momslilassassin | Dathomir, Galaxy Far, Far Away [all day Monday, Fandom time] (Reply)

Dathomir, Ben thought a little darkly, was picking up where the Maw had left off. First they'd been hassled by a low-level bureaucrat for even being on the planet, then they'd run into one of the Dathomiri witches who'd used Force lightning to short-circuit their lightsabers, comm equipment, and unfortunately, the speeders they'd been riding on.

So now they were tromping through the rain forest on foot, following the blood trail that Luke had put on the Sith girl and trying to avoid the increasingly devious traps the Dathomiri witch was placing in front of them. Ben was currently meditating while Luke and Ender stood watch, trying to get a better idea of where their little shadow was hiding.

He reached into the Force and found...Aunt Leia. He let out a sigh of relief and set her a Force-pulse of reassurance--the mental equivalent of a smile--and then looked around for the Dathomiri witch. He found her nearby: stringing cord to turn a patch of poorly balanced boulders on a hillside into a dangerous deadfall. She was unhappy about it, Ben could tell, upset that this trap was so much more dangerous than the other ones, but she wanted, needed them to go away.

He opened up his eyes again. "We still need to head northwest?" he asked his father, who nodded. "Then we need to watch out for rockfalls." He smiled at Ender. "I have our tactic all prepared: when the rocks fall, we get out of the way."

Ender	"Wow," Ender said, returning the smile with a deadpan look (but underlying amusement), "Clever boy like you, just take the fleet and run with it."
Ben	"I've been taking notes as I watch one of the greatest tacticians of my generation operate," Ben teased back just before his foot landed on a rock that shifted under his weight. Far over their heads, boulders perched on the overhang leaned out and dropped toward their head. "Move!" Ben cried, reaching out to yank Ender with him as he leaped up and to the left, using the Force to propel him six meters straight up and out of the way of several tons of rock.
Ender	The sudden movement jarred Ender hard, but he wasn't about to complain or lash out about something that might have just saved his life. "Now that's sticking to the plan," he gritted out, grasping instinctively for something to steady himself, which happened to be Ben's arm.
Ben	Ben gave him a quick smile as Luke landed next to him, then focused on the way the rocks were rolling. "Three stages of fall," he observed. "Very sophisticated."
Luke	Luke opened himself up to the Force and made an unhappy face. "Uh oh." He didn't have a chance to elaborate as a rancor scrambled into the pass they'd just left wielding a club that easily weighed 200 kilograms. On its back and neck was a saddle, and in the saddle was a woman of middle years, looking furious. Another rancor appeared down the pass in the opposite direction, with another woman in its saddle and a third woman, the one they'd been tracking, running along beside. Three more women appeared at each end of the pass, and a third rancor was now reaching the summit where he, Ben, and Ender were standing. "A pleasure to meet you at last," he called politely to the woman who'd been tracking them. But the woman in the rancor saddled above her gestured, and a sudden wind howled along the pass, plucked Ben from where he stood on the cliff, and sent him tumbling down the slope.
Ender	Torn between running off to check on Ben and keeping an eye on the immediate threat, Ender... opted for the latter. Not that he didn't feel a sudden surge of worry about the whole thing, but: first things first. "He," Ender called, with annoyance he only partly felt, "Wasn't planning to attack you."
Luke	The woman atop the rancor shrugged and raised her hands into the air. She'd barely started chanting when Luke reached out for Ender's arm. "Down the hill," he said. "Watch your head." A moment later, a cyclone of stones where whirling after them, aimed to crush their skulls.
Ender	Ender was really starting to wonder whether anyone in this galaxy really believed in taking the civil approach to anything. Not that he had much time to pontificate on that right now-- Luke's advice was pretty damned sound, and so his reflexes kicked in and he moved. Fast.
