Chapter 94: 94. Chapter

-From the perspective of Nizzal.-

After that encounter, I went back to sleep and had a restful night. 

Next day in the early afternoon hours. I was just finishing my shopping. I paid for a few new clothes since some of them had been trashed... quite literally... This was also my usual alone time, and I was planning to enjoy it to the fullest. 

Coruscant was a more than ideal place to do that. To many people’s relief, the energy in this city sector had been restored throughout the night. I can only imagine the extreme workload the workers had taken on themselves. It was lucky that at this time and age, the most dangerous work was done by repair droids or even nano machines. 

At the time I was walking by an entertainment district, there were a lot of them you could literally bump into one by walking around randomly. Well, for a planet with a population density of Coruscant, you still needed to wait in line to get to use the machines. I could hear loud cheers coming out of the building. The door was left open, but even if it wasn’t, you could easily see the cavalcade happening inside through the enormous window.

I saw a bunch of kids. I could tell from a glance that they were around my physical age... Playing with a game called Jedi vs Sith. It was some sort of virtual reality arena fight simulator. They even got something that looked like lightsabers. Obviously, they were not emitting a seriously harmful energy beam, probably only something that could give you a small electric jolt in case of contact. 

Seeing that one of the kids was beating up another with such enthusiasm, I could only smirk, especially hearing the other one’s annoyed shouts. I have always liked movies and video games. My master sometimes joined in as the second player. Those were wonderful memories. Even so, I’d never played anything like this game before, and some of the kids got pretty cool moves, too.

I was intrigued, however... it would basically be cheating if I entered this competition and beat up every kid. I am not that shameless. 

I decided to shake my head, caressing one of my leks in thought, and was about to walk away, just before an arrogant boyish voice called out to me. 

-Ooy! Are you only looking? Trying to copy my moves, yeah? Might as well join and get your arse handed to you.

I was jolted from my thoughts at hearing the loud voice. I looked around quickly, searching for the person he was shouting at. 

-Hah, stop looking around like a confused chick. I was talking to you, tail-head girl! 

The other children around the room hissed and made shocked noises hearing the hurtful comment that most twi’leks were extremely despising. I would probably hate it too, if I didn’t have the memories of a bunch of different exotic races that were usually also insulted in many ways. That, and a few thousand years of memories, might have made me disregard such stupid comments.

Therefore, to the annoyance of the human boy, who seemed to have the intention of challenging me, I didn’t show any obvious reaction. I only tilted my head while caressing one of my lek and asked, confused. 

-Are you talking to me? 

The other kids around the gaming area started giggling at the boy, who, in turn, blushed and became even more frustrated. Which resulted in an open challenge.

-Now you’ve done it, girl! I challenge you, if you don’t accept it, you will be forever branded as a scared kitten!

He even pointed his toy saber at me in an actually real dueling stance. At first, I had the intention of simply walking away. Being called a scared kitten was something I could handle... However, seeing this too perfect fighting stance, I froze momentarily.

I didn’t really know what his deal was. Didn’t know why this kid was trying to argue with me? However, I knew a good stance when I saw one. Is this boy an actual padawan? That seemed unlikely... but could he actually become this proficient with it through playing a game? Well, I mean the most basic of the jedi stances could be downloaded by anyone who has access to the holonet how odd, to think he put so much effort into something that he would never be able to use to its fullest potential is just shocking. 

What I mean is that jedi stances are created with the idea of existing and trained force sensitivity. If you didn’t have that, you would basically make yourself into a living target practice. What I mean is... even without the force a normal person with good reflexes would be able to use a lightsaber to reflect laser beams, it is unlikely that they would be able to reflect those shots at enemies with intention, but defending yourself from a few shots is achievable. 

What doesn’t work, is when the shots come from an angle that you can’t see, or there are too many, to coordinate your movements, to place your body in the exact way that the lasers would pass by it harmlessly, or inflicting only light damage.

