The Bonds That Tie (Roshki)

[Mak Manto]

Mak's Quarters

The room, like always, was organized chaos. Reports and papers were scattered over small tables throughout his room. Several artifacts also laid on them, one of them being his holocron. However, the most peculiar image of them all was Mak who was sitting in a chair before his desk with his head on it, snoring softly, an empty Correllian whiskey bottle sitting nearby.

It had been another night of work and drinking, though it was not a peaceful night, just the same as any night...

Screams and shouting were heard, as fire and smoke filled up the night sky. Watching the flames burn, he felt as if his heart was about to explode, feeling the death and carnage.

"ZANA! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"

The girl who was standing before him, beautiful and nightmarish, smiled at him as she looked over slowly.

"You know why, dad... What did you think would happen by trying to kidnap my daughter? What did you think would happen by marking your daughter and grandson as enemies?"

Right as she said it, there was a knocking sound. Looking around the battlefield, he couldn't understand why, but as he opened his eyes, he screamed in fear, feeling sweat pouring around him face. Groaning softly, he ran a hand through his beard, hearing the knocking again from his door.

So, it had been another memory...

Looking at his communicator to see the time, he picked up his cane, slithering slowly to the door.

"Who is it? It's extremely early in the morning..."

 

[Roshki Belawiiks]

[member="Mak Manto"]

I couldn't take it any more. The nightmares were back, and that stupid hallucination was popping up with greater frequency. To top it off, I had an unwanted Force Bond.

But most of all, not knowing where Double Kay was, or why he left...that was my greatest concern, and my greatest weight.

She leapt onto the Rodian’s chest and landed blow after blow onto his face and neck, punching until she could sense no more life in the carcass. Then, and only then, did she stop.

Breathing hard, the Togruta girl still gripped that bone, her bone, her personal clubbing tool. The end of it was covered in blood and bits of flesh. Her own body was sore from the scratches, bites, and scrapes she'd incurred, both from this fight and from before she left Hell. Her feet were now bleeding profusely, but the shock from what she'd done served to numb that pain. For now.

A familiar presence appeared at the edge of her senses, and the girl, the young Padawan, turned to see her Master approaching. She ran forward, collapsing at his feet as tears streamed from her face. "Forgive me, Double Kay. I don't know what happened, I--" She was prepared to do anything to prove to her Master, the only person she trusted, that she was innocent.

He had forgiven her once. Surely he--

"No, Roshki. You killed an innocent man in cold blood, and you failed to resist the Dark side. You are a disappointment, and will never be a Jedi."

I shook my head, hoping to erase the remnants of my dream self's wails of anguish. It was that nightmare which had woke me up at this ungodly hour, preventing me from going to sleep. I knew that wasn't how it'd happened, but nonetheless it prevailed like a bad aftertaste.

And, since I was awake anyway, I figured it'd be best to put this alert sensation to good use. Which was how I came to be pounding on Master Mak Manto's door at 02:54 hours.

"Who is it? It's extremely early in the morning..."

"Oh, good. You're awake." I barged past the Thisspiasian and marched into the room, looking around at the mess. My eyes spotted the bottle, recognizing it for what it was and immediately moving towards it. I needed a drink!

Of course, the bottle was bone-dry. Picking it up, I pointed the end of it at the Jedi. "Tsk, tsk. Jedi shouldn't be drinking, especially by themselves Mr. Manta. Got any more?" I paused, realising he probably wouldn't recognize me. He was old.

"I'm Ross, by the way. The Padawan you mistakenly called a one-armed Twi'lek who lost an arm. I have a pet Blarth, Maxi. You havent met him, and you probably won't tonight. He's still snoozing, lucky frakker. Remember me?"

 

[Mak Manto]

Watching as the Togrutan come in without even a hello or explanation, he stood with his mouth opened as she saw the bottle and lectured HIM on drinking before looking for more alcohol that he stashed around the room.

