Part 10
Kiandra smiled and hugged him back shyly.
"Thanks Cossan. Thank you so much......" she whispered. "It's good to finally tell that to somebody else. You're actually the only person who knows about that except for the people who were there when it happened. I-it was just so hard, being purposely injured on a daily basis, and then laying awake every night, wondering what you did wrong."
Cossan snorted. "You did nothing wrong, they're just taking out their anger on an innocent child."
"I know that now, but it was being that innoccent child, with no better way to think then wondering if you had done something to deserve that punishment. It was frightening, and for the longest time I wish I had never lived. At times I even hoped they would just finish me off so I wouldn't have to suffer anymore." Kiandra explained, then chuckled for a moment.
"You know it's probably the reason I act so childish these days. Because I basically didn't have a childhood, so I'm trying to live out how it should have been when I'm 21."
Cossan smiled a little sadly. "When I lived on Telos, I never had a family. It was me, my brother, and a few other kids on the streets against the world."
Kiandra stared up at him with a look of shock. "Really?!" she questioned, horrified at the thought.
Cossan nodded. "We had a little camp in the sewer systems, living off of whatever we could find, or steal for that matter."
Kiandra shook her head in amazement.
"It's apalling how some younglings are left to fend for themselves. Now I wished I could have livied on Telos. That way if I ever crossed paths with you, I could have helped you somehow. That's one thing that earned me extra abuse, I helped strangers and any kids I found that had ended up like I did, despite the price I paid for it. Heck, if I knew you back then I might have ended up joining you."
Cossan grinned. "It wasn't all fun and games. Most of us were starving, on the verge of death. We were occasionally found out by some workers." He placed his hand over his cheek, covering the claw marks.
"That's how I got this."
Kiandra watched as he covered the scars on his face, and cast him a sympathetic look.
"Believe me I know it wouldn't have been fun and games. But I could have held my own out there easily. I'd already been through the wringer. At that point it didn't matter where I was as long as it wasn't with my mother."
Cossan smiled. "Well, if you were there, then we probably would have found you." He sighed, thinking back. "There were lots of us, you'd be surprised how many orphans there are."
"Possibly. I saw my fair share of them back on Tatooine, but if you were living with a group of them then there probably was quite a few," she replied. "I once met a kid whose parents died in a fire."
She took a quick glance at her injured ankle, which now had a dark purple ring around it. Kiandra cringed, then picked up the blanket and threw it over her foot.
Cossan nodded. "We got plenty of those, lots of kids were orphaned by war, disease, and countless other things." He glanced at the foot, now covered with a blanket.
"We should really call a medic."
"Yeah, we just got distracted by our conversation. All right then," she said, stretching her arms out. Then she glanced over at Slip, who was still in Sleep Mode.
"You wanna wake up your son real quick?" she said chuckling, trying to brighten the mood.
Cossan rolled his eyes at Slip.
"Lula, would you wake him up please?" he said, standing up and extending his hand to Kiandra. "Come on."
Lula went and softly tapped Slip on the dome, and he woke up with three quick beeps.
"I'm up. I'm up. I'm up." Lula made a laughing noise.
Kiandra smiled and grabbed his hand, trying to steady herself on the ground without putting weight on her right foot. Lula quickly came over and allowed Kiandra to support herself on her shoulder as well.
"And so the journey begins," Kiandra chuckled with mock excitement.
Cossan rolled his eyes, slinging Kiandra's other arm over his shoulders.
"Come on brave explorer, to the medical bay!"
"Should we make the jump to lightspeed?" Kiandra asked sarcastically then, which earned a laughing noise from Slip and a quick look from Lula.
"Master Kiandra I don't think the only thing wrong with you is your foot." Kiandra raised her eyebrows at the droid and turned to Cossan.
"A brave one isn't she?"
Cossan laughed. "Brave indeed. Well then captain, lightspeed it is!" He beamed, not caring what anyone else thought at the moment. These were dark times, he needed the light.
They started off reasonably fast with Lula trying to understand their humor. She didn't get what was going on, but all she understood was that they were going really fast and laughing about it and she had to make sure to keep up with them so she didn't end up tripping Kiandra. Slip rolled after them, beeping merrily along the way. Kiandra had to keep her laughter down as not to wake up the late sleepers throughout the Temple.
"This is so far the funnest trip to the Medicial Bay I've ever had!" she exclaimed, laughing. Lula groaned.
Cossan laughed. "Usually I'm knocked out when I get to the medical bay," he said beaming.
"Usually I'm hating the world with a hit to the head or a broken arm because of another streetfight where I had to intervene," Kiandra replied.
"And did you call me Captain? You're the pilot out of the two os us!" Kiandra said, laughing. "If anything, I'm the Co-Pilot hanging onto my seat for dear life."
Cossan grinned. "Just Lieutenant I'm afraid, and don't worry, I only crashed once."
"Still, out of this group you're the one who flies things. If I'm flying somewhere, I either have a bag in reach on a moment's notice or I'm trying to sleep the entire duration of the trip. I suffer from violent motion sickness. So I give you the title of Captain for the time being. Go crazy," Kiandra rambled, laughing like crazy.
Laughing, Cossan shook his head. "Fine, whatever you say. Ah look, we've landed at the medical bay!"
