MrNepathy's Blog

Even within the confines of the shuttle’s passenger cabin, Haz’lrah Tun’law could hear the sound of loaders and transports scurrying through the hangar bay, readying the ships for war. The undecorated metal walls resonated from the ground shaking beneath the landing gear. The soft and constant hum had become a familiar sound to the Twi’lek, enough that he could almost tune it out.

When there was a knock at the doorway, he reached over and turned off the music he was listening to. He also switched off the map on the table in front of him, “Enter.”

The door was already open, but the figure that was knocking had remained to the side, so as to not look into the makeshift command center.

A human entered, dressed in modified military fatigues. They were modified so that all metal buttons, zippers and rank insignias had been replaced with wood or plastic counterparts. That trait, combined with his tan skin and the blond highlights in his otherwise brown hair gave away that he was a Yelsain native. However, most Yelsain natives were tall, but this one was 5’11” at best.

“You wanted to see me Sir?” he asked as he stood at attention.

“Yes Sergeant, I did. You can stand at ease.”

The sergeant put his hands behind his back and nodded. Though Haz’lrah was not concerned with formalities, he was struck by how precisely the sergeant stood at ease and attention.

“You look very young to be a sergeant,” Haz’lrah commented in such a way as to solicit a response.

“We start at the university early Gen’ral,” the sergeant said in his light Yelsainian accent, “An’ so I signed up early for the Alliance. Figured I was in town anyway, might as well fill out two apps at once.” He flashed a hint of a smile, which only added to his already boyish appearance. Though he was twenty, his face looked fresh and young, more like that of a sixteen year old.

The Twi’lek smiled, “Can you state your name?”

“Beg your pardon Sir?”

“Your name, what is it?”

“Forgive me for sayin’ Sir, but I figured you knew that already since you have my file open,” the sergeant said as he nodded to the back of the Twi’lek’s computer.

“How do you know that?”

“It’s reflectin’ off your cup Sir. I see my head’s image rotatin’ on it. Just another reason not to trust metal Sir.”

Haz’lrah leaned forward and peered at the shiny cup. He grinned slightly and pushed the cup aside, “Very clever. Regardless, can you state your name for me?”

“Sergeant Jackson Hollifeld Sir.”

“Ah, I was pronouncing it Holy-feld.”

Jackson merely nodded.

Haz’lrah leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers together, “You were pretty direct with the Lieutenant out there.”

The sergeant ground his teeth for a moment, then took a deep breath and spoke, “The Lieutenant was wrong Sir.”

“He was basing his judgment on the manual.”

“I understand that Sir, an’ while the manual does state not to engage in a civilian area if it can be avoided, in this particular case, the manual is offerin’ a limited view not appropriate to this unique combat situation.”

“What situation is that?”

“We’re on Yelsain.”

“I fail to see how that makes a difference,” Haz’lrah said, though it was said without conviction as if baiting the sergeant to explain.

“No offense to the Lieutenant Sir, he’s a smart man an’ I’m sure he came from the Core highly recommended, but if that Imperial battalion lands where we assume it will, it’s goin’ to pass through Corregan’s Falls, an’ that’s, well that’s a colorful area Sir.”

“How so?”

“There are two towns there, each on opposite sides o’ the valley. Ev’ry citizen in those towns will take off work an’ school, not to hide in their homes, but because they treat shootin’ Imperials like a holiday. Heck, they hold competitions to see which town can shoot the most.”

“So you’re saying engage the Empire there and let the civilians back us up?”

Jackson grinned almost proudly, “What I’m sayin’ is, if we go there, we’ll be backin’ them up. Some of them have more combat experience than our corp’rals.”

“And what about you?” Haz’lrah asked, while separating his hands to sweep one towards Jackson’s foot and the scout blaster holstered there, under the pant leg.

“You don’t miss much do you Sir? Yes, I have some experience, both from before I joined an’ since.”

“I thought you preferred slugthrowers?”

“I do Sir. This is more of a memento of sorts. I carry it as a reminder of why I fight. It’s the blaster that almost got my grandmother.”

