18Chapter Seventeen
Loyalties
Nothing. The search had turned up nothing at all. Sarai was furious while Robin was thoughtful about the whole encounter. Hana was one that she should keep an eye but her demeanor and actions had made her...pause. Robin already has issues with the Resel'nore but to see someone blatantly defy it was interesting.
"You thinking about the girl?" Akiko asked as he walked up to her. The two of them had been assigned to patrol while Sarai kept poking and prodding. The city was quiet but that was to be expected since an illness had overtake it. Or rather it'd slammed into the Yuuzhan Vong and as a result the Peace Brigade was taking over. Well if they weren't being reassigned to Ylesia. So really it was just them.
"No-"
"Don't lie I know you are," Akiko said.
"Alright I wasn't expecting such a blatant rejection of the Resol'nore like that," Robin admitted. "I mean I know of people that don't like it but to flat out reject it..."
"Well she's one of the true Wren so that's to be expected."
"True Wren?"
"The Wren clan as a whole has pretty much splintered from what we know," Akiko said with a shrug. This wasn't too surprising that he knew since his clan were close to the Quila who often kept tabs on those that were formerly Kyr'tsad supporters. Even after all these years they still kept the vigil. When she'd asked why they still did Akiko had told her that it was because they failed the Lost Clan and as penance they kept vigil over Kyr'tsad and all of the hardliner militants of Mandalore. "There ones like Sarai and others like Hana...guess which is more numerous by default."
"Hana's group due to being alive?"
"Bingo."
"So why don't they renounce the title?"
"Perhaps they fear being seen as weak. I know that the clan leader Sabine wouldn't mind but others that are powerful in the clan would and so to keep the peace she says nothing."
"Seems to be an endemic issue," Robin grumped. "No one says anything like the people of this planet are tight lipped about the Handmaidens for example."
"I think they truly believe in them," Akiko said. "And like the Rebellion before them they wish to keep the flame alive."
"The fires of this resistance does indeed burn bright."
"Like the Dha Kad piercing through the night," Akiko said with a smile.
"Darksaber?" Robin looked quizzically at Akiko who looked genuinely surprised.
"Wait your mother didn't tell you that legend?" Akiko asked. "I thought everyone knew about valiant Vizsla."
"Vizsla? Valiant?" Robin snorted. "Surely you jest?"
"As matter of fact no I'm not. Seriously is this just a Karasu, Abaanlor, Quila, Apma and Harrier clan thing?"
"Well it's not a Bralor clan thing."
"Seriously? That's just sad. Well once a very long time ago there was a leader of the Vizsla clan that had taken a lightsaber with a uniquely black blade from the Jetti and used it to unit the clans as Mand'alor. Well so one of the tale goes. Others like the Harrier, Quila and mine say that he was trained as a Jetti."
"A Jetti Mand'alor?" Robin stared at her childhood friend in shock. "Truly?!"
"Yes a Jetii Mand'alor," Akiko said. "It's said that the blade shall appear once again when the true Mand'alor returns."
"So technically Boba..."
"Is an impersonator according to us," Akiko nodded. "We tolerated him as a lesser of the the evils we face. It's either him or another or worse anarchy. Our allies feel the same."
"So...if someone were to find it?"
"They'd be Mand'alor to us," Akiko answered her giving her a heavy look. "And they'd be able to change society as we know it."
Robin nodded absentmindedly as the implications ran in her head. Change society...like...making it not mandatory for them to be warriors to live a full life? Could it be possible?
Over the past few days with Master Ben Kryze (It was easier to think of like that even if he was so much like her grandmaster that it physically hurt at points. Also it helped distinguished the two.) was interesting. Ahsoka had learned quite a few things in the time that she'd spent with him as he taught both her and the others including Yaotl, under heavy guard of course. On the one hand it was like training with Master Kenobi only...not. He wasn't focused to much with fighting techniques and more on the philosophy of well his Jedi. It was fascinating to see the differences between what she'd been taught in the old Order and what he'd been taught in his thriving one.
