The Rebel Faction

"Paddington, I have bad news." the crash of lightning and thunder sounded in the background.

"What is it, baby?" came the nonchalant yet inevitable reply.

"The child is not Highbacca's." such news may have moved lesser men but not Paddington. He simply waited for the rest. "It is yours!"

The fat sidekick of Paddington, nicknamed 'Wheels' since he subbed as Paddington's aircar driver as well, gaped and turned to his wide eyes to his hero, Paddington, wondering just how the Man of Myth would get off of this emotionally-charged pod-racer. Wheel's dumbfounded stare should have ended with his exclamation, "Holy Horny Hairy Bastards, Paddington! What will you do?!"

Unfortunately for Paddington, the question did little to upset Wheel from being a vision of total idiocy.

Our hero sighed and turned a calm eye to the luminous lipped Lola. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, baby, but I've been sterile for years!"

Wheel's lost his grip on gravity and fell to the floor.

"LIAR!" screemed Lola. "I know the..."

"Somebody's been leading you by your pierced lip." Paddington was coming into his full now as he was beginning to put all the pieces in place with his highly unlikely but ultimately correct suppositions. "Boss CK-1 tricked you with a false sensor DNA match testing method telling you the child was mine so that you'd be more favorable to sleeping with Highbacca!"

"Why, Paddington? Why?"

"Because baby, once the child was born and seen to be Highbacca's, Boss CK-1, as official guardian of the child would incur Highbacca's life-debt and all the benefits of Highbacca's office and protection!"

Lola was not to be deterred as her confused little mind (bless her confused little mind) tried to cope with the reality that slammed into her like blaster bolts from a DL-44.

"But why would Boss CK-1 become the child's guardian?"

"Because baby," Paddington patiently responded as he pressed the emergency release for the highrise room's window. The glass panel slid open and the wind roared over Paddington's next words.

"He laced your hormone centers with nano-explosives!"

"But.. But.." Lola was crying now knowing that it was too late for her but not really. "Why are you leaving?"

Paddington grinned as he turned to Wheels. "Because baby. Boss CK-1 is a droid. What does he know about women?"

His flashy smile twinkled secure in the secret knowledge that he as a man possessed over Boss CK-1.

Overcome with emotion, Lola wailed, "I love you!"

Paddington had already picked up Wheels and shoved him out the opening. Hopefully the repulsors would catch on and slow his sidekick's descent.

As Paddington began to slide out the window, he flashed her one of his famous Devil-may-care grins and she felt weak at the knees.

"We'll always have Bonadan.." he whispered and jumped.


"PADDY!! PADD---"


[SIZE=3]*BOOM*[/SIZE]


Lola Legheart blew up the twentieth floor of the Etti-IV Economic Summit Building but it was nothing like the blow Paddington felt in his heart.

Lola was special.

Just like all the other hundreds of women he had slept with.

He remembered every one of their smiles and took solace in the fact the Lola would join the Pantheon Halls of Homage in his mind.

He would never forget her.





Wheels slammed into an Azguardian tour bus that carried religious zealots intent on looking for the ruins of Tweed, the Azguard God of ...

Well, hell...

Love.

Figures!

Just as Paddington's heart was undergoing massive reconstruction due to Lola.


In a rather fortuitous set of circumstances, Paddington landed on the back of the open airbus. Finding a seat that was recently vacated by zealots who had gone forward to deal with the interloper, Wheels, he settled down.

And what did he find when their scaley skins moved away but a tiny, blonde librarian pushing her glasses against her nose. She was looking at the information and as Paddington turned toward her he noted the title of the article, "The Joys of Erotic Massaging by Strangers".

She looked up, startled by his sudden presence.

Paddington flashed his infamous grin and quipped, "Hello stranger."






Tyscio's mind only have on the holonet program as he delicately and quietly opened the large box.

It was all he could do to keep his excitement down as the butterflies had arrived. That he could get them boxed and shipped to him was somewhat of a surprise but who was he to question Providence?

The white creatures sported a delicate gold wing that glittered in the home's lighting.

He glanced up and grinned an evil grin, "You will not get these!" he hissed to the ceiling.

He never heard the security chimes as they were deactivated by a key code.

