Return to Tython
by AJ Marks
Part 5
Lexxa turned to see Kira, Doc, Scourge and HK heading towards her but no Flesh Raiders around.
“You didn’t eliminate them all?” Lexxa asked.
“Explanation: No master, the meatbags ran away,” HK replied.
“Okay,” Lexxa said.
“Clarification: Shouldn’t we go after them master?” HK asked.
“Don’t think that will be necessary HK,” Lexxa said knowing the droid would be disappointed at that.
“So, its over?” Kira asked, looking at the body of the Sith.
“Yeah, his job was to destroy the village,” Lexxa said.
“Failure,” Scourge said.
“Yeah,” Lexxa replied, heading inside the building Halathar had been using and looking for anything which might be dangerous to leave behind in Flesh Raider hands.
“Not well organized,” Scourge said looking around as they found the communicator.
Lexxa was about to reply when the communicator activated and the mysterious master of Halathar appeared. He seemed to look on at the group.
“Ah, the mysterious Sth Lord,” Lexxa said. “If you’re looking for Halathar, I’m afraid he won’t be calling you anymore.”
The Sith seemed to consider that for a few seconds before making any reply.
“Expected,” he finally said.
“And who are you, oh mysterious master of Halathar,” Lexxa asked wondering if he would even answer.
“Sith Lord Ukiel,” he finally replied.
“Served under Baras,” Scourge said. “Or did.”
“Baras is dead,” Ukiel replied.
“So, working for a new power base,” Lexxa replied. “Your part in this invasion was Halathar, but he failed.”
“Disgraced me, if you killed him you saved the trouble of doing it myself,” Ukiel said.
“He didn’t give me much choice,” Lexxa replied.
“I sent too weak a servant for that invasion, but I had my doubts,” Ukiel said. “I heard about Revan, we owe you a bit of gratitude Lexxa.”
She wasn’t surprised that Ukiel knew her name. She had been a thorn in the Empire’s side for a while now.
“Don’t worry, I won’t be after vengeance like Angle, he was a fool who let his emotions blind him to everything else. It really was too bad, he had the ability and talent as well,” Ukiel said.
“He would have never redeemed himself,” Lexxa said understanding where this Sith was coming from.
“No,” Ukiel said. “As I said, you have spared me the embarrassment of him coming back. For that, I find I’m grateful to a Jedi.”
“Well, I’ve been grateful to a Sith,” Lexxa said.
“Yes, Lana, oh, don’t worry, she might be officially disgraced, but unofficially she is a hero as well,” Ukiel said.
“Sure she’s grateful,” Lexxa said.
“She should be, it means no one will kill her,” Ukiel said. “Though it does pose a problem on what to do with her, but that is a Sith problem.”
Lexxa felt like arguing but realized anything she said probably wouldn’t matter much to anyone. She instead decided to return the conversation back to the current problem.
“So this matter is now closed?” Lexxa asked.
“Yes, I will not pursue it,” Ukiel replied, before ending the communications.
“Well, he’s a real charmer,” Kira said.
You think we can trust him?” Lexxa asked, looking at Scourge.
“I didn’t know him much,” Scourge replied. “With the fall of Baras anything could have happened.”
“Probably posturing for a position in the restructured Empire,” Doc said.
“Yeah, last I saw it was in chaos,” Lexxa replied knowing they had done much to place in such a position. “Let’s get back.”
*****
Lexxa and her group walked back into the Twi’lek village seeing everyone stop and look at them, wondering what the success of the mission had been. Rusk came over along with Ranna and Jale.
“What happened?” Ranna asked.
“We managed to defeat the Flesh Raiders,” Lexxa replied seeing Ranna give a sigh of relief.
“So its over,” Ranna said.
“It appears so,” Lexxa said.
“You’ll have to stay for a celebration,” Ranna said, even as a few other Twi’leks went off to prepare a celebration.
“Well, we can’t refuse,” Doc said before anyone else could say anything.
“It is getting late,” Lexxa said looking up at the sky and over at the rest of her group. “We’ll head back in the morning.”
“As you say Jedi Master,” Rusk said.
“Great, it’s settled,” Ranna said, turning to another person and giving some instructions.
“Never been a part of a Tei’lek celebration,” Kira said wrapping an arm around Lexxa. “Besides, it’ll be nice to relax.”
“Yeah, not often we get to celebrate with the people we help,” Lexxa said.
“Oh, why not? Are the Jedi against it?” Ranna asked.
“No, usually we’re off to the next trouble spot,” Lexxa said.
“A never ending series of putting out fires across the Republic,” Doc said. “It makes us weary.”
“He’s exaggerating,” Kira said.
“Well, not by much, normally we’re headed back to the ship, get a short rest, and then off to the next problem,” Lexxa replied.
“And I thought looking after a village was exhausting,” Ranna said. “I can’t imagine what I’d be like after going place after place to help out.”
“It’s what I do,” Lexxa replied.
They went inside and freshened up.
“She’s nice,” Kira said. “A bit young.”
“Her mother died last time I was here,” Lexxa replied. “She had to deal with her mother, and the Flesh Raiders, and other things. It was a mess.”
“She’s learned quick,” Kira said.
“And she’s probably about your age,” Lexxa said, pausing to look at Kira. “Come on, let’s go mingle with the locals, didn’t get a chance last time. Went on to defeat Bengel Morr and was swiftly needed on Coruscant.”
“And been busy ever since,” Kira said. “I should know, been with you almost all of that time.”
They made their way back outside and over to where a group was gathered.
