Beat the Retreat

[Armand Temi]

A week after her fifteenth birthday, Abigail received unexpected message on her datapad. It took her a minute to actually see the message because she had cracked the screen of the pad just the day before by rough-housing with the Mandalorian children in the biodome. She was warned that another datapad would not be forthcoming if this one was ruined. Therefore, she squinted her eyes and held it close to her face until she could read the words:

Pack your bags. Tonight you are leaving the Retreat.

She tapped frantically on the keys to see who the message had come from, but it was encrypted and did not list a sender. Nor were there attachments, holos, or any other information sent along with it. She threw the datapad down on her bed with the same cavalier attitude that caused the screen to crack in the first place. Biting her nails, Abigail stood there for a moment, just thinking.

It had to be from Draco. He was her only visitor after all! But why the clandestine message? Why all of this secrecy? Was there something going on out there in the galaxy that she didn't know about? I guess I'll find out soon enough, she thought. Pulling out a small luggage case, Abigail began packing her belongings. She didn't need much as a young padawan. A couple of training outfits, a training saber. The cracked-screen datapad. She was too old for her stuffed animals, but she would leave them for the kids at the Retreat. Oh, and she had to say goodbye to the animals!

Jumping on her hover scooter, the brunette padawan zipped around the winding corridors of the retreat, until she made her way to the biodome. For awhile, she spent time communing with the Endorian ponies who were beloved to her since she was a little girl. After a tearful farewell to them, she made her way to one of the exits and waited, presumably for her father, Draco Vereen, to pick her up. She was so excited, she thought her heart would beat right out of her chest.

And while the collective at the Retreat had nutured her, raised her, and had given her everything she wanted, she always knew that for her real life to begin, she would need to leave.

And that time had finally come.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Three years of going back and forth, visiting the Retreat as often as my time allowed, perhaps I had spent enough time in the rift for it to have been four or five years now. Three long years over too quickly by my recollection. There were a number of things happening in the galaxy, but nothing too crazy. She was just old enough, knowledgeable enough now. I had thought about leaving her somewhere for a long time and just keeping her hidden to keep her safe, but that was selfish of me. Wanting to hide her away like that, even as much as I already had basically robbed her of any kind of life, and what would be the point of existence then.

Abigail had healed my torn heart some, having a child to latch on to, to raise had given me a reason to go on that I had lost before. I no longer sought death like it was a merciful end to a pitiful existence, but I did not shy from danger. And it was time to let her experience her own life. Too long had I held her fate captive. And thus I had told her it was time for her to leave the Retreat. She wasn't being exiled from it, and she could always go hide there if she needed to, but it was time she got out and saw the Galaxy.

The little black corvette docked with the station, the small silver yacht hooked to it made the docking awkward and best left to the pilots. The docks opened and I made my way onto the station, and there she was, bags packed and excited as can be. I smiled and extended my arms to her, "How's my princess today?" I asked cheerfully. It might have been a month since I had last visited from her perspective, and that made a twinge of regret seep into the Force. Maybe I should have left everything else behind and raised her myself.

[member="Abigail Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

As soon as she saw Draco, Abigail ran over to him and gave him a warm hug, hopefully easing his concerns that her childhood was ruined by growing up in the Retreat. On the contrary, she had everything she wanted or needed. The only thing that hadn't been satisfied in her young life was her curiosity. The force user was so curious about the galaxy, but all she had ever known was the Retreat and her summers on Yavin. But even the Jedi Academy on the only planet she had visited was fairly insular and protective. As a Jedi youngling, she would be vulnerable to kidnapping and doubly so for Abigail because of her real parents who she did not know. The only parental figures she had known were Tippi, her Mandalorian foster mother, and Draco.

Once she released him from her tight grip, she stepped back and said, "I'm so excited, I don't know what to do with myself," she said laughing. "I've said goodbye to Tippi and the rest of the kids. And the horses in the dome." She looked past him for a minute and then back. "Did you bring me anything this time?" Most of the relics and oddities that Draco brought back for her from his travels, she ended up leaving with her favorite friends on the retreat. Many of them were too big or impractical to bring along with her. But that still didn't mean she wasn't anxious for a present or two from the generous warrior.

