.
“Neither was aware of a surname, given their background,” Master Kalzar said evenly. “It isn’t all that uncommon. Master Yoda goes by one name. And, if I may be so bold, your padawan does not have a surname either.”
Laoraa hung her head and fixed her gaze on the deck. She had hoped Master Kalzar had overlooked that.
“Padawan! Focus! You are ignoring our guests!”
“Yes Master!” She forced herself to look back up, despite the burning sensation in her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Master Kalzar.”
“No apologies are necessary, Laoraa.”
“Yes, fine,” Master Jung waved a hand dismissively. “All the same, don’t think that you-“ He cut off abruptly, staring at the freighter. His eyes widened.
“Master?” Laoraa asked, puzzled. It wasn’t like him to stop mid-rant. "Master, what is it?"
He didn’t respond, his eyes locked on the freighter’s hatch. Curious, Laoraa shifted slightly to peer past Master Kalzar to see what her Master was staring at.
She let out a small squeak and clapped her hands over her mouth. She rapidly took several steps backward, keeping the other Jedi between her and the freighter. She fought to suppress a sense of rising fear.
No. It can’t be.
At the top of the ramp, stood a man in full Mandalorian armor.
The warrior just stared at them for a moment, then leapt down over the side of the ramp. He landed in a crouch and paused to survey the hangar. After a moment, seemingly satisfied that there were no threats, he began to walk toward them.
He was tall, though nowhere near as tall as Master Kalzar, and definitely humanoid by his build. His armor was colored jet-black, with gold trim along the plates and around his visor. A blaster rifle was holstered on his back and she saw a blaster pistol on his right hip, but she had no idea what other weapons the armor may conceal. Laoraa tried to make herself as small as possible, and tried to avoid looking straight at the t-slit visor in the center of his helmet. She didn’t know if he would consider staring a challenge.
The group was silent as they watched the Mandalorian approach. It was only as he was reaching Master Kalzar that Laoraa’s brain finally unfroze.
Wait. What is a Mandalorian doing aboard Master Kalzar’s ship? He can’t have stowed away. Are they friends, or allies?
“Ship’s secured, Kalz,” The Mando said as he reached the Jedi, “Lis is locking it down.”
Apparently they are.
“Thank you, Commander,” Kalzar replied. “Master Jung, Padawan Laoraa, may I introduce Commander Etchelar Taliston, head of the Taliston Mercenary Company.” He smirked and looked directly at Master Jung. “He’s here to offer his team’s services to the Republic.”
His team…?
Laoraa jumped as a loud clatter came from the freighter. She looked for the source of the noise, and her jaw dropped. More Mandalorians were making their way out of the ship, and now the entire hangar had gone silent, watching them.
Four more made their way toward them, two men and two women. Both of the men were helmeted, but only one of the women. The other walked toward them with her helmet tucked under her arm. The four lined up behind their Commander, staring at the Jedi.
“More introductions!” Master Kalzar clapped his hand together with a big smile. “This is Elicen Taliston,” he waved to a woman in yellow armor with blue trim, her helmet tucked under her arm. “She is Commander Taliston’s wife, and second-in-command.”
The woman gave a two fingered salute to Master Jung, and flashed Laoraa a quick but friendly smile. She had a pale complexion, and a kind face with elegant features. Her long dark hair flowed past her shoulders over her armor. Laoraa noticed that in addition to a blaster pistol, Elicen had a metal sword sheathed on her belt. That struck her has odd. Perhaps it was ceremonial?
“This is Paeter Taliston, the Commander’s brother,” Master Kalzar continued, clapping a big Mandalorian on the shoulder. The man was nearly as tall as Kalzar. He was clad in heavy armor, colored orange with blue trim, and had a massive repeating blaster mounted on his back. “He leads most of the organization’s ground missions.”
“Well met,” Paeter nodded to Laoraa and Master Jung. He pulled off his helmet and grinned broadly. He was pale skinned and handsome, with short but messy dark brown hair. “I’m looking forward to fighting alongside more Jedi.”
