The Trouble With Gizka

CHARACTERS: Bastila Shan, Jolee Bindo and Anna-sa Kast (A.K.A. Revan)
SETTING: The Ebon Hawk.
TIMELINE: Having retrieved Star Maps on both Dantooine and Kashyyyk, the Ebon Hawk and her crew race toward Korriban and destiny.

JOLEE BINDO enters the ship's medical center to find BASTILA SHAN in meditation. The gifted young Jedi sits in repose, but her breathing is labored, her jaw stiff with tension. It is clear from her expression she finds no peace in the act of reaching out to the Force.

JOLEE: Something troubling you, child?

Bastila does not open her eyes. Instead, she fights to keep hold of her fitful meditation.

BASTILA: I'm fine, Jolee.

JOLEE: Fine? You ran out of the cockpit like your hair was on fire. And in the middle of my best story, too. Why, I was just about to explain how I once managed to--

BASTILA: (Cutting him off) How you managed to subdue a deadly terantatek with nothing but your wits and an extremely hot cup of caffa?

Jolee's eyes twinkle mischievously as he rubs a calloused hand over his goatee.

JOLEE: Told that one, have I?

Bastila's eyes open slowly. A tiny smile curls the corners of her mouth.

BASTILA: Twice.

Jolee's look of mock outrage fades into laughter, eliciting a reluctant giggle from Bastila and effectively placing a crack in the young Jedi's pretentious veneer. Their laughter catches the attention of a passing GIZKA, who hops into Bastila's lap and coos expectantly.

BASTILA: Someone ought to do something about these creatures.

JOLEE: Oh? So it's the gizka that have your robes in a twist.

Bastila pauses, staring at the squirming, reptilian creature.

BASTILA: ... Right. The gizka. (Resting her palms on the tops of her knees, the pretty padawan closes her eyes.) I mean-- I can't escape them. Always in my way. Always getting mixed up in my personal affairs. (She takes a deep, cleansing breath, but it only serves in lowering her defenses, pushing her further into her rant. ) It's so irritating. They delight in thumbing their nose at convention-- to say nothing of what they do when confronted with the rules of proper social etiquette. Loud. Unkempt. Grouchy in the morning. Always looking for a shortcut. Always--

JOLEE: (Cutting her off) Aren't you forgetting something, lass?

Bastila warily opens one eye as Jolee sidles closer, sporting a knowing grin.

JOLEE: The real trouble with 'gizka,' is that they hate being deceived almost as much as they love scruffy Republic soldiers in ugly orange jackets.

Bastila exhales sharply, angling her body away from Jolee.

BASTILA: I'm sure I don't know what you are talking about.

JOLEE: Don't you? You may think 'gizka' are harmless, Bastila. Domesticated. Submissive. Tame, even, but let me tell you: what lies beneath the surface is something neither of us wants to mess with.

BASTILA: (Whispering) Even If I wanted to do something about the 'gizka'-- it's not as though it is my decision to make.

The old Jedi's eyebrows knit together until the insidious truth dawns on him.

JOLEE: Are you telling me this madness is the council's folly?

She stares at him evenly. Her silence confirming his worst fears.

JOLEE: Well, I suppose I have to give them credit. Putting a padawan of your experience in this position is just about the worst idea I've ever heard.

She untwists her legs from meditation pose and rises to face him, her cheek muscles twitching as she struggles to contain her anger.

BASTILA: Maybe if I had spent twenty years hiding out in the Shadowlands with the tachs, I would better meet with your approval.

JOLEE: (Shrugging) It couldn't hurt. Maybe if you had, you wouldn't have been tempted to use such a recklessly idiotic scheme.

BASTILA: I would hardly call a plan constructed by the highest ranking jedi masters 'idiotic.' We turned the enemy to our cause, Jolee, and we did so by using her own methods against her.

Jolee sighs and shakes his head sadly.

JOLEE: Our tools define us, child. If you employ the methods of a Sith, what does that make you?

His argument has merit and Bastila digests this, when she speaks again, the edge in her voice has all but disappeared.

BASTILA: I'm afraid I must ask for your cooperation in this matter, as well as your silence.

JOLEE: Then you ask for too much. You are bonded to that girl, Bastila. How long do you think you can keep this up?

BASTILA: Until we complete the Star Map. Until Malak is defeated. Until--

JOLEE: Until someone outs her? Until she remembers she loves killing things?? The council has placed a time bomb on this ship, one set to go off in all our faces. Do the right thing, lass. March your behind in there and tell her the truth.

From offstage, a woman's voice interrupts their heated conversation.

ANNA-SA: I figured it out.