"That's Manto, and Master would be nice enough to add before the name! And you can't drink! You're a padawan!"

Rubbing his eyes, he looked at Roshki before shaking his head, sighing.

"I know who you are, Roshki. Look, I already told you that you need to focus on the saberstaff training by yourself, that becoming adept in anything requires solitude and training under your own hand. I can't teach you any more about wielding double-bladed lightsabers."

[member="Roshki Belawiiks"]

 

[Roshki Belawiiks]

[member="Mak Manto"]

I placed the bottle back on the desk and continued to search for liqueur. "I thought I said Master? Besides, I'm a twenty-two year old Padawan, so I think I can handle it. Not like I'm gonna turn into a fish." Nope. Alcohol was never really my poison, anyway. Just A Vrassa -- not that anyone else really knew.

Crouching down, I pulled open a drawer and started rifling through its contents. I was actually rather surprised to find that the Master was even drinking to begin with; I always thought that was one of the Jedi no-nos, and I'd yet to find someone to prove me wrong.

At Manto's comment, I looked back up at him. I kept my demeanour the same, but my eyes...I hoped they didn't betray me that much. "I'm not here for more lightsaber practice. I'm doing well enough on my own, trust me. I'm still here, aren't I? And look! I've still got all my extremities!" Waggling my fingers at him, I returned to my quest.

 

[Mak Manto]

Watching her as she rummaged through his room, his eyes narrowed when she went to a drawer on a small cabinet that sat next to the chair he slept in, one that held something extremely personal to him, something nobody in the Order knew that he had. Grabbing the handle, she was about to open it when his cane came down, slamming it shut with a bang.

Bending his tail, he reached her eye level, speaking softly.

"Why are you here then...?"

[member="Roshki Belawiiks"]

 

[Roshki Belawiiks]

[member="Mak Manto"]

I backed off from the drawer as the Master whacked it shut with his cane, hands raised in a sort of surrender. "Okay, okay, yeesh. I'll just steal some booze later," I muttered.

As he stopped down to my eye level, I met his gaze steadily. Or tried to, anyway. I rarely looked anyone directly in the eye, and after a few seconds I turned away, looking for a place to sit as I considered my answer.

I was here because I wanted to talk to someone I knew about my Force bond -- someone who was a Master. Because I also wanted to interrogate that same Master about Kian Karr, and what the Council was doing. Nobody wanted to tell me anything.

What about your hallucination? a tiny voice whispered. Should I tell Manto about her, too?

No. If they didn't send me to rehab for my drug use, the Order would definitely send me to a mental institution for that.

So, two things. Which one first? I was dying to know if they'd found anything on Karr, but...

"What do you know about Force Bonds?" I asked nonchalantly, pushing aside some papers on the desk and sitting down. You coward, that voice whispered again. But could you blame me? I needed to learn more about this bond, and I was afraid, deep down, that the news about Double Kay wouldn't be good.

 

[Mak Manto]

As she took a seat, he stood back up, slithering slowly over to a small table in the back of the room where a teapot sat. Lifting it with the Force, the pot, a small container of water and two cups floated behind him before he took a seat in his chair opposite from Roshki. Snapping his fingers, a small flame appeared in his lower right hand as the pot hovered slightly over it. As the water came into the pot, it only took a moment before it began to whistle, allowing him to pour it into the cups, one for him and one for Roshki that floated to the table that she sat at.

Snapping his fingers again, the flame disappeared as he looked at her.

"A Force Bond is a connection between two beings of the Force, something that is more common for a master and an apprentice to experience. Emotions and thoughts are able to be sensed by those who share a bond, even if they're separated by great distances."

"It's... very powerful. Those who do share one, however, can have it broken, whether by death or by changing your feelings. It's not easy, though. A bond is something similar to love. It's a very powerful connection, but if it's broken, all you're left with is emptiness, a wound in your heart that never heals..."

Sipping his tea, he looked outside his window, gripping his cane even harder.

