Why Must We Fight?

[Jamie Pyne]

"Centuries?" Humans lived for such a brief period of time, comparatively to other species. Meditating for centuries felt like such a terrible waste of one's life spent in a single state of being. Who had that kind of time to simply dedicate to meditation? Sure some species lived for 900 or more years, but even then, losing even 10% of your life to ritualistic meditation made her cringe.

"That seems..." She paused, considering the word she was searching for for a moment. "A bit invasive." It sounded to be anyway.

Projecting ones thoughts and emotions onto others felt like an invasion of sorts, even if it were intended to help. Perhaps it was simply her perception and lack of understanding of the subject, but she cringed at the thought of how the Sith may implement such tactics on their own subordinates, given their reputation for harsh treatment.

"Does it actually work? Or is this more like a rallying to boost morale? Wouldn't lending physical support be more wise?"

She was still not entirely convinced making people feel good through the Force was actually something that could decide battles.

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

“It is invasive, you’re manipulating emotions. It’s for a good cause, yes, but you’re still changing how people act and feel.” Aela didn’t really like the thought of battle meditation. It was a great tool for fighting and winning battles, but to her it was a manipulation, the same thing that the Sith did. She knew that arguing against it would be a bad idea, but that didn’t mean the technique couldn’t give her the heabie jeabies.

“But.” She didn’t like it, but she wouldn’t lie to Jamie about it either. “It’s effective. More effective then a single Jedi could ever be in battle.”

That was the truth. “War, battle is cruel. It is littered with fear, death. Soldiers do not want to be there. It goes against natural inclinations, against everything that we want. That’s why most soldiers miss their shots, why their fumble and fall, why any number of things happen that are unpredictable.”

She frowned for a moment.

“With battle meditation...that goes away.” Aela let out a sigh. “It gives focus, hope, inspiration. It’s that little push that most people need to do their best. The sensation is...difficult to describe.”

She could do it, her father had taught her how, but she didn’t like to. As Jamie had said it felt...invasive, manipulative even. She simply didn’t enjoy shifting peoples thoughts and emotions in that matter. It was something only to be used in rare cases, when nothing else would do.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

"You would think after the hundreds of galactic conflicts, global wars and struggles we would all collectively end this, but no."

She shook her head in disappointment. "Everyone envisions their own peace, their own paradise. The collective happiness of all life isn't the kind of peace they mean. They mean their own personal happiness, overruling all others. If we all truly wanted to abolish death, wars, and suffering, there would be no need for Jedi, or Sith even."

Jamie opened her eyes to look over at Aela, a hint of sadness to her expression.

"After a millennia of repeating history we've learned nothing from our mistakes. That is the true tragedy in all of this."

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

“There will always be those with ambitions.” Aela said calmly. “Those that want something, those that want to better something, those that want...well just want. It’s the nature of organics, and unfortunately, or sometimes fortunately, there will always be those who oppose those with ambitions.”

It was a cruel thought, but a truthful one. “It is the unfortunate way of things. All we can do is our best. There are worlds that live in relative peace, worlds that live in safety. It’s my job to protect those worlds and bring those who want to live like them into the fold. That’s why I joined the New Jedi Order.”

She was an optimist like that.

“You can’t fix the entire galaxy.” She shrugged. “You can only help it along.”

The galaxy was...well it was big. There were hundreds of trillions of beings all with their own lives, ambitions, needs, and wants. There was no way to control them all, and in truth Aela wouldn’t want to. She knew that most people were relatively peaceful, and thus wanted peaceful lives. All that she could do was help them live the way they wanted to live.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

"Oh, I know. Just wishful thinking, really." Jamie smiled back at Aela, "Unless we were all singular thinking beings I don't know that there would ever be true peace. But it's still worth trying to make the galaxy a better place."

That was her parents' philosophy anyway. It was part of the reason they had always opted to volunteer first as ambassadors and humanitarians to other worlds. Sure, there was real danger in those places, and each time they left they knew they might not return, but the act of goodness, compassion and mercy outweighed the potential for danger. Others needed help -- They could provide it. And so they went, understanding that at the end of the day they were bringing a bit of peace to others, a bit of light to the galaxy, and perhaps that would inspire Jamie to do the same.

