The Weaving Force: Chapter 104 (Patreon)

Chapter 104:

Taylor:

By the time I was done with most of my tasks and double checking the footage I’d gotten from the 212th and Obi-Wan, I still had about an hour before I was set to meet with Alexandria.

The coruscanti sun was beginning to go down, but it wasn’t quite ‘bed time’ for most of the Masters in the temple yet.

Which means I had time to arrange a last minute… thing 

“Thank you for agreeing to help.” I said, allowing my gratitude to leak out through the force, even if my voice and expression were as placid as ever.

“I’m more than happy to.” Master Drallig nodded with an easy smile on his features. For all his title of “Battlemaster” sounded fierce and stern and imposing; I’d generally say the man was probably one of the kinder, more personable masters I knew in the order. Probably because we interacted together more than most given my duties as creche master.

Right now Cin walked at my side. Some of the other Jedi couldn’t quite hide their surprise at seeing us together, others offered the Battlemaster and myself respectful and polite nods, even as the man spoke. 

“I am curious however;” He began. “We did have the practice seminar that Master Dallon assisted me with earlier, why did you not ask for my help before that?”

“Honestly; everything is happening all at once.” I answered simply, refraining from mentioning that, unlike us, he was still tucked away in this nice, insulated, safe temple. Not on the battlegrounds and all the complications that came with it. “I hadn’t thought of it until now; I actually asked Vicky before, but realized you’d be a better pick.”

“Oh?” Cin raised an eyebrow. “I do believe Master Dallon is more powerful than I at this point.” He admitted easily. 

I could appreciate a man who didn’t have an over-inflated ego. 

More Defiant and less Armsmaster. 

“Not looking for power.” I clarified. “Looking for skill.”

He made an acknowledging, considering sound, seemingly thinking on the words for a moment before offering an understanding nod. 

Vicky was widely considered, and rightly so in my absolutely unbiased and objective opinion, one of the most powerful ‘Jedi’ in the Galaxy right now. 

But that strength was coming partly by leveraging two distinct strengths in tandem, her passenger and the Force itself.

The Sith, unless something had dramatically changed, didn’t have that.

So taking Fragile one out of the equation, Vicky was still strong…

But there were a lot of others who were just better.

Cin was one of those. 

Someone I could feasibly see being on the level of the threats we were fighting. Jorus, Komari and the shadowy “Master”

So he would be the perfect measuring stick. 

And he was a better teacher than most. Better than me in some respects. 

So, in short, he was perfect for my current needs. “What exactly are you hoping to find through my… ‘skill’? He asked after a moment’s quiet, giving into his curiosity.

“How much have you heard about the recent developments with Karla?” I asked. Best to know how much I would have to explain.

“Hmm Not much.” He admitted. “I’ve heard that she has developed abilities in a similar vein to your own. Sensing her earlier, I did note her signature had become far more like yours and Dallon’s but hardly wished to pry. Word would get around eventually.”

I nodded. “Fair enough. To satisfy your curiosity, Karla has developed what we’d call a thinker ability, back home. More specifically, Empath. She’s hyper accurate on reading people’s emotions. Much more so than what Jedi normally are and…” Here came the problematic part. “As a ‘side benefit’ so to speak, she can control her own emotional spectrum to an almost unheard of degree.”

He looked confused, taking a second to fully grasp the implications before his brow furrowed. “I’m… not entirely sure I understand.”

I could see on his face that he understood perfectly. He was just hoping he was wrong.

I shook my head. “Any emotion. Anxiety, nervousness, fear, anger. She can turn it on, or off, near instantly. Just like you and I flick on lights in a hallway.”

“And other things? Calm? Joy? Pride?”

“Everything.”

The man looked troubled. “That’s…”

“A potential issue, I’m aware.” I cut him off, sighing as I rubbed a spot on my head. “Master Vushan has already agreed to research every Jedi and species that’s ever had unique emotional developments and needs that he can find in the archive. Other Council members will be keeping an eye on her and I will be too. You’re probably not going to say anything that hasn’t run through my head already.”

The Battlemaster eyed me for a moment before nodding. “I understand.” He answered cautiously after a second.  “But I’m not seeing the connection with my services.”

