[b]"If the Living Force engenders compassion- eventually even love- I do not feel these are a detriment despite the precepts of the Code."[/b]
[i]~ Qui-Gon Jinn[/i]

Locke never liked Imperial Star Destroyers. Certainly they were useful in putting out immense firepower and striking fear into the enemy, but the mechanical settings all around had quickly grown tiresome and had remained so over the years. Cold gray-blue durasteel walls on almost every side, with the odd viewport offering a fraction of the stars beyond, Locke made it a point to spend as little time as possible outside of such craft as possible. But there was business to attend to, and it would require him to remain onboard for a few more hours. All that in mind, the Sith knight resented who the business was with, eyes flicking up to a tall, frail-looking human, as lifeless and cold to the wolf as the destroyer's interior.

"Explain to me, Knight Locke, why you don't believe this entire incident is a setback."

As [i]if I haven't already explained[/i], Locke thought carefully as he cast his eyes back down, knowing full well the Sith Inquisitor before him was not reading his mind- at least not this time. "You wished to know the nature of the Trianii kolto experiments, and I gave you the information we uncovered, Inquisitor Voyde. That we lost the Trianii prisoners--"

"Due to your interference and curiosity," the old man snapped, his gravely voice echoing in the otherwise empty meditation chamber, pacing back and forth in front of his throne-like seat.

"There was little more to be gained, the outline of their experiments is clear enough- imbuing kolto with the Force. Perhaps the question is why the Circle's top Sith alchemist and lorekeeper didn't bother to explore the avenue himself, when non-Jedi [i]civilians[/i] were able to figure it out first," Locke said casually. If he knew he could get away with it without being punished severely, he would have smiled to himself, knowing full well he was getting under the lorekeeper's skin. He nevertheless kept his head down as he remained knelt.

"The effects of their experiments is [i]not[/i] detailed," Inquisitor Voyde growled. "I wanted an outline of what to expect."

"Why?" Locke asked, his brow furrowing. "Do you mean to tell me that the Imperial Remnant doesn't possess a vast amount of Jedi and Sith artifacts that you could use to conduct these experiments yourself? That more of these sorts of artifacts could not be acquired through our vast resources and contacts throughout the universe?"

Voyde looked livid, though his voice was calm. "Do you forget the time-frame we're limited to?"

Locke rolled his eyes. "So then your solution is to rush in with the barest amount of information, looking for shortcuts that might result in botching up the entirety of the circle's plans, instead of devoting time and energy towards actually figuring out how kolto can be influenced so that when the time comes there [i]won't[/i] be a mistake?"

"It wouldn't [i]be[/i] bare amounts of information if you hadn't let the prisoners go!" the human Sith snapped.

"No? So you would trust in the experiments of non-Jedi and non-Sith civilians on matters concerning the Force? What kind of fool are you, old man?" Locke sneered.

"You dare--"

His patience had run out, the wolf rising from his kneeling position, standing at full height and looking Voyde in the eye. "It has been years since I've stopped fearing what you threaten to do to me, old man. You've inflicted your brand of pain on me for so long it barely affects me anymore. At this point, all I'm hearing is the dull whining of a frail old codger, too fearful of his end to think straight."

"I am of the Circle, whelp!" Voyde snarled, a burst of electricity flashing momentarily from his fingertips. Locke narrowed his eyes, staring unflinchingly at the lorekeeper. "It is through [i]my[/i] efforts that the universe shall know darkness once again, shall know to fear the name of Sorzus Syn once again- her knowledge will become mine!"

Locke looked away, sighing. "As you say... [i]Master[/i]. What do you wish of me?"

"To claim responsibility for not remaining hidden! The failure to prevent the Republic from finding out our operations in the Wild Space Region is at your feet!"

