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museofspeedTitle: Patience, Impulsive Padawan.
Series: Part 2 of Young Jedi. First part here.
Fandom: Star Wars; Young Justice
Characters: Barthu Alan/Timo Drakke, Anita Fite/Darth Lobo, Greta Hayes, Konel, Cassi, Stef Brun, Cissie King, Ca'as Kai'n, Maxius Mercury
Prompt: 74. Dark
Word Count: 5,000
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Maxius Mercury picks Barthu Alan as an apprentice. Anita starts an illicit romance. And how did Greta die, anyway? Turns out the answer is more important and gruesome than any of the young padawans or their non-Jedi friends expected!
Author's Notes: This was more fun to write than most of the stuff I've written recently. Have you ever figuratively thrown all of your characters off a cliff? That's what writing this was like. And no, I have no idea how I'm going to get them out of this. But it'll be fun. Beta'd by the lovely![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
julius12 as always.
Word spread quickly through the Jedi Academy. Master Maxius Mercury was looking for an apprentice.
He walked through the halls, robes swaying impressively around his aged form.
“Master Mercury,” one of the Teachers said, rushing over to him. “This is indeed an honor. ”
Master Mercury nodded at him.
“I can show you our best Younglings, our brightest, the ones most ready to be taken on as an apprentice.”
“Actually,” Master Mercury said, “I have a special Youngling in mind. Tell me, where can I meet Barthu Alan?”
The Teacher shook his head rigorously. “Barthu Alan? I must advise strongly against that. He is not ready. I have never met a student so impulsive, so unable to stay calm, so inattentive, no, I would not suggest taking him on.”
“Hmm. Nonetheless, I am…interested in him. He has managed to access the Force of Speed, correct?”
“Well, yes, but-”
“Could I speak to him, please?”
The Teacher shook his head, muttering, and vanished, only to appear a minute later with Barthu himself.
“Um, hi Master Mercury,” Barthu said, bowing respectfully.
“That is not a proper way to address-” the Teacher hissed, but Master Mercury cut him off.
“Teacher, leave us. I would talk to young Barthu alone.”
The Teacher pursed his lips in disapproval, but he left the room.
Master Mercury watched Barthu carefully. “Good evening, Barthu. You may have heard I am looking for a Youngling to take on as an Apprentice?”
Barthu nodded, “Yeah, but I don’t see what that has to do with me. I mean, everyone says that I might make a great Jedi, but I’m way too impulsive. Maybe you could look at Konel? He’s really good at moving stuff with his mind.”
“It’s you I’m interested in,” Master Mercury said. “I’ve heard word of your particular abilities.”
“My abilities? What abilities?”
“The Speed Force, Barthu. I’ve heard that you have managed to use the Force to become faster than the fastest space ships.”
“Oh, that. Yeah. Well, maybe not faster than the fastest space ships, but pretty fast, yeah.”
“I would like to take you on as an apprentice, but understand, you have a lot to learn still. In fact, you have more to learn than most.”
“Yes!” Barthu said, grinning and punching the air. “Uhh…” he pulled his arm down. “I would be honored, Master Mercury. Thank you,” he said demurely.
Master Mercury felt a headache coming on. He would most certainly come to regret this.
“Konel! Guess what?” Barthu shouted, running into sleeping quarters.
“I was meditating,” Konel said, opening one eye. “What is it, Barthu?”
“Meditating’s boring,” Barthu said breezily. “I’m gonna be an apprentice! To Master Maxius Mercury!”
“No way, dude,” Konel said. “That is so unfair.”
Barthu frowned. “I know. Apparently he likes my speed thing.”
“First Casi gets picked by Master Diana Themyscria, now you with the Jedi Master of Speed?” Konel scowled.
“I’ve heard the Jedi Knight Kalel is looking for an apprentice too, now. Maybe he’ll pick you! And he’s from your planet!”
“Well, good for you, Barthu. I’m not jealous at all, for that is not the Jedi Way. You going to tell Timo?”
Barthu nodded. “First I gotta go find Anita and Greta and tell them. Then I can use the holoprojector to call Timo. And Casi too, of course.”
“Don’t let anyone catch you,” Konel warned. “Girl’s quarters.”
Barthu grinned. “No one can catch me.”
“Careful, young Barthu,” Konel said, scrunching his face up mock-seriously. “Pride is the first stepping stone on the way to the Dark Side.”
Barthu snickered and threw a pillow at Konel. “Shaddup, you. I’ll be back soon.” He reached into the Force, and used it to propel him down the halls to Anita’s room.
Barthu crept into a hidden corner to use his holoprojector. Konel sat at the door, watching a smuggled hologram and keeping an eye out for anyone who might give them trouble.
“Timo?” he whispered as a miniature hologram materialized on his knee.
“Hey, Barthu. What’s up?” Timo asked, grinning.
Barthu grinned. “You’ll never guess. Maxius Mercury’s training me as an apprentice! I’m an actual padawan!”
“Good for you, Barthu!” Timo said enthusiastically. “He’s one of your Speedsters, right?”
Barthu nodded. “How about you? How have things been since the Jedi Academy decided to be sprocking idiots and kick you out?”
“Well, actually,” he smiled. “Have you heard of Senator Wayne?”
Barthu nodded. “Of course! Richest man in the Galaxy or something, right? From the planet Gotham.”
“Exactly,” Timo said. “And he’s not a fan of Jedi. He really liked that I’d snuck in and basically made fools of all the old Jedi. I guess he didn’t realize that I wanted to be one. Anyway, he’s training me now. I might not become a Jedi, but I’m doing really well. He even managed to find me a modified lightsaber.”
“I’m glad you’re learning,” Barthu said, smiling again. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too, Barthu.” Timo leaned forward, “Love you,” he whispered.
“Love you too, Timo,” Barthu said quietly. He looked around quickly. Romance, even strong emotional connections to friends were forbidden in the Jedi Order. If anyone found out about his and Timo’s long distance relationship, he’d be in a lot of trouble.
“My very own lightsaber, Master Mercury?” Barthu said excitedly.
“Call me Maxius, and yes. You have to build it, though.”
“Easy. I’ll just reach into the Force and go really fast trial and error until-”
Maxius put a hand on Barthu’s shoulder. “No, Barthu. You have to learn to build it the slow way.”
“But that’ll take ages!” Barthu whined.
“It will only seem that way,” Maxius said. “This is an important part of your training. To use the weapon, you must first understand it. Are you listening, Barthu?”
Barthu looked at him, startled. “Huh? Oh, yeah. You were talking about how we need to use the weapon to understand it.”
“Other way round, Barthu. You must understand it to use it. Look, as soon as we get this weapon built you can start training, alright? Just- pay attention!”
Barthu held up a finished lightsaber. “I made one, okay? And I could do it again. I learn really fast.”
“You do not retain anything learned while using the Force of Speed.”
“Really? I do. I remember everything.”
Maxius frowned. “Really?”
Barthu nodded. “It’s why I passed all my exams. I read the stuff at hyperspeed before the tests.”
“Hmm.”
“ButIrememberallofitjustaskmeanything!” Barthu said quickly.
