The three Jedi raced through the broken city, weaving through the scattered remains, hot on the heels of the lithe figure in front of them. Their mad chase took place deep underground the on planet Coruscant. Despite flickering lights and years of abuse, Kyp could tell the abandoned grand hall was once quite beautiful. Rows of columns reached high into the receding darkness above. Clearly, this was a room built to impress, and privately, Kyp mused, it probably once rivaled the grand hall of the Imperial Palace itself.
Kyp somersaulted over a fallen pillar and immediately had to dance around a jagged support beam that had been wrenched from a mangled part of the floor. The figure ahead remained just out of reach, dancing across the ruins as if the chase was a practiced routine. With feline fluidity, it scurried to the broken top of a great column that had been shattered into two jagged pieces. Reaching the precipice, it leapt to the next column, only to hit it with both feet, ricochet off, do a 180 degree back flip and land firmly on a decorative outcropping that lined the upper wall.
This thing, whatever it was, was good.
Kyp stopped running and let out a frustrated snort as Corran and Luke skid to a halt beside him. The three men watched the figure's acrobatics take place above them.
"We're not gaining any ground on this thing. Do we have a "plan B" or are we just going to hope it gets tired before we do?" Kyp inquired.
Luke shook his head slowly, clearly stretching out for answers in the Force. His breathing was controlled and rhythmic, despite the full on sprint they had been maintaining for some time.
Corran turned towards Kyp with a raggedly determined, almost feral look in his eye. "We don't stop until I find my daughter."
Turning back towards Luke, Kyp saw the Grand Master hold a steady gaze with the figure above. It had finally stopped moving as well and held its ground on the outcropping it had landed on. Despite the mask, Kyp could tell the figure was staring right back in a high stakes stare-off.
Patience was never his virtue. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, Kyp reached for his lightsaber with the impulsiveness he was known for. It ignited with a familiar thrum and cast deep shadows further into the room. Spinning with it once to gain momentum, he thrust it forward with all his strength and the deadly precision of the Force. The blade flew at the footing of the figure, carving a new wound in the Grand Hall and forcing the being to make a split decision.
A split decision that forced the masked figure to give the Jedi the advantage.
The being leapt for the nearest pillar but didn't have the momentum or footing to be successful. Seeing it was not going to make it, it began to squirm in a mid-air panic. It plummeted several meters flailing before its falling began to slow. The figure was caught in an invisible hand and spared a grisly meeting with the gnarled ground below.
However, its momentary safety also meant that it was finally apprehended.
Kyp looked over at Luke with a cocked grin. The Grand Master had been able to establish a Force hold on the elusive being and held it squirming mid-air. He stood, eyes locked in concentration. The figure writhed in its invisible prison, held just out of foothold from the ground.
Corran wasted no time. With precision that had been drilled into him from his service in CorSec, Corran grabbed the figure, wrenched its arms behind its back and had it face down on the ground before the slender being could even hope to put up a fight. Using a Force technique, he willed it into a subdued, trance like sleep. Hauling the slumped figure over a shoulder, Corran turned to face the other two Jedi.
Luke nodded in his direction. "We'll head back to the temple."
"And finally get some answers," Corran finished.
"Fantastic," Kyp remarked, calling his lightsaber back into his hand. "Looks like I won't have to cancel my evening plans after all."
Corran threw him an annoyed look. "I don't why we invite you to these things sometimes."
Kyp and Corran had never been the best of friends. They were both excellent Jedi and extremely skilled, but their differing personalities often drove a wedge between them. Sensing tension, Luke interjected before Kyp could retort. "C'mon guys, let's get moving. We have a long way to go before anyone gets to enjoy answers… or free time." Luke watched the two cast each other one last watchful glance, then turn and head back the way they came.
Luke spared one last look behind him down the decaying grand hall. The darkness stretched in infinity beyond the lit section the Jedi stood in, as if anticipating its full claim to large chamber once the last of the weak, flickering lights finally sputtered and died. A slight tingle on the back of Luke's neck told him something was amiss, though he couldn't quite place it.
As if we are being watched.
Luke turned back to watch Corran and Kyp. They continued to walk on in silence.
Making a mental note of the distant sensation, he moved forward to catch up with them.