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| - Epin emerged from the cave with the sun shining high in the sky. It was a clear day, with absolutely no clouds in the sky, and the wind was blowing pleasantly. He estimated he had been gone a good six or seven hours. He was eager to make an attempt at opening the Holocron, and wondered exactly what type of journey or choice he was to undertake. "Well, she did say it would come with time." Epin said as he walked towards Aldera. Epin wondered when that time would be, and indeed when he would know it was the time. He had so many questions, but thought it best to not dwell on them at the present moment. Epin halted and looked around. He had just heard Kreia's voice, but could see nothing except the field around him and Aldera city ahead. Epin shook his head and continued on toward Aldera. He made it into the city and disposed of his glowrod in a trash receptacle. The devices were disposable and he could pick up a few more from one of the vendors in Aldera. The city was alive with the usual hustle and bustle of life, with people hurrying to different shops and the rumble of thousands of voices talking at once. He made toward the palace, to see how the Matching was coming along. Along the way, he spotted Leia, who was looking somewhat distressed. "Hey Leia. What's going on." Epin asked as he approached her. Leia gave a start. Though she smiled when she saw who it was. "Oh! H...Hi Epin. What are you doing here?" "Oh, I wanted to, you know, see all the different people that are in Aldera for the Matching thing." Epin replied. "What's going on? Shouldn't you be inside meeting everyone?" "I met a few of them already." Leia said casting her eyes on the ground. "Now I'm out on a match. It's to see how well we are together. I'm just waiting for him to find a place to sit down, we're having lunch at this fancy restaurant or whatever." She brought her eyes back up to meet Epin's. "I get enough of that everyday, I'd much rather go eat a burger and have a soda." "What are you doing here commoner?" Said a male voice. A boy around the same age as Epin and Leia approached out of the crowd. "Princess is..." He looked at Epin with a snear on his face. "...this bothering you?" He shoved Epin. "Get lost street trash." "Leave him alone." Leia said, stepping in front of Epin, facing the other boy. "He's a friend of mine. If you're as sophisticated as you want me to believe, then act like it. Show people some respect." "Hmph." The boy said, taking Leia's arm. "Come on, our table's waiting." Leia jerked her arm away. "No I don't think I want to, thanks." The boy laughed. "Well, you're here with me, so you'll come along whether or not you like it." Well, what are you going to do? Kreia's voice said in Epin's head. Huh? Epin asked himself. What do you mean? Everything in life is a choice. Kreia replied. Make one now. Stand up for your friend, or let her be taken away by this boy. Remember that every action you make will change everyone's perception. Your perception of the boy and of miss Leia. Leia's perception of the boy and of you. And of course, the boy's perception of Leia and of you. Can one action make that much of a difference? Epin asked. Epin chose to stand for Leia. He took her arm and pulled her gently to his side. "She said 'No'. Can't you hear, or do you have so much money that it's clogging your ears?" The boy blinked and laughed. "Hahaha! And what are you going to do about it?" He grabbed for Leia again, but was instead pushed onto his back by Epin. "Back off!" Epin said sternly, causing many people in the immediate area to stop and look. The boy scrambled to his feet, his face red. "Why you! I'll have you for this. No street level..." He balled up his fist and brought it back. Feel it out. See his attack before he acts on it. Said Kreia's voice. Epin dropped Leia's arm and was able to dodge the punch, retaliating by shoving the boy to the ground again, who had put too much force behind his attack and stumbled. The boy hit the ground face first. Several people nearby who were watching, laughed. Epin even heard Leia give a small giggle. The boy scrambled to his feet and swore at Epin before taking off toward the palace. "You'll regret this, I'll see to it that..." The boy yelled, but his voice was drowned out by the voices of everyone returning to their business. "Uh, sorry about that. I hope you're not going to get into any trouble." Epin said as he turned to Leia, who was laughing. "Oh Epin, I'm not going to get into any trouble." Leia said, facing him. "He's not going to say anything to anyone, don't worry about it, really. He'll just be matched up with some other Princess from some other planet when he gets back. He'll be too embarrassed to say what really happened anyways." Leia straightened up a bit, stretching her back. "Come on, I'm hungry. Maybe I'll let you buy me some lunch." She said smiling at him. "Shouldn't you be getting back?" Epin asked as he looked at Leia with raised eyebrows. "Won't they be wondering what happened to you?" "Don't think so much Epin." Leia said wrapping her arm around his and smiling at him. "Everyone's so wrapped up in this Matching thing, I doubt they'll notice my absence for a while. Let's get something to eat, come on." Epin looked at her and smiled back. "Uh, okay, sure!" The two made their way to one of the many food vendors, where they bought sandwiches and drinks. They sat down to eat underneath a large tree surrounded by a small patch of grass that was nearby. "So how long is this Matching thing again?" Epin asked, taking a drink from his soda can. "It goes for five or six days I think." Leia said in a muffled voice, as she had a mouth full of sandwich. She took a moment to finish before continuing. "They send you out for a few hours with different people and maybe more if you two get along." "Do you like any of the boys?" Epin asked in a slightly shaky voice. His stomach gave a small lurch as he finished his sentence. Leia raised her head from her drink and looked at Epin from the corners of her eyes. "Well, some of them are pretty cute." She smiled after saying this and turned her head slightly to watch Epin's reaction. "Oh." Epin said in a flat voice, turning his head to look at some people nearby who were tossing some type of food onto the ground for some small winged and feathered animals called Evods. Epin watched the animals for a few moments