STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Trials

Xavier listens as he finishes closing the blinds. Master was right he wasn't very stealthy, he never really had any reason to want to.

"It is simpler to be captured right, Master." As he turns to face him.

"Yes. You will just happen to be in the right place at the right time. The raiders will strike and you will allow yourself to be captured. You may want to rough up one or two of them to show your strength, but do not kill or they will retaliate against you.

"Using the Force will also give you away. Do not call upon it for strength in the presence of the pirates or your part of the mission will be forfeit and I will have to go on alone."

"I will do as you ask, Master."

"Master, What of my lightsaber?"

Cabas smiles.

"You're not going to like this," Cabas says. He extends his hand towards you. "I must ask you to leave your weapon in my care."

Xavier hesitates in handing it over. This is his weapon of power, practically a part of him. Yet he knew he could not come up with a logical reason to keep it.

He slowly reaches down plunking it from his belt. He hands it over to Master Cabas.

"Hopefully we won't be separated too long." seemingly speaking to the lightsaber instead of Master Cabas.

It is almost depressing to see your lightsaber in the hands of another man, even those of your Master.

"It is a necessity. Normally I would advise you to keep it close, but should they find it on you, it would give you away immediately."

You have a feeling that that is not the only reason, but Cabas does not seem inclined to share.

"Is there any other reason Master?" Xavier asks.

"No," Cabas says, firmly. "Just know that I will return it when it is required for your survival."

"Yes Master." Xavier replies with respect hoping he hasn't upset him.

"So then everything is in place."

"It would seem so.

"I must impress something on you, Xavier. You will be playing the part of a slave. The pirates will expect you to be humble and broken. If you do not adopt this demeanor as your own, they will break you or kill you. They have no use for a defiant slave."

This something Xavier has trouble accepting.

"I will do my best Master."

You have a feeling that Cabas knows this.

"I know you will, Padawan. Humility is part of the way of the Jedi, willingly humbling yourself before others in order to serve. We have done so for the Republic for millennia, and you shall do so now for these slavers. In this case, however, your purpose for doing so is so you can bring them low when the time is right.

"Do not focus on this, however. Plotting their deaths for every wrong they do you as their captive is unhealthy. If possible, we will arrest Svidrigailov."

"Yes Master" Xavier answers with a bow.

If there is nothing left Xavier will get some sleep.

Indeed, you are tired after your eventful transit from Coruscant to Almania.

"Rest well, Padawan," Cabas says. "Tomorrow begins your most difficult mission yet..."

---

You sleep well into the next day. Cabas sees no reason to wake you, though he himself goes out into the city to gather supplies for himself, mostly food capsules and computer spikes.

You assume that the pirates are going to strike at nightfall, though Kristof did not specify.

Xavier wakes and goes to look out the window.

Mid-afternoon. Not much happening. Cabas is not present.

Xavier gets dressed and decides to go walk out on the streets.

The streets are narrow and unpaved in this part of Corcorus. Droids kick up dust as they shuffle and roll past. Not many Pydyrians out in the street at this time, though. Midday is warm, but Pydyrians find it unbearable. They prefer to be out at night, which probably annoys the pirates; the Pydyrians are useless as slaves.

That is probably why they attack at night Xavier thinks to himself. He looks to see if there is some kind of bar or merchant around her. Just some place to find something happening.

There is a marketplace not far from your motel, frequented by spacers looking for souveniers or supplies. It is run by the Pydyrians, though other species can be spotted amongst them as well.

"You, sir!" a Pydyrian calls to you. "You look famished! Why not purchase some of my fine fruit?"