Tyscio was gently putting the cover back on when a loud crash was heard and the Caprician let out a startled yelp.


"TYSCIO!!!!"

"NOOOOO!!!!" He shouted in response but it was too late. The shrill voice of the newcomer startled the butterflies and their glittering wings took flight. Tyscio might have been overawed by their sparkling movements if Leia's shout had not wakened the tiny swamp bats hanging from the ceiling.

Her shout had broken Tyscio's concentration and his tiny force-compelling of the bat's sleep cycle and he felt the last bits of control slip away. The bats let out a snarling squawk at having their slumber interrupted only to find a feast of white/gold butterflies dancing under their noses.

With a joyful shriek they took flight chasing the pretty little insects.

It was utter chaos and Tyscio gave up trying to control it, simply walking over to his newly arrived fiance.


"Everything's pretty much like you left it.." he started and then grinned, adding: "Baby."


Before Leia could react to the dying butterflies and happily munching swamp bats a high-pitched squeal filled the room and Tyscio went red, "OH, PADDY!!!"




"How was your trip?" the Caprician asked innocently.

Tyscio threw a concerned look Leia's way as she spoke, the edgings of despair clearly evident.

"Vodo wants to kill you? Whatever for? Because the those of the Order cannot get along? Because the Empire reigns and you are being blamed? You gave everything in fighting Emperor Palpatine and his minions and successfully, I might add. You helped the people create the Republic anew! Where was Vodo in all this? Where were any of the Jedi you see now? And NOW? Now, because this new chance you and the Alliance gave to the people in the form of the New Republic fell and the Empire capitalized on that fall you are being blamed for their advances? Where is the justice in that?


It seems to me that perhaps darkness may have hardened the heart of this Jedi Master.


But as for the Jedi Order, your members are not dead. They have gone their separate ways because each feels strongly regarding their own particular choice in how to fight evil. Some have gone over to the Coalition, some may go elsewhere...who knows, some may come here. But each one is still engaged in the fight in some form or another.


And as for the Empire.."


Tyscio grinned, putting his arm around his fiance, "They do not rule most of the galaxy. And they do not rule here."


"But I am glad your friend is back. It also means there is hope for Vodo. I remember meeting an Amalia Braska on Tatooine a while back.."


Tyscio's thought drifted off but he knew he couldn't shake the one practical question she asked. The wedding!


"The gobs of invitations have been sent out, the ceremony and reception locations purchased... just working on the color coordinating of the theme. We've started receiving gifts which are being routed to our new house, which is coming along nicely, I might add. The Engineering Corps is finalizing all your Jedi do-dad hook-ups to make it an appropriate location for a Jedi Master to make her home."


Truth be told, Tyscio had been thinking about the future while Leia had been gone. His own training, while slow, had been improving but it was not so much combat technique that interested him for there were many ways to fight and many ways to win at fighting. Winning at fighting did not always ensure that 'right' prevailed.

In Tyscio's studies, it seemed to him that to have 'right' prevail, in the world of force users, it was not the desire to use the Force as a slave but the ability to have the Force as an ally that ensured such an end.

And it was that kernal of truth that helped Tyscio define the Light side and Dark side within his mind.

In truth, Leia's training and instruction has helping to open his mind to the potentials of having the Force as such an ally.


He also wondered where Leia wanted to eat.

Tyscio raised an eyebrow towards the Jedi Master and his soon-to-be wife. Face it, ol boy, she could probably drink you under the table and still be able to battle Rancors, Sith Lords and Imperial Emperors...

He frowned as a great concern suddenly overcame him...


But will she still be able to rub my feet and scratch my back?


"Well first, I had to convince myself that force techniques were worth learning? I mean, it is great and all to raise stuff off the ground without carrying them but to what practical use? Training to use a lightsaber was tough as hell and I am far from mastering it, but I still ask myself.. to what end? The most basic application of all this force know-how is for fighting.

But then it hit me and I had to acknowledge why others were the Jedi Master while I am simply a pada...err.. apprentice. All these exercises help me to discipline my mind and keep my focus on where it should be. Therefore, in keeping my mind on where I was and what I was doing, I found that I could raise bat droppings from the floor cleaner than a vacu-droid. But it still left me with the age old problem that has plagued Jedi Knights and Masters alike for centuries: once you've raised bat droppings off of the floor, what do you do with it?

