34. The Caged Bird Sings

Windu pov

Anger. Frustration.

The Jedi were keeping a close eye on me. Treating me like a wounded animal, a feral dog to be kept in a cage.

Agitation. Rage.

I cannot complete my Queens task if I am being watched. The Temple Guard assigned to monitor me was... unusually competent. I didn't dare attempt to flee, as this would only agitate the Jedi, cause them to distrust me.

Aura. A mix of Light and Dark, and the sense of water, the calm tranquility of a lake, and the rage of a typhoon hiding behind said tranquility.

Seren one of the Queens Four Generals, embodiment of water, was here. In the Temple. Speaking with the Jedi.

A sound.

Looking down, I saw a small cat-like creature, with long ears like those of a rabbit. It had a strange stone medallion about it's neck, which felt like Hive. It was the location of the Brood-Mother egg her Majesty had sent.

I reached down to scratch Jax, Master Seren's Familiar, and my Guard tensed ever so slightly. Little Jax begins to purr, and leaps onto my shoulder, nuzzling my cheek. I smile, and stroke Jax, letting the anger, agitation, frustration and rage fade. I replaced it all with a sense of peace and contentment.

Maybe they would allow me out, in order to purchase a pet in order to keep me sane...

Qui Gon Jinn's Padawan, Kenobi, saw this all from where he hid around the corner, and noticed my gaze turned to him. Recognition. Kenobi is no threat to either myself, or Little Master Jax. He was promptly ignored. My aura, which had sharpened after detecting him, relaxed again, telling him i had no ill intent towards him.

I turned, to go find Mistress Seren, and return Little Master Jax to her.

Kenobi POV

Master Qui Gon Jinn had asked me to keep an eye on Master- FORMER Master -Windu. The agitation and frustration was building over the last month, and my master was concerned FORMER Master Windu might act out if something should happen to make him snap.

A small Bearded Jax was walking down the hall, and stopped near Windu, meowed, and Windu's aura sharpened slightly. The Guard tensed, I panicked, gripping my lightsaber, I was ready to intervene and save the creature when it leapt onto Windu's shoulder.

He seemed to enjoy it's attention, calming almost immediately, reaching up to stroke it. A sort of sorrow seeped into his aura, a melancholy. I know this one. It's loneliness. But why? Why is Windu lonely? He has a Guard, he has Master Jinn. Why is he lonely?

I left. I was searching for my Master. He would know what to do. Maybe we should get him a pet?

I found Master in the Library, speaking with a large black insect like humanoid. They were laughing at some joke the Black One had made. I waited until they had finished.

A presence, thick with the Force, the strongest I ever felt, behind me. I turned and met Windu's eyes, which were black. Like twin black holes. For the second time in my life, I felt True Fear. The way Windu looked at him was like that of a predator regarding it's prey, debating whether to kill and feed.

Meow!

Windu blinks, his eyes going back to normal, then looks at the Bearded Jax. He immediately moves towards the Black One, and spoke.

"I believe this one is yours?" he said, handing the Jax to the Black One.

I signaled my Master, indicating I needed to speak with him. Urgently.

"What is it Kenobi? What's wrong?"

"He," I gesture to Windu, "is lonely. It... hurt. When I felt it in his aura. He is in pain, emotional pain, and when the Bearded Jax ran up to him, he seemed happy. He needs a pet. A Padawan would be better, but what with his condition, the Council likely won't give him a Padawan. so he needs a pet."

Master just stared, listening to my words, then nodded, opening his mouth to speak.

"Agreed." A voice with a faint buzz said. I spun around, startled. WHEN DID THAT THING SNEAK UP ON ME? "Windu is not suicidal, though he is what we call stir-crazy. A companion creature would go a long way towards relieving that."

The Jax seemed content to sit in the Black One's arms, it was even purring. The Bearded Jax is a very intelligent species, and would NEVER willingly stay near an individual they suspected of being dangerous.

Wait.

Is that why it meowed at Windu? To stop the madness in him?

"Do you have any suggestions for which creature he should get? Or which shop he should go to?"

"I do, in fact. There is a quaint little pet shop a few layers down. Stop by the Embassy sometime, and I'll give the directions."

"Master? Windu... his eyes. They were black. Pitch black. Like a black hole. I... How to put it? It felt like I was prey, and he a predator, debating whether to kill and devour me."

"Well now, that's not good." The Black One said. "Voidlings NEED to hunt and kill their prey. Its in their genetics, its what makes them such lethal warriors, soldiers and tacticians. If a Voidling cannot hunt his enemies, it is only a matter of time until they go mad, select a target, stalk their chosen prey, and ultimately kill it. That said, if they know their choice of prey will get them killed, no one will find the body. Ever."

Not good at all.

"Seren, how do we fix him?"

"Give him a target, something to hunt. This is Coruscant. There are plenty of criminals, lots of choices in terms of prey for a Voidling."

"Jedi are not supposed to kill. It's... while it's not forbidden, it is extremely discouraged."

"Your Council would rather he kill your Padawan? From what the Padawan said, Windu appears to have Marked him as Potential Prey."