“This is Jeran Taliston,” Kalzar said, gesturing to a man in gray armor with jet-black trim. “He’s the team’s infiltration and… elimination specialist.” Jeran also removed his helmet and nodded to Jung and Laoraa, but he remained silent. He too had brown hair, but it was cut brutally short. His skin was tanned, and he had a nasty scar running the length of his face.
“Last, but most certainly not least, this is Lyllie Taliston,” Kalzar said as he reached the second woman. She was wearing crimson armor with black trim, and had two pistols holstered on her belt. “She’s Etchelar and Elicen’s daughter and is the chief strategist for the Taliston Mercenary Company.”
“Hi,” she said curtly, arms folded tightly across her chest. Unlike her companions, she made no move to remove her helmet.
“This is their command staff, of course,” Master Kalzar continued. “The rest of them are aboard their warship, which is in orbit around Coruscant. Speaking of, I’d like to have their ship docked to refuel-”
“Master Kalzar. A word, please,” Master Jung hissed. He hadn’t moved or acknowledged the presence of the Mandalorians, still staring, no, glaring, at Master Kalzar.
“Of course, Master Jung,” Master Kalzar followed him off to the side. Laoraa scurried along in their wake, like an Oro-chick following its mother. If Master Jung had wanted her to stay put, he would have said so.
“Kalzar, what in the blazes are you doing?” Jung snarled, as soon as they were out of earshot of the others.
“Trying to save the Republic, Murlin,” Master Kalzar replied. “I would think that was obvious.”
Laoraa winced. Master Jung hated being called by his first name, even by other Masters.
“You know blasted well what I mean, Kalzar!” Master Jung snapped. “Mandalorians!” His face was duun-beet red. “What in the name of the Force possessed you to bring Jedi-hunting thugs to Coruscant, let alone the Temple! Have you completely lost your senses, or-”
“Master Jung, your Padawan is present,” Master Kalzar interrupted, a warning tone in his voice. Her master started, and turned to Laoraa as though he’d forgotten she was there.
“Ah, of course. Forgive me, Padawan. Forgive me, Master Kalzar,” he said calmly, bowing to each of them. He took a deep breath and Laoraa felt her master’s emotions fade into the quiet neutral energy he typically radiated.
“To answer your question, Murlin,” Master Kalzar continued, “You did say in your transmission that the Council requested our return due to the war, did you not?” Did you not also say that our Padawans were to undergo the Trials, so that the Order could add more Knights to our ranks?”
Laoraa risked a glance at Master Jung. He had recently suggested that she undergo the Trials for the same reason, but she had failed. He had been incredibly disappointed with her. Afterward, he had ordered her to spend a week doing remedial learning and training. Master Jung had refused to speak to her until she had completed the courses.
Thankfully, he appeared to be too irritated with Master Kalzar to even notice her.
“Well, yes,” he growled, “But a band of Mandalorian thugs are not the same as four Jedi!”
“I quite agree, Murlin,” Mastar Kalzar said with a solemn nod. “I have always felt that the martial prowess of the Mandalorians put them on a level close to that of the Jedi. Their presence will be of far more benefit to the Republic and the Order than that of myself, May’sha, and our Padawans.”
Laoraa had never seen Master Jung look so exhausted and exasperated. “My point is, Kalzar, that we were expecting four Jedi. Not four Jedi and an illegal warship filled with Mandalorians, mercenaries, and pirates.”
“They are certainly mercenaries, Master Jung, but they are not pirates,” Master Kalzar scolded. “And the ship is not illegal. At least, I’m almost certain that it isn’t.” He glanced over his shoulder at the Mandalorians. “Hmmm. Perhaps I should clarify a few details with Etchelar…”
“Kalzar, you cannot take this so lightly! The Council has been willing to overlook your behavior in the past, but they may not be willing to forgive this. You cannot simply arrive on Coruscant with a band of mercenaries in tow and expect the Council to approve! Doubly so for inviting into the Temple without so much as consulting another Master!”
“I did what I deemed necessary, Murlin. The Jedi are at war, but we are not soldiers. These warriors are. Whether the Order likes it or not, we will need their help.”
Her master stared at Master Kalzar for a moment, then sighed heavily and shook his head. “Your eccentricities and cavalier attitude toward the code will not be tolerated simply because there is a crisis.”