*****
Lexxa made her way into the Jedi Council the next morning along with Kira, the rest of her group had gone back to the ship for which Scourge seemed thankful for. She noticed a few Jedi Masters and recognized almost all of them.
“Welcome back Master Lexxa, and your padawan Kira,” Satele said to them.
“Master Satele,” Lexxa replied giving a slight bow to everyone and waiting.
“We’ve gone over your reports of what happened, do you think the Flesh Raiders are still a problem with this Sith gone?” Satele asked.
“I don’t think so,” Lexxa replied. “Without Halathar to lead them against the Twi’leks I don’t think they’ll try any attacks in the near future. Long term, there is no telling what the Flesh Raiders will do, we can only hope to observe them to make sure we know of any changes.”
“That’s a wise precaution,” Satele replied. “I’ll have to see about setting something up and working with the Twi’lek village over this.”
“I’m sure the Matriarch would welcome any help,” Lexxa said knowing how Ranna would react to such a plan. She had been grateful to see them return and the celebration had been nice.
“You believe this will be the end of it?” Satele asked. “We won’t have another Darth Angral problem?”
“He seemed pleased I took care of a problem for him,” Lexxa replied. “He thought of Halathar as an embarrassment to him. If he ever returned I doubt Ukiel would have welcomed him back with open arms.”
“Still, it’s a waste of life,” Satele replied.
“It was, but I don’t think we could have done anything to solve the situation any better,” Lexxa replied back to her.
“All right, you and your padawan, and rest of your group and on rest for a while,” Satele said.
“Unless something big comes up again,” Lexxa said, knowing how the universe operated. “I’m glad this one was a bit easy this time. Halathar really wasn’t a match for a Jedi Master. His thirst for vengeance was what made him dangerous.”
“Take some time off,” Satele said.
“Thank you,” Lexxa said, and with a bow she and Kira headed out of the council room.
“So, where do we go?” Kira asked.
“I’m sure we can think of something,” Lexxa said.
“First, I’d like to visit Master Kiwiiks,” Kira said as they moved forwards to find the Jedi Master.
*****
Lexxa followed Kira into the meditation room seeing Master Kiwiiks in there.
“Master,” Kira said, surprising Kiwiiks who looked a bit startled.
“Kira, Lexxa,” Kiwiiks said, standing up and moving over to them.
“You look good,” Kira said giving her a hug.
“I’m still recovering, but I’m feeling better each day,” Kiwiiks replied, and Lexxa had to agree, the Jedi Master did look much better considering how they found her last time on Tatooine. “I’ve been hearing a lot of things about you two.”
“All good things I hope,” Lexxa said with a smile.
“Raven, Hutta, among other places. You’ve been busy,” Kiwiiks said.
“There were a few spots I wasn’t sure we’d survive,” Kira said.
“Well, the way you go charging in I’m not surprised,” Kiwiiks replied back to Kira who pouted a bit at that.
“It’s part of who she is,” Lexxa stated seeing Kiwiiks look a bit more intently at them both.
“You’ve been good for each other I see,” Kiwiiks said to them causing Kira to look at Lexxa with some concern. “I’m no longer on the council, so what Jedi do is not my concern.”
“Oh,” Kira replied, wondering if there was something else.
“In fact, its not surprising at all. Jedi are living people as well, we have feelings and to ignore them is to lose part of who we are. We push for balance, do not let it overwhelm you and become everything you focus on,” Kiwiiks said. “We all have our romances, only be discreet”
“We will master,” Lexxa said.
“I wanted to come by while we were here and see how you were doing,” Kira said.
“I’m glad you did, the change in you is something I can feel as well. Neither of you are really pawadans anymore,” Kiwiiks said.
“Me a Jedi Knight, I can’t imagine that, not like Lexxa,” Kira said.
“Don’t sell yourself short, you’d do well,” Lexxa said. “We better get back up to the ship.”
“Yeah, before HK starts shooting something,” Kira said, with a slight laugh.
“You made some wonderful friends, I am proud of you Kira,” Kiwiiks said and Lexxa noticed a slight blush on Kira’s cheeks.
“I’ll try and call master,” Kira said, as they bowed and left the room heading to the shuttle to head to the station and the ship.
*****
Lexxa arrived on the ship and looked around at everyone.
“Good work everyone, we’re now on a break,” Lexxa told them.
“Then I have time to look into something else,” Scourge said.
“Yeah,” Lexxa said, wondering if she would be told what this was at some point in the future.
“Its not dangerous?” Rusk said.
“Many things that I know are dangerous,” Scourge said. “But it will not interfere with anyone here.”
Lexxa had no worries about that. “Well, if you need help, you know where we all are.”
“So, where do we go?” Doc asked.
“We’ve got some credts saved up,” Lexxa said knowing their bank account wasn’t in danger anytime soon.
“How about a beach, get some sun?” Kira said.
Lexxa gave that some thought, seeing Kira in a bikini would be a nice change. She looked at the others.
“Hey, I could always go for that,” doc replied.
Lexxa had the feeling Scourge and Rusk wouldn’t be as comfortable but neither disagreed with it. She had a feeling both of them would probably end up close to the ship.
“Well, let’s go and relax,” Lexxa finally said.
“Great, I know a place we can go,” Doc said, moving towards the cockpit along with Kira.
“You’re sure you’re all right with this?” Lexxa asked the other two.
“It will allow me to work in peace,” Scourge said.
“I can relax like anyone else,” Rusk said, leaving Lexxa looking forward to this.
Of course the best part would be seeing Kira in a bikini.
The End