Kiandra looked over at the door. "Ahhh we have! Darn and that was a fun trip! Aww well. Anyways, I'm hoping for one of those braces where it covers your foot, and it's curved at the bottom, and I guess you can walk on your own....I don't know how to describe it. Come on let's go get this over with so we can get on with the rest of the day. Ready Captain?" she asked Cossan.
Cossan rolled his eyes. "I believe they're called boots. Yes, ready m'lady."
"Oh, formal are we?" Kiandra teased. "And it's not a boot, it's a brace of some sort, boots aren't ridiculously curved at the bottom. Trust me, I wear them. Don't start with me, I can argue about stupid stuff all day," Kiandra added, with a new spark of amusement in her eyes.
"And there's the bold side peeking through," Lula muttered.
Cossan laughed at Lula's comment.
"Alright, whatever, you just sit tight in that room over there while I get the healer." He turned and strode off.
******
Jedi got up, then went to get some breakfast. On the way, he passed Kiandra and Cossan on their way to the medical bay. They were too busy to notice him.
Fine, he thought. I don't care anyways.
He was still in a bad mood from last night, and the shock of Cossan's supposed death had rattled him. The truth was, he really didn't have many friends. His brother had been one, but wasn't anymore for obvious reasons, and Master Luke was often out on missions. Most of the time, Jedi worked alone. But he had found a few new friends, or so it seemed. But if they preferred going off with each other, be my guest, Jedi was thinking.
******
Cossan found a healer and told her about Kiandra's ankle. SHe nodded and rushed to the room, Cossan following behind quickly.
******
Jedi, who had gotten his cooked meat and was now at a table, was able to watch Kiandra and Cossan throught the window.
I don't really care, anyways, he thought to himself.
But he did.
******
Seeing that Kiandra was in good hands, Cossan walked over to the window. He saw Jedi sitting there, looking rather lonely, and tilted his head to the side.
You okay, Jedi?
Jedi heard the thought.
Fine, he sent back curtly to Cossan.
Cossan crossed his arms. Jedi, I'm a Behavioral Scientist among other things. I know something's wrong.
Jedi just huffed in reply, through his thoughts.
Cossan rolled his eyes, walking down to the Cafeteria place.
Jedi gave Cossan another rather annoyed glance.
******
Kiandra was staring intently at Lula, which frankly, was creeping the poor droid out, who shuffled every now and again towards the corner of the room. Finally, Lula got tired of it.
"Master Kiandra you are scaring me. What are you staring at me for?" Lula asked. Kiandra cocked her head to the left, which made her seem a bit childlike.
"Hmmmm....I was just thinking, I haven't come up with a new nickname for you. I'm trying a few out in my mind." Kiandra replied.
"What kind of nicknames?" Lula questioned.
"Stupi' Head. Yeah I think I like that."
If Lula could have, she probably would have face-palmed. Kiandra snickered, finally being able to find something that made Lula mad.
******
Cossan tilted his head to the side, taking a seat next to Jedi. "Was it something I did?"
Jedi shook his head, rattling his feathers. "No, I was being stupid." He turned slyly to Cossan, his old grin back.
"I saw you with Kiandra," he said smoothly.
Cossan blushed. "S-so?"
Jedi's smirk became even... Smirkier.
"That was very... Noble of you to help her." Jedi was positively snorting into his meat and coffee right now.
Cossan blushed a deep red. "I-I'm sure any decent person would have done the same."
Jedi let out some laughter. "You're as red as blood!" he said.
"I can tell you like her.
"Okay Cossan, we each got half on this one! It's half a boot half a brace!" Kiandra called out, pointing down the black boot/brace that was on her foot. She slowly edged herself off the table, and stepped softly onto the floor. The boot/brace allowed her to walk, and kept her foot in a position where it would heal on it's own. She took a few steps around the room, almost toppling over a few times, but she seemed to get the hang of it, because she was soon, strutting around the room happily.
"I can move again!!!!" she said, laughing.
Cossan sighed, his blush fading, replaced by a more sad look. "It's not like it'll ever work out. She's a Jedi, I know it's forbidden."
Kiandra was having a grand old time with her new brace, it was like watching a child with a new toy. The bottom was curved, so she could seesaw on it if she lifted her other foot off of the ground. One time she rocked to hard and she fell over, grabbing the table so she wouldn't fall all the way to the ground. She looked scared for a moment, but then her body eased, she caught her breath, and she began laughing once again. Lula followed her around to make sure she didn't do anything stupid.
"Haha! This is so much fun! I bet you wish you could do this too Stupi' Head! Hmmm, I came up with a new nickname, Bumba Head. Now who should that be?" She actually stopped to think about it for a moment.
Jedi elbowed him. "Cheer up. You still have me!" He looked at Kiandra.
"Nice job!" he called. "One gets used to walking with a bit of help, don't worry." He waved his mechanical paw airily.
Cossan sighed. "I guess." Glancing at Kiandra, he laughed. "Be careful Kiandra, you don't want stitches, too." He said still laughing.
Jedi watched her hopping around. Why was someone so happy over an injury? The world may never know, Jedi thought.
Kiandra grinned and walked over to them.