The human mind is simply incapable of reacting to so many things without being empowered through the force. I was intrigued by the unusual tenacity of this boy. Therefore, I decided to push my mischievously curling lek behind my back, and said.

-Okay, I accept your challenge. What is your name? I am Nizzal, just like that. 

The boy, as if he didn’t expect my words, blushed again, and said with a stutter. 

-...I am St-Steve... 

The other kids, seeing the sudden shyness of Steve, didn’t miss the chance to coo at him, which only made him turn even redder.

I smiled, feeling amused by their antics. It genuinely felt good to be invited into a group of friends so randomly. I mean, these kids were obviously knowing each other for quite some time. They were acting overly familiar, making and laughing at their inside jokes. They were probably classmates, or something like that. 

Oh, well, I actually had no idea about the current education system of the Galactic Republic. I am only familiar with the training of those with force abilities. 

I stepped closer to them while thinking about such stupid things, one of the kids... the one who was beaten by Steven earlier gave me the other toy saber and I entered the ring. I looked around, blinking at the absurd situation I managed to get myself into once again. 

All the kids and even some of the adults who were present in the room stopped doing whatever they did, and now were looking over at us... Well, of course they would, its free entertainment, basically. It’s not like the boy tried to keep his voice down or anything.

I huffed, feeling a bit angsty. The tension was getting real too... isn’t this supposed to be a game? Eh? 

I saw a green blade heading for my head almost immediately after I took my position. My instincts kicked in and I ducked, letting the blade swish over my head in a horizontal... beheading cut. I felt a bit annoyed. This kid! Seriously, if I was your random street kid, I would have been slapped by that, and probably crying from frustration right now.

I looked up, sensing another incoming blow, one that I easily dodged by rolling to the side. I didn’t even ignite my lightsaber just yet. 

My casual dodge seemed to anger the boy, while also making him become cautions of me. I could see a fire of rivalry ignited in those beady eyes.

I was a bit annoyed too by his actions... I mean, this kid challenged a random girl for no reason in a game that he was obviously very good at, and didn’t even let me get used to it. I believe that it was time to give him a lesson. I wouldn’t want him to turn out like dad...

The comparison somehow made sense to me. On the other hand, I don’t think I could take another blow to my self-esteem, not so soon... If I were beaten by these kids, I might as well give the archive to one of them straight away. 

I finally ignited my blue toy blade and smiled at the guy while straightening up from my roll. I felt a sense of fear appear in the boy across from me after he saw my eery smile. 

-A few moments later.-

I was surrounded by a bunch of excited kids shouting my name with shocking happiness and joy. I saw that even the boy, named Steve, who I just beat offhandedly. He never even got near to hitting me after the first two surprise strikes. I literally played with him, then executed him while showing off my fluid moves. 

Now I understand that the kid probably only learned some of the basic moves, a few of which were copied with surprising care. However, he was very good for someone using a blade, without the help of the force, alas he had no chance in the face of the real thing. Ignore the fact that I am over four thousand years old.

I was suddenly feeling guilty seeing the pure happiness of the kids, who were shaken by my ease at handling the saber. I shouldn’t have let myself get carried away so easily... but I mean, my subconscious reacted to the sight of an incoming saber. They looked almost similar to the real thing, except its weight was a lot less.

Suddenly one of the kids froze and shouted loudly, with a horror-stricken face. 

-DAMN! Look at the time, we are late for class! Ms. Lana will chew off our ears again!

-What? Don’t make me laugh, we have fifteen more minutes just now... oh no... you are RIGHT!

-Steve, we must get to class, quickly! 

-Okay, let’s go!

Shouted Steve to the only other girl beside me. I was feeling a bit relaxed as this meant me being the target of attention was over. Don’t misunderstand me, I liked to be in such a position at times, but if that attention was given from a swarm of awed kids, I find myself becoming shy and a bit frustrated. 

