Chapter 50 - Intermission

I wandered out from the conference room after the big talk, still mulling over everything Master Ben had laid on us. The Rakata, their Dark Side weaponry, or, well, the possible chance to have some ancient weapon hidden somewhere in the galaxy. It was already partially fascinating and terrifying to think about an ancient empire that made modern Sith look like angry toddlers with glow sticks. Great... Even better was the thought that the Sith had the same knowledge about them. I wonder why nobody did anything about it earlier?

Not that overthinking it would help, so after a quick shower and a change of clothes, I decided to relax. It was always good to let the mind rest, as constant tension would not do any good to it... and I had plenty of unwanted excitement.

Heading back, I found Vila slumped across a couch in the lounge section just off the main hallway, tossing a small hydrospanner up into the air and catching it one-handed over and over, using the Force to make it do spins and twirls while traveling through the air. Her lekku twitched every so often in the rhythm of her thoughts, something that always made me smile. Of course, she spotted me the moment I got close and grinned, scooting over to make room for me.

"Come on, Kael. Don't tell me you went to hide in a broom closet to process all that info. I was half-bored waiting for you to come back up."

"Heh, sure! To be honest, I thought about it," I said, flopping down beside her. "But I figured I'd rather enjoy the five minutes of not being worried about what will happen. While I can afford it."

"Wise choice." She tossed the spanner a little higher and caught it behind her back this time around, still grinning like a kid. "So, ancient Dark Side empire, huh? Fun time. I can already see that it won't end in a simple talk or confrontation. Not that I'm worried."

"Yeah, I can see that. This is just a regular day, hm? Just your standard 'galaxy-conquering slave-masters powered by weaponized hatred.' Or something."

"I always agree with disposing of some slaver scum, you know that," she said with a deadpan look. "It really makes you appreciate the simpler things in life. Like not being shackled or... In this case, possibly not devoured by ancient Force-plagues."

"Or turned into mind-controlled zombies by these Rakatan relics," I added. "Don't forget that turned into a robot also counts as being enslaved."

"True!" she laughed a little. "Imagine that. 'Congratulations, Padawan. You are now an unwilling henchman to an ancient space horror.' But I am not worried. I escaped that fate once; I can do it again."

"What about me?" I asked jokingly, "I'd make a terrible minion," I said, stretching out my legs. "Not to mention, I'm way too good-looking to be standing silently in the background. You know how I am! I need to be the focus of everyone's attention."

"Keep talking like that, and the ship's hull will crack!" She looked at me, holding back her laughter. "It won't be able to handle your humble aura! Or you will summon Iowi from the shadows to reprimand you. Again..." She nudged my boot with hers.

"Maybe he can bring reinforcements?" I offered before we kept sitting in companionable silence for a moment, the hyperdrive's hum cocooning us.

"You think Master Ben's scared?" she asked quietly after a while. I glanced over at her, recognizing that her tone wasn't teasing now. Her emotions were genuine, and she was showing real curiosity and concern.

"Yeah," I answered honestly. "Not in a 'running for the escape pods' way. More like... he knows what could happen. And he doesn't want us stumbling into it blind. He also has concerns regarding the Sith leader... I think he loves her."

"Well," Vila said, trying to inject some bravado, "it's a good thing we've got all this Jedi training and wisdom. We can help him out if it turns out her girlfriend is unsalvageable or something. I guess. I don't know; I was never in love before."

"Same," I shrugged. "So don't look for my advice either if it comes to that. Okay?"

"Sure, sure. I know that."

"What does that supposed to mean?" I asked, feigning to be hurt by her words.

"That you are... bland?" She hummed, putting a finger on her lips, making me roll my eyes.

"Says who? You?" I shot back at her. "I bet if you wanted someone, you would ask him to come and spar with you!"

"That does sound fun, though."

"Pft! Like that one session where Master Katarn threw fruit at us while we practiced deflecting with training sabers? That was truly formative. Would that be something like your ideal rendezvous?"

"Hey, don't knock it," she said, mock-serious. "It would be unique, for sure! And... I'm still undefeated at the Fruit Challenge."

"That's because you cheated."

"I did not cheat!" she gasped, putting a hand dramatically to her chest. "Strategic use of the environment is not cheating."

"You Force-shoved the whole fruit basket at me!" I grunted, pursing my lips.

"Tactical deployment of available resources," she corrected me, grinning.

I shook my head, smiling despite myself. Vila always had that effect on me, to be honest. When everything started to get too heavy, she yanked it back down to ground level with humor, with simple stubbornness. I don't know how she does it, especially knowing her own past. Maybe that's why...

"You ever wonder," I said, leaning back against the cushions, "what we actually are going to find?"

"Besides guaranteed trouble?"

"Besides that," I nodded, laughing.

She tilted her head back, staring up at the ceiling for a long time before answering.

