The Smoke be for the Fires: (Book 1)

[Akirapryde]

Love and Lies
The Unending Light
Jedi Heavy Cruiser
Orbit of the World of Oulaven

Lysire walked down the corridors of the Unending Light putting her thoughts together. She didn't know Master Losh very well but she felt his loss very deeply. Master Lox had talked with her about the loss. They talked for hours then she had to excuse herself. She had a 'mission' from her team. She really did enjoy this whole adventuring thing. And while she knew that she was no where near ready for it, she really did enjoy the excitement that came with it. She had done some research about her mother's adventures with Masters Chun, Drease and Losh. To think that Master Chun and her very own mother trained together under the same Master. The idea of becoming a great adventurer really drew on her. Much like the idea of being around Biggs.

Her thought then passed on to Biggs, and how those thoughts warmed her heart. She paused a bit to look at her hand. She could still feel his soft lips pressing on her hand. A smile crossed her red lips as she thought about that sweet moment in her memories. Her heart started to race once more, 'I think I have fallen in love with him.' she thought softly. She wondered if she could ask him out for her sixteenth birthday. She talked to her mother about it via Holonet the past couple of days. Her mother said she was really happy about the youthful relationship but warned Lysire about those who would use her. Lysire knew that Biggs loved her, she felt it in her heart.

Still she was very worried about her mother and father. The war raged on still and thousands of innocent lives have already been lost. She wanted to help her family and her people out but she simply did not know what to do. Her mother had forbidden her to return home. She was told that it was simply too dangerous to travel back home. The rebels had placed a bounty on Lysire's head. So travel to and from home would simply be too dangerous. For the time being she was more then safe with her team. This thought did not bring comforting thoughts to Lysire, her people were still dying and she felt like she had abandon them in their time of need.

“Hush, do you want to get caught?” she heard from a nearby door. Concerned and worried, her first thoughts were to flee the area. “No No, not like that, its not going to work and we are running out of time.” another voice said. But something in her mind forced her to stand her ground. She reached down and took hold of her lightsaber. Carefully she moved forward trying not to make any noise. “This is not going to work! I told you Biggs.” she heard another voice speak. 'Biggs?!' she thought. 'ah ha! Finally the game as up and I had caught him red handed.' she thought then walked over to the doorway. No longer fearful, anger filled her heart. She knew that he was up to no good by the way he was treating her now. Finally his true colors have shown themselves.

Stepping through the doorway she activated her lightsaber and called out, “I see you are up to something BIGGS!” she said pointing the lightsaber at the group. She had caught Biggs and four of his cronies red handed as they were working on a holotable. They all turned and looked at Lysire in shock. Not one of them dared speak as they looked down the lightsaber and the greenish glow across Lysire's face.

Biggs look around then stepped forward, “What are you doing here and why are you acting like this?” he questioned as he continued to walk forward.

Waving the lightsaber at him, “Don't you dare ask me questions. What are you planning in here. This is a secured area and that data terminal is for access to the Holonet only. Don't tell me you have some stupid prank planned? Tell me what you are doing!?” she demanded.

Leaping back Biggs narrowly avoided being licked with her lightsaber. “WOH! Calm down! Okay Okay, listen I will tell you everything but you have to show some trust. Turn off your lightsaber and I will explain everything. But please if you draw attention you have no idea of what kind of trouble we will get in to.” he said backing up and waving his hand to calm his friends. “Listen Lysire, I promise that nothing you see now is what it appears to be.” he said then pourd on the charm, “Please trust me.”

While not completely successful with his charm, Lysire was not about to give her ground that easily. But he had a point. What could they do now? She deactivated her lightsaber and lowered it. “Okay, the Truth Biggs.” she said softly.

“Dude she is a psycho, Biggs.” One of his cronies said with a nasty slier in his voice.

