Chapter Text
Chapter 10: Failing to be Civilians
Freight transport between mine refineries and buyers kept the Specter Gold fueled and in good repair. The mundane suited their need to hide. But boring. With an Imperial shipping license, Kanan could have his pick of jobs. He stayed well away from a set pattern. For now the ship was hidden in a cave far beyond visual range. It was the simplest way to obscure their return to the Lothal Temple.
Kanan hoped to stay for awhile. Their last visit had been just as disappointingly brief as their first. Jedut had placed the chest in a smaller cavern and said that they needed to leave. It had been months of staying away from Lothal as completely as possible.
Now Kanan wandered the dark caverns of the natural Living Temple. It did not have the grandeur of Coruscant or the brute strength of Malachor. He did not understand what made Jedut enthralled with these caves. The Force seemed no different than the other Temples. He turned down another branch of tunnels.
Into a pristine Jedi dojo. Woven reed mats. Warm white walls. And an impressive display of lightsaber hilts. Kanan grinned and picked up the lightsaber pike that looked exactly like the one the Temple Guards used. It was heavy. Far heavier than Jedut had made it look.
“You are not ready for such a blade.” Jedut said from the doorway.
Kanan jolted. He looked over his shoulder sheepishly. He eyed the Pau’an who carried several layers of cloth. “What are you wearing?” Jedut was dressed in wide legged dark gray pants and a white tabard crossing his chest. The yellow flourishes resembled those of the Coruscant Temple Guards.
“The Temple showed me the living quarters.” Jedut placed the folded clothing to the side. “It is appropriate to not wear armor within this Temple. Though it appears you wish train.”
“That is what I have been asking ever since we encounter the Inquisitors.” Kanan said exasperated. “Now seems like a great time to learn other blade designs.” He tried to swing the pike, but his hand did not fully wrapped around it.
“You can barely lift that.” Jedut sighed. “At least start with a traditional double blade.”
Kanan reluctantly replaced the pike back onto the wall mount. “How can this place look like the ones back on Coruscant?”
“Because it is what we know. The Temple is granting us familiarity.” Jedut removed a folded hilt and held it out for Kanan. “This is more suitable for a beginner. Longer hilt, same diameter as your own. Shorter blades. You may need to adjust the blade length to your height. Normally I would recommend a non-bladed staff.”
Kanan grasped the hilt with wide eyes. “Really!”
“Don’t allow your impatience get the better of you.” Jedut stepped away. “Go through the forms. Without the blades.”
“Fine.” The forms were different with a long double blade. Kanan frowned as he caught up in how to position the hilt in some stances. Jedut did not say a word to help. He stopped. “This is harder than I thought.”
“Expected.” Jedut nodded. He flipped out a folded hilt. “Perhaps you should return to practicing with a single blade.” He ignited both green blades. A slight frown was the only indication of Jedut’s disappointment. “Your practice has lapsed significantly.”
“We had other things going on!” Kanan retorted.
Jedut shrugged and began the forms. Kanan watched at the smooth transitions between stances. “There is time now. You should practice what you will use.” Jedut felt far more relaxed than Kanan could ever remember. Considering the speed the Pau’an usually practiced, this was slow and meditative.
“Maybe we could stay here.” Kanan tried to copy Jedut’s steps once he realized Jedut repeated Form I.
“That would be ideal. Though unrealistic.”
Kanan stumbled in his steps as he focused too much on arm placement. It was as if he was going through Form I for the first time all over again. “Well, maybe not here in the Temple. But Lothal as our home base? The nearest town wouldn’t be surprised with a couple of new residents.”
“You were the one who insisted that we not remain anywhere for too long.” Jedut began Form I once again. “It is tempting.”
“If we don’t encounter any more Inquisitors in the next few runs, maybe we could.” Kanan started to match Jedut’s stances and pace. He was glad the blades were not active with how many times his hands slipped with the new grip positions. “Jed… Why would Jedi become Inquisitors?”