Ben	Ben had been bouncing down the hill a bit ahead of them (only slightly concussed) and turned toward them before his attention was grabbed by the shrieks of the witches--something the three of them certainly hadn't caused. He looked over to see a speeder come to a sudden, bone-compressing stop and two people leaped out of it before the speeder slid down the calves of the rancor it had almost crashed into and landed onto the rocky floor of the pass. "Hello, Uncle Han," Ben said softly, grinning. At least, he was pretty sure there were only about five people in the galaxy crazy enough to try that. And then the woman took a stun blast to the face and Ben was certain. "That's my uncle," he said, pointing out the small figure to Ender.
Ender	Ender came to a stop with a little bit of a bounce at the end. He'd been going pretty fast. "More Skywalker-Solos," Ender commented, watching the rancor-warrior-speeder spectacle with narrowed eyes. "This isn't going to get interesting at all." Jane snickered in his ear. "How's your head?" "Still thick as a rock."
Ben	"Still attached," Ben said, reaching into the Force to deflect some of the stones still in the air into the nearby trees, "so I'll take it."
Ender	Ender didn't bother to comment further. He turned more, narrowing his eyes as he evaluated the new state of the battlefield - and came once more to the conclusion he was surplus to requirements. Maybe he should just keep ducking until the greatest danger of incoming projectiles had passed.
Ben	Ben was mentally assessing the battle: Leia and Han had brought reinforcements with them, but it was still a lot of witches and rancors for them to handle alone. "You'll be okay up here?" he asked. "I should go help."
Ender	"I'll be fine," Ender said, tersely. "Go."
Ben	"You sure?" Ben asked, looking worried.
Ender	"Ben, this is not the time for fussing," Ender snapped.
Ben	"Stay down and I'll draw the witches' attention," Ben promised, tossing himself into a series of acrobatic maneuvers in an attempt to draw the stones away from Ender. Further away, Luke gestured with his palm and the farthest rancor stumbled backward and fell onto its rider while a speeder-mounted stun gun took out the rancor nearest Leia. Ben called out to Leia as he got closer and she threw him her lightsaber. While it was still in the air, he lashed out with a solid midriff kick to the witch who had tossed him off the cliff to begin with, then held her at lightsaber point, which was enough to convince the rest of the witches to abandon their fight.
Ender	Ender... had stayed down. He could tell when something was not a fight he could win with his own fists, though Jane in his ear - and his own analysis of their path so far - said he'd be able to make a good play for an escape if he absolutely had to. But he'd suspected Ben and the Skywalker reputation would at the very least keep the rancors busy. So while all of this was going on, he was watching, eyes occasionally going big as he realised once again just what feats the Jedi were capable of. And then it was over. He got up out of hiding and surveyed the scene.
Ben	Ten minutes later, things were much more settled. Nine witches of Dathomir sat or lay on the stony ground with their hands tied behind her back--all but the rider of the second rancor who had broken her arm when her mount landed on her. Her injured arm had been splinted by one of Han and Leia's helpers, but she'd refused further medical attention. The expressions on the witches' faces ranged from professionally neutral to absolutely furious. The three rancors were further down the pass licking their wounds. The Dathomiri woman who'd come with Han and Leia and had been identified as Tribeless Sha, introduced them. "They are the Raining Leaves Clan. Very traditional, women in charge. They suffered a disaster about ten years ago, no one in the clan talks about it with outsiders, but we think all of their senior witches died then. We're well north of their territory, I don't know why they are here." "Let's go ask them," Ben offered sensibly. "They will not tell you. Traditional, as I said."
Ender	"Then we'll see what they are willing to tell us," Ender said, glancing at Tribeless Sha. "Or you and Leia, if that's what it comes down to. Though all things being equal, I don't think they've got as much to bargain as they think they do." He looked back towards the bound-up women, and looked thoughtful. "Mind if I talk to them?"
Luke	"I don't see a problem with it," Luke said as he stepped forward with Ender. "If you kill us," the woman with the broken arm began, "the rancors will eat you whole. Only our will keeps them at bay."
Ender	"I think you won't much care about what happens to us if we kill you," Ender said, lightly, "And even then, these Jedi have done fairly well at dissuading your rancors thusfar." He knelt down on one knee, to bring himself closer to face-level. "But we're not here to kill you, and certainly not to slay your rancors, either. And considering your tactics up until this ambush, I don't think you were really aching to kill us. Seeing as we're two groups of people with no actual interest in murdering each other, I think it would be wise if we talked to each other instead."