“Fine,” Maxius said shortly. “Now let’s practice meditating.”
Barthu groaned. “That’s so boring.”
“Remind me again why anyone thought it was a good idea to train you as a Jedi?”
Barthu grinned. “Cause I’m that good.”
Maxius rolled his eyes. “Meditate. No talking or moving for a straight half hour. If you do, we start over.”
Four hours later, Barthu twitched after twenty-three minutes of staying still. Maxius was hungry.
“Fine, Barthu. Next time, we’ll see if you can go longer.”
Barthu groaned.
Barthu did slightly better at the physical training, even if he was easily distracted. He could deflect blasts with his lightsaber because his eyes moved faster than the blasts did. He wasn’t as good with the gymnastics part of training, and even worse with anything that forced him to be still for over a minute. Maxius found his patience, honed from years of Jedi training, sorely tried.
“Can I call Timo on the holoprojector?” Barthu asked one morning.
“Who?” Maxius asked.
“My friend. Timo Drakke.”
Maxius raised an eyebrow. “Timo Drakke? The one who impersonated a Jedi?”
“Um, yes. He’s really not a bad guy, though.”
“You know strong emotional ties are not allowed in the Jedi Order.”
“Oh, we’re not emotionally tied at all!” Bart said quickly. “Just friends. Not even that close.”
“Then why do you want to call him?”
“Just to see how he’s doing. I mean, I haven’t seen him since he was kicked out.”
“Hmm. Very well, go ahead.”
“Cool!” Barthu said. “Where’s the holoprojector?”
“Right over there, in the corner.”
“So just, like, in the room?” With you? Barthu didn’t ask.
“I’m sure that my continued presence won’t be an issue?”
“Of course not,” Barthu said. “I mean, it’s not like there’s anything private I gotta tell him.” He scowled and clambered over to the corner.
In a few seconds, a holographic image of Timo popped up.
“Hey, Timo,” Barthu said brightly. “How’re things with you and Senator Wayne?”
“Not bad,” Timo said. “Are you alright? You seem a little…off.”
“I’m fine,” Barthu said. “I’m just here with Maxius Mercury who’s drinking tea over there.” So don’t say anything incriminating, Bart thought.
Timo seemed to get it. “Cool,” he said. “That going well?”
“I’m not so good at meditating, as you know. You were always better.”
“That’s because you can’t focus,” Timo said fondly.
“I’m working on it,” Barthu told him. “How bout you? What’ve you been doing?”
“We’ve been doing a bit of law enforcement. The Gotham Planetary Police force is known for it’s blind eye to certain, wealthier entities.”
“Is it dangerous?” Barthu asked.
“A little,” Timo told him, “but I’m careful. There are a few of us. One of them, Ca’as Kai’n, is…well, she can read people. It’s almost like she’s in tune with the Force, but apparently, it’s something different. She also can’t talk or read at all. Steff Brun, Dik Grezon, and our data wiz, the Oracle, it’s a really good team.”
“It sounds cool,” Barthu agreed. “And none of them are Jedi?”
Timo shook his head. “Completely Force-independent. Oh! There’s another girl, Cissie King, who can shoot any target. She isn’t actually on our team, but I’ve worked with her a few times. She’s our age. I think you’d like her.”
Barthu smiled. “I wish I could meet her. All of them. Maybe next time we’re near Gotham.”
“Yeah, I’d like that,” Timo said. “Well, I have to go train now.”
“Me too.”
“May the Force be with you, Barthu.”
He grinned. “Thanks, Timo. I hope it stays with you too. Even if Senator Wayne doesn’t want it.”
This would be the point that they’d tell each other quietly that they loved each other, but with Maxius listening in, they couldn’t do that.
“Well,” Barthu said awkwardly. “Bye.”
“Bye, Barthu,” Timo said. I love you, he mouthed.
Barthu smiled at him and terminated the connection.
Maxius grunted. “Finished, then?” he asked.
“Oh! Yes. Thanks.”
“Hmm. No problem. Time to meditate, now.”
Barthu groaned.
The weeks turned into months, and the months into years. Barthu never gained the patience Jedi were famous for, but he eventually learned to sit still for long enough to pacify Maxius. He stayed in touch with Timo for awhile, but with Maxius always over his shoulder, the calls dwindled away. Thoughts of Timo scabbed over until they were a dull ache in Barthu’s heart.
Timo had expected it. He knew long distance relationships rarely worked out, and he assumed that eventually Barthu would come to love the Force more than any one person. Dik Grezon had told him about his brief love affair with the Jedi Koriand’r. Both of them had thought it was love despite the Jedi taboos, but she had eventually left him. She was a Jedi Knight first and a lover last.
Maxius had suspected the nature of Timo and Barthu’s relationship, but he hadn’t mentioned it. He remembered being young, even if it had been many, many years ago, and he knew that those relationships rarely last. He also knew that nothing fueled the fire of such a relationship as disapproval from an authoritative figure, so he left it to die naturally. He still had been pleased when the calls had stopped coming.
Barthu trained vigorously, and with as much patience as he could muster, but he wished he had been able to keep in contact with his friends. He didn’t learn anything about what had happened to the rest of his old group until three months after he turned seventeen.
Anita Fite had thought herself a very apt youngling. Her Jedi mind tricks had surpassed everyone else in their year.
So why, she wondered, as she hit fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, had no Jedi step forward to train her?
Almost eighteen, she thought miserably, and still a youngling. At least the bars served her. And she didn’t give a sprock if Jedi were supposed to be substance free or whatever the grife it was these days. Clearly she wasn’t meant to be a Jedi.
She had learned everything she was supposed to! And where had it gotten her? She knew the code of the Jedi, and up until that point, she had lived by their rules.
Perhaps it was time to break some of those rules.
There is no emotion, there is peace. She talked to the attractive Czarian who bought her a drink.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. Anita didn’t ask the Czarian where they were going or who he was when she sat behind him on his speeder, hands clutched tightly around his waist.
There is no passion, there is serenity. She tumbled into bed next to the Czarian.
There is no death, there is the Force, She gasped and moaned and died little deaths and finally, finally curled up next to the Czarian and fell asleep.
The next morning, she remembered everything she’d ever learned about Czarians. Like that the only one still surviving had killed all the rest. Darth Lobo.
Anita had slept with Darth Lobo, the most feared man in the galaxy.
And it had been fragging amazing.
She had heard that Darth Lobo was a womanizer, that he never settled down with one woman. When he slept with her a second time, she was surprised, but after three months, she started to expect him back.
Everything was going, if not as well as she had originally expected, far better than she had begun to hope. She knew she was going to be shunted off to the Jedi Corps instead of becoming a Jedi Knight as she had hoped, but somehow, it didn’t seem as bad as it originally had.
Until, one day, she was called up to the Jedi Council.
“Anita Fite,” the Grand Master had said, “In you the Force is strong, but too emotional always you have been.”
Anita translated the message into ordinary Interlac grammar before replying.
“Master, I have always worked hard to master the Force. I have rarely let my emotions get the best of me.” Except for Darth Lobo, she thought.
“Now lying you are.”
“Lying?” Anita said. “What- what do you mean?”