"Are we leaving now?" she asked, not waiting for a reply about the gifts.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

I embraced the teen warmly, reassured that I had made the best decisions I could with the choices I had made that led to her being in my custody. I wouldn't change things for any material possession. Abi had become mine over the years, and I cared for her like she had been my own, watching her grow into a young woman. "Good, but you aren't being exiled from the Retreat, you can always come back to visit them if you want." I said, leaning over to pick up some of her bags and help her carry them aboard the ship.

"Yes, I brought you some things. I'll let you look at them once we are off for Bothawui." The head quarters of ArmaTech, and arguably the second most well defended place I owned. The tower was large, had a small army of droids and biological troops, a built in planetary grade shield condensed to cover only the tower, and held secret research projects in the basement. "And yes, we are leaving as soon as you are ready. I have somethings to show you and some things to tell you."

It was time she was allowed out in the galaxy, to explore and be her own person. But she would always have me and mine to fall back on, rely on if she wanted to. Once I had her bags loaded into the corvette, I noticed the training saber stuffed away in one of them. "Oh, you won't be needing this." I said, withdrawing it from her bags. She never really left the Retreat, and when she did it was to go to Yavin for training, so it made sense she would tuck it away with the rest of her things.

The pilots made note and made ready to depart the station, which itself would leave the system soon to go hide above the galactic plane, out of sight, out of mind. "There is a black case on my bed, can you fetch it for me? Its maybe forty by twenty by ten centimeters." I instructed the eager young girl. Hopefully she could wait to open the box long enough to bring it back to me.

[member="Abigail Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Abigail's smile grew a little brighter when Draco said he had brought her something. Holos could not replace tangible objects, and while she wasn't materialistic, even a feather from a bird not in the biodome, or a shell from a beach in Port Landien were actual treasures when the Retreat ran out of unusual things to study.

"I'm sure I'll be back to the Retreat once or twice a year. Maybe more if I'm homesick." She looked around longingly for a moment. Even for a place that had no sunrise or sunset, except a simulator in the biodome, she was still going to miss it so much. Abigail watched him remove the training saber. She didn't want to get too excited at what that meant, but she thought she knew.

When Draco instructed her to get the black case, she nodded, walked to where his bedroom was and found the case in question. It was tempting to peek, but the padawan would rather be pleasantly surprised. She brought it back and handed it to the Mandalorian. As she normally did, Abigail showed near fear or hestiation around Draco. So much that he may worry that the young girl wouldn't want to go off on her own, but would rather accompany him in his travels. She had no idea the danger he regularly faced, so it actually had crossed her mind to ask him if she could stay with him... kind of like a side kick, she thought.

But her curiosity distracted her, and Abigail patiently awaited the opening of the black case.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Sitting patiently in the common area I waited on her to return. There were a few things she needed to keep a hold of if she was going to be going out on her own in the galaxy. It crossed my mind that she might think she was going off alone, but she should probably know better. Arrangements had already been made for her to have a bodyguard, one that couldn't refuse her orders unless it broke one of his very few standing protocols, such as leaving her in clear and present danger, and I fully intended to spend more time with her now that she was leaving the rift. She was an heiress in more ways than one. Her mother, assuming the woman was still alive had left her a throne that may need reclaiming, and I had built a corporate empire that dwarfed some governments she had stake in, she would inherit when I passed on.

"Every Warrior needs a sword and a shield, Abi. They are two things you have grown up with since you could walk. I have taught you, Tippi has taught you, and the Rekali's have helped teach you. A lightsaber is an extension of one's self, a terrible sword, but also a great shield." I opened the box and pulled the sleek agrinium-aurodium cased Lightsaber from the black box. "I trust you with that responsibility." And held it out for her to take.

The sentiment was more symbolic than anything. "And you are my daughter, so it would not be fitting for you to trounce around the galaxy without protection. This is for you, crafted by one of the greatest Alchemists to have ever lived." There were probably a dozen people of the same level of skill in all of history as the craftsman for the necklace I held aloft. "It can protect you in ways a sword cannot, but be mindful. It is a construct of the Dark Side, and I know how you feel about that." Her sentiment aside, my own abilities remained Dark. I was honorable, and protective of a few people, but I was willing to do anything to protect what was mine, and that meant killing people that may not deserve it sometimes.

"Lastly, did you notice the ship clamped to this one?" I asked, more cheerfully than I had been with the lightsaber and defense necklace.

[member="Abigail Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Abigail sat down crossed legged on the floor in front of Draco after she delivered the case. Her smile grew wider again when she saw the lightsaber. Her own lightsaber! But her brows furrowed as she took the weapon, confusion flashing over her features.

