Star Wars Character Cafe - Trix Chapter 8

TRIX

CHAPTER 8

“I swear I’ll never understand you,” Lo complained as she leaned back in the Nerf’s copilot’s chair. “After all these years of hating Victor’s guts, you finally get the chance to vape the Sithspawn, and what do you do? You spare his miserable hide and waste a perfectly good escape pod so that you can return him to Etti IV.”

Maxx turned and smiled at Lo. This was the first time she had spoken to him since he had launched the escape pod two hours ago. He had been silently wondering if she was angry with him or just didn’t feel talkative.

“I don’t know why I didn’t kill him,” he replied abstractly, “Something just made me flip the blaster to stun right before I shot. Maybe I didn’t kill Vicky because I would have enjoyed doing it too much.”

Lo frowned. She had been noticing subtle changes in Maxx ever since he had learned about his mother.

“I see,” she replied sadly. “I guess this Jedi stuff is a greater burden than I would have imagined.”

Maxx shrugged.

“It may be,” he said, “Still, I would bear it without complaint if I didn’t have to abandon you in the process.”

Lo turned away and made a show of scanning her computer readout.

“Please don’t talk about it,” she replied. “I know you want us to be together, I want that too. It’s just that I can’t see you fall like Vader did.”

Maxx nodded, he had already heard this before, and as much as he wished he didn’t he knew that Lo was probably right.

“Maybe it doesn’t have to be like this.”

Maxx and Lo stared at each other in silent disbelief. It was common knowledge between them that TC-23J listened in to their “private” conversations, but this was the first time that the droid had chosen to butt in.

“What?” Maxx asked quizzically.

“I’m just saying,” TC-23J answered politely, “that you might want to consult with a Jedi Master before the two of you do anything rash. Just wait there.”

Maxx shrugged.

“I wasn’t planning on going anywhere,” he replied wryly. He gave Lo a puzzled stare, and she returned a knowing smile.

“I think I know what Mother’s up to,” she answered, “Trust her.”

***

Maxx had expected TC-23J to give him a set of coordinates or perhaps a secret holonet frequency, so he was surprised when she came in bearing a small black cube that was covered with intricate designs.

“This is a Holocron,” the droid replied as she carefully handed it to Maxx. “It contains the teachings of Jedi Master Yodale, who passed away over one thousand years ago. This was given to your mother by a friend on the condition that it be passed on to you.”

“I see,” Maxx replied dubiously as he carefully took the Holocron into his hands. He used the Jedi technique that TC-23J had explained to him to activate the Holocron. Suddenly a hologram appeared in front of Maxx’s face. Lo recognized the small green skinned alien from her encounter in the ship’s lounge.

“Hmmm,” the hologram said as it seemed to examine Maxx. “The son of Tamarin Kjell you are?”

Maxx was taken aback by the hologram’s question. He had expected the Holocron to contain recordings of the Jedi Master’s lectures, or written notes. The last thing he would have expected was for the hologram to try to ask a question of him. He turned to TC-23J, who nodded as if to say that this was alright.

“Uh yes,” Maxx replied. “I am called Maxx.”

The hologram nodded sagely.

“Then ready to begin Jedi Training you are?”

Maxx frowned pensively.

“I’m not sure,” he replied haltingly.

The hologram peered deeply into Maxx’s eyes.

“Hmmm…how can ‘not sure’ you be? Either ready you are, or ready you are not!”

Maxx took a deep breath before replying.

“I would like to become a Jedi,” he said, “but I am in love with a woman and do not wish to abandon my beloved.”

The Jedi Master pressed his lips together and narrowed his eyes.

“A serious matter this is, to the Dark Side many lovers have gone.”

Maxx listened carefully before replying.

“All lovers?” he asked.

Master Yodale shook his head.

“All not, even most not,” he answered gravely. “Most important is the kind of love that you have.”

Maxx frowned and shook his head.

“I don’t understand.”

Master Yodale chuckled ruefully and nodded.

“Easy to understand love is not,” he replied. “Like the Force, a light side and a dark side love has.”