The Grand Master pushed a button under his desk and a hologram flickered into existence in the middle of the room.
Anita gasped. It was a hologram of her. She was sitting on Darth Lobo’s space cruiser with her arms around him.
“Suggest I would, that revise your statement you do,” the Grand Master said.
“That was only recently!” Anita said. “I’m one of the more powerful Jedi in our year, and no one has taken me on as an apprentice! I felt anger for the first time! And Lobo…he didn’t overlook me!”
“So deny this, you do not.”
Anita glared at him. “No.”
“Penance, we can arrange. Although set back your training it has, if to add your schedule extra meditations we do, in the Jedi Corps reserved your position will be.”
Anita glanced down clenching her fists. Again, a set-back. And no chance to join the Jedi Knights. She couldn’t take this any more.
“No,” she said quietly.
“Pardon?” the Grand Master asked.
“No,” she repeated looking back up at him. “Perhaps I was never meant to be a Jedi, but I am done with this. I don’t want to be in the Jedi Corps. Lobo’s treated me better than any of you bastiches, and I am sick of this.”
The Grand Master frowned. “Dark are the emotions that run through you.”
“Love is a dark emotion? I’m through with this. Good bye, Jedi Council. This isn’t the last you’ll hear of me, but I’ll never be a Jedi.” Anita turned and stormed out.
Anita had no idea what she would do now.
There was no way she could go back to the Jedi Council and take it all back. She wouldn’t have, even if she could. If she had stayed, her future would have been assured. It was terrifying, not knowing what she would do next.
It was oddly liberating.
She started packing her few belongings. A book or two, some credits, a few changes of clothes, the ceremonial religious garb she had hidden under her mattress, the special lightsaber she had crafted, it wasn’t much, but at least it was more than nothing.
“Anita?” Greta asked, floating over to her. “Where are you going?”
“I’m…leaving, Greta,” Anita said. “You’ve been great, Gret, but I need to get out. You know Darth Lobo?”
Greta nodded. “The most feared Sith in the galaxy and your boyfriend?”
“That’s the one. They found out about him.”
“Oh,” Greta said. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know,” Anita said. She used the Force to force her bag closed. “Do you have any ideas? I don’t know anyone in the outside world.”
Greta frowned for a second, thinking. “That’s not true. What about Timo?”
Timo Drakke. That was an idea. “Do you think he remembers me?”
“You could ask.”
Anita nodded. “I’ll call him as we go.”
She started the holoprojector as they started walking. “Timo?” she asked when he picked up. She hardly recognized him.
“Oh, man, is that you, Anita?” Timo asked.
She smiled. “Yes! Yes, it is. Timo, I need help.”
“Of course, Anita, anything. What’s wrong?”
She told him about Darth Lobo, and how she had walked away from the Jedi lifestyle.
“I don’t know who else I can turn to,” she said. “So could I stay with you? At least until I figure out what to do next?”
“Of course,” Timo told her. “I’d be happy to help.”
“Ask if I can come,” Greta said.
“Greta wants to know if she can come too.”
“Sure,” Timo said, “but I still won’t be able to see her, unfortunately. Do you need a ship sent down?”
“Tell yer friend that the Star Sith takes care of his girl,” a familiar voice said. Anita looked up to see Darth Lobo leaning against his speeder. “Hey, Empress. Should I frag that bastich?”
“Um,” Timo said. “I take it this is your Darth Lobo?”
Anita nodded. “Hey, Lobo. Were you offering a ride? I need to get to Gotham.”
“The Star Sith ain’t a taxi service, ‘Nita. I wanna be paid fer the ride.” He winked.
She grinned. “I’m certain that can be arranged.”
“Hello?” Timo said, “Right here?”
“Right, sorry Timo. I’ve got a ride, thanks. I’ll see you soon?”
“Just ring me up when you get here.” Timo’s image winked out.
“I didn’t just come fer sex, Anita,” Lobo said. “There’s trouble, and you and those Jedi bastiches yer so fond of might get hurt.”
Anita shook her head. “I’m not a Jedi any more, mon.”
“You going Sith?” Lobo said hopefully.
“No, sorry, Lobo. Just…I don’t know. There should be some way to walk the middle path. Some emotions, but not letting them rule you, you know?”
“Nah,” Lobo said. “I don’t gotta clue. Let’s get you to Gotham. I’ll explain on the way. Is yer force friend over there coming? She could be useful.”
Greta blushed and nodded.
“Kay, hop on.”
Anita mounted the speeder and put her hands around Lobo’s waist. Greta floated behind her. They took off.
“So,” Anita said as they flew. “What’s the trouble?”
“Has a lot to do with that dead chick of yours.”
“Me?” Greta asked.
“Yeah,” Lobo said. “Member how you died?”
Greta’s death. Anita had always thought it had been an unfortunate accident.
“I don’t want to think about it,” Greta said.
“It’s fragging important, girl, so you better think about. You member who killed ya?”
“My…my brother,” Greta whispered.
“Your brother?” Anita asked, turning towards Greta. “I never knew…”
“I never wanted you to know,” Greta said unhappily. “My brother, Will Hayes, wanted power. There’s an ancient, dark ritual. If you slay someone with a strong connection to the Force, you gain a lot of power. Since I’m his sister, though, it changed him. I…I don’t know any more.”
“He’s Darth Harmieous,” Lobo said. “Pretty much Dark Side of the Force personi-fragging-fied. An’ he wants to take over the Galaxy.”
“If I were in good standing with the Jedi, I could warn them about this,” Anita said. “Great.”
“I guess we can still go to visit Timo,” Greta said.
Anita nodded. “I can’t think of a better plan right now. When we get to Gotham, we can plan more fully.”
“Anita!” Timo said as she landed. “It’s been too long!”
“You’re taller than I am,” Anita said, hopping off of Lobo’s bike. “Timo Drakke, Darth Lobo. Greta’s right over there too, though of course, you can’t see her.”
“Nice to meet you, Darth Lobo,” Timo said politely. “Hello, Greta, I hope you’re well.”
“Timo, it turns out we’ve got a bit of an emergency.”
“You explain it to yer bastich,” Lobo said. “I’m gettin’ a fragging drink.”
He stalked off.
“He’s…nice,” Timo said.
“It’s his way,” Anita said. “But he did warn us. Apparently the Dark Force personified, who happens to be Greta’s brother, is coming to take over the Galaxy and there isn’t anyone we can warn because the Jedi hate me, and anyways, they wouldn’t listen to a tip from the most feared Sith Lord in the galaxy.”
Timo frowned. “Why don’t you explain exactly what’s going on?”
Anita explained everything Lobo had told her on the ride there.
“Is Greta still here?” Timo asked.
“Yes,” Anita said.
“Greta, can you go anywhere that the Force is?”
“Yes,” Greta said.
“She can,” Anita ascertained.
“Then I’d like you to try to round up Konel, Casi and Barthu. I’m going to see if anyone in my gang can help. Tell them to meet up on the moon Joyous Harbor. We can do this, Anita. With or without the help of the adults and the Jedi council.”
“Are you sure?” Anita asked.
“Anita,” Timo said, “if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my time training with Bruce, it’s that anyone can save the world. With or without the Force, or the Jedi council.”
