A
Teenage Jedi
story.
A short Star Wars Glossary appears at the end.
-- -- --
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....
EPISODE II -- COZENAGE OF THE SITH
Lim-Rel found her mother in the kitchen. Rather than cooking, she was making herself a fecoef, a caffeinated beverage made from a type of Y Liemian beans.
"Can I have one too please, Mom?"
Loo-See added two more scoops to the machine and some extra vandens juice, before pressing a button, and the machine humming into life.
"Thanks, Mom. Um... well... Dad contacted me... and..."
Loo-See had been staring at the fecoef maker, but now swiveled towards her daughter. A strange look passed across her face. "I know, he was trying for some hours. Where were you?"
Lim had a feeling that her mother already had a good idea about the answer, and so went for partial honesty. "I... I was... um... hanging out with Obuna, you know her, right?"
Loo-See smiled. "I do indeed. An excellent choice. And save the blushes, your feelings do you credit."
If anything, Lim reddened more, she felt she was beginning to resemble Loo-See's dominant skin hue. Swiftly she changed the subject. "So, Dad... wassup with this mysterious journey?"
A frown crossed Loo-See's brow. "If he has not revealed things to you, it is not my place to either."
"But Mom..."
"Whining at me is just going to be annoying, it's not going to change my mind." A note of irritation was in the Zabrak's voice.
Lim knew the signs too well, and decided to back off. "OK, but... well... he asked me to..." She hesitated, knowing her mother's occasional temper. "Well... he..."
Lim fell silent, seeing Loo-See's expression. But her mother spoke. "He asked you to look after me, didn't he?"
Lim gave a 'yeah kinda' shrug, hoping to avoid Loo-See's ire.
Lim's mother looked back at the fecoef machine, which had started beeping. She turned it off and poured two cups from the integral carafe, handing one steaming drink to her daughter.
"It's OK, it's not your fault. I know he means well, but, well you'll probably find this out for yourself in time, Lim. Men can be kinda dumb."
Loo-See allowed herself a smile. "Maybe stick to your Togruta friend, right? Less complications."
Lim shuffled in embarrassment. "Um... OK. But... Dad?"
"Your father forgets that I am a warrior, and one who has bested him. I have no need of protection. But... I guess it was sweet of him to worry."
"But, why, Mom? Why is he worried?"
Loo-See shook her head. "I cannot say. In time, maybe..."
Lim thought, 'ugh! parents,' to herself, but decided not to vocalize her frustration. Instead she went to her room to sulk. Sulk and maybe message Obuna.
-- -- --
It was a bit of a walk to Lim's room. Her mother was a princess after all, which conferred certain benefits. While not a palace, austere Zabrak society eschewed such fripperies, the property was nevertheless substantial. Lim managed to spill some of her fecoef on the way, and stopping to mop the marble hallway tiles didn't improve her mood.
Carefully placing her cup down, Lim threw herself onto her bed, and fired up her communicator. She worried that she would appear too keen messaging her friend so soon, but decided to risk it.
Lim also debated what to say about her conversation with Loo-See, she'd already taken Obuna into her confidence, and -- more importantly -- she really needed to talk to someone. So she ended up unburdening herself.
It took Obuna a while to reply, she said that she had been busy. The Togruta's message was both sweet and salutary.
Look, both your mom and dad are badass, that's how they had a badass daughter. I'm sure it will all be fine. I wanted to say that earlier was special, for me, I mean. I really liked being with you. It was different, deeper maybe, than other times. How about you?
Lim was taken aback. Of course being with Obuna had been wonderful for her, transformative even. But she had assumed that their, rather one sided, coupling had been quotidian for the more experienced woman. And badass? Really? She wondered what to say, opting for unvarnished honesty.
It was amazing for me, truly amazing. Like nothing else. Thank you.
The young Jedi surveyed her words, decided that the last two were kinda needy, and deleted them prior to sending. The reply this time was close to instantaneous.