"Who knew having a brace would be fun!" she exclaimed, looking down at the boot/brace, laughing. She began to walk around a bit more with the grin plastered on her face.
Just seeing her made Jedi smile. It was not often that one got such enjoyment out of life.
Cossan laughed. "Alright Kiandra, calm down, I knew that coffee was a bad idea."
Kiandra looked over her shoulder with an eyebrow raise and a smug smile. "I told you, if I didn't have that this morning everything everybody did would have been a crime." She then spun around, and proceeded to act mad.
"Wow look at that guy meditating like he owns the place." Lula looked over.
"That was a very good imitation of yourself," she said sarcastically.
"Shuddup Stupi' Head," Kiandra muttered with mock annoyance.
Cossan rolled his eyes, springing up.
Kiandra was now staring at Cossan in the same fashion that she had been staring at Lula. "Hmmmm........." She muttered, and again titled her head to the side.
Cossan raised an eyebrow. "Oh god, what are you planning to do now?"
Cossan's statement nearly made Kiandra topple over with laughter. "Oh I don't know...Bumba Head!" she snickered, adding a little emphasis on "Bumba." She then began laughing.
"Sorry but I come up with nicknames for everybody I know," she said, finally seeming to calm down.
Cossan grinned. "Trust me, I've had worse." He laughed, thinking of the nickname Jo had for him.
"Flyboy was bad enough."
"Well mine aren't used as insults. My nicknames are just playful friendly ones," Kiandra replied. "I don't know why though, Bumba Head just seems to fit you for whatever reason," she added, ruffling up his hair, chuckling.
Cossan rolled his eyes, mumbling to himself.
"I think I like Flyboy better."
Kiandra shook her head, the smile staying on her face. "You will learn to love Bumba Head," she said in a funny, childish voice, before scampering off again.
Cossan rolled his eyes, grinning.
"Fine then, Squirrely."
"Squirrely? No, I am Chuckles and or Snickers. One of the two, but I am not Squirrely," she replied, giggling.
Cossan shook his head, beaming. "Nope, from now on you're Squirrely!"
"Oh, you are so lucky I have limited movement right now!!!" Kiandra squealed, hobbling over to him and hitting him softly on the chest. Then she made an attempt at running, dissapeared out the door, making faces at him and laughing.
Cossan grinned, walking calmly after her. He looked over his shoulder and winked smugly at Jedi before continuing on.
"I can outrun you even without that brace on your foot, Squirrely."
Yes but question is can you find me?!" Her muffled voice called out, followed by her laughter.
Kiandra opened the door to the dark supply closet just enough for her to see where he was at. She snickered and quietly closed it again. Grinning to herself in the darkness.
Cossan grinned. "But of course I can. I may not be able to use the Force, but I sure as heck can hear you." He opened the door to the supply closet and leaned against the door frame, waggleing his eyebrows in a rediculous fashion.
"Found you, Squirrely."
She smirked. "Yeah that's because I let you hear me," she replied, making a weak excuse, leaning against the wall in the closet with her eyebrows raised. "Bumba Head."
Cossan smirked. "My little Squirrel."
"Your Squirrel? Does that make you my Bumba Head?" she snickered, walking towards him, and trying to push him out of her way, but she couldn't.
"Hmmm. Maybe I should call you Brick Wall instead." She laughed.
******
Jedi was shocked at Cossan's behavior. He had left him hanging... Once AGAIN.
"I guess this is it," Jedi sighed. He got up and walked back to his room.
******
Cossan laughed. "Naw, that'd be no fun. No one can talk to a brick wall, now can they?"
"I don't know. This one in front of me seems to be pretty capable of holding up a decent conversastion." Kiandra smirked.
******
He huffed quietly as he sat on his bed. "That is why we are forbidden to love," he said to himself.
"It makes us act foolish and lose focus." He decided to meditate, so he walked over to his winow and balanced on one leg, the other balanced on his opposite leg.
******
Cossan grinned. "Well then, I see how it is." He pretended to be hurt, but it was quite obvious he was faking.
******
Jedi just closed his eyes, dropped his ears down, and felt the Force flow into him, soothing his wounded feelings and claming him.
******
"You can't fool me, Bumba Head. I can tell when someone is fibbing, and plus, your not doing a very good job of it right now," Kiandra whispered to him, eyebrows raised, smiling.
Cossan grinned, whirling around and catching Kiandra in a hug.
"But it worked for my purposes," he said, smiling wistfully.
"And what might those purposes be?" she questioned, trying to act innocent and clueless.
******
Jedi just stood there, but the feeling of unease did not go away. This was how it always was with the ones who let their emotions flow. They acted like they were friends, but as soon as someone else catches their fancy as a friend, or sometimes more, they forget about you.
Jedi vowed never to love a girl, for being a Jedi was much more important. He remembered his terror of last night, when he thought that Cossan had actaully cared about him as well. Jedi would defend him from this threat, and they'd stay great friends. But he had been wrong, and a few tears leaked out from beneath his eyelids.
He had had no one, for so long, and he was desperately lonley.
******
Cossan smiling, looking into her eyes.
"I think you already know Kiandra," he said, leaning in slowly.