The young girl had been raised with kindness and lightsided optimism. She had no knowledge of Draco's dark affinity, although the stronger she grew, she would be able to begin to sense it. But she had no reason to even try. Still, she knew the galaxy was in turmoil. The Sith had a stranglehold on the Core Worlds and were invading more planets each day. Abigail watched the holonews religiously and felt she had a handle on what was going on. But now she wasn't so sure - perhaps a threat was upon the very doorstep of the Retreat?

And then the necklace which intrigued her but had Dark properties. That sent a shudder through her, but Abigail tried not to show her fear.

But all of this talk of war and darkness faded to the background when Draco told her there was something hooked to his ship. "I didn't even notice!" she exclaimed, jumping up in one fluid motion. Abigail ran over to look and saw the beautiful sleek ship. "I'm speechless," she said, laughing. With wide eyes, she ran her hands through her hair nervously. It was clear she was ecstatic over the vessel.

"Okay, so I always thought my first ship was going to be a beat-up freighter. But this ship... this is a ship for royalty. I don't understand. If it's truly for me..."

Abigail trailed off. This could be one of Daddy's big presents, like the Endorian ponies were. Or the expensive silver ship could signify something else. She waited, quite dumbstruck by the idea of flying the attractive craft.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Her shudder through the Force was noted and pained me greatly, but the necklace was defensive in nature and one of the more powerful defensive items I had access to. I would rather her be uncomfortable than her be harmed, though I couldn’t make her wear it if she didn’t want to. Whether she knew or cared about my affiliation with the Dark Side, I wasn’t sure. So long as she didn’t hate me or distrust me for it, it wasn’t important.

Her excitement was noted, but what girl wouldn’t be excited over her first ship, bought and paid for, fresh off the lot and modified for her needs and for what I thought would suit her best. “Well, you are a young woman now. Its time you saw the galaxy through your own eyes.” I said, putting hand on her shoulder and squeezing her gently. “Plus, I had it built specifically for you. It has a guardian on board and an encrypted homing beacon linked to my helmet.” I smiled, of course she would be on her own, but never alone, and never out of sight.

I felt guilty now. She knew nothing of her past, her real family, her parents or her home world. All she knew was what little I had shown her. All in good time the secrets of her past would be revealed. Some of those secrets at least. I remember when the people at the Jedi Academy pried about her parentage and I threated to send their home world into an Ice Age the likes of which would make Hoth look tropical. If Ember hadn’t scolded me Abigail might not have been allowed back, but they had stopped asking about her mother. “There are great wonders and terrors in the galaxy every person must discover for themselves. I have kept you trapped on the Retreat for long enough, sweetie. Its time you had some freedom to do as you want.”

I wanted to tell her about her home world, but how did a father tell his daughter he had her mother sold into slavery? How did someone apologize for that, how would I even begin to broach the subject or make it up to Abi for the years she had never known? [member="Crix Meriet"] would have to be contacted and brought to speed. Perhaps Thais could be erased completely and Abi just never find out. I could only hope if she did, or when, she heard it from me rather than discover on her own.

[member="Abigail Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Abigail sat down next to Draco, still palming the necklace he had given her. All of those piloting lessons over the last three years would come in handy flying that beautiful J-type Star Skiff. While another teenager may be horrified at the prospect of the homing beacon, this detail made the padawan feel relief. She was going to need her father's advice and support during this next journey of her life. She'd already had enough time away from him.

She would fly the nest with a tether. And that was okay by her.

Abigail took her father's hand. "Draco, what do you think I should do first? I feel like I should keep training at the Academy on Yavin or maybe in another Jedi Temple. But then maybe I should take a tour of the galaxy, stay in youth hostels, go camping, meet people..."

She laughed and put her hand up to her mouth as if to stop the words from cascading out.

"I'm sorry, I'm rambling. I'm just so excited and nervous to get out there."

If the Mandalorian Dark Jedi thought she was going to ask about her mother or her father, it was the furthest thing from her mind. While eventually she would become curious, right now the promise of a new adventure overshadowed any reflection upon her old past.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

I could feel the relief, the excitement, the longing for adventure in the girl that had become my daughter. For as long as she needed me, for as long as I was alive, I would support her in any way I could. All she would ever have to do was ask. She took my hand and rambled about what she should do, mentioning youth hostels in the list causing me to burst out laughing. “I spend millions of credits to get you a luxury ship with all the amenities for a princess and you wanna stay at hostel.” I said mocking hurt by the statement. “I can’t seem to do anything right.” The joke was probably ruined by the smile I wore and the aura I was emitting through the Force.

