Time never really stops, and it already been weeks since we returned from Korriban. Its passage has a weird effect on the mind, because suddenly, being back on Yavin, returning to a routine I didn't know I missed this much, the time we spent back home was long enough that the crisis of Sith murder droids no longer felt immediate. Which didn't mean it didn't feel bad when I reminded myself of it, knowing we were pretty far from resolving it.
However, waking up every morning, enjoying a bit of 'time off' as my Master said, telling us to rest, was really a good idea, allowing me to feel refreshed by the end of the first week. Which also meant that Vila and I began paying closer attention to what every other Jedi and Padawan had already grumbled about... The reason why most of the others felt anxious while we were just relaxing:
The presence of Vestara and her people.
Yep. There was a Star Destroyer above the moon, becoming increasingly hard to ignore at night, when its shape and lights made it even more noticeable against the red gas giant. The Reborn had taken up a high, stationary orbit, as Vestara was now working with us, while most Masters and Knights were running around the Galaxy, trying to find clues about the droids or use whatever information network we had access to, to locate her turncoat people.
As for her remaining disciples... at first they remained aboard the Reborn, but they weren't forbidden from coming down and interacting with us. Well, not alone, and under supervision, but still. Those who did come down after the first week mostly stayed within designated sections of the temple complex, and wherever they were allowed to go and take a look, satisfying their curiosity. Honestly, our two groups existed side by side like opposing magnetic fields. We were close enough to feel each other's presence, but kept pushing back, unwilling to touch.
Maybe that was why Vila and I stayed out of it as much as we could, not wanting to get bogged down, and instead we were trying to enjoy our downtime as much as possible. Which of course meant we were mostly sparring. On that morning, our chosen training platform kept buzzing and echoing loudly as our lightsabers kept clashing, letting out that familiar, high-pitched whine before separating, and we began circling each other barefoot, trying to find an opening.
Naturally, I agreed not to use my cortosis hand, relying only on my Makashi, enjoying the feeling of elevating it to a new level. It came to me suddenly a few days ago, and it was nothing flashy or grand; it was exactly the opposite. I was only moving as much as needed, always turning Vila's momentum, the core of her Ataru, the driving force behind her, straight back against her.
This time around, too, she attacked first. It was a fast strike that tested my guard and reaction time. Naturally, I deflected, then stepped back, let the Force guide my footing while my eyes kept measuring the way she moved her hands and flexed her muscles. We'd done this dance hundreds of times, so it came to me naturally, and with a slight nudge, I deflected her follow-up swing, making it pass by me, allowing me an opportunity at a counterswipe.
"When did you get this fast?!" Vila grunted, ducking under my counter and sweeping low, trying to kick out my legs.
"Hm?" I asked as I jumped over her in a somersault, landing lightly and turning with the motion, forcing her to block and interrupt her flow. "I don't know."
"I'm not complaining," she said, grinning as she pressed on, using her twin sabers to try and break out from defense, avoiding my jabs and stabs, trying to go back on the offense, "This is fun!"
"Hmph!" I met her blades as we got locked, pushing against each other while sparks kept flying between us. "You're one to talk... You are also faster than you were!"
"I don't overthink it," she grinned, our faces illuminated by orange and indigo colors mixing from our blades. "I just react, and apparently, my reaction speed has gone up. Maybe it was thanks to using guns or whatever."
"A dangerous perspective," I chuckled, because that was one part that the Council wasn't happy when we made our reports... Using firearms felt weird for a Jedi, but... oh well.
"I say, it's an effective one," she moaned as I pushed down even more, slowly winning our clash through pure physical strength. "Maybe I should borrow a blaster from HK from time to time!"
With that, she broke contact, spun around, and came in again. Expecting that she wouldn't just back away, I let the Force pull me sideways at the last moment, her blades passing close enough that I felt the heat against my ribs, singing the edge of my training garb.
"You overreached!" I chortled, tapping the back of her neck, because if this was a real battle... I would have won.
"Okay, okay!" she admitted, shrugging and turning off her sabers as we both straightened, "This round is yours, big boy. Be happy about it!"
"Hah, I am happy about it!" I deactivated mine, too, with a laugh, before I sat on the edge of the platform, regulating my hasty breathing. "Have you ever thought of training in a secondary form?"
"Not really," She said as she followed suit, dropping beside me and stretching her arms overhead, moaning again, this time, in satisfaction. I watched as her lekku draped down her back, sweat running along it, the healthy exhaustion making her face shine, "I love the way Ataru feels, and I don't want to get mixed up with any of the others. Why? You?"
"I was thinking about it." I nodded, tilting my head, "I don't want to switch off from Makashi, of course, but I was thinking about dabbling in the others, to understand them more and tailor my Makashi in a way, to perfectly counter the rest."
"Which one would you start with?" She asked, glancing at me.
"No idea," I answered honestly, because it was something that I had only been thinking about in the past day or so. Maybe Form VII? Or Form V? Hm... Just as I was thinking about what to answer her with, I noticed a presence heading our way.
"Oh?" She also exclaimed, her body straightening a little as she looked towards its source.
Of course, it was easy to tell it wasn't one of ours... And whoever was coming was not hostile or intrusive. The feeling I got from it after I focused a bit more was... curiosity. Honest curiosity. It didn't take long for her steps to echo and reach us, as a young girl now stood a short distance away at the edge of the training field. She had her hands clasped loosely in front of her, taking up a posture that made it obvious she wasn't here to challenge anybody, acting harmless and genuine. Huh. That's... a first.
