All but two passengers have already boarded and I am waiting by the hatch on the last two. A total of five minutes before our launch window the Jedi appear in an aircar.
They climb out and make their way over the landing platform, giving me time to inspect them.
Both females, a Twi'lek with green skin and a human girl, are 15 years old at most. The Twi'lek I have no idea how to judge age yet but she doesn't look that old.
They walk up the ramp and the Twi'lek bows slightly, "Captain Atreus, I apologize for the late arrival. We were held up. I am Jedi Knight Nizzal Zebb and this is Nicole Mara, my padawan."
Nicole is clearly trying not to stare up at me with wide eyes as she bows as well before I nod, "Knight Zebb, Padwan Mara. Welcome on board Clear Skies." I hold a small open metal lockbox forward. "Your lightsabers, if you please."
Zebb frowns, "Captain, a Jedi's lightsaber is an extension of themselves and a symbol of the order-"
I snort, interrupting her, "I don't care if it's bolted to your ribs, Jedi Zebb. Nobody but my crew has access to weapons. If those terms are not acceptable, you are free to seek alternate transport."
She glances at her apprentice before nodding, putting her lightsaber hilt in the box, her padawan copying her.
"A Jedi is never truly unarmed," she comments, more for her apprentice's sake than mine and I shake my head before locking the box.
"This goes in the ship's safe. It will be returned to you when you disembark. If you will follow me, I will take you to your Cabin." I then turn to press the intercom, "Bridge, Captain here. You are free to take the first launch window, the last passengers are on board." Once I get acknowledgment I turn to the pair of Jedi, "This way please." and start making my way down the corridor as the ship shivers softly beneath my claws as the engines activate, breaking the bonds of gravity.
As we enter the crew quarters section I feel something touch my mind softly, probing. It feels like...someone brushing their fingers along the hairs on the back of your neck. Somehow I get a feeling that the one doing it isn't that skilled...
I snarl and my glamor goes to full blast as I twist around in the narrow corridor and grab the apprentice in a hand around her torso, slamming her back against the wall hard enough to drive the air from her lungs.
"You...You DARE!?" I growl down at the tiny human and she whimpers as I bring my glamor under control, turning it down fully.
As I glare down at her, somebody softly touches my arm and I glance down to see a more than a bit affected Nizzal. "I apologize deeply, Captain. I promise it will not happen again. Please, she meant no harm."
Growling softly I look down at her before shifting my look to the apprentice watching me with wide eyes before I let her go and she drops back down onto the floor "I...suggest...you keep your mind to yourself, Dustling"
She gulps before quickly nodding, "I-I'm sorry!" and Nizzal shakes her head with a sigh, helping her up,
"Padawan, I did warn you, several times in fact, that that bad habit of yours would come back and bite you sooner or later."
Nicole swallows and nods "Y-Yes, master."
I snort down at them before turning down the corridor again, "This way..." and take them to their cabin. Once I had them settled in I make my way up to the safe and put the sabers away, before heading up to the bridge.
"Report." I order as I move to coil up around the pillar and Commander Swan looks back at me,
"We reached our parking orbit three minutes ago Captain, all systems are green and we are ready to break orbit for Natsumi system. We've got a clear corridor in 4 minutes, 30 seconds."
I give her a nod "Carry on, Commander." before turning my attention to the holograms I pull up around my pillar to get some VI programming in while I try my best to calm down. I should not have reacted the way I did, especially not against Jedi.
The anger I felt might very well have been natural...but I have already touched the Dark Side once. Did it happen again?
I let out a small sigh and try to merge myself in the fractal programming while ruffling up my feathers, trying to put it out of my mind for now. Even so, I see a conversation with Jedi Zebb might be required in the future. While I am too old to train by Jedi standards, there have to be SOME tips they can give out.
I could hardly be the first force user in the galaxy they have run into that's too old and only have some basic training. They must have some kind of protocol for it that doesn't involve lightsabers.
If I'm to survive what is to come, let alone change things, turning into a raving megalomaniac will not do.
No, it would not do at all.