"Begging your pardon," Locke replied, arching an eyebrow, "but I believe that it was [i]your[/i] suggestion to rely on the use of thugs and bandits instead of professional slicers or even our own Remnant security specialists. As it stands," he quickly added before the inquisitor could interject, "I have in my employ an individual who is adept at security manipulation far above the petty codings of a drunk gangster. You will not need to worry about our operations being found out again."

Voyde glared at the white wolf, taking his seat. "You had better hope, for your sake, that you are right. The Circle commands you to resume your duties overseeing our efforts- you will take your apprentice and new assistant, and begin to track down items influenced or imbued with the Force. Be warned- other Knights have been charged with the same tasks, and Knight Urlic will doubtless try to move against you."

"Is that all?" the canine asked.

"No- I also see it is necessary to warn you to keep your trap shut in the future. My patience for your constant questioning of the Circle's methods wears thin- and the other members are far less tolerant than I of your insubordinate back-talk."

Locke snorted. "Very well. I'll keep my ruminations on the Circle's countless shortcomings to myself. Anything else?"

Voyde stared coldly at him. "I'm told you let a padawan escape. The Jedi will no doubt be involved soon. Do not waste time converting them to our cause- kill all you come across."

The white wolf said nothing, letting out a quiet sigh as he bowed low, barely able to keep himself from shaking his head as he turned from the old man and left.





Miles was waiting for him outside- no longer equipped in standard light stormtrooper equipment, he was instead geared in a black-plated variant with reinforced chest armor, with a short, rapid-fire carbine slung around his back. Only a band of black leather adorned the space where most humans would possess eyes, organs the Miralukan species had evolved past in favor of sight through the Force. Locke recognized the set as being specialized for infiltration units, regarding his new aide-de-camp with approval. "Access to anything the quartermaster had in her possession, and you went for top-of-the-line equipment."

Miles nodded. "I'm trained to not need it- but it's useful to have all the same. What are your orders, sir?"

Locke looked around at their surroundings, motioning his aide to follow as he moved down the corridor. Taking a brief moment to concentrate to ensure nobody was eavesdropping, he spoke. "My masters have set a task for myself and those I intend to bring with me. Your services and abilities should prove most useful for it. Our mission is to track down and procure items of significant Force power. If I am not mistaken, your species is capable of seeing concentrations of Force energy in both people and items without intense Force training, correct?"

"Yes, sir- unless the person or item in question is actively hiding that power, I can see it just as well as I can see anyone," he responded. "With all due respect, Knight Locke, this... sounds more like a shopping trip," he added hesitantly.

Locke chuckled. "Oh believe me, it's meant to be dull and boring, or so my masters would have me believe. Yet now that the Republic and Jedi are aware of our movements, the chances of us coming across agents of either will start to increase. And we will not be the only ones searching for such artifacts."

Miles frowned. "Other rivals?"

"If there is one thing the Sith have always had, it's rivals among its own allies. Among them is a knight, Ulfric, a human of enormous stature. He gained the Circle's favor with his brutality and ability to strike fear into enemies and allies alike. He believes I am too soft to be in the service of the Circle, and has repeatedly tried to have me killed." Locked paused, putting a paw on the bodyguard's arm. "I tell you this because I believe he will try to target my apprentice to get to me. As capable as she believes herself to be, she is no match for him as she is now."

An expression of understanding passed through the Miraluka's features. "You hired me not just to aid you, but to watch over her."

Locked nodded. "There's no sense in hiding the kind of relationship I have with her from you, which is deeper than just that of a master and an apprentice- this will quickly become apparent to someone with your abilities as it stands. As you accompany us, I will need you to, er... [i]figuratively[/i] keep your eyes open for any rivals that may move against us. They'll know I've employed you to my efforts, but they'll also expect little of you." He smirked. "I find it amusing when that kind of arrogance backfires on them."

"I'll give you nothing less than my absolute best, sir," Miles assured him.





"Kajex?"

"... Hmm?"

"What are you staring at?"