“Tell Timo I’m leaving now,” Greta said.
“Greta’s going to spread the word,” Anita told him. “I can find Lobo. I think he’ll help.”
“Perfect,” Timo said. “Darth Harmieous is as good as gone.”
Lobo agreed to help so long as Anita continued to sleep with him regularly. Anita happily agreed, and together they made their way to Joyous Harbor.
Konel was the next person to arrive.
“Greta explained the situation,” he said. “Kalel didn’t want me to go, but I didn’t let that stop me.” Konel grinned. “I’m beginning to see why we’re not supposed to have friends. Loyalties to people other than the council. How terrible.”
Anita laughed and hugged him.
Timo had brought three girls. Their names were Ca’as Kai’n, Steff Brun and Cissie King.
“What can they do?” Konel asked, snorting in disbelief.
“The only language Ca’as knows is body language. In a fight, she knows what her opponent will do before they know it,” Timo said, “And Cissie- show him, Cissie.”
Cissie grinned, whipped out a blaster and shot a tin can 40 yards away.
“I’ve got better aim than almost anyone,” Cissie said proudly.
“And Steff?” Konel asked.
“She’s my girlfriend,” Timo said, “And she’s training under Senator Wayne with me.”
Konel frowned, and pulled Timo into an alcove. “Your girlfriend?” he hissed. “What about Barthu?”
Timo looked away. “What about Barthu?” he said. “He’s a Jedi. He moved on.”
“Are you sure about that?” Konel said. “I haven’t talked to him recently, but Barthu, he doesn’t just give up on people.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t,” Timo said. “But we haven’t talked in over a year. My friend Dik Grezon had an affair with a Jedi once. Koriand’r, have you heard of her? She moved on, though. Liked the Force more than she liked him. I’m sure Barthu feels the same way.”
Konel frowned. “I’m not so sure he does. I’ve known Barthu for longer than you have, and he takes things really personally.”
“I still want to be his friend,” Timo said.
“If you hurt him, I’ll kill you,” Konel said.
“I’ll…I’ll try not to hurt him,” Timo said.
“Good,” Konel said. Then he turned away, brightening. Casi had shown up.
Barthu didn’t arrive until well into the afternoon. It wasn’t surprising. Even if Barthu was the fastest pilot of all of them, he lived furthest away and had a tendency to be distracted.
Timo had mentally prepared himself for Barthu’s arrival. Both of them had grown up. The past was gone, and there was no reason to-
“Timo!” Barthu said, ducking his head out of the ship’s doorway. Timo swallowed. That smile! It had been too long since he’d seen it.
“Barthu,” he said, throat feeling dry. “How- how have you been?”
In a flash, Barthu was out of the ship and hugging Timo with all of the vigor that Timo remembered.
“…missed you,” Barthu was muttering into Timo’s shoulder.
Why had he broken it off with Barthu again? Had they even broken it off? Timo’s mind felt a little fuzzy. None of the things he had told himself seemed as important as the fact that Barthu was in his arms.
“Ahem. Timo, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”
Steff.
Timo reluctantly let go of Barthu. “Barthu, this is Steff Brun. Steff, Barthu Alan.”
Barthu grinned, and in a second he was shaking Steff’s hand excitedly. “Nice to meet you, Steff!”
Steff smiled at him. “I take it you’re from Timo’s short stint as a Jedi impersonator?”
Barthu nodded. “And you’re one of Timo’s new friends?”
“Actually,” Steff said, “I’m his girl-”
“Yes!” Timo said, breaking into it. “She’s my friend, Steff, Barthu and I have a lot to catch up–”
Steff scowled. “Excuse me? Are you ashamed of us?”
“You know I’m not, Steff. I just have to–”
“Ashamed of what?” Barthu asked.
Steff and Barthu were both watching him suspiciously. Timo looked from one to the other, trapped. He rubbed at his temples.
“Barthu, Steff is my girlfriend.”
Barthu stared at him. “She’s…what?”
“We’re, um, dating.”
“No,” Barthu said. “You have to be– you’re not serious! Are you?”
Timo nodded miserably.
“I- I- I need to go,” Barthu said, and like that, he was gone.
“Well,” Steff said. “What’s his problem?”
“Long story,” Timo told her. “I would have preferred to break that news more gently.”
She stared at him. “Timo, that boy is a Jedi. They don’t date.”
“I know,” he said. “It’s a long story.”
“I hate it when you’re secretive, Timo. Tell me what happened.”
He couldn’t tell her. Barthu and the Jedi Academy had all been so long ago, and Steff hadn’t been there. He shook his head. “I need to talk with him.”
“You can be so infuriating sometimes!” Steff shouted.
“Steff¬¬¬¬–”
“I understand that you’re a very private person, Timo, but I am your girlfriend. We are supposed to trust each other enough to tell each other everything.”
Timo turned away. “Steff, there are some things I just can’t share. When I was at the Jedi Academy–”
“You and your Jedi Academy! I understand that for whatever stupid reason you’re going to give this time you can’t talk about it, but Timo, I’m done with this.” Steff scowled. “Maybe if at some point in the future you can start trusting me, we can get back together, but until then, Timo, I’m done.”
“We’re breaking up?”
“Yes,” Steff said. “Unless you tell me about Barthu. Is that too much to ask?”
“I- I’m sorry Steff. I just can’t.” Timo turned away.
“Fine,” Steff said. “If that’s really how you feel, I guess this is over.”
He could feel Steff watching him. This was far from the first time they’d fought. He really did like Steff, maybe he could even someday love her, but being with her¬– it had never been the same as when he had been with Barthu, and there was so much about him that she just didn’t understand. Their relationship had been slowly deteriorating as it was. He hadn’t wanted to break up with Steff, but maybe it was for the best.
Though it would have been nice for the break-up to have taken place before Barthu had arrived. It would have been simpler. Finding a superspeeded Jedi was a difficult task when Barthu wanted to be found.
He heard Steff sigh dramatically and walk away. She was probably going to find Ca’as. The two of them always had been close.
Timo had just managed to piss off two of the people he cared about most in a period of no more than a few minutes. At least his day couldn’t get any worse after that.
His holoprojector beeped.
“Timo!” Konel said. “Barthu just ran by crying. What the sprock did you do?”
Before Timo could answer, another hologram popped up next to Konel. “Timo!” Casi said. “I have no idea what you did to Barthu, but he’s currently in tears and Greta says to tell you that you’re a terrible person.”
“I’m trying to deal with it¬¬¬¬–”
“Later,” Casi said brusquely, “More important things to deal with.”
“Yeah, me too,” Konel said, “Kalel just called–”
“Diana called–”
“One at a time, you two.”
“The Jedi League Astronomical just called,” Casi said, and Konel nodded. “They’re really mad at us for running off without telling our mentors. They’re coming here to collect us.”
So much for his day not getting any worse.
Next!
Series: Part 2 of Young Jedi. First part here.
