Preface

Dearest Readers,

Before you begin, let me explain a few things about this story, and about the Kindred Knights themselves. Normally, I wouldn't do this, but there is a lot of things to explain, that this story fails to explain by itself.

About this story… It was my first jab at a fanfic, many years ago. Beyond that, it was one of my first jabs at fiction in general, so I sincerely apologize for plot gaps and discrepancies, weak, ambiguous wordings, or plain out boring stretches. As I said, this story was my first. Since then, I have definitely improved my style.

On our other subject, the Kindred Knights are… special. To me, and in general. They are based upon myself (Nerca Beyul), my sister Lexi (Lexoc Jogri), my best friend Olivia (Oliso), second best friend Kelsey (Keldu Lujac) and friend Jessica (Jesbra Pupal). To the four, this book and series is utterly dedicated. Yes, the Kindred Knights were originally based upon us, but they evolved into something much more. At times, I now see that they are inconsistent and sporadic as characters, but they were my first.

In general, they are special because they defy Jedi laws to be an elite and utterly interwoven group. They break the laws against attachment to form a more perfect union. Beyond that, they are young, very young, for Jedi Knights, ranging from the age of 18 at Lexoc and Keldu to 20 at Oliso. There is a reference here to the mission that started the Knights' career, the mission to Barak II. I don't go into detail in the story, which I now view as a fault. So now, I will explain the mission of Barak II quickly.

Cobbled together for a difficult mission to save the dying world of Barak II, Nerca Beyul, Lexoc Jogri, Oliso Dofer, Keldu Lujac and Jesbra Pupal never expected to find themselves inexplicably compatible with each other. No, it was supposed to be a routine mission, but against everything, they were forced into the frigid wilderness of the world, forced to rely on each others' strengths and cover each others' weaknesses. Thus they discovered just how compatible and fitting they were. At the end of the mission, it was decided that they were simply meant to be a group, and thus the Kindred Knights were formed.

I now like to refer to that mission as "The Great Enlightenment", and hopefully will write its story soon as a prequel.

Oh, and just on a last note… This was always intended to be a series, but I lost inspiration, so it halted midway through the second book. This story is finished, and I have a ton of short stories, but the actual, long books are done.

Thank you for your time,

Nerca Beyul, Jedi Master

Chapter 1

The Jedi Temple was an often understated crest of excellence and grandeur, home of ten-thousand Jedi strong in the waning years of the Republic. Thousands of years of lore and philosophy shaped this group of individuals, united under the cause of common good, as thousands of years of work had shaped this very Temple physically and spiritually.

And this Temple seemed to fall silent as five Jedi walked down the hall, shoulder to shoulder. Jedi Knight Nerca Beyul, a mere nineteen standard years of age, knew that it was because all the other Jedi wondered what situation had summoned the elite Kindred Knights to action.

Nerca was wondering herself, as she moved with the rest of the group towards their mission briefing.

The Kindred Knights were a year-old band of five powerful Jedi women, assembled as an elite faction of the Order. Together, Nerca Beyul, Lexoc Jogri, Oliso Dofer, Keldu Lujac and Jesbra Pupal had traversed the galaxy in this mere year they had been banded together. In fact, they would be celebrating an anniversary quite soon.

Gently, Nerca's mind touched on memories of the first mission, the one on which they had forged this bond they now held dear. The mission to Barak II had been a disaster in all aspects except the forming of the Kindred Knights. The Jedi Council may have even viewed that as a disaster, as the group's bond bent several rules against entanglement.

For once, Nerca did not care what the Council thought.

But for now, she would have to squelch any arguments against the Council, as that was the very band the Kindred Knights were now going to see.

Nerca glanced back at the five students that submissively followed. Each of the five Knights had been contemplating taking on an apprentice, and those students had been summoned to the Council chamber as well.

A rather short seven years ago, Nerca herself had been in their position.

When Nerca glanced ahead, the Jedi had reached the doors of the turbo-lift to the Jedi Council Chamber. The door hissed open and the ten Jedi walked in.