He smiled. "Your eyes." Had they not been so brilliant, he doubt he would have seen them through the curtain of drenched blonde hair in front of her face, as the shower kept them both drenched. He squeezed her a little tighter, drawing a content purr from his lover. "Just thinking about how one of the last things I saw before losing consciousness were your bright blue peepers."

Syrra rested her head on his shoulder, and Kajex could tell something was bothering her, though he said nothing. "Sleep okay?" she asked, her soft voice echoing against the refresher's walls

"I slept fine. No nightmares, which is a nice change." He paused, reaching out and dispensing soap from the wall unit beside them, applying it to her back as she did the same for him. "How about you?"

"Thinking..." she said distantly, paws running gently through his matted fur. "I feel like I made a mistake..."

The wolf stiffened, feeling slightly cold despite the extra warm shower they were sharing. "About... us?"

The Trianii looked up abruptly. "Oh, no! No, not us," she assured him, hugging him close. "I love you, and that hasn't changed. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you about that."

Kajex let out a sigh of relief. "I love you too- so... what's bothering you, then? What 'mistake' are you talking about to?"

She bit her lip, eyes flicking side to side as if trying to decide what to say. "It's about what happened when the debris fell on you." She hesitated. "When I tried pulling you out, then gave up and laid next to you... I feel like I made a mistake then."

Kajex cocked his head. "Why do you feel that?"

She sighed. "We had civilians to rescue. Olraa could have flown the ship out herself if necessary, but not without those landing clamps still attached. If Locke hadn't removed the last two, all of us might be dead." She looked down. "The more I think about it... the more I realize I was willing to risk my brethren's lives just so you would not die alone. I feel... like that was wrong of me to do."

Kajex stroked her back gently, letting the water wash through her fur. "You think that your abrupt willingness to leave them just to save me makes you a bad person?"

"I don't know that I'd be a bad person for it, but a bad Jedi...? Maybe..."

He hesitated, memories of his last relationship resurfacing. "Remember when I told you about Rik?" She nodded. "After he took the blaster bolt in the chest, I was hit next- but I wasn't shot immediately after. It was a sniper on one of the rooftops of the facility, and during the lull in trading fire, I tried to drag him to the ship. He was telling me to leave him behind, but I wasn't having it."

"Remember, at the time we'd had about a half dozen kids following us so we could escape. The moment after Rik was wounded, I forgot about them completely. I was ready to abandon them just so I could focus on saving someone I loved." He shrugged. "It may seem illogical, but... I don't believe it makes me a bad person, even if it's a little selfish. And I can't judge you for doing the same. Love is capable of making us do unreasonable things- it doesn't turn us into bad people. Unreasonable, sure- but I challenge you to find someone who feels the same way we do about each other, who wouldn't do the same."

She hesitated, looking back up at him. "If I had left you... would you have hated me for it?"

"Not at all," he answered without hesitation. "I'd have died in peace knowing you were safe. You... even before I confessed that I loved you, you made me feel like the luckiest guy in the stars. And for someone with [i]my[/i] kind of life, that's saying something." He brushed her wet bangs out of her face. "If you're still troubled, maybe you should bring it up to your Master or Grand Master when we land later today. See what he has to say."

She smiled, easing Kajex's worries about her. "I think I will. I just hope he understand what I was feeling at the time."

"There's nothing wrong with being a little selfish, Syrra."

"But as a Jedi, I [i]can't[/i] be selfish..."

"You're more than just a Jedi, Syrra. You're also a sentient being capable of emotion- you wouldn't feel this way if you weren't. Sounds to me like you just need to figure out how to balance the two."

The Trianii purred, nuzzling into his chest. "Thanks, love. Talking with you helps put things into perspective."

He smiled. "Anytime."





It was as if she never left, she realized as the [i]Rushin' Roulette[/i] steadied during its descent to Yavin 4. They had reached it during the early morning, the jungle's immense fog relegated to the area beneath the canopy as the moon's sun cut through its openings. Within sight of the cockpit's viewport the Great Massassi Temple, the site of the Jedi academy, loomed ahead. Nothing about it had changed- but then she realized she had barely been gone more than 3 weeks, even though the period of time between her departure and arrival- filled with pain, self-discovery, adventure, terror, friendship and love- made it seem like she'd been gone a year.