Fandom: Star Wars; Young Justice
Characters: Barthu Alan/Timo Drakke, Anita Fite/Darth Lobo, Greta Hayes, Konel, Cassi, Stef Brun, Cissie King, Ca'as Kai'n, Maxius Mercury
Prompt: 74. Dark
Word Count: 5,000
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Maxius Mercury picks Barthu Alan as an apprentice. Anita starts an illicit romance. And how did Greta die, anyway? Turns out the answer is more important and gruesome than any of the young padawans or their non-Jedi friends expected!
Author's Notes: This was more fun to write than most of the stuff I've written recently. Have you ever figuratively thrown all of your characters off a cliff? That's what writing this was like. And no, I have no idea how I'm going to get them out of this. But it'll be fun. Beta'd by the lovely
julius12 as always. Word spread quickly through the Jedi Academy. Master Maxius Mercury was looking for an apprentice.
He walked through the halls, robes swaying impressively around his aged form.
“Master Mercury,” one of the Teachers said, rushing over to him. “This is indeed an honor. ”
Master Mercury nodded at him.
“I can show you our best Younglings, our brightest, the ones most ready to be taken on as an apprentice.”
“Actually,” Master Mercury said, “I have a special Youngling in mind. Tell me, where can I meet Barthu Alan?”
The Teacher shook his head rigorously. “Barthu Alan? I must advise strongly against that. He is not ready. I have never met a student so impulsive, so unable to stay calm, so inattentive, no, I would not suggest taking him on.”
“Hmm. Nonetheless, I am…interested in him. He has managed to access the Force of Speed, correct?”
“Well, yes, but-”
“Could I speak to him, please?”
The Teacher shook his head, muttering, and vanished, only to appear a minute later with Barthu himself.
“Um, hi Master Mercury,” Barthu said, bowing respectfully.
“That is not a proper way to address-” the Teacher hissed, but Master Mercury cut him off.
“Teacher, leave us. I would talk to young Barthu alone.”
The Teacher pursed his lips in disapproval, but he left the room.
Master Mercury watched Barthu carefully. “Good evening, Barthu. You may have heard I am looking for a Youngling to take on as an Apprentice?”
Barthu nodded, “Yeah, but I don’t see what that has to do with me. I mean, everyone says that I might make a great Jedi, but I’m way too impulsive. Maybe you could look at Konel? He’s really good at moving stuff with his mind.”
“It’s you I’m interested in,” Master Mercury said. “I’ve heard word of your particular abilities.”
“My abilities? What abilities?”
“The Speed Force, Barthu. I’ve heard that you have managed to use the Force to become faster than the fastest space ships.”
“Oh, that. Yeah. Well, maybe not faster than the fastest space ships, but pretty fast, yeah.”
“I would like to take you on as an apprentice, but understand, you have a lot to learn still. In fact, you have more to learn than most.”
“Yes!” Barthu said, grinning and punching the air. “Uhh…” he pulled his arm down. “I would be honored, Master Mercury. Thank you,” he said demurely.
Master Mercury felt a headache coming on. He would most certainly come to regret this.
“Konel! Guess what?” Barthu shouted, running into sleeping quarters.
“I was meditating,” Konel said, opening one eye. “What is it, Barthu?”
“Meditating’s boring,” Barthu said breezily. “I’m gonna be an apprentice! To Master Maxius Mercury!”
“No way, dude,” Konel said. “That is so unfair.”
Barthu frowned. “I know. Apparently he likes my speed thing.”
“First Casi gets picked by Master Diana Themyscria, now you with the Jedi Master of Speed?” Konel scowled.
“I’ve heard the Jedi Knight Kalel is looking for an apprentice too, now. Maybe he’ll pick you! And he’s from your planet!”
“Well, good for you, Barthu. I’m not jealous at all, for that is not the Jedi Way. You going to tell Timo?”
Barthu nodded. “First I gotta go find Anita and Greta and tell them. Then I can use the holoprojector to call Timo. And Casi too, of course.”
“Don’t let anyone catch you,” Konel warned. “Girl’s quarters.”
Barthu grinned. “No one can catch me.”
“Careful, young Barthu,” Konel said, scrunching his face up mock-seriously. “Pride is the first stepping stone on the way to the Dark Side.”
Barthu snickered and threw a pillow at Konel. “Shaddup, you. I’ll be back soon.” He reached into the Force, and used it to propel him down the halls to Anita’s room.
Barthu crept into a hidden corner to use his holoprojector. Konel sat at the door, watching a smuggled hologram and keeping an eye out for anyone who might give them trouble.
“Timo?” he whispered as a miniature hologram materialized on his knee.
“Hey, Barthu. What’s up?” Timo asked, grinning.
Barthu grinned. “You’ll never guess. Maxius Mercury’s training me as an apprentice! I’m an actual padawan!”
“Good for you, Barthu!” Timo said enthusiastically. “He’s one of your Speedsters, right?”
Barthu nodded. “How about you? How have things been since the Jedi Academy decided to be sprocking idiots and kick you out?”
“Well, actually,” he smiled. “Have you heard of Senator Wayne?”
Barthu nodded. “Of course! Richest man in the Galaxy or something, right? From the planet Gotham.”
“Exactly,” Timo said. “And he’s not a fan of Jedi. He really liked that I’d snuck in and basically made fools of all the old Jedi. I guess he didn’t realize that I wanted to be one. Anyway, he’s training me now. I might not become a Jedi, but I’m doing really well. He even managed to find me a modified lightsaber.”
“I’m glad you’re learning,” Barthu said, smiling again. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too, Barthu.” Timo leaned forward, “Love you,” he whispered.
“Love you too, Timo,” Barthu said quietly. He looked around quickly. Romance, even strong emotional connections to friends were forbidden in the Jedi Order. If anyone found out about his and Timo’s long distance relationship, he’d be in a lot of trouble.
“My very own lightsaber, Master Mercury?” Barthu said excitedly.
“Call me Maxius, and yes. You have to build it, though.”
“Easy. I’ll just reach into the Force and go really fast trial and error until-”
Maxius put a hand on Barthu’s shoulder. “No, Barthu. You have to learn to build it the slow way.”
“But that’ll take ages!” Barthu whined.
“It will only seem that way,” Maxius said. “This is an important part of your training. To use the weapon, you must first understand it. Are you listening, Barthu?”
Barthu looked at him, startled. “Huh? Oh, yeah. You were talking about how we need to use the weapon to understand it.”
“Other way round, Barthu. You must understand it to use it. Look, as soon as we get this weapon built you can start training, alright? Just- pay attention!”
Barthu held up a finished lightsaber. “I made one, okay? And I could do it again. I learn really fast.”
“You do not retain anything learned while using the Force of Speed.”
“Really? I do. I remember everything.”
Maxius frowned. “Really?”
Barthu nodded. “It’s why I passed all my exams. I read the stuff at hyperspeed before the tests.”
“Hmm.”
“ButIrememberallofitjustaskmeanything!” Barthu said quickly.
“Fine,” Maxius said shortly. “Now let’s practice meditating.”
Barthu groaned. “That’s so boring.”
“Remind me again why anyone thought it was a good idea to train you as a Jedi?”
Barthu grinned. “Cause I’m that good.”
Maxius rolled his eyes. “Meditate. No talking or moving for a straight half hour. If you do, we start over.”
