A Jedi's Pet, Part I

Note: This is totally random, but I decided to write it anyway. The idea was founded most likely by my obsession with Tachs. =D But Random is my middle name! (Ok, not really, it's Tyler.) Anyways, I guess you can read now.

-Tach

:Awaken:

Twenty-four year old David Repner opened his eyes with a groan. He pushed himself up from the floor where he lay and looked around. What he saw sent a chill down his spine.

Dead people.

Corpses had always creeped out David, despite his rank as a General during the Mandalorian Wars. But it wasn't the fresh corpses that made him shudder, of those recently killed. It was the cold, clammy ones, of those that had been killed days before their sight, their skin already pale and gloomy.

And these dead people were everywhere. In kolto tanks, behind computer systems, and pretty much everywhere else.

David shuddered. 'Where am I?"

He opened a door and found himself in a small hallway. A blur of blue caught his eye, but when he looked, it was gone. His hand flew to his waist, and he cursed upon realization that his lightsaber no longer hung there.

The blur shot across the room again and David stuck his foot out in uncanny speed. (A little souvenir from his days as a Jedi.) The impact sent him to the ground, and he found himself face to face with... a tach.

"A tach?" David's eyebrows shot up. "What are you doing here?"

You're one to talk! What are you doing here? the Tach looked at him, seeming to expect an answer.

"Did you just talk to me?"

Oh no, you're just hearing things. Of course I'm talking to you!

'Great. This one knows sarcasm.' David thought bitterly.

Looks like you speak a bit of sarcasm yourself, twinkle-toes!

David rolled his eyes. "You can read my thoughts now?"

You think?! Force, you take a while to catch on.

"Sorry. This is the first time I've talked to a tach."

Well, now you know how.

"You know how to get out of here, um... What was your name?"

Billy Bob Joe.

"No, seriously."

Kip. There, you happy?

"Happier than I was before. I'm David. Do you know how to get out of here?"

If I did, I wouldn't be here. I can't even get past that door. Kip turned his head to look at the door. David followed his gaze. The door seemed broken down, but David knew how to open it.

"It's nothing a plasma torch can't fix!"

You mean I've been stuck here for a week and all I neeeded was a plasma torch?!

David nodded. "Yeah, but I don't know where we can get one."

I do. One of the miners here, Coorta, he kept a stash in the morgue.

David's eyebrow arched. "Why?"

I dunno, he was smarter than a bantha, but not much more than that. He was one of the guys that wanted to kill you.

"Kill me?" David winced. He hoped that he wouldn't encounter this Coorta somewhere in this facility.

Yeah, but he probably died in one of the mining explosions. Things have been awful quiet since the detonations. The only things alive here are the mining droids, and one of the workers here said that the droids went haywire. It's not safe here, but it's safer than the rest of the facility, I'll wager. If you wanna get out, you need to get out quick.

"How comforting. But you're right. We have to get out of here fast. I can sense danger approaching."

Ooh, you sense it. Can you sense anything else?

Kip gave a subtle roll of his eyes that went unnoticed by David. "There's at least one person alive here. I can sense the living Force."

David unlocked the door to the morgue.

Living Force, my butt. That living Force you feel is probably just me. Kip followed David through the door. There's nobody else.

"Find what you are looking for among the dead?" The voice sent a chill through David's body, and Kip jumped at the sound. The little tach scurried up David's arm and perched on his shoulder, shuddering.

Then again, I could be wrong.

"Yeah, actually I did," David said as he turned around. There he saw an old woman, a hood cast over her eyes.

Eeew!

Kip's voice cut through his mind and he had to hold back a laugh.

"I wouldn't be funny with someone who clearly holds power far greater than your own, you filthy animal."

Kips eyes went wide (an amazing feat, because his eyes were already huge) and shrunk back.

"Who are you?"

"I am Kreia, your rescuer."

"Rescuer? What are you talking about?"

"Back aboard the Harbinger. I got you to safety when the ship was attacked."

"This is hardly what I would call safety."

"Have you been attacked by anyone?"

"No.'

"Then it is safety."

"Well, if it is safe, it doesn't appear to be. Have you seen all the dead bodies?"

"This is a morgue."

"No! Outside the morgue."

It's creepy, Kip added.

"Oh, really? Well the important thing is that you're alive, because we need to get out of here."

"We?"

"We. And by we I mean leave that rugged animal here in the facility."

"Hey! Kip's my friend, and the only one who decides where he goes is him."

Wow. You consider me a friend? I just met you, and I could turn on you at any time. You sure? 'Cause I don't trust you the same way.

