Brenum and Agent Knarf were tinkering at the control console, while Trylia and Shadie were looking on, checking things on other consoles.
‘So if a power is of the dark side, why do Jedi use it?’
‘It’s not the power but how you use it that determines whether it’s light or dark, Agent Knarf.’
‘I think you shouldn’t be so rude, Brenum,’ said Trylia.  ‘Our guest is helping you fix the hyperdrive.’
‘I just think it’s fascinating,’ replied Knarf.  ‘It’s a whole other universe to tackle.’
‘What?’ asked Brenum cynically.
Shadie snorkelled.  She had to hand it to the man; he certainly had a way with words.  It had been several days since they had begun repairing the ship, and he always knew when to say something to make her smile, it seemed.  She looked up from her datapad.  Agent Knarf’s glasses were dusty, but his brown eyes still pierced within her soul.
‘When you say universe, what exactly do you mean?’ she asked.
‘Well,’ said Knarf, ‘there are things, projects or aspects of life, that in themselves are too detailed and complicated, and each need a different approach.  So it’s like a whole different universe.’
‘Fascinating!’ Shadie replied, probing with the Force.  There was an energy about this Knarf fellow.
‘What’s so fascinating about him comparing a project to a universe?’ complained Brenum.  ‘We use the Force.’
‘And that’s a whole other universe I have yet to comprehend.  Perhaps one of you could enlighten me.’
Shadie’s heart skipped a beat.  Why had he looked up at her while saying that?  Something in his tone…  Trylia interrupted her thoughts.
‘You know, Knarf, the Force is something not all Jedi understand fully,’ Trylia had said it looking at Brenum.  ‘We listen to it, are attuned to it, feel it, use it.  Why the light and dark?  Some like to believe they can coexist.’
‘But one must be careful,’ replied Shadie.  ‘To forfeit serenity and surrender to passion can become very dangerous.’
‘Uhm, I like danger, me,’ said Knarf.
‘The Jedi also have the rule of no attachments,’ continued Shadie.
‘But how come you still go by your Sith name, Shadie?  Why, you are a universe as well.  Your story fascinates me, although…’
A trill came from the cockpit.  Everyone looked up.
‘Proximity alarms…’
Trylia stood from her crouched position and head for the cockpit first.
‘Incoming vessel, unknown make,’ she said as everyone followed her in.

Continue reading Chapter Two.

Start reading from the beginning of Story 1.