“Forgiveness is the Jedi way, Master Jung. I did what I believed was necessary for the good of the Order and the Republic,” Kalzar said patiently.
“We shall see, Kalzar.” Master Jung shook his head again. “Perhaps at the very least they will admire your confidence. Let us go then. We should not keep the Council waiting any longer.” He turned to leave, then hesitated and turned back. “Perhaps you should ask their... leader... to accompany us. The Council may want to meet him.”
“A good suggestion, although I suggest we find a secluded route to the Council chambers, if possible. He may attract a good deal of attention.”
“Yes, he might at that,” Master Jung remarked dryly. “I’ll contact the Masters while we travel, so they are aware of what is happening.”
Master Kalzar turned and walked back toward the freighter to rejoin the Mandalorians. As soon as he was out of earshot, Master Jung lowered his voice and turned to Laoraa.
“Padawan, remain here for now with Knight May’sha and the others. Keep an eye on the mercenaries, and alert me if any of them try to leave the hangar. I will seal the exit when we leave. I do not want any of them roaming the Temple.”
“Of course, Master.” Laoraa bowed dutifully, although she had no idea how she was supposed to keep four Mandalorian warriors in line by herself. “What of the other Jedi and staff in the hangar?”
“I will clear the hangar before I depart.” Matching action to words, he stormed off toward the dozen or so beings still milling about the starfighters. He exchanged words with the assembled Jedi and crewmen, and after a moment they quickly began filing toward the far maintenance exit. The last of them left, and her Master sealed the door behind them. By the time he rejoined her, barely two minutes had passed.
“There. I ordered them to speak of what they saw to no one.” He turned as Master Kalzar and the commander approached. “Are you ready to depart, Master Kalzar?”
“We are, Master Jung. Commander Taliston has requested that his personnel remain by their vessel for now, until the terms of their agreement with the Order and the Republic is settled with the Council.”
“How generous of him,” Jung growled. “Padawan, we will dispatch a page droid to summon you and the others once we have met with the Council.”
“Yes, Master.” Laoraa bowed as the three men departed. Master Kalzar smiled and nodded at her he passed, and the Mandalorian tossed her a casual salute. They exited through the hangar door, and it hissed shut behind them.
Laoraa took a deep breath, braced herself, and turned to survey over the hangar. She was almost surprised that none of the Mandalorians had tried to cross the hangar to attack her the moment her Master was gone. The two men were conversing by the freighter’s ramp, and one of the female Mandalorians sat by herself on a supply crate next to the freighter, away from the other two.
The human female Mandalorian, Elicen, if she recalled correctly, had apparently disappeared into the freighter with the three other Jedi.
Laoraa found her attention drawn to the young woman, Lyllie. She watched her for a few minutes, as a way to pass the time. Laoraa felt a gentle prodding through the Force, pushing her to go over and speak with the young Mandalorian.
I wonder if I should introduce myself… She glanced at the door, then back at the mercenary. Master Jung would tell me to stay and guard the door, but he would also say that a Jedi follows the leading of the Force.
You can’t be serious. She’s a Mandalorian. A Jedi killer! Stay by the door like Master Jung told you to!
She hesitated. Mandalorians did have a fearsome reputation, and it had been quite a shock to see several suddenly appear when she least expected it, but Master Kalzar seemed to trust them. And eccentric as he was, he didn’t seem malicious or foolish.
You just met him! You can’t trust Mandalorians! If you go over there, chances are she’ll shoot you on sight just so she can take your lightsaber!
She hesitated for only another moment before making her mind up. She steeled herself, and began walking across the hangar.
The walk felt like an eternity. As Laoraa drew nearer she noted, with some apprehension, that the merc was tinkering with her blaster.
It’s not too late to turn back!
I’m not going back, she told herself firmly. I’ve gotten this far. If I turn back now, they’ll know I’m afraid of them.
What’s worse, the Mandos knowing you’re frightened of them, or one of them shooting you?
She won’t shoot me! I mean, they haven’t seemed violent so far…
She did her best to push her fear aside. Still, Laoraa kept her guard up as she crossed the last few meters.
