"Shoot The Messenger"
By: Jae Dyn Brael
Keeve Zenarr
Talara Sorenne
Kimara

Location: Keeve's Apartment, New Plouton
Date: Vadris 8, 5 ABY

***

Jae Dyn Brael did not enjoy the position in which she'd been placed, but she knew it was her duty as a member of the Jedi Council. She hesitated in her speeder outside of their home, not sure if she was ready for the confrontation she faced inside. With a final sigh, she stepped out into the snow. Ascending through the lift, she ended up before door to her home. Steeling herself one last time, she stepped through the door.

Sending out probing thoughts through the Force, she checked on her children. All fine, of course. She turned toward the living room where she sensed Talara. She found Talara and Keeve sitting together on the sofa, sitting close and watching a holo film. This was where it got difficult.

"Talara," she said. "I need to speak with you. It is about important Jedi matters. Council matters."

Talara exchanged a nervous glance with Keeve. "Sure," she said.

Keeve placed a restraining hand on Talara's forearm. "If this is about sending her off on another dangerous mission, then I want to hear what you have to say," he informed Kallia sternly. "You can talk to her right here."

"Very well," Kallia said, and took a seat opposite Keeve and Talara. "The Jedi Order, the Council that is, has decided to join in the resistance against the Jau. As such, we require all of our Knights and Padawans to return and resume training. Talara, you are highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat, thanks to Master Ki'Ayalin's training. The Council would like for you to begin training us, Masters included. We will need to alter our training to fight against the Jau. Our lightsabers are useless against them, so we will need to adapt."

Talara looked between Keeve and Master Brael. The look on her face was one of confusion, uncertainty. "I...I hadn't expected that," she said. "I...Keeve and I, we just...we're...I'm not sure if I can...leave...now."

"Then you don't have to," Keeve told her. He frowned distastefully at Kallia. "You can't control people, you and the rest of the arrogant Jedi. Talara's life is her own. Find someone else to train you."

"Make sure you think this through, Talara," Kallia said. "If you leave now, like this, I cannot say that the Jedi Council will allow you back in should you ever wish to return to the Order."

"That's not fair," Talara said.

"No," Kallia said. "It's not. But, it's the truth."

"No," Keeve corrected harshly, "it's an ultimatum."

"Does the fact that it's an ultimatum make it any different," Kallia asked. "Under what circumstances would you be comfortable with Talara rejoining the Jedi Order, Keeve? At what point would you stop holding her back from her potential?"

"It isn't my choice," he told her. "It's Talara's and she doesn't sound like she wants to join you."

"It sounds like she's conflicted," Kallia said. "So, Talara, here it is: Do you choose the Jedi Order, or do you choose Keeve?"

"I will only consider returning to the Jedi Order as long as Keeve and I can maintain our relationship," Talara said.

Kallia nodded. "We will consider that," she said.

"Can I have some time to talk with Keeve?"

Kallia nodded again. "I will give you time. I'm going to go check on the girls. Call me when you've made a decision."

"Sure," Talara said. "Thanks, Kallia."

"Yeah," Keeve muttered insincerely, "thanks."

Talara watched Kallia depart, then turned to Keeve with a sigh. "What do I do," she finally asked. "I do love being a Jedi, but I can't leave now. I can't leave with things so new between us."

"I'll still be here when you get back," he assured her. "But that's not the issue, Tala. Don't you know how dangerous this could be for you?"

"I know," she said. "Dargus died to the Jau. We're finally together and I don't want to miss that. I don't know what to do. Do you think I can still live here even if I train them?"

"It could be tricky," Keeve said. "It would make it easy to track down the Jedi if they followed you." With a sigh, he took hold of both Talara's hands and smiled to lift her spirits. "You have to do what you feel is right."

"With you, everything feels right," Talara said. "If it's too much of a risk to be with you, Keeve, then I'll have to give up the Jedi. Because I won't give up on my feelings for you. I won't give up on what we have."

Keeve grinned and kissed Talara's brow tenderly. "You do know," he mentioned, "Kallia won't be happy."

She slipped comfortably into his arms. "I love you, Keeve. I'll help them as much as I can, and that's what they'll have to accept."

"Good, because I don't think I'd like being apart from you for too long." And to illustrate just how much he would miss Talara if she left, Keeve kissed her slowly, deeply. The holofilm was quickly being forgotten.

Talara returned the kiss eagerly. She couldn't help briefly wondering what Kallia might say if she wandered in, but it was a very minor concern. "Oh Keeve," she murmured.

"I guess," he quipped during brief pauses between kisses that travelled along Talara's jawline, "this means no Jedi Order."