For one thing emotions weren't suppressed but instead allowed to a point. It was just taught that they weren't allowed to control you. That part was different from the repression that she was taught about. He also taught about talking about emotional and mental issues which was something that Ahsoka felt wasn't discussed that much, something that Scout agreed with as well.
Families were discouraged but for a completely understandable reason. They were dedicating their lives to the Force. So it was understandable that families were forbidden. In fact telling him about the Corellian Jedi he'd sputtered irritably and grumbled about having one's uj cake and eating it too. Not that Ahsoka disagreed since they flaunted the rule of no families so much that Ahsoka in hindsight was baffled they were allowed to continue on as Jedi. Another difference was how...gentle this Order seemed to be. It wasn't as harsh or remote and did try to make an effort to be in touch with the common folk. That won Scout over hook line and sinker. Ahsoka...well she liked as well.
"The Force, isn't a maker of tricks and powers. It is a guiding path, leading all towards enlightenment. Ours is the service of the Force and by extension others for they are expressions of the Living Force," Ben instructed. The day of the invasion was fast approaching and preparations were hastening but still Ben insisted on some philosophy of his Order. "Powers can be granted but it a mere afterthought since that's not our focus. If one is gifted with an ability then nurture it and help it to grow by helping others."
"Master," Yaotl held up her hand in a clear question. "How do we know the will of the Force?"
"Well...how'd you discover your path?"
She paused in thought before the answer came in seemingly a burst. "Through contemplation and listening. Through peace I gained knowledge."
"Exactly, such is the creed of the Order. There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.There is no passion, there is serenity.There is no chaos, there is harmony.There is no death, there is the Force."
"Sounds like my old Order," Scout smiled. "We said the same...although not the chaos one I don't think."
"I see. There's a variation in my Order of that Code as well and it goes: Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force but meaning of that is a course is for another day."
"Sir," Gregor called to Ben. "We're assembling. It's the final prep sir."
"Commander Tano?"
"Nope it's just Ventress now," Ahsoka smiled at him. "I mean you were the one that said keeper of the peace. Not soldiers."
"Quite right," Ben nodded happily. "Ma'am if you will?"
"You're impossible," Ventress shook her head as she walked up to Gregor.
Ahsoka laughed at the banter. It was so nice to hear it once again even he didn't have the same experiences as her grandmaster. Ben was a blessing even if his battle experience was nil much to Rex's disappointment even if he was thrilled to have Ben even if he wasn't "their" Kenobi it was the thought that counted. He was bringing back something both old and new. And that was what Ahsoka liked and she knew that Scout liked it as well.
"Kryze they want you and your associates," Ventress said turning towards him. "They knew our moves so they need to see how you and the others fight."
"Mesa be fighting with the rest of the Gungans so Mesa will be fine," Gil-Jae said. "Mesa will stay nearby for back up."
"Well that takes care of you, but you and Yaotl need to get down there."
"Very well."
"I obey," Yaotl nodded getting up and following Ben along with her escort. Ahsoka still had trouble believing that she would. Her conviction and resolve was firm and she knew that Yaotl would faithfully follow the tenets set down by Ben. So would she now that thought about it. Even if it wasn't his intent his new Order would come along quite nicely. He was a good teacher and a good Jedi.
Walking down the corridor following the clone, was interesting. What was even more interesting was when he reached the training center. Gregor who leading let out a sharp whistle that made all of the clones and oddly one Twi'lek stop in mid fire and stand at what Obi-Wan assumed was attention...
"Temucigir bat garnahr!" =Officer on deck!=
All of those present saluted.
"At buscuryr," =At ease= Rex said walking forward. Obi-Wan blinked before remembering that he technically a subordinate to him since he was a non-commissioned officer. He bowed deeply with respect to him.
