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"If the Living Force engenders compassion – eventually even love – I do not feel these are a detriment despite the precepts of the Code."

~ Qui-Gon Jinn

Locke never liked Imperial Star Destroyers.

Certainly they were useful in putting out immense firepower and striking fear into the enemy; a single Star Destroyer could effectively lock down an entire star system, if controlled by a competent crew. Its belly cannons could reduce any unshielded planetary surface to ash, and its ventral-mounted weaponry could batter any capital ship. There was certainly much to respect in terms of their potency.

Yet throughout the years, the interior design did not change. With cold gray-blue durasteel walls on almost every side, and the odd viewport offering a fraction of the stars beyond, Locke made it a point to spend as little time as possible aboard these capital ships, if he could avoid it.

But there was business to attend to, and it would require him to remain onboard for a few hours more.

All that in mind, the Sith knight resented who the business was with, eyes flicking up to a tall, frail-looking human, looking as lifeless and cold to the wolf as the destroyer's interior. Were it not for the head of white hair formed along his wrinkled head, one might have thought him a corpse. He glared back with cruel blue eyes, his sharp features bearing a look of anger as he leaned in to speak in an icy, dangerous voice.

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

It took a tremendous amount of willpower not to sigh in frustration, though Locke made sure not to linger on his own thoughts as he cast his eyes back down. It was not worth taking the risk and finding out whether the Sith Inquisitor before him was not reading his mind. When he spoke, his voice was calm and respectful. "You wished to know the nature of the Trianii kolto experiments, and I gave you the information we uncovered, Master. 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," Locke pressed on. "The outline of their experiments is clear enough – imbuing kolto with the Force. Perhaps the question is why the Circle's top Sith alchemists and lorekeepers didn't bother to explore the avenue themselves, when non-Jedi civilians were able to figure it out first," Locke said, keeping his head down as he remained knelt. "Past that point, there was little reason to keep the Trianii around. We know what we must do."

"The effects of their experiments is not 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 could be used to conduct these experiments ourselves? 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? The Imperial Remnant will not wait for results much longer, and unless we can secure the means to reproduce our own fleet, ships and loyal personnel we will find ourselves without allies. At the same time we cannot afford to rush into experimentation with the barest amount of data. Securing this data from the Trianii would have saved us months of research!"

"Is that not why we have the alchemists and lorekeepers?" Locke countered. "Give the task to them, that you might see the results first hand."

"I am of the Circle, whelp!" Voyde snarled.

A burst of electricity flashing momentarily from his fingertips as he stood, no longer looking frail or old, but strong and monstrous. Locke narrowed his eyes, staring at the lorekeeper.

"It is through my 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! At no point will my whelp of an apprentice instruct me on how best direct my men!"

Locke bowed his head. "As you say, Master. What, then, 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, "but I believe that it was the Circle's own suggestion to rely on the use of thugs and bandits instead of professional slicers or even our own Remnant security specialists. You also have the disgraced former-captain Holt to blame. 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 my operations being discovered 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 once again 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 Ulfric will doubtless try to move against you."

"Is that all?" the canine asked.

The inquisitor gave him a hard glare. "No. I also see it is necessary to warn you to mind your tongue in the future. My patience for your constant questioning of the Circle's methods and subtle resistance against my will wears thin. You are well-aware that the other members are far less tolerant than I of your insubordinate back-talk." He paused. "Take heed of my words, whelp, unless you wish for me to guide your efforts again, as I've often done in the past.

Locke did not react visibly, but that did not prevent a chill from running down his spine as he looked away.

"No, Master. It's not necessary."

"No? Because it has become exceptionally easy for me to do so." Now a cruel smile was forming along his lips. "Occasional jerks of the leash do entertain me, but if your will is so broken then I can find someone with greater spirit to take over instead." He paused. "Perhaps your apprentice would make a fine specimen for me to research."

At that, Locke's head shot up, fury in his expression.

"You'll not touch her," he growled. "I'll do your will, as you've commanded me. Leave her out of this."

"See to it you obey my command, and she will be left alone," Voyde told him, his gaze cold as he raised a finger. "One last thing. I'm told you let a Padawan escape. Because of this failure, the Jedi Order will be on to us, and though we were to reveal ourselves in the coming weeks, it is still too soon. If you should come across any other Jedi, do not waste time converting them to our cause. Kill all you encounter."