Somehow, the ride to the Central Tower's top seemed short as Nerca contemplated what the mission that lay ahead might be.

Even as they swept into the Council Chamber, dark-skinned Mace Windu began briefing. He completely avoided formalities.

"Your mission this time will be to track down an assassin," he said immediately. "This murderer tried to kill Senator Altamira Tonuu from Verdin and succeeded in taking the life of Senator Limono Anicaa of Uunja. When these attacks were made, Senator Tonuu was on the planet of Niam, and Senator Anicaa was on his homeworld. They were a mere two hours apart, the attack at Niam coming first. We have reason to believe that the surviving Dark Lord of the Sith may be behind these attacks."

Immediately, Nerca's mind began processing the information.

"In addition to this, there is another problem," Windu continued. "The planet Senator Anicaa represented—Uunja—is on the verge of war with the neighboring planet of Roloc. The Uunjaians accuse the Roloci of killing him. They have been bitter enemies for a thousand years' time, but neither has yet exposed the other of the crimes they suspect. So you must negotiate peace as well." As he spoke the last sentence he turned to Jesbra, the group's de facto diplomat.

"Careful, you must be," Yoda said. "Separate from each other, you can not. Foreseen it, I have. Guard the students you must, from the dark side. Giving into it, you cannot allow."

"You may choose on which planet you would like to begin," Windu said. "May the Force be with you."

"Yes, Masters," the Five answered together. With one swift, simultaneous turn they pivoted and strode from the room.

Out of the turbo-lift, they split as they headed down the various hallways.

Passing Jedi of all species imaginable, Nerca headed straight to her quarters. Before she even reached the door, it hissed open and she hurried in. All she needed was her already prepared survival pack. She grabbed it from the edge of her sleep-couch along with her comlink.

Hurrying to turbo-lift in the main hallway of the Hangar Tower, she swung the small pack onto her back. This turbo-lift ride seemed longer, as Nerca began to feel frowned-upon eagerness flow through her.

A quick, well-versed calming exercise took care of that before the doors swished open.

When Nerca stepped out, she immediately walked to the starship of the Kindred Knights, the Cosmic Dragon. The Kindred Knights were one of the very few Jedi who had their own starship. Most Jedi rode on Senate transports or on freighters, but the Cosmic Dragon was paid for by their own hard-earned credits.

Nerca was always the first to arrive, as she was the group's mechanic and pilot. The Cosmic Dragon itself legally belonged to her. Before the forming of the Kindred Knights, Nerca had personally owned a smaller ship named the Oceanic Terror.

A year ago, she'd sold the Terror to help pay for the Dragon.

Shaking off memories of her once-beloved starship, she activated the landing ramp of her new beloved and strode up it. She pushed a sensor sweep button on the control panel, and after a moment it showed part of the thruster connector needed replacing, the fuel tanks flashed empty and the cooling system had burnt a wire. Nothing that couldn't easily be fixed. Nerca hopped out of the ship.

One hand outstretched, she used the Force to lift the refueling hose while she rummaged through the wires for the right sized line. The hose connected to the tanks with a click. As she found the right wire and began to remove the control plate. She sensed rather than saw Lexoc and Keldu approach.

"Need any help, Nerca?" Keldu asked, her hazel eyes gleaming. Nerca knew Keldu would love to get her hands in the freighter's belly.

"You can replace the cooling wire," Nerca answered handing Keldu the wire. "Remove the burnt wire and tie the new one into place. Simple enough."

Keldu nodded.

Lexoc strode up the landing ramp, her long golden brown hair streaming behind her as she walked. Keldu disappeared into the side of the Cosmic Dragon, only her boots still showing.

As Nerca searched for an extra thruster part, she felt Jesbra enter the hangar. She only nodded at Nerca, ever-changing eyes gleaming at the moment an anxious pale blue. When Jesbra was half-way across the hangar Oliso appeared behind her.

"Almost ready, Nerca?" Oliso asked, her soft brown curls bouncing around her chin as she walked.