I turned my attention away from my thoughts. She needed to know something before I released her into the galaxy. “That lightsaber. It uses Mephite and a Krayt Dragon Pearl I’ve fused together. It will help you focus, bring you clarity if you trust in yourself and the Force.” Mephite was known for assisting somewhat with calming and centering the Jedi that used to wield them in their sabers. “The pearl however will help you communicate with me over vast distance. Our bond isn’t strong enough for telepathy like that, but if you ever need me, for anything and you can’t call for some reason... that pearl will help.”

I looked down at my hands, her own entertwined with mine, trusting, caring. Bothawui was coming up fast, there wasn’t a lot of time before I would hug her and let her do as she pleased. She might find my life to be too boring to stick around, then again she might just want to spend time together, even if it was boring like a normal family. “You've always been your mother's daughter, you know. I didn't know her well, but you remind me of her.” She did, in fact. She had her mother's eyes, though without the obsessive fear her mother had always felt in my presence. Back then that was all I had wanted in life, for someone to look up at the stars and shudder, knowing I walked among them. Now was different.

"She loved you very much. She went away after you were born to protect you, to ensure you lived a good life, free of danger. I've done my best to give you that." I had never told Abi anything about her mother before and I was having trouble squeezing out the words. With any luck she would mistake my distress for love of her mother and not the truth. I squeezed gently on her hand, fighting back tears. “She gave up everything to protect you.” And I hid you away because I’m selfish and cruel, the words cut off from the end of the sentence.

[member="Abigail Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Abigail laughed at the irony of having an expensive starship, but wanting to stay at a hostel. Draco was right - her ship had every amenity she could want, and if it didn't, being the ArmaTech CEO's daughter allowed her to stay at nearly any luxury hotel across the galaxy.

"On the contrary, you are doing everything right," the young brunette said in a melodious voice. "But I do want to see all of the galaxy, even the less savory places."

That her lightsaber would connect them served to reassure her even further that Draco would never be far away. But when the conversation turned to Abigail's mother, her eyebrows furrowed, and her gaze searched his face for more clues than just the words. It was unlike him to talk about her. If she asked more questions would he continue to be forthcoming, or would he immediately clam up?

"Draco, where is my real mother now? Don't get me wrong. I love Tippi, but if I'm going out there, maybe I need to know this... right?"

The only story Abigail had ever known was that Draco Vereen was her real father, her mother was gone, and Tippi had raised her. As far as she was aware, she had no sisters or brothers. She had no cause to question the circumstances. And she certainly didn't want her Mandalorian protector to talk about something that made him uncomfortable or even sad.

"I mean, I hope she's okay now. And not in any trouble or pain."

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

I sighed deeply, inhaling. I couldn’t tell her that there was no chance her mother was okay, safe, and not in pain. If she had died it would have been three years of absolute misery and suffering in the mines. I knew from personal experience, most miners didn’t last three years, and given my interaction with Thais, she wouldn’t last half that in a spice mine. “No… I doubt that she is comfortable.” I said, looking ashamed, and trying to keep from looking into Abigail’s innocent eyes.

“She was the princess of the planet Isis, in an arranged marriage. She and I had an affair. When the man she was set to marry found out, he was livid. He left her, and her criminal past surfaced. All I could do was take you so you wouldn’t be born in a prison or in a slave pit.” Most of it was true. Most of it. Enough to where if she researched the situation my story held some ground. The Foreman of the Techno Union had testified on her behalf, had what would have been a lengthy prison sentence or execution stayed. It might look like I did everything I could to save her.

“I’m sorry Abigail, but I doubt your mother is doing well.” I didn’t keep up with what Crix had done with her at all. Oh, he would definitely be getting a visit before Abi could go discovering the truth. I couldn’t risk the truth, not to her. It would kill me to do so, or worse kill her to hear it. I smiled half-heartedly, “But, I have you, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

[member="Abigail Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Draco had Abigail's full attention. While at times during his other visits, the teenager would play with her datapad, text messaging and spacebooking with friends while he tried to talk about important things, as she sat next to him, her large, brown eyes locked onto his as he spoke about her mother. He glanced away when he said, "she wasn't comfortable." What did that mean?

