Incident at Saris

Chapter Fifteen

Saris Prime Observation station.

They went into an ice-cream parlour; there were about 20 flavours or so and not many other things mainly toppings, coffee and milkshakes and the like, Kayla looked around "yum".
Ren grinned " so what flavours do you like?"
"Um, Vanilla, I guess and chocolate".
Ren nodded "one bowl of vanilla bean and milk chocolate coming up, and you choose your topping and as for me, dark chocolate and mocha" he indicated the various toppings that were on display.
She nodded and Ren gave them his order and ordered two iced chocolates as well.
Kayla said, "um, thanks".
Ren grinned again and helped himself to some banana slices, maple syrup, hundreds and thousands, dark chocolate shavings and some jelly " enjoy".
Kayla said, " people are looking at us".
Ren said " get used to it; they are simply not used to seeing two members of the Jedaini Order, a Master and his apprentice in of all places an ice-cream shop enjoying a bowl of ice cream" as both him and her were dressed in their Jedai robes, (Ren like Rik practically lived in his! And Kayla was still in the garb of a student).
"Um yeah," said Kayla.
Ren smiled and sat down, Kayla joined him " get used to it" he advised again "there is a certain mystical 'quality' about been a member of the Order, that people don't always realise that we are people too, that we have desires, likes and dislikes, and so forth, just like anyone, you can learn to use that quality as a shield if need be and for so much more, it is also an authority you can use, people think we are a little strange but they can't deny that the universe would be a much worse place without us around" he took a sip of his iced chocolate and stirred it slightly.
Kayla nodded "ok Master Ren" realising that it was probably him out of her two teachers she'd probably spend the most time with learning from, and she realised, she looked forward to that.
Ren nodded and then said, " lesson number one, try always to retain your dignity even if you are butt naked and covered in mud!"
She chuckled " did that happen to you?"
"Rik and I both!" Ren said " long story, and looking back, rather amusing as to how we ended up butt naked and covered in mud! But not so much at the time!"
She nodded, she loved Rik's happy-go-lucky and slightly roguish nature, but Ren, he was so kind, wise and gentle and she loved him too, and he was she thought more like a Jedai Master should be!
Ren said "it's a funny story how Rik and I ended up covered in mud and butt naked, which looking back is funny but not so much at the time" he took another sip and added, "Think I'll order an ice-cream soda to go as well."
Kayla asked, " are you alright Master Ren?"
Ren nodded " the last two days have been draining, it is why Rik told me to go spend some time with you as well, I'm more sensitive than he is and feel things more, I'm tired. But I'm ok, but it's why you need to learn to shield as well. You're a healer like we are, so you need to learn how to shield as well, so many Jadaini Healers get burnt out and it is one of our more rarer talents, and we don't have enough. Rik and I can swing a sword and fight as well as any of our brethren, but our main ability is our Healing. Rik and I are Healers first, me moreso than Rik in many ways, he's had some military training as well, but Rik is a Healer like I am, he describes himself as more of a Combat Medic or Paramedic, he is the one who's usually one of the first on a scene, I take over then when they are brought back, we're both Doctors, Rik's just more combat orientated and trained as such" he paused " been a Healer is a lot harder than it seems though, we will teach you everything we know and if you choose to pursue it further as we did, we'll support you on that too. Jedaini Healers are too few and we need more".
Kayla nodded "I know".
Ren nodded and continued " but don't let anyone ever think you are weak or soft; I tell that to everyone who's a Healer".
Kayla nodded "I was the only Healer in my class although one of my classmates was good with animals, she's probably my best friend".
Ren nodded " that is one of the rarer skills as well, anyone claim her yet?"
"Yes," said Kayla " she was off on her apprenticeship about a week before I was, but like I said some of my classmates haven't yet been claimed by a Master yet, but some of us are, but I was the only one who got two!"
Ren chuckled " Rik and I, we come as a Pair and always have".
"You're a Corran Pair, or something aren't you?"
"Yes, like a small amount of the Corran we are Counterparts, we can survive pretty well on our own and have done so, but we are stronger together".
Kayla said, " Rik said that you share a soul".
Ren nodded "I'm literally the other half of Rik," he licked his spoon "it's a long story but it's the truth, so want an ice-cream soda? I like raspberry, lime or ginger beer myself but your choice".
"Ginger beer?" she asked.
