Stolen - part 17

He could feel the nausea from the pit of his stomach, threatening to overthrow all his self control, threatening to make him do something rash, and inevitably stupid. He hadn't felt nerves of this kind since he first entered the academy on Korriban, and he had only been a boy back then.

Dustil's hands kept clenching and unclenching as he fought off the overwhelming desire to scratch his eye out. Damn twitch. Of course, his eye wasn't twitching, but the sensation was there, and it was driving him insane. The one time when he truly felt the need to shout and scream at himself had to be the one time when he couldn't.

He continuously flitted his gaze over the Masters: Vrook, Vandar, Kavar, Zez-Kai Ell, and Vash, the only woman on the council. Dustil had always figured that as unfair, but apparently there had been another woman on the council, but had died on Katarr.

"Now, Dustil Onasi," Vandar began, clearing his throat. "We have reviewed your report concerning the incident around Onderon."

"It is indeed disturbing," Vash continued. "The idea that the Sith can enter Republic space without our knowing..."

"Is hazardous at best," Vrook interjected. "If the Republic knew that the Jedi had no forewarning of this-"

"With all due respect, Master Vrook," Zez-Kai Ell spoke, patiently. "This is not something to discuss at the present time."

"Agreed," Kavar stated. "Dustil, we have been receiving several reports that children have been stolen from Onderon and several out lying systems."

"Do... do mean like... my sister?" Dustil stuttered, knowing that he had to be very careful with his words if he was to be assigned this mission.

"Yes," Vandar nodded solemnly. "We feel that subtlety is what is best needed for the Jedi who we send to Onderon."

Subtlety? Dustil could feel his stomach drop. They were going to tell him that they were sending someone to Onderon, and that someone would not be him.

"I understand, Master Vandar," Dustil conceited, his eyes downcast.

"It is a dangerous mission," Vash explained. "We need to send someone who is unafraid of the Sith."

"Someone who understands the Sith," Zez-Kai Ell added.

Dustil frowned slightly at this comment. He knew the Sith, he wasn't afraid of them. But then again, neither was Bastila, or Juhani, or even Mekel or several other Jedi who had turned from the darkside, like himself, or had turned to the darkside and then returned to the light.

"But most importantly, we believe," Kavar summed up. "We believe the Jedi we send needs a strong enough reason to go."

Dustil's frowned flipped over from an expression of confusion to shock. Were they suggesting what he thought, no hoped, they were suggesting.

"Dustil Onasi," Vandar stated. "We, the Jedi Council, have agreed to your request to go to Onderon."

"But do not think that we have not forgotten the events that occurred six weeks ago," Vrook warned. "As that event has proven, you are still vulnerable to the lure of the darkside."

"As are all Jedi," Vandar added, giving Vrook a disapproving side-glance.

"Thank you, Masters," Dustil bowed his head, praying that the smile in his head was not visible on his face. "I will use the utter most caution, when dealing with the Sith. I will find out what they are planning on Onderon."

"Good luck," Zez-Kai Ell smiled slightly.

"And may the Force be with you," Vash ended.

And, with nothing more to say, Dustil bowed his head one last time, before turning around and leaving the council chamber. He walked down two corridors before scrunching up his face in pride, and celebrating.

"Yes!" he hissed quietly, a smile pasted to his face. "Soon Mariah, soon I will find you. I promise!"

----------*****----------

"Got everything, Mission? Socks... toothbrush?" Bastila smiled slightly at the blue Twi'lek.

"Yeah, Bastila. Thanks for seeing me off," Mission smiled.

"No problem. You know, everything's going to seem a lot quieter when you're gone," Bastila stated sadly.

"Yeah well," Mission shrugged. "At least Juhani's coming with me, so I'll someone to talk to in Basic."

"I wish I could come."

"Don't worry about me; I've Juhani and Big Z with me. Besides, I don't think I'd be much help around here."

"Nonsense, Mission. You are as valuable a part of the crew today as you were a year ago, or five years ago."

Mission smiled proudly, but it quickly fell off her face. She looked sadly around the hanger bay, noting how empty it was.

"I just wish Terra and Carth were here to say goodbye. I mean, I know they've got Mariah to find and all, but, it still would have been nice to see them before the shuttle to Kashyyyk left."

"I know," Bastila agreed. "Terra did say that she was going to pick Carth up from the communications room and meet us down here. I wonder what's taking them so long."

"[Mission,]" Zaalbar called in Shyriiwook. "[It's time to leave.]"

"Okay, Big Z," she called back.

Mission turned back to Bastila and smiled grimly. Bastila raised her shoulders slightly before opening her arms and gathering the young Twi'lek in an almost sisterly embrace. The pair stayed like that for a second before releasing one another.

"You know Bastila, you've changed."

"Five years of you and a child called Mariah will do that to a person. Even Canderous."

Mission smiled before turning round. She then, slowly, made her way to the transport. She stopped whenever she feared losing her balance. At times she would stumble, but, with a fierce determination that only Mission could muster, she finally made it onto the transport and straight into the large, furry hands of Zaalbar.

Juhani stayed at the entrance, watching Bastila. Eventually she nodded. Once she saw Bastila's head dip in response, she closed the hatch, and the transport left for Kashyyyk.