Abigail would get her answer immediately. A Princess. Her mother was a Princess. But also a criminal.

"She's in prison, isn't she?" asked the brunette padawan, sympathy flickering over her features. But she didn't pry any further. She scooted closer to Draco and slid her slender, almost gangly arms around his waist. "Daddy, you did the right thing. You are here now, and I am here. And it doesn't matter what happened in the past. Okay? We are still father and daughter."

All Abigail could do was make sure that her little world stayed the same right now. She was about to embark on a huge, intimidating journey across the galaxy. This news about her mother... it would sink in, but in time. For her own sanity, she wanted to focus on the here and now.

"I'm resilient," said Abigail, feeling the need to reassure Draco. "Don't worry. Anything that comes my way, I can handle. Because you taught me how."

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Her empathy was comforting, even given the lie I had told her, it felt like she was correct. What kind of life would she had been given by the people of Isis if I had not bartered the deal with Thais? In hindsight I would have simply taken Abigail and allowed Thais to remain on the throne, but I could not have seen the future at the time punishment was given. I hadn’t ever intended for Abigail to be like my own then, but I was glad she was now. I smiled, giving her a gentle hug, four more years assuming she lived.

“Yes. We are and always will be. Nothing will ever change that.” It wasn’t often she called me daddy, but it was the truth, and it lightened my spirits greatly. I had become more her father than anyone else had ever been. “And yes you are resilient.” That reminded me of something else that was sitting on the ship for her.

“That reminds me,” I said more cheerfully, changing the subject from her mother’s fate to something brighter. “Every warrior needs armor, just as every mind needs education. So, a friend and I made some for you.” I had met Rave once, and she hadn’t been the one to give me the coat, but still, she made it and I liked Rave just fine. I stood up and rummaged through a storage box pulling the duffle bag and case out. “Don’t worry, there is an arming station aboard your ship so you won’t have to keep putting it in the bag.” Lightsaber, Armor, Sith Amulet of protection, and her own ship. And training made her dangerous to many despite her young age. In fact she wasn’t much older than Jaina Solo had been during the Yuuzhan Vong War.

“Phrik, alchemized Terentatek leather, and Shell Spider Silk. Its protective enough to keep you safe, but light enough that it won’t restrict your movement.” It took my mind off my lies to her. Perhaps she would never find out the truth, or I could find a way to soften the blow. Maybe if I broke and told her the truth she would forgive me, but I knew once she found out it would not be the same anymore.

[member="Abigail Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

"I just don't know what to say," said Abigail stunned at the generosity of her father. "How can I even begin to thank you for all of this?"

Leaving the Retreat was exciting enough, and now she had all of these new toys. Well, they aren't really toys, Abigail, she thought. You need to remember that armor, lightsabers, even your fast ship - it's all serious business now. But still, she had the urge to run back into the Retreat and show off all of her new gifts to the other children, especially the slightly bitchy Charla Ulke, her sometimes nemesis. Abigail wasn't immune to bullying and jealousy. The Retreat would keep her sheltered, but she still experienced the normal ups and downs that all young people did, especially around other competitive teenagers.

"Draco, where do you recommend I go first? Should I head straight to a Jedi organization to further my training? Or should I take a trip somewhere?"

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"You are my daughter, Abi. These things are to protect you, to keep you safe while you do whatever it is you wish to do. I could not sleep without knowing you have the tools to protect yourself while you are away. You can thank me by staying safe and staying in contact." I said, giving her a gentle hug with one arm and sitting down next to her. She had lived a sheltered life and she was being allowed freedom to do as she wished for the very first time. I was nervous at the thought of her roaming the Galaxy, but its what I did, and I didn't turn out too badly in the end. Plus I had been alone from the time I was a teen, and I had never been close with the rest of my born family. She had me, and the entire clan, and a business empire to call her own.

Jedi. Could she not feel my Darkness, the cold palpable pain and fear that lurked within me at all times? Perhaps she was so accustomed to it that she didn't notice, or she was not that skilled at sensing such things, or a bit of both. "If you wanted to be a Jedi, I wouldn't stop you." Though they might be hesitant to accept her because of me. "If you were to wish to become a Jedi, I would support you of course. I would hope you would steer clear of the Jedi Order associated with the Republic. They, ah, they hate me and I fear they might not trust you because of that." The thought of her being pit against me was there, and was a reason to worry, but then again she preferred the light and I would never hurt her, so it wasn't likely we would actually fight if it came down to it.