“To keep their lives…. To continue fighting…. I do not have those answers, Kanan. I do not know what situation they were presented with. Did they join willingly? Or given limited options? Or persuaded with promises of power? We still know very little about this Empire.” Jedut slowed in his flow until he stopped.
Kanan turned and found Jedut returning the folded hilt. “We know enough. It took over all the Republic planets and most of the Separatist planets. It likes precision and control. And is willing to kill anyone that stands in its way.” Kanan hated seeing the soldiers bullying the denizens of every town he had been in.
“We are not capable of fighting against the might of this Empire no matter how much you wish to.”
“They killed everyone we knew! Are killing everyone who tries to resist. Jed, I was wrong… I can’t stop wanting to help. I still hurt thinking about what we did on Yeop III. What we didn’t do! We could have saved whoever they were hunting!” Kanan couldn’t contain his anger at having to walk away.
Jedut settled into a kneeling meditation. “You would be dead.”
“There has to be something we can do, Jed! The Inquisitor’s ship didn’t give us anything!” Kanan paced the room. “Not even the location of their base.”
“What would you have done with that knowledge? We have no army. You barely know how to fight.”
“I know how to fight!”
The Pau’an opened his eyes and the gray irises sharpened, causing Kanan to step back. “You wish to die?” Kanan’s grief spilled from him. He scrubbed the tears in his eyes. “Your death will mean nothing.”
Kanan dropped to the mats. “What’s the point?”
“Patience is difficult. Restraint even harder. I can do nothing to ease your grief. The opportunity you seek will find you. I ask you to remain alive until then.” Jedut closed his eyes. The low hum of his meditation enveloped the room. Kanan repositioned into a better meditative position. It wasn’t as easy to release his anger. He tried. It kept gnawing at him. The vision of Master Billaba’s death kept returning.
***
The delivery of the refined falndin ore ingots was just another job in a long run of jobs. Kanan had grown over the years. No longer the boy struggling to prove himself. It was the broken down lightsaber hilt on Kanan’s belt that worried Jedut. The young man was still too quick to get into fights. Though he reached for the blaster first, the day would come when Kanan drew the lightsaber first. Jedut hoped the young man chose wisely and prepared for trouble he would gain.
Jedut completed the landing sequence. Kanan was out of the pilot’s seat immediately. “I got this, Jed.”
“Kanan, there is a reason we complete these jobs together.” Jedut turned in their seat.
“It’s just a routine drop. I’ll be in and out in no time.” Kanan punched the loading bay door button. “Go find a place for lunch.”
Jedut frowned. He was beside Kanan in two strides. “It is a long distance to travel alone. You need a second pair of eyes—.”
“I got this, Jed.” Kanan said firmly. The young man’s jaw was set. “I don’t need you looking over my shoulder to complete a routine drop. It will be fine. We’ve done this hundred of times. I can do this one by myself.”
Stepping back, Jedut nodded. “Very well. Find me when you have completed the job.” Humans matured strangely. Often volatile. Only experience would temper their spirit as many long lived Masters had explained.
“Right…” Kanan blinked in surprise. “Thanks.” He triggered the repulser lifts on the crates and coupled them to the speeder. “It’ll be fine.” The human mounted the bike and sped off into the city.
It would be only a matter of time before Jedut learned if they would need to collect Kanan from some bar or cantina. It was a misfortunate choice, but one Kanan could make. Jedut donned their helmet and exited the ship. While paying for the docking fee, fuel, and minor repairs, Jedut frowned at another pastime Kanan had gotten caught up in. Perhaps this trip included one of the human’s smuggling deals. A far more dangerous prospect than find the human passed out after drinking.
Still Jedut allowed Kanan to think he could keep secrets.
This city was vast with a complicated maze of streets and alleyways. More dead ends than passages. Worst of all, it was loud. Jedut adjusted the volume coming through the helmet’s sensors. Kanan was smart enough to keep his commlink ready. Jedut would be able to respond quickly if Kanan needed assistance. Jedut had nothing else to do but wander through these crowded streets.
