Chapter 72: Good, Solid, Jedi Bonding

Summary: How to make friends with a Jedi in one easy step!

Warning! Chapters 71-74 were all posted back-to-back! Make sure you don't miss any of them!

Chapter 72: Good, Solid, Jedi Bonding

- Unnamed System – One Month Into the Hutt Crusade -

While Izuku had honestly felt that their current mission could keep, he'd also readily given in on the point when Aayla had leveled her own arguments. They currently had several differing factions and sub-factions of Force Users flitting about Hutt Space. Getting them all on the same page and pulling together in the same general direction was always going to be a ticklish point. Aayla, knowing this, had pointed out that bonding through Ultraviolence against Dark Siders was, in fact, a time-honored method of bringing Light Side Force wielders together. The fact that, upon reaching out to her, they'd discovered Master Morne was currently within Hutt Space, using the chaos to track down a few possible leads on the Sith, had only reinforced that the timing was good.

It was thus that Izuku and Aayla had both reached out to the various groups of Force Users within Hutt Space and asked for a few of the more combat oriented members from each sub-faction or sub-group to link up with them one jump short of Tisht. Since the messages had gone out with an explicit warning that they'd found a centuries old Dark Sider to deal with, the responses had been predictable and swift. While some Jedi had already dispersed to various battlefields or other duties, many had only just reached Hutt Space or hadn't yet decided where they could be of the most use. Bant Eerin and the healers with her were one example of the former, having decided to link up with the League's medical corps and go from there. Shaak Ti and the Jedi that had come with her were an example of the latter, having first stopped at Tythe to see how they could best marry their efforts to those of the League's.

Shaak Ti's smaller group had only just arrived in Hutt Space as a result, and had been the last to arrive at the conference, though only by a few hours. Izuku, having let Aayla handle the arrivals until this moment, took in the eclectic group within the large conference room via a security feed. Shaak Ti had picked up a few more Jedi who'd arrived by various means at Tythe, but several had broken off for other callings. Six in total had remained with her. From the group that had met Aayla at Junkfort, an additional seven had diverted. The most prominent among them was Master Ven'nari, though Knight Amersu seemed to actually be 'leading' the group, as the Bothan was too much of a lone wolf.

Adding in Ky Narec and his Padawan, who had both decided to stay and see this operation through before returning at least briefly to Coruscant and the main order, made for sixteen 'traditional' Jedi. A few, like Ven'nari and Narec both, were a bit of a stretch to call by that moniker, but it was the easiest way to divide the group that weren't officially part of the League. A cumbersome thought that made Izuku grimace. They were really going to need to create some sort of vague touchstone for the various groups to connect through. Hopefully, that would be one result of working together on this operation. Assuming they didn't all just die instead, of course. It wasn't exactly risk free.

For the League's own representation, Knights Eris, Masana and Jarvee were here representing the Altisians. Likewise, Knights Usai, Ersai, and Firkraan were present representing the Iron Knights at this little gathering. Both groups were drawing a bit of disquiet from the Coruscant trained Jedi, but not very much. Far more curiosity and surprise was quickly directed towards Izuku himself, as he dropped the security feed, dropped his Force Cloak right after it, and stepped into the room. Entering right behind him were Aayla, Celeste, and Allaya Djo. Though all of them went practically unnoticed as a predicable reaction rippled through those that hadn't been near Izuku when he was not cloaked yet.

"Why the kark does the Force suddenly feel smug? The Force isn't supposed to feel smug!"

One of the younger Jedi in Knight Ti's group had made the confused-sounding comment, though several others nodded. Master Ven'nari snorted, the Bothan woman regaining her balance more quickly than the others.

"Not the strangest thing I've come across, but certainly odd. Though it feels more…affectionately amused? Something like that, to me."

Before the meeting could derail entirely, or anyone could leap to dangerous conclusions, Aayla clapped her hands for attention. She stepped forward with a wide smile and spoke up, having predicted this reaction was coming.

"Weird, right? Despite appearances, Izuku's a near-human, not pure human. The oddness of his connection to the Force you're feeling is something to do with how his species have reacted to midi-chlorians. At least, that's the best anyone can figure out with a sample size of exactly two. He and one of our R and D experts are the only ones around from their species, and Mei isn't Force Sensitive. She has a bit of an odd trick with her vision, sort of similar to Miraluka that don't have counts high enough to be properly Force Sensitive. That, plus what they've told us about others of their people, lead us to believe it's another Force-caused species mutation like the Miraluka have."