To her mild surprise, the mercenary didn’t even show any signs that she had even noticed Laoraa’s approach. Laoraa sat down on one of the other crates. Having made it across the hangar unharmed, she did feel a bit better, although it still took her a few moments to work up the courage to speak
“Er, hi,” She paused, but the Mandalorian remained silent. “I’m Padawan Laoraa.” She paused again, waiting for a response. “You’re Lyllie, right?”
“Yep,” she replied without looking at Laoraa.
“A pleasure to meet you, Lyllie,” She waited, but the Mandalorian was again silent. “"Umm, so, have you ever been to Coruscant before?”
“No.” She holstered her blaster and pulled out a datapad. She activated the datapad and began to read.
“Oh. Well, it’s a very interesting planet. If you like cities, that is,” Laoraa added quickly. “Of course, I spend most of my time in the Temple, so I haven’t gotten to explore it much.”
“Uh huh. Interesting,” Lyllie murmured. She didn’t even look at Laoraa. She just continued to read her datapad.
Laoraa quashed a flash of annoyance. She had been so sure that the Force had led her over here for a reason.
She let out a soft sigh. Perhaps she had misunderstood.
“Well, it was nice meeting you, Ms. Taliston,” She stood up and glanced around, looking for the other Jedi, but it seemed they were still aboard the freighter. “I should resume my duties. Perhaps I will see you again in the future.”
“Yeah. See you around,” Lyllie replied, still without looking at her.
Laoraa made her way back to the hangar door. She knelt down, closed her eyes, and tried to meditate, ignoring the call to go back over and talk to Lyllie again. She knelt on the hard metal deck for almost an hour. Still she felt the continuing pull of the Force, telling her to go and talk to the mercenary.
I tried! She won’t talk to me!
The call refused to subside. Laoraa grimaced. The Force was directing her there for a purpose, whether she liked it or not, and Jedi followed the will of the Force. She got to her feet, wincing slightly at the soreness in her knees.
She strode across the hangar deck back to where Lyllie sat, still reading her datapad. Laoraa perched on the edge of a shipping crate directly across from her.
“Hello again.”
“Hi,” Lyllie said curtly.
“What are you reading?”
“It’s private.”
“Oh. I see.”
Just give up, she clearly doesn’t want to talk to you.
No, not yet, the responsible side of her mind insisted. Maybe she’s just shy.
Laoraa tried again. “Where are you from? Do you live on Mandalore?”
“No.” She tapped a set of keys on her datapad, scrolling through lines of text.
Laoraa suppressed a brief flash of frustration. Had the Force really led her here just so this woman could ignore her? There had to be something she would talk about, some way that Laoraa could catch her interest! A thought struck her, and she glanced at the Mandalorian’s holster, noting the model of her blaster.
“Is that a Firestorm? It looks like an HZ-96.”
That got Lyllie’s attention. Her head snapped up to look at Laoraa. She could feel the surprise radiating from her.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. It is.”
“I thought so,” Laoraa said casually, trying not to look pleased with herself. “The HZ-96 is much smaller than the ’97 model.”
“Yeah, they look pretty similar. They function pretty much the same though.”
“The size of the HZ-96 is more pleasant than its counterpart, though,” Laoraa continued. “The smaller form factor and a better cooling system make it nicer to use. You lose some range and a bit of power with the smaller barrel, but I think the trade-offs are worth it,” she paused, suddenly a bit self-conscious. “But that’s just my opinion,” she added quickly.
“No, I think you’re right,” Lyllie said slowly, clearly taken aback by Laoraa’s knowledge. “My buir swears by the ‘96. It’s like you said- it has substantial firepower, a good cooling system, and a convenient form factor. Firestorms are bulkier than anything from the Westar or Blastech lines, but a single blast from an HZ-96 does a lot more damage than one from any of their pistols. My buir swears by the 96, and so do I.”
Laoraa had no idea what buir meant, but she nodded politely in agreement anyway. It sounded like a title of some kind, based on the context. Maybe it was what they called their leader?
Lyllie cocked her head slightly and placed her datapad into a pouch on her belt. “I’m surprised you know so much about blasters. I thought Jedi only use lightsabers.”
“We do,” Laoraa replied, “but I find it helpful to study other weapons too, in case I face combat in the future.”