It had. That was why she'd sought training for her gift. It was why she was here on Bastion. It was why she cared so much for people she knew nothing of. And it was why she felt that all life in the galaxy was a precious thing to maintain and grow. Jamie believed that Aela felt at least similarly in that regard, and was why she trusted her instincts and guidance more so without question. They shared a great deal of similarities, even if they came from vastly different walks of life.

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

She smiled.

Ever since she had endured the battle of Geonosis at the age of three Aela had thought about nothing but helping. She liked to think that over the years she had. The evidence did back her up somewhat, she'd liberated half a dozen worlds alongside the GA and had ushered in an era of...mostly peace within the Alliance itself. There was something to that accomplishment, at leas that was what she told herself when she went to bed at night. It was part of the reason she was now working with the SIS, to continue doing good even though the largest part of the war was over.

"Well." She began again finally. "We'll see what good you'll eventually do in this galaxy."

Aela had every reason to believe that Jamie would do great things eventually, she just needed more training. "For now though, lets just stick with meditation."

You had to walk before you could run.

Hopefully on this particular mission Jamie would never have to actually call upon the force, at least not in any significant means. If everything went according to plan they would go to the ball, steal the communicator, find the information they needed and then move on the head of the house. The last part would require minimal involvement of her new Padawan, mostly because the plan had been laid out before Jamie had come into the picture. "Go on."

Aela urged with a smile, closing her eyes as she found her own focus.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Warm rays of the sun pierced through the window shades and into the bedroom, lifting the blonde from her sleep as tired blue eyes slowly opened. A yawn or two followed before Jamie stretched beneath the blankets. A hand slipped from beneath the comfort of her cocoon to retrieve her datapad from the nightstand. The empty screen sprang to life with the tap of a finger, indicating that the time was 08:04. The next few minutes were spent checking HoloMail, browsing some news articles from back home on Naboo, and sending Kurt a message to say hello from the comfort of her bed. After all, she had awoken a bit earlier than expected, so she could spare a bit more time in bed before having to actually get up.

Once she'd sent off a brief message to Kurt she pulled herself free of the sheets and proceeded to dress for the day. They would be heading into the heart of the city, and while this was hardly a dangerous prospect, Jamie knew she would have to be far more careful there than she had been thus far. Her head peeked out through the shades, looking out over the surroundings while subtly checking to see their friend that had been watching them the night prior was still visiting just across the street. It appeared that he spent the night as well.

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

Aela was already waiting in the kitchens. Her attire was what one might expect from the woman that she was claiming to be, a reserved dress that was slashed with darker colors. Nothing too fancy, but something that had clearly been made specifically for her and no one else. She was eating a small powdered donut when Jamie would find her, half the soldiers they had brought with them standing around in the kitchen talking.

“He was there most of the night.”

One of the men said, Aela nodding.

“Left at around midnight for half an hour, though he came back not sooner after. Sloppy really, I don’t think they’re used to watching people from their speeder. More likely they’re better with foot traffic.”

The Jedi Marshall nodded slightly, that made sense. Most of the families here lived in massive fortresses with walls that you couldn’t see over. There was no reason to really have anyone watch those, not when a camera or simple sensor could tell you whenever anyone left. She frowned for a moment and then finally spoke as she finished chewing. “That means they’ll definitely follow us today.”

The man nodded.

“Alright.” It wasn’t like she hadn’t been prepared for that idea anyway. “We’ll see if we can’t accidentally throw him off.”

Aela smiled. That was a skill she had learned during her time in the Shadow Syndicate. She hadn’t had the 5th Legion then, much less Jamie, but Adder and Jacen had been with her. Both of them had taught her a couple of things when it came to losing tails, and she had no doubt that she could teach her padawan today.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Descending the stairs Jamie could hear the others speaking in the kitchen, and so followed the sounds of conversation that led her to stand between the door frame, looking into the room at the others as they discussed the unwelcome guest that Jamie had spotted herself still lingering outside.

"Morning." She said finally after things quieted down.

Dressed similar to Aela, Jamie had on a pleated maroon dress and pair of cork wedge sandals with matching maroon straps, a few accent bangles of gold and silver around each wrist and a sparkling crystal necklace and earring combination. Her hair was up, tied back in a double twist bun.

Opting for a small apple that sat in a basket in the center of the island in the room as breakfast she took up a seat atop the counter and began to chomp away on the fruit, her blue eyes passing back and forth between the soldiers and Aela as they continued to chat. In between bites she managed to get a word in.

"When do we leave?"