The white wolf got to his feet, letting out a quiet sigh as he bowed low. "Yes, my master."

Miles had been waiting in a lower level when Locke stepped out of the lift. No longer equipped in standard light stormtrooper equipment, the Miraluka 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 an expression of approval.

"I see you found some new toys from the Omega-level armory," Locke remarked, observing the armor.

Miles nodded. "I'd heard about Blackhole armor, but actually being to wear a suit of it is a bit unreal. It should be useful prove useful. What are your orders, sir?"

"Nothing immediate, consider yourself off the clock for now. Still, I hope you won't mind following me so I can bring you up to speed with how things work in the Circle." Locke looked around at their surroundings, motioning his aide to follow as he moved down the corridor.

"I'm an open book," Miles said.

"Do you know where my apprentice is, currently?" Locke asked.

"Back at the ship with a meal, she's been meditating all morning."

"Good, she's keeping up with her studies," the wolf said. "She should be prepared for our tasks later, we'll be starting three days from now. On that topic, I think it's best I let you know what we'll be doing."

"Not hunting Jedi, I take it?" Miles guessed.

"Not at all," Locke smiled. "My master is having us continue a series of tasks he initially had me perform with Keris, before my temporary assignment on AS-303. I intend to bring you with me on these endeavors, as your services and abilities should prove most useful for it. Our missions will involve tracking down and procuring items of significant Force power. I am aware that your species is capable of seeing through the Force, but am I correct in saying that it includes detecting concentrations of Force energy in both people and items?"

"Yes, sir, and without training," Miles confirmed. "Unless the person or item in question is actively hiding that power, I can see it just as well as I can see anyone."

"Very good, it should make our job much easier," Locke said with a pleasant tone of satisfaction. "Ideally we'll only need to scout marketplaces and old ruins to find what we need."

"With all due respect, Knight Locke, this sounds more like a shopping trip," Miles noted hesitantly.

Locke chuckled. "Oh believe me, I thought so too at first, yet I confess I enjoy doing it as it allows me to learn more about the history of the Force, and of different cultures. But 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."

"Other rivals, I take it?" Miles suggested.

"Indeed, if there is one thing the Sith have always had, it's rivals among its own allies," Locke explained, stopping for a moment as they passed a training room. He peered inside for a moment, then gestured to Miles to follow. Though unnecessary (as no physical barrier could actually halt the Miraluka's sight), Miles stood beside the wolf as he pointed out four beings through a viewport. One of them, Miles recognized; the Karkarodon, Arkanis, was performing saber drills with a training droid.

"You recognize Agent Thresher," Locke noted. "His dislike for me is only tempered by what little respect we share as allies, but I fully expect him to attempt to best me once he is knighted." He pointed to another figure, this one a Twi'lek female with violet skin who was meditating with several books hovering around her. "That one, Snaire, works as one of our lorekeepers. Not exceptional with a blade, but her talent with offensive Force abilities is considerable."

"I'll make note of that," Miles nodded, casting his gaze to a blonde-haired human watching Thresher duel, a distinct look revulsion on his face. "Who's the creep watching the fight?"

"Yuda," Locke grimaced. "He has his uses, mostly financial resources and connections from his noble upbringing, but despite his skill he is a womp-rat of the lowest kind. I'd tell you to keep an eye on Keris any time he's around, if she weren't already good at defending herself against him."

"And the big guy?" Miles asked, spotting a massive, well-muscled, green-scaled Chistori lifting an absurd amount of weights. "That must be, what, two hundred kilos that he's bench-pressing?"

"About normal for him," Locke nodded. "That is Apex. I'm honestly not sure how he came to be in our service, but he's fairly approachable, though quiet. I worry about him the least, but best to be mindful around him all the same."

Miles looked between them all, none of them seemed aware of their presence. "Am I to be on the lookout for them stabbing you in the back?" he asked.

"Someday, perhaps," Locke acknowledged, "but by the will of the Circle only a Sith Knight may attempt to kill another Sith Knight. None of them have reached that rank, and so they are not yet a threat to us."

"Why kill each other?" Miles asked, frowning.

"To cull the weak," Locke said simply, shrugging. "And eliminate competition. Not every Sith Knight does it, unless there is something they want. Thresher, at least, would certainly wish to humiliate me before killing me."