That was the general explanation they'd worked out for mass consumption some time ago. Explaining Ood Bnar's full theories and Izuku's origins to everyone and sundry didn't seem…overly wise. They were still working on the underlying theory that the Force wanted them to do something, and even the Force seemed to agree that the fewer people knew about Izuku specifically, the better. Thankfully, odd species-wide Force gimmicks were a known thing to the entire Jedi Order. The Miraluka were perhaps the most well-known example, but the Anzati, Iktotchi, and a subset of Kiffar were all reasonably well known as well. The fact that the statement was, technically, entirely true and would ring as such in the Force, also helped.

It was something these Jedi would understand, no matter how odd it was. Which put the effect of Izuku's presence on the Force within a context that was 'interesting but non-threatening.' Of course, it didn't answer for all of the issues, even if a certain confusion and tension did leave the group as they processed Aayla's explanation. It was Shaak Ti who, frowning a bit, pointed out the other major point.

"Yet, I can't help but point out that there is clearly something a little…questionable…going on here. Aayla, you never reported Master Midoriya was a Force Sensitive, and he was clearly hiding that fact. I did meet you, if only briefly, on Karazak, Master Midoriya."

Rather than relying on Aayla to defend him, Izuku nodded and stepped forward.

"I remember, of course. I will also freely admit to hiding it, as I had no intention of getting involved with the Jedi Order as a whole. I am certainly far too old for your training, even if Master Tholme, Master Fay, and a few others have traded a bit of cross training with me after getting to know me properly. As for why they did so, I was already trained in my own people's equivalent to your Order and had some knowledge to share in return. My homeworld is entirely Outside the Republic. Enough so to have never had contact with it at all. Which led to development of our own Force culture. Something I understand is not unusual for the Jedi to run into even inside the Republic, let alone outside of it."

Some more tension bled out from the group as a whole at the reminder that two extremely respected members of the Jedi Order had been known to be involved with Izuku. Master Tholme had even been openly involved with the Karazak operation, which made Shaak Ti nod thoughtfully.

"Master Tholme taught you to cloak your presence? Or was that something your people know how to do?"

Izuku smiled. Time to throw things off track a bit more and distract everyone from him at someone else's expense!

"Far from it. I had no idea it was possible. It wasn't Master Tholme, however, that taught me that particular trick. It was, instead, one of my companions. Who will be in overall charge of planning this operation, as it happens. She is, very literally, the Galaxy's foremost expert on combat with Dark Side users. Master Morne?"

Izuku gestured her forward, ignoring her somewhat annoyed glance. She'd agreed to this, but didn't really like it. Outing herself to this large of a group significantly increased the odds of the Sith finding out about her. Given both the current mission and the fact that all of these were Jedi who had decided to follow the Force rather than the High Council, however, she'd begrudgingly gone along with the idea. Now, she unmasked a small amount of her own Force presence, causing many of those in the conference room to stiffen.

"I am Jedi Master Celeste Morne. I was, as explanation for why none of you are likely to have heard of me, born on the planet of Ossus during the last years of the Great Sith War. After that war, I became a Jedi Shadow, who specialized in hunting down Dark Siders and Sith relics in the aftermath. It was during one such mission that I ended up needing to go into emergency stasis due to contact with a Dark Side plague. I was awoken from that stasis, after nearly three thousand years in suspended animation, by Master Fay. She and others she had gathered, including Master Midoriya, were able to purge the plague affecting me, and she herself alerted me to the resurgent presence of the Sith. I've been quietly working to attempt to track them since then, with Mister Midoriya being good enough to provide me with a number of cover identities completely unconnected to the Jedi Order."

If not for the way the Force was more communicative when Izuku was around, many of those in the conference room might have baulked at the explanation. As it was, the Force itself was firmly informing them the information was true, leaving them all a little stunned. Izuku stepped into that gap.

"Given that Master Morne was trained specifically to hunt Dark Siders, in an era where armies of such were a thing of only the very recent past, her expertise in the matter of Beldorion the Hutt was something I felt we should call upon. While you all undoubtedly have questions for her, I ask that you put them aside for the moment. We have all come together to deal with Beldorion, and I suggest we focus on that task first and foremost."

Master Ven'nari was radiating just as much curiosity as her fellows at this newest ambush of information. Yet, she was also a very…focused…individual. Nodding sharply, she spoke up on behalf of the curious Jedi.