"Your right. I'm not good at acting oblivious," Kiandra whispered, she wrapped her arms tightly around him, and closed her eyes, leaning in to meet him.
Cossan laughed softly, closing his eyes, and meeting her in a soft kiss.
Kiandra's heart felt like it would pound out of her chest when their lips met. For a few seconds she couldn't even breathe. Chills ran up the back of her neck, and she moved in even closer to him, hugging him so tightly, hoping she wasn't suffocating him. Oh god please don't let somebody walk by now, she prayed to herself.
Cossan blushed, his ears turning a dark shade of red. He pulled back slowly, almost not wanting it to end. It was so warm, so comforting.
"Wha-what are we doing?" he whispered softly.
"I don't know. But what I do know is that.....I love you Cossan...." she replied, looking deep into his eyes.
"I love you...." she repeated once more. Her cheeks were rosy pink but she said those words with determination and without shame.
Cossan blushed. "I-I love you too, Kiandra..." He shook his head, stepping back.
"But we can't do this. You're a Jedi, it's forbidden, you could lose your place in the order!"
Kiandra looked at him with seriousness in her blue eyes.
"Don't you think I know that, Cossan?" she asked.
Cossan placed his hands on her shoulders, looking her in the eye.
"I won't let you lose this over me."
She paused. "You're the only one I would ever regret losing, Cossan....." she whispered.
A small smile flickered across Cossan's face. "I just want what's best for you. I don't want you to lose your life, or end up hurting you."
******
Jedi couldn't concentrate. He let his senses wander instead. It took his mind off of his own sadness. He sensed that somewhere in the temple a Jedi was in discomfort. Probably in the medical bay, he thought. Then, he felt a wave of a very little felt emotion here flood through the place.
Love.
Jedi gasped, then hissed.
"Cossan. You've gone too far." He came to rest on his two hind legs, then swept from the room.
Jedi ran down the hallways, just sensing that forbidden feeling showing him exactly where he needed to be.
******
Kiandra suddenly jolted. She sensed the familiar Force signature of Jedi, he was coming, and he was almost there.
"Jedi's coming Cossan. He's not to happy either." She whispered in fear. Her gaze darted around wildly, scared of what Jedi would say when he found them. She knew it would be impossible to get away, and it would only make things worse.
"We're Bantha Fodder now." She murmured sadly. She squeezed her eyes closed, but the tears still flowed through.
Cossan rolled his eyes. "Look, whatever I'm going to say, just remember, I love you." He stepped out of the closet, covering all emotions to the best of his ability. He walked off, ready to face Jedi.
Kiandra gave a sad smile and nodded, watching him walk out. She immediatley tried to compose herself as best as she could. She stopped crying, and went through some breathing excercises, trying to clear her head and tame her emotions before they became to strong. She kept inhaling and exhaling quickly and heavily, trying to keep herself calm.
Jedi nearly ran into Cossan. When he saw him, he stopped dead, a strange mixture of emotions brewing in his eyes.
"Cossan," he started, dangerously quiet.
Kiandra stopped her breathing excercises immediatley upon sensing Jedi was there, just outside the door, she didn't dare move, afraid to breath, afraid to blink, fearing Jedi would pick up the noise. She stayed completely silent, still trying to clear her emotions. She listened for what would happen next.
And she was deathly afraid.
Jedi nodded towards the door. "I know she's there. The Squirrel." He raised his voice slightly so she could hear him, but it was still very, very dangerous.
"Just so you know, I eat squirrels for breakfast."
Well she was busted and Jedi was scaring her even more. She so wished that her ankle wasn't injured so she could get away. She could run fairly fast and might have been able to escape. But abandoning Cossan there was the last thing she was going to do at this point.
She stayed put, burying her face in her hands.
Jedi green eyes flashed back onto Cossan. The green glow emenating from them was getting to a flaming point.
"I thought you were my friend. Did you know, what happened with Jo last night? I heard her escaping, saw you gone, and thought she had murdered you. I was going to actually kill her, maybe even use the Dark Side to avenge you. But now you have led astray one of the Order.
"You are no friend of mine."
Cossan's eyes widened. For once in his life he didn't know what to say.
"Jedi, please listen to me. I know you're hurt, I know how you feel. Everything is collapsing around you, and you feel like you've nowhere to turn." He paused, carefully choosing his words.
"But Jedi, I'm in love. And I know it seems like I've only just met her yesterday, but I've known her for years really. C-can I show you?"
Jedi scoffed. "You REALLY met her 15 minutes ago! How does that constitute as love?! And how could you show me, you cannot use the Force!"
Cossan glanced up at his angered friend.
"No, but you can. Trust me Jedi, one last time before you decide what to do."
Jedi stared deep into Cossan's eyes.
"Fine. I shall listen, one last time. But then, if you don't sway me, and don't think that you will, I am reporting the both of you." He stood there, staring without blinking. His eyes now held no civil things, just the raw anger and indifference that his ancestors showed.
Cossan nodded, gathering up the memory and walking just a little closer.
"Just put your hand on my forehead, I'm ready."
Jedi placed his paw against Cossan's forehead. Even though he was angry to the bursting point, he still sheathed his claws. At once, the chosen memories flooded Jedi's mind.