Luke	The woman didn't answer, and Luke sighed, siting down before them and next to Ender. "If we don't talk, we won't find common ground," he added. "Let's start with introductions. I'm Luke Skywalker." That got a reaction--the witches exchanged glances. Luke continued. "And here are Leia and Han Solo, my sister and brother-in-law, my son Ben and his friend Andrew Wiggin, and, presumably, Han and Leia's escorts."
Ender	"Would you do us the honour of returning the favour?" Ender asked, politely. "It makes things a little less awkward."
Luke	"I am Kaminne Sihn, head of the Raining Leaves Clan." With a nod, she indicated the woman with streaked hair. "My sister, Olianne, our war leader." She looked to the woman with snakeskin leathers and then the stoutest witch: "Halliava Vurse, chief trainer of scouts, and Firen Nuin, trainer of rancors." Olianne leaned in. "Do not be moved by who there are," she said, barely loud enough to be heard. "It does not matter who they are." "It does matter," Kaminne replied "In a way, these events would not be taking place without Luke Skywalker. I declare him and his friends counselors." Luke glanced quickly to Ender, then back to the witches. "Thank you. Please continue." "You are now a part of this meeting of clan. As counselors, it would not do for you to show up with the leader of the Raining Leaves in bonds, in your custody." She held out her bound hands.
Ender	A small smile played across Ender's features. She was obviously trying to take control of the situation, but she didn't seem to be doing so in any way that involved violent intent. He gave the faces of the Jedi a quick scan just to get a confirm on that. "Your suggestion is a wise one," he said, picking his words carefully: suggestion. Not order, and certainly not control, but not begging either. "I imagine that would be awkward, too." He didn't actually have the authority to tell anyone to cut them loose, but he could imply his own suggestion, thank you. He rose to his feet.
Luke	Luke nodded at Ender and Tribeless Sha came forward to help him release the witches while Luke wandered back to greet Han and Leia. Han was using a series of hand gestures to reenact the speeder maneuver for Ben, but they stopped when Luke approached, giving his sister and then his brother-in-law hugs. "You know what I like about coming to backrocket planets?" Luke said with a tiny smile. "No one ever says 'You look taller on the 'Net.' You didn't bring any tools with you, did you? Ben and my lightsabers are out of commission." Han nodded, but before he could make a further reply, Kaminne came over from inspecting the rancors to tell them they could move out. She paused, tilted her head at Luke, and added. "You know, from all of the stories told of you, I thought you would be taller." Han snorted.
Ender	Ender had followed her back; now he was passing by her and most of the Skywalker posse to throw an amused look Ben's way. "I'm sure we all didn't see that one coming."
Ben	Ben grinned at him. "Me either," he said, wide-eyed. "Nice work up there, by the way." Just ahead of them, Kaminne was talking with Luke. "This gathering, in a sense, is your doing," she told him. "How is that?" Luke replied, surprised. "I haven't been here in years." "But when you did come here, you changed things. That is what they say of Luke Skywalker. Wherever he goes, things change. I was a baby when you first came to Dathomir, and your deeds of were spoken around the fire. Some clans experimented with your new laws, freeing their menfolk. Later, when you commanded that a Jedi school be raised here, it accepted any who were strong in the Force, not just girls." Ben had tuned out from the conversation, focused instead on Olianne who was staring at his father with an openly hostile look on her face. "Wonder what her problem is," he murmured to Ender.
Ender	"Change can be difficult to deal with," Ender replied, quietly, sticking his head closer to Ben's because he didn't want to risk offending anyone when the situation was so obviously still fragile. "And it often comes with unexpected side-effects. Maybe something happened to her. Or maybe there's something else she holds your father responsible for."