The soldier looked around. "So how many knights should I look out for?" he asked.

"A year ago, I would have said five; now, only one."

"What happened with the other four?"

Locke offered him a small smile. "I killed two of them. The other two were eliminated by the only other Sith Knight serving the Circle." He turned around, pointing to the far wall. "If I'm right, he should be right ahead."

The Miraluka raised an eyebrow, following the wolf's finger to the wall- then backpedaled in shock.

"By the Force...!"

On the other side of the wall was what Miles could only describe as a hairless behemoth. Cloaked in black robes with icy blue eyes stood what looked to be a bald human, if he assumed that humans could grow to be over seven feet tall and were capable of cultivating a nearly inhuman musculature. Even Apex seemed lesser in stature than the robed figure, who seemed to be staring directly at both of them despite having a physical barrier between them.

"Can he...?"

Locke raised a paw and waved with a smile on his face; the giant's gaze fell on the wolf, his glare threatening to burn a hole through the wall. "Oh yes, I'm sure he can. This, my friend, is Ulfric." He stepped back, walking away from the wall and gesturing the soldier to follow.

Miles was only too glad to do so, glancing back at the giant. Ulfric's gaze was still following them, though he did nothing but give them a smoldering look. "A friend of yours?" he asked doubtfully.

"He gained the Circle's favor with his brutality and ability to strike fear into enemies and allies alike," the wolf explained. "He believes I am too soft to be in the service of the Circle, and has repeatedly tried to have me killed. Most others feel the same way, a few of them may attempt to do the same."

"You hired me, so I have your back for this, sir," the soldier assured him, despite still feeling a little rattled.

Locked paused, putting a paw on the bodyguard's arm. "I'll be honest with you, Miles, it was not my intent that you put your life on the line to safeguard my life. I can handle myself against most threats. I made a name for myself as an experienced duelist, it's how I killed two other Sith Knights in combat. But that's not the primary reason I wanted you to accompany me."

"Then what is?"

"I have no intention having you face off against Force-sensitives, be they Jedi or Sith," Locke continued. "I'm showing you all of this because I believe my apprentice may be at risk. As capable as she believes herself to be, she is not ready to assume any of my current responsibilities, at least not alone."

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... figuratively 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 with a nod. "And I'll give your enemies my worst."

"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. "You keep telling me you like looking into mine; it's hard not to get lost looking into yours."

It had been a week since they'd left Ekibo, taking their time getting back to Yavin 4 and spending it relaxing. The downtime had given Syrra a chance to learn how to handle a starship, a series of lessons that went quickly with two captains and a Trianii Padawan's eagerness to learn. Parts of it had been spent getting between them getting to know each other better, something that had involved both serious discussion and physical intimacy. Not a single night in those seven days had been spent apart. The warmth in bed had been pleasant for the wolf.

The fact that he'd not suffered a bad dream in that time was even better.

"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- though he could tell something was bothering her. He waited until a minute of silence had passed before prodding gently.

"About what?"

Another few seconds of silence, then a sigh.

"I feel like I made a mistake."

"About us?" he asked, keeping his voice neutral despite the slight worry.

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."

"It's alright," he assured her with a smile. "Chalk it up to me doing what I can to make sure this turns out right. You know you can talk to me about anything, though."

"I know," she sighed, and for a few moments she bit at her lip, eyes flicking side to side as if trying to decide what to say. "It's about what happened when the hangar ceiling collapsed 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 rested her head on his shoulder. "We had a mission, to save those Trianii prisoners – and I almost abandoned it."

"Syrra, I don't think--"

"Just give me a second," she interjected softly, looking away with slight shame. "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, we would all be dead." She paused. "It's just the more I think about it, the more I realize I was willing to risk my brethren's lives just so you wouldn't die alone. It's not the way a Jedi would think."

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 poor Jedi?"

"I don't think it would make me a bad person, but a bad Jedi...? Maybe."

He held her close a few moments more, memories of his last relationship resurfacing before deciding to offer her advice. "Remember when I told you about Rik?"

She nodded. "I do."

"The way I remember telling it, I was hit after he went down. The thing is, I wasn't shot immediately after. Retsa and I had tried to suppress his killer, and during the lull in fire I tried to drag him to the ship. He was telling me to leave him behind, but I wasn't having it. That's when I got hit."