Jedut idly looked at the many vendor tables and shop windows. Most of these things were useless to them. They had to backtrack from several winding dead ends, but down one Jedut caught the scent of fresh blood under the char of cooked meat. They pushed aside the curtain awning to find a counter with several stools anchored to the wall. Another food vendor, but he swore the blood came from here.
“Be with you in a minute,” a slow cadence of an accent Jedut had not heard in person called from the unseen inner room. Jedut eyed the pans and flat grill behind the counter as they removed their helmet. “Red meat or white…..” A Pau’an in deep dusty red robes with a high collar framing their head. “I know what you want, but it will take longer.” It was the slow speech of a Pau’an not raised to speak Basic. One raised on Utapau.
Jedut took a seat. “I believe you are the first Pau’an I have met.”
“It is rare for us to travel beyond Utapau.”
Nodding, Jedut said, “I will take you up on that offer. I can spare the time.”
The Vendor nodded and reentered the back. An animal squealed in distress, followed by a thud and silence. The smell of warm blood entered the air. Exactly what brought Jedut here. The Vendor approached to set down a warm mug before Jedut. They nodded silently before returning to complete the butchering. It had been quite some time since they had gone hunting. Appreciating the fresh blood was not always possible when hunting alone. Now they could savor the nutrient dense viscous fluid. There was no other texture like it. They emptied the mug in one swallow, enjoying the luxury.
Perhaps they should make their way to Utapau. No strange looks. No questions. One of thousands.
Jedut set the mug at the Vendor’s edge of the counter, still savoring the lingering taste of what was to come. The wait mattered little. Kanan would call and find them once the job was done. The Vendor exited the curtained off butchering area with a well designed plate of raw red meat. The limbs still on the bone. Blood just barely starting to coagulate. Jedut pushed a pile of credits towards the Vendor.
The Vendor protested, “You haven’t even started.”
“I may be interrupted. Your consideration has already been worth it.”
“Much appreciated, Traveler.” The Vendor nodded graciously. They returned to the back, no doubt to clean up after the butchering.
Jedut began their much anticipated meal. Nothing compared to a fresh kill. They were halfway through the meal when the Vendor returned. Jedut remarked, “This a most unexpected shop to stumble upon.”
The Vendor smiled, their needle pointed teeth strange to see in another. “We are not the only species to enjoy fresh meat. I serve as butcher for many others in this district.”
Jedut’s commlink pinged and Kanan immediately started speaking with anxiety. “Jed? Where are you?” Distant blaster fire reached the auditory input. “Things aren’t going smoothly….. Jed?” Though distant, Jedut reached out in the Force. Kanan was frightened but not in danger. “Answer me, Jed.” Not in enough danger if the human was demanding in that tone.
Chewing another piece of meat, Jedut finally replied, “If you spent the time figuring out the situation rather than call me, you would be done by now.”
“A lot of help you are,” Kanan snarled, ending the commlink.
“Sounds young.” The Vendor commented.
“Human.” Jedut sighed, selecting another piece.
“My condolences.” They bowed their head respectfully.
Motioning to the flat grill, Jedut asked, “Is the cooktop a facade?”
The Vendor chuckled softly. “I was amazed at how many beings choose to have someone else cook their meat. I am butcher in the morning and cook by nightfall.”
“A curious occupation,” Jedut could not stop the half smile.
“An unexpected business.” The Vendor went about their tasks of cleaning the stand. “Forgive my curiosity, but you are not of Utapau.”
“I am not.” Jedut regarded the other Pau’an. “I was raised on Coruscant.”
“A difficult place.”
“I know no different.”
“You are young. Traveling becomes a strain. May you find silence and shade often.”
“My gratitude for your hospitality.” Jedut bowed shallowly. They selected a leg bone, satisfied with the crunch. The marrow from a fresh kill was far preferred. As they felt Kanan approaching, they could indulge a bit longer.
Vendor looked up before Kanan even slipped into the stall. “Red meat or white?” They asked.
Kanan answered, calming his breath from a run. “I’ll have what he’s…. No… I won’t…” Kanan finally glanced at the plate in front of Jedut and at Jedut gnawing on the bones.