Ben	Ben nodded as Kaminne expanded upon the story Tribeless Sha had begun: the Raining Leaves menfolk had revolted, killing every witch that had been in camp at the time. The witches who returned retaliated by killing every man over the age of ten. "So what is it like to be a hero, Skywalker?" Olianne asked in a mocking tone. "Shall we name our boy-children after you?" Luke turned to look at her. "I'm sorry for your losses, but I don't teach that sort of violence. It was a desire for vengeance that prompted both of your slaughters...not me." Kaminne nodded. "He's right," she admitted before explaining that mathey were going to annual meeting with an all-male clan called Broken Columns, where they had formed marriages that lasted a year. The next year, boy children were handed over to the men and the girls were introduced to their kin. This year would be different, though, as Kaminne was planning to marry the clan leader of Broken Columns in a marriage that would last more than a year and join the clans together. "I know about changes," Leia said with a smile. "Some are bad, some are good, and when you look back on your life, you will probably approve of the ones you brought on yourself." Ben thought this might be a good time to bring up their search for the Sith girl. "My father and I are looking for a girl, not Dathomiri, who crashed her ship somewhere north of the spaceport." Kaminne's face went blank. "Yes. Vestara is her name. She is with the clan."
Ender	"You decided to take her in?" Ender prompted. He was careful not to let any judgement seep into his tone - the more of a picture he got of Dathomiri society, the more obvious it became that one had to venture carefully to get anywhere with it at all. He had no wish to wind up lumped in with one group or another.
Ben	Kaminne nodded, eyes icy. "You will have no authority here. You may not just take here, and she will not go with you. She is with the clan now--Olianne mentors here and may chose to adopt her." "Fantastic," Ben muttered. "Maybe she'll be willing to talk to us," he added in a louder voice.
Ender	"I would never presume to make any decisions about her presence with the clan, if you found her worthy of joining you," Ender said, amicably, though not visibly intimidated. "I'm merely curious as to how she got here - and her motivations."
Ben	"We will arrive at the encampment soon," Olianne sniffed, "so you will see--or not--soon enough." "Soon" turned out to be several hours of hiking through the forest, but at last they arrived in a valley filled with several hundred people clearly divided into two camps. Ben could sense suspicion and even hostility, especially from the women, and one touch of alarm, but he couldn't narrow down where that had come from before it was gone. "I bring good words!" Kaminne called. "The man who have been following the trail of the sisters of Raining Leaves are not enemies. I have met them and bring them before you as counselors to this conclave. You have all heard the name of Luke Skywalker. It is him who sits beside me. With him is his son Ben, and they have been joined by the lady Leia Solo and her mate Han, and others. I have granted them safe passage among us." Han sighed. "So I'm just 'her mate'." "Always have been," Leia replied, grinning. "Fetch me something good to eat, mate. And then you may treat yourself to a few drippings of soup." Ben smiled apologetically at Ender. "Sorry about that, 'others.'"
Ender	"I could do much worse," Ender said, shooting him a wry look. "'Others' - not of us, not of them. I think it suits me." Though despite all the joking, he was scanning the faces of the Dathomiri. So similar, and yet so clearly divided. He resolved to find excuses to speak to both camps, and thought briefly, maybe irrationally, of Alai.
Ben	As they were setting up a tall, exceptionally attractive blond man made his way through the crowd toward Luke. "I'm Tasander Dest," he said, holding his hand out, "the clan leader of Broken Columns." "Kaminne told us what the gathering is for," Luke said. "You have some interesting challenges ahead of you." "So do you," Dest said, his eyes flickering out to take in all of the party, "If you're here for anything other than watching tribal customs. The clans have not changed their ways much since you first came to this planet." "So how do we get them to open up?" Ben asked. "The Games start tomorrow. Win some of them. You gain respect, others will talk to you. I'll be competing. Beat me at something...if you can." The good cheer in his manner seemed to pull most of the arrogance out of his statement.
Ender	"This is only my second visit here," Ender said, "So I hope you'll excuse me for asking... what games are there?" Beating games to earn respect-- now that was almost nostalgic.