"Agreed. I for one welcome Master Morne's expertise in this matter, as Fallen Jedi are no easy thing to deal with at the best of times. One that has managed to last for centuries, building up his own seat of power, is a nightmare scenario. We should focus on the task at hand, and deal with our many questions afterward."

Only a few of the Jedi hesitated to nod at that. Those few who looked like they'd really rather have asked a dozen questions of Izuku and Celeste first instead thankfully went along with their fellows. With only a few more pleasantries and introductions, the planning for the downfall of Beldorion the Hutt began…

... ...

"So, your lover is quite a bold one, isn't he?"

Aayla mentally hiccupped slightly in surprise. She'd been aware of Shaak approaching, but certainly hadn't expected that opening line…nor the sly amusement that had come with it. Given she'd expected condemnation instead, when someone from the main Jedi Order eventually discovered that little secret, it wasn't an unpleasant surprise, but it was still a surprise.

"If we weren't Jedi and thus all used to taking refuge in audacity, we might call this plan reckless. As it was, I have to agree that it makes good use of the unusual mix of assets and talents we have available."

Aayla's mouth worked, but no sound came out as Shaak just rolled passed her little bomb without comment. A moment later, the lie was put to that as the older Knight paused next to her at the window showing hyperspace and turned to give her a wink.

"Oh, relax. You're hardly the first one to…skirt the edges of that particular rule, Aayla. I've known of several couples within the Order for years. Even if everyone politely pretends that such doesn't exist. So long, of course, as it doesn't affect either partner's judgement or behavior unduly. Too many species are communal in nature, Twi'lek and Togruta included, for it to be entirely avoidable."

Aayla bit her lip at that, then decided to take the plunge.

"Have you…?"

Shaak shook her head, looking and feeling a bit rueful, much to Aayla's surprise.

"I admit there have been a few minor…physical relationships. I never found anyone I connected with deeply enough for more than that. It has been something I've regretted from time to time, given my own species' instincts to seek out companionship."

Aayla couldn't help it. Enough of her crush on the older Knight remained that the question slipped out.

"Oh? What was missing? Fellow Jedi a bit too likely to wander off?"

Knight Ti smirked at the teasing tone Aayla had managed to infuse the question with, shaking her head.

"No. I'm odd for a Togruta in that I'm highly independent. Long periods apart were never an issue for me. When I have a partner, however, I'd prefer they be the warm sort who I can scratch my occasional instincts for companionship with properly. I've only attempted to get close to Jedi, and most are simply too…passive for my liking."

Shaak's gaze had turned reflective, focused inward, and Aayla doubted she realized quite how much she'd just given away to Aayla's empathy. The Knight was talking about quite a bit more than just lots of cuddles. There was some of that too, but there was also a sense of primal need that sent a thrilling spike of heat to certain parts of Aayla's anatomy. Doing her best not to give that away, Aayla scrambled for something else to say. Thankfully, Shaak beat her to it as she focused outward again.

"Ah, but that's neither here nor there. I wanted to ask you a bit more about your experiences with the League so far. I've been somewhat impressed, overall, but don't have the sort of access you do. Do you think that it has the ethical staying power to stick to its moral guns, if it manages to outlast the Hutts?"

Mind thankfully shifting away from dangerous thoughts with the new question, Aayla grinned at the question.

"With or without Izuku? That, my dear Shaak, is the real question. So long as he lives, there is little doubt. It's the potential that he doesn't that could be a problem…"

Aayla spun out her thoughts on the matter without rancor or attempts to make things out as better than they were. The issue of long-term stability was one Izuku and she were both very aware of and knew that the League wasn't where it needed to be yet. Thankfully, she could also cheerfully point to many of the plans they had to fix that issue! So long as they lived long enough for those plans to come to fruition…

... ... ... ... ...

A/N 1: Honestly, nothing brings Jedi and others together like plotting the downfall of evil. Buttkicking for goodness! Also, pretty much the perfect way for Izuku to carefully out himself to representatives of the new influx of Jedi, without them immediately jumping to conclusions.

A/N 2: As you might have guessed, Shaak Ti is one of the women I've set up for the Possibility of joining Izuku/Aayla/Mei. Shaak Ti and Padme are two of the only female characters during this time period that are 1) in the right age range 2) interesting 3) potentially compatible. Characters like Ahsoka are MUCH too young, and many of the other known female characters are politicians, married already, or far more strict Jedi. Ventress is another possibility, as she's not THAT much younger than them. But I haven't yet decided if the ways in which she's going to be changed will leave her as compatible. Note that none of these will be added without getting feedback from readers first ;-).