"Thinking about trying to create one, Roshki...?"

[member="Roshki Belawiiks"]

 

[Roshki Belawiiks]

[member="Mak Manto"]

I grabbed the floating cup, disappointed that there wasn't any liqueur in it. Nonetheless, I took a sip...and discretely spit it back into the tea. I'd never been much of a tea drinker, and this instance was no different.

It was also hotter than I'd expected.

As I listened to Manto's words, I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. It sounded an awful lot like what Barrien and I seemed to have, and what I thought I had with Karr. I definitely had an empty feeling in my chest, a feeling that had been there for a while. And if the Bucket Head and I had a Force Bond...I didn't want to think about what that meant. There was too much in my head that I didn't want him to know. That he had no right to know.

"No, actually." In a rare moment of maturity, my voice was devoid of snark. To my own montrals, it held a lot of other things in it, things I didn't want to begin naming for fear of what I'd find. "I think I already have one, actually."

Setting the cup down, I slowly kicked my feet back and forth, sullen. "You know that Jedi knight, [member="Barrien Siegfried"]? He and I fought together on Lothal, when we encountered enemy storm troopers. I, ah...I was shot, here...and here..." My fingers first touched my right shoulder, and then my left hip. "I went down, and he was still fighting. My arm hurt too much to wield my lightsaber, but we needed to leave. I don't like being useless, you know. So, um...I did this thing, okay? I don't know what it's called, or if it even has a name, but I kinda sent my energy to him. Like I was giving him cookies or something."

I scratched the back of my head, giving Mak a sheepish look. "Well, I think that's what caused it, 'cause now I can sense him, and vice versa. Which sucks bantha balls, because now he's also my Master, but I don't want him to be. He's not my real Master, you see."

 

[Mak Manto]

"I see, because you still think Kian Karr is your Master..."

So, now he understood why she was here. As a part of the Council, she had come to him to gain information on where Kian was, if the Council knew of anything. Taking another sip of his tea, he closed his eyes, sighing softly, old memories still drifting their way into his mind as he thought on what to do.

[member="Roshki Belawiiks"]

 

[Roshki Belawiiks]

[member="Mak Manto"]

"I don't just think, I know!" Irked, I leapt from my perch and rushed over until I was but an inch from the other alien, coal eyes shining with defiance. "Kian Karr is my real Master, and ain't nobody gonna say anything different, because that there's the fact and there's never gonna be anyone else who will be my true master!"

I put my hands on my hips, angry. How dare he assume anyone else was my Master? How dare he, how dare the Council, and how dare Barrien assume that anyone but Double Kay be my Master!

Riled up, the hesitation I felt earlier evaporated like mist in the early Tatooine sunlight. "That's another thing. The Kel Dor was head of the Shadows, a Master on the Council, and one of the greatest Jedi to boot. So how in the fething hell is it that the Council itself has yet to do anything about his disappearance? Huh? Did he really not mean that much to you? Does the Council have better things to do than to find a valued member of their precious Order?"

Mak didn't deserve this. Really. He'd done nothing to deserve this, but after months of stewing quietly in my juices, waiting with forced patience to hear something from the Council, from the Kel Dor, well...an outburst of these proportions was bound to happen some time. And the Thisspiasian was the only one I knew who could even do anything about it.

Crossing my arms, I took a step back. Tantrum done, I calmly levelled my gaze at him, a faint scowl on my face and my chin jerked up slightly. "Well?" I challenged.

 

[Mak Manto]

Putting the cup down, he looked at her and frowned. So, Kian was still her master no matter what had happened to the man, to the fact he had disappeared.Gazing slowly at Roshki, it was almost as if the memory in his sleep had come back to him just for this reason, that he had remembered that unholy night because Roshki was coming.

Was it because of the Force?

"A very long time ago, long before you were born, before any of the Jedi in this Order were born, hundreds of years before this time, I was a Jedi Master of an order dedicated to protect the Galaxy, just like this one. And in that Order, there was a beautiful young girl, just like you, someone I cared immensely for. She was clever and strong yet kind and passionate. She was my whole world..."