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

Aela scooped up a napkin and wiped off the powder from the donuts, looking towards her apprentice for a moment before regarding the soldiers. They offered her a shrug. The Jedi Marshall rolled her eyes and then finally answered Jamie. “Within the hour.”

The silent communication between her and the soldiers had been a simple question and answer. The question had been when they wanted to leave, the answer; it didn’t matter. She supposed that in a way it didn’t, but the earlier they went the better it would be. The afternoon could be reserved for practice for her and Jamie and the evening could be used to rest up before the big day tomorrow.

“Ven, get everything ready.” One of the soldiers plucked another donut from the box and headed off out of the kitchen.

They would take a speeder to the market, and from there make their way to some of the better tailors. They would browse, but of course Aela already knew which one they would pick. Nothing was going to be random on this trip.

Not if she could help it.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie bobbed her head while chewing on a bit of the fruit in acknowledgement of Aela's comment. She'd have to remember to take another one for the ride. That particular variety of apple was quite delicious! Definitely one of her favorite at least. It was a crisp flavor, with a firm texture and bright red skin along the outisde. It looked to be at the peak of ripened. Yum!

As the others cleared out to begin getting ready to leave Jamie found the trash, and from where she sat atop the counter gave the core a small toss from a few meters away, before hearing it fall into the canister with a simple thud. Her focus shifted back to Aela with a smirk, before scooting off the counter top.

"Do you need anything from me before we go?" She didn't want to feel useless after all, as if she were simply tagging along.

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

She shook her head. “Today is going to be...interesting.”

That was one word for it. They would be playing the roles of the high born nobles for most of the day, or rather, the bratty high born nobles. Everyone had to come off thinking that they were just being themselves, that there was no act, no plot, nothing. It was crucial that the other families thought of them as just another set of girls coming to the ball, nothing else.

“We play our roles.” Aela said as she walked around the table. “Buy a few dresses, and come back here with no one aware of what we’re really up to.”

That was the plan anyway. “The only thing you can do right now is get yourself ready for that.”

Aela herself had spent most of the morning thinking of dozens of different scenarios, hundreds of questions and how she would respond, pretty much everything that could ever come up. It was part of the odd string of paranoia that she carried, something that would probably come in handy before this was all over and done with.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

"Very well." She said, giving the older girl another nod.

Scampering over to the bowl of apples atop the center island the blonde scooped up one more for later. What if she got hungry during their walk!? What with their uninvited guest tailing them all day it was bound to work up a mild hunger. No better way to sate that hunger than with a perfect little apple snack!

"I'm ready to act like my mother."

If that wasn't the truth. Her mother was more or less the embodiment of nobility back home. It seemed that nobility shared more or less the same behaviors and attitudes throughout the galaxy as Jamie had learned since leaving home. At least she had that going for her, even if everything else from the SIS to Bastion was foreign to her.

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

Aela let out an involuntary laugh, mostly because the statement immediately made her think of what would happen if they acted like her own mother. The idea was a silly one of course, not the least because Kira wasn’t any sort of royalty. “If we acted like my mother the mission would be over and this house would be donated to the nearest homeless shelter.”

That wasn’t an exaggeration.

The young Marshall offered Jamie a smile, walking around the table so that she could assess the young womans clothing. She gave her a nod and then pressed her face back into the more stoic and serious look that she would be wearing during their time out today. As funny as the thought was, today wasn’t all about jokes.

“Perhaps your mother is a better example in this case.” She said it with a smile breaking the mask for half a second. “Either way. Just remember that today is as important as tomorrow.”

They had to make them believe the act was real.

If they showed up at the ball tomorrow and people were already aware of who they were...well it would not only be disastrous, but also extremely dangerous. These people weren’t all fools, just some of them.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

"My mother is one-hundred percent serious one-hundred percent of the time. My uncle always used to tell me that if she wasn't complaining she wasn't happy."

That was the truth. She needed something to be discontent with or she was lost among the stars to dwell within her own self. Either that, or nag her daughter into madness. Jamie had always gotten along better with her father in regard to just about everything, be it schooling, personal affairs, and life in general. Her mother genuinely wanted the best for Jamie, but her approach and delivery of her advice and guidance was brash and aggressive if not outright demanding.

"I understand. Don't mess up." She gave a quick nod. "You won't have to worry about me."

I hope.