I mean... all things considered; I was still fourteen years old, and craved the attention of my peers deep down, but I never really had any friends of my age, beside Ahsoka and I would lie if I said that I was able to properly handle so much of their undiluted attention out of nowhere.

I felt an almost invisible blush reach my chins, and looked down, feeling somewhere between happy, shy and disturbed. 

Anyway... it will be over soon... EH? 

I was grabbed by two of the kids whose names I didn’t quite catch, as they were telling their names at the same time. 

EHHHH? 

I was placed to sit on the shoulder of Steve... Who crouched down next to me while some of his friends “helped” me on his shoulder. He stood up, shaking me in the process...

I grabbed his head to stop myself from falling off while he stood up, then he grabbed my legs that were dangling in front of his chest and began to run with the others in a random direction. 

Finally, coming to my mind, I exclaimed loudly. 

-Wa-wa-wait! Eh? Hey!? What is going on? Put me down right now!

-Stop kicking, or I might drop you real this time... Nizzal, was it? Ah, but that’s too long. What about Nizz? That sounds cool...

I was downright embarrassed by this outcome... I mean, I was being kidnapped by a group of kids... Still; I said.

-Call me Nizzy, if you must.

-Roger that, we decided to make you an honorable member of our dueling group! 

I was flabbergasted by this logic.

-And who told you that I want to be a part of it?!

-I guess, no one.

He said honestly. I waited for him to continue his explanation, but he did not. Which caused me to be even more shocked. This kid! Such cheek! Are kids so shameless nowadays?

My eyes widened with a sudden thought and started flailing with one of my arms. 

-What’s now?!

-Oh shut up, my clothes... Where is my bag? I just bought new ones, if I lose them because of you lot!

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-Chill, Nizz. Luna has it. 

Steven nodded with his head to the other girl beside me. She was also a human child, as most of the group was, actually. She showed me a reliable smile when she saw that I was looking at her, but she indeed had my bag dangling in her hands. 

-Geez, stated one of the kids. Panicking over some clothes like that... Are you that poor, or what? 

I blushed furiously hearing the implication. I was a Grandmaster of a fucking Intergalactic-order, and nobody seems to give a shit about that! I mean... it’s true that it is a secret... but oh, man! How I wish that was not the case at times like this!

The kids, seeing my extreme blush, have naturally misinterpreted it, thinking that they hit the nail on the head, which was as far from reality as it could be. Well... I mean, it’s not like I have much money at hand, thanks to Anakin... but that is only momentary. Also, I really liked the clothes I chose...

The kid, who dropped the jab, was meaningfully punched into his side. As one of the others stated calmly. 

-Not that it would matter to us... if that was the case... Just ignore him, he was born like that, can’t help it. 

-Hey?! What’s that even supposed to mean!? 

Shouted the guy from the back. 

The others started laughing hearing his shout. 

-Stop laughing... damn..!

-Frank, you are an insensitive fool! That’s what it means...

 Said Luna, who seemed to take my side over this, quite strongly. The argument was finished with that, and a few seconds of silence appeared. I used the opportunity to ask. 

-Where are you taking me? 

I mean, it would be ridiculously easy to escape this bunch, but at this point, I was getting too involved to leave so easily. My curiosity also got the better of me.

Steve stated in a loud voice. 

-We are going back to school of course. Ms. Lana would scold us if we had no proper reason for being late. So, you will be our reason. 

I blinked. 

-What? 

I asked, genuinely confused.

-Come on, you seem like a twelve-year-old... You will say that you got lost, and we helped you out, or something like that. You know, covering for the team... 

-...I am fourteen... 

-NO WAY!? You are the same age as us? 

There were a few disbelieving voices appearing around me, followed up by quite hurtful words, like you are so small... and you are cute... or my favorite. I thought that she was only ten...

I mean... female twi’leks were usually smaller in stature than normal humans. That wasn’t always the case, as there were exceptions as always... but I was not... one...