The Twi’lek nodded, “As good of a reason as any. Speaking of your family, what can you tell me about the rumor about your father?”

“I can tell you plenty ‘bout it Sir, it’s more matter of will I tell you.”

“Will you?”

Jackson shook his head, “I can’t speak to what’s in your report, or what you’ve heard Sir, so I will say this an’ not a word more. My father is constable of the town I grew up in, an’ the town I still call home on occasions where I get to visit. There’s not a lot of crime on Yelsain an’ particularly in my town. Even if I didn’t grow up with my father, he’s not a man I’d cross, not because he’s mean, but because he’s tough. A few months back a few no-goods came to town an’ they meant to stir up trouble. My father doesn’t stand for that sort o’ thin’, but innocent is innocent ‘til the facts prove otherwise. So he waited. Sure enough they caused their bit o’ trouble an’ he caught them. While they were waitin’ trial, someone went an’ beat ‘em pretty seriously. Lot of folks claim it was my father. Wasn’t the first time somethin’ like that happened in my town, doubt it’ll be the last.”

“And what does your father say to this?”

Jackson shrugged, “Not much. It helps keep people in line. Sometimes the reputation you have isn’t the one you earn, but it’s the one that you use. As for whether or not he did it, well Sir, I’m loyal to the Alliance. I’m as sure o’ its ideals as I am my own hands. But before that, I’m loyal to my family an’ my planet. What’s the old Twi’lek sayin’?” He looked up just by rolling his eyes a bit and said in Ryl, “Self, Pod, Clan, Planet?” Unlike when he spoke in Basic, he was slow and careful to pronounce the Twi’lek language and that removed his accent.

The general smiled, “You speak Ryl?” His eyes darted down to the file for a moment.

“Well ‘nough, still learnin’, but it’s comin’ along.”

“I don’t see that in your file.”

“Jus’ started learnin’ a while ago, Sir, ‘bout two weeks after you became our gen’ral.”

“Do you speak any other languages?”

“I’ve known Ithorian since I could walk, my father’s best friend is one. An’ speak some conversational Gotal, learned it from my aunt.”

The Twi’lek’s left eye ridge raised a bit.

Jackson laughed softly, “You familiar with the Moot sir? It’s a Yelsain festival, filled with competition, auctions, socializin’, food an’ drinkin’. Mostly drinkin’. One mornin’ durin’ a particularly joyous one, my uncle woke up an’ found a ring on his finger. Turns out he had married a Gotal.” Before Haz’lrah could ask another question, Jackson concluded, “Been married twenty-two years now. Aunt Liata makes the best pies, I might add, Sir.”

There was a brief silence, and finally Jackson said, “Forgive me askin’ Sir, but why the question about my father?”

“I had to be certain where your loyalties were Sergeant.”

Jackson opened his mouth, and his lower jaw swiveled a bit as if he could physically chew on the words struggling to form in his mouth.

“For the record, I think you have your loyalties straight. That’s important. It’s a measure of who you are.”

Jackson’s mouth closed and he nodded.

“Another measure is how well you follow orders.”

“I see Sir. While I might disagree with the Lieutenant on this matter, if he gives an order, I follow it. I’m the leaf that turns to the light an’ he’s the branch that tells me where to find that light. But if I think there’s a better way to get to that light, I’ll tell ‘im. I pay for my education, both in credits an’ by workin’ hard to maintain a scholarship. If I screw up in a class, I’ve wasted a few months, a small pile o’ money an’ whole lot of effort. If I screw up in the field, lives are lost, one of which might be mine. Or my cousin’s, or yours, so I take this even more serious than I take class, an’ I take my classes very seriously.”

The Twi’lek nodded, leaned back in his chair and rested his hands in his lap, “The Core Command has informed me that I need personal security.”

“From what I understand Sir, you can move through rain without gettin’ wet, not sure why you need protectin’.”