"And, I had always hoped to show you the corporate strings of ArmaTech, but that can wait until your older." I didn't know how much she knew about ArmaTech, but it was massive and it was largely hands off for the day to day operations at this point. "You have access to several of my accounts, I would suggest getting out and having some fun. You could go alone, or I could come with you." A number of planets came to mind. Tython used to be a Jedi planet she might not mind visiting, and I had connections to allow such a trip.

[member="Abigail Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Abigail occasionally felt the dark side of the Force within Draco, but it was something she had grown accustomed to. It did not scare her - this slight aura of malevolence that emanated from her father. She interpreted it rather as a symbol of his power. He was a wealthy businessman and a fierce warrior. She assumed the darkness was like a shield that protected him from his foes. It had always been there as long as Abi could remember. She didn't question it.

"I will honor that, Draco. I will not join the Jedi Order. But I'm thinking that Voss may be my first destination. The Silver Jedi have a Guardian training program." She was curious as to why they hated the Mandalorian, but if Abigail sat there asking every single question in her mind, she felt that they two of them would be there together for hours. Which wasn't such a bad thing, but her father was a busy man.

"How about you accompany as far as Ziost, and then I'll be off to Voss on my own? Just in case of pirates," she said, her words clear and confident. They would have to make their way from the Rift through Primeval space which was known to be inhospitable to outsiders. But once in systems owned by the Silver Sanctum, Abigail felt sure she could make it to Voss without incident.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"That sounds excellent by me. I know I haven't been the most involved father, and you deserve better, but I will always be there if you need me, or if you just want to spend some time together." I smiled reassuringly to her. Zoist was primeval space, and they would tolerate my presence fine, and the Silver Jedi had been my allies at one point, I'm sure they wouldn't mind me dropping by on occasion.

"I don't want you to be a stranger. I've made time and the appropriate measures to be able to leave on a moments notice. I'll come visit you on Voss as often as you want me too. The silver jedi and I have gotten along in the past." I didn't know where our relationship stood at the moment, but no news was good news in this case. The republic had called for my head and the events surrounding my employment by the one sith had caused a long standing alliance that had been dwindling to finally break. I looked at the young girl sitting beside me and smiled. "Would you mind stopping on Zoist and spending some time together there?" I asked. She was finally out in the galaxy and I was a father reluctant to let her go.

[member="Abigail Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Abigail smiled and lay her head on Draco's shoulder for a minute to let him know she loved him. He was there for her, even if he couldn't always physically be there. She never thought him an absent father.

"Of course you can come to Ziost! I know it's ruled by the Primeval, so while that sounds dangerous, I will have you there to protect me," said the padawan talking herself out of any true anxiety she felt over landing in territory ruled by a darksider cult. Abigial paused and then thought for a few seconds. She had studied so many books and data archives, that almost like a protocol droid, she could retrieve information about most planets in the galaxy given just a moment's notice. While she was no savant, she had studied an awful lot at the Retreat to pass the time.

"New Adasta has interesting sights," she said. "If I recall, it's a full city, but it exists almost entirely underground. The Sith Citadel used to be a Jedi Temple under the Silver Jedi, until Ziost fell to the Primeval. So I suppose we want to avoid that."

She looked up at Draco expectantly. "Sound like a plan?"

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Her head resting gently on my shoulder, I could feel her thoughts, trying her best to be comforting. I wasn't sure where she had gotten her sympathetic nature from, but I was glad she had it. She would make a fine Jedi Knight. All the cunning and prowess of a Mandalorian, all the power of a Dathomiri Witch, and all the patience and caring that had made the Jedi so recognizable. "You know, you will be a great Jedi." I said softly to her before she became excited about Zoist.

If there was one benefit to having her stuck on the retreat all this time its that she was ridiculously book smart, and she had trained with Ember and myself, so I couldn't doubt her common sense either. Her knowledge of the planet far outweighed mine. I knew where it was on a map, and who owned it, nothing else. "Yes it does. I will let you take the lead. You know more about the planet than I do anyway."

"Why don't we take your ship, and when you get ready to go, you can take off and I will hitch a ride back to Bothawui. That way you can get a knack for flying it. Its got a lot of neat systems designed to help it get away from danger." And that it was a ship fit for a princess didn't hurt the situation. She could get a look around the ship, get comfortable with her home away from home as it were.

[member="Abigail Kallisto"]