Four hours later, Barthu twitched after twenty-three minutes of staying still. Maxius was hungry.
“Fine, Barthu. Next time, we’ll see if you can go longer.”
Barthu groaned.
Barthu did slightly better at the physical training, even if he was easily distracted. He could deflect blasts with his lightsaber because his eyes moved faster than the blasts did. He wasn’t as good with the gymnastics part of training, and even worse with anything that forced him to be still for over a minute. Maxius found his patience, honed from years of Jedi training, sorely tried.
“Can I call Timo on the holoprojector?” Barthu asked one morning.
“Who?” Maxius asked.
“My friend. Timo Drakke.”
Maxius raised an eyebrow. “Timo Drakke? The one who impersonated a Jedi?”
“Um, yes. He’s really not a bad guy, though.”
“You know strong emotional ties are not allowed in the Jedi Order.”
“Oh, we’re not emotionally tied at all!” Bart said quickly. “Just friends. Not even that close.”
“Then why do you want to call him?”
“Just to see how he’s doing. I mean, I haven’t seen him since he was kicked out.”
“Hmm. Very well, go ahead.”
“Cool!” Barthu said. “Where’s the holoprojector?”
“Right over there, in the corner.”
“So just, like, in the room?” With you? Barthu didn’t ask.
“I’m sure that my continued presence won’t be an issue?”
“Of course not,” Barthu said. “I mean, it’s not like there’s anything private I gotta tell him.” He scowled and clambered over to the corner.
In a few seconds, a holographic image of Timo popped up.
“Hey, Timo,” Barthu said brightly. “How’re things with you and Senator Wayne?”
“Not bad,” Timo said. “Are you alright? You seem a little…off.”
“I’m fine,” Barthu said. “I’m just here with Maxius Mercury who’s drinking tea over there.” So don’t say anything incriminating, Bart thought.
Timo seemed to get it. “Cool,” he said. “That going well?”
“I’m not so good at meditating, as you know. You were always better.”
“That’s because you can’t focus,” Timo said fondly.
“I’m working on it,” Barthu told him. “How bout you? What’ve you been doing?”
“We’ve been doing a bit of law enforcement. The Gotham Planetary Police force is known for it’s blind eye to certain, wealthier entities.”
“Is it dangerous?” Barthu asked.
“A little,” Timo told him, “but I’m careful. There are a few of us. One of them, Ca’as Kai’n, is…well, she can read people. It’s almost like she’s in tune with the Force, but apparently, it’s something different. She also can’t talk or read at all. Steff Brun, Dik Grezon, and our data wiz, the Oracle, it’s a really good team.”
“It sounds cool,” Barthu agreed. “And none of them are Jedi?”
Timo shook his head. “Completely Force-independent. Oh! There’s another girl, Cissie King, who can shoot any target. She isn’t actually on our team, but I’ve worked with her a few times. She’s our age. I think you’d like her.”
Barthu smiled. “I wish I could meet her. All of them. Maybe next time we’re near Gotham.”
“Yeah, I’d like that,” Timo said. “Well, I have to go train now.”
“Me too.”
“May the Force be with you, Barthu.”
He grinned. “Thanks, Timo. I hope it stays with you too. Even if Senator Wayne doesn’t want it.”
This would be the point that they’d tell each other quietly that they loved each other, but with Maxius listening in, they couldn’t do that.
“Well,” Barthu said awkwardly. “Bye.”
“Bye, Barthu,” Timo said. I love you, he mouthed.
Barthu smiled at him and terminated the connection.
Maxius grunted. “Finished, then?” he asked.
“Oh! Yes. Thanks.”
“Hmm. No problem. Time to meditate, now.”
Barthu groaned.
The weeks turned into months, and the months into years. Barthu never gained the patience Jedi were famous for, but he eventually learned to sit still for long enough to pacify Maxius. He stayed in touch with Timo for awhile, but with Maxius always over his shoulder, the calls dwindled away. Thoughts of Timo scabbed over until they were a dull ache in Barthu’s heart.
Timo had expected it. He knew long distance relationships rarely worked out, and he assumed that eventually Barthu would come to love the Force more than any one person. Dik Grezon had told him about his brief love affair with the Jedi Koriand’r. Both of them had thought it was love despite the Jedi taboos, but she had eventually left him. She was a Jedi Knight first and a lover last.
Maxius had suspected the nature of Timo and Barthu’s relationship, but he hadn’t mentioned it. He remembered being young, even if it had been many, many years ago, and he knew that those relationships rarely last. He also knew that nothing fueled the fire of such a relationship as disapproval from an authoritative figure, so he left it to die naturally. He still had been pleased when the calls had stopped coming.
Barthu trained vigorously, and with as much patience as he could muster, but he wished he had been able to keep in contact with his friends. He didn’t learn anything about what had happened to the rest of his old group until three months after he turned seventeen.
Anita Fite had thought herself a very apt youngling. Her Jedi mind tricks had surpassed everyone else in their year.
So why, she wondered, as she hit fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, had no Jedi step forward to train her?
Almost eighteen, she thought miserably, and still a youngling. At least the bars served her. And she didn’t give a sprock if Jedi were supposed to be substance free or whatever the grife it was these days. Clearly she wasn’t meant to be a Jedi.
She had learned everything she was supposed to! And where had it gotten her? She knew the code of the Jedi, and up until that point, she had lived by their rules.
Perhaps it was time to break some of those rules.
There is no emotion, there is peace. She talked to the attractive Czarian who bought her a drink.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. Anita didn’t ask the Czarian where they were going or who he was when she sat behind him on his speeder, hands clutched tightly around his waist.
There is no passion, there is serenity. She tumbled into bed next to the Czarian.
There is no death, there is the Force, She gasped and moaned and died little deaths and finally, finally curled up next to the Czarian and fell asleep.
The next morning, she remembered everything she’d ever learned about Czarians. Like that the only one still surviving had killed all the rest. Darth Lobo.
Anita had slept with Darth Lobo, the most feared man in the galaxy.
And it had been fragging amazing.
She had heard that Darth Lobo was a womanizer, that he never settled down with one woman. When he slept with her a second time, she was surprised, but after three months, she started to expect him back.
Everything was going, if not as well as she had originally expected, far better than she had begun to hope. She knew she was going to be shunted off to the Jedi Corps instead of becoming a Jedi Knight as she had hoped, but somehow, it didn’t seem as bad as it originally had.
Until, one day, she was called up to the Jedi Council.
“Anita Fite,” the Grand Master had said, “In you the Force is strong, but too emotional always you have been.”
Anita translated the message into ordinary Interlac grammar before replying.
“Master, I have always worked hard to master the Force. I have rarely let my emotions get the best of me.” Except for Darth Lobo, she thought.
“Now lying you are.”
“Lying?” Anita said. “What- what do you mean?”
The Grand Master pushed a button under his desk and a hologram flickered into existence in the middle of the room.
Anita gasped. It was a hologram of her. She was sitting on Darth Lobo’s space cruiser with her arms around him.
“Suggest I would, that revise your statement you do,” the Grand Master said.