Startled, they both turn to find ANNA-SA KAST standing in the doorway. Bastila shoots Jolee a terrified look-- how long has Anna-sa been standing there?

BASTILA: Wh- what did you say?

ANNA-SA: I figured it out. It wasn't terribly difficult.

Jolee's right hand drifts dangerously close to the hilt of his lightsaber as Bastila's shoulders slump. She drops her gaze, unable to face her Force-bonded companion.

BASTILA: Anna-sa, please, I can explain.

Anna-sa crosses to a plasteel cylinder and begins flipping through medical supplies.

ANNA-SA: What's to explain? Missing food. Odd noises. The little girl who went missing on Dantooine snuck on board the ship. She's back in the cargo hold.

Bastila and Jolee exchange a puzzled look.

JOLEE: That's what you were talking about? A ... stowaway?

Anna-sa nods, she plucks a med pack from the cramped cylinder and glances up; Bastila looks like she is about to leap out of her skin and Jolee is staring at her like she just ripped the arms off a wookiee cub.

ANNA-SA: What's the matter with you two?

BASTILA: Nothing. We were just... discussing the... um...

JOLEE: The gizka problem.

Anna-sa's dark eyes rake over both of her allies.

ANNA-SA: Really? Why don't I believe you?

BASTILA: I don't know. Perhaps we should limit your time around Carth. His paranoia is starting to rub off on you.

It is a master deflection. Anna-sa tries to suppress the grin that threatens to creep across her face, but she can't. It's true. The pilot's presence is having an odd effect on her.

ANNA-SA: (Shrugging) The people we care about change us. I mean -- just look at the effect I'm having on you, right Bas?

Bastila pales.

BASTILA: You and I are nothing alike.

It comes out harsher than she intended, and Jolee quickly steps between them.

JOLEE: (To Anna-sa:) Why don't you get our little stowaway settled in. Auntie Bastila and I will be down to check on her in a moment.

The pig-tailed brunette wrinkles her nose at the nickname and then covers with a weak smile. Anna-sa nods absently, but doesn't move.

ANNA-SA: Something has been bothering me, Bastila. I thought it was Sasha, but now I'm not so sure. Is there anything you want to tell me? Anything I should know?

If Jolee has kicked up any doubts about her mission, the dutiful young Jedi swallows them. Hard.

BASTILA: ... No.

Bastila senses her companion knows something is up, but for some reason, Anna-sa chooses not to pursue it. Instead, she does a very odd thing. She smiles. A beautiful mix of teeth and cunning. A predator's smile.

ANNA-SA: Alright, 'Auntie' Bastila.

And with that enigmatic response, she exits. Bastila watches her go, a rueful look displacing her delicate features.

BASTILA: I'm embarrassed to admit this, but in times of trouble I find myself looking to her for guidance. Do you have any idea how frustrating it is trying to keep pace with the former Dark Lord of the Sith?

JOLEE: It's not a competition, Bastila.

BASTILA: I know. I promise you I am not proud of what I did to get here, but I am here, Jolee, and with Anna-sa guiding us we have a chance to finally stop Malak. To save the Galaxy.

He studies her, his expression unreadable, but to her credit, she does not give an inch. Bastila matches his intensity with an inner fire all her own.

JOLEE: I miss that.

BASTILA: What?

JOLEE: The advantages of a life not yet marred by regret. The idealism of youth. Or the idiocy. Hmph! I have trouble telling them apart sometimes.

Uncertain if he has just praised or insulted her, Bastila's blue eyes narrow at the old Jedi, who responds with a tight smile.

JOLEE: You have my silence on two conditions: the first is that no matter what happens, she learns the truth from you.

BASTILA: (nodding solemnly) And the second?

JOLEE: She's your responsibility.

BASTILA: Of course. I will do whatever--

JOLEE: (Cutting her off) Don't agree to that so quickly. Taking responsibility for the actions of another is not a contract to be entered into lightly. Are you even prepared for the possibility that the monster you so cleverly locked away might escape?

There is only the tiniest pause before she answers:

BASTILA: I am.

JOLEE: Then your secret is safe with me.

Jolee starts for the door, but a thought occurs to him and he turns to address her once again.

JOLEE: Bastila?

BASTILA: Yes?

JOLEE: If she does discover the truth on her own, pray Malak finds you first. I have a feeling he'll be far more merciful.

It is delivered with a grandfatherly smile, but his words hit their target. With a furrowed brow, Bastila sinks to the floor and back into her meditation.

BASTILA: There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There is no death; there is the Force...

A special thank-you to DarthRedHead for her tremendous beta prowess. :)