Biggs shot an ice cold glare back at the man, “Shut your mouth or I will shut it for you.” Biggs snapped. 'Dude, don't you think I fucking know that. Sure lets give her another reason to not trust me.' Biggs thought as he turned to face Lysire. “Baby, listen. We were given an assignment by Master Tabanne. It is a situational assignment and if we don't pass Tactics 401, then we are going to be held back a year.” Biggs lied to her, “Master Tabanne has it out for us...” then he looked down. It was the art of lying, tell one lie to get caught on. Which telling by her eyes, she did. Then pass another one off as the truth, “Okay, me personally. Because I am Master Tra Vae Padawan.” This was the real lie. He hated Biggs, Because Biggs had dated his daughter and rode her like a race horse. Even got the little Core Trash Noble knocked up.

Biggs did everything he could to hold in laughter. He had told her that he saw through the force that they were meant for each other and that they would have a family together some day. Once Biggs was done with her, he posted her pics across the Holonet. Even despite the fact that no one else could have taken those pics, she still believed him when he claimed his innocents. The little Trash Noble never said the father of her little bastard child was him. However Master Tabanne knew it was him. Since that day the Jedi Master had it out for him. Master Tabanne had to send his daughter back home in disgrace.

“So we have this stupid assignment and we have to get an A on it or else we will fail the class.” He explained after bringing his happiness back under control. She had to believe that he was being truthful to her. “The assignment is, there is a group of Padawans that had been kidnapped by Bounty Hunters and we were assigned to locating them. So far we know that they are on a forest world, most likely a moon or small planetoid.” he said then turned to wave his hand at the table. “We were hoping to see if we could access Master Tabanne's records and find the answers so we could get an A on the assignment.” he added then turned once more to Lysire and looked down. He poured on the acting carefully. This was make or break time for him, if his plan was to work. “Look I don't expect you to understand what it is like to be hated for something you have no control over. I didn't pick Master Tra Vae. He picked me and Master Tabanne's dislike of my Master has bled over to me.” he concluded not making eye contact with her. He would know soon enough if she bought his performance.

Lysire felt like a fool. She bolted in with her lightsaber blazing only to find a group of desperate school kids trying what they know to pass a class. She couldn't help but feel horrible for Biggs. She knew what it was like. She hated that feeling of being labeled something she didn't earn. Though the memories of what Biggs and his cronies had done to her in the past were still very fresh. Part of her screamed to report them to Security. But her heart made a very good case. She could show Biggs and his friends that not everyone is there for their entertainment. Maybe this was a chance to help them become better Jedi's and persons as a whole. She looked at Biggs, who was still looking down. 'is he crying?' she asked herself. “Oh” she said walking over to Biggs and rapping her arms around him, “Okay I will not report you guys but you can not break in to Master Tabanne's files. That is not the answer.” She said looking up in to Biggs' eyes, “Let me show you a better way. Please....”She pleaded with him.

Biggs smiled broadly, 'IT WORK!' he thought, “What do you mean a better way?” he asked her. He knew the answer but she had to feel like she was leading this encounter. 'What a little twit! I think when we are done with you, I would love to sell you to a Hutt just to his expression.' he thought pleasantly to himself.

Lysire smiled as finally she had a chance to make him in to a better person. She knew what others had said about him. How much of a bully he was and how mean he could be. But now when she looked in to his eyes she could see the person he really was. She saw goodness and kindness in his eyes. “Okay look, The answer to your assignment is not something commonly known among most Jedi. However, There is a part of the holonet that allows the Jedi's to quickly talk to each other.” she explained as she walked Biggs over to the holotable.

Biggs nodded, 'No shit you little moron, we have been trying to hack it for the past three days.' He thought then said, “Really? Do go on.”

Lysire set down at the table and starting typing in commands, “I only learned of it by accident. One day I was working back in the library transferring files back and forth between Temples when I noticed a strange carrier signal with each marker I was sending.” she explained while the others listened carefully.

Biggs only smiled and nodded his head as he listened. He did everything to hold back and bury his pure hatred of her.

“I asked my Master about it and he explained that each Jedi Comlink has an address that is unique to that Jedi.” She continued to explain as she accessed the Jedi Communication Network “Finding the carrier wave is pretty simply. While they are very cleverly hidden, they have a signature that is pretty easy to find once you know what to look for. It took me almost a year of playing around with it to figure it all out.” she said then opened up a secured file, “There are your addresses. What is the name of the Jedi you are looking for?” She said while she continued to hack her way through the firewalls.

