Path of the Stars- Chapter 5

You know the difference between a Trandoshan-owned ship and one that wasn't... When you throw all the damned cured 'trophies' out of the ship, which actually gave us significantly more room on the ship that was meant for up to ten people, and having a decent cargo hold.

I already was planning to sort the rooms out on the ship as the ship was clearly meant to be a getaway ship that was A- comparitively well armed, and B- Also well stocked with sealed and frozen meals for humanoid diets.

But that would be for the future... A future in which Kali managed to get the ship going in fact!

In the back of my head. I could feel something yelling at me that we needed to get a fucking move on. And even Talon was looking antsy as she shifted in place as we waited in the main hall that was just outside the cockpit.

-

Miles above Jake Bariss and his ham-fisted attempt to leave the world of Coruscant for 'greener pastures,' Or just actual pastures and fresh air that didn't go through several hundred air scrubbers.

A green goblin, no a Lannik, arguably the most famous, exhaled softly as there gently floating meditating form returned to the cushion below themselves. "Fear and anger spreading below the surface, there is." Yoda muttered thoughtfully.

Yoda's alien face turned into a slight frown as he muttered then. "So much emotion, so much life... Like young Skywalker in presence it is."

A sigh left Yoda as he then turned towards the light afternoon sun that was streaming through the window into the meditation chamber.

He frowned, raising a thin arm that seemed to carry all the world's weight towards the fading sunlight streaming in through the window.

"Clouded the disturbance is... What lies past the veil of darkness is the question, is it not?" Yoda whispered quietly with a frown as he wondered if IT was time again.

The Vong and the Reapers have been pressing on Alliance and Republic Space in the last few decades. Trying to find weaknesses within the system's defenses. Opening's in which they could enact their plans of conquest and genocide upon the galaxy itself.

Then Yoda's expression eased as the door of the meditation room opened with a youngling coming in with a package half the size of Yoda himself.

"Master Yoda, your package came in. It's supposed to be called Dagobah Green."

Yoda waved his hand with the package floating over with him, saying softly. "Mysterious, the force works."

And the youngling gave Yoda look of confusion before asking with a tilt to his head. "Did something happen, Master Yoda? You are planning to go into a deep retreat again?"

Yoda was silent for a long moment as he packed up a long pipe that was hidden in his cane before he said thoughtfully. "Very mysterious, the force works indeed. Seeking answers in the force I am, tell Master Windu. I will be in retreat for a few day cycles." 

The youngling then left. Allowing Yoda to relax on his cushion before he muttered. "Dark mist of the Sith clouds our sight indeed. But by clearing the mind through the dark side, touched zaza allows one to see through veil of the dark side."

And then Yoda's large eyes became red-streaked as he took a hit off the pipe and then. He saw through the veil of darkness that surrounded Coruscant through the force.

The force whispered to his mind a thousand songs that could point Yoda at countless destiny-changing things. But Yoda looked further inwards of Coruscant, looking within the veil of shadows to find the... Odd force signature that has been so active as of late.

Then Yoda wore a frown even through the force-induced calm as he saw blood and violence spread like an echoing symphony that outscalled the usual extreme violence so common in the gang-run lower levels.

"Trouble, this new anomaly is... Yet there is no hatred in their actions just the ferocity of a predator trying to flee the evil it is surrounded by."

Yoda then coughed as he took another hit on the Dagobah Green that made his tiny and old lungs seize up in denial of any more of the good stuff.

-

A loud rumble rang out as the ship's engine roared to life, and my eye's snapped open as I left the meditation trance I was in next to the entry way to the ship in case something did happen.

"Finally." I muttered before I stood up, only to throw my arms out to steady myself as the ship's anti-gravity emitters also came to life and we began drifting forward towards the massive tunnel that would lead up to the surface.

As I came into the common room of the ship, I saw Talon sitting in a similar meditative position as I was previously in. But she was also having to steady herself a bit as the ship was tilted slightly forward at an angle before the ship evened out as we began ascending upwards as we entered the tunnel.

"So, where do you plan to go now?" Talon asked rather bluntly before she tilted her head to the side and added with a helpless expression. "Assuming we do survive leaving Coruscant anyway." 

My lips twitched at her tone before I shrugged and said evenly. "It depends on the star maps saved in the ships systems. The sooner we enter hyperspace however, the sooner I can choose a destination."

Then, with a hum I placed my hand on the floor of the ship with my form glowing the rich green of the Abundance as I muttered. "On the other hand... Let's not leave our ability to leave this world to chance."

Thick branches of Abundance blessed wood surrounded the ship with the wood especially made to block blaster fire in particular.