With a patience Jedut rarely felt any more, Vendor asked again. “Red meat or white?”
“Cooked?” Kanan’s voice cracked up with the question. Embarrassment flooded through the young man.
“Easily done.” Vendor prepared thin strips of dark red meat with seasoning and set it on the grill over a fire. It was done quickly and served with a small bowl of sauce. Jedut passed over payment. More than the cost. Vendor raised an eyebrow and Jedut shrugged.
Kanan took a bite. He hummed in surprise. “This is good.” The young man ate quickly.
Jedut put down the bone. They heard the march of Troopers just as the Vendor did. They both eyed the entrance of alley. Kanan tried to reduce his presence and hide behind the more slender Pau’an. The Troopers continued passed with only a cursory glance at the Pau’ans. They passed without incident.
“There is a smaller alley beside the shop. It will take you several streets down. Unnoticed by many.” Vendor motioned to their left. “Perhaps we may meet again, Traveler.”
“Perhaps we may.” Jedut stood. He bowed respectfully, already missing the familiarity with this stranger. Kanan led the way down the narrow alley. Jedut donned their helmet and followed.
They neared the space port without encountering Troopers. Kanan said conversationally, “You really want to come back to this planet just for a shop?”
“It is not for the shop.” Jedut explained. “Pau’ans are not common off Utapau. I may encounter them again centuries from now.”
“Oh… right…” Kanan sobered. “You’re not still going to be traveling then, are you?”
“I do not know what I will be doing tomorrow, much less centuries.” Jedut bit out.
“What?” Kanan tried play ignorance.
“You will explain why the Troopers are looking for you.”
“They could be looking for anyone.”
“You hid. You suspected you were a target.” Jedut took a different turn. Kanan scrambled to follow. Troopers were too close to that exit. They recognized these alleys from their earlier wanderings. “Kanan, what went wrong?”
“Uh…”
Jedut growled in annoyance. “Kanan, you requested help. I do not care if you pick up smuggling jobs, but I cannot help if I do not know.”
“You didn’t actually help.” Kanan retorted.
“Was I needed?”
“What?”
“Was I needed? Clearly not as you are here now. The question is, did you anger more than the local law enforcement?” Jedut turned to face the human.
“No! Jed, I didn’t! I delivered the ingots. Met with the contact for the drop, got paid. The Troopers caught sight of the contact. I bailed.” Kanan wilted under Jedut’s unrelenting stare. They did not sense falsehoods. “I swear, Jed!”
Jedut relaxed slightly. “Very well. Take the jobs you deem appropriate. It is still safer to work together.”
“Agreed. So… you’re fine with smuggling?”
Jedut turned away, leaving a groan as an answer. They continued to the spaceport. Kanan was a few steps behind. “You’re taking the jobs anyway. I would rather know.”
***
The smuggling deals went smoother with a tall silent looming figure at Kanan’s shoulder. Keeping the helmet in place was an even greater help. It suited Jedut quite well to simply stand there and let the human do all the talking. They had lost patience with this group of blackmarket dealers.
Kanan was trying to negotiate. “We never agreed on a price. But the heat on this was more than reported.”
“I’m not giving you a credit more than my initial offer.” The Weequay growled. His annoyance with the human had grown exponentially since the meeting began.
“Then I guess I’ll just find another buyer.” Kanan said confidently. He pulled the hovering crate closer. “By then it will be triple. At the very least. You know how bidding can get.” Kanan shrugged. Jedut did not move though Kanan had turned his back to the four Weequays. There was too much animosity. It was almost as if Kanan thrived on the threat of blaster fights.
The Weequays whispered to each other. Jedut had not asked what the contents of the crate was, but it was desperately desired by this group. The speaker called out, “Wait! An additional five thousand credits.”
Turning back slightly, Kanan tilted his head to look at Jedut, as if that would change his decision. “You know, you’re right. If they have an additional five, then they could have easily paid the additional ten. I’ll settle for an additional seven thousand.” He faced the Weequays. “How ‘bout it, guys?”
