Coruscant. The central planet of the Galactic Republic that ruled the core
and middle rim planets sun set low turning the sky to a majestic orange.
The tall skyscrapers took in the sun's rays and turned orange as well with
the traffic's reflections scrolling across it like digits on a computer
counsel. Among one of the most famous structures on the planet was the Jedi
Temple, the super large structure where the young students were brought up
in the Jedi Code. As the suns set lower the Republic Transport Ship Radiant
VIII, which replaced its 34-year-old predecessor that was destroyed right
before the events of the Battle of Naboo, landed on the ship platform
suspended high above the planet's criminal infested surface and several
kilometers away from the Temple.
As its landing gear slowly creaked out from concealment, its repulsor- breaks let out smoke. It slowly landed with a faint click of metal against metal. As its loading ramp lowered slowly with a reluctant hiss, a small group of shrouded people surrounded it. Down the loading ramp came a single robed figure with a closely trimmed beard and long hair. His name was Riv- Lyn Veers. He had hazel eyes, golden brown hair, and a cleft chin. The brown cloak he wore covered his broad shoulders and fit body. He looked at the faces of all the people that had come to greet him. From left to right he saw Mace Windu, Ki-Adi Mundi, Tezk Averon and his apprentice Nei-Opo Halca, Yoda, Adi Gallia, and Plo Koon. Five of the seven were on the High Jedi Counsel. He continued down the ramp and bowed to the counsel members.
"Ahh, arrive so quickly have you," Yoda was first to speak. He was one of the Jedi High Council members. He stood only a meter tall and held his slouched body up with a brown gimer stick as a cane. His robes were to big for him and his ears twitched slightly as he spoke. He continued to speak, "Successful your mission was?"
Riv-Lyn inhaled deeply through his nose and pondered the question for a moment, "No, Master. The negotiations between the northern and southern hemispheres of Alaris have failed. Several of the political leaders have died and the terrorist groups have managed to secure several proton charged nuclear warheads from whom I think may be the Black Sun."
The Jedi all stood in silence. The senior High Council member Mace Windu was the next to speak, "It was a tough assignment, Jedi Riv-Lyn, that is why we gave it to you. Alaris' fall from the Republic and Black Sun's supposed rise in power is insignificant at this point in time. The Jedi are more concerned for the departure of Dooku. He has been a great Jedi and we can not afford to lose him with this mysterious Sith Lord lurking the galaxy."
Riv-Lyn avoided eye contact with all of them. He was disappointed in himself for letting down the government of Alaris. He simply nodded and watched as a pair of escort starfighters streaked by following another Republic transport ship, "The planet is engulfed in open civil war now. I just hope the Senate can work things out better than I have."
Nei-Opo rolled his eyes at the word "senate" and his master Tezk responded sharply, "I am quite sure if Jedi Riv-Lyn wanted your opinion young Padawan, he would have asked for it."
The young boy nodded, "Yes, Master. I apologize Jedi Veers."
Riv-Lyn nodded to the boy, "Quite alright Nei-Opo. I am here to investigate where the Alaris Terrorists managed to get a hold of those warheads."
"Answer that we can, Master Riv-Lyn."
"Master?" Riv-Lyn responded, "Do you know if Black Sun were the suppliers of the terrorists?"
"Not yet," Mace responded, "That is what you are going to find out though."
"Sorry Masters, but I am unsure of as to what you are trying to tell me."
"The students' trials today they are," Yoda nodded, "Yet another chance to choose your Padawan learner. Mission the two of you sent on you will."
Riv-Lyn was surprised and softened his voice to a near whisper, "Master, I thought I had made it clear that I was not going to take another apprentice."
"Afraid are you?" Yoda asked, "Fear an emotion of a Jedi not it is."
"No Master Yoda. I am not afraid, merely… concerned. After my failure with Que-Von, I do not believe I could ever take another apprentice."
"Que-Von Towlki was weak, Jedi Riv-Lyn. It was his failure to fall to the Darkside, not yours," Plo Koon said. Riv-Lyn looked down at the brown nerf-skinned boots he wore, and then back to the face of Plo's which was covered with devices that allowed the alien to breath and see in Coruscant's rich atmosphere, "Never the less, I could not make half a good a master as any of you."
"Remember not Qui-Gon Jinn, Master Veers?" Yoda asked.