"Almost," Nerca called. "I just have to finish replacing the thruster connector control header." Nerca held up the part.

Quickly yet carefully, she removed the silver plate that covered the area she needed access to. She took in at the wires in an instant. Every inch of the freighter was imprinted upon her memory like the back of her hand. Every ding in the sleek silver plating, all of the multi-colored wires, every part of the cabin, every strong place, every soft spot.

She knew it from top to bottom, from front to back.

Sometimes she even felt as one with the ship.

She plunged her hand through the many colored wires, grabbing the old header. Just as Nerca snapped the new one into place she heard Keldu's muffled voice drift out of the side of the Cosmic Dragon.

"Finished!" Keldu crawled out of the ship, her face streaked with grease. Nerca laughed at the sight. Such a small job, yet Keldu still managed to get covered in grease.

"I hear you," Nerca said to Keldu, still chuckling. "Put the control plate back on and go ahead in." Nerca turned back to her control plate. She slid her fingers under the thin piece of metal and pushed it back into place. When she came around the edge of the ship Keldu was already inside. Out of the corner of her eye, Nerca saw all five students enter, shoulder-to-shoulder.

"It's about time you got here," Nerca called, gesturing with her hand. "Hurry up."

She hurried up the landing ramp. When she walked in, she noticed that Lexoc was already in the co-pilot's seat.

It was her turn to be so, wasn't it?

Lexoc, Oliso, Keldu and Jesbra switched off with the responsibility of co-pilot, whereas Nerca was always, always in the pilot's seat.

As Nerca plopped down in the pilot's seat, Kendona Zeke, Zela Jan Lexion, Yovo Ktarills, Jorzan Ovru and Vora zel Halcyon were making their ways up the landing ramp. Nerca drew her student Kendona aside.

"On this mission you will learn how to find an unseen character," Nerca told the young Duros. "You will learn to sense the emotion behind it all. You must pay attention to all of the clues. Small things will help as well as large. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master Beyul," Kendona replied in his purring voice.

"Good," Nerca said. "Now get strapped in." Turning to the Masters of the assembly she asked, "Where to first?"

"I suggest we start on Niam," Jesbra said. As usual, Jesbra already had planned every thing. "Niam is closer. And I have a feeling Senator Tonuu is still there. Probably absorbing the Iamese's attention."

"Nerca, what do you know about Senator Tonuu, Verdin and Niam?" Oliso asked.

Nerca had deep knowledge that spanned nigh every planet in the Republic, some beyond. Such knowledge and the desire to learn had earned her several nicknames as a young student like: "The Walking Lesson Holo" and "The Human Droid."

"Well," Nerca began. "Senator Tonuu has been Senator of Verdin for five years. Not too long ago, her planet was under attack from the planet Emh. Verdin was rich in natural resources, but during battle many of them were intoxicated or destroyed. Many of the people were fleeing but Senator Tonuu rallied an army. Their small group triumphed but Tonuu was wounded in battle. She survived minimally scarred, but her planet was devastated. Until that point Verdin didn't import much. It was a rich planet. With their natural resources destroyed, Verdin must import a lot. They are trying to set up a trade system with Niam," she finished.

"So, Emh could be behind all this?" Lexoc asked.

"Or even Niam," Keldu suggested.

"Or it could be the Dark Lord of the Sith," Jesbra reminded them. "The Council told us that."

"Or it could be a million other things," Oliso added.

"It is improbable that it is the planet Niam," Nerca told the others. "The Iamese are extremely strict peace-keepers. And Emh has been punished by the Republic's forces for its unprovoked action against Verdin. The Sith are always a possibility, I must admit."

The group digested Nerca's statement as she began the Dragon's short start-up sequence.

"And to Niam, we go." Nerca brought up the power in the repulsorlift engines and the freighter lifted from the hangar floor. Then she engaged the sublight engines, sliding the ship forward. The Cosmic Dragon smoothly glided out of the hangar, graceful and gentle at Nerca's command. They shot towards the gray, dawn skies of Coruscant. And towards the unknown mission that lay ahead.