"Ginger beer it is then," he said, "I like that too, although Rik says that Ginger makes him sneeze".
Kayla laughed as Ren ordered two ginger beer ice-cream sodas to go and once they got them they left the ice-cream parlour.
Kayla took a deep sip of her soda and said: "Mmm I love ginger!"
Ren nodded "I do too, Rik doesn't so much, he says it makes him sneeze".
She laughed " So you do have some differences after all?"
"Yes! Rik, he also likes hot spicy foods! I don't so much; Rik likes nothing better than a hot. Spicy curry, I prefer a milder one, Rik prefers coffee over tea and although I will drink coffee and quite like it, I also like nothing better than a hot cuppa! It is differences like that; he likes hot spicy foods, I prefer less spicy, although we do share a love of chocolate, Maple Syrup, Molasses, pancakes, bananas, and we also like a mix of all four" he laughed " pancakes are about the only thing we can cook properly! We're hopeless in the kitchen! Which is why it is great that both Saffi and Kimmie can cook!"
She chuckled "yeah".
Ren asked, " can you cook?"
"Not very well...." She said.
Ren nodded " all the more reason why it is great that Kimmie can!"
"She seems to enjoy it too," said Kayla, " she said she would bake a cake for us all".
Ren nodded " warning though If Rik and I ever get into an argument, which we sometimes do, keep out of our way ok? we'll work it out eventually" he rubbed his head "yeah just do that, I need to meditate...." As they came to the park "Riks right, I didn't realise it was called the Garden of Contemplation and Memory".
Kayla said " a garden on a space station".
"It's more of a park than a garden," said Ren " ever been to the Botanical Gardens on Saris 4?"
"Ages ago," she said.
"We'll take you there sometimes, that is a Botanical Garden!" he said, " this is more a park, a piece of greenery in the middle of a space station, manmade but it will suit our purposes for now".
"Ok," she said as they entered and she looked around and saw that they were in the middle of the station, so there was a good view of the rest of it, above them was the transport trains and the like, and she could also see the lifts that went from the bottom to the top, the station was quite large, and there was a fair population on it, mainly miners and people associated with the mining platforms, but it was also a place for wanderers, traders, diplomats all sorts of things a point of call for Saris's Primes four moons and surrounding system, some of the other planets in the system were also primarily used for mining as well, with Saris 4 been one of the jewels.
She'd been born on Saris 4 and so had Rik and Ren, she thought as they also spoke with the soft Sarisian accent.
"You were also born on Saris 4, weren't you?" she asked.
"More or less," Ren said " it is not where we originally came from but it is where we were ....born, I guess, that is where our song began" he smiled at her "come I will start teaching you how to shield".
Kayla looked at the new baby ducks and said: " they're so cute and fluffy!"
Ren smiled and said "they are indeed, now sit down and I will start teaching you the basics of shielding yourself from impressions, if you learn it well enough we might be able to take you down with us if they ask for our assistance again on the site. You need to learn the basics anyway as you grow in power and skill, especially seeing you are a healer".
She nodded "Master Ondrina mentioned that I had been taught the most basic, but she said you would help strengthen what I already know".
Ren nodded " healers they need something like this, too many burn out because they haven't been taught right if I didn't have these techniques I probably would have too. I'm more sensitive than Rik, and I, 'feel ' things more! So I will begin with Training you in these techniques as I'm probably the best for it " he sat down " here, take my hands" offering out his hands.
She did so, Ren's skin was leathery but smooth, his grip gentle but firm, he had three long fingers and a thumb on his hands, his hands were warm and large and covered hers if he had scales, they were small and barely noticeable, his hands were also callused, and there were what looked like a few old burn scars.
"Rik has one just like this" she remmarked.
"I'm not surprised, Rik and I, we share scars, we gave them to each other when we first came here," he said.
"You and Rik....hurt one another?"
"Um yeah, we were confused, frightened and not entirely sure what had happened to us both and we well...attacked each other, until I realised what had happened and stopped us because I realised that if we continued we would KILL each other otherwise! We did not recognise each other or what we had become, or even ourselves! Now concentrate, close your eyes and attune yourself to the Way, feel it through your whole body, become aware of your surroundings and where you and the Way fit into them, become aware of the station itself and everyone in it, take it slow though, the Force and the Way is life itself, it is a living breathing representation of our universe it surrounds us all!"