"Good to be home, ain't it, kid?" remarked Lynch from behind her, grinning. "Mind you, I enjoyed our little 3-day extended vacation, but I'm ready to get back to work, see what ship they put in my hands now."

"Yeah, and with you gone I won't have to worry about my noodle supply going short," Kajex responded flatly, reaching for his headset. "Praxeum Air Tower, this is Captain Kajex Surnahm of the [i]Rushin' Roulette[/i], requesting permission to land- I got one of your students and pilots as passengers."

Syrra reached for her headset, paw nearly grabbing for it when a shock of icy coldness hit her, making her jolt in her seat. A dull buzz filled her head, making her double over and wince- an invasive feeling took hold of her, the alien sensation making her feel as if her blood was freezing, and beneath it a feeling of callousness and anger. She opened her muzzle to tell Kajex, but before she could, the sensation halted.

He seemed to notice something was wrong, looking over her in concern. "Hey... you don't look so good, kitten- is something wrong?"

She shook her head. "I don't know." There was a pause as she tried to filter through her experience, and a shiver passed through her. "No... something is wrong," she realized. "I'm in trouble. I think... I think my master is angry."

Lynch frowned. "Can't imagine why- ya'll did your job right, saved a lot of people."

Syra shook her head, groaning. "I don't know why either, but I think he tried to probe my thoughts to figure out what's going on."

Kajex frowned. "Is he allowed to do that? That doesn't sound right- you submitted your report over the holonet, he must have read it."

Lynch shook his head. "That's an invasion of privacy. Better talk to another master about it- better yet, talk to Master Skywalker, since you need to see him anyway."

A burst of static interrupted them. "[i]Rushin' Roulette[/i], this is Praxeum Air Tower. We've scanned your ship, you have permission to land and occupy Bay 3. No traffic to speak of, you're clear to come in at your leisure."

"Much obliged, Praxeum AT- we're coming in." Kajex turned to her, looking worried. "Are you sure you'll be fine?"

Syrra shrugged. "I couldn't say. He's my instructor, I should at least hear what he needs to tell me. Maybe I [i]did[/i] do something wrong and I'm just not aware of it."





Within minutes the [i]Roulette[/i] had been nestled away deep in the Great Temple's hangar bay, the cacophony of noise outside audible even inside the freighter's interior. Kajex watched as Syrra lingered a bit gathering her equipment- or what she still had left after being imprisoned. That she didn't have much in that regard reminded Kajex of something, and he rushed to his quarters while she dug around the armory, quickly gathering up a flat box he had placed in one of his drawers, taking another moment to put his new longcoat on (stopping only to admire it briefly) and returning just as Syrra did.

She was looking around a bit sadly. "I'm gonna miss this ship," she said quietly.

The wolf cocked his head. "You'll be back, Syrra. I'm not leaving, like I said."

She shook her head. "Even if you snag a job here, I'll probably have to use other vessels to get around to my own missions."

He smiled, striding forward and embracing her close. "Hey, I told you weeks ago- you're more than welcome to visit my ship and come to my quarters for anything while I'm here. That's a permanent invitation."

She nuzzled into his neck. "Thanks, Kajex."

"What about me?" Lynch asked, grinning.

Kajex broke his hug from Syrra and narrowed his eyes, smirking. "[i]You[/i] get to stay the hell off my ship until you buy your own damn noodles, Lynch. I'm not sleeping with [i]you[/i]."

"Well [i]ouch[/i], Captain," the pilot laughed as the wolf moved to the ramp and lowered it. "You're making me feel uninvited. Seriously though, thanks for the lift and company. You'll want to follow me so I can get you to the commander, see if we have something for you to do."