Maxx peered intently into the Master’s eyes.

“A light side and a dark side?” he asked.

Yodale nodded.

“A generous heart a lover should have, always caring, never selfish, willing to even let go of his beloved if best he thinks it. Selfish all too often lovers are. About their own pleasure, their own feelings they care only. When leave them their lovers do, do terrible things they can. A generous heart or a selfish heart do you have?”

Maxx furrowed his brow as he pondered the question.

“I would like to think I have a generous heart,” he answered. “I have had a difficult love in the past and I would like to think I have done what was right by my beloved. Still, can anybody truly judge the nature of his own heart?”

Master Yodale nodded thoughtfully as he listened.

“True, able to judge the nature of his own heart, nobody is in the beginning. In time, change that will or that will not. Hmmm…she your beloved is?” Master Yodale asked pointing to Lo.

Lo nodded.

“I am,” she replied.

Master Yodale peered at Lo as if trying to examine her character.

“A Jedi never will you become,” he responded. “Hard and difficult will your life be if love a Jedi you do. Always share his mission you must, accept many sacrifices you will. Do this you can?”

Lo didn’t even hesitate.

“I will.”

“And you,” he said pointing to Maxx. “A Jedi to love, walk on the edge of a blade he must. Always patient and understanding must he be. Forgive any failing or betrayal he must. Do this you can?”

Maxx nodded solemnly.

“I will.”

Master Yodale nodded serenely.

“Best I think it if forgo Jedi training you do. Explore this love you must. At the end of one year consult with me you should. Agree with this you do?”

Maxx nodded solemnly.

“I agree.”

“I agree too,” Lo replied.

Master Yodale nodded.

“See you in one year I shall.”

And with that the hologram of Master Yodale vanished. Maxx and Lo looked at each other uneasily both excited and a little frightened by their promise. Maxx carefully handed the Holocron back to TC-23J.

“Take extra special care of Master Yodale,” he said. “I shall need to consult with him a year from now.”

The protocol droid accepted the cube and carefully nodded.

“You can count on me sir,” she replied crisply. “Do you have any idea what our next move will be?”

Maxx nodded.

With Lo’s permission I would like to seek out the Rebellion and start working with them. I imagine that they might have use for a ship with the Wild Nerf’s capabilities.”

Lo chuckled.

“Permission granted,” she replied warmly. “I hope you don’t mind if I offer the Rebels my services as an engineer. I imagine they might have a few older ships that could benefit from my special touch.”

Maxx nodded, he was thinking that he too might benefit from Lo’s special touch.

“Anything to help the cause,” he replied.

TC-23J got onto her feet.

“If you won’t be needing me,” she replied, “I’d better check on mistress Aayla.”

Maxx nodded.

“Good idea,” he said. “How’s she holding up?”

TC-23J turned towards Maxx.

“She seems to be accepting her new fate with the usual stoicism,” she replied. “I imagine she’ll feel better when she is safe on Tapan.”

Maxx chuckled.

“As will we all,” he replied. With that the droid turned and left the cockpit. Maxx turned to Lo as soon as the door slid shut behind her.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked. “You know, being with me is not going to be easy.”

Lo shrugged.

“It never was,” she replied. “Still my heart tells me that this is the right thing to do.”

Maxx nodded.

“I know, mine is saying the same thing.

Lo smiled playfully.

“I believe that Master Yodale said, ‘…explore this love you must.’ I see no time like now to start exploring.”

Maxx nodded.

“Where do you want to start?” he asked.

Lo leaned forward and flipped the switches she had just installed that cut off the audio and visual feed from the cockpit.

“If I may sit on your lap, I have lips that desperately need to be kissed.”

Maxx gave her an inviting smile.

***

Trix was shocked. Marshal had called her in the middle of the afternoon and informed her that an old friend had arrived with that package she had been waiting for. Trix never would have asked Maxx to do something as foolish as return to the Corporate Sector and try to rescue Aayla; and yet there was something, perhaps a certain firmness in her old friend’s demeanor that suggested that he had decided to do just that. Trix might have tried to tell Maxx to not even think of throwing his life away on such a foolish mission, but she knew how stubborn her former lover could be when he had set his mind on something. She had spent a part of each day praying that Maxx might somehow survive this crazy errand, but after a few days, her prayers had turned into a form of private mourning.