“You haven’t seen any combat yet?” Lyllie sounded surprised. “How long have you been a Jedi?
“Oh, well, Master Jung took me as his Padawan nearly ten years ago, when I was eight years old,” she answered, shifting a bit uneasily. She began absently toying with her hair. “But Master Jung specializes in diplomacy and negotiation, so we haven’t been in a combat situation before.”
“Never? Not even if a negotiation went wrong?” She gave a short laugh. “My buir and I have been bodyguards for more than a few negotiators, and we’ve seen our share of shootouts that way.”
“Well, if Master Jung felt that a negotiation was particularly delicate, or that trouble was likely, he would leave me behind to secure a secondary location, usually a government building, or a constabulary headquarters,” Laoraa replied, continuing to play with a stray strand of hair. She was starting to regret bringing the subject up.
“I see,” Lyllie said, in a tone that made Laoraa uncomfortable. “Funny, Nellie and Ellcie have seen plenty of combat, and they’re around ou- er, your age.”
“Well, each Master trains their padawan differently,” Laoraa replied diplomatically. “Some Jedi prefer to study the martial arts, others study history and the living Force. Master Jung has preferred that I focus my studies on scholarly pursuits, such as history, biology, and diplomacy, so that I can train to become a negotiator and peacekeeper, like him.”
“Hmmm,” Lyllie murmured noncommittally. “If you say so. It-“ She cut off and gestured past Laoraa. “Ah. Looks like you have company.”
Laoraa turned and saw a Temple protocol droid shuffling across the hangar towards her.
“Good day, Padawan,” The droid said cheerfully as it approached. “Jedi Masters Jung and Dalothok request the presence of their Padawans, and that of Jedi Knight May’sha and her padawan.”
The droid looked at Lyllie for a moment, then Laoraa, then back to Lyllie. “They also request the presence of Ms. Lyllie Taliston. Are you Ms. Taliston?” It inquired, its tone polite but curious.
“Yeah,” she grunted, “That’s me.” She stood up and stretched. “Alright, when do they need us and where?”
“My instructions were to escort you directly to Masters Jung and Kalzar, as soon as possible,” the droid said politely. I am afraid that I am not permitted to disclose our destination.”
“Of course you aren’t,” Lyllie grumbled. “Fine, whatever. I’ll grab the others. Be right back.”
The young Mandalorian headed over to the freighter and disappeared up the ramp. After a few moments, she re-emerged with the other Jedi. They paused to speak briefly with the two Mandalorians at the foot of the ramp, then made their way over to Laoraa.
“Okay, the gang’s all here. Let’s get this over with,” Lyllie sighed.
“Not looking forward to meeting the big Masters, Lyll?” The Pantoran, Nellie, said with a teasing tone. “You’re telling me you aren’t excited about seeing the Jedi Temple?" She rested her hands on her hips and shook her head. “Wow, I thought you’d be excited. Your ancestors tried to burn this place after all. Did you bring your own flamethrower? Maybe a cluster grenade?”
“Nellie!” Jedi May’sha exclaimed. “That is highly inappropriate! The Sacking of Coruscant is not a joking matter!”
“I’m afraid they’ll bore me to death,” the merc snipped back, ignoring Jedi May’sha. “Why are you so happy? Odds are the bigshots will just slap you back down to apprentice. Probably be the first time in history a Jedi got demoted from padawan.”
“That is enough,” the older Jedi said firmly before Nellie could retort. “You are both in the Jedi Temple, a sacred place for the Jedi Order. You will show the proper respect for the Temple and the Order, is that clear?”
Nellie sighed heavily and rolled her eyes. “Yes, May’sha.”
“Crystal, ma’am,” Lyllie replied.
“Good. I apologize, Padawan Laoraa,” Jedi May’sha said, turning to her. “We are ready to depart.”
“Wonderful,” the droid said pleasantly, without waiting for a response from Laoraa. “Please, follow me.”
Laoraa fell into step behind the droid. Part of her was thankful she was no longer alone with the Mandalorian. Yet another part was oddly pleased with their conversation. All the same, she gave the warrior a wide berth as they left the hanger, resisting the urge to stare. She took a deep breath and forced herself to relax.
It was going to be a long walk to the Council chambers.