"That's where you got this, right?" she asked, tracing her fingers around the scar.

"It is," he nodded. "The point, though, is that 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. So I can understand how you feel, and it's not something you should be ashamed of."

"No?" she asked. "Even if it's not what a Jedi should do?"

"No Jedi is perfect," he countered. "And every Jedi is still a living being with emotions. What I did was might have been unreasonable, but understandable. I'm the last person who could ever judge you, just for doing the same. How you feel about me doesn't make you lesser; I know that love is capable of making people do unreasonable things. I'd challenge anyone to find a pair of people who feel the same way we do about each other, who wouldn't do the same in our situations."

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

"I'd have died in peace knowing you were safe. Even before I confessed that I loved you, you made me feel like the luckiest guy in the stars." he chuckled. "And for someone with my kind of life, that's saying something."

Her cheeks burned, but she smiled back. "You've got a unique outlook on this."

"I hope so, it might help to look at it from a different angle," he told her, brushing her wet bangs out of her face. "But if you're still troubled and looking for a Jedi perspective, maybe you should bring it up to your Master or Grand Master when we land later today. See what he has to say."

"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 can't be selfish."

"You're more than just a Jedi, Syrra," he insisted. "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."

"Anytime."

It was as if she never left, she realized as the Rushin' Roulette 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 three weeks, even though the period of time between her departure and return – 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 five-day extended vacation, but I'm ready to get back to work, see what ship they put in my hands now, especially with a cybernetic one."

"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 Rushin' Roulette, 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 with a groan. 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 my master is angry."

"Can't imagine why," Lynch said with a furrowed brow. "Ya'll did your job right, saved a lot of people, even uncovered an Imperial operation."

"It didn't feel like that was the reason," Syrra groaned, trying to shake her head clear. "I don't know why either, but I think he tried to probe my thoughts to figure out what's going on."

"Is he allowed to do that?" Kajex asked, looking worried. "That doesn't sound right. You submitted your report over the holonet, he must have read it."

"That's an invasion of privacy," Lynch said, looking troubled. "Better talk to another master about it. Or better yet, talk to Master Skywalker since you need to see him anyway."

A burst of static interrupted them. "Rushin' Roulette, 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, still 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 did do something wrong and I'm just not aware of it."

Within minutes the Roulette 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 and returning just as Syrra did.

She was looking around a bit despondently. "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. "You get to stay the hell off my ship until you buy your own damn noodles. I'm not sleeping with you."

"Well ouch, 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. "I made a little something for you. It's the video guides to the six 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 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.

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 Moarn."

"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 Moarn," 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 and glancing back.

The wolf folded his arms. "You sure?" The two held the stare for a long ten seconds, before the Trandoshan turned away.

"You hide yourself well... 'Captain,'" he hissed, 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.

High 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.

I love you, Kajex Surnahm – and I want you to come with me.

Even at peace, deep in her trance, she smiled.

She came out of her trance when Master Skywalker cleared his throat, standing with his hands behind his back and looking rather serene. A moment passed when she realized he'd finally arrived, jerking up and getting to her feet.

"I see you've been working on your meditation. I apologize for interrupting you, Syrra, but your feelings were radiating outwards unconsciously and they seemed to be shifting towards a more personal 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."

"No need to apologize, Padawan," he assured her calmly. "I've been here ten 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."

"A bit, yes," she admitted.

"I'd be glad to discuss anything with you. 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.

"The Trianii Rangers forwarded me the details of what occurred in Docking Bay 37, and while I may not agree with them executing the criminals I understand it is their jurisdiction. The Praxeum and the New Republic acknowledge that the criminals 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 Kaj-- if Captain Surnahm 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 their wisdom. He showed you the path, but it's up to you to choose 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 ship, 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 medical knowledge is a good substitute."

"It was the best we had on hand, and I had the training to help," she replied. "But it was closer than I would have liked."

"If you would like to study healing through the Force, I'm sure we can get Master Cilghal to give you lessons," Luke offered. "She's our most talented healer here, I think you'll get along well with her."

"I would like that, thank you Master Skywalker. May I ask, if it's any of my business to know, what was the Praxeum able to learn about this Sith cult that Jurah mentioned?"