Getting up, he slithered over to the window, placing a hand on the glass, looking out.

"One day, she came and told me she was in love with a fellow Jedi. I... argued with her about what course she was taking with her life, but she didn't listen to me, as she felt happiness from being with him, as did he."

"Though, one day, he was sent on a mission and never returned. We knew knew what had happened to him, if he had fallen to the Sith or to the Empire or another faction. The Council looked for him and failed. I looked for him and failed. And with my failure, the young girl who had filled my heart with happiness fell into a terrible grief over his disappearance. Then, something happened I never thought would happen..."

"She fell to the Dark Side..."

Banging the window softly with his hand, he sighed hard, his breathing coming out ragged.

"I don't know where Kian Karr is, Roshki. The Council doesn't know where he is, and despite our best efforts, we haven't been able to find him, but if you continue to focus on this, you will be following a dangerous path, just like the young girl I cared for."

[member="Roshki Belawiiks"]

 

[Roshki Belawiiks]

[member="Mak Manto"]

No.

"No!" I shook my head fervently. "It's just-- Kian was a Shadow. He was The Shadow. You guys-- you guys aren't looking hard enough!" I squeezed my eyes shut, gripping the fabric of my robes over my heart. Ever since I'd been taken to that place, I never again wore flimsy pyjamas. Instead, I wore everything except my boots and my belt. Even then, they were close at hand.

"But I'm-- I'm different. If I go out, Karr will find some way to contact me. I know it. I know it! I was -- am -- his Padawan. We've been through too much for this. We're a...a team. If I look for him, he'll come out of hiding."

The words kept flowing out of my mouth, unstoppable. I kept telling myself that Karr was still in hiding, on a secret mission that not even the Council could know about; that he'd come out of hiding for me, because we had a special bond. The Kel Dor was the closest thing to a real father that I'd ever had, and I'd told him as such.

And as I repeated this in my head, as I began to warm up to that idea, I found myself adding, "I won't fall to the Dark side. I'm not a novice, Manto. I know what it feels like, and I'm never going to touch that again."

...blow after blow onto his face and neck, punching until she could sense no more life in the carcass. Then, and only then, did she stop.

"Ever."

 

[Mak Manto]

Moving slowly back to his seat, he downed the rest of his tea before he brought out his pipe, having a smoke.

"I said what I wanted to say, but I didn't say that we couldn't do something on our own, did I? Perhaps we haven't been looking hard enough. Maybe what I need is a certain Jedi by my side to help me find Kian Karr."

"Now, who do I know who's impatient, abrasive in personality, has a good heart but is extremely goofy? Who could that be...?"

[member="Roshki Belawiiks"]

 

[Roshki Belawiiks]

[member="Mak Manto"]

​

I looked up sharply, surprised at what Manto was saying. And when it sank in, I smiled. It was small, but it was real. Like, really real. True hope began tto blossom inside me, and I realised that all this time the only thing keeping me from drowning in defeat was my own stubbornness. Well, and Maxi.

But then my brow furrowed, and the smile disappeared. Not that that was bad -- in fact, it was good. Because it meant I was thinking. Plotting. Planning. And, most importantly, ​taking control. Alongside that hope, I felt a fire of grim determination building up. "We will need a plan, but I think I have one."

Pacing back and forth, hands clenched at my side, words began to pour out of my mouth as quickly as they appeared in my mind. "You're a member of the Council. I'm an inconspicuous Padawan...don't laugh. My point is, I will need you to be my mole for the Council. If anything comes up about Karr, anything at all, I need you to let me know. Understand?"

I didn't give him time to answer. "I, meanwhile, will try and visit the possible places that he might have gone to, or places where someone might know him. I'll be less conspicuous because I spent many, many more years out on the streets and among the real people than I have with the Jedi. I'll be able to blend in better because, well...I don't have that Jedi mannerism yet. And yes, you all have one."