Talara's hand curled up against the back of his neck, tangling into his hair as she opened her throat to him. She curled her leg up over his as she clung to him. "Yes," she whispered, "I think that's what that means."

"Then you should probably tell Kallia soon," Keeve suggested, though it was delivered unpersuasively as Keeve's hands disappeared beneath Talara's shirt.

She gasped softly as his hands brushed against her skin. "I'll make sure she knows," Talara whispered. "Though, it may be awhile before I have a chance."

Keeve chuckled deeply as he reclined with Talara onto the couch. "A very long while," he crooned, lips dragging across her chest towards her shoulder. Her legs parted, allowing him to slip easily and comfortably between them, just as easily as his hands found her bosom, which he explored eagerly.

Being as they were in a rather public area of the house, Talara tried to remain as quiet as possible as she allowed her hands to freely explore Keeve's body. She knew that Master Andro would not be happy with her, but she could not be happy with herself if she did not pursue her feelings for Keeve. And, it wouldn't be right to force him to let her go. She knew he didn't want to, and she couldn't leave him. She would remain with him, no matter what.

***

After spending the remainder of the holofilm in one another's tender embrace, Keeve and Talara reluctantly parted ways for their own bedrooms, though Talara had to make a short stop, first.

She knocked softly at the door. Within, she heard the scamping of tiny feet and whispered orders. A moment later, the door opened to reveal Master Jae Dyn Brael. She motioned for Talara to enter.

Taking a seat on the edge of the bed, Tala waited as Master Brael took a seat on the opposite edge.

"You've made your decision," Jae Dyn said.

"If the decision is between life as a Jedi Knight and having the chance to love the man my heart leads me to, I will not choose the path of the Jedi. Master Andro always encouraged me to use my heart to guide me through the Force, and loving Keeve is the right thing for me. I will happily help the Jedi by instructing them in the way of Ta'Sae'Kordo. But, as much as I loved being a Jedi, I love Keeve more, and it would be wrong of me to put him through having to worry if I would be coming home from him every time I went out."

Jae Dyn bowed from the waist. "Thank you for your honesty," she said. "The Jedi will happily accept any teaching you can provide to us. I cannot say that I'm not disappointed, and I'm sure that Master Vorrel will be as well. You are one of our best and brightest, Talara. But, I understand your reasons."

"Thank you, Master," Talara said, and bowed before seeing herself out. Why did she feel so guilty? Why did she feel like she'd just made the worst decision of her life? With a quiet sigh, she returned to her room.

***

Keeve was removing his shirt with Kim stretched out on the bed watching him. A knock came just after he'd discarded the shirt into a pile beside the dresser. Going to the door, he found Kallia standing there. There was a serenity about her, a calmness that revealed her true self, that of a Jedi Master.

"Keeve," she said, "I need to speak to you in regards to Talara. If you wish for Kim to be present that is fine, but alone would be best."

He nodded solemnly and followed Kallia out. They chose the solarium to speak within, the closest enclosed space in the home. When they arrived, Keeve motioned for Kallia to proceed, expecting the worst. "It's about Talara, I assume?"

"Yes," she answered. "I don't know if you realize how desperate the situation is for the Jedi and this planet. The Jau need to be driven off and a rightful government set up to get things back on track with this planet. Because of the situation with Nieme and Dani, we've been branded outlaws, and the Jau are not going to make any changes to that status. We need Talara's help, Keeve. And the reason she will not join us is because of you. I don't want you to give her up. If you love her, then that is wonderful and I encourage it. But, please don't discourage her from helping us. In truth, I would encourage you to help us as well. You're a fit, incredibly capable man. We could use your help as well to drive the Jau off."

"Me?" He laughed. "Help how? You mean monetary assistance, don't you?"

"No, Keeve," Kallia said. "Though, if you wish to donate to our cause, we could use the financial assistance. Do you really want me to educate you in your own martial skills and prowess?"

Keeve sighed heavily and sat in the nearest chair. He remained silent for a time, head hanging low, as he considered his next words to Kallia. "I've tried," he began, "to leave behind everything that happened on Dargus' cruiser, and everything he taught me. I was horrible, Kal. Now you want me to be that again, to help you?"

"Do you believe that there is only one way to be that person," she asked him. "Did you know that Talara has fallen to the Dark Side before? That she has used powers that only initiates of those dark arts ever learn? But look at her. She's a good person, interested in doing good things. If she becomes a Jedi again, she would be a strong addition to the Light Side. I know that if you embrace the talents you have, but use them in a manner your conscience deems best, you will be a valuable asset in our fight."