before looking back at Leia. To his surprise she was kneeling on her hands and knees facing him. When he faced her, she kissed him on the cheek. "Not as cute as you though." She said, sitting back down and continuing her lunch. Epin sat in stunned silence as they finished their food together. "Well, thanks for having lunch with me." Leia said leaning over and hugging Epin. "I'm going to get back to the Matching thing. I have another boy I need to meet." "Yeah, right. Okay, well I hope it goes okay." Epin said as they both stood up. They disposed of their garbage in a nearby receptacle and Leia left for the Palace. Epin waved to her as she left, she returned it, smiling. He watched until he lost sight of her in the crowd and he went back to the grass and flopped down on it. Not as cute as me! Leia had said that. He couldn't believe it. Don't be so surprised. Said Kreia's voice in his head. Epin sat bolt upright. Kreia? Where are you? Epin decided he'd rather not be out in the open right now, regardless of what Kreia said. He made his way out of Aldera and headed for home. Because of today's events, Kreia continued. you have changed the young lady's opinions of you. I still don't understand. Epin said. I mean, I know people change the way they feel about others, but I don't understand how it effects everyone. It works something like this. Kreia began. Take the events of today, you stood up for Leia, you grasped her arm as you did so. In a sense you were taking control of her. I don't want her to think I'm trying to control her, I... Epin said in a slight panic. If you'd let me finish. Kreia said, cutting him off. The simplest of actions, can have the biggest effects on some people. You made that move in the face of that young boy, standing up to him. Standing up to him for her, standing in his way. So basically it was like saying he has to come through me to get to her? Epin asked. Correct. Kreia replied. And Leia did not leave with the boy, instead, she chose to remain with you. Now, the boy had an opinion of you as a commoner, someone beneath him. So, when Leia chose to stay with you, he somewhat branded Leia as beneath himself also. Because, how could she want to be around someone like you? These are his thoughts. And Leia, changing her thoughts again of him, in her mind, if the boy cannot respect her friends and her words, he cannot ultimately respect her as a person. Epin thought about this for a few moments, considering if such simple actions could indeed have as profound an affect as Kreia previously claimed. I have already told you that they do, and have given evidence to support it. Kreia said, making Epin stop walking. You have also witnessed the event to which I reference. So she can... Epin began, and he was surprised to hear Kreia's voice echo along as he finished. ...Read my mind. Yes I can, if I desire to do so. Kreia said to him. Do not be so surprised, it is not difficult to do so either. Your mind is quite open to anyone who wishes to invade it. What? I... Epin started to say, but he was cut off by Kreia. Forgive me, I should have been clearer. Your mind is open to anyone who is able to invade it. She said, laughing slightly to herself. Epin had no idea what she was talking about, so he started walking again and thought how he could keep others from reading his mind. It is quite simple actually. Kreia said. Though, for now I would like you to think of the days events. Relax and let our conversation sink in. I shall return to teach you more in time. Okay, sure. Epin said as he opened the gate to the farm. As he closed the gate, he made his way to the storage shed to return the Shod he had taken earlier. Epin entered the house and started toward his room but was halted by his father. "Where you been boy?" Sadvo bellowed as he emerged from the living area. "Gone all morning, now you come striding in here?" "I was..." Epin stammered. "...In the city." Leia is a great girl isn't she? Kreia said to Epin. What? He replied, utterly confused. I mean, after all she did give you a kiss on the cheek didn't she? Kreia continued. She must like you a little." I guess so. She said the boys in the Matching thing weren't as cute as I am. Said Epin. "Doing what, exactly?" Sadvo said, narrowing his eyes. Tell him you were with the Princess, and cast your eyes down, as if you feel guilty about it. And think of what you had for lunch with her and remember looking at the people feeding the Evods. Said Kreia. "I was in the city...with Princess Leia." Epin said and he did as Kreia instructed and shot his eyes down and off to the side. "Hmph, with that Princess again huh boy?" Sadvo said with a snarl. "When you gonna learn you ain't no match for them royals? You and the Princess!?" Epin said nothing, but continued to look away. Keep your thoughts on Leia and the city. Kreia instructed. Sadvo laughed and walked toward the door. He pressed the button on the panel next to the door which opened. Sadvo paused for a moment and looked back at Epin before shaking his head and exiting with a laugh, the door swishing shut behind him. What was that about Kreia? Epin asked. Your dear father can read minds. Kreia explained. I will teach you more on this when the time comes. But the reason I started that conversation with you was to confuse him. While he can read thoughts and tell if you are lying, he lacks the focus necessary to break through a proper wall. While that simple digression was sufficient to repel him, others are not so easily kept away. So by thinking about something else, I can lie and not be caught? Epin asked. In essence, yes. Kreia replied. Though as I said, there are those that would have seen through you in an instant. You need to be of a significantly stronger state of mind if you want to keep them out. Well, thanks for helping me out. Epin said. Turn in early today and rest up, we can continue tomorrow. Kreia said. Epin nodded his head a few times to himself and made for his bedroom. When he entered, he hung up his cloak on a hook in the closet and changed into his nite clothes. He tossed the worn tunic into a bin beside the door. He removed the Holocron from the pocket of his cloak and placed it alongside his bed, out of sight. Even though Kreia had said it was okay for people to see it, he felt he should keep it out of sight for the time being. Alderaan Affair Part IX - Part XI
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