"Just a second," the wolf said as they reached the base of the ramp. "I need a moment with Syrra."

"Alright, I'll wait a ways while you talk to your girlfriend, Surnahm," he said, sauntering away.

She looked up at him. "What's up?"

Kajex rubbed the back of his head, feeling slightly embarrassed as he handed the package to the Trianii- a lot of people were moving about, but none of them seemed to notice the two of them. "I made a little something for you. It's the video guides to the 6 main lightsaber forms, all on a personal datapad- plus the holodisks themselves. I'd like for you to give them to your Grand Master. I don't need them anymore, and they could really use them. But the datapad is for you." He cleared his throat, glancing up to gauge her reaction hopefully, noting with some dismay that she was only staring at the package, her expression unreadable. "I just figured, you know... you'd probably like them."

Instead of saying something like he had expected her to, her response was to step forward and kiss him deeply, holding him around his waist. The action left him momentarily stunned, before he returned her kiss happily, tail beginning to wag excitedly. When they broke off, he smiled at her. "So... should I take that to mean you like your gift?"

She laughed, kissing his larger black nose affectionately and causing him to feel a blush to his own cheeks. "You have no idea... yet." She winked. "Will you wait for me here, after you're done? I have to hurry to Master Skywalker, but I want to thank you properly."

He nodded, feeling warm but pleased. "As long as it takes. Good luck."

She turned to move, then froze before she took a step, looking tense. Frowning, Kajex followed her eyes, spotting a robed Trandoshan male a few meters away. His face was impassive, though is gaze seemed cold as he stared at the Trianii padawan.

Syrra hesitated nervously. "I... good morning, Master Moarne."

"Padawan," he intoned simply, still regarding her icily. "Master Skywalker is waiting for you. Once you've finished, return here. There are things I need to discuss with you."

"Yes, Master Moarne," she said quickly, glancing at Kajex and jogging away from them before he could say anything. He watched her leave, feeling a little disappointed, until he noticed the same cold look in the Trandoshan's eyes were now directed at him. Kajex met his stare defiantly- there was something in the reptilian Jedi's gaze that he did not much care for.

"Did you need something, Jedi Master?" he asked politely, though he kept his stare hard.

The Master said nothing for a moment, sizing up the captain. "No. Not from you." He began to walk away, pausing after a few steps. "... You hide yourself well, Captain," he added, before striding away.

Feeling like trouble might not be far, the wolf reluctantly followed Lynch, hoping it wouldn't be long before he'd see Syrra again.





Deep in the Great Temple, at the highest floor, Syrra awaited in deep meditation. Images of the last few weeks faded in and out of her thoughts, feelings of companionship, anger, trepidation and sadness flowing through her. Focusing on each brought them into her heart as if she had just relived the moments when those feelings were at their highest- her sadness at trapping Kajex; fear of her first fight; anger at Kajex when they had only just started; and the love and companionship she'd felt when she'd finally accepted him.

She came out of her trance when Master Skywalker cleared his throat, standing with his hands behind his back and looking rather serene. "I see you've been working on your meditation. I apologize for interrupting, but your feelings were radiating outwards unconsciously, and they seemed to be shifting towards a more... [i]personal[/i] tone. I thought it would be prudent to stop you before you shared them by accident."

She grabbed her package and stood, blushing slightly and bowing. "I'm sorry, Master Skywalker. I didn't notice you had arrived."

He waved it away, smiling. "No need to apologize, Padawan. I've been here 10 minutes, but meditation is important to all of us. You seemed to have a lot on your mind- and I assume with a lot to talk about. First, however, let's get the details of your mission out of the way." She nodded, then followed as he beckoned her up the steps. "You'll first be glad to know that the Republic's investigation has turned up quite a few leads, despite AS-303 having escaped. The manufacture of the decoy asteroids led to a plant within CorpSec space- a friend of mine led a strike team to halt their production."

"And the thugs?" she asked.