Haz’lrah smiled softly, “I assure you, and my wife who is also my doctor can attest to this, I have been injured plenty of times. But I have been entrusted with various secrets, intelligence and access. If it should fall into the wrong hands, it could be disastrous for the Rebellion.”

“Understood.”

“I would like you to head up that security. You can handpick a squad which would be yours to command. It will mean giving up your current position, but it will give you greater responsibility.”

“I am honored by the confidence Sir, but…” Jackson bit his lower lip.

“You don’t want to be a guard to a, what is the phrase, ‘desk jockey?’”

Jackson nodded.

“I assure you Sergeant, my boots will be the first off of the ship and the last back on. I will not ask anyone to go on a mission or engage in a fight that I would not be willing to enter myself. If my boots are first, yours are second.”

Jackson nodded, “I understand Sir.”

“There is one condition.”

“What’s that Sir?”

“If you ever disagree with any of your superior officers, including me… Speak up. I won’t let rank have authority over common sense.”

The sergeant nodded again, “I don’t think that will be a problem Sir. If that’s the condition, I accept.”

The general stood up, reached out his hand and Jackson shook it.

* * * * *

It was a bright and sunny day on Yelsain. The previous day’s humidity had burned away leaving a pleasant dry air in the forest. As the Rangers were expecting to be stationed at home for a month, Jackson Hollifeld was taking time to enjoy the weather and tend his garden.

He knelt down on the plank surrounding the thick tree trunk and clipped the ivy growing around it. The dead leaves and vines dropped down to his knee, drawing the attention of his pet arkula. The arkula poked the vines with his nose, then took a bite and started to scoot backwards, arching his elongated back as he inched along. After a moment of this, he spit out the vine, stood up on his tiny hind legs and dragged his fore paws over his tongue.

“I told you Nudge, those don’t taste good. Taste better than paint though, don’t they?” Jackson asked the small creature.

Nudge looked at him, tilted his head and then sat back down, considering the vine again.

Jackson ran two fingers over the blue-gray fur and smiled. He turned back on his headphones and returned to the task of pruning.

A shadow crossed over the trunk and unlike the shadows from the branches, did not sway in the wind.

“Anyone ever try to put a bell on you Chief?” Jackson said as he looked up, “It’s kind of creepy the way you can slip up on folks like that.”

“Well, you do have your music on,” Haz’lrah said as he waved towards Hollifeld’s earphones.

“Actually, I’m listenin’ to a lecture on the redundant-organ structure of Amanamen,” Jackson said as he stood up.

The Twi’lek laughed, “Of course.” As the laughter subsided, Haz’lrah looked past Jackson towards seemingly nothing at all and interlaced his fingers.

“Somethin’ I can do for you Chief?”

“Can we talk inside?”

“Sure,” Jackson said as he scooped up Nudge, “don’t want him eatin’ anythin’ he shouldn’t.”

He walked up the steps spiraled around the trunk and arrived on the landing outside of the house. Haz’lrah followed behind and opened the door for him.

“Thanks,” Jackson said as he bowed his head. “Elicia’s at the campus, in case you were worried ‘bout this bein’ a classified conversation.”

“It’s not classified, but it isn’t for anyone else to hear.”

On the walls of Jackson’s house were various holographic images, including those of his parents, his grandmother, him with his cousin Bradley, Elicia and her family, and some of his wedding. One wedding photo was him and Elicia standing side by side holding hands. In another he was with the men that served as his wedding party: Bradley, his friend D’artanian Boon, and Haz’lrah.

Haz’lrah crossed the room and stood in front of the picture and smiled, “That was a good day.”

“Yes it was Chief, I liked your speech, so did Ellie,” Jackson said as he went to the kitchen, “Can I offer you some tea? It seems like this’ll be a tea-type conversation.”

“That would be nice,” Haz’lrah said as he looked to the picture of Jackson with the other Rangers, just after they were formed, the Captain’s insignia still new on Jackson’s collar.

Nudge dropped from Jackson’s hands and immediately ran over to the female arkula, Winter. He put his head down and butted it against her side to wake her. She jumped up at once and started to chase him.