"I said at ease," Rex said with amused tilt to his voice. "You don't have to bow to me."
"With respect, I've been told that's how non commissioned officers greet commissioned officers," Obi-Wan said lift his face to meet Capt. Rex's.
"He's got you there sir," Gregor snorted.
"Well nice to see that someone cares about decor around here," A man with mustache, sideburns and slight beard said as he walked forward. "Lieutenant Wolffe...formerly Commander."
"Demoted?"
"Well I'd rather follow his orders then the Empire at the time and for that matter now."
"Very well," Obi-Wan said. "You called me?"
"Sev told us about your fighting style, we want to see it in action. So we're running a simulation of sorts with non fatal fire."
"And Yaotl?"
"She's also in this simulation as the enemy," Rex said giving her a hard look. "I'm told that you're on our side?"
"I am with the Kryze and he fights for you therefore I do too," Yaotl said bowing her head. "I am at your command."
"So weird," someone commented. Rex shot the speaker a reproachful look.
"Very well," Wolffe said giving the Yuuzhan Vong an appraising look. He picked up a staff and threw it to Yaotl who caught it with the Force summoning forward. Most everyone's jaw dropped at the display.
"How the kriff-!"
"Enough! Let's begin! On the count of 3!"
Obi-Wan pulled out his lightsaber and flicked it on falling into a Soresu opener. A second later after the countdown the opening salvo struck and Obi-Wan jumped in front of Yaotl deflecting the blasts back to the shooters. Some went while others hit their targets. The Twi'lek wasn't the one that went down and continued firing at Yaotl. Obi-Wan sensing slightly more aggression then a simple practice session merited kept his position in front of the Yuuzhan Vong. Bellowing one of the men approached with a staff that he flipped on. Huh an electostaff eh?
The person ran forward and Yaotl blocked it with her own. The Force was fickle with her. She was trying to use it rather then letting it direct her.
"Yaotl! Let it guide you, you subject to it not it to you!" Obi-Wan shouted as he continued to block the vast majority of the shooting. As he continued to block he felt like something essential was missing from his side and should've been guarding his flanks...
"How?" She asked with gritted teeth as she pushed back the staff fighter. She fell into position that would guard his left which he for some reason kept leaving open.
"Fine your center, feel the Force following through you. Let it guide you and you'll find a way," he said demonstrating by allowing himself more into the Force and listening to the guidance. He knocked over several other troops further reducing their number. Now there ware only a few left. Yaotl didn't reply but soon he felt her begin to relax and her frustration soon began to go and she fought off the warrior leaving Obi-Wan free to engage the leftovers.
"Wuhegu'a «Ceasefire»!" Rex called out putting a halt to the exercise, Everyone immediately put down their respective weapons and stood at attention. Some dusted off their armor and gazed at both Yaotl and Obi-Wan with a healthy amount of respect and awe.
"An staabi jag, jate ramuru'anr. Nakar'tuur mhi taabir at akaan!" «All right men, good work. Tomorrow we march to war» Rex said lifting up his fist which of course was evidentially good for the morale since whooping cry rose up from the crowd as they began to chant what sounded like a haka...To the Jedi of all people.
"Sru vie Jetiise vod bal grayi'r! Uctu mhi gra'tuar etie na'yav! At ja'hr!" =To our Jedi brothers and sisters. May we avenge their deaths! To victory!=
This was slightly uncomfortable even if Obi-Wan knew that they meant well. The Jedi meant a good deal to these people and he could respect that even if he wished they'd find another way...after the war of course because pacifism wouldn't help here. He could Satine totting at him from beyond the grave in this world. All of this reaffirmed the sincere hope that he would never have to lead an army into battle. He was fine with running along side them to help but leading...no just no. As they continued with their haka Obi-Wan looked over to Yaotl who looked quietly disappointed with herself looking at floor.