End of Part 10
Kiandra smiled and hugged him back shyly.
"Thanks Cossan. Thank you so much......" she whispered. "It's good to finally tell that to somebody else. You're actually the only person who knows about that except for the people who were there when it happened. I-it was just so hard, being purposely injured on a daily basis, and then laying awake every night, wondering what you did wrong."
Cossan snorted. "You did nothing wrong, they're just taking out their anger on an innocent child."
"I know that now, but it was being that innoccent child, with no better way to think then wondering if you had done something to deserve that punishment. It was frightening, and for the longest time I wish I had never lived. At times I even hoped they would just finish me off so I wouldn't have to suffer anymore." Kiandra explained, then chuckled for a moment.
"You know it's probably the reason I act so childish these days. Because I basically didn't have a childhood, so I'm trying to live out how it should have been when I'm 21."
Cossan smiled a little sadly. "When I lived on Telos, I never had a family. It was me, my brother, and a few other kids on the streets against the world."
Kiandra stared up at him with a look of shock. "Really?!" she questioned, horrified at the thought.
Cossan nodded. "We had a little camp in the sewer systems, living off of whatever we could find, or steal for that matter."
Kiandra shook her head in amazement.
"It's apalling how some younglings are left to fend for themselves. Now I wished I could have livied on Telos. That way if I ever crossed paths with you, I could have helped you somehow. That's one thing that earned me extra abuse, I helped strangers and any kids I found that had ended up like I did, despite the price I paid for it. Heck, if I knew you back then I might have ended up joining you."
Cossan grinned. "It wasn't all fun and games. Most of us were starving, on the verge of death. We were occasionally found out by some workers." He placed his hand over his cheek, covering the claw marks.
"That's how I got this."
Kiandra watched as he covered the scars on his face, and cast him a sympathetic look.
"Believe me I know it wouldn't have been fun and games. But I could have held my own out there easily. I'd already been through the wringer. At that point it didn't matter where I was as long as it wasn't with my mother."
Cossan smiled. "Well, if you were there, then we probably would have found you." He sighed, thinking back. "There were lots of us, you'd be surprised how many orphans there are."
"Possibly. I saw my fair share of them back on Tatooine, but if you were living with a group of them then there probably was quite a few," she replied. "I once met a kid whose parents died in a fire."
She took a quick glance at her injured ankle, which now had a dark purple ring around it. Kiandra cringed, then picked up the blanket and threw it over her foot.
Cossan nodded. "We got plenty of those, lots of kids were orphaned by war, disease, and countless other things." He glanced at the foot, now covered with a blanket.
"We should really call a medic."
"Yeah, we just got distracted by our conversation. All right then," she said, stretching her arms out. Then she glanced over at Slip, who was still in Sleep Mode.
"You wanna wake up your son real quick?" she said chuckling, trying to brighten the mood.
Cossan rolled his eyes at Slip.
"Lula, would you wake him up please?" he said, standing up and extending his hand to Kiandra. "Come on."
Lula went and softly tapped Slip on the dome, and he woke up with three quick beeps.
"I'm up. I'm up. I'm up." Lula made a laughing noise.
Kiandra smiled and grabbed his hand, trying to steady herself on the ground without putting weight on her right foot. Lula quickly came over and allowed Kiandra to support herself on her shoulder as well.
"And so the journey begins," Kiandra chuckled with mock excitement.
Cossan rolled his eyes, slinging Kiandra's other arm over his shoulders.
"Come on brave explorer, to the medical bay!"
"Should we make the jump to lightspeed?" Kiandra asked sarcastically then, which earned a laughing noise from Slip and a quick look from Lula.
"Master Kiandra I don't think the only thing wrong with you is your foot." Kiandra raised her eyebrows at the droid and turned to Cossan.
"A brave one isn't she?"
Cossan laughed. "Brave indeed. Well then captain, lightspeed it is!" He beamed, not caring what anyone else thought at the moment. These were dark times, he needed the light.
They started off reasonably fast with Lula trying to understand their humor. She didn't get what was going on, but all she understood was that they were going really fast and laughing about it and she had to make sure to keep up with them so she didn't end up tripping Kiandra. Slip rolled after them, beeping merrily along the way. Kiandra had to keep her laughter down as not to wake up the late sleepers throughout the Temple.
"This is so far the funnest trip to the Medicial Bay I've ever had!" she exclaimed, laughing. Lula groaned.
Cossan laughed. "Usually I'm knocked out when I get to the medical bay," he said beaming.
"Usually I'm hating the world with a hit to the head or a broken arm because of another streetfight where I had to intervene," Kiandra replied.
"And did you call me Captain? You're the pilot out of the two os us!" Kiandra said, laughing. "If anything, I'm the Co-Pilot hanging onto my seat for dear life."
Cossan grinned. "Just Lieutenant I'm afraid, and don't worry, I only crashed once."
"Still, out of this group you're the one who flies things. If I'm flying somewhere, I either have a bag in reach on a moment's notice or I'm trying to sleep the entire duration of the trip. I suffer from violent motion sickness. So I give you the title of Captain for the time being. Go crazy," Kiandra rambled, laughing like crazy.
Laughing, Cossan shook his head. "Fine, whatever you say. Ah look, we've landed at the medical bay!"