She nodded and took his hands and felt their connection to the Way and her connection, what did Kimmie call it? The Force? Although Rik and Ren had also coined the same term as well.
Ren nodded and continued, his voice soothing " now pick out someone who catches your attention".
"There are so many!" she said " so many voices! Why haven't I felt this before? Seeing Saris 4 has a lot more people?"
"True it does," said Ren's comforting voice ", but the Academy also has safeguards in place to guard those within, to filter out stuff like that, this place does not, it is why you must learn this! Concentrate on ME Kayla, use me to centre yourself".
She felt a comforting warm, safe, presence surround her and recognise it as Ren's unique signature, Rik's was similar and got the impression of an ethereal and beautiful being seemingly made of light standing over her, smiling at her gently, surrounding her in his warm, healing aura.
"Wow!" she said "this is.....! is that you? You're beautiful! Like an angel!".
Ren spoke again and this time she wasn't sure whether he was actually speaking to her or whether it was straight into her head "use me to centre yourself Kayla" he said.
"What was that! is that what you are?"
"No, but it is what we were" he replied, "Rik and I...SSh now calm, use me to centre yourself, I will steady you and reach out, picture your mind as a hand reaching out".
Kayla said, " you were a being of light!"
"Not fully a being of light, and of darkness, you cannot have one without the other, Kayla it causes imbalance....there must be a balance between the two, you cannot have light without darkness, good without evil, stillness without motion, you cannot burn one out of you and keep the other.....our original people looked a little like angels, and probably if you saw one you would think they were, but they are not, they are just alien and like anyone they are flawed. But that is for another lesson and one Rik, and I will both teach you about one day. For now, use my strength to centre yourself and then reach out and find someone who catches your attention and is possibly in pain...".
She nodded "there is a child, she has fallen off her bike and has hurt her leg".
"Good enough," he said, " now try and shield her from the pain and try to shield yourself from the pain as well, take her pain away, pull it to yourself, but picture your empathy as a shield, turn it into one, I will help you".
He raised his lower arms building power with them " steady now" he advised.
"She's crying," Kayla said.
"Try and take her pain away," he said.
She nodded "I can do that; it's well shielding myself from the pain that is the hard part!"
"I will help you," Ren said, " concentrate on the little girl".
She nodded " she's Gorta-Trellian! Probably why I found her! Now to take away her pain, I can do this" she concentrated and felt Ren boost her and she smiled at the gentle, kind feeling she got from him.
Ren said " now concentrate and put your shield up, so you dull the pain" she nodded and did so and visualised her empathy as a bright shiny light although it was dull compared to the pure light Ren was emanating and she felt his presence in the Way, he was strong, one day I'll be like that, she thought, and Ren said, " well done not bad for a first attempt".
"I did it!" she said.
Ren nodded "just remember to visualise it as a shield if it helps".
She nodded and felt Ren disconnect from her, regretting losing the feeling of the white healing light she had felt from him while connected.
"You are going to need some practice to perfect it," he said softly " to boost it up and become stronger at it, but you are indeed a Healer, but one little girl's pain is nothing compared to a disaster zone".
"Is the little girl going to be alright?" she asked " that so could have been me long ago".
"She will be," said Ren, he looked up at the Gravtrain above them a slight frown creasing his features, as Kayla bought some food to feed the baby ducks.
Ren joined her and for a moment they just both fed the Ducklings smiling at their antics in silence, Kayla truly felt that she was now their apprentice she had seen older apprentices and their masters fighting side by side as one and hoped that, that would be her and Rik and Ren eventually, you didn't really need to be apprenticed to become a Knight, but it sure helped!
"Something is in the air; a storm comes" Ren suddenly said softly.
Kayla said "Master Ren, what WERE you? That being ...it was beautiful! But so, alien!"
"It doesn't matter anymore," Ren said "it was long ago and in another life, and I wasn't happy, I am now, Rik and I, we are much better off as we are now" he turned to her " well done Kayla you're taking your first steps along a very long Path!"
Kayla said, "I hope I helped".
"You did," said Ren he stood up again as he had been crouching feeding the ducklings, due to his height, " come let's go meet Rik, we got back in time to meet this person for the courier run, we do need the money, and this was too good an opportunity to pass up".