Well its… simple.” I shrugged. “I want to see if her emotional control can have the applicability I suspect as a combat thinker. 

—

A few minutes later, after taking the time to reassure the Battlemaster than ‘No, I don’t intend to have my Padawan become a raging berserker for a test’  we found ourselves, in the communal ‘eating’ area.

It wasn’t quite a ‘mess hall’ of course. More like a lounge, or an assortment of loosely spread out tables you’d find in one of those upper end cafe’s; or college campuses. 

At this hour, the place was quite full, or at least as close to full as it could get these days with so many Jedi off world across a hundred thousand battlefronts. 

Some of my old students caught sight of me and Master Drallig, now padawans in their own right, and it took me a few moments to say hello to all of the ones who eagerly ran up to me before continuing on.

When I finally reached my intended targets I… found myself blinking.

“That is way too much sugar!” I said.

Vicky paused, a spoonful of blue milk based ice cream stuffed into her gob, just one, tiny infinitesimal fraction of the mountain of blue confectionery of cream, sprinkles, chocolate, bananas and syrup dominating the middle of the table like a giant centerpiece.

“Its for the children.” She mumbled, with the spoon still stuffed there. “They deserve it.”

“Ist is cold blooded and would probably have preferred a hot chocolate.” I deadpanned.

Iskt nodded, getting a couple of hasty slaps to his shoulder for his honesty. 

I caught the little troll’s needle tooth smirk on the side of his face that I could see. “No Miss Taylor. I’m not gonna go into hypothermia because of a little ice cream.” He said before stuffing a rather large spoonful into his own mouth with deliberate, languid slowness, mimicking the lethargy he would be experiencing in that state if it were happening. 

‘You are so grounded’ Vicky hissed into his ear.

“It was all her idea!” Anakin said with his mouth full; Ahsoka cradling her face in her hands with a helpless groan of ‘Master’

“Let me guess.” I drawled, crossing my arms. “You two idiots challenged eachother to something like who could eat the most ice cream?”

“No!” Vicky protested.

Karla raised her hand.

I looked to her.

“It was to see who wouldn’t get brain freeze.” Karla ‘helped’ her little legs swinging back and forth as they dangled from her chair. 

I looked at Vicky.

She looked back.

Then she smiled. “I’m winning by the way!”

I opened my mouth, ready to say something when Vicky took the readily available out standing right next to me.

“Oh hey Master Drallig!” She waved. “You want some? It’s really good!”

“I’m sure it is.” The man answered with a somewhat bemused chuckle. “But I think I was brought here for something a tad bit less… delicious.” He finished diplomatically.

“Oh!” Vicky perked up. “What’re we doin?”

“You remember how we discussed some of Karla’s potential Combat Thinker applications.” I explained with shorthand. Vicky nodded, following easily.  “Master Drallig agreed to help test things.”

My blonde partner grinned, offering a thumbs up. “Nice! Always knew I liked you Master Cin! I mean that this time.”

“You mean you didn’t mean it all the other times?” Iskt asked ‘innocently’ as Vicky gave him a stink eye as Anakin guffawed and Ahsoka choked on a mouthful of ice cream. 

“You’re a terrible influence Skywalker!”

As Anakin and Vicky argued, my eyes trailed towards Karla finding, her eyes almost darting between the four at the table, wide and… enraptures, the smile growing bit by bit on her face.

I reached out with an ethereal hand, brushing her thoughts as subtly as I could.

My eyes trailed towards Vicky, who met my gaze for a split second mid argument, offering me a blink and you miss it wink before she went back to her bickering.

I fought down my own smile, reminded one more time as to who exactly I was dating…

—

I couldn’t stay for Cin’s test with Karla, I did tell Vicky where exactly I was going, which made her worry a bit. It was no secret that I’d rarely allowed myself to be alone anywhere with Alexandria without some kind of buffer between us. Witnesses were useful for both our sakes.

But I didn’t want to leave Karla alone either. 

So, Vicky stayed.

It’d be fine. 

I could handle one conversation. 

The Speeder ride to the Senate rotunda building was somehow too long and too short all at once. The massive, dome like structure looming in the distance. An impossibility of architecture.

