Клаудия Грэй: Into the Dark

Leox was smiling, too, as he shook his head. “What have I got myself into?”

As the Republic official went on her way, Affie hugged Leox with all her strength. “I want it all to remain the same. Just like it was before, except this time we’re in it just for ourselves. On our own.”

“Works for me, Little Bit—and I can call you that again, because you’ve become my boss, which means the nickname has become ironic.”

Was she going to fight him on that? Maybe later, Affie decided. “All three of us—wait. Where’s Geode?”

In the spaceship depot, Orla looked from the sample holo she’d been given to the actual item: the new ship that would be hers. Almost pyramidal in structure, with three engines, a pointed prow, and an equally angular stern, the ship had a sharpness to it—like a dart or a shard of glass. Like Orla herself. The vessel gleamed against the stark blackness of the depot, its pearlescent hull as beautiful as any jewel.

The sales droid whirred up to her. “If you wish to enter the ship—”

“Oh, yes. Yes, I do.”

Orla stepped within her new ship almost with reverence. During the hyperspace disaster, and the events on the Amaxine station, she’d wondered whether she was being selfish by declaring herself a Wayseeker and setting out on her own. Now that it was all over, however, she found herself newly certain of her choice. The galaxy was bigger and stranger than any one being could ever know. There was a place for the Jedi Order to operate within it—and places for other Jedi to discover on their own. Serving the Order was important, but she could never give it the best of herself unless she knew herself, her instincts, and the Force more truly. She’d never felt more ready for the journey to begin.

“She’s beautiful,” Orla said, running her hand along the sleek pilot’s chair. “A work of art. Pass my compliments on to the designers.”

The sales droid’s lights blinked with pride. “Does that mean you’ll take it?”

“After a little haggling on the price.” Orla shrugged. “What can I say? I’m in love with it, but that’s one hell of a markup.”

The haggling didn’t last too long; Orla’s suggested price was fair, and the droid clearly had a sales quota to meet. Within the hour, Orla had put her thumbprint to every document and obtained all the passcodes for her new ship.

“The Lightseeker ,” she said. “I’m calling her the Lightseeker .”

“Duly registered,” replied the sales droid. “Shall I report that she travels with a crew complement of one?”

“Yes—unless I can convince my navigator friend to join me?”

Geode stood nearby, his silence his only reply. He’d been willing to look over ships with her, but Orla already knew his loyalty was to Leox, Affie, and the Vessel.

Besides, this was a path she needed to walk alone.

“Maybe next time,” she said, patting Geode on the side, already dreaming of the voyages to come.

Once she was alone on the bridge of her ship (her ship!), she sent a message to Cohmac. When his face appeared on the screen, Orla scooted over so he could see more of the Lightseeker than of her. “What do you think?”

“Beautiful.” Cohmac’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I am truly happy for you, Orla. The Force has called you, and you have answered.”

“I’ve been fighting my instincts my entire career,” Orla admitted. “Forcing myself to follow a path that wasn’t mine. I want to serve the Order, and the galaxy, but I can’t do that if I’m living a lie.”

She thought again of that long-ago day when they’d rescued one hostage but lost another, all because she’d put what was “right and proper” ahead of what the Force told her. Orla wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Cohmac nodded. “I envy you the surety of your convictions, Orla.”

The anger he’d felt after Dez’s supposed death—the echoes of the death of his master and of the hostage, so long before—had taken a toll on Cohmac, a deeper one than Orla had realized. She said, “Are you all right? Do you need to do some wayseeking of your own?”

“No. I need the Order now, more than ever. But I need something else, too. A new direction—a focus. That, only time can provide.”

Orla wasn’t positive that the Order was what Cohmac required. But she couldn’t give him those answers. That would be up to the Force.

“May the Force be with you, old friend.” She raised one hand as he did, a mutual salute of farewell.

Reath entered the Jedi Temple’s meditation center with some trepidation. It was impolite to disturb others’ trances. However, by chance, Master Cohmac was in the room alone, sitting in midair.

That couldn’t be easy. No doubt this was a profoundly deep meditation. Reath wondered whether he should tiptoe out again and was on the verge of doing so before Master Cohmac said, without opening his eyes, “What is it, Reath?”

“I was hoping to speak with you,” he said. Which was obvious. But at least Master Cohmac didn’t point that out.

Instead he descended to the ground and walked with Reath to a gathering area just outside, one where a carved fountain bubbled. “How can I help you, Reath? I assume it is urgent.”

“I didn’t want to interrupt you,” Reath said, “but I saw that you had put in to leave on one of the next transports to the frontier, to take up your original assignment. Since I didn’t know when that would be, exactly, I figured the smart thing to do was find you right away.”

Master Cohmac cocked his head. “Yet you still have not told me why.”

He wasn’t sure how to phrase what came next. “I wanted to ask—just ask, no pressure, no hurt feelings if you say no—”

“Ask me.”

It came out in a rush: “Would you consider taking me on as your apprentice?”

Master Cohmac stared, as though he had never dreamed of such a thing. Probably he hadn’t. But it wasn’t such a strange request, was it?

Maybe Reath hadn’t made himself clear enough. “During our adventures on the Amaxine station, I came to have a great respect for you. In many ways you’re not a typical Jedi—but I think, maybe, I need to expand my idea of what a Jedi can be. Of the kind of Jedi I can be. Training with you would teach me so much, and I want to learn. If you’re willing to take me, that is.” After a moment’s hesitation he dared to add, “Returning to the frontier is what Master Jora would’ve wanted for me. We’re both heading out there. I thought we might go together.” Master Cohmac still looked nonplussed. Reath decided to offer a tactful out. “If this isn’t the right time, I understand.”

“It is…an interesting time,” Master Cohmac said. He began to pace slowly along the courtyard, and Reath fell into step beside him. “I have heard Jora Malli described as the kindest and wisest of teachers,” he said. “It’s difficult to imagine picking up where she left off. But what she had to give you and what I have to give are two very different things.”

Reath brightened. This sounded promising. “Yes, exactly. I mean, yes, sir.”

“You’ve shown initiative in coming to me, and in wanting your training to proceed along a new path. Now I must show courage and be open with you.” Master Cohmac stopped in place and met Reath’s eyes. “I have had doubts, these past weeks, about whether the ways prescribed by the Jedi Council are invariably the best course to follow.”

Had he heard that right? He couldn’t have. “Sir?”

Master Cohmac sighed. “The darkness is as much a part of the Force as the light. The Order thinks it can bisect the Force so neatly—as though the primal living energy of all existence were a thing to be sliced and served.”