“That was only recently!” Anita said. “I’m one of the more powerful Jedi in our year, and no one has taken me on as an apprentice! I felt anger for the first time! And Lobo…he didn’t overlook me!”
“So deny this, you do not.”
Anita glared at him. “No.”
“Penance, we can arrange. Although set back your training it has, if to add your schedule extra meditations we do, in the Jedi Corps reserved your position will be.”
Anita glanced down clenching her fists. Again, a set-back. And no chance to join the Jedi Knights. She couldn’t take this any more.
“No,” she said quietly.
“Pardon?” the Grand Master asked.
“No,” she repeated looking back up at him. “Perhaps I was never meant to be a Jedi, but I am done with this. I don’t want to be in the Jedi Corps. Lobo’s treated me better than any of you bastiches, and I am sick of this.”
The Grand Master frowned. “Dark are the emotions that run through you.”
“Love is a dark emotion? I’m through with this. Good bye, Jedi Council. This isn’t the last you’ll hear of me, but I’ll never be a Jedi.” Anita turned and stormed out.
Anita had no idea what she would do now.
There was no way she could go back to the Jedi Council and take it all back. She wouldn’t have, even if she could. If she had stayed, her future would have been assured. It was terrifying, not knowing what she would do next.
It was oddly liberating.
She started packing her few belongings. A book or two, some credits, a few changes of clothes, the ceremonial religious garb she had hidden under her mattress, the special lightsaber she had crafted, it wasn’t much, but at least it was more than nothing.
“Anita?” Greta asked, floating over to her. “Where are you going?”
“I’m…leaving, Greta,” Anita said. “You’ve been great, Gret, but I need to get out. You know Darth Lobo?”
Greta nodded. “The most feared Sith in the galaxy and your boyfriend?”
“That’s the one. They found out about him.”
“Oh,” Greta said. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know,” Anita said. She used the Force to force her bag closed. “Do you have any ideas? I don’t know anyone in the outside world.”
Greta frowned for a second, thinking. “That’s not true. What about Timo?”
Timo Drakke. That was an idea. “Do you think he remembers me?”
“You could ask.”
Anita nodded. “I’ll call him as we go.”
She started the holoprojector as they started walking. “Timo?” she asked when he picked up. She hardly recognized him.
“Oh, man, is that you, Anita?” Timo asked.
She smiled. “Yes! Yes, it is. Timo, I need help.”
“Of course, Anita, anything. What’s wrong?”
She told him about Darth Lobo, and how she had walked away from the Jedi lifestyle.
“I don’t know who else I can turn to,” she said. “So could I stay with you? At least until I figure out what to do next?”
“Of course,” Timo told her. “I’d be happy to help.”
“Ask if I can come,” Greta said.
“Greta wants to know if she can come too.”
“Sure,” Timo said, “but I still won’t be able to see her, unfortunately. Do you need a ship sent down?”
“Tell yer friend that the Star Sith takes care of his girl,” a familiar voice said. Anita looked up to see Darth Lobo leaning against his speeder. “Hey, Empress. Should I frag that bastich?”
“Um,” Timo said. “I take it this is your Darth Lobo?”
Anita nodded. “Hey, Lobo. Were you offering a ride? I need to get to Gotham.”
“The Star Sith ain’t a taxi service, ‘Nita. I wanna be paid fer the ride.” He winked.
She grinned. “I’m certain that can be arranged.”
“Hello?” Timo said, “Right here?”
“Right, sorry Timo. I’ve got a ride, thanks. I’ll see you soon?”
“Just ring me up when you get here.” Timo’s image winked out.
“I didn’t just come fer sex, Anita,” Lobo said. “There’s trouble, and you and those Jedi bastiches yer so fond of might get hurt.”
Anita shook her head. “I’m not a Jedi any more, mon.”
“You going Sith?” Lobo said hopefully.
“No, sorry, Lobo. Just…I don’t know. There should be some way to walk the middle path. Some emotions, but not letting them rule you, you know?”
“Nah,” Lobo said. “I don’t gotta clue. Let’s get you to Gotham. I’ll explain on the way. Is yer force friend over there coming? She could be useful.”
Greta blushed and nodded.
“Kay, hop on.”
Anita mounted the speeder and put her hands around Lobo’s waist. Greta floated behind her. They took off.
“So,” Anita said as they flew. “What’s the trouble?”
“Has a lot to do with that dead chick of yours.”
“Me?” Greta asked.
“Yeah,” Lobo said. “Member how you died?”
Greta’s death. Anita had always thought it had been an unfortunate accident.
“I don’t want to think about it,” Greta said.
“It’s fragging important, girl, so you better think about. You member who killed ya?”
“My…my brother,” Greta whispered.
“Your brother?” Anita asked, turning towards Greta. “I never knew…”
“I never wanted you to know,” Greta said unhappily. “My brother, Will Hayes, wanted power. There’s an ancient, dark ritual. If you slay someone with a strong connection to the Force, you gain a lot of power. Since I’m his sister, though, it changed him. I…I don’t know any more.”
“He’s Darth Harmieous,” Lobo said. “Pretty much Dark Side of the Force personi-fragging-fied. An’ he wants to take over the Galaxy.”
“If I were in good standing with the Jedi, I could warn them about this,” Anita said. “Great.”
“I guess we can still go to visit Timo,” Greta said.
Anita nodded. “I can’t think of a better plan right now. When we get to Gotham, we can plan more fully.”
“Anita!” Timo said as she landed. “It’s been too long!”
“You’re taller than I am,” Anita said, hopping off of Lobo’s bike. “Timo Drakke, Darth Lobo. Greta’s right over there too, though of course, you can’t see her.”
“Nice to meet you, Darth Lobo,” Timo said politely. “Hello, Greta, I hope you’re well.”
“Timo, it turns out we’ve got a bit of an emergency.”
“You explain it to yer bastich,” Lobo said. “I’m gettin’ a fragging drink.”
He stalked off.
“He’s…nice,” Timo said.
“It’s his way,” Anita said. “But he did warn us. Apparently the Dark Force personified, who happens to be Greta’s brother, is coming to take over the Galaxy and there isn’t anyone we can warn because the Jedi hate me, and anyways, they wouldn’t listen to a tip from the most feared Sith Lord in the galaxy.”
Timo frowned. “Why don’t you explain exactly what’s going on?”
Anita explained everything Lobo had told her on the ride there.
“Is Greta still here?” Timo asked.
“Yes,” Anita said.
“Greta, can you go anywhere that the Force is?”
“Yes,” Greta said.
“She can,” Anita ascertained.
“Then I’d like you to try to round up Konel, Casi and Barthu. I’m going to see if anyone in my gang can help. Tell them to meet up on the moon Joyous Harbor. We can do this, Anita. With or without the help of the adults and the Jedi council.”
“Are you sure?” Anita asked.
“Anita,” Timo said, “if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my time training with Bruce, it’s that anyone can save the world. With or without the Force, or the Jedi council.”
“Tell Timo I’m leaving now,” Greta said.
“Greta’s going to spread the word,” Anita told him. “I can find Lobo. I think he’ll help.”
“Perfect,” Timo said. “Darth Harmieous is as good as gone.”