Kiandra looked over at the door. "Ahhh we have! Darn and that was a fun trip! Aww well. Anyways, I'm hoping for one of those braces where it covers your foot, and it's curved at the bottom, and I guess you can walk on your own....I don't know how to describe it. Come on let's go get this over with so we can get on with the rest of the day. Ready Captain?" she asked Cossan.
Cossan rolled his eyes. "I believe they're called boots. Yes, ready m'lady."
"Oh, formal are we?" Kiandra teased. "And it's not a boot, it's a brace of some sort, boots aren't ridiculously curved at the bottom. Trust me, I wear them. Don't start with me, I can argue about stupid stuff all day," Kiandra added, with a new spark of amusement in her eyes.
"And there's the bold side peeking through," Lula muttered.
Cossan laughed at Lula's comment.
"Alright, whatever, you just sit tight in that room over there while I get the healer." He turned and strode off.
******
Jedi got up, then went to get some breakfast. On the way, he passed Kiandra and Cossan on their way to the medical bay. They were too busy to notice him.
Fine, he thought. I don't care anyways.
He was still in a bad mood from last night, and the shock of Cossan's supposed death had rattled him. The truth was, he really didn't have many friends. His brother had been one, but wasn't anymore for obvious reasons, and Master Luke was often out on missions. Most of the time, Jedi worked alone. But he had found a few new friends, or so it seemed. But if they preferred going off with each other, be my guest, Jedi was thinking.
******
Cossan found a healer and told her about Kiandra's ankle. SHe nodded and rushed to the room, Cossan following behind quickly.
******
Jedi, who had gotten his cooked meat and was now at a table, was able to watch Kiandra and Cossan throught the window.
I don't really care, anyways, he thought to himself.
But he did.
******
Seeing that Kiandra was in good hands, Cossan walked over to the window. He saw Jedi sitting there, looking rather lonely, and tilted his head to the side.
You okay, Jedi?
Jedi heard the thought.
Fine, he sent back curtly to Cossan.
Cossan crossed his arms. Jedi, I'm a Behavioral Scientist among other things. I know something's wrong.
Jedi just huffed in reply, through his thoughts.
Cossan rolled his eyes, walking down to the Cafeteria place.
Jedi gave Cossan another rather annoyed glance.
******
Kiandra was staring intently at Lula, which frankly, was creeping the poor droid out, who shuffled every now and again towards the corner of the room. Finally, Lula got tired of it.
"Master Kiandra you are scaring me. What are you staring at me for?" Lula asked. Kiandra cocked her head to the left, which made her seem a bit childlike.
"Hmmmm....I was just thinking, I haven't come up with a new nickname for you. I'm trying a few out in my mind." Kiandra replied.
"What kind of nicknames?" Lula questioned.
"Stupi' Head. Yeah I think I like that."
If Lula could have, she probably would have face-palmed. Kiandra snickered, finally being able to find something that made Lula mad.
******
Cossan tilted his head to the side, taking a seat next to Jedi. "Was it something I did?"
Jedi shook his head, rattling his feathers. "No, I was being stupid." He turned slyly to Cossan, his old grin back.
"I saw you with Kiandra," he said smoothly.
Cossan blushed. "S-so?"
Jedi's smirk became even... Smirkier.
"That was very... Noble of you to help her." Jedi was positively snorting into his meat and coffee right now.
Cossan blushed a deep red. "I-I'm sure any decent person would have done the same."
Jedi let out some laughter. "You're as red as blood!" he said.
"I can tell you like her.
"Okay Cossan, we each got half on this one! It's half a boot half a brace!" Kiandra called out, pointing down the black boot/brace that was on her foot. She slowly edged herself off the table, and stepped softly onto the floor. The boot/brace allowed her to walk, and kept her foot in a position where it would heal on it's own. She took a few steps around the room, almost toppling over a few times, but she seemed to get the hang of it, because she was soon, strutting around the room happily.
"I can move again!!!!" she said, laughing.
Cossan sighed, his blush fading, replaced by a more sad look. "It's not like it'll ever work out. She's a Jedi, I know it's forbidden."
Kiandra was having a grand old time with her new brace, it was like watching a child with a new toy. The bottom was curved, so she could seesaw on it if she lifted her other foot off of the ground. One time she rocked to hard and she fell over, grabbing the table so she wouldn't fall all the way to the ground. She looked scared for a moment, but then her body eased, she caught her breath, and she began laughing once again. Lula followed her around to make sure she didn't do anything stupid.
"Haha! This is so much fun! I bet you wish you could do this too Stupi' Head! Hmmm, I came up with a new nickname, Bumba Head. Now who should that be?" She actually stopped to think about it for a moment.
Jedi elbowed him. "Cheer up. You still have me!" He looked at Kiandra.
"Nice job!" he called. "One gets used to walking with a bit of help, don't worry." He waved his mechanical paw airily.
Cossan sighed. "I guess." Glancing at Kiandra, he laughed. "Be careful Kiandra, you don't want stitches, too." He said still laughing.
Jedi watched her hopping around. Why was someone so happy over an injury? The world may never know, Jedi thought.
Kiandra grinned and walked over to them.