Through gritted teeth, the spokesman said, “Six.”
“Hmm…. That’s a tough choice. Good thing my friend likes you.” Kanan walked forward pushing the crate. “I’ll accept that deal.”
Jedut’s eyes darted to the dark shadows in the forest. They sensed movement that was not animals. Keeping their speakers muted, Jedut spoke directly to Kanan’s comm. “We should leave. I sense that they have only wanted to delay us.”
“Payment?” Kanan held out his hand to the Weequay.
“Nota is bringing the rest.”
“Wrong answer.” Kanan pulled the crate back. “I’ll avoid doing business with you in the future. Let’s go.” Kanan kept one hand free as he pushed the crate towards the Specter Gold. Jedut walked backwards several steps. Their eyes remained on the forest. Once they were away from the Weequay’s hearing range, Kanan asked, “What do you hear?”
“Two, perhaps three, humanoids. The Weequays were studiously not looking at the forest.”
“How worried should we be?” The question rephrased the obvious of ‘should we run.’
“Maintain for now. They are uncertain if we’re who they seek.” Jedut buried the rising anger as deep as they could. It would only give them away. A red blade announced how foolish their loss of control had been. “We are going to be flushed out. Keep heading to the ship.”
“How did they find us?”
“They were led.” Jedut pulled their electro-staff from their shoulder. “Something you said or did in the presence of those Weequays made them suspicious.”
“Well, you’re going to give us away.” Kanan pulled his blaster. The human had spotted the ominous red blade.
A shadowy figure landed lightly on the crate. Kanan stumbled back, firing at the Inquisitor, who blocked effortlessly. “How interesting to find two. Eighth Sister, do these look like the same ones you found?”
The larger shadow stepped into the glow of the red blade. “Taller than I remember. But that one’s helmet has not changed.” Eighth Sister reached behind her shoulder and removed a circular hilt. “Seventh Brother, Fourteenth Sister, we have some work to do.”
“The Grandmaster wants them alive,” Seventh Brother warned. He pointed his red blade at Kanan.
The last stalked up on Jedut from behind. They could feel the screeching from her duel red bladed lightsaber. Fourteenth Sister kept her distance, clearly having heard how many of her fellow Inquisitors had died. “The Grandmaster has yet to be concerned about missing limbs.”
“Alive, Sister,” Eighth Sister said.
Kanan’s blaster was useless in this fight. The human risked a glance behind him. “Set five?” He asked, using the code for their preplanned attack patterns. Kanan was an adept tactician. Jedut had to give the young man credit for everything he had learned during the Clone Wars.
Jedut nodded. Their electro-staff ignited with crackling orange pulses of high voltage electricity. It wouldn’t survive this fight, but Jedut didn’t need it to. Just long enough for them to obtain one of the Inquisitor lightsabers.
With a burst of blaster fire at Seventh Brother, Kanan rolled away from the Inquisitors. Jedut immediately rushed in to block Seventh Brother from following the human. Kanan quickly reassembled his lightsaber while Jedut blocked each of Seventh Brother’s attacks. It amazed Jedut that these Inquisitors still had enough sense of honor to allow for a duel rather than all three rush in at once. Or they were just not that coordinated.
The bright blue thin saber sang, brilliantly familiar in Jedut’s awareness. Kanan brandished his lightsaber as he took his place facing off against the Inquisitors. He grinned. “This would go much faster if you had your lightsaber.”
“And attract notice. Remain focused.” Jedut warned. While Kanan was beginning to hold his own in their spars, he had not faced a trained opponent. Droids and Clones did not equal an Inquisitor.
“I’ve been wanting to get back at them,” Kanan growled. He rushed at slender Fourteenth Sister. Their blades clashed wildly. Jedut regulated that duel to the back of their mind.
Eighth Sister and Seventh Brother charged at Jedut with coordinated strikes. Jedut grinned at the challenge. The first in such a long time. They used the assault to study these new Inquisitors. Seventh Brother was agile and aggressive, sneaking in attacks while Eighth Sister was relentless in her heavy strikes, bent on destroying the electro-staff. Jedut focused on dodging, perhaps relying on their own nimbleness and speed more than combat skills.