What I ultimately did with it may not have been the best decision for all parties involved. But then, that's the question that always captures our imagination isn't it?

What if...?

What if I had made a different decision? What if you had made different decisions and our lives had turned out differently?

We will always be plagued by such doubts because there is always going to be another decision or action we could have taken but did not with everything we do.

So, my Jedi Master fiance, worry not about the paths you've already chosen and worry about the path you are about to choose."


He frowned as a menu was handed to him.


"Like what the bloody heck are we going to eat here?"

"So change in plans, you two."

In a gesture that appeared anything but ladylike, Amalia sat facing the back of her chair, arms crossed with her elbows set casually across the framed support piece of the chair.

"We're not eating here."

She looked to and fro at her two companions, grinning slyly. Her pose broke as she lifted her left hand only to gesture to with her index finger to signal to wait.

"Well - at least you two aren't. There's this nice little place just down the road from here. Normally, it's not open at these hours, but I pulled a few strings, sold my soul, you know - that sort of thing. Anyway, let's get going, the owner will have my head if we don't show up at the time specified."

She stood up by swinging her leg out and away from the chair and then swung her seat back where she'd found it. Brown orbs that were almost on the verge of impatience took note of the couple staring back at one another, no doubt lingering on apprehensiveness.

"What do I need to do?? Speak another language perhaps?? I said let's go! So c'mon!"

Amalia enthusiastically waved her hands up and over, signaling for the couple to get up.

"You're going to like it, I promise! Now hurry up!"

Not bothering to wait for them, she made way for the door, checking her chrono as she pushed open the door.

"Hey! HURRY UP!!" The female shouted across the way, realizing that they only had five minutes to the intended destination.

Trying to savor the best sort of patience she could, Amalia half wondered in silence if she should have also signed herself up for a spa package. Both intensely independently driven individuals, trying to get Tyscio and Leia to do anything, and together at the same time, at that, was like pulling teeth!

By the time they arrived, the spa owner had already lost hope, but smirked upon Amalia's dynamic run into the resort.

"You promised me five minutes."

Amalia shook her head up and down smartly while glaring, speaking with irritation through gritted teeth.

"So I did, but I cannot exactly work miracles. Do they get the package or not?"

The man, looking downcast at Amalia over the orange rim of his glasses, had already well enough made up his mind, at least until he caught sight of the married couple to be. The man's eyes widened at the sight of seeing Leia, dumbfounded by the sheer sight of her. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out as he fumbled for words. To this, Amalia could only roll her eyes, accepting the display as somewhat tiresome. Since he couldn't get his eyes peeled away long enough to answer Amalia, the woman was forced to take matters into her own hands.

"Okay then, so I'll just sign them in - take the key, and we'll be out of your way."

Energetically yet swiftly plucking the key out of the young man's hand, Amalia signed them in with a sarcastically smug manner, mumbling something intolerable under her breath, altogether annoyed by the man's inability to function coherently. Scrounging up a figurative map from the lobby desk, Amalia briskly walked toward Leia and Tyscio, handing him the map, and Leia the key to their suite.

"So, there you are - I'm sure the man would welcome you properly, but he cannot seem to, so.. if you hadn't guessed by now, it's a private resort and spa. You owe nothing, courtesy of me and that babbling fool over there, whose name happens to be Luca. I was going to tell you that he could probably answer any questions that you might have, but the pamphlet has a frequently asked questions menu on it, along with a map, it'll tell you just about everything you need to know about the resort. Have a good time.."

So as not to take up too much more of the couple's time so that they could go off and enjoy themselves, Amalia gave them both a quick hug, promising to see them both again soon. It was upon her fifth or sixth step to the exit that she paused to turn and look at the couple.

".. and yes, they have food and beverage - just go all the way through the lobby, and to the left, you'll find the eatery."

Finally, as uptight as the woman had been in trying to make it there on time so as not to ruin the nice gift she had established for them, Amalia offered them a flourishing smile, waving as she escaped through the lobby's double doors.