Lobo agreed to help so long as Anita continued to sleep with him regularly. Anita happily agreed, and together they made their way to Joyous Harbor.
Konel was the next person to arrive.
“Greta explained the situation,” he said. “Kalel didn’t want me to go, but I didn’t let that stop me.” Konel grinned. “I’m beginning to see why we’re not supposed to have friends. Loyalties to people other than the council. How terrible.”
Anita laughed and hugged him.
Timo had brought three girls. Their names were Ca’as Kai’n, Steff Brun and Cissie King.
“What can they do?” Konel asked, snorting in disbelief.
“The only language Ca’as knows is body language. In a fight, she knows what her opponent will do before they know it,” Timo said, “And Cissie- show him, Cissie.”
Cissie grinned, whipped out a blaster and shot a tin can 40 yards away.
“I’ve got better aim than almost anyone,” Cissie said proudly.
“And Steff?” Konel asked.
“She’s my girlfriend,” Timo said, “And she’s training under Senator Wayne with me.”
Konel frowned, and pulled Timo into an alcove. “Your girlfriend?” he hissed. “What about Barthu?”
Timo looked away. “What about Barthu?” he said. “He’s a Jedi. He moved on.”
“Are you sure about that?” Konel said. “I haven’t talked to him recently, but Barthu, he doesn’t just give up on people.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t,” Timo said. “But we haven’t talked in over a year. My friend Dik Grezon had an affair with a Jedi once. Koriand’r, have you heard of her? She moved on, though. Liked the Force more than she liked him. I’m sure Barthu feels the same way.”
Konel frowned. “I’m not so sure he does. I’ve known Barthu for longer than you have, and he takes things really personally.”
“I still want to be his friend,” Timo said.
“If you hurt him, I’ll kill you,” Konel said.
“I’ll…I’ll try not to hurt him,” Timo said.
“Good,” Konel said. Then he turned away, brightening. Casi had shown up.
Barthu didn’t arrive until well into the afternoon. It wasn’t surprising. Even if Barthu was the fastest pilot of all of them, he lived furthest away and had a tendency to be distracted.
Timo had mentally prepared himself for Barthu’s arrival. Both of them had grown up. The past was gone, and there was no reason to-
“Timo!” Barthu said, ducking his head out of the ship’s doorway. Timo swallowed. That smile! It had been too long since he’d seen it.
“Barthu,” he said, throat feeling dry. “How- how have you been?”
In a flash, Barthu was out of the ship and hugging Timo with all of the vigor that Timo remembered.
“…missed you,” Barthu was muttering into Timo’s shoulder.
Why had he broken it off with Barthu again? Had they even broken it off? Timo’s mind felt a little fuzzy. None of the things he had told himself seemed as important as the fact that Barthu was in his arms.
“Ahem. Timo, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”
Steff.
Timo reluctantly let go of Barthu. “Barthu, this is Steff Brun. Steff, Barthu Alan.”
Barthu grinned, and in a second he was shaking Steff’s hand excitedly. “Nice to meet you, Steff!”
Steff smiled at him. “I take it you’re from Timo’s short stint as a Jedi impersonator?”
Barthu nodded. “And you’re one of Timo’s new friends?”
“Actually,” Steff said, “I’m his girl-”
“Yes!” Timo said, breaking into it. “She’s my friend, Steff, Barthu and I have a lot to catch up–”
Steff scowled. “Excuse me? Are you ashamed of us?”
“You know I’m not, Steff. I just have to–”
“Ashamed of what?” Barthu asked.
Steff and Barthu were both watching him suspiciously. Timo looked from one to the other, trapped. He rubbed at his temples.
“Barthu, Steff is my girlfriend.”
Barthu stared at him. “She’s…what?”
“We’re, um, dating.”
“No,” Barthu said. “You have to be– you’re not serious! Are you?”
Timo nodded miserably.
“I- I- I need to go,” Barthu said, and like that, he was gone.
“Well,” Steff said. “What’s his problem?”
“Long story,” Timo told her. “I would have preferred to break that news more gently.”
She stared at him. “Timo, that boy is a Jedi. They don’t date.”
“I know,” he said. “It’s a long story.”
“I hate it when you’re secretive, Timo. Tell me what happened.”
He couldn’t tell her. Barthu and the Jedi Academy had all been so long ago, and Steff hadn’t been there. He shook his head. “I need to talk with him.”
“You can be so infuriating sometimes!” Steff shouted.
“Steff¬¬¬¬–”
“I understand that you’re a very private person, Timo, but I am your girlfriend. We are supposed to trust each other enough to tell each other everything.”
Timo turned away. “Steff, there are some things I just can’t share. When I was at the Jedi Academy–”
“You and your Jedi Academy! I understand that for whatever stupid reason you’re going to give this time you can’t talk about it, but Timo, I’m done with this.” Steff scowled. “Maybe if at some point in the future you can start trusting me, we can get back together, but until then, Timo, I’m done.”
“We’re breaking up?”
“Yes,” Steff said. “Unless you tell me about Barthu. Is that too much to ask?”
“I- I’m sorry Steff. I just can’t.” Timo turned away.
“Fine,” Steff said. “If that’s really how you feel, I guess this is over.”
He could feel Steff watching him. This was far from the first time they’d fought. He really did like Steff, maybe he could even someday love her, but being with her¬– it had never been the same as when he had been with Barthu, and there was so much about him that she just didn’t understand. Their relationship had been slowly deteriorating as it was. He hadn’t wanted to break up with Steff, but maybe it was for the best.
Though it would have been nice for the break-up to have taken place before Barthu had arrived. It would have been simpler. Finding a superspeeded Jedi was a difficult task when Barthu wanted to be found.
He heard Steff sigh dramatically and walk away. She was probably going to find Ca’as. The two of them always had been close.
Timo had just managed to piss off two of the people he cared about most in a period of no more than a few minutes. At least his day couldn’t get any worse after that.
His holoprojector beeped.
“Timo!” Konel said. “Barthu just ran by crying. What the sprock did you do?”
Before Timo could answer, another hologram popped up next to Konel. “Timo!” Casi said. “I have no idea what you did to Barthu, but he’s currently in tears and Greta says to tell you that you’re a terrible person.”
“I’m trying to deal with it¬¬¬¬–”
“Later,” Casi said brusquely, “More important things to deal with.”
“Yeah, me too,” Konel said, “Kalel just called–”
“Diana called–”
“One at a time, you two.”
“The Jedi League Astronomical just called,” Casi said, and Konel nodded. “They’re really mad at us for running off without telling our mentors. They’re coming here to collect us.”
So much for his day not getting any worse.
Next!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-11-30 11:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-30 11:48 pm (UTC)I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry.
I'm definitely crossposting, though. Ha! Brilliant.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-01 12:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-01 12:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-06 12:33 am (UTC)I can't wait to see Ca'as in action. Or for the JLA to find out that Batman isn't a Jedi.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-06 03:09 am (UTC)Yes, a lot of poor characters. I'm horrible. Maybe I'll give them all consolation cookies later.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-31 05:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-31 05:25 pm (UTC)It will all get better! Hopefully!
no subject
Date: 2008-01-20 12:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-20 12:38 am (UTC)