Keeve sat back in the chair to regard Kallia fully. He was smiling wryly. "Is this about me, or Talara? Or are you hoping, if I join this fight, Talara will just follow?"

"It is not a case of if, Keeve," Kallia said. "If you join the fight, she will follow. And truthfully, we can use your help. We can use all of the help we can get."

"But she could be killed," he hissed. "If that happens, don't you know how responsible I'd feel? That she died because of me?"

"And the next time the two of you go out on a date, the Jau could stop you both and send you off to their mines for no reason other than that they didn't like the colour of your shoes," Kallia said. "Every morning we wake up, we take the risk that we die that day. Talara is a well-trained, incredibly capable Jedi Padawan who could very soon be a Jedi Knight. Yes, she may die, but she has a much better chance than most of surviving."

"Kallia," Keeve warned, "you're asking me to do something I don't know if I can. How could you even come to me with this!?"

"Keeve, when this is all over, we may all be dead," Kallia answered. "A slicer on the Shipyards gave a projection based on information he's uncovered on how many corpses are coming out of the Jau's mine. He indicated that by the end of two years, at the current rate of death in the mines, the Jau will need seven billion people to continue to make the mine function. Two years is the amount of time the Jau have indicated it will take them to extract whatever it is they're getting out of there. Care to take a guess how many people will remain on the planet after those seven billion lives are used up by the Jau?"

"You don't have to patronize me, Kal," he muttered. "That's the last thing I want to happen...but I really don't think Talara and I are that important in the grand scheme of things. We're only two people...."

"And the Jedi Order is about a dozen when you discount the Padawans not competent enough yet to contribute," Kallia answered. "Keeve, Talara is ready to be a Jedi Knight. Her past behaviour is the only thing holding her back from being allowed to take the trials. You are genetically enhanced and, with the exception of the Jedi, are probably one of the most competent fighters on the whole planet. You are only two people, but you're people who could make a huge difference. Why are you so afraid of helping to defend the planet you call home from these invaders?"

"Why shouldn't I be?" he countered. "I have three babies that depend on me, a fiancée, a little sister, and not to mention the rest of the people living in this home who rely on my income. It's not as easy a decision as you think."

"I have three girls, Keeve," Kallia said. "And the best way for me to protect them and their home is not by hiding away from the fight that will eventually reach my doorstep anyway. Helping us fight off the Jau now can make a difference, Keeve. A very large one. If we all end up being killed by the Jau, when they eventually need to fill their mines with new bodies, there won't be enough left to fight them. We have to fight them now while we still have a planet and people to save."

Keeve rose abruptly. "I can't just make a decision like this on a moment's notice!" he exclaimed and stalked towards the large, curtained window overlooking the silent, snow blanketed city. All of it might vanish, soon, if the Jedi didn't intervene, and if they couldn't master those abilities necessary to defeat the Jau. And Keeve was the single, pivotal piece in it all. It was a burden to be in such a position of importance. "But I can't be," he whispered. "I can't be this important."

"You are important in many ways, Keeve," Kallia said. "On one hand you're critical in ensuring that Talara will help as well. But, I've seen you think through strategies and I've seen you in a fight. Dargus gave you a gift when he enhanced you, and this could be a perfect chance for you to use that gift for the betterment of all. And, we'll all watch each other's backs. And, I'll make sure, if you and Talara help us, that you work together."

"That's not the issue," he sighed. "If...if you need Talara that badly I can talk to her, but I still think you're sorely mistaken about me, Kal. I'm none of those things you're making me out to be. I'm just...a ten year old brat trapped in an immature, obnoxious adult male's body."

"Don't forget incredibly modest," Kallia said. "I'm not just trying to flatter you, Keeve. Do you want me to prove it to you?"

He eyed her warily. "How would you do that?"

She smiled at him, then motioned for him to follow her.

She led him through to the closed door that had been set aside for Talara, Zari, and herself to use to keep their skills honed. She motioned for him to stop in the center of the map as she retrieved a pair of practice swords. The swords themselves were made out of wood and very useful for learning the basic swordsmanship stances and maneuvers.

She moved out toward him, tossing him the sword as she did. "Let me know when you're ready," she said.

"Kallia," he warned, letting the weapon hang down against his leg and not poised to strike, "this is crazy. I can't fight you."

"I sure hope you'll at least defend yourself," she said. With that, she lunged at him with a sweeping overhand attack.

Keeve launched himself back swiftly to avoid the strike, and sidestepped a follow-up swing of Kallia's practice blade. "Kallia," he snapped, "I can't fight a woman!"

