Old Friends Homecoming

Chapter 10 - Journey Home

The massive frigate was enough to carry at least tens of dozens of war refugees or travellers looking to take a vacation from their regular lives. The shape resembled a pufferfish in its normal state if you looked at it from below. Every day it would make journeys across the galaxy to get people where they wanted to go, fuel was hardly an issue, which pleased many by the minimal amount of stops.

It was a quarter to noon when Emi Takori and Kit Fisto boarded the ship and found their room on the tenth level. A small cabin with a bunk bed overlooking a porthole-like window. They had not brought much for this trip, except the essentials and Emi's favourite white nightgown: something she almost objected to bringing given it reminded her too much of Plo, but it was a risk she was willing to take. Both of them wore wool ponchos to hide their belts containing their lightsabers, but Emi knew that anyone would recognize them as Jedi, regardless of whether they concealed their weapons or not.

"Tell me again, you stalled Master Tiin from objecting to this?" Kit asked as he slid Emi's bag under the bottom bunk,

Emi was sitting with her legs dangling at the top bunk, Kit decided to let her have it, "He would see it as a trick, Kit. Like it's another secret mission tag-along when it isn't. Also, I've been thinking the past few days how much he has made my skin crawl so I finally decided to get the truth out of him,"

"Oh yeah?" Kit asked, leaning over the edge of his bunk, the tentacles on his head nearly touched the floor,

"It turns out that I remind him too much of his mother who also did a lot of reckless things and it got her killed, he didn't want to see me become like her,"

Kit rolled his eyes, "Whatever person his mother was like, you're nothing like her Emi. At least you're trying and Master Tiin's going to keep that icy attitude of his no matter what you say. C'mon, let's get something to eat, it'll be at least a few hours before we reach Naboo."

***

Emi and Kit sat down by the window overlooking the rapid blue light as the ship was travelling through lightspeed. On her plate, Emi had helped herself to some Nuna legs and decided to go with a non-alcoholic beverage after last time. Kit on the other hand had his dish full of Nautolan-native delights. The ship offered something for every species in the galaxy and no one had ever complained that there wasn't something they couldn't eat due to toxicity. Emi found it hard to believe that whatever company came up with this idea, had absolutely no negative about it.

"So you want to see your family? When was the last time you were in contact with them?" Kit asked,

Emi took a bite of one of the Nuna legs, "Not since Master Yoda found me on his trip to the planet. I was three at that time. This will be quite a surprise for them as unfortunately, the temple has a limited communication range. Even my own apartment can't get a signal either,"

"That's too bad. There's not much left of my family. My mother died from complications giving birth to my sister, then my father apparently joined a gang of pirates to cope with his grief. Haven't bothered to track him down, it's just too personal. If anyone can stop him, I'd rather it not be me," Kit said, sighing at the memories returning to him,

"I'm sorry. What about your sister?"

"She doesn't know I'm around, I was taken to the temple before she was born. I do hope she's all right though and not running with some gang like my father," he stopped to eat some of his own meal which looked like some kind of meat and assorted vegetables.

Emi watched him as she took a drink contemplating what to do once she arrived. Perhaps take a stroll through Theed or down memory lane from her old neighbourhood. Anything was better than being stuck at the temple with nothing to do but read things in the Archives.

Yet whenever she was around Kit, she felt more like herself, honest, happy, and free. She could be herself around him, just like with Plo, but there was still something about Kit that made her feel that way much more than the former. It had to be since he knew her longer than Plo did and exactly what she needed and when. He had been there for her when no one else had. It also made her still wonder why Plo didn't stick up for her sooner? Would things have been different then if he did?

She took another bite of her Nuna, perhaps she had fallen for Plo so fast due to his instant warmth unless of course there was also something he saw in her that he wasn't telling her, but Emi quickly shook that thought away. Now was not the time to search for these answers in the presence of her best friend, who she was still trying to figure out what was happening in their own relationship.

"You're awfully quiet Emi," Kit pointed out,

Emi swallowed, "Sorry Kit, I'm just thinking," she paused to come up with a better subject, then it arrived for her, "Kit, ever wonder what Grievous might be doing now? He was outraged the state I left him in back on Dorin," she lowered her voice knowing the topic of Grievous might set panic within the dining hall. He was known to everyone, not just Jedi, and even sometimes the mention of him was enough to initiate fear.

Kit then whispered, "I don't know, it seems from what you told me, it just keeps getting worse, it's like he wants you dead more than anyone else, which is hard to believe because he wants to kill all Jedi, not just you," he stopped to eat some more of his dish,

Emi took another sip of her drink, "Well, how often does a Jedi who's still practically a child, best him in combat? Nobody likes to get schooled by someone younger than them Kit, especially Grievous,"

"You've definitely changed Emi, normally whenever we talk about this, you're all high and mighty full of adrenaline. Like you're excited about your latest fight and whatnot! Like slash! Swoosh! Wham!" he mimicked several lightsaber movements with his arms and Emi giggled, her cheeks turning pink, this was something else she could never experience with Plo, only Kit was capable of bringing out this emotion in her and it made her heart thump.

Kit stopped when he realized several other patrons were staring at him, then he shrugged, "I don't know, just saying, it's a different side of you,"

Emi ate the last of her Nuna, when she swallowed her face was redder, "I told you before, I'm still the same person,"

"Whatever you say Emi, but you've definitely matured," Kit replied and finished his meal, "let's get some rest before this vessel arrives at Naboo."

Emi followed him back to the cabin and changed into her white nightgown on the top bunk. Kit lay down below her and Emi couldn't tell if he was meditating or had fallen asleep before her. She looked out the round window one last time at the streaking blue image of being in lightspeed.

When she allowed herself to relax, the only sound she heard was the frigate's engine and it brought a calming feeling to her as she stared up at the metal ceiling. Then she fell asleep and for the first time in days, she didn't think about Plo, the Council, or even Grievous; she slept peacefully with no dreams.