She could hardly believe it when she entered Marshal’s hangar and saw Maxx, Lo, Aayla and Marshal standing near a rough looking YT-1300. Could that piece of junk really be the ship that had blasted them off of Etti IV? Aayla looked weary. Trix gave her a warm smile and twitched her lekku sympathetically. She imagined that being rescued was anything but easy for the young Twi’lek; she would have to be extra nice to Aayla when they got back to the Twi’light lounge. She called Yorrowa, the Wookiee who protected her girls, and asked her to bring Tre’la.

Trix didn’t know what to think when TC-23J played Tamrin Kjell’s hologram for her and Marshal. Maxx, her gentle if impulsive young friend, a Jedi Knight?

“Why are you telling me this?” She asked.

“Jay didn’t like my telling you either,” Maxx replied, “but if I can inherit the ability to tap into the Force from my Mother, Tre’la may inherit it from me.”

Trix bit her lip as she considered the news.

“It may not seem fair of me to burden you with this,” Maxx continued, “but all of our lives are shaped by forces that we have no control over. The best we can do is play the hand we’re dealt.”

Lo chuckled.

“This from a man who despises sabacc?” she asked.

Maxx smiled and shook his head.

“I have nothing against sabacc, or any other game of chance,” he answered. “I just think it’s foolish to bet more than one can afford to lose.”

Trix wasn’t paying attention to their conversation. This whole thing reminded her of something her mother had told her long ago, that life was like traveling on the surface of Ryloth. Sometimes one can’t outrun the heatstorms that pop up and you just had to find a way to ride them out.

“So you are going to become a Jedi Knight?” she finally asked.

“Eventually,” Maxx replied with a shrug. “I’ve studied the teachings of a Jedi Master and I have decided that it would be best if I spent a year exploring my relationship with Lo before I begin the training.”

“Then you may not become a Jedi after all?” Trix replied.

Maxx nodded.

“It may be that I’m too selfish or lazy to become a Jedi. In any case I am planning to hook up with the Rebellion soon.”

Trix scowled and shook her head.

“You pull off one impossible stunt and you’re ready to take on the Empire?” she asked disapprovingly.

Maxx nodded.

“Somebody has to,” he replied earnestly. “I have seen too many things during my travels, something has to be done.”

“But do you want to be the one to die for that foolish cause?” Trix asked sharply.

Maxx sighed.

“We all die you know,” Maxx answered solemnly, “and given the circumstances, I am likely to go before you and Marshal anyway. I’d like to do something worthwhile before that happens.”

Trix rolled her eyes, how could the father of her child be such an idiot?

“And you’re joining him on this fool’s errand?” she asked Lo.

Lo chuckled.

“I’ve never had enough sense to stay out of trouble,” she answered, “Just ask Maxx.”

While Maxx, Lo and Marshal roared with laughter, Trix stared down at the table. She knew that the day would come when she would mourn her old friend and his foolish lover.

She was going to say something when she heard a loud bellow from the entrance to the hangar. Trix turned and saw Tre’la waddling quickly towards the five of them, with Yorrowa in chasing after her. When the child reached the group, she stopped and looked up at the adults expectantly. Her eyes rested on Maxx.

“Are you my daddy?” she asked.

Maxx dropped to his knees and examined the young girl, her lekku barely managed to touch her shoulders.

“I am,” he replied with just a hint of sadness.
Tre’la waddled up to Maxx and put her arms around him. Maxx embraced his daughter for the first time. When he finally let go, Tre’la looked up at him.

“Will you stay with us?” she asked hopefully.

“I’m afraid not,” Maxx replied sadly. “I have something I must do. You may not see me or hear from me for a long time. Please don’t think I have forgotten you or that I don’t love you. I love you very much and want you to be safe.”