"You were involved in dealing with two of their number, you are more than welcome to ask. I would not deny you that knowledge – if we had it."

Syrra cocked her head. "What do you mean?"

"We have next to no information on this 'Circle of Syn' that this 'Keris' mentioned," Luke explained, shaking his head. "The name only references a long dead Sith Lord named Sorzus Syn. Records on her are scarce and fragmented at best, I'm afraid. We may have to seek knowledge from our holocrons for more details."

"I see," she said, feeling slightly disappointed. "What about the two I encountered?"

"As to that, we do have some information. 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 around the time he was found murdered. It would appear she is now training under this Sith Knight, Locke. We have no details on him, either, though he does seem to fit reports of an Imperial-aligned albino Shistavanen."

"He wasn't Shistavanen, or at least, that's what he claimed, and Captain Surnahm believed him." For a few moments she hesitated, feeling the need to say more.

"You've more to add?" Luke guessed. "You can speak freely, I encourage you to be open."

"It's just, he didn't seem evil to me," she told him. 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 have displayed considerable nobility and chivalry, a key element in inspiring others to follow them."

"You believe me, then?"

"I do," he replied, "though I caution you to remember that he is still aligned with Sith ideals. I can't pretend to know what is in his mind or heart, but as unfortunate as it is he will almost certainly be set against us."

"I'm having trouble seeing him as an enemy," she admitted.

"I encourage you not to see him as an enemy, nor anyone else you may be forced to fight," Luke nodded. "But see him as a potential threat you may be forced to confront. The thug survivors said nothing about their intentions for you, but we can't discount the possibility that they 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 smiled. "After your stellar performance, I think you're ready to start handling more assignments without the presence of Master Moarn. 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."

"You really think so?" she asked, not so certain for herself.

"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 folded his arms, peering at her. "But what both Moarn and I sensed more than anything else was a dedication to duty, to a fault – the kind of fault that harbors deep dissatisfaction for any failure."

Syrra looked away, nodding. "My father was someone who was respected for his devotion to duty. I'd only like to honor his memory by showing that same dedication."

"To emulate such an ideal is admirable, and you won't hear me criticize you pursuing it," Luke told her. "All I would advise is that you be willing to accept those moments of failure as part of learning and growing, and to be open enough to accept a different way to fulfill that duty."

"That, I think, I've been working on a lot lately," she said, thinking back to Kajex and his methods of investigation.

"I've noticed," Luke noted with amusement, gesturing at the blaster pistol holstered to her hip. "I seem to remember you reacting rather negatively when I mentioned the use of blaster weapons, and that you left without one."

"I, er... I've since changed my position," she admitted with a sheepish chuckle.

"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.

"Did you? That's great, I'm happy for you," 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. "Relationships can form rather quickly, in all fairness. My sister fell in love with her future husband after a weeks 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 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. 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 nearly a minute, and Syrra wondered what he was thinking. When he finally did speak, it was with a tone of understanding.

"When I was younger, maybe a month and a half after the Rebel Alliance was routed at the Battle of Hoth, 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. I was warned that it was a trap meant to lure me into danger, and I was told by both my mentors under no uncertain terms that they would not intervene in the struggle ahead."

Syrra cocked her head. "But I've heard your story before on the holonet; none of them ever mentioned you being captured."

He shook his head, looking down at his gloved right hand. "It still ended poorly."

She would have asked what he meant, had the silence between them not been broken, but she did not need more than her natural keen hearing to detect the sound of advanced mechanical joints shifting as he flexed his fingers. When she looked back up, he was giving her a sad smile.

"By the end of it all, I was bruised and bloody, missing a hand and my father's lightsaber; my best friend had been kidnapped by a bounty hunter; and I had been told by the Emperor's own right-hand enforcer that he was my father. All in all... not my best day."

"I can only imagine," she said quietly.

"What's more is that my actions barely influenced their outcome. They had actually managed to escape on their own, and in the end it was they who had to rescue me from a terrible death. If anything, my presence coupled with them coming to my aid ended up delaying their escape. We nearly didn't escape at all. I made a mistake, forcing myself to be involved."

"So did I," Syrra sighed.

"But like everyone else," Luke continued, "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. That's not to say I don't feel them anymore, far from it. I would never ask anyone to purge themselves of all emotion."