Ben	"Many," Tasander replied. "Footraces, riding-lizard races, rancor races, speeder bike races for those who have them, shooting competitions with pistol and rifle, accuracy with a spear, wrestling, boating, swimming, riddling--" "Riddles?" Ben interrupted, sounding surprised. "You have a competition for telling riddles?" "Of course," Tasander replied. Ben held out two hands about a third of a meter apart. "What's this big, weighs about forty kilos, and eats people?"
Ender	"Oh, now you've done it," Ender said, good-naturedly. He could probably do swimming. He wasn't sure if Petra's teachings would be as useful in a rifle shooting competition...
Ben	The man who'd come with Han and Leia, named Dyon, shook his head at Ben. "That's not how it's done. Among the Dathomiri, and among most people with an oral history tradition, riddles take a very different form. Yours would go something like, 'I am less than the length of a man's arm. Yet my weight would cause a grown man to stagger should he carry me for a full day. And when that day is done, it is a grown man I will have for my meal.'" "That's a lot more involved than the way I asked it," Ben replied. "But less like a child's game when it's phrased like Dyon did," the Broken Columns clan leader said. He glanced at Ben. "What is so long, weighs 40 kilos and eats people?" Ben gave him an innocent look. "An Ewok in a lunchbox."
Ender	That... was not at all a sudden and inappropriate and thoroughly unexpected laugh being smothered over on Ender's end. Sigh. Ender was sure somewhere Val was rolling her eyes. "Excuse me," he said, politely, and tried not to blanch too much about that one. Someone was trying to avoid offending. "So we should be able to participate, as well?"
Han Solo	Han was not so concerned about not offending the locals: he snickered at Ben's joke. Dest gave them all a solemn look. "You must compete--the adults among you, in any case, if you are to hold the respect of the clan members." Han grinned. "Well, that's different." "First you must declare which division you will compete in: those with Arts or those without," Dest continued. "It must be this way, for in competitions between those with Arts and those without, those with the Arts almost always win." He gestured toward the beach where wood for a large fire was being placed "That is where the riddling and other competitions will take place. Those are among the few where those with the Arts and those without can compete with each other." "It seems very well thought out," Luke said, working on fixing his lightsaber. "I suppose there would be a lot of talk if I didn't compete." "All will wonder if you have grown feeble, or if you merely scorn our traditions." "Guess I'd better compete, then," Luke said, then gave Han a teasing look. "You too, Han." "But I am feeble."
Ender	"I've been an adult for all of a few weeks," Ender said, "So I think I'm in by a technicality, nevermind willingness. I'm thoroughly lacking in anything even closely resembling 'arts', mind; I'm physologically ill-equipped." To put it mildly.
Ben	Ben gave Ender a little grin. "Guess that leaves me as cheering section, then," he said. It would give him a chance to ferret out the Sith girl. He wasn't really complaining about the lack of a chance to compete. Kaminne, seeing Dest already talking with the visitors, walked over as well, and Ben took the chance to ask her a question that had been bothering him all afternoon: "Why has your sister taken such a strong interest in the Sith girl? She's known her for, what, a day or two and is already considering adopting her?"
Ender	"Is it a matter of tradition, or of attachment?" Ender added. He was watching, but part of his mind was busier going through the various activities, sorting out the ones he'd have a shot at. The rest of him was mostly going for 'polite, but watchful'.
Ben	Kaminne didn't answer immediately. "A few months ago, Olianne's only child, Sesara--she was eight--died of a fever. When Vestara stumbled out of the forest, helpless, nearly in a state of collapse, into the midst of Olianne's hunting party and all but fell into Olianne's arms, something about her plight touched my sister's heart. It was as simple as that," she said finally. Ben shot Ender a quick look. What an amazing coincidence that Vestara found the clan member most likely to be sympathetic to her situation. And Ben didn't really believe in luck.
Ender	"It's good to hear your sister has found something to help heal the hole in her heart," Ender said. The look he gave Ben in return showed no recognition of suspicion, though he had noticed much the same.