"Who knew having a brace would be fun!" she exclaimed, looking down at the boot/brace, laughing. She began to walk around a bit more with the grin plastered on her face.
Just seeing her made Jedi smile. It was not often that one got such enjoyment out of life.
Cossan laughed. "Alright Kiandra, calm down, I knew that coffee was a bad idea."
Kiandra looked over her shoulder with an eyebrow raise and a smug smile. "I told you, if I didn't have that this morning everything everybody did would have been a crime." She then spun around, and proceeded to act mad.
"Wow look at that guy meditating like he owns the place." Lula looked over.
"That was a very good imitation of yourself," she said sarcastically.
"Shuddup Stupi' Head," Kiandra muttered with mock annoyance.
Cossan rolled his eyes, springing up.
Kiandra was now staring at Cossan in the same fashion that she had been staring at Lula. "Hmmmm........." She muttered, and again titled her head to the side.
Cossan raised an eyebrow. "Oh god, what are you planning to do now?"
Cossan's statement nearly made Kiandra topple over with laughter. "Oh I don't know...Bumba Head!" she snickered, adding a little emphasis on "Bumba." She then began laughing.
"Sorry but I come up with nicknames for everybody I know," she said, finally seeming to calm down.
Cossan grinned. "Trust me, I've had worse." He laughed, thinking of the nickname Jo had for him.
"Flyboy was bad enough."
"Well mine aren't used as insults. My nicknames are just playful friendly ones," Kiandra replied. "I don't know why though, Bumba Head just seems to fit you for whatever reason," she added, ruffling up his hair, chuckling.
Cossan rolled his eyes, mumbling to himself.
"I think I like Flyboy better."
Kiandra shook her head, the smile staying on her face. "You will learn to love Bumba Head," she said in a funny, childish voice, before scampering off again.
Cossan rolled his eyes, grinning.
"Fine then, Squirrely."
"Squirrely? No, I am Chuckles and or Snickers. One of the two, but I am not Squirrely," she replied, giggling.
Cossan shook his head, beaming. "Nope, from now on you're Squirrely!"
"Oh, you are so lucky I have limited movement right now!!!" Kiandra squealed, hobbling over to him and hitting him softly on the chest. Then she made an attempt at running, dissapeared out the door, making faces at him and laughing.
Cossan grinned, walking calmly after her. He looked over his shoulder and winked smugly at Jedi before continuing on.
"I can outrun you even without that brace on your foot, Squirrely."
Yes but question is can you find me?!" Her muffled voice called out, followed by her laughter.
Kiandra opened the door to the dark supply closet just enough for her to see where he was at. She snickered and quietly closed it again. Grinning to herself in the darkness.
Cossan grinned. "But of course I can. I may not be able to use the Force, but I sure as heck can hear you." He opened the door to the supply closet and leaned against the door frame, waggleing his eyebrows in a rediculous fashion.
"Found you, Squirrely."
She smirked. "Yeah that's because I let you hear me," she replied, making a weak excuse, leaning against the wall in the closet with her eyebrows raised. "Bumba Head."
Cossan smirked. "My little Squirrel."
"Your Squirrel? Does that make you my Bumba Head?" she snickered, walking towards him, and trying to push him out of her way, but she couldn't.
"Hmmm. Maybe I should call you Brick Wall instead." She laughed.
******
Jedi was shocked at Cossan's behavior. He had left him hanging... Once AGAIN.
"I guess this is it," Jedi sighed. He got up and walked back to his room.
******
Cossan laughed. "Naw, that'd be no fun. No one can talk to a brick wall, now can they?"
"I don't know. This one in front of me seems to be pretty capable of holding up a decent conversastion." Kiandra smirked.
******
He huffed quietly as he sat on his bed. "That is why we are forbidden to love," he said to himself.
"It makes us act foolish and lose focus." He decided to meditate, so he walked over to his winow and balanced on one leg, the other balanced on his opposite leg.
******
Cossan grinned. "Well then, I see how it is." He pretended to be hurt, but it was quite obvious he was faking.
******
Jedi just closed his eyes, dropped his ears down, and felt the Force flow into him, soothing his wounded feelings and claming him.
******
"You can't fool me, Bumba Head. I can tell when someone is fibbing, and plus, your not doing a very good job of it right now," Kiandra whispered to him, eyebrows raised, smiling.
Cossan grinned, whirling around and catching Kiandra in a hug.
"But it worked for my purposes," he said, smiling wistfully.
"And what might those purposes be?" she questioned, trying to act innocent and clueless.
******
Jedi just stood there, but the feeling of unease did not go away. This was how it always was with the ones who let their emotions flow. They acted like they were friends, but as soon as someone else catches their fancy as a friend, or sometimes more, they forget about you.
Jedi vowed never to love a girl, for being a Jedi was much more important. He remembered his terror of last night, when he thought that Cossan had actaully cared about him as well. Jedi would defend him from this threat, and they'd stay great friends. But he had been wrong, and a few tears leaked out from beneath his eyelids.
He had had no one, for so long, and he was desperately lonley.
******
Cossan smiling, looking into her eyes.
"I think you already know Kiandra," he said, leaning in slowly.