Kayla nodded and followed Ren; Ren led her to another transport, and they both got on, Ren put his card on the reader as did Kayla and they sat down.
Ren said " let me do the talking though; we need to broker a deal with this guy" he smiled at her "watch and learn".
She nodded as they waited for their stop and got out when they got there it was outside a bar, Ren walked in, looked around for Rik and felt his 'sync' start-up and went to join his counterpart and what looked like a Tolnedran which was a humanoid/Reptilian race from the planet Tolned, they were big, blocky and came in several different colours, their planet was heavy grav, this one was dark blue with grey markings, and they were often found as miners, driving freighters and mining ships all across the galaxy.
Rik said "Ren! This is Braxis! He's the one with the courier run supply we were looking at, Braxis this is my brother Ren! And our apprentice Kayla".
"Your both Jadaini?" he asked.
Rik said, "yes, err is that an issue?"
"No just unusual," he said.
"You said you had a supply courier run to planet Asfarus and that you were looking for someone with a fast ship and willing to take a few risks," said Rik " we're interested in the job if it is still available".
Braxis said, "it's in enemy-occupied territory, it's for the resistance on the plant, that is why I stipulated that you had to be willing to take a few risks I can give you the codes to pass the checkpoints, but you do need a fast ship".
"We have a fast ship," Rik said "it's called a Sunrise, hybrid Cruiser/Freighter, believe me, it can go fast especially with my brother at the helm, Ren's the best damn pilot of shuttles and freighters that I know! But we're just gotten her so we kind of need some fast cash....".
He nodded "the supplies are non-perishable but essential, salt that sort of thing but it is in occupied territory".
Rik nodded " we are willing to take a few risks".
He nodded "jobs yours then; I'll pay a third up front, the rest when delivered, one rule though, don't mention my name!"
Rik nodded "you're wanted by the T'ron?" he asked.
Braxis said, " amongst other things, I know you Jedaini are a little strange but you are usually good at your word and know how to be discreet, if you do this successfully for me, maybe I can do you a favour in return, such as come by some other work for you or send some your way, perhaps even a couple of bounties maybe?"
Ren said, " the Jedaini don't usually take Bounties as a rule...." He started.
"Ignore Ren!" said Rik glaring at his counterpart.
"Ok then," said Braxis "but I might be able to come by some other work for you if you are willing to take a little risk and perhaps got slightly outside the law...".
Ren said " as I was saying...we don't usually take bounties as a rule unless said bounty is justified, Bounties we are more picky about but if by outside the law you mean running weapons or something aren't you? Or getting someone or something off-planet...that sort of thing right? Do not lie to us; we can tell if you are".
Braxis said " something like that".
Ren nodded " depending on circumstances and job, we may be open to that, material wealth doesn't really matter to us, but we have just bought a ship and gone freelance so we do need the money" he paused " we used to crew on the Justice, we shall do this for you Braxis".
He nodded " here's the details, the inventory of the items and where do you want me to send you the funds?"
Rik gave him the details and they finished up, Braxis said: " remember do not mention my name or that you got the job from me or the deals off".
Ren nodded "you have our word as Adept Knights".
He nodded and then finished his drink and left the bar and was gone in the crowd.
"Whoa!" said Kayla "was he been entirely honest with us?"
"Nope," said Rik "but the jobs real enough" he looked at the manifest "I wouldn't trust him entirely but the job is real enough, so's the pay".
Kayla said, " wonder what he did to be wanted by the T'ron?"
"Probably not the T'ron who want him," said Rik, he smiled at Kayla " you get scoundrels like that all over the universe Kayla and the fact that you detected that he wasn't honest says a lot for you. But you learn to recognise them, that is where been a Jedaini comes in handy, his money is real enough though and so's the job although I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few 'illegal' items amongst our cargo".
"But is that allowed? I mean are we allowed to do that?"
Rik said "there is a war on Kayla and it is for the good of all. These supplies are going to the resistance on Asfarus, welcome to the real world, also basically Ren and I, we're broke".
Ren nodded "yes" he looked at the available jobs Rik had written down " the medical supplies?"
Rik nodded "I got through, they said we could take it, they're not overly time-sensitive, it's to be taken to the colony on the planet, all perfectly legal and legit, if a little risky, also I found another, educational supplies to the same planet, I took that one too, it's in the neighbouring system to Asfarus and is on the way, all these courier jobs should set us up well and allow us to recap some funds on the Serendipity, there is a war on and people are willing to pay well for anyone willing to take a little risk".