"But if it gets in the way-- I mean, I just--" She winced as she fumbled for words, trying to find a way to express her worries. "Damn, I didn't mean it like that."

"You have a deep devotion to duty, Syrra, and I admire that," he told her gently. "Yet a Jedi must put an emphasis on compassion in order to serve others effectively. That can only stem from our ability to care for others, to worry for their safety, and to act when they need our help." He smiled. "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'll be clear – I'm not."

"You're not?" she repeated.

"I'm actually proud that you recognized that what you did had consequences that affected yourself and those around you," he informed her warmly. "That's simply part of what being a Jedi is. 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," he remarked. "In fact, I wouldn't mind the opportunity to speak with him, if you're both comfortable with that. You have my word I have no intention to pry into whatever relationship you have, physical or not."

"I don't mind you talking to him about it," she told him, feeling more relaxed. "I admit I was a little concerned about revealing this to you, but I'm glad you're fine with it."

"Why wouldn't I be?" Luke asked.

"I just figured celibacy was standard for Jedi," she shrugged. "Something off-limits to keep us composed."

"Celibacy?" Luke looked mildly confused. "Who told you that?"

Syrra got down from her perch on the viewport. "My mother, actually. It seems like it's common knowledge to everybody who isn't a Jedi."

"Celibacy isn't a precept of Jedi conduct," Luke informed her. "It never was."

Now it was Syrra's turn to bear a confused look. "But Jedi weren't supposed to form attachments back then, weren't they?"

"I can understand the perspective, I've looked into the matter myself," Luke explained. "As my sister had gotten married and later became pregnant, I thought it would be worth investigating. Marriage back then was restricted by the Jedi Council, except in very special circumstances, and forming personal attachments was forbidden."

"So it was," she murmured, the sensation of disappointment returning for an entirely different reason.

"But that restriction wasn't always in place," he added quickly. "And there were exceptions."

"What were those exceptions?"

"Corellian Jedi, who are part of a family-centric culture, were allowed to be married, for one," Luke informed her. "And on the Jedi Council at least one of their masters was granted exemption because of his species' low birth rates. But even with the marriage restriction, the Jedi of the Clone Wars era didn't forbid sexual relationships, which, as you can imagine, conflicted heavily with their restriction to personal attachment from time to time."

"So... what about now?" she asked hopefully.

"I made a conscious choice to ensure my students here could still be people outside of the Praxeum," he told her with a smile. "No giving up on their family, and no forbidding them from starting them. Just as an example, Master Corran Horn and his wife are expecting their first child in a few weeks, and the whole of our Praxeum's faculty are in support of it."

What worries she had about having to suppress her relationship with the wolf captain had vanished, now replaced with the joy of knowing not only could she spend time cultivating it, but that the Jedi Praxeum would support her and anyone like her.

"You don't need to worry, Syrra," he continued, seeming to get a bead on her thoughts. "I had, and still have, no plants to forbid relationships that are emotional or physical." He chuckled. "After all, I'm only one man. I can't force the universe to bend to archaic and likely unnecessary viewpoints. I doubt I'll ever see the need to do so."

"I honestly had no idea," she said, breathing more easily than she had when they'd started talking. "But that's great."

"And if it should even get to the point of marriage, well... that's not forbidden in this order, either," he added.

"Er, well," the joy mixed with slight alarm and embarrassment, though she smiled with her blush. "Damn. It's really too early to think of that, isn't it?"

He laughed. "Perhaps, 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. If you ever need to speak to anyone else about it for advice, you're welcome to come to us for it, being a teacher means being able to look out for a student's well-being."

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

Luke regarded her carefully, then nodded. "Well what I really think, Syrra, is that you're well on your way to becoming a Jedi Knight. 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 with an expression of mild intrigue. "Really? We have an ample amount of instructional material on six lightsaber forms, but no holovid demonstrations. Certainly not from before the Jedi Purge. How did he get ahold of these?"

Syrra paused, not certain how to answer. It occurred to her that Kajex had never explained how his adoptive father came to own them. "I'm actually not quite sure," she admitted after a few moments. "He mentioned his surrogate father was a scholar who collected them at some point, 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 immediately, regarding them with curiosity 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, be sure to convey my deepest thanks to him, and assure him that I'll put it to good use."

She nodded. "I will. 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 back."

The words brought a smile to her face. "It's good to be back."