"That's good, because the Jau have no female warriors," she said. "Though, we'll just have to hope they won't figure out your weakness." She slashed across at his chest, then drove him back toward the far wall.

He swung his stick up across his chest to defend. Kallia's blow rapped his knuckles stingingly and the practice sword clattered to the ground. "Ow!" he complained. "What'd you do that for!" Ducking away, Keeve placed distance between them to massage his bruised fingers. "You're serious about this, aren't you?"

Kallia dropped her sword to the floor and shook her head. "Yes, I am," she said. "I am sorry I was wrong. I will return to the Council and tell them Talara is no longer interested in remaining among the Jedi. Keeve, if you truly want to be safe, use your wealth and find a way off this planet. It is not safe here, not any longer."

Keeve watched as she turned to depart, wondering if her confidence in him was misplaced...or if he was simply a coward. Growling in frustration, Keeve stormed across the training room, collecting their fallen weapons as he went. "Kallia," he called. When she looked back, her training sword was sailing towards her. Keeve was in an aggressive fighting stance with stick held high above his head. "Ready?"

Kallia turned and in one smooth motion caught the sword and slipped back into a neutral defensive stance. "Ready," she answered with a slight smile.

Keeve launched forward without preamble. A downward strike would have been too predictable, leading Keeve to begin with a diagonal slash aimed at Kallia's left side. When the blow was intercepted, Keeve adapted, using the push of Kallia's blade against his own as leverage to spin widdershins and strike again with an upward sweep of his stick. Kallia seemed always prepared.

Talara had been drawn by the clack clack clack of the practice swords. She could see the shadows shifting inside as she approached. With a brush of her hand, the door slid open just enough for her to see inside. What she saw inside made her gape. Keeve's sword couldn't touch Master Brael, but it was obvious he knew what he was doing. The way he moved showed a grace and ability not usually seen outside of Jedi Knights.

Following on the thoughts of amazement at how well Keeve was fighting was that Keeve and Master Brael were fighting. What were they doing in there?

She pushed the door open to watch them more fully. In Keeve's movements were traces of various fighting forms, including Shii Cho and the more aggressive Shien and Djem So. Only a Jedi could have trained him in such techniques; his time with Dargus combined with his genetic engineering was a likely explanation. With no Force abilities to enhance his skills, Keeve was unable to penetrate Kallia's defenses, yet he refused to give an inch. In actuality, the longer their sparring match grew, the more determined Keeve became.

"Very good," Kallia said with an approving nod as she changed tactics again. Her interest was in testing him and allowing him to see his own strength. Turning around the room, she led him through in an increasingly complex series of strikes, counterstrikes and feints. Keeve managed to keep up with Kallia, never letting a blow land or leaving an opening for her. Their blades crossed, and locked. Keeve smiled viciously at her as each struggled to overpower the other and free their weapon. Although of a smaller frame than Keeve, Kallia's strength was equal to Keeve's, if not more. "Give up?" he growled.

"I've already made my point," Kallia said with a smile. "And I think you've accepted that I was right." She stepped back away from him and lowered the practice sword. "I believe we can call it a draw."

Talara grinned broadly and entered the room. "That was great," she said excitedly. "Keeve, you're very good!"

He looked abruptly to Talara, unable to decide between anger or embarrassment at being watched. Instead, he settled on a dismissive shrug. "We were just fooling around."

"Fooling around in a very skilled and unclumsy way," Talara said. "You were still great, both of you."

Kallia laughed and shook her head. "I was just showing Keeve that he had skills he wasn't really aware of."

"I'm sorry I intruded," Talara said. "I couldn't sleep. Dev and Zari were in mine and Zee's room, and then when I went into Dev's room to sleep until they were done. And Maeren came in. So, I came out to get a drink and heard you guys in here." She grinned at Keeve. "Where'd you learn to fight like that?"

"Zari and Dev...and Maeren...and what?" Keeve asked in utter counfoundment.

"Zari and Dev needed some alone time," Tala said. "Since I told him about us, they've been closer. Boyfriend and girlfriend close, I mean."

Sighing, Keeve shook his head. He was unable to keep up with the various affairs everyone was engaging in. "Forget it," he muttered in resignation. "There are larger things that need to be considered." Regarding Kallia, Keeve asked, "You really think I can do what you say? I'm not a Jedi."

"You're not," Kallia answered, "but you're skilled in ways that most people on this planet who aren't Jedi could never dream of being. I'll understand if you want to stay out of it, Keeve, but I know you can help in ways you can't even know yet."