Jackson stepped over the scurrying creatures and put the kettle over the fire. As he waited for the water to boil, he watched his friend and commander. Haz’lrah seemed to be studying the images. Some of them caused the Twi’lek to laugh, whereas others brought about a smile and one caused a hint of sadness. He extended his finger, tracing it over the image of one of the figures within.

Jackson walked over with two cups of tea when they were ready and placed them on an end table.

“What’s on your mind Chief?”

“I don’t know how to say what I am about to say, without it sounding foolish.”

“You know I’d never mistake you for a fool.”

“You might at this.”

Jackson’s eyes went wide and said in a mockingly frightened tone, “Wait, you’re not cooking again are you? Because that was… horrible.”

Haz’lrah picked up his cup from the table and shook his head, “No, it’s not that.”

“Good. On behalf of the universe, thank you.”

The Twi’lek grinned and shook his head. He sat down on one of the dining chairs. Jackson took the seat opposite and waited.

“What do you believe in?” Haz’lrah asked after a sip of his tea.

“What do I believe in? That’s a fairly broad question… I believe in the Alliance an’ its ideals because I think all sentient species are equal an’ deserve freedom. I believe in a planet’s right to govern itself but still take part in a greater structure in order to pool resources an’ ideas. Wood makes a better buildin’ material than metal because it doesn’t take from the planet. Trees keep the planet cool, give it oxygen an’ can be replanted. Metal is part of the planet itself an’ once you’ve taken it, it’s gone. There’s no majesty to it. I believe my parents told me ‘bout right or wrong an’ even in the absence of laws, I’d follow the moral code they ingrained in me. It’s hokey, but I believe love can be forever, an’ it comes in many forms from romantic to created fraternities. The Rangers are my brothers sure as Bradley is.” He shrugged, “The best defense ‘gainst tyranny is an educated population. No one can take your freedom, it can only be surrendered of your own volition. S’ppose that’s what I believe.” As had spoken, he watched Haz’lrah, who only smiled slightly. “But none o’ that is what you’re askin’, is it Chief?”

Haz’lrah shook his head, “No, those are all ideals… I mean, do you believe in anything you cannot see or feel?”

“Yelsain had a long history of Jedi. Never met one o’ course because they were all wiped out, but I named one o’ the Ranger ships after one. Well, technically it’s named after his mountains. Khalyn’s Horns are a pair o’ mountains in the western hemisphere. Khalyn was a great Devaronian Jedi from there, an’ defended his village from the Mandalorians, or so they say. I’m sure half of it is legend, half is fact, but even if it’s only half true, he saved a lot o’ lives.”

“So you believe in the Force then?”

“S’ppose I do. I’ve heard the same talk as ev’ryone else, that Skywalker has it. Be a heckuva thin’ to know the Jedi somehow survived the purge.”

“You don’t believe they betrayed the Republic?”

“That seems like somethin’ the Emperor cooked up. I’ll take centuries o’ history versus the word of a madman.”

“The Senate agreed with him,” Haz’lrah said.

“Gettin’ a government to believe somethin’ isn’t too hard. Threaten someone’s power an’ they’ll do whatever they can to protect it. Never liked the phrase ‘public service’ because it seemed like at least half the folks that get into that racket are doin’ it for the power, not out of some altruistic obligation. I’ll stick with my government-less planet. We seem to do jus’ fine.”

The Twi’lek nodded and took another sip of his tea.

“Why do you ask Chief?”

Haz’lrah ran a thumb over the handle of his tea cup, then tapped his long fingernail against the edge, “Something has happened.”

“Is Alyah all right?” Jackson asked, dropping his normal routine of referring to Haz’lrah’s wife as “Doctor Tun’law” or “Lt. Colonel Tun’law.”

Haz’lrah smiled, “She’s fine. It’s… I believe I have the Force Jackson.”

Jackson put his tea cup down on the table. “That… would explain a lot.”

“You don’t seem surprised?”