"Befriending the nonsentient? Amusing."

Your wrinkles are amusing.

"Be silent, creature. I don't need your insults.'

And I don't need yours, laserbrain.

Kreia ignored him and turned to David. "How are you planning on leaving, because we need to do so quickly."

"I'm making it up as I go along. When I find a way, I'll come back and get you."

Come back just for her? Aw, do I have to?

Kip shuddered at a glare from Kreia. "You just don't know when to stop, animal." She turned to David. "You may want to find some clothes, as well. Your first impression won't go so well."

Hey, I don't look too bad without clothes.

"I wasn't talking to you."

"Alright, Kip and I will go."

Speak for yourself.

"I will remain here and attempt to center myself."

Yeah, take as long as you want wrinkle-skin. I'm not too enthusiastic about you coming with me either.

Kreia shook her head, watching the two walk out the door.

They approached the door and David took out the plasma torch. He carefully twisted the torch, slowly melting the lock.

Oh my Force! You're taking too long! Kip grabbed the torch and slammed the door with it. The locking mechanism split cleanly in two and the door slid open.

"How can you do so much damage?! That was a plasma torch!!"

Trust me. When you are the assumed prey, survival is number one. And survival means you can put up a good fight. And anything is a weapon, including plasma torches.

"Wow. I'll keep that in mind."

Kip suddenly stopped in his tracks. Dead humans.

"Hold on, Kip. This doesn't look good."

No, really? Kip took a small step forward, sniffing the air. The coast is clear. I think. He sniffed at the bodies. They're all dea- wait.

Kip touched the wrist of one of the humans. He jumped up and flipped. She's alive!

"She is?" David ran up and kneeled by the woman. He tenderly put his hand to his wrist and he felt the faint pulse. "Oh, Force, she is! But she's in critical condition, I'm not sure if I can help her."

What are you talking about? You're a Jedi! You can use the Force to heal her!

"How do you know I can feel the Force?"

Hello! You're able to hear me! Only Force adepts can hear me!

"But I'm not a Jedi. Not anymore."

But you have to save her. The Force isn't gone from you. It's still there. It's always there! Can't you just grasp it one last time to save her?

:The pest is actually right: Kreia's voice sounded through David's head.

Thank you, Kreia.

:Silent! Yet, he is not right on saying her life is of any worth. It'd be best to leave her to die. But you do need to grasp the Force again, or I'm afraid your life will be very short indeed.:

Don't listen to that wrinkle covered witch. Don't you see she's gonna die?

David closed his eyes. It had been so long, and he'd nearly forgotten the painful memories. If he reached out to the Force, he'd have to relive those memories, he'd be hunted like an animal. Yet if he pushed the force away, this woman, along with likely many others would die or suffer. It was a choice, but his selfless jedi quirks kicked in. His life was not valuable compared to the worth of every other being in the galaxy.

Slowly, he lifted his hand. He called out to the Force, and he accessed it with ease, as if it had never left him. It went through him to the wounded woman before him and healed her wounds. She stirred, and her eyes opened slowly.

"Who are you?" she asked weakly.

"My name's David," David said. The woman was strikingly beautiful. Her clear blue eyes drew him in, and he fair skin and black glossy hair completed the look.

"Sysha"

"Um... How do you feel?"

"Like I was rammed by swoop bike."

David chuckled. "Do you think you can help me?"

"Why should I help you?"

"I just saved your life."

"Okay, what do you want to know?"

"What is this place?"

"It's the Peragus Mining Facility. It's the primary fuel source for Telos."

"Do you know why everyone here is... well, dead?"

"There were a few problems in the station with mining droids. I'm not sure what it's about."

"That can't be true. Mining droids aren't sophisticated enough to kill a being unless they've been tampered with."

Gee, I wonder if they were tampered with... Oh, sorry, were you having a special moment with her?

'Shut up Kip. You're not helping.' David thought. Kip silenced.

"And they've been tampered with," the woman said. "What's up with the tach?"

"He's a friend of mine. Don't worry, he won't cause any trouble."

"Says you."

"Okay, listen. You know it will be safer if we travel together through this facility."

"I don't think I want to travel through the facility."

"Do you want to leave?"

"Of course I want to leave, but I don't want to die trying."

"Don't worry. I'll protect you. I used to be a... I have experience."

The woman rolled her eyes. "I guess I can't worm my way out of this. Fine, but if I get one Force-damned scratch, I'll kill you."

David grinned. 'Good. I like them feisty.'

You're gross.