Sequel to "First Adventures". While reading it might offer more depth on these characters, it is not absolutely necessary for plot.
Timeframe: Prequel trilogy. Final year of the Clone Wars, one year before Order 66.
Genre: Adventure, Action, Angst, Friendship
Characters:
Tyro- A fourteen-year-old Jedi Padawan, Tyro has a particular gift with technology, and the force. In his free time he hangs out in the undercity of Coruscant, a fan of the atmosphere and people—he tends to see the good in others beyond their more unsavory to keep a street-savvy appearance with his bright-green mohawk and general punky appearance. Despite this, Tyro is an exceptionally devoted Jedi. Less than a year after being accepted as a Padawan, he had his master expelled from the Jedi order for turning to the dark side. In doing so Tyro willingly gave up his apprenticeship for service to the AgriCorps. It was there that Gavyn found him and convinced him to resume his training as a Jedi.
Gavyn- A seasoned veteran and Jedi master, Gavyn is a tower of man. He is a charismatic general, well equipped to the task of inspiring troops and managing military tactics. He has earned a reputation of being ruthless as well, due to a particularly brutal victory on Esseles, but Gavyn is actually quite an compassionate, affectionate and empathetic individual in person. He favors defensive lightsaber maneuvers and healing through the force.
Cannon Character Cameos: Jedi Council: Obi-Wan, Kit Fisto, Ki Adi Mundi, Mace Windu, Yoda
Summary:
For the first time since being expelled from the Jedi Order, Tyro returns to Coruscant with his new Master, Senior General Gavyn Jervada. The two get to know each other as they are assigned their first mission - to track down a group of radicals in the Undercity of Coruscant that have kidnapped an influential senator. But when things don't go as planned, Gavyn questions Tyro's loyalties while Tyro questions his own right to be a Jedi after all that has happened.
Warnings: Language (mild, mostly star wars swears), violence (mild)
A/N:
These characters were initially created for an Order 66 Star Wars D20 campaign, so we figured we should let them have some fun before meeting their inevitable fates.
In the spirit of tabletop games we tried something new, and wrote this piece using six-sided-dice for turning points and supporting characters, creating some rather interesting situations that really pushed these characters to their limits.
Underworld
They were deep enough down where it was no longer possible to tell if it was night or day. It was just orange. Orange lamplight punctuated with the occasional bright flickering neon. People lined the streets, huddled by buildings, conversing in groups. Tyro kept a casual yet purposeful stride, Gavyn following behind. They had ditched their usual jedi attire for today, lightsabers hidden out of plain sight. Usually Tyro felt comfortable here, at home even, though things had changed since the war. Politics were nebulous. That aside though years of frequenting these streets had taught Tyro that while Jedi robes commanded respect, it was easier to talk to people when you were just...yourself.
The Orange district wasn't that bad, Tyro knew people here. That said, it was a center for crime. Occasionally someone would give a quick nod, or a "'sup Tyro," but when Tyro didn't stop to talk they knew he had business here and didn't push it further. People here was respectful like that.
As they rounded the next corner Tyro kept his senses alert. It was darker here, the only light came from the street they had just turned off of. The people here were different too. They didn't want to be seen, and probably for a good reason. "Don't make eye contact," He cautioned back to Gavyn once he was sure they were out of hearing range of the last being they passed. "And don't smile."
Normally Tyro tried to avoid places like these, this was the point where any fun or exploration that might be had was exceeded by the potential of danger. This was where their mission led them though. A senator had disappeared after a controversial speech. So far an investigation on the upper levels had clued them into what was unfortunately one of the shadier cantinas Tyro knew of. He was grateful when they made it to the dead end of the increasingly narrow street. Tyro reached out his senses, checking to make sure no one had followed them, seeing without looking. Only a moment's pause before he knew they were clear. "Stay cool," he mumbled to Gavyn. He stomped twice on the decaying duracrete, and the ground dropped away, plunging them into even blacker darkness.
Fortunately, Tyro seemed to know his way around. Gavyn followed him closely, mirroring his attitude. He wished he could return to the comfort of his familiar jedi robes, but he knew it would attract unwanted attention in these parts. Gavyn's broad shoulders scraped across the walls of the narrowing alleyway. "What kind of place is this, anyway?" Gavyn hissed, readjusting his bantha-leather coat sleeves. The jacket he picked up at the Jedi temple was just a bit too small for comfort.
When he and Tyro were assigned to search out a missing Senator, Gavyn was a bit surprised. It wasn't his usual gig at all, but since they were on a brief stint at the temple, they got the assignment. Additionally, the High Council seemed quite confident that the duo would have no problems.
Gavyn did not share their confidence. He had only taken Tyro as a Padawan several weeks ago, and they were still getting to know each other. There was a lot of apprehension in the air, neither of them willing to invest too much in the other quite yet. He doubted the wisdom of the Council for sending him on a mission so ill-equipped for his abilities. He was better suited to lead an army to a charge than slinking through the shadows of the undercity.
The real question was why in the world Tyro was familiar with such a joint. He expected Tyro to be an upstanding young Jedi, but when they met, he was faced with a technophillic punk. It was surprising that someone with such high moral standards would frequent seedy pubs like this. Was his reasoning for turning in his former master just some kind of ploy? Did Gavyn just adopt a bad egg, just waiting to jump ship to the dark side?
Stagnant air rushed past and suddenly the ground was visible. Tyro pulled the force around him, slowing his fall just at the last second, allowing him to land lightly on his feet. It was nothing too showy, barely noticeable. This was not the place to parade around Jedi tricks. He extended it to wrap around Gavyn as well. Perhaps the old man had this, but he wasn't taking any chances. Letting the Jedi Master land on his face wouldn't win them any points if they were trying to negotiate here, and it wouldn't be very considerate either. They were met with the mixed sound of some light applause, but mostly boos and catcalls as credit chips were tossed and shoved across tables. Entrances here were a form of entertainment. Tyro strode forward into the room with a sarcastic smile, waving dismissively. "Aw get off it, ya've got the next guy. Besides, you know it's more interesting when someone gets it once in a blue moon." The crowd mumbled in agreement and went back to their drinks.
Tyro jostled his way through the the dingy and crowded cantina, surveying the crowd from the corner of his vision. The room was a haze of smoke and dark lighting. Music blared loudly over the speakers, places like these didn't bother to afford real entertainment. That wasn't what they were about. This was a business place. Tyro rarely frequented this part of town yet he was surprised to notice that he knew a lot of people here. More than he expected. Some he wasn't surprised to see here, they, like this end of town, where people he preferred to not associate with, the rip-you-off, stab-you-in-the-back-types. Others though ranged from acquaintance to friend. While it made him feel more safe, something was off. They, like he, were not the sort to get in this dark and deep.
"Oi!" a voice called out over the music. Tyro looked over and locked eyes with