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m surprised Chief, because you might as well’ave told me you were a droid, but you do seem to have a natural… premonition ‘bout thin’s. I don’t know, the Force is beyond my understandin’, but you do have a gift, beyond your natural skills. There’s jus’ somethin’… Well if you tell me you feel a certain way ‘bout a situation, I’m inclined to believe you’re right even if you have no evidence. Are you sure though? I mean, no offense, but ev’ryone is lucky on occasion, doesn’t go in the door with the trap set on it, or steps over the vines cov’rin’ the pit. You know?”

Haz’lrah took a deep breath and looked towards the end table, staring at one of the unused coasters. Jackson watched him, waiting for him to speak, but there was only silence for a long moment. The motion was minor at first. The coaster seemed to tremble and then one side lifted free of the table. The coaster rolled on an edge for a few seconds and then lifted free of the table entirely. As Jackson noticed this, he slowly lowered his tea cup to rest on his knee, afraid to disturb the table. He glanced from the coaster to Haz’lrah and back again. The Twi’lek stopped concentrating and when he did the coaster rattled onto the table, rolling a few times before settling. Haz’lrah looked somewhat exhausted by the effort it took.

Slowly Jackson reached out to put his tea cup back on the coaster he had been using. “Well…” he said and then had nothing further to add for a moment. “… that was a thin’.”  He scratched the back of his neck for a moment as he glanced from the coaster to Haz’lrah. “So what does this mean?”

“For the Alliance?”

“For you. If you have to do somethin’, someone’ll step up an’ do what has to be done, but, are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

“I mean, don’t take this the wrong way Chief, but that would freak me out. I study the laws o’ thin’s, like how water travels through plants, how the heart pumps blood. Those are all bound by physical imperatives, but this… I don’t know what this is. The student in me wants to understand ev’rythin’, an’ this defies explanation.”

Haz’lrah picked up his tea, “I think more than anything I’m… scared.”

“Scared Chief?”

“Yes. As I’ve progressed through the ranks in the Alliance I’ve been given more and more responsibility and with it, more power. I command ships that I can’t fly, organize technicians that can do things I cannot… This is far beyond that and I got all of the power at once, or, discovered it all at once I should say.”

Jackson scratched at a tiny splinter on the corner of the end table, scraping it between his skin and nail. Once he captured it, he lifted the splinter away and placed it in his palm, “I don’t know Chief, way I figure is, you must’ave had it all along right?”

The Twi’lek nodded, “I believe that must be the case.”

“An’ you’re still you. You’re a good man Chief. Whenever I have a moral dilemma I think of two men an’ wonder what they would tell me. One is you an’ the other is my father.  Humans attribute a lot of power to the heart. We explain love an’ morality through it. Might not make a lotta sense, but that’s how we are. It’s a romantic notion I s’ppose. But in that metaphorical sense, you have a good heart. With this thin’ to support you, you’ll do tremendous thin’s. I have no doubt ‘bout that.”

“But what if I don’t? What if something about it entices me, like what if that’s spoke to me when I punched the slaver?”

“Punchin’ a slaver hardly sounds like a bad thin’ to do.” Jackson smiled a bit, “But, I’ve always been partial to punchin’ folk that had it comin’.”

“Clearly,” Haz’lrah responded. “But, I’m not immune to anger, to fear, to all of the things that cry out in desperation. If I misuse this…”

“The way I figure it Chief is that nothin’ has changed. You’re still you an’ all thin’s considered, that’s a tremendous thin’ to be. Besides, you get even a smidge outta line an’ Doctor Tun’law’ll smack you. Or shoot ya.”

“She only shot you once, and that was while she was suffering from the Charon’s toxin.”

“Yeah, an’ Kylariss shot me by accident. I had to marry Elicia, she’s the only woman in the Alliance that hasn’t shot me… yet.”

Haz’lrah smiled and just shook his head.

“You’ll be fine Chief. There’s no one in the universe I’d trust more with that power. Wouldn’t even trust myself with it. But you…”

“And if something goes wrong, will you have the conviction to do what you have to?”

“I don’t like what you’re askin’ Chief.”