Also, she wasn't human.
Her skin was a muted slate-blue, marked with faint, natural striations along her arms and neck. There were two short, backward-swept horns curving closely to her skull, looking more decorative than threatening or something there for making her look aggressive. Her eyes were golden, way too reflective, probably sharp enough to allow her to see well in the dark. They, of course, locked onto us the moment she stopped, tracking our movements, breathing, trying to get a read on what we were thinking about.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," she said, beginning to walk closer to us. Her accent was faint, but it was there, making her sound a bit more innocent than she had already presented herself as. Maybe my paranoia flared up then and there, because I began thinking if it all was just a ruse or not. "I didn't know if this was a private session or not, but I felt you were done so..."
"It is," Vila replied evenly, more guarded than I was, but she quickly added, not wanting to sound way too aggressive. But I don't know if it worked... "Oh well, you're interrupting politely, and we have indeed finished, so it's okay."
"Oh," the young woman allowed herself a small smile as she considered her next words. "My apologies," she chuckled, inclining her head.
"Well," I stood up, twirling my hilt and clipping it to my belt. "Can we help you?"
"Yes, in fact, you can." She nodded while speaking, looking at me, scanning me from head to toe, making Vila frown and shoot to her feet, staying right beside me. "I was told you are the one to look for with my request, Jedi Knight Kael."
"Really?" Vila snorted, now crossing her arms before her chest, glancing down at hers, realizing our visitor had... better equipment, making Vila's lekku twitch a little. "And who are you?"
"Sorry, of course! My name is Sareh," she said, inclining her head, adding, "I'm a Chagrian."
"And?" Vila scoffed, rolling her eyes, but I could tell she had no idea who or what they were, until now.
"Khm. Yes..." Sareh continued, moving her eyes back to my face, "I've been studying Jedi history," she explained, "Or… trying to."
"Why would you?" Vila asked, but it was a genuine question, not something she asked to insult her.
"Why wouldn't I?" Sareh asked back with a smile, "In ancient times, there were only the Jedi, no? Before the first schism. I am simply fascinated by history, that's all."
Listening to her, I felt no deception in her words, and there was no hidden hunger for some secret or something like that... She was honest.
"Soooo...?" Vila prompted, seeing her fall silent, looking into my eyes, sensing that I was trying to read her, and she even invited me in, instead of trying to block me out.
"I was told," she went on, "that if I wanted access to the archives, I should seek you."
"Me?" I asked back because that surprised me enough that I glanced at Vila.
"Well," She shrugged, flicking her lekku. "You've got a reputation as a partial bookworm. Weren't you the first of our batch to make friends with Master Penin? And only you can handle C-3PO's blabbering."
"Whoa, wait, wait! Do I have a title like that attached to me?!" I muttered, "Since when?"
"Dunno." Vila shrugged, opening her arms wide with a grin, "I never pay attention to things like this."
"A good philosophy to hold," Sareh nodded. "It's reasonable, because outsiders always make their own decisions about others anyway."
"I may not be as gifted with my senses as Kael," Vila snorted, letting her arms fall beside her body, "But I can still pinpoint a snarky jab, Miss Sareh."
"Once again, my apologies," The Chagrian's smile widened slightly, glancing at her. "I'm aware there are… differences between us. Which is also the root of the problem because it breeds concerns," she said carefully. "And that manifests in that some Jedi believe my interest is… opportunistic."
"Well, yeah, no?" Vila crossed her arms, facing her straight, "It's your opportunity to enter the Jedi archives... Am I wrong?"
"No," Sareh replied without hesitation. "If you frame it that way, of course, it is true, but it ignores the worries of the others. To be clear, I'm not here to steal relics or copy forbidden texts. I'm interested in context only! How your Order understands itself, and I want to compare it to how the old Sith did it, and how our Revani order does. That's all." She paused, then added before Vila could open her mouth, "Lady Vestara encourages us to learn what we can, because knowledge gives power."
There it is... The difference, and the way she said 'power'. I picked up on it at once, but I couldn't really fault her logic. It was... well... true, from a certain point of view.
"I understand," I exhaled slowly before they broke into a catfight, "I have to warn you, though: The library is heavily supervised."
"I expected as much, and that's why I need company browsing it. I asked around, and as I said, you were the one suggested to me."
"I'm flattered," I shrugged, ignoring Vila's scoffing noises, "Also, I will tell you now that some sections are restricted even for me."
"I expected that too."
"Well then," I nodded once. "Then I don't see a problem with being a guide."
"Really?" Vila groaned at me softly. "You're really doing this?"
"Yes." I glanced back at her, "We are the hosts after all."
"Pft..." She studied Sareh again, then sighed, shaking her head, "Fine. But I'm coming too."
"Naturally," Sareh inclined her head gratefully, holding a smile back, and I knew she enjoyed the jealousy she instilled in Vila. Hmmm... I should be careful about that. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Well, before everything," I spoke up, looking at the two, "As you can see, Vila and I just finished training. Give us half an hour to wash up, and then we can spend the rest of the day in the library."
"Of course," She bowed a little, without further argument. "Do take your time... I am a patient girl."
And a dangerous one... I wanted to add, because the way her eyes moved up and down at me made Vila flinch and almost stand on her toes like a cat whose tail got stepped on... Oh boy... This will be... not as easy as I think, huh?