Riv-Lyn was confused what this statement meant, "Yes. I was not able to attend his funeral, but I do remember he taught Obi-Wan Kenobi. Was he not also one of Dooku's apprentices?"
"Correct you are, Master Riv-Lyn. Do you not remember Xanatos?"
Riv-Lyn thought Yoda's words at a lightning fast rate, and then shook his head, "I vaguely remember his name in the Jedi Archives, but I do not know who he is exactly."
"Second apprentice of Qui-Gon he was. Fell to the Darkside he did, as Que-Von did. But is not Master Obi-Wan an exceptional Jedi?"
Ki-Adi Mundi turned to them, "Our taxi has arrive to take us to the Jedi Temple."
Riv-Lyn followed the group of Jedi with Yoda at his side, limping as usual with the assistance of his cane. Seated next to Tezk Averon and Yoda, he decided to continue the conversation once the driver took off. Once the small blue, open topped vehicle flew away he began to speak, "What ever happened to this Xanatos? Do you think he is the Sith threat that Master Qui-Gon and Master Obi-Wan had revealed at Naboo?"
"No," Mace answered, "He died several years ago. Both Qui-Gon and Obi- Wan witnessed it. Whoever this new Sith threat is, he has disposed of any evidence to his whereabouts."
"Masters," Riv-Lyn started uneasily, "Do you think that Que-Von may be the Sith Lord we are in search of? The last I saw of him was during our battle on Ord Mandrel. He may have used this time to train under the Sith Master…"
"Jedi Riv-Lyn, so sure are you as to the dead Sith Lord being the Apprentice?"
Riv-Lyn rubbed his bearded chin as he thought this through, "Merely an assumption, a possibility Masters."
"Assume not, you should," Yoda stated. He looked toward the skyline that flashed by them at a super fast rate and then the Temple grow bigger as they neared it. Riv-Lyn fell silent and then decided to change the subject, "How many students are participating in the event this year?"
Yoda smiled and laughed softly, "Decided have you to take on an apprentice?"
Tezk patted the man's leg, "Good for you, Riv-Lyn. You would make a great master to a lucky boy."
"Or girl," Riv-Lyn said. He turned to Yoda, "Are the two that I've watched still available for me to choose?"
"Available they are, Master Riv-Lyn," Yoda said. The taxi stopped by a lift tube and each Jedi got with Nei-Opo being the last. Once he got on, the glass cylinder shot up the side of the building at a super fast rate. Yoda continued, "Beduch and Pah-Rei awaiting your arrival they are. Skills honed they have."
As its landing gear slowly creaked out from concealment, its repulsor- breaks let out smoke. It slowly landed with a faint click of metal against metal. As its loading ramp lowered slowly with a reluctant hiss, a small group of shrouded people surrounded it. Down the loading ramp came a single robed figure with a closely trimmed beard and long hair. His name was Riv- Lyn Veers. He had hazel eyes, golden brown hair, and a cleft chin. The brown cloak he wore covered his broad shoulders and fit body. He looked at the faces of all the people that had come to greet him. From left to right he saw Mace Windu, Ki-Adi Mundi, Tezk Averon and his apprentice Nei-Opo Halca, Yoda, Adi Gallia, and Plo Koon. Five of the seven were on the High Jedi Counsel. He continued down the ramp and bowed to the counsel members.
"Ahh, arrive so quickly have you," Yoda was first to speak. He was one of the Jedi High Council members. He stood only a meter tall and held his slouched body up with a brown gimer stick as a cane. His robes were to big for him and his ears twitched slightly as he spoke. He continued to speak, "Successful your mission was?"
Riv-Lyn inhaled deeply through his nose and pondered the question for a moment, "No, Master. The negotiations between the northern and southern hemispheres of Alaris have failed. Several of the political leaders have died and the terrorist groups have managed to secure several proton charged nuclear warheads from whom I think may be the Black Sun."
The Jedi all stood in silence. The senior High Council member Mace Windu was the next to speak, "It was a tough assignment, Jedi Riv-Lyn, that is why we gave it to you. Alaris' fall from the Republic and Black Sun's supposed rise in power is insignificant at this point in time. The Jedi are more concerned for the departure of Dooku. He has been a great Jedi and we can not afford to lose him with this mysterious Sith Lord lurking the galaxy."