"Your uncle filed a report on Captain Surnahm's behalf detailing what occurred in Docking Bay 37. The authorities are now aware that the criminals there were killed in self-defense. I must say- I'm particularly proud that you restrained yourself from killing their leader, opting instead to disarm them. If his words are to be believed, you turned away from that dark impulse to slaughter- that's never an easy thing to do, even for a Jedi Master."

Syrra swallowed, looking down. "If Kajex hadn't been there, I might have. He convinced me to stand down."

"Then you should be happy to possess such a friend, and the wisdom to accept [i]their[/i] wisdom. He showed you the path- you alone walked it. There's nothing wrong with having a little light in the darkness."

The words were encouraging to her, filling her with a modicum of pride as she smiled. "Thank you, Master Skywalker."

"The report also detailed the skills you picked up while you were away- I'm glad to see that you learned to pilot a craft, which will doubtless come in handy, but I was exceptionally pleased to hear that you employed your medical skills to help Captain Surnahm, as well. Not everyone is skilled in Jedi healing arts, but the application of medicine is a good substitute."

"It was the best we had on hand, and I had the training to help." She hesitated. "What about this Sith cult that Jurah mentioned?"

Luke shook his head. "We have next to no information on this 'Children of Syn' that this 'Keris' mentioned- the name only references a long dead Sith Lord named Sorzus Syn. Records on her are scarce and fragmented at best, I'm afraid. As far as the Sith you fought, we identified the Amaran apprentice as a former slave girl on Nar Shadaa, under the ownership of one of its many Hutt lords, but she disappeared a few years ago. It would appear she is now training under this Sith Knight, Locke. We have no details on him, either- not even his species."

"He... didn't seem evil to me," she remarked hesitantly- it had been her intention to be honest about the Sith Knight's actions, especially after he'd rescued her and Kajex.

Luke nodded as they reached an open viewport, looking out into the jungle. "I read your report, and I agree that his actions seem far from malevolent- at least where you and your friend are involved. There are examples of practitioners of the Dark Side of the Force who are not strictly 'evil', per se. Some have even displayed considerable nobility and chivalry, a key element in inspiring others to follow them. Nevertheless, as a Sith he will be set against the Jedi even if he holds nothing personal against us- as unfortunate as it is, he is an enemy, if only because he is on the other side. It may well be that these thugs that attacked you on Fibuli attempted to capture you so they could bring you to this 'Circle' of theirs." He put a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. We'll do what we can to uncover this mystery- and you'll be a part of it as well, I've no doubt."

She looked to him. "I will?" she asked, confused.

He nodded. "After your stellar performance, I think you're ready to start handling more assignments, solo. It's apparent that this experience has brought about a great change in you, as if you gained a great deal of wisdom and have reflected on your experiences well. Before you left, you seemed secluded, bitter- as if you felt your presence here might have been a mistake. You excelled in combat, a testament to the training of the Trianii Rangers, but it came with the roughness of anxiety; you studied hard in the archives, yet always there seemed to be discontent at the Jedi Order's non-traditional ways." He smiled. "I seem to remember you reacting rather negatively when I mentioned the use of blaster weapons."

She chuckled, looking away sheepishly. "I've... since changed my position."

"More than that, though- I sense your confidence. You don't seem to be as doubtful or uncertain about yourself anymore. It's a very positive change that I'm happy to see- and admittedly curious about. So I must ask you a question: what happened that would cause such a significant change?"

The Trianii said nothing for a moment, her heart beating rapidly. She knew full well what the change was and had been trying to prepare herself to discuss it with him- but now that he had asked, she found herself hesitant to explain. In another time and place, her attraction to the mercenary would have been a Jedi taboo- yet now...? There was a long pause as she tried to find a better way to say what she was feeling- only to realize that she didn't need a complex answer.

"I... fell in love," she said simply.

Luke's eyebrows raised. "Did you? That's great news to hear," he said with a warm smile. "With whom, if you don't mind my asking?"