But then the door to the cockpit opened with Kali looking out rather frazzled. "Jake! What the kriff did you do? The ship's systems are going all weird because the anti-gravity gens are having to deal with more mass, but no extra weight?" 

To which I gave a slight hand wave and said a bit sheepishly. "I should have warned you I suppose. But I added a layer of armor around the ship. Go back and make sure we don't crash, though Kali." I finished a bit pointedly with the cat girl rushing back to take control from the autopilot.

I then looked back to Talon, who gave me a raised eyebrow before she said with some fear. "What. Why are are you looking at me?"

And I realized that Talon was probably scared of being turned into an Abundance Abomination... Which was fair enough.

Still, I shook my head and said thoughtfully. "The force, how does one train to feel for it as a Sith or Jedi?"

Sure, I had plenty of fanon and canon depictions of just meditating to feel the force and other stuff. But what I knew didn't get into the true millennia of secrets in touching upon the Force.

To say nothing of my warning that my sponsor told me about how there were more than just the three Celestials as force entities, as was shown in the canon Star Wars verse.

It would be really fucking awkward to be meditating and, while astral projecting on a Hutt world, my soul gets fucking eaten by some Hutt force ghost/god of greed or something.

Talon briefly chewed on her lower lip before she said. "I... Can't take you as a Padawan. To say nothing of my training, I-"

I cut her off as I said flatly. "Just... Tell me how to do your space magic, I am not your padawan; you are just telling me the secrets of your order."

And that actually seemed to help as Talon exhaled and said with a sigh. "Fine. But I am not anywhere near the level of a true Sith warrior." 

I sat down across from Talon who shifted a bit before taking a deep breath and began speaking. "The force is all around us. It's the life and emotions of all the galaxy and keeps the galaxy together." 

"We do not have a tester to test your midi-chlorians number but... It's fairly obvious you have a strong connection to the force. So let me explain the core precepts, and I will tell you how to meditate and touch upon the force as well as I can."

I then got a crash course on the force. In which Talon did very much explicity say that if anyone talked to you through the force... More often than not it was some type of entity you most certainly did not want to allow further contact with your mind.

And then came the best part. Actual space magic lessons as she scooted over closer and spoke softly.

"Force meditation, even for the Sith, is about finding inner peace within yourself. For the Jedi it's about emptying the mind and finding truth within the void. But the Sith use our emotions as a sea of chaos for us to ride along as we probe the force for its secrets." 

Her explanation slightly helped... But in reality, her words only gave me a framework of knowledge of the force, only known by the Sith. A Sith Acolyte at best as well.

Still, it's not like I could spend hours in meditation right now to get a true touch on the force and begin throwing people around with telekinesis.

As Kali's voice rang out through the ships intercom system as an alarm also rang out. 

"Blaster fire incoming! We have been locked onto!"

I for a moment froze at that before I pulsed the power of Abundance around myself and Talon to create a wall of vines around ourselves as a secondary line of defense.

Rumbles rang out across the ship. But... The armor I put around the ship held strong with us, quickly leaving this gang's territory and entering a different one that didn't shoot at us right away.

I moved up to the cockpit and I asked Kali rather bluntly as I hid the stress in my voice. "How long until we reach the surface... Or until they stop shooting us?" 

To which Kali retorted rather blandly. "I think you mean to ask. How long until Yisani puts a hit out on us for your insulting leave and stealing one of her dancers." 

Left unsaid was how corrupt officers of Coruscant's security forces might fuck with me as well. I just brushed a hand across my face and asked. "What systems are in the ship's nav system? Where can we go?"

Kali exhaled and then started listing a few, which made my expression tighten as all of them weren't exactly worlds of great repute to say the least.

The ship was owned by a Trandoshan slaver/cannibal who was an ardent supporter of the Scorekeeper goddess. It made sense that their homeworld and Kashyyyk was on the list, but neither world was somewhere I wanted to go.

As lovable as the Wookies were, I didn't speak their language, and the furballs didn't fit into my xeno fetish either.

Otherwise, there were a number of worlds I did recognize such as Ryloth the homeworld of the Twi-lek race. Also, a number of Hutt worlds and worlds in the southeast typically section of the galaxy were listed.

Such as Tatooine, Geonosis... And even Naboo was listed on there as the ship's data definitely was focused on using the Corellian Run.

After a moment of thought, I had a thought and said with a small smile. "Let's go to Tatooine then. It's an Outer Rim world well out of the way of any major trouble."

Plus, with my power, I could easily make life and water on the planet to enrich myself. Hell, maybe even start a little cult to Aqua of Konosuba or something for the shits and giggles when I create water sources.

