Strong and Strange

They're Coming... and So Is a Dog

"Oh, hi, buddy." I said, petting him. I didn't exactly know what he was but he was cute. "You lost?" I asked. The creature licked my hand and I decided he could help defend the place. "Alright. You'd be good defense here." He made some sort of happy look and started following me around. The next morning, I went to go see Danse. The creature kept following me to my ship and I decided to bring him with me. There was a little room in there so he fit perfectly and comfortably. I landed near the police station, locked my ship, and ran inside.

"You're alright!" Danse exclaimed.

"Yeah... sorry I didn't come last night." I said.

"What were you doing?"

"My own things." I said. "Found a new place to settle."

"Well, my superiors are coming here." Danse said happily.

I opened and closed my mouth. The Brotherhood... exactly like the Empire is coming here. "When?" I asked. In my head I saw ships in the sky. Exactly the Empire.

"I don't know. But I think they're just leaving. Haylen had found some weird energy readings that may be coming from the Institute." Danse said.

"How will they come?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

"Through the Prydwen. They made it at the Adam's Air Force Base using the scrap there." Danse explained. I nodded, looking away. I had a lot on my mind. Was I doing anything right, right now? I then heard a voice. "Don't ever doubt yourself. Trust in the force." I knew it was in my mind and I knew who it was. Master Qui Gon Jinn was wise. I briefly knew him but he was killed by Darth Maul. At least Master Kenobi killed him too... I think he's dead at least...

"What are you thinking about?" Danse asked.

"Huh? Oh just- nothing" I smiled. The creature I met put his paws on my legs.

"I see you found a dog."

"A what?"

"You must have very different things in your galaxy... he's called a dog." Danse said, petting him. "He'll be loyal to you now that you've met each other... you should give him a name."

"Faramir?" I suggested. The dog licked my face. "I guess so." I laughed. This reminded me as if I had my very own droid. Most jedi do. Master Anakin had a droid. Obi wan did too. I stood up from my chair and opened my bag. I had my braid still with me along with the holocron. I had a map, and a training droid. I pulled it out and the braid fell out onto the floor. Danse picked it up and studied it.

"What's this?" He asked.

"My padawan braid. The padawans have them so they know their padawans. Once they become a knight, they cut it off. If they are banned or kicked out for some reason, they uh... rip it off." I said.

"You're a knight, I take it?"

"Yeah."

"The Brotherhood has many ranks too. It's very complicated but the field duty soldiers are Squire, Initiate, possibly aspirant, knight, paladin, and then sentinel. You can't go any higher than that." He said. "There are commanders and captains of each rank too." He added. I zoned out a little, looking at the training droid as he spoke. I turned it on and it floated in the air. I pulled out my lightsaber and deflected each of its bolts. Danse was amazed, Rhys stared, and Haylen just watched the droid. Soon, I was done and turned off the droid and put away my lightsaber.

"Who taught you?" Danse asked.

"Master Grand. I don't know if he survived the purge or not, though." I responded, taking my braid from Danse.

"What are your ranks of jedi?"

"Youngling, Padawan, Jedi Knight, Jedi Master, Jedi Grand Master, and then there's the Council High members. Master Yoda was one of them." I said, thinking about the short, old, pointy eared, green creature in his seat along with Mace Windu.

"Not bad." Danse said.