Whatever response she had been expecting, it was not one of support, though she was not unhappy with it. "Ah, with... Captain Surnahm. Kajex, I mean."

"I see- working together with him and relying on each other brought about your attraction, I suppose?"

She nodded, hesitating. "I feel like I need to explain. It happened a little quickly, I'm still trying to figure out some parts of it."

Luke shrugged. "Love can happen rather quickly, in all fairness. My sister fell in love with her future husband after a few days stuck together on a ship headed for Bespin. And I remember only days prior to that, they were at each other's throats," he added with a chuckle. "But go ahead."

She sat on the stonework of the viewport, bringing her knees up to her chest and looking out, waiting for a few moments before launching into her experiences with the mercenary- the animosity between then when they first started; the growing interest in each other as time went on; the discussions they had and pasts they shared; the incident concerning Markus, the Besalisk who loved another Trianii, and how Kajex had stepped in and saved her from hurting him; the consoling and counseling he offered to her, his compassion and kindness; the intimacy they shared as they grew closer; his pain of hiding secrets from her despite not wanting to; and their confession on Ekibo when he expressed his willingness to leave behind his former life to follow her.

Luke was listening intently. "You have reservations, though, don't you." It was not a question, but it wasn't accusatory either, Syrra noted. She nodded in response, the shame of her mistake still burning in her.

"I know that I love him, we've admitted it to each other. But even though I now agree with your position on family, friends and personal relationships and attachments, I feel like I still made a mistake." She paused. "I nearly abandoned people who needed me when Kajex was severely injured on AS-303. I tried to get him out, and when I lost the strength to fight any more, I just... gave up. I was ready to die alongside him. If I had, the prisoners would still remain prisoners, or more likely be dead, since the warship was still attacking the base. I hate that I was being so selfish, but it was how I felt, and despite my regrets I don't know that I wouldn't do it again- for him."

Silence hung in the air for a few minutes, and Syrra wondered what he was thinking. When he finally did speak, it was with a tone of understanding.

"When I was younger, I sensed my sister and friends in danger. It was at a time when I was undergoing rigorous Jedi training, but I was ready to abandon it so I could rescue them." He looked down at his gloved right hand. "It ended poorly. Moreover, my actions barely influenced their outcome- they managed to escape on their own, and in the end it was them who had to rescue [i]me[/i] from a terrible death. To make things worse, my presence delayed their escape such that we nearly didn't escape at all. It was not a good idea for me to get involved- but I, like everyone else, am sentient. I'm capable of fear, anger, compassion and even love for other people. What has changed since then, is that I've learned to control them, to pacify myself so that despite those emotions I still act with wisdom." He smiled. "That's not to say I [i]don't[/i] feel them anymore- far from it. I would never ask anyone to purge themselves of all emotion."

"If I had to make the same choice again, I think I would do things differently- but I would still attempt to save them. If you think that I would be ashamed of you for displaying such strong emotion that it led you to make an irrational decision... then I'm not. I'm actually proud that you recognized that what you did had consequences that affected yourself and those around you- that's simply part of what being a Jedi [i]is[/i]. All I would ask is that you learn from it and temper those emotions with a peaceful mind, to be ready for loss when it inevitably comes."

She smiled. "That sounds remarkably what Kajex had told me."

"He sounds like he has a lot of experience and wisdom to share. That can only be good for you." He paused, looking away thoughtfully. "I wouldn't mind the opportunity to speak with him- with your consent, mind you. You have my word I have no intention to pry into whatever relationship you have, physical or not."

Baffled, she furrowed her brow. "I thought celibacy was standard for Jedi, though."

"I- wait, what? ... Who told you that?" he asked, looking thoroughly confused.

Syrra got down from her perch on the viewport. "My mother, actually."