I’d heard somewhere, maybe in the archives, maybe from a tour guide, that the dome was so large, droids were needed to regulate the temperatures and accumulated humidity.

Otherwise the top of the dome might develop its own, pseudo weather system. 

Ships flew to and from the massive structure, like a giant, oversized beehive on an impossibly large scale. 

It was massive, bloated, entirely ostentatious and impossible to manage.

It represented the Republic perfectly.

Soon enough, the speeder made its way towards the designated docking ramp. Section C-22FC. I knew where Alexandria’s office was, and being this close, I could see that the woman was already moving through the halls to make it there.

Good. She wasn’t pettily trying to pull the cheap power move of making me wait.

Receptionists greeted me, and asked me if I needed directions towards the senator’s office or if I needed an escort. My robes marked me as a Jedi, which gave me free access for the most part.

It was genuinely mind boggling how absurdly lacking security was here.

I remember commenting on it once. I think the Senator from Alderaan told me that the Senate was meant to represent people, not exclude them, or some pithy naivete.

More likely than not it was just easier for criminals to make their way inside if they just donned the right disguise for discretion on who their clients were.

I put it out of my mind.

The senate, and its entirely corrupt processes wasn’t my problem to deal with.

I made my way through the halls quietly, most people barely doing more than giving me the odd doubletake. Jedi weren’t unknown, but they were still uncommon within the halls of the senate. 

Making it to Alexandria’s office the receptionist up in front was  an alien girl, Miralaan with long hair and olive green skin. 

“Hello.” She said pleasantly. “Are you-” She looked down at her datapad. “Jedi Master Hebert?”

I nodded. “I am.”

“That’s good, the Senator just arrived and is expecting you. ”The young woman smiled.”Personally, I don’t think she suited the atmosphere of ‘Alexandria’s office’ at all.

Then again… maybe the woman hired her specifically for said contrast. 

Marching towards the door, it whooshed into the wall and I found the flying brute sitting at her desk, paperwork and pen in hand as she turned her eyes up, away from the document and towards me.

“Alexandria.” I greeted

“Hebert” She gestured for me to take a seat.

Walking across the office, I appreciated the decor. Dark grain hardwood floors, black leather seats with a handful of art pieces that didn’t look like someone  twisted up a piece of laffy taffy and decided to call it sophisticated. 

She waited until I took a seat before she continued, eyes fixated on me. “It’s not your usual choice to contact me directly.” She said in lieu of the actual question.

“No it isn't.”  I admitted- no use pretending otherwise. 

Pulling free the datastick, I saw her raise a slender eyebrow in askance as I floated the device over to her, letting her fingers pluck it out of the air.

“There’s footage on it.” I explained. “Of an interview with a Munn Seperatist General. We’re trying to discover where their primary staging ground or manufacturing plant is.”

“And you were hoping my skills could be used to read him.” She deduced. 

I nodded

Alexandria looked thoughtful for a moment, twirling the datastick between her fingers.

Then, something seemed to click in her mind, her free hand moving towards a panel on her desk.

Soon, I was hearing the chime of a call being made.

“Who are you contacting?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me. 

“Cook.”

Dennis?

“Why?” The question was born out of genuine confusion. Dennis got along with Alexandria even less than I did.

“He undertook a mission where he acquired some information on potential bases recently if you’ll recall.”

“Yeah- with Vicky.” I nodded. “But that was a Death Watch raid, not necessarily separatist, and he didn’t share any of the information with the Council.”

“Ever since losing the Vista, Dennis does not trust Coruscanti channels, and the Council’s information security even less so. Likely, he handed off the information to the Mandalorian Royal guard, trusting that if it was Relevant, they would inform the Republic and thus, the Council, leaving ties to him as rather distant in the grand scheme of things” She explained. 

Made sense. If I’d have been nearly blown up on a top secret transport mission; I’d be pretty paranoid about trusting information to the Council too.

Alexandria continued, still patiently waiting for the call to go through. “Death Watch is working with the separatists. If Cook’s information lines up with what I might find here… well…” She shrugged. “Safe to say you’ve found their base.”

Fair enough I suppose.

The call went through.

I was a bit surprised he even picked up.

I saw the holo flicker for a second and I was greeted by the sight of a bleary eyed Dennis blinking away the sleep before he finally registered the two people on the other side of his screen. 