Vestara Khai	From behind them, they could hear two more voices: the first was recognizable as Olianne's: "...not have to speak with them." The second voice was lighter, younger. "I want to." "You were running from them before." "I was alone before. Now I am among family." They stepped into view and Ben could see her: her eyes were dark, as was her hair, and she seemed to be wearing a half-smile on her face until Ben realized it was an illusion caused by a small scar at the corner of her mouth. She didn't look evil. It was kind of annoying, Ben felt.
Ender	Ender threw one glance towards the women over his shoulder, and a second one at Ben's face. His eyes narrowed, briefly-- then his expression skewed back to neutral. They were going to have to play this very subtly if they wanted to get anywhere with the Dathomiri. He suspected Ben was only willing to take subtlety so far. "Olianne," he spoke out, sounding friendly. "It is good to see you again."
Vestara	Olianne kind of grunted as Luke glanced up, very interested. "I'm Luke Skywalker," he said, "this is my son Ben and his friend Andrew Wiggin." Vestara's eyes flickered briefly to Ender, assessing and then dismissing. "I know," she said. "I am Vestara Khai." "And you are a Sith," Luke continued. "I was," Vestara said. "Now I am Raining Leaves."
Ender	Yes, that's it. Dismiss me - I'm no Force user, and you obviously didn't catch me taking down your friends at Sinkhole. That suits me fine right now. "So you're committed to joining them?" Ender asked, brightly. "It must be quite an adjustment..."
Vestara	Vestara's eyes turned back to him. "Do you wish me to tell you of the differences between my former life and this one? My friends are my friends and my kin are my kin. I won't betray either."
Ender	Ender shrugged, and stuck his hands in his pockets. "You're of the Raining Leaves," he said, "I for one don't intend to ask you to do anything of the sort. I'm just curious, if there's anything you'd like to say at all." Very good excuse not to say anything - it would certainly ring true with the Dathomiri, he reflected. Which was exactly what made it doubly less believable.
Vestara	Vestara shrugged. "It's hard to talk of the Sith without, in some sense, calling to them. Summoning them. Do you want me to summon them to this place?" "Yes." Luke kept his voice matter-of-fact. "If that's what it takes." "I do not wish to see Olianne hurt. Not her, not my new clan."
Ben	"She's lying." Ben's tone was exasperated as he rolled his eyes.
Ender	"You fear they wouldn't be able to handle it?" Ender asked, with appropriate befuddlement, and ignoring Ben almost completely. Not too wide-eyed - he didn't want to overdo it.
Vestara	"Do I fear who wouldn't be able to handle it?" Vestara asked, imitating Ender's innocent expression.
Ender	"The Raining Leaves," Ender said, shrugging. "You sounded worried about them."
Vestara	"You saw how the Sith fought in the Maw," she said with a smile that was more like a flash of teeth. "I don't want my new family hurt."
Ender	Stupidly, Ender didn't say. Recklessly, he didn't say either. They died, he didn't say, but that was for personal reasons. "I saw," he said, as if that was agreement. Let her assume he'd stood by while the Skywalkers fought. But to himself, he noted it was, if anything, a disagreement-- that she was more cocky than she really should be.
Luke	"For someone who seems so anxious to leave the Sith behind, you fought with exceptional dedication," Luke observed. "Of course," she replied. "To do any less than your best effort at any time is to invite punishment. Is it not so with your Jedi?" Luke ignored her question. "What can you tell us of your home-world?" he asked instead. "Nothing," she said. "And your plans, your aims? Whatever brought you to the Maw in the first place?" He wasn't really expecting answers. "Nothing," she replied. "Just let me be. Let me stay among the Raining Leaves. Stop chasing me."
Ender	"I think that can be arranged," Ender said, keeping the expression on his face as placating, slightly intimidated. "Though, I have one more question that shouldn't be too complicated. Where have you left your ship...?"
Vestara	She looked momentarily surprised to be asked a question she could answer. "In the middle of the jungle. I don't know where. All the instrumentation was out. After the crash, I wandered for hours before Olianne found me."
Ben	"Where's your lightsaber?" Ben asked.