He chuckled. "Well, believe me, I've looked into the matter myself. Initially I wasn't even going to forbid physical relationships. I'm only one guy, I can't force the universe to bend to my viewpoints; and anyway I didn't see the need to do so. But as my sister had gotten married and later became pregnant, I thought it would be interesting to investigate. Marriage back then [i]was[/i] restricted except in very special circumstances- I believe only one or two Jedi were allowed to do so, one of them a Master on the Jedi Council who was granted exemption because of his species' low birth rates. But despite that, the Jedi of the Clone Wars era didn't forbid sexual relationships between its members- which, as you can imagine, conflicted heavily with their restriction to personal attachment from time to time."

This was not something Syrra had expected to hear at all, though she secretly felt elated. "I honestly had no idea. But... that's great," she responded.

Master Skywalker chuckled "If it should even get to the point of marriage, well... that's not forbidden in this order, either."

She stammered, feeling red-faced. "Er, well... damn... it's really still too early to think of that, isn't it?"

He laughed. "It is- but the main point to all of this boils down to the following: I'm happy that you've bonded so closely to someone, that they're having such a positive influence in your life, that you've grown and matured so quickly as a Jedi because of it, and that you're willing to approach your relationship with a little more wisdom in the future."

She smiled. "I'm actually relieved. I wasn't sure what you might have thought."

Luke regarded her carefully. "What I really think, Syrra, is that you're well on your way to becoming a Jedi Knight. You've already passed the Trial of Flesh by sustaining injury during combat, and you've demonstrated wisdom and courage far exceeding what should be expected from you. I think that you're more than ready to start handling assignments without having a master present- your performance has been exemplary."

"You really think so?" she asked skeptically. "I had help from an experienced mercenary, he did a lot of the work too."

"There's nothing wrong with having some aid from an ally. I count it as a positive because it helps the Praxeum bond with the civilians of the galaxy, gives us an opportunity to gain their trust by showing them we're willing to rely on their help too. In the meantime, I'd suggest putting extra focus into your training regimen if you really feel you need to practice. I can arrange something with Battlemaster Katarn to have a sparring partner assigned to you."

"I would appreciate that greatly, Master Skywalker." The topic reminded her of the package she was still holding- she opened it, seeing the tablet he had given her, along with a reinforced container that held the holodisks. "Speaking of which, Kajex wanted you to have these- they're Clone War-era lightsaber instructional holovids," she explained, handing them over.

Luke looked them over in surprise. "Really? We have an ample amount of instructional material on 6 lightsaber forms, but no holovid demonstrations- certainly not from before the Jedi Purge. How did he get ahold of these?"

Syrra paused, frowning to herself. "I... actually don't know. He only said that he possessed a soft spot for artistic fighting styles and left it at that. Well, that, and that he'd been holding onto them because he felt that evidence of the old Order should exist in some capacity."

Luke said nothing for a moment, regarding them curiously before shrugging. "Well, I suppose it does no good to look a gift-bantha in the mouth. If you should see him before I do, convey my thanks to him, and assure him that I'll put it to good use."

She nodded. "I'll be sure to. Is there anything else?"

"Only the matter concerning your lightsaber; I'm sorry to hear that you lost it. I would encourage you to begin construction on a new one, if you can find a proper stone to focus on."

Her thoughts traveled to the sapphire she possessed in one of her pouches, bringing a smile to her face. "I actually have one I'm thinking of using- a gift from family, one that has a lot of value to me."

"Excellent. If it has that strong a connection to you, that may make for a very well-attuned weapon. But other than that, I suppose that's all I needed to discuss with you. I like to touch bases with my students now and again, get a feel for their progress- and I've slowly started to get a bead on when some of them need someone to talk to. I wish you the best of luck with your relationship with Captain Surnahm."

"Thank you, sir," she said appreciatively, bowing to him before she started to walk away.

"And Syrra?" he said abruptly as she reached the base of the hall's steps.

"Yes, Master?"

"Welcome home."

The words brought a smile to her face. "It's good to [i]be[/i] home."