Don't Get Killed

[D.C.]

A small vessel of the Shade Order, capable of hyperspace travel, dropped out of hyperspace near the Forest Moon of Endor. Onboard of the vessel were Astraia Julius and her Padawan Dustin Crowe.

Dustin stood by one of the windows, gazing at the moon they were nearing. In his right hand he held his hat, his left hand was on the butt end of his left revolver. Also, clipped to his belt, was the training saber Astraia had given to him. It wasn't much, and Dustin wouldn't be able to deal some real damage with it, but it might be useful... for something.

The gunslinger was a tad nervous. They were going after a Rogue Jedi who—if the rumors were true—had gone into hiding in the dense forest that covered the entire moon of Endor. Dustin had never really fought a Jedi before. He was glad his trainer was with him.

They had left Thyferra a couple of days ago. Dustin had tried to meditate, but he found it quite hard to focus. He was constantly distracted... by something. Maybe it was his nervosity. Maybe it was something else.

He took a deep breath and watched the moon coming closer...

 

[Emma Lou]

Dustin had been very distracted during their journey to Endor. Astraia had tried several times to pick up on what was bothering him, but she could not get a grasp on it.

"What's wrong, Dustin?"

The Shade Master sat on the floor next to her student.

 

[D.C.]

Dustin looked away from the window and over to Astraia. She sat down on the floor, and so he sat down as well. He placed his hat on the floor beside him. He didn't answer to the question immediately, because he didn't know how to answer. It was just that feeling...

'I don't know,' he said to her, while staring in front of himself to nothing in particular. It was that dreamy gaze of his. 'I'm nervous. I think. I tried to meditate to calm down, but it doesn't work. It's really kind of hard to explain... it's as if the Force is telling me something's wrong. Does that make sense? I guess not, eh...'

He leaned with his back against the wall, but still stared at nothing.

'Have you ever fought a Rogue, or a Dark Jedi, Astraia?' he asked out of the blue.

 

[Emma Lou]

Astraia took his hand and squeezed. He was still so new to the force and she understood what he was going through.

"The force probably is warning us. The force is like that feeling you get on the back of your neck when danger approaches, but it's more nagging and loud. We must be extra careful. And no, I haven't fought a rogue or Dark Jedi"

 

[D.C.]

When she took his hand he looked at her and listened to her. He nodded and somehow managed to smile. 'Thank you,' he said. 'It's just that... You know, it used to be like an instinct. I got these visions of what could happen... like some kind of precognition. And I knew how to avoid getting... killed,' he grinned, 'but now that I'm learning to control it, it's ... I don't know how to say this. It's confusing.

'I've hunted down criminals in the past,' he went on, 'and I wasn't nervous. I knew what they were going to do moments before they did it. I knew how to dodge their attacks. I was always a step ahead. But this is different, this a Force User we're going after. I've never fought a Force User. So,' he glanced at her, 'I'm glad you're here. I mean, if I somehow can't defeat that Force User, then you surely can.'

A monotone, robotic voice sounded through the intercom: [Arriving at Endor in just a few minutes. All passengers prepare for the landing.]

Dustin looked up to the speaker in the corner of the room, at the ceiling. 'Let's say hi to the Ewoks, then,' he said with a faint smile.