My eyes closed partially as I continued to think, and a hand went up to grip my chin. "I can report back to you about anything I find. You'll probably be able to glean more out of a lot of it than I can, anyway. That way we have a home front and a foreign front, so to speak. Especially since people are more likely to notice the absence of a Master Jedi than of a lowly, anti-social Padawan like me."

I whirled around so that I was facing the Thisspiasian. "But we absolutely, positively, cannot let Barrien know. I don't want him to know, and there's little he can do to help, anyway. What do you think?"

 

[Mak Manto]

"I will agree that if I find any information on Kian through the Council, I'll tell you, but only if I deem it not dangerous to you. If I believe that the information could lead to your injury or death, you will not know."

"However, has it ever come to your mind that perhaps Barrien may sooner or later need to know about this possible Force Bond? Barrien is a good Jedi Knight, Roshki. I understand you want Kian to be found; believe me, we all do, but you can learn a lot from him."

"Either way, I'll allow you to make your own decisions. Force knows I'd have failure in trying to control you, but don't forget he's involved in all of this, okay?"

[member="Roshki Belawiiks"]

 

[Roshki Belawiiks]

[member="Mak Manto"]

"That's unfair!" I exclaimed. "Withholding information from me would be counterintuitive!" A deep scowl appeared on my face. "I'm not some stupid, fragile little kid, Manto. I can handle myself." And forget my place, too, but did the system really have a rank worthy of myself?

"As for the Force bond, he knows. I think he knew before I did." My eyes narrowed bitterly. "I don't care if he's a good knight or not. He didn't bother telling me about his invasion of privacy until well after the incident. How can I forgive him for that?" One of my fingers flew up. "No, don't answer. I don't want to hear any Jedi bullpoopie."

Clasping my hands behind my back, I began to pace back and forth. "Now for a plan. We need to decide on a place to start looking. I was thinking, what about Dorin? That was Karr's birthplace, and he even had family there."

 

[Mak Manto]

Hearing her displeasure at the fact he wouldn't tell her certain things, he gave a deep frown.

"You are a padawan! What I say goes..."

Getting up, smoke flew out of his mouth and nostrils as he felt his beard twitch. Force only knew this girl would be the death of him. Hearing about her plan, he nodded to what she said.

"Dorin, huh? I don't know, Roshki. It's extremely close to Sith space. Dorin isn't under any faction's protection, but it could be dangerous..."

[member="Roshki Belawiiks"]

 

[Roshki Belawiiks]

[member="Mak Manto"]

I snorted. Manto, I'm pretty sure everyone can agree that "Padawan" is a superfluous title for me, I did not say.

"Smoking will kill you, old man. And that's another reason why I have to search there first. If Karr were to go underground for anything, it'd be to gather more intel on the Sith."

And more. Karr hated the Sith. As much as, if not more than, many of the older Jedi. On top of that, I could just imagine him leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for people close to him to find. So why not Dorin? It made sense to me, and I was going there unless Manto came up with a better place.

"So unless you have a better idea, I'm going there."

 

[Mak Manto]

Staring hard, it was a standoff for several seconds as alien eyes looked at one another before he slithered away again to the same corner. Coming back, he placed a holocron down on the table in front of him before taking a seat and waving a hand over it. A second later, a miniature holographic Mak visualized in front of them.

"Yes, Mak, how can I help you?"

"I want all of the information you have on Dorin. It's been a long time since I've been there and I'll need everything you have relating to the planet..."

"Yes, that's right. By my records, the last time you went to Dorin was with Kaen Thoon, your old apprentice. Wasn't he-"

"THAT'S ENOUGH! Just get me the information..."

"Of course."

Disappearing again, he grumbled softly as he looked at Roshki.

"Well, what are you waiting for? You might as well get packed, kid. I guess we're going to Dorin..."

[member="Roshki Belawiiks"]