Keeve watched Talara helplessly, dreading the decision he may be forced to make. "It's up to you, still," he whispered. "The Jedi....they need you."

"Are you sure, Keeve? I don't want to leave you. I don't want to go off and have you worrying about me."

He glanced aside at Kallia. "You...may not be going alone."

Kallia smiled and set her practice sword aside. "I believe I should go check on the little ones," she said. "I will leave the two of you to talk about this. If you have any questions, I'll be reading to the girls."

Keeve cleared his throat once she was gone and combed his fingers through his damp hair. "I don't know why I listen to her," he muttered. "She's a crafty woman."

"She is," Tala said. "So, what did she mean, Keeve?"

"She seems to think I can help the Jedi." He snorted in derision. "She's crazy. I'm just a genetically altered freak. What you saw here...it was all a fluke."

Talara looked up at him skeptically. "You sure," she asked. "About it being a fluke, I mean. You're really good, Keeve. You handle a blade better than some of the Jedi Masters even. You may not have the Force, but you're still good."

"That's the problem," he sighed. "Kallia believes if I agree to help...so will you."

"She's probably right," Talara said. "Do you want to help?"

Keeve grumbled. "I don't know that there's a choice. Kallia indicated our help was pivotal." He smiled wanly. "Though, I think she's just trying to flatter me so I'll convince you to go with me."

"Kallia loves you, Keeve," Talara said. "She wouldn't ask you to do something like this if she didn't think you could do it. I think you're just trying to be modest."

"No," he told her seriously, "I'm trying to protect you. I'm trying to ignore the fact that I may be able to help in this fight against the Jau so that you don't have to be involved."

"Maybe if we help, it'll be over sooner, and we can have our lives to ourselves again." Talara sighed and took his hand. "Did she really put the pressure on you? I've seen her stare down Yara when Yara wanted a cookie and she couldn't have one. She's good at that."

"She's a Jedi and a mother - she's had a lot of practice," he quipped. "But," he added uncertainly, "is this something you want to do? I won't leave your side, Talara, if you decide to help them."

"I would feel very guilty not helping them," Talara said. "But, for us I would stay out of the fight. You're too important to me, Keeve, and I wouldn't want to hurt our relationship."

"And I wouldn't want you to regret anything in the future by not helping them." Keeve took Talara's other hand into his and squeezed both ardently. "If we do this together...we won't have to be apart for even a second. Even if I can't do a thing to help...I can be there while you do."

"We can watch each other's backs," Talara said with a smile as she edged closer to him. "Are you sure, Keeve? Will you help? Make sure I stay safe, and I can make sure you're safe?"

"I don't want you to ever wish you'd done something instead of turning your back on the Jedi," he told her. "We'll do this. Together." Then, he laughed softly. "That just means we get to spend a lot more time together, alone. Are you sure you'll be able to focus?"

"I'll be able to focus," Talara said. "It'll be good for me to work on my control while having such distractions around, but I know I can do my job with you nearby. You'll be okay, right? Working with me. Professionally, I mean."

"Can I still kiss you?" he asked with an impish grin.

"As long as we're not in the middle of fighting Jau," Talara said as she slipped into his arms, "I certainly hope you will."

"I will," he promised, though he seemed distracted. "I just hope this doesn't turn out to be a mistake, Tala."

"I hope you're talking about fighting the Jau," she said with a slight smile before leaning up and kissing his chin.

He smiled. "I am. But know that if you change your mind about helping the Jedi...we can stop, right away."

"Okay," Talara said. "For now, if I can help, I'd like to. I don't know if we'll ever have our lives back to normal, not with Reinrich still out there, but getting the Jau out of here would be a good start. I hate the thought that anyone could be arrested at any time and sent to the mines."

"Hey," he reminded her, smiling crookedly, "you're here, in my arms. Mind not mentioning other men while you are?"

"Promise," she said. "But, just to soothe your ego, this is right where I want to be, and I never want to be anywhere else."

"You romantic," he murmured against her brow. "I could take a lesson or two from you on that. But, tomorrow. We need to rest. We have a big day ahead of us." Keeve paused, searching her eyes as he deliberated. "If you're out of a place to sleep tonight...mine and Kim's bed would be big enough."

Talara's eyes widened slightly, but she smiled. "Okay," she said. "I promise to behave too."

He smirked. "I think it's Kim we have to worry about." Sliding his arm around her shoulders, Keeve led Talara away from the training room, glad to be leaving it behind. Whether he could really do much for the Jedi's efforts against the Jau was entirely unclear to Keeve, but at least he would be by Talara's side through it, making certain she was protected. Though he was pretty sure she could take care of herself.

---