"I dunno. Maybe we'll find some weird alien temple, still powered after twenty thousand or how many years later, just waiting for someone dumb enough to poke it. And then... it goes KABOOM, or turns us into bantha droppings."

"That sounds about right."

"Or maybe," she added, eyes twinkling, looking at me, "there will be a giant dark side kraken made out of pure Force energy."

"Noooo... There won't be." I stared at her. "Please tell me you're joking."

"Why not? Sounds like that Abeloth thing that the Grandmaster and Master Ben pursued." She answered innocently. "You'll find out when it eats the ship if I am right or not! Don't worry; we will die before we feel any pain."

"You're the worst."

"I know." She leaned her head against my shoulder lightly. It was not romantic... I think... Um... I don't even know if it was particularly intentional. Just... familiar.

However, I didn't move. It felt right... and relaxing.

"Honestly," she said, voice softer now, "I don't really care what's out there. Not if you're around."

I blinked my eyes in surprise. Maybe she realized what she had done and said. Maybe my emotions jolted so violently that she felt it. I don't know. I was indeed a bit taken aback by it, though.

"I mean," she said hurriedly, realizing how it sounded, "if we're all together, Master Ben, Master Katarn, you and me... We can handle it. We always made a good team! Didn't... we?"

"Yeah," I said quietly. "We do make a great team. You and me."

Somehow, that led to another pause, another breath of quiet, it was a bit embarrassing, but in a good way.

"Besides," she said, pulling away just enough to nudge me in the ribs, "if we find some ancient Dark Side artifact that makes you start talking in evil monologues, I get to hit you with the back of my saber's hilt. Repeatedly. I know how much force to use to knock you back to your senses!"

"Wait, what?!"

"It's only fair," she said innocently. "You're tall. Evil Kael would be terrifying. Orange eyes, pale skin, evil smirk. Huh... It would look a bit cool on you. But that type of cool factor would also make you not look like yourself."

"Woah, woah, are you implying that I am not cool?!"

"Yeah. You aren't. Sorry. You are too friendly and light-hearted to be cool. Cool guys are... have that spazz, that roguishness. You know, a bit of Dark Side that makes it exciting. Like in Master Katarn. You can tell he has that, but under control; that's why he is more charming than other old Masters."

"Tsk, so you have a crush on your Master?" I shot back, making her twitch.

"No, I don't!"

"Uhm. Sure." I grinned, "Don't worry, I won't spill the beans!"

"I do not!" She snorted again, then mumbled something I could not hear well, "That doesn't mean I like people like that..."

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Idiot. Truth is, you are more idiotic than roguish! Yep! Uhm!"

"Sure..." I gave her a flat look, watching her face go pinkish and her lekku twitching like crazy. "Anyway... If some old Force-thingy turns me into a Sith... Your plan for dealing with it is to hit people with tools?"

"Simple. Elegant. Effective." She beamed. "Easy and quick! Trust me, a good slap on the back of the head always works!"

"Force help us," I muttered.

"Force helps those who help themselves," she chirped at me, making me shrug.

Then, we both laughed again, the tension that had been building for hours slipping away.

For a long time, we just sat there, trading ridiculous ideas about what ancient Rakatan horrors might await us. A temple was full of self-aware killer vines. A hyperspace gate that teleports you to random embarrassing memories. A droid army that only accepts command inputs in interpretive dance. Which would make HK-O1 more angry than we could actually imagine.

"Alright," Vila said, sitting up straighter, eyes gleaming at the end when no more ideas came to mind. "I propose a competition."

"Uh oh."

"Whoever finds the weirdest, most insane artifact first gets bragging rights for a whole month."

"A whole month? That's dangerous power you're offering." I hummed, raising an eyebrow.

"Do you accept the challenge, coward?" she said, sticking out her hand.

"Of course!" I grinned and shook it firmly. "Deal. But when I find a Force-powered accordion that controls minds, don't cry about it."

"Dream on. I'll find a Dark Side-powered caf machine that brainwashes people into starting galactic wars."

"Again? Geez, you need something with more originality! But sure, that's truly terrifying."

Finally, we sealed the deal with a firm, exaggerated handshake, both of us grinning like idiots.

But then, eventually, the ship's intercom crackled to life.

"We are approaching our destination," came Master Ben's voice with R2's cheerful, mechanical chirp from behind him in the cockpit. "Prepare for realspace reversion."

"Let's go!" Vila sat up, stretching and moaning while standing before me. "Well, time to go poke history with a stick."

"You mean with your lightsaber."

"Exactly." She winked at me, looking back over her shoulder.

Together, we headed toward the cockpit. Master Ben and Master Katarn were already there, checking readings and prepping for our arrival. Of course, this was not yet the system—that was still lost before us. But it was the point where they would supposedly meet with Vestara. As for what awaited us here, we would soon find out.