“A shame really,” Jedut drawled, slipping easily away from each slash of red. “Neither of you trust in the aggressive forms. Falling back into old habits. Wishing to have that unrelenting rain of blaster fire rather than having to duel. I will give your Grandmaster credit for instilling in you the craving for power.”
“All you’ve done is dodge!” Seventh Brother raged.
Jedut parried Seventh Brother’s next strike and whirled their staff to slam into the Inquisitor’s back. “Your attempts at Form II are sloppy.” Jedut twisted and rolled across the ground to avoid a hammering strike. Eighth Sister was faster than Jedut had credited her for. She had been holding back. Crouched low, with the staff held before them, Jedut nodded in acknowledgement. “Your tactics bear strong resemblance to Jedi Master Pong Krell’s. I was unaware he had a Padawan.”
“A lot happens outside the Temple,” Eighth Sister grinned, her emotions bleeding into the Force recklessly. She now used her superior size and brute strength to her advantage, pushing Jedut into a retreat. Each blow their electro-staff caught threatened to break the shaft. Jedut realized Eighth Sister had distanced them from Kanan.
Seventh Brother had darted towards Kanan, who had difficulty keeping Fourteenth Sister at bay. Jedut needed to change tactics. They could no longer afford to delay. Not with the Padawan facing two Inquisitors. They ripped the lightfoil from its secure hiding place in his boot and blocked the next strike. Nearly in the same motion, they turned and threw the electro-staff at Seventh Brother. It struck the Inquisitor in the right shoulder. The burst of surprise from Kanan’s presence meant he had been unaware of the flank attack.
Eighth Sister pushed down on the thin white blade. “What did you hope to accomplish?” Her physical strength threatened to overwhelm Jedut’s split attention. “You can’t save him.”
“He does not need saving.” Jedut gritted their teeth, pushing back against the raging red blade. They risked the momentary distraction to reach out with the Force and grab Seventh Brother’s lightsaber. It snapped into their right hand and both blades flared to life. “I merely wanted this.” Jedut grinned as he slash at Eighth Sister’s exposed side. She leapt back to reevaluate. Jedut tucked the lightfoil back into its sheath.
“Interesting.” Eighth Sister ignited her second blade. “Are you afraid you will bleed that crystal for a second time?” Jedut’s heart froze. “You belong with us. You know this to be true. You witnessed it through your own hatred and anger. It is inevitable.”
“Nothing is inevitable.”
“Evidence suggests otherwise.” She surged forward. Her strikes remained hard and fast. Jedut focused on redirecting those blows, minimizing the needed effort to block.
They found the potential weakness in her delayed recoil. Quickly taking a moment to reset the lightsaber to a single blade, Jedut began needling through her defense. Small precise wounds. Each making the next swing of the blade harder. Until they relieved Eighth Sister of her weapon. Jedut towered above the exhausted Inquisitor. Two blades angled at her throat. “Who is this Grandmaster? This Lord Vader?”
Eighth Sister chuckled darkly. “You will leave nothing but death and destruction in your wake. You already belong to Lord Vader.” Jedut cut through her neck and burned through her helmet. For her to know anything about the yellow blade turning red, there had to be recording devices in the helmets.
With their next step, the Temple Guard was back on Malachor, slicing through Jedi and Sith without regard to loyalty. Their Vision flashed through the many memories of those Temple Guards. The color of blade made no difference. Malachor had ended in tragedy. They felt those deaths a hundred times again.
An agonizing step forward and Jedut forced the Vision to end. Death was inevitable when opposing views clashed. The justification of such killing was the realm of the philosophers who who had never felt the life cut short by their hands. Jedut narrowed their sights on the Inquisitor waiting in the shadows of the forest with the electro staff as Fourteenth Sister herded Kanan towards him. Kanan held his own, but would not succeed against two opponents. Even if one had an inferior weapon.
Nor should they waste any more time on this planet.
