Journey to find pieces

[Zian]

Terminus was a heavy trafficking place, since the Jedi were in chaos she had to go alone. Zian had seen all this before at home, it was just a different form with the Jedi. She couldn't understand why they couldn't forgive and move on. 'Wasn't that a part of being a Jedi to forgive so they could be stronger?' She didn't know. There was to many questions and not enough answers, all she did know was that the Jedi were fractured. She didn't know how they would heal, she knew it would take a great deal of coming together and stop with what was going on. It was something her people had learned the hard way.
She had made her way here using Force stealth like Kai had shown her to do. It was probably dangerous for her to be here or outside the Jedi enclave, but it seemed to her that they were all being to self centered to care what one padawan did. Besides she wouldn't be alone for long. Zian was being cautious as she waited. A man approached from behind. "You sit out like a sore thumb, not many Chiss come out this way." He said. She eyed the man, she wasn't sure how to respond to this. He smiled. "I don't blame you after all why would you know my voice or my face." He said he handed her a cloak of white. "I think it suits you, Zian." He said. Cautiously she took the cloak. "Wouldn't this make me stand out more?" She asked. "Who's going to attack a white cloaked Chiss under the protection of a republic solider? Besides I'd guard you no matter what. It is good to finally see you daugther." He said and hugged her.

 

[Zian]

Zian just stood there not hugging him back, she didn't know this man. Only knew his name and a description, not much else. He let her go. "Its ok I understand Chiss don't show their emotions all to well. Come Ill show you around." He said. She placed the white cloak around her shoulders, she figured she would get stares no matter what she did. She followed him closely after all if she got lost she wouldn't know how to get back anywhere, she didn't really want to be lost. Her father took her to one of the local markets, they surprisingly didn't seem bothered by her. "This is a shipping place, even the Republic has to deal with aliens." He said as he paid for some fruit and tossed her one. He took a bite and urged her to do the same. Zian wasn't so sure, alien foods seemed to all have their unique flavors, that she had discovered at the Jedi enclave. She rubbed the fruit, thinking about what had happened with the Jedi. Her father came up to her, he touched her chin gently. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asked. She did want to talk about it, but she wasn't sure it was a good idea to tell him. "I don't think it wise to discuss outside the Jedi." She said. He nodded understanding. "Sometimes talking helps, but I can understand not wanting to talk to someone you don't know. Taste the fruit, I am sure you'll like it." He said changing the subject. Zian took a small nibble, it was good but she still couldn't help but to think of the Jedi's chaos while walking with her father.

 

[Zian]

He could tell that she was struggling even though she was a chiss. "Why did you want me to go to the Jedi?" She asked. He stopped and turned to her. "Is this what is bothering you?" He asked. She was still playing around with the fruit he had given her earlier. He walked up to her taking her hand softly. "I knew you were going to be special when your mother told me she was with child and that it was mine. When she told me you were force sensitive I knew then that the Jedi were for you. Your people needed a light, some hope. I think the Jedi are in need of some light, that's what you are a light. I am sure whatever you are going through with them, you just need to remember light conquers all even in the darkest of times." He said then touched her chin. He moved her hand with the fruit in it. "You are going to want to finish that before we go to the pet store." He said. Zian eyed him. "Pet?" She asked. He smiled. "Something Chiss don't get, there are few animals that survive the cold, but I think you might want one." He said.

 

[Zian]

Finishing off her fruit she followed her father, she had no idea what a pet was much less if she wanted one. Zian would see what exactly her father was talking about. She would follow him as they walked through the streets past markets and people, there were lots of aliens here. They just kept walking, a few would look her way but no one really stopped to ask her anything. Finally her father stopped in front of a shop. "Here we are, come on you get to pick anyone you want." He said. He waited for her to catch up then enter before him. She stopped a little when she saw all the creatures before her. Very slowly she walked, she had never seen such creatures in her life. The owner walked up to her. "Can I help you?" They asked. "Looking around at what you have." Her father said. The owner smiled and motioned them to move so they could look. Zian walked slowly looking at each cage, not one of these animals seemed like anything she would want. She stopped though at one cage.
Her father watched her, he hoped she would like something here. Sometimes pets helped where others could not. He eyed as she stopped at a cage. "Did you find something?" He asked as he joined her. She looked at her father then looked at the creature in the cage. "Is that what you would like?" He asked. "What is it?" She asked. "That's an Akk Dog, baby." The owner said. Those blue eyes stared back at her. "May I?" She asked. The owner agreed. Zian picked the baby up, she had never held a creature before this however felt right. "How much?" She asked. "Thousand credits." The owner said. "Thousand? How about six hundred." Her father said. "Eight." The owner said. "Seven." he said. "Deal." The owner said. They shook hands. "Its now yours Zian." Her father said.

 

[Zian]

They walked out she still held the Akk dog. "So what will you name it?" He asked as he lead her down the streets. "I don't know I don't even know anything about it. The Chiss do not keep records of creatures just species." She said. "Well there is a good way to find out." He said. He continued to walk with her till they came to a new building. This one was a library of sorts, it was mostly computers. "This is our library, we have some stuff, lets see if they have anything." He said as he pushed buttons. He looked at the computer screen to see if there was anything. "Here we go, Akk dog skin that can block a lightsaber. They were also known to build force sensitive relationships, the Jedi knights had them. So it seems like that was the reason you were drawn to it." He said. She looked at the creature, was this the reason she wasn't sure. Either way it was now hers and she would have to figure out what to name it.