Vestara	"It was in my cabin when I began my landing run. When the crash happened...there was nothing left in the cabin," Vestara replied. "I couldn't find any sign of my gear." "Are you done?" Olianne didn't sound so much worried for Vestara as annoyed with Luke, Ben, and Ender.
Ender	"An annoying loss," Ender said, his hands still firmly in his pockets. "But I think we've heard all we need. Thank you for your time, Olianne, Vestara." He gave them both a respectful nod.
Ben	Ben's annoyance finally broke through. This girl had been partially responsible for his father needing to be in the medbay their entire way here, had been part of a raiding party that had done their very best to kill everyone he cared about...and now she was standing in front of them playing the innocent. "Olianne," he said, "this girl is a Sith and that means she's pure evil. She's like a thermal detonator rolling around your camp waiting to go off. When she does, you and all of your clan--"
Vestara	"Evil?!" Vestara practically sputtered the word. "Being Sith has nothing to do with good or evil, any more than being Jedi does."
Ender	Ben should feel really, crushingly lucky Ender had enough self-control not to facepalm right now. "I'm sure there'll be a philosophical debate competition later on," he said, perfectly pleasant, though he hoped to God Ben was able to tell he didn't have much patience for this. "But we have our own preparations to tend to, and I'm sure Vestara and Olianne have theirs to get back to."
Ben	Ben could tell, but he chose to ignore it for the moment. He glared at Vestara. "How can you say that? People become Sith and they do nothing but evil--"
Vestara	"I suppose this explains your Jacen Solo, whom we have heard of--"
Ben	"It does," Ben replied tightly. "He was Sith."
Vestara	"He was a Jedi and you know it!"
Ben	"He became Sith," Ben insisted.
Luke	"Be quiet." Luke spoke softly, but put enough Force emphasis in his voice to make those nearby wince and reach for their ears. "Ender is correct. Vestara and Olianne certainly have other things to do tonight than argue philosophy."
Ender	Ender felt a brief moment of gratefulness to Luke for ending a pointless argument. The last thing they needed was Ben letting his personal issues muck everything up. "And so do we," he added. "We have preparations to make and a camp to finish."
Ben	Ben waited until Olianne and Vestara were out of earshot, then kicked a stone, irritated. "She's playing them like they're a sabacc deck. A children's sabacc deck."
Ender	"So you thought you'd help her along by loudly pointing it out in front of an audience that's already skeptical of our motives?" Ender asked. Lightly.
Luke	Luke wasn't feeling as generous. "She played you exactly the same way," he scolded. "You drew you into an argument that was all emotion, no logic. And since she's a Sith and you're a Jedi, she won hands-down."
Ben	Ben was quiet for a long moment before kicking another rock. "Yeah, I know."
Ender	"Don't let her make you crazy," Ender said. "The cooler our heads are, the more likely it is she'll slip up before we do." It was a terrifying time indeed when he was agreeing fully with Luke, black-and-white dichotomies exempted.
Ben	"It would help if she was ugly," Ben muttered.
Ender	"I'm sure the Sith bred her pretty just to spite you," Ender said, dryly. (So no, Ben's argument earlier really hadn't left him much impressed.) "Seventeen-year-old Jedi boys being a common target."
Ben	"Maybe they are," Ben said stubbornly. "I wasn't impressed with their planning in the Maw."
Ender	"They're not what I'd call brilliant combat tacticians," said Ender. Battle School snobbery was occasionally hard to shake, especially when people were being so obviously stupid. "But that's hardly the point."
Ben	"I'm afraid to ask what the point is," Ben replied with a wry smile.
Ender	"The point is that she seems to be doing a lot better at political tactics than you are, smartass," Ender said, "And that we don't really know what her people are like, so launching into Jedi versus Sith diatribes is not helpful in any way, shape, or form."
Ben	"Yeah," Ben mumbled. "But she's just so irritating."
Ender	Ender sighed. "Keep in mind that she's trying to goad you," he said. "Learn to count to ten."
Ben	"Working on it," Ben said, blowing out a breath.