“Ahh fuck” He groaned.

—

Vicky:

The clash and crackle of Lightsabers sent lights dancing across the room. The exchange was quick, like an actual fight, not a practice round. Cin’s green saber moved with expert, fluid precision. Dominating the space with the Makashi form to Karla’s hybridized Djem-so.

Even so, the girl’s attacks were relentless, unceasing. And Vicky genuinely thought she almost had it for a second or two before Cin expertly disarmed her with barely a twirl of his wrist, his saber, set to stun of course’ striking at the young woman’s hand twice in quick succession during a split second opening.

“Well done.” The Battlemaster smiled, his Force grip reaching to catch the blade mid fall before returning it to the young twi’lek, who rubbed the sting out of her arm and wrist.

Vicky smiled, patting Ahsoka and Iskt on their backs. “Ok you two, you’re up.” She urged, pushing them towards the practice ring, Anakin and her sharing a discreet nod as Skywalker took the moment to offer a balm for Karla’s stinging wrist, distracting the girl as Cin made his way closer to Vicky.

“Well?” She said as quietly as she could. “What’d ya think?”

The Battlemaster took a deep breath, almost visibly recomposing himself to her eye. “It was… disorienting.”

“So she can screw with Force users during a fight.” Vicky found a smirk tugging at her lip, almost smug at the little fact. “Ohhh we’re gonna have some fun testing that.

Cin nodded. “Indeed. My skill, speed, strength, experience… they’re all vastly superior to hers but I was finding myself almost overwhelmed by the perceived speed and suddenness of her attacks.”

“Perceived” Vicky squinted at him. “That’s a deliberate choice of word.”

“Because it is.” Cin admitted. “She’s not faster today than she was yesterday. But I can’t sense her. It's almost like fighting a droid, even though I can sense the force in her. Its extremely disorienting. My mind is searching for the warning in her intent and emotions, only to suddenly find the blade halfway towards me with nothing in the way of warning.”

Vicky nodded. It almost sounded like what Komari had pulled on her on Nar-Shaddaa to get that sneak attack in. Only it was working even when looking straight at Karla. 

“Even more than that-” He sighed. “-the disorientation is exacerbated manyfold when I begin winning the bout.”

She did not blink ‘stupidly’ no matter what anyone said. “Huh?”

“Think on it.” He explained. “I cannot sense her anxiety, her nervousness, the thrum of surprise when I strike somewhere unexpected, or the thrill of momentary fear when she’s on the back foot. She is utterly calm. I can sense nothing so while in my mind I know I’m winning, looking and seeing her mind-”

“Makes you feel like she’s the one in control.” Vicky’s eyes went a little wide. “That’s… pretty huge actually.” More than once she herself took her cues from the emotional reads she got on her opponents. And when she had to force that; her ‘fear aura’ made the openings for her.

Karla just completely shutting down that aspect of a fight, the turning of momentum…

Yeah… yeah that was really big.

Her inner cape geek, long having been dormant sparked to life, and she couldn’t contain her giddiness at the thought that they were only just scratching the surface. 

“Why are you smiling like that?” 

“No I’m not!”

Cin sighed rubbing at his forehead.

Then- his holo chimed.

She heard Anakin’s holo do the same.

Then her own, vibrating at her hip.

The giddiness left, and all three of them shared an immediate look before scrambling to check their messages.

“What’s going on?” Ahsoka called, her bout with Iskt put on immediate hold. 

Anakin answered first.

“The Council is calling in all Knights and Masters-” He answered grimly. “They’ve finally discovered a major Seperatist base and manufacturing plant.”

“Where?” Iskt called staring straight at her.

Vicky shrugged. She had no reason to hide it.

“Geonosis.”(X)(X)(X)

Quite a few of you guessed where we were going. And you were right.Geonosis is "The Great Battle of our age" as Gandalf would say.I will be pulling out all the stops on this one, and taking my full and vast collection of knowledge from my nerdy 40k pedigree to write up this battle. If I had to take a guess, we have one, MAAAAAYBE 2 chapters on gathering up all the Logistics, and getting the "Fighters" in their corners, before things kick off.It's gonna be biblical :3