“Which is why I have to ask. If something happens and I can’t handle this…”

Jackson put his tea cup down and looked over at Haz’lrah. After a moment he gave a small nod, “I swore to protect us against all enemies o’ the Rebellion. Reckon if that includes you, I’ll do what I have to do.”

Haz’lrah clapped Jackson on the shoulder, “Thank you Jackson.”

“I like to keep my promises Chief. Don’t make me keep this one.”

The Twi’lek shook his head, “I will do my best.”

“Comin’ from you, those are the most reassurin’ words I know.”

When Haz’lrah got up to leave, Jackson walked him to the door and said something he had said many times before, but this time he said it with a lot more conviction, “May the Force be with you.”

* * * * *

“I’m sure that is what Captain Starlight told you to do, but what I’m sayin’ is maybe instead of his way, we should do it the right way…” Jackson said as he held down the intercom button. He shook his head and sighed quietly before speaking again, “Sorry, I shouldn’t say that… his way has merit. Still wrong, but it has merit. Jus’ follow through on my orders. I’ll have a talk with the captain so we don’t give contradictin’ orders.” He let go of the button and after making sure the intercom could not possibly be broadcasting his words, he grumbled, “An’ tell the captain to get his ego out of the landin’ bay so we have room for the blockade runners.” Before he could launch into his customary swearing routine, there was a knock on his office door.

“Enter,” he said as he deposited a few datapads into a drawer. When he looked up, Haz’lrah was walking through the door. Jackson stood at once, “Gen’ral.”

“Please Major, sit,” the Twi’lek said as he gestured to Jackson’s chair. As Haz’lrah sat down the lightsaber at his hip banged against the wooden arm of the chair.

When Jackson sat back down it was with a frustrated plop.

“Aris again?” Haz’lrah nodded.

“Aye… sometimes that guy… I jus’ wanna…”

Haz’lrah smiled, “You have to let that go my friend.”

“Yeah, I know, but still… if I had a chit for ev’rytime… Anyway, is this an official or friendly visit Sir?”

“A bit of both,” Haz’lrah responded, then added, “Unfortunately.”

Jackson lifted an eyebrow, “The last time you said ‘unfortunately’ I ended up knee-deep in swamp water for a month talkin’ to the Ges’rils. Got a good carvin’ out of it though.” Jackson reached across his desk and touched the carving of the six-legged Garath. He couldn’t explain it, but as he touched it, he felt a sense of calm.

“How are your experiments for Karideph going?”

“Fine. We’re still workin’ out the finer points, translatin’ the procedure into technology that’s a little more readily available, but the science behind it works. But that’s not why you’re here… What’s on your mind?”

The jagged-tooth smiled of a Twi’lek was often alarming to people that didn’t know them. Through the years Jackson learned to understand Haz’s smiles and this one was sad in nature. “The Republic has asked me to do something, and I have agreed.”

“We’re goin’ to try an’ take Eliad? It’s a bold move, but I think-“

Haz’lrah interrupted with a wave of the hand, “No, it’s not that. It’s about me Jackson. They want me to join the diplomatic corps, as an ambassador to Ryloth, Barab I and a few other worlds.”

“That’s great Chief, you’d do well in that role. How…” Jackson let his mouth hang open for a moment and then he clenched his jaw, “Ah. That means you’re transferrin’ doesn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Cor’scant?”

The Twi’lek nodded.

“I see…” Jackson said slowly. He tapped his fingers on the desk and took a moment to breathe it all in. “You’ve been my commandin’ officer for as long as I can remember, an’ my friend for almost as long.”

“I know, and only one of those is changing.”

Jackson nodded, “I know, but, won’t be the same. Plus that place is horrible… the mere thought of a planet that’s entirely one city… It’s not right, if you ask me. Shouldn’t have to see trees in an exhibit. Gave me the creeps when I was there.”

“Are you trying to convince me not to go?” Haz’lrah said teasingly.

“I’d surely like to, but you’ll be good at what they’re askin’.”