Jedut threw the rapidly spinning blades at Seventh Brother and darted for Fourteenth Sister. They cut through her from behind, ignoring the sickening thud of her corpse hitting the ground. Kanan’s disgust was unrestrained as Jedut used the red blade to destroy the Inquisitor’s helmet.
“Why did you do that?” Kanan demanded.
“They record.” Jedut answered sharply, yanking the blade from the molten mess of metal and plastoid. Scorched flesh soured the air. They stalked towards Seventh Brother. “We should not remain here any longer. We do not know if these Inquisitors have called for assistance or if the Weequays have notified the Empire. And we don’t have time for you to play around!” Jedut slammed the red blade into Seventh Brother’s helmet. It sizzled against wet amphibious skin.
Kanan halted his thought with an undisguised groan of disgust. “Was that necessary, Jed?”
“Leaving them alive means they will follow us.” Jed turned in the direction of the ship. It was far enough that they were not looking forward to the walk. “Being found puts the Temple at risk. Getting caught means being killed at best.” They summoned the remaining lightsabers, refusing to let them fall into unsuspecting hands, hanging on their belt’s bag clips.
“At best?” Kanan looked nervously at the dead Inquisitors. “What’s at worst?”
Jedut closed their eyes and searched for a sense of peace that felt inaccessible. “You do not want me to speculate. At worst, we would choose to join the Inquisitorious.”
The human did not say anything else. It suited Jedut fine to trudge to the ship in silence. The unease in the deepening chimes representing Kanan’s Force signature left a stain of despair in Guard’s soul. This Padawan had already been through enough. Jedut could no longer hide the increasing horrors of this Empire from the young man, though they kept trying to ease the burden.
Jedut slowed as they approached the Specter Gold. Something felt off. Kanan rushed in complaining about loosing the stolen shipment of blasters. Jedut followed, adjusting the ambient noise filtering into their helmet. There was another heartbeat. Kanan hadn’t seemed to notice the presence of a person inside the haulcraft. Jedut readied one lightsaber and entered the main hold. Not three steps in, they ignited the blade at the throat of a boy. A Padawan’s age. Human. Jedut fought to keep their hand steady.
The child shrank back, hands crowding his face. “Don’t! Please don’t… don’t kill me.” The boy whispered harshly. Fear was within that voice, but so were lies. “I was trying to escape from the red blades…. Please.. take me with you.”
Lowering the blade, Jedut wanted to believe that this boy could be saved. “Then you will be safe here.” They deactivated the blade and continued into the hold. Jedut did wave their hand to halt the bay door from closing. The boy needed the chance to change his mind. Instead one of the hilts lifted from their belt. Jedut turned to see the boy grasp it with a dark smile.
“When I kill you, Grandmaster will reward me.” The boy’s eyes gleamed with greed. He lunged at Jedut. A straight forward, close quarters stab. Jedut ignited their lightsaber and parried the blade without a thought. Rammed the red blade into the boy’s heart as easily as a practice droid.
Two hilts clattered to the floor. Jedut caught the boy in their arms. Guard’s heart broke at the sight of one so young turning to the Dark Side to survive only to be struck down before he ever lived. “I am sorry, young one. Times have made traitors of us all.” Guard closed the boy’s eyes. “May the Force protect you as you journey beyond.”
“Jed?” Kanan called from the interior corridor. “Jed, what’s wrong? Thought we…. Jed?”
“Remain in the ship, Kanan Jarrus.” Heart heavy, Jedut stood and carried the boy out of the haulcraft. Making sure there were no weapons remaining on the boy, Jedut set the boy on the ground and summoned boulders of all sizes to form a grave mound. It would have to do. Jedut paused and tried to sense the Force taking the spirit away, but there was nothing.
“Jed…” Kanan stood behind them. “We need to leave. The Imperials are arriving.”
Guard could only nod and follow Kanan back to the Specter Gold. The lives they had stolen from this galaxy remained tied to them. Death and destruction did indeed follow in their wake. What was the survival of one Padawan to all the blood Guard had spilled.