I would be actually sixteen if I counted the time I spent frozen... but then I should probably also count the few thousand years of extra life experiences... 

...

How did I get into this situation again? 

-A few minutes later.-

I was put down in front of the supposed school... and was literally herded inside while thinking, how did I get myself into this in a seemingly never-ending loop? Alas, as the saying goes, everything that has a start will eventually come to an end.

I found myself standing in front of an angry and extremely strict looking woman, who was staring at the surrounding kids with a doom promising gaze. I swallowed my saliva as his gaze focused on me, then changed into a slightly confused and less hostile expression.

One of the kids spoke up, sensing the momentary break in the tension that the woman was eliciting. Damn... I swear these kids sometimes seem like force sensitive... How could he catch onto it so quickly... 

-Ms. Lana, we are sorry to be late, but we found this little girl. She seemed to lose her way... We couldn’t leave her behind just like that.

Lana’s expression was filled with doubt as she listened to the explanation. She turned to me with a practiced and soft gaze as she asked in a theatrical, warm voice. 

-Is this true, sweetheart? Were you lost? 

Uh-oh... I felt speechless by the obvious disbelief in the lady’s voice.

I was discretely nudged into my back, and I started to nod furiously. I might have overdone it...

-You can tell me, if these bunch of good for nothings got you into trouble sweety...

I felt a shiver run up my back, but seeing the hopeful eyes of the surrounding kids melted my heart.

I decided to do my act.

I blinked a few times, acting overly hesitant, which was not entirely an act at this time, and said.

-I... I kind of lost my way... sorry for troubling you...

The woman stared at me for a second, then changed her behavior completely. 

-Oh, no, you do not. I am actually proud of these good for nothings, except Luna of course… they have finally done something good besides wasting their money by playing video-games...

I could see some of the kids feeling guilty by the undeserved praise. They were such good kids; I mean... kidnappers... Come to think of it... can someone count as a kidnapper if he or she is a kid too? Probably... A thought for later.

Whatever... 

I was ushered to sit down with the others. I was told to wait out the classes, then they would help me find my way home. Since I described the restaurant where I stayed to them, which everyone knew of, they promised me to lead me there later.

I sat down and watched the classes in silence, looking at the things the kids were learning. I mean, it was a perfect opportunity to fill in an existing hole inside the archive. Current education of the Republic specifically. The presentation was pretty good too. I enjoyed the light workout and decided to solve the offered problems for myself. 

One of the kids noticed me following the class, and solving the problems, by writing inside my digital note that I used to write up the orders of the customers, and things like that. It was a low budget, carriable minicomputer. 

The nosy bastard dared to snatch away the device from me, which took me completely unexpectedly as I was submerged in my thoughts and calculations. 

He glanced at the note, probably expecting some random drawing, and was surprised to see the solution to all the problems that were presented. Most kids have only solved half of the problems, and I was done with it for a few minutes now. 

I wasn’t even trying, just passing the time... is it not that I wanted to show off to children... or... was it? To be honest, I wasn’t that certain anymore.

-WHOA! Nizz solved all of them already...

Stated the kid loudly. 

A shadow appeared in front of us and took the note from the kid’s hand while scolding him.

-And did you ask Nizzal if you could borrow her note, David? 

-Ah... no, Ms. Lana...

-Shame on you then.

With that, she started to carefully look over my solutions... While I was screaming inside my head. You didn’t ask to look at it either! I could see that her expression was getting ever more strained... I mean, maybe it was because of that hyperspace double jump calculation that I did on the side... I mean, I was troubled by that thought for a while and decided to get to the end of it... I only finished one part of it, as my mind got carried away... halfway through it... But... I intended to finish it...

-This is all good... 

Stated Lana, which was followed by another gasp from the throng of kids.

I could also hear a disbelieving whisper from the teacher, which sounded like this...

... and what is this? I have no idea what this calculation is... 

Damn... I am starting to think all things considered I am a ridiculously bad spy…

 

 

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