Tre’la looked up at Maxx, a puzzled look on her face.

“Mommy will explain when you’re older,” he continued. “Now I want you to obey your Mom and listen to Mr. Thonas, ok?”

Tre’la nodded and gave Maxx another hug.

“I love you daddy!” she said.

Maxx sighed as he held his daughter. He wished that he didn’t have to leave.

“I love you too,” he said.

***

Victor Tekel’s scowl widened as he prepared to enter Inspector Lewella Telares’ office. He had a vague idea why Inspector Telares had wanted to see him, and he deeply resented it.

“You wanted to see me Inspector?” Victor asked as he entered the small office.

“Please have a seat Agent Tekel,” Inspector Telares replied as she glanced down at her datapad. Judging by the look on Tekel’s face, this meeting was not going to be easy.

“I just don’t understand it,” she continued once Victor had sat down. “You’ve just cracked the case of a lifetime and have helped bring down a man that this office has been trying to get for several years. I would have expected you to be quite pleased with yourself, maybe even a bit cocky. Instead, all you seem to do is sulk and scowl.”

Victor narrowed his eyes as he listened.

“So you’ve call me into your office to lecture me about my attitude?” he asked sullenly.

Inspector Telares sighed.

“Not really,” she answered firmly, “if you want to brood, that’s your business. I’ve called you here to learn what REALLY happened in Armega’s Vandagast operations. Your official report was uncharacteristically vague.”

Victor glowered at his superior.

“I’m not the only one who had managed to be less than truthful on an official report,” he answered coldly.

Inspector Telares frowned as she listened. Agent Tekel’s return to Etti IV in an escape pod fired from a light freighter that had not even bothered to establish a proper orbit raised many questions from her superiors. Since Agent Tekel had been unwilling to explain the matter to her satisfaction, Inspector Telares concocted a plausible story explaining how Tekel had managed to “convince” one of Cantrel’s smugglers to smuggle him back to Etti IV.

“Look Victor,” she said with a certain maternal firmness. “I didn’t call you here to lecture you or argue with you. I just want to know the truth about how you had managed to find the information on that data card and how you had managed to get off the Vandagast mining operation and into that escape pod. If you don’t want that information finding its way into an official report, then it won’t, but I WILL find out the truth, one way, OR THE OTHER.”

Victor’s eyes widened, certainly she wouldn’t. As if to answer his question, a black IT-O interrogation droid rose from behind Telares’ desk and hovered menacingly beside her.

“You wouldn’t!” Victor gasped his eyes wide with fear.

“I WOULD,” Inspector Telares replied firmly. “Mind you, if I am forced to use an IT-O, I’ll be forced to issue a full report containing a verbatim transcript of your ‘confession’. If you cooperate, your story will remain off the record. The choice is yours.”

“All right, all right,” Victor sighed, “I’ll talk. Just switch that thing off first.”

Inspector Telares smiled.

“With pleasure,” she said. She then ordered the droid to “ground” itself, carefully initiated the droid’s shutdown sequence and locked it into its sealed case.

“Now tell me,” she continued firmly. “What really happened on the Vandagast mining operation?”

Victor sighed.

“I suppose the first thing I should tell you is that the REAL reason that I requested that assignment wasn’t to find evidence that Vardun Cantrel was stealing from his employer. I chose that assignment because I hoped to nail that scoundrel half brother of mine.”

Inspector Telares bridged her fingers and gazed into Agent Tekel’s eyes.

“Really?” she asked curiously.

Victor Tekel gritted his teeth.

“Would I have admitted to THAT if it wasn’t true?” he asked. “While I was working on the holo display of Marcel’s escape from Etti IV, I made a cursory inspection of Vardun Cantrel’s file. I figured that any man who had as many connections with the questionable elements of society as Cantrel did, had the ability to steal the Twi’lek Sedota back if he wished to. When I learned that Aayla Sedota had come into Cantrel’s possession, I assumed that questionable means were involved.”

Inspector Telares frowned.

“I had figured that much out for myself,” she replied. “But I didn’t consider it worthwhile to expend precious resources on a matter involving two Twi’leks.”