"Tatooine... Isn't that supposed to be a desert world in the Arkanis Sector? That's also run by Jabba the Hutt as well?" Kali demanded as she likely was wondering why the hell we would run to the gaze of another much worse gangster.

I smiled, however, and said calmly. "That is all true, however we aren't going as refugee, we are going as traders and smugglers for goods I will prepare on the ship itself, and once we get away from Coruscant I can make the ship... Quite interesting and expand it's cargo hold as well."

Either way, I looked down at Kali, who was sitting in the pilot seat next to a droid, and said firmly. "I am not worried about some random goons that may try to rob us. Besides, I have other goals than in just making some credits."

I was very interested to see if I could find Shmi Skywalker for example... Imagine one day I run into Darth Vader, I can use his mother as bait to leave my ass alone.

Or just taunt him possibly by saying I've been plowing his mother. Either way would lead to an explosive reaction to say the least.

"Whatever you say boss... Wish you would say like Alderan or somewhere nice though." Kali muttered quietly.

I gave her a dull look and said with a raised eyebrow. "Why would I go to Alderan and struggle to make money when I can go to Tatooine and sell their people food and water at high but still reasonable prices?"

See, although I stole this ship, I knew being a pirate was a loser's game at some point. So in this life, I wanted all the wealth I could have as by shown by Jabba's obscene wealth, he could have the Empire, Republic, Vong, and everyone else play by his rules.

Hence, my desire to be disgustingly rich. Which would allow me to solve 'most' any issue I could face.

Kali's expression actually brightened at my point before she frowned and said thoughtfully. "It's a good idea, boss... But we don't have the muscle to protect a sizable store or just deal in large shipments?"

To which I said coldly. "We won't have the muscle for the first thug to fuck around and find out. But when I very publicly turn their mangled corpse into an abomination tied to my will. I don't think we will have further issues."

Kali was silent for a long moment before I gave a light chuckle and asked curiously. "So... You have settled for just calling me boss?"

Kali threw me a look before she said with a somewhat blank expression. "What. You want me to call you master or something?"

My lips twitched as honestly... Yeah, kinda but I wasn't going to say that. As anywho didn't want a catgirl to call them master was a bald-faced liar and needed to be shot in the face as they were completely untrustworthy.

"Alright, you win Kali." I said before, we both shook as from the viewport we saw a missile shoot from a smaller door for probably speeders or something lance into the ship.

But with my active reinforcement, the vines and protection around the ship held strong along with the power of Abundance actively healing the ship of any issues as well.

"I am going to go meditate to help protect the ship... You just get us out of here and get us into Hyperspace." I said with a frown as I left Kali alone and went to the captain's room I had claimed for myself to do what I said I was going to do.

And so I went to the ship while I pondered on some things as I had a sort of idea actually... If I managed to hunt a Krayt Dragon while on Tatooine, if I was lucky maybe that would earn me the blessing and gaze of Lan the Aeon of the Hunt.

Though... The fact that I was already blessed by Yaoshi the Aeon of Abundance and Lan's mortal enemy made it possible that I coudn't get his blessing? Who knows honestly.

The next like thirty minutes was stressful as hell as I poured my energy into the ship to protect it. And likewise the stress also came with the ship itself being shot repeatedly and there wasn't much we could do to retalite back.

'Once we leave Coruscant the weapons systems aren't going offline for a moment!' I thought to affirm that decison before I kept up my meditation practise while also trying to get a ahold of the force.

But I knew that it would be weeks with this half assed self training before I could actually use the Force to do any tricks or techniques.

Though on the other hand, I was also musing on the possibilities of having Talon help me make a light saber if I managed to get any Krayt Dragon Pearls when we landed in Tatooine.

Then with my senses extended across the ship, I felt Talon moving from the side room she claimed for herself and heading towards me.

A few moments later, a clanging rang out as she knocked on the metal door seperating us and I used a remote to unlock the door to let her in.

"Yes?" I asked curiously though I coudn't help but notice very quickly that Talon managed to find some thread or something as she had added some silk from the slave's quarters outfits to her dancer outfit to cover a bit more skin.

Though the thin silk didn't exactly cover all that much as well either. "What do you want from me in turn for helping me escape. My lesson's aren't worth as much, and I am well aware of that." She demanded rather bluntly.

To which I shrugged and said evenly. "Hell if I know. How about twenty thousand credits in services rendered?" 

Her lesson's were still somewhat useful but it was clear that Talon had some sort of complex about being a failure of a Sith. To say nothing of my own much more blatant than the usual Jedi/Sith abilities.

An actual price, even a random one I threw out made Talon visibly relieved. Though on the other hand, I asked curiously. "Either way... We got some time, so why don't you tell me about Korriban and the Sith Academy?" 

Talon's expression darkened but not in anger at me... Merely the memories of Sith pre-school was obviously a heavy thought on her mind.

"It was a violent and horrid place. Strength and power were the only measurements of value in the academy once you proved that you actually had a strong enough connection to the force to begin with." 

"Now, with the usual tensions with the Jedi-supported Republic, the Sith are trying to militarize their acolytes and make them into the elite soldiers for when war with the Republic naturally comes."

That didn't exactly give me a good picture of Sith university, but I knew that it was going to be a hellhole anyway.

"So, how well did you do in lessons in light saber building specifically?" 

Talon gave me an odd look before she shrugged and said. "I did well enough. Putting a light saber together from pre-made parts and even making new parts isn't too difficult, assuming I can get access to a fabricator or lathe."

She took a breath and then said helplessly. "The issue is getting a kyber crystal as they are extremely expensive and are a controlled substance to say the least." 

"Hmm, what about a Krayt Dragon Pearl?" 

To which Talon looked at me with a deadpan expression and said flatly. "That would require killing a Krayt dragon... Something even true Sith with their own lightsabers rightfully avoid putting themselves in such a situation." 

"Well, there is also the option of stealing or trading for one... But I doubt that Jabba would let such a treasure leave his horde without a great blood price being paid." 

That was also very true. But there were other options as the Sand People would collect the pearls as proof of themselves being a great warrior and such.

Before we could say anything else, Kali's voice rang out in the intercom. "We have left the tunnel system! We are on the surface level and heading to leave the atmosphere."

"Well, well. That's good, now let's just not get shot out of the ship and atmosphere for Core Sec." I muttered before looking back to Talon and saying. "Well, I suppose I should keep myself busy, seeing as we will be in hyperspace for a few days at least."

I walked past Talon, who after a moment, followed me as we then headed towards the cargo hold. Where I took a deep breath of the ship's filtered air and thought of what I should make actually to sell.

And after a moment, I realized if I was going to sell food and water to the people of Tatooine... Why not package it all the same?

I held up a hand that glowed with a green light. And the floor and walls began to be covered in lively gold-tinged branches. Then, with a flex of my will, the Abundance's infinite life force flooded the vines, and from said vines came large, square melons that grew to about a meter wide and tall.

"Did... You purposefully make this fruit square so they would stack atop one another easier?" Talon asked with a snort that made me chuckle.

"You are correct... Leaving these melons to be of off shapes will waste a lot of space as well. Anyway, these are filled with a soft inner flesh and have an overabundance of water as well within themselves."

That and due to the fruits being made via the power of Abundance, these fruits weren't going to go bad for years as well...

I formed a smaller one near us, and I picked it up before saying. "Come on then. We can try the product before we try to sell it. But based on its water content alone, the people of Tatooine can't refuse such a fruit."

Talon just gave me a weird look as I cut open the melon and shared it with her as we entered the common area's kitchen area.

"Hmm should probably bring Kali a chunk as well." I mused before my face twitched at the thought of Kali like getting all the controls sticky from the melon juice.

So I quietly put the thought aside as Talon made a noise of annoyance as she bit into the melon and a jet of sweet juice shot out and hit her exposed cleavage.

'Big titty, red-skinned Twi-lek with melon juice on said tits... What more could a man ask for?' I mused with a sigh escaping me before the ship rumbled as it left atmosphere it seemed as for a brief moment I felt the anti gravity before the ships gravity generator turned on.

Still, Talon's look of amused disdain at knowing exactly what I was looking and chuckling at tickled m a bit more.

After enjoying the sight for a good moment, I said more calmly. "Anyway, I am going to bring Kali some food. Plus I want to see us entering Hyperspace."

A man who just got onto a space ship for the first time. If he doesn't watch as he enters FTL speeds for the first time... Can he even be called a man honestly? 

Talon on the other hand just looked amused at my excitment as she waved off... While also keeping half of the melon for herself as well though.

I went into the cock pit after knocking and as I entered, I could see the vast lights of Coruscant's surface in the corner's of the cock pit's glass as we were entering deep space. 

"Got some food for ya, and I wanted to see how entering hyperspace went." I said as I held out a tray with a few slices of the melon on it to Kali who pulled a swiveling desk in front of herself to lay the tray on.

"Hmm? I assume these will be some of the fruits you plan to sell on Tatooine as well?" She asked thoughtfully before she took a bite and then added.

"Oh and we will be entering hyperspace in like five minutes at most. We just need to get well away from Coruscant's system defenses... Thankfully the Bantha blower who owned this was paid up in advance so Sec didn't bother us at all."