The Tales of Clan Danakar

Ch 18: Ibac Shu'shuk

Theta gets all the fun 'jobs'.

Mando'a:
Ibac shu'shuk=That was a disaster.
Vor'e=Thanks

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I take a seat on one of the boxes and breathe. That was too close. I take deep breaths as motion returns to the hangar. Nothing happened. Master Kenobi prevented it. Nothing happened. But it was so close to happening. Irreversible damage could have happened.

When I look up, Leh is checking on Ces with Ahsoka. I see them approach but keep my hands clasped in front of my face as I lean my elbows on my knees. "Hey, te'ina," Leh says gently.

I should teach her Mando'a. I don't move my head, but I do move my eyes to focus on Leh.

"Could you...do you know what happened?"

I make sure to choose my words carefully, speaking slowly and clearly. "You are aware that my sister uses Ataru."

Leh nods.

"You are also aware that she uses something else."

Another nod. "It wasn't a style I recognized," she admits, and I give her a slow nod of understanding.

"That would be because it is Form VII."

She freezes.

It is then that I realize my error. Form VII is forbidden for padawans and younglings. They think she broke a rule. I quickly sit back, looking at them properly. "She has been studying it for over a year with Master Windu." There, that should clear that up. "Vaapad requires you to enjoy a fight, to enjoy victory. While it is often fueled by aggression and other such negative emotions, Regina uses her excitement."

The hiss Leh releases tells me she's caught on, and Ces and Ahsoka exchange worried glances. They are also sensitive to emotions (not as much as Leh, but more than most species in the galaxy).

"Vaapad is all about quick and hard strikes enhanced by your emotions. A loss of control, leads to a loss of foresight." I turn to face Ces. "If that attack had landed, your lekku would have been severely, irreversibly damaged."

Leh glances over at Ces, checking her for damage before turning back to face me. "Thank you for telling us," she says.

I know she means it. She seems to be a very genuine individual not prone to lying or covering up anything.

Leh sits next to me as Ces and Ahsoka wander away. I spot Regina's lightsabers on the floor where she'd dropped them earlier and I use the Force to pull them to me.

Leh's looking at me. "Te'ina, talk to me," she says softly.

It's not that I don't want to. I'm pretty sure I don't know what I would say even if I wanted to. I can hear Ces and Ahsoka arguing behind us. I hate arguing. It makes it hard to think. "Kind of difficult with Ces and Ahsoka arguing." I reply, not looking away from Regina's lightsabers. That seems to take her attention away from me.

"Well, I'm not going to fight you."

"Why not ?"

I have my legs folded under me and Regina's lightsabers in my lap as I tune them out. I need to find my center, and it won't happen if I can still hear them. It takes me all of 2.7 seconds to enter Empty Meditation. I think I'll switch tactics this time. I don't want to hear what they're saying (which will happen when I enter Moving Meditation). It takes me another 2.3 seconds to reach Rising Meditation.

"....fight Theta?" I hear Leh ask, my name making me tune in only to that before fading out again.

Me? Fight? Is she asking me if I want to fight or is she asking them to fight me? I raise an eyebrow at her without opening my eyes, trying to convey that I wish to be left alone. I let myself drift in the emptiness of my mindscape.