"Your right. I'm not good at acting oblivious," Kiandra whispered, she wrapped her arms tightly around him, and closed her eyes, leaning in to meet him.
Cossan laughed softly, closing his eyes, and meeting her in a soft kiss.
Kiandra's heart felt like it would pound out of her chest when their lips met. For a few seconds she couldn't even breathe. Chills ran up the back of her neck, and she moved in even closer to him, hugging him so tightly, hoping she wasn't suffocating him. Oh god please don't let somebody walk by now, she prayed to herself.
Cossan blushed, his ears turning a dark shade of red. He pulled back slowly, almost not wanting it to end. It was so warm, so comforting.
"Wha-what are we doing?" he whispered softly.
"I don't know. But what I do know is that.....I love you Cossan...." she replied, looking deep into his eyes.
"I love you...." she repeated once more. Her cheeks were rosy pink but she said those words with determination and without shame.
Cossan blushed. "I-I love you too, Kiandra..." He shook his head, stepping back.
"But we can't do this. You're a Jedi, it's forbidden, you could lose your place in the order!"
Kiandra looked at him with seriousness in her blue eyes.
"Don't you think I know that, Cossan?" she asked.
Cossan placed his hands on her shoulders, looking her in the eye.
"I won't let you lose this over me."
She paused. "You're the only one I would ever regret losing, Cossan....." she whispered.
A small smile flickered across Cossan's face. "I just want what's best for you. I don't want you to lose your life, or end up hurting you."
******
Jedi couldn't concentrate. He let his senses wander instead. It took his mind off of his own sadness. He sensed that somewhere in the temple a Jedi was in discomfort. Probably in the medical bay, he thought. Then, he felt a wave of a very little felt emotion here flood through the place.
Love.
Jedi gasped, then hissed.
"Cossan. You've gone too far." He came to rest on his two hind legs, then swept from the room.
Jedi ran down the hallways, just sensing that forbidden feeling showing him exactly where he needed to be.
******
Kiandra suddenly jolted. She sensed the familiar Force signature of Jedi, he was coming, and he was almost there.
"Jedi's coming Cossan. He's not to happy either." She whispered in fear. Her gaze darted around wildly, scared of what Jedi would say when he found them. She knew it would be impossible to get away, and it would only make things worse.
"We're Bantha Fodder now." She murmured sadly. She squeezed her eyes closed, but the tears still flowed through.
Cossan rolled his eyes. "Look, whatever I'm going to say, just remember, I love you." He stepped out of the closet, covering all emotions to the best of his ability. He walked off, ready to face Jedi.
Kiandra gave a sad smile and nodded, watching him walk out. She immediatley tried to compose herself as best as she could. She stopped crying, and went through some breathing excercises, trying to clear her head and tame her emotions before they became to strong. She kept inhaling and exhaling quickly and heavily, trying to keep herself calm.
Jedi nearly ran into Cossan. When he saw him, he stopped dead, a strange mixture of emotions brewing in his eyes.
"Cossan," he started, dangerously quiet.
Kiandra stopped her breathing excercises immediatley upon sensing Jedi was there, just outside the door, she didn't dare move, afraid to breath, afraid to blink, fearing Jedi would pick up the noise. She stayed completely silent, still trying to clear her emotions. She listened for what would happen next.
And she was deathly afraid.
Jedi nodded towards the door. "I know she's there. The Squirrel." He raised his voice slightly so she could hear him, but it was still very, very dangerous.
"Just so you know, I eat squirrels for breakfast."
Well she was busted and Jedi was scaring her even more. She so wished that her ankle wasn't injured so she could get away. She could run fairly fast and might have been able to escape. But abandoning Cossan there was the last thing she was going to do at this point.
She stayed put, burying her face in her hands.
Jedi green eyes flashed back onto Cossan. The green glow emenating from them was getting to a flaming point.
"I thought you were my friend. Did you know, what happened with Jo last night? I heard her escaping, saw you gone, and thought she had murdered you. I was going to actually kill her, maybe even use the Dark Side to avenge you. But now you have led astray one of the Order.
"You are no friend of mine."
Cossan's eyes widened. For once in his life he didn't know what to say.
"Jedi, please listen to me. I know you're hurt, I know how you feel. Everything is collapsing around you, and you feel like you've nowhere to turn." He paused, carefully choosing his words.
"But Jedi, I'm in love. And I know it seems like I've only just met her yesterday, but I've known her for years really. C-can I show you?"
Jedi scoffed. "You REALLY met her 15 minutes ago! How does that constitute as love?! And how could you show me, you cannot use the Force!"
Cossan glanced up at his angered friend.
"No, but you can. Trust me Jedi, one last time before you decide what to do."
Jedi stared deep into Cossan's eyes.
"Fine. I shall listen, one last time. But then, if you don't sway me, and don't think that you will, I am reporting the both of you." He stood there, staring without blinking. His eyes now held no civil things, just the raw anger and indifference that his ancestors showed.
Cossan nodded, gathering up the memory and walking just a little closer.
"Just put your hand on my forehead, I'm ready."
Jedi placed his paw against Cossan's forehead. Even though he was angry to the bursting point, he still sheathed his claws. At once, the chosen memories flooded Jedi's mind.
End of Part 10