Ren nodded "I also checked that bounty".
"And?"
"Dangerous, a little risky, but justified," said Ren "he is wanted by several different worlds for multiple crimes, so they want him captured alive and taken to Telgris, we're done that before".
"Isn't Telgris occupied by the T'ron? and ruled by those Bird people or something, who look a little like Rik but aren't?" Kayla asked.
"Yes, but the T'ron couldn't stop the prison from operating, it's too much of a commodity and as to the Bird People holding it, well they have no love for the T'ron" Ren said sharing a look with Rik.
"I thought Bounties were to kill someone," said Kayla.
"Some are, some aren't," said Ren " some just want someone bought to justice and they want them alive, but it does mean we do need to all apply for a license to go after Bounties."
Rik nodded " already got that under process, I knew you would agree to that one".
Ren sighed " you know me too well Rik".
Rik said, " we're taken bounties before with the Justice, so I knew you would probably agree to that one".
Ren said " Hmm" and went to the bar and ordered two drinks and a soda for Kayla; they accompanied her so it was ok for her to be there.
"Enjoy your first time in a grown-up bar," said Rik to her "you're growing up and in the real world now Kayla" he stirred his scotch on the rocks and took a long sip, as Ren opened his beer.
"I didn't think you'd be the type to be fond of beer," Kayla said.
Ren said "I like beer well enough" he indicated Rik's drink " don't drink too much of that Rik, Sarisian Beer, I like our native brews".
She chuckled "Mmm yeah" she looked at Ren and Rik "if one of you gets drunk, does the other?"
"No," said Rik "although we might get the sympathy hangover".
Ren said " yeah your done that enough" he looked up as their buzzer went off for their steaks and got up and got them.
"Ok," he said putting them down " eat up Kayla, they make a nice one here, Rik and I love their steaks!"
"Want a Brandy Ren?" Rik asked.
"Maybe just a small one," said Ren " after the last two days, I need one" and cut his steak.
"Sarisian?"
"Of course!" said Ren.
"Me too," said Rik and he went and got them a small brandy each.
Kayla said "I've never been in a bar...I mean you won't get into trouble, will you?"
"Place like this...no," said Rik "besides your allowed to be in a bar if underaged as long as you are accompanied by an adult or someone who is of age, Ren and I are adults, your also our Apprentice, so it's ok".
She nodded "Ok".
"Although sometimes I wonder about Rik," Ren said with a sly grin.
Rik said " swear you got some of me as well! And me, probably a bit of you in kind" Ren shrugged and drank some more of his drink.
"But whose apprentice, am I?" she asked.
"Probably more Ren's than you are mine," Rik said " he's stronger than me but we are both responsible for you, you will learn from us both" he paused and took a sip of his Brandy "Ren and I, we come as a pair, also" he leaned over and picked up a cat carrier and handed it to Kayla inside curled up fast asleep was a white Crasolian kitten, it's tiny little wings folded down "this is for you Kayla".
Kayla's eyes widened and she looked at Rik and Ren and said "Oh my! She's beautiful! Where'd you get her?"
Rik said, " from the animal companion adoption centre, there was this whole litter of them. Apparently, the mother had died, I saw this one and instantly thought of you, it's about eight or nine weeks old and is weaned, they called her Ivory but you are free to change her name".
"Ivory I like Ivory," she said.
He nodded "it has blue eyes that won't change and is not deaf, consider it a present from us both".
Kayla said " this is....I had a cat but I lost her...oh, Master Rik, Master Ren, thank you!" and hugged them both.
Rik nodded and Ren smiled and said " enjoy it" he then turned to Rik "you snuck a cat into the bar?"
"It is in a cat carrier!" said Rik.
Ren said " true".
"It's a mining station! They don't care" Rik said, "besides it's in a carrier".
Ren said, " guess people have snuck in worse" he took a sip of his brandy.
Kayla said, " she's beautiful!"
Rik nodded "yeah she is, I'm glad it made you smile Kayla".
Kayla said, " she's fast asleep at the moment".
Ren nodded " maybe it'll be best if we took her back to the ship".
Rik nodded "yeah" he finished his Brandy and went to pay, and they headed back to their docking bay and their ship.