The group only looked at her actions in disbelief. She just broke through twenty Jedi Firewalls in as much minutes. They each looked at Biggs as if they wanted to know if he really was sure of this game they were playing on her. The look in Biggs eyes ended any unspoken conversation about this issue. She was only their target for this game and nothing more. Biggs laid a Data Crystal down next to her and activated it. “We are looking for a Jedi by the name of Draeks Kas'lar” he showed her.

She smiled, “Wow, Master Tabanne is really good with his assignments. The Jedi you are looking for is right here. And you were right, he is on a forest moon. See, the moon of Narradeen.” she said softly with a bit of pride that she was able to help them with their assignment.

Biggs looked to her, “Can we get that address? It would really help out our project.” he asked as he looked in to her eyes. He wanted her looking at him and not at Hala. Who had sneaked up behind her to copy the code. Hala had a picture prefect memory and was almost as important to this plan as Lysire was.

Lysire smiled and deactivated the table, “No you should know better. These codes are not for our eyes. Look I helped you with your assignment. You don't need to cheat to get that A. Just do your paper based on what you learned here today. I am sure you will impress Master Tabanne and get that A you need.” she said.

Biggs smiled and looked out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Hala smile and give him a nod. “Your right.” he said and then took a knee next to Lysire, “You know, being close to you like this has really had an affect on me. I actually feel better about who I am.” he said while trying to keep the vomit down. “Look I wanted to ask you something Lysire.” he said pulling out a small box from his pocket, “Would you be my girl?” he said showing her the opened box.

Lysire was breathless, it was not the expensive ring in the box that floored her. It was the fact that she was actually having a good impact on him. It was this moment she felt like she could actually turn him in to something better then he was before they started down this road. Her eyes were on the ring but her thoughts were on the future. She smiled deeply and even teared up, “Oh....” was all she could manage to say. Her heart was pounding out of her chest. She thought she would have passed out at any moment, “Yes....oh my yes!!!!” she said leaping in to his waiting arms.

Biggs held her tightly as he felt her tears running down his back. He was sickened by her touching him but he had her now. He knew that she was meant for someone else and know that future for her was over. Her fate belonged to him and that is all that mattered. “I Love you Lysire...” he whispered in to her ear. Hopping that no one else heard him speak such words to someone so not deserving of love.

The words in her ears made her heart melt as she held him tighter. Then her comlink went off, “Princess....” She pulled back whipping her tears of happiness. “I love you, Biggs.” she replied activating her comlink, “Yes....” she replied.

The call demanded her presence with the team. Some meeting was being called. Biggs knew the male voice who came in loud and clear over her comlink.

Biggs placed his hand over the comlink, “Stay with us....Stay with me...” he pleaded with her.

“You know I want too....oh you know this.” she said then looked down, “I have my duties, I have to go. But I will take you with me in my heart. I promise.” she said then activated her comlink, “I am on my way.” she replied as she got up and gathered her things. As she headed for the door she turned back and smiled, “Oh how I love you.” she said to Biggs then turned and left the room.

They waited to make sure she had left the area before anyone said anything. It was Obi who had to comment. “Oh how I love you...” he mocked Lysire at Biggs' expense.

Biggs turned and in one action he drove the side of his hand in to the neck of Obi, knocking him to the floor. Obi started coughing and whizzing for air. Biggs looked down at the man, “Lets make one thing clear. Anyone wants to challenge me or make light of this mission that we were given by my Master then let them step forward.” Biggs said looking around. “Anyone?” he said then turned back to Obi, “What about you funny man?” he barked.

Obi only shock his head no as he crawled away from Biggs, “Did you get the code?” he asked Hala.

She nodded stepping forward, “Yes, here it is.” She said giving the data crystal to Biggs.

Biggs smiled and nodded, “This will be the proof that my Master needs to have her entire team locked up for a very long time. He will be very pleased with us. Good job everyone.” He said then gathered his things, “Hala, Obi I want you two to get working on that paper. Make sure you include what we were taught here. The rest of you disappear. I need to go speak with my Master.” he said then he too turned and walked out of the room.