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

"My mother is...well, It's hard to explain." That was really the best way to put it. Kira was probably the galaxies greatest optimist. There was no doubt in her mind that if her mother could, she would have saved every single person in the galaxy no matter the cost to herself. She supposed it was one of the reasons that her father was with her, not the least because it was that attitude that had actually spared his life back when they had originally met.

"Don't worry." Aela said with a smile, reading the anxiety within the young woman. "If we mess up, we'll get out."

She would make sure of that.

There was danger here, yes, but Aela had never let anyone die because of a failed mission. The most one of her tasks had gone wrong had been on Serenno. She and three other Jedi had been trapped within the halls of a Count there, and although they had only barely made it out alive, they had made it out. It would be the same here. If the families caught on to them she would damn well make sure that everyone made it back to Sullust in one piece. "Come on. The car will be ready."

She motioned Jamie to follow along as she headed towards the garage.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

"Okay." She said quite simply, tucking the apple into her purse for later. She had faith in Aela's ability. If she were leading a group of soldiers on her own she had to be a capable person. The Alliance wouldn't send someone out on such an important mission if they didn't believe her capable. Jamie was more so nervous about actually screwing up the mission herself, even though she had little to do in the way of acting, since she was raised to be the very type of person they were to portray over the next two days.

The blonde followed Aela out to the garage, stepping into the car and sitting opposite her master. The others had already been waiting a few minutes for them to arrive by the time the two got there. "I'm guessing our friend is going to be joining us the moment we pull out?" She said, though the question was mostly rhetoric. If he had spent the evening watching them, he certainly was going to tail them all the way to the inner city markets as they shopped around. It only made sense.

"Is it still just the one right now?"

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

"We think so." Aela said as she sat herself down and looked around the small limousine. Oddly enough the last time she had been in one of these vehicles had been back on Eriadu when she had been posing as part of a criminal syndicate. Her clothing had been much less..comfortable then and there had been quite a bit more at stake, yet for some odd reason she felt more nervous now than she had then. Her lips pulled into a frown for half a second before she slowly pushed the thought away.

"Perhaps more will join him." She mused. "Though I doubt that they want to be seen by one another. The families here all have alliances among one another, but...well I suspect that none of them truly want to hold to those allegiances. The game they play is not about advancing others, only themselves."

It was selfish, and reminiscent of how the Sith operated.

That was no surprise really given that the Empire had been created and ruled by a Sith. Meritocracy had not always won the day within the old Empire, evidence truly by their main target at the ball. The son still stood to inherit everything even though his sisters were by all reports far more competent in every way than he. She frowned again and then shook her head, rolling her shoulders and letting out a sigh as the speeder pulled out of the garage and headed into the streets. "For now, none of them matter. We play the part regardless of if they're watching."

If only because they may very well meet someone that would be at the ball.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie shifted in her seat so she could peer out of the window to see the city as the car began to back out of the garage and into the streets of Bastion. She remained quiet as the car turned, slowly pulling away from the house. Sure enough, not more than a few seconds later their tail began to follow slowly behind, about 30 feet away from them. Whether or not their follower cared that they were indiscreet was hardly up for debate. Anyone with a pair of functioning eyes would be able to see the obvious.

"How far away is the center?"

She wondered to herself how large it was in comparison to Theed. While it certainly was by no means the largest center for trade in the galaxy it was most definitely booming with activity throughout the day each and every day. There were constantly new vendors and shops popping up, be it temporary or newly established companies. The commercial zone was a thriving spectacle. Jamie wondered how Bastion compared, if it was much larger than her home, and what they might have here.

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

”Not too far.” Aela said as she peered through one of the tinted windows. Bastion was an interesting, if only because of the way that it had been constructed. The planet had been, for the last known Millenia, a fortress world. Unlike other planets where this was true Bastion’s own landscape and construction really drove that point home.

The planet was covered in a city, like Coruscant, but unlike Coruscant there was no chaos here.

Everything was structured and built out in an almost exact way. One could see where a building was placed due to its ability to provide cover for the larger one behind it. One could see alleyways, roads, streets, all pointed in certain directions to prevent access to certain areas. There was no doubt this was a world meant for a siege.

”I don’t like this place.” Aela said quietly. ”It’s so unnatural.”

It made her feel...off. Nature was something that was supposed to be random, uncontrollable, something that no one could really hang on to.

Even more than Coruscant, Bastion felt as though it were artificial, almost lifeless.