Victor nodded.

“Rightly so,” he replied. “Still there were two things that made this matter interesting to me. First that Aayla Sedota belonged to Trix, Marcel’s Twi’lek lover from Tapan. Second, it was my impression that Marcel, like many talented individuals, seemed to be convinced that his past successes had proved that he could accomplish anything. Even something as foolish as stealing Sedota back from Cantrel.”

Inspector Telares gazed into Victor’s eyes and listened intently.

“And?” she prodded.

“I was right!” Victor crowed. “I recognized Marcel immediately, but couldn’t act as smugglers are protected on Vandagast. Still I bided my time and soon had him dead to rights.”

Agent Telares waited a few minutes before prodding Victor again.

“What then?” she asked.

Victor frowned, it felt so good to savor the sight of Marcel staring into the muzzle of his blaster, no matter how short lived that victory may have been.

“He managed to turn the tables on me. His ship had lifted off and drifted up to our level. I turned my head and was staring into a blaster cannon. The next thing I knew, I was being pulled out of that escape pod.”

Inspector Telares snorted, she would have thought that a former fighter pilot would have had better situational awareness.

“And the data card?” she asked.

“I would have to assume it was Marcel’s,” Victor replied. “I have no idea how he got it or why he left it with me.”

Inspector Telares smiled and shook her head.

“Surely a recent graduate from the Imperial Intelligence Academy should be able to figure THAT out.” She chuckled.

Victor just stared at her.

“I don’t understand,” was all he could think to say.

Inspector Telares’ smile widened.

“That’s because you’ve allowed your anger towards this Marcel to blind you,” she replied sharply. “Did it occur to you that by leaving you with this data card, Marcel was able to keep Cantrel from bothering either Trix or himself and gain some revenge with minimal risk?”

Victor pressed his lips together as he nodded.

“But how did he get that data card in the first place?” he asked.

Inspector Telares chuckled at the outburst.

“I’d give a lot to answer that question,” she replied. “I can only guess that your ‘friend’ had to make use of some very special connections to attain the information. Still, criminals seem to come by such connections quite easily.”

Victor’s scowl returned as he listened.

“Marcel is NOT my friend, he growled.

Inspector Telares’ expression hardened.

“I know,” she replied, “and that provides an important lesson for you.”

“What!?”

“This Marcel was able to overlook the dislike he probably had for you so that he could get this data card into our hands and meet his greater objective. You might do well to remember his foresight in your future endeavors.

***

Maxx sighed contentedly as he nuzzled up to Lo. A part of him still couldn’t believe it. After a year of having these feelings that he just couldn’t articulate, then discovering Lo’s love for him and nearly losing her, the two of them had finally done it. As he lay on his left side and gently traced Lo’s ribs with his fingertips, Maxx felt very happy to be alive. A part of him knew that being a Jedi who loved could never be easy and that he would never be allowed the human selfishness that other lovers enjoyed. Still, Maxx had never had an easy life, why should this be any different?

“Mmmmm,” Lo murmured contentedly, “it had never felt like that before.”

Maxx smiled.

“Then you enjoyed it?” he asked playfully.

Lo chuckled.

“Couldn’t you tell?” she asked in reply.

Maxx slid his right hand down the small of Lo’s back and pulled her into an embrace.

“I had a feeling,” he replied, “I just wanted to hear it from your lips.”

Lo put her left arm around Maxx’s upper back and returned the embrace.

“I had never imagined anything could feel like that,” she purred contentedly.

Maxx smiled in the dark and kissed Lo’s forehead.

“I’m glad,” he said, “I wanted you to enjoy it as much as I did.”

“Was I better than Trix?” Lo asked.

Maxx winced.

“You’re different than Trix,” he replied. “What makes this special is the love we feel. I loved her then, but I love you now.”

With that, Maxx slid his lips down until he found Lo’s mouth. He took a deep breath and kissed her. As they kissed silently, Maxx let go of the troubles of the past and left the challenges of the future for a later time. The only thing that mattered now was the love that they shared.