“I wasn’t cut out to be a soldier,” the general admitted.

“Sure you were Chief. We saved a lot of lives, freed a lot of people.”

“After all these years, I think I’d rather make peace than war.”

“Both take courage and measured reason, I’d wager. Wish I could go with you.”

“You’re needed here. You know this planet forward and back, know the people and you’ve studied the scenarios. There’s something else Jackson, they’re bringing in a general from the Core. They don’t want to lose the momentum we have. She’ll be your new commanding officer. You’ll be in charge of this operation some day, just not yet.”

“I don’t know Chief, that sounds like a lot of responsibility. Not sure it’s my bag.”

The Twi’lek reached into his pocket and pulled out two jewelry boxes, stacked on top of one another.

“Look Chief, if you’re proposin’, I’m flattered an’ all, but we’re both married…” Jackson said with a comical tone.

“She’ll be in charge of all forces, and you’ll be commander of the army, Colonel.”

Jackson lifted an eyebrow, “Colonel?”

Haz’lrah opened the first box and slid it across the desk. Inside was the rank pin for a colonel.

As Jackson took the box he shook his head, “You’re puttin’ a lot of faith in me.”

“No, it was already there.”

“What’s in the other box?”

There was a slight smile on the Twi’lek’s face and he patted the closed box, “For when the time comes. I’ll come back and pin this one on you myself.”

Jackson rolled the colonel pin between his fingers, “You ever wonder if this war will end? When I was a kid it was quietly brewin’, a war o’ whispers an’ collusion, then it was roars an’ volleys. One way or ‘nother it’s been goin’ on since I was born. We’ve lost people, ships, even an entire planet, which is somethin’ I can’t wrap my head ‘round. Here in our little corner of the war they poisoned Karideph, threw ast’roids at Adarlon… we hit ‘em back, playin’ by rules that they don’t have to play by. At times it seems like I know more ‘bout the soldier next to me than I know ‘bout my own family, or more ways to kill someone than I know ways to thank ‘em. How as an ambassador do you convince your homeworld, which has remained as neutral as can be, that a future o’ turmoil is the way to go? There’s a reason we call it joinin’ the struggle. I know fightin’ is the only course we have, but I have no idea how someone convinced me o’ that. A group that destroys a planet jus’ to send a message… how can I not fight that group?”

The Twi’lek shook his head and splayed out his fingers, “I don’t know Jackson. Before I saw the things I did, I would have never taken a side. I was happy surviving in a galaxy that made survival an uncertainty. My people aren’t known for taking sides, they’re known for playing them. Getting the clans to side with the Republic will be hard. So would taking Eliad, and eventually Travnin, but the difficulty is the reason. Everything we care for, everything we love, comes at a risk. It comes as a hardship. I love the Republic and I love my people, though both are misguided and aggravating. If I can nudge one towards the other, then that’s what I will do. I don’t want to have to open their eyes to what we’ve seen, but sometimes tragedy is the first ingredient in hope. Darkness proves the existence of light.”

“Sure you can’t just, you know,” Jackson said as he wiggled his fingers, “Force whammy them into agreein’?” When Haz’lrah quirked an eyeridge, Jackson continued, “I don’t envy you Chief. Sounds like your real struggle’s just begun.”

“How hard can it be, I commanded you for all these years?” the Twi’lek said with a grin.

“Hey,” Jackson jokingly protested.

“I should go, I have a lot to do before I…”

“Right,” Jackson said as he stood up and walked around the desk. As Haz’lrah stood up, Jackson took his hand and shook it. From the handshake he pulled him into a hug, patting his friend on the back, “You’ll always be welcome home Haz.”

“You called me by my name.”

“Yeah, don’t get used to it Chief.”

As the two parted Jackson smiled, “Save a day for a party. I’ll give you a tree for your goin’ away present. You might have to tell the people on Cor’scant what it is.”

“Thanks, for this and everything.”

Jackson tilted his head towards the desk and the closed box there, “You never did say what was in the other box.”

“My General insignia. It’s yours when the time comes.”