Episode 4.5: A New Fall

This post was written by Jon in the viewpoint of Ki-Tal, as he is preparing to leave the HMS Nightrunner.  This is pretty awesome, so definitely take give it a read!


The GM


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So Mr. Black had betrayed the team.  Ki Tal was surprised, and
also disappointed in his own lack of judgment.  He pushed these lesser
worries to the back of his mind as he worked hastily to transfer what
medical supplies he could from the Nightrunner to the Inquisitor ship.
 Once he had the supplies he needed, he turned his attention to
tending to the Rapier Brothers, who were stabilized, but still badly
wounded and in need of care.

His mind wandered as he worked; he could not help it.  So much of
what he had done in the past days and weeks, he questioned.  Had he
acted in accordance with his own code?  He felt that he had not, at
least not at all times.  His code demanded nonviolent solutions if
possible, and he had offered Tas Ar only token suggestions to keep him
from fighting Hancock and his men.  His code – he had come by it with
the help of Master Teetran.  Where was Master Teetran now?  He still
did not know, and had found no new leads for many days.  The trail
seemed to be going cold, and as for Master Teetran’s Padawan … Ki Tal
was very worried about Tas Ar.  He had great potential, it was true,
but he was also headstrong at times, and perhaps too proud for a Jedi
Knight.  He knew of stories that began in much the same way, but often
had a dreadfully tragic ending.

Ki Tal thought that Hancock, villain though he certainly was, had
been correct about one thing: the Jedi order had a very strange way of
preparing their students to become Knights.  Ki Tal himself would
prefer to nurture students and teach them by example, but so far, it
seemed the Jedi Order took a “learn from your mistakes” approach with
the Padawans.  Ki Tal remembered almost succumbing to the Sith Lord’s
tainting influence on Korriban, and shuddered; it was as though
Revan’s dark thoughts were still invading Ki Tal’s mind, though he
knew it was impossible.

Still, if one as old as himself, who had seen so much, could be
tempted … Ki Tal thought again about Tas Ar.  Tav and Sseyax had their
master to speak with at times, but Tas Ar had not seen his master in
many long months.  Ki Tal understood now that he must take a more
active role in mentoring Tas Ar.  For either Master Teetran had
intended it all along, or he was so busy staying alive that he had no
time to prepare a Padawan to become a Knight.  In either case, Ki Tal
knew he must ensure that Tas Ar not feel abandoned when he needs a
mentor the most.

It was just as well; Ki Tal would teach Tas Ar more about
self-control and how to use the force as an ally.  The boy did not
need any more lightsaber training; no, he was quite proficient already
in that regard.  If Teetran could not or would not reveal himself,
then Ki Tal would train Tas Ar as he saw fit, for the time being.  He
was only 18 years old, after all – truly, still a very young man, and
in need of guidance.  He remembered his words spoken on Korriban, to
the false image of Tas Ar that Revan had created: “Do not stray from
your path, Tas-Ar; I will guide you.”  He knew that he would have to
make good on his promise, although it had been made only to himself
after all.  He would be a man of action, not simply a man of words.

He thought back to the war, and he grasped the war medal he and Max
had been awarded – it was one of a pair, and how fitting, since they
had exchanged a life for a life.  The medals were awarded for valor
during combat in the face of the enemy.  There had been a moment
during that skirmish that Ki Tal had been afraid to act – he didn’t
know if he would have time to save both men who lay dying before the
next enemy wave came.  “I want to save both, but…” “Then save them
both,” Max had said.  “You are a man of words, but you should be a man
of action also – like me!”  Max then fought madly (he was called Mad
Max, for good reason), and singlehandedly held off the next wave while
Ki Tal worked to save both men – successfully.

One enemy soldier made a lucky shot, though, and Ki Tal was hit badly
in the leg.  The wound on that fateful day would trouble him for the
rest of his life, and he knew it when the wound was dealt.  He did
not, however, think that the rest of his life would stretch so far
beyond that skirmish.  Max had saved his life that day, dragging him
away after dealing with the enemy soldiers.  He thought of the Rapier
Brothers – he had been a man of action in saving them both, and so he
would need to be again.  Tas Ar had saved him once; the Jack they had
faced when saving the Viceroy would surely have killed him after he
fell unconscious.

So too, he would save Tas Ar from the path he was starting to tread
upon, which could only lead to ruin and death.  He would need to learn
to consider the intentions of those he faced, and also learn to defeat
his enemies without any weapon but his wits and the Force.  Tas Ar
might not like it, but he would like even less what awaits him at the
end of this path if he does not turn from it.  Ki Tal shifted
restlessly, and reached out with the Force once more, to see if he
could sense Master Teetran.  He was nowhere to be found, as far as his
mind’s eye could see.  Yes, Tas Ar would need his guidance – he knew
all too well the lure of the dark side.  There was never one night,
never one moment when a person turned.  It was a series of slow,
steady decisions in favor of darkness until the person no longer
recognized himself.  They would begin training in earnest tomorrow –
after a very serious discussion.  Tas Ar would not be happy with what
Ki Tal was about to ask of him…