Riv-Lyn avoided eye contact with all of them. He was disappointed in himself for letting down the government of Alaris. He simply nodded and watched as a pair of escort starfighters streaked by following another Republic transport ship, "The planet is engulfed in open civil war now. I just hope the Senate can work things out better than I have."
Nei-Opo rolled his eyes at the word "senate" and his master Tezk responded sharply, "I am quite sure if Jedi Riv-Lyn wanted your opinion young Padawan, he would have asked for it."
The young boy nodded, "Yes, Master. I apologize Jedi Veers."
Riv-Lyn nodded to the boy, "Quite alright Nei-Opo. I am here to investigate where the Alaris Terrorists managed to get a hold of those warheads."
"Answer that we can, Master Riv-Lyn."
"Master?" Riv-Lyn responded, "Do you know if Black Sun were the suppliers of the terrorists?"
"Not yet," Mace responded, "That is what you are going to find out though."
"Sorry Masters, but I am unsure of as to what you are trying to tell me."
"The students' trials today they are," Yoda nodded, "Yet another chance to choose your Padawan learner. Mission the two of you sent on you will."
Riv-Lyn was surprised and softened his voice to a near whisper, "Master, I thought I had made it clear that I was not going to take another apprentice."
"Afraid are you?" Yoda asked, "Fear an emotion of a Jedi not it is."
"No Master Yoda. I am not afraid, merely… concerned. After my failure with Que-Von, I do not believe I could ever take another apprentice."
"Que-Von Towlki was weak, Jedi Riv-Lyn. It was his failure to fall to the Darkside, not yours," Plo Koon said. Riv-Lyn looked down at the brown nerf-skinned boots he wore, and then back to the face of Plo's which was covered with devices that allowed the alien to breath and see in Coruscant's rich atmosphere, "Never the less, I could not make half a good a master as any of you."
"Remember not Qui-Gon Jinn, Master Veers?" Yoda asked.
Riv-Lyn was confused what this statement meant, "Yes. I was not able to attend his funeral, but I do remember he taught Obi-Wan Kenobi. Was he not also one of Dooku's apprentices?"
"Correct you are, Master Riv-Lyn. Do you not remember Xanatos?"
Riv-Lyn thought Yoda's words at a lightning fast rate, and then shook his head, "I vaguely remember his name in the Jedi Archives, but I do not know who he is exactly."
"Second apprentice of Qui-Gon he was. Fell to the Darkside he did, as Que-Von did. But is not Master Obi-Wan an exceptional Jedi?"
Ki-Adi Mundi turned to them, "Our taxi has arrive to take us to the Jedi Temple."
Riv-Lyn followed the group of Jedi with Yoda at his side, limping as usual with the assistance of his cane. Seated next to Tezk Averon and Yoda, he decided to continue the conversation once the driver took off. Once the small blue, open topped vehicle flew away he began to speak, "What ever happened to this Xanatos? Do you think he is the Sith threat that Master Qui-Gon and Master Obi-Wan had revealed at Naboo?"
"No," Mace answered, "He died several years ago. Both Qui-Gon and Obi- Wan witnessed it. Whoever this new Sith threat is, he has disposed of any evidence to his whereabouts."
"Masters," Riv-Lyn started uneasily, "Do you think that Que-Von may be the Sith Lord we are in search of? The last I saw of him was during our battle on Ord Mandrel. He may have used this time to train under the Sith Master…"
"Jedi Riv-Lyn, so sure are you as to the dead Sith Lord being the Apprentice?"
Riv-Lyn rubbed his bearded chin as he thought this through, "Merely an assumption, a possibility Masters."
"Assume not, you should," Yoda stated. He looked toward the skyline that flashed by them at a super fast rate and then the Temple grow bigger as they neared it. Riv-Lyn fell silent and then decided to change the subject, "How many students are participating in the event this year?"
Yoda smiled and laughed softly, "Decided have you to take on an apprentice?"
Tezk patted the man's leg, "Good for you, Riv-Lyn. You would make a great master to a lucky boy."
"Or girl," Riv-Lyn said. He turned to Yoda, "Are the two that I've watched still available for me to choose?"
"Available they are, Master Riv-Lyn," Yoda said. The taxi stopped by a lift tube and each Jedi got with Nei-Opo being the last. Once he got on, the glass cylinder shot up the side of the building at a super fast rate. Yoda continued, "Beduch and Pah-Rei awaiting your arrival they are. Skills honed they have."