"You shouldn't be ashamed," he consoled her toning out the chanting. "It's perfectly natural to fall back on familiar methods if they've worked previously."
"I thought I was improving in the ways of the Force," she whispered looking crestfallen. "I thought..."
"No one changes overnight," Obi-Wan said placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You must understand that you are just starting this journey so failing will happen. That's what I'm here to do. Direct you towards the right path and help."
"I...Very well," Yaotl looked up with fierce determination. "I shall do better, help me Master to be so."
"Then let's mediate on the matter. After that I'll go over some techniques that help out my apprentice deal with his issues."
"Your apprentice?"
"Yes," he smiled at her "A wonderful man named Skywalker whom I'm sure is getting along quite fine without me because I know he's good man."
"Stoopa cag see va foppa. Kee gee cua dan joday mo baua," a young voice angrily muttered as he made his way through the bowels of what looked to a complicated machine clanging all the way with a hydrospanner. Beside the machine Master Mace Windu rolled his eyes expressively as he waited for the scientist to come back from getting some food. Depa couldn't blame his slight frustration with the boy. They'd been unable to pry the boy from the machine ever since they'd arrived and found out that Master Kenobi had fallen through the abyss.
Not that Depa could blame him. If the same had happened to Master Windu she'd be the first to get into line and get him out. But for now they needed patience since some corporate sabotage had made it impossible to actually fixed the kriffing thing despite their best efforts. Beside him, Bant Eerin, Aayla Secura and her Master Quinlan Vos waited for the inevitable explosion.
"Sohna fa! Choy bu kark cam chana hee janse!"
Yup right on schedule.
"You do realize that yelling at the machine won't make it repair itself any faster," she blithely commented earning her a slight grumbled from the machine. Pulling himself out of it was a very dirty and very disgruntled Padawan. Now normally they would just pick him up and let the other scientist deal with the issue but since it was near a vergence in the Force it was considered to be Jedi jurisdiction. At first it was the two of them. Now? It was a whole crew with Bant Eerin as well since she was most familiar with Obi-Wan's signature. Not that would stop Anakin Skywalker from getting into the machine and doing everything in his power to fix the thing. He was desperate to get him back. Frankly again Depa understood his need but cursing at the machinery would solve nothing.
"Stoopa cag see va foppa. Kee gee cua dan joday mo baua! Carba du heee Kantkhieth nan! Tanea cam koona tah kyotopa youka je, Jee saiot bom uma...ritke han dah...kolka," Anakin muttered as he finally sat down and tried to center himself as Obi-Wan had clearly taught him.
"Skywalker," Master Windu spoke up for the first time since they'd arrived. "We shall get him back. Just be patient. Once the good doctor is here you could help him and then we'll all go through to find him. That's a promise."
"Alright," Anakin grudgingly admitted. "Sorry Master Windu."
"You were frustrated, that's understandable but frustration won't do anyone any good," Master Windu said patting his shoulder. "Wait. We shall find him."
"I hope that he's okay."
"He'll be fine," Bant assured him. "He's more resourceful then you realize. A few days won't kill him."
Translations:
Huttese:
Choy(vulgar) bu kark cam chana hee janse- What the kark is taking so long?!
Carba du heee Kantkhieth nan! Tanea cam koona tah kyotopa youka je, Jee saiot bom uma (honorable)...ritke han dah...kolka- Hang in there Master, I'm coming! Nothing is going to stop me! I'll save you...just hold on...please.
Sohna fa- Dang it
Stoopa cag see va foppa. Kee gee cua dan joday mo baua,- Stupid piece of junk. You'd better work or else.
Mando'a:
Temucigir bat garnahr- Officer (non comissioned) on deck
Sru vie Jetiise vod bal grayi'r! Uctu mhi gra'tuar etie na'yav! At ja'hr!- For our Jedi brothers and sisters! May we avenge their deaths! To victory!
Er Dabida gaa'tayl ni- Oh Force help me.