 

[Zian]

They continued walking, there was no rush to get to their goal. Zian continued to think about the Jedi, their issues, and began to wonder if there was more she could have done. The Akk dog started to make noise at her, grabbing her attention. "I think it's hungry." She said. "That's fine, I am hungry too." He said. They made their way to an outside restaurant and took a table. "We will get two plates of your meat steaks and waters." He said to the waiter. The akk dog made some more noises. Zian touched its head gently, she wasn't quite sure how to get it to stop making noises. He smiled. "Thought of a name yet." He said. She looked at it. "Cart'ar." She said. "That sounds nice, what's it mean." He asked. "Hope." She said. Zian felt like she needed to be reminded that hope remains in the darkest of time, much like her mother was working to bring hope to her people. She would need to remind who she could that hope remained in the Jedi.

 

[Zian]

The server brought their plates, Zian eyed the dish she had never really had anything of this nature. The akk dog though made noises at her again. She put it next to the plate and watched it take a piece twice its size and attempt to eat it. Her father was eating a laughing, the creature was obviously not able to eat that piece as it was. Zian went to break the piece for it, the akk dog played a bit of tug of war. It was able to eat the piece after Zian broke it up for them. It seemed content after eatting the one piece returning to her lap. She just watched it make its own bed on her legs. "This will take time to get used to." She said. He smiled. "You should eat." He said. She took a little bit, she had to taste it on her tongue. It seemed gooey with some chewy parts, she didn't care for it. "If you don't like it you don't have to eat it." He said. She looked at him. "But that is wasting food." She said. He had forgotten that Chiss didn't waist food. "We can find someone who wants it for free." He said. That seemed like a better idea than just wasting food.

 

[Zian]

"Excuse us can we have this to go?" Her father asked the server. "Why yes." They said as they went to get a to go plate. Zian tried to eat it again, she was hungry but it just wasn't agreeing with her tongue. Her father just shook his head. "We will get you something else, just not here." He said. The server brought a to go box, her father put her food in it, then left credits to cover the bill. "Come on." He said grabbing the box. She picked up her pet and followed they went down a more trashy street. Zian wasn't used to seeing such a thing, trash just didn't go everywhere at home. The first man on the side by a building her father handed the box of food to. "Thank you sir." He said. Her father smiled and just kept walking. "What would you like Zian?" He asked. She eyed him. "I am sorry I don't know what is good beyond what I know." She said. He smiled. "Fruits and bread it is." He said. He found his way back to the markets, she was close. He grabbed a plate of some breads and fruits, then handed her it. She took it in one hand her pet in the other, she didn't know quite how she was going to eat, follow, and hold Cart'ar at the same time.

 

[Zian]

After her father was satisfied that she was eatting. "Now to get you a ship." He said. She looked at him. Flying it was taught to all Chiss, it was a part of military training. "Why are you giving me all this stuff?" She asked. It was now starting to bring up questions, she was becoming wary of all these gifts. She didn't know if there was some sort of catch to them. "Because I have no need for them and who better to give gifts to than someone who has nothing." He said. Zian still wasn't sure. Her father knew she was concerned even if she didn't show it. He touched her. "I understand your caution, one can't be to cautious when getting gifts. I promise there is nothing attached to the ones I give you." He said. She didn't know, she would still be wary of a man she barely knew.

 

[Zian]

She followed her father, she wasn't quite sure about this ship just yet. Her father just kept on walking, she followed as the akk dog bobbed its head. It seemed to take in everything around it, much like she had to. Zian wasn't sure about the creature, but it seemed fine around her. She guessed that was a good thing, but wasn't sure how the Jedi might take to her having a pet.

 

[Zian]

Her father stopped at the docking port, there were many ships here. A lot of them for sale. "A ship for a single pilot." Her father said to the sales man. He smiled and showed her father the way. Zian followed closely, her pet flickered its tongue as they walked the port. "Here is the lot." The salesman said. Her father walked over to eye each ship, looking to see which was the best. Zian eyed the ships, none were really appealing until she saw it. She walked over to a baudo-class star yacht and touched it. Her father had gone down the lot when he noticed she was not with him, he looked for her ans saw her looking at a Baudo yacht. He walked back towards her. He eyed the yacht, then her. "Is this the one?" He asked. Zian nodded, this ship felt right. "Well lets start it up." He said motioning for her to get up in the ship.

 

[Zian]

Zian climbed up to get in, she was going to get in the passenger side. "Over here." Her father said from a small ladder pointing to the pilot side. She was hesitant but moved over. Her father pointed at the start button, wanting her to start the engines. It was important that at least the engines worked before buying a ship. "How much?" Her father asked. "A hundred thousand." The seller said. That was a lot of credits. "I can't take this." She said. This gift was far to great, besides she felt a little guilt for even thinking she could have something like this, the pet was enough now he was getting her a ship. He smiled as he reached over to turn the ship off. "Zian you take after your mother, Chiss ways get the better of you sometimes. Besides this makes up for all the birthdays I didn't get to give you anything." He said as he climbed down. Zian got up and was going to protest when her father paid the man. The seller handed him the papers for the ship.

 

[Zian]

He walked over to her as she climbed out and handed her the papers. "Yours, I would keep them safe." He said. She stood there unsure of what to say or even do for that matter. "This is far greater than anything I could have ever imagined." She said. Cart'ar flicked his tongue at her, it seemed happy in her hands. He put his hand on her shoulder. "You will find few joys in this galaxy, you take the ones handed to you." He said. Zian finally hugged him after that, Chiss were not known for their emotional displays so this was rare. Her father just smiled and returned the hug.


The End