Chapter 21 Relationship of fear, hate, and pride

"I don't suppose you are a medic. My friend is badly hurt." The unknown Chiss said.

"I'm not a medic, but I do know a thing or 2 about healing." Gavin replied, "Can you lead me to your friend?"

"She is over here," He stated, "Those colonists locked us in here and refused to do anything. They stated that since she was a jedi, she could heal herself, and I was lucky they didn't shoot me on the spot since my people were the ones who attacked. There are about 15 out of the 48 colonists who survived that have taken command of the ship!"

The Chiss finally paused from his rant as they came around the corner to a makeshift camp. An injured human in bloody and grime stained jedi robes lay on the ground unconscious. Seeing her condition, Gavin began to scan her with his omnitool. The news wasn't good. There was internal bleeding multiple fractures and, most worryingly, a head injury. Shrapnel was embedded in her back near her spine, Gavin was amazed she was still alive. "SAM?" Gavin asked after seeing her injury.

"Medigel should stabilize her, but we will need to get her to the Tempest ASAP." SAM responded quickly.

Moving to her, Gavin applied the medigel. He then used knowledge he gained from Luke and Meetra to put her in a Jedi healing trance to stabilize her for now. Turning to the Chiss, he spoke, "I've done what I can for the moment. Why don't you fill me in on how you two wound up trapped here? Also, what is your name?"

"I am Mitth'ras'safis, but you may call me Thrass," Thrass responded. "My brother, Mitth'raw'nuruodo, was in charge of the picket fleet that intercepted the Outbound flight as it crossed a portion of our territory. Another outsider had warned us of it, and he sought to capture the ship. I was sent ahead to negotiate, but the Jedi Master." Thrass paused to spit on the floor. " Refused to talk or surrender. "He opened fire on the fleet and began a running battle that lasted for over a week."

"The outbound flight opened fire first?" Gavin asked for clarification.

"Yes, about three days into the fight, both sides received a plea for aid from a nearby system." Thrass continued wearily. "They were under attack from a species known as the Vagaari."

"Vagaari?" Gavin asked. He knew a lot, but even he couldn't remember every petty dictator and pirate that appeared in Star Wars lore.

"No one knows where they come from. They attack lightly defended planets loot them for resources and slaves then dissappear back into the void of space." Thrass explained.

"Our combined forces routed them in short order. Jedi Jinzler and I developed a friendship during this time, and it was my hope to be able to resolve this peacefully." He paused before continuing sadly. "C'Baoth, the jedi in charge was having none of it. The battle started again, and this time, few survived. Most of the defenders moved to D5, and we're preparing to abandon the rest to save themselves. They moved most of the civilians to the other ships, used the excuse that they were low on manpower. D5 was hit catastrophically, and all aboard were lost."

Thrass paused, looking depressed before continuing. "Heavy damage to the other ships led to only 50 people making it into the Redoubt where we hoped to hide till we could petition the council of the Chiss aristocracy to intervene on out behalf. The engined and life support began to fail, and we sent the survivors to the central storage for their safety. We then piloted D1 and made an emergency landing on this planetoid."

"How was she injured?" Gavin asked.

"A Vagaari surprise, followed by bad luck." They have suspended animation technology that renders an organic unable to be detected by most scanners, or even through the force. Somehow, they snuck 5 of their warriors onboard, and they attacked the bridge. The few crew members that were here still fell in the fighting. Jedi Jinzler defeated them, but the last one blew himself up. She used what power she had left to shield me and the controls so I could continue to land."

He paused again before continuing this time, an undertone of anger making its way into his voice. "I brought her to the survivors. They knew more about human anatomy, and there was at least 1 doctor among them. Upon entering the bay, we found ourselves trapped. They said it was our fault that they were stranded and to consider it mercy that they did not kill us for our crimes."

"I asked for help," He continued. " They laughed. said that the jedi got what they deserved for looking down on everyone. Said if she was so powerful she could save herself. That was the last that we heard from them before you showed up."

"Please...." a weak voice spoke. Gavin glanced over, and Jinzler was awake. "Please don't blame them. They are scared and distrustful. Master C'Baoth was strict, far more than necessary. He drove a wedge in between the colonists and the Jedi." She pauses clearly weak.

Before she continued, Gavin spoke up. "Fear and hate, Jedi are warned against these emotions, but most fail to understand them. I will not attack any who don't attack me. But not just your life but the life of all of those who remain are in danger. The radiation is already eating away at the shields. The Chiss don't want you in their territory. I will be peaceful while I can. But make no mistake if necessary I will defend myself and anyone else if nessicary."

Looking at her, he continued, "Their actions risk the lives of the rest. They may claim to do this because of the Jedi acting like dictators, but they are doing those for their own power to create their own little kingdom. Leaving you, who risked your life for theirs, here to die telling your friend that you can heal yourself since you're a jedi. This shows that they have no interest in justice, only revenge." Looking up he saw the elevator shaft.

"Besides, they think they have trapped me, someone who came to help, and condemned me to imprisonment." He sliced open the entrance to the shaft. "They need a reality check." To the amazement of Thrass and Jinzler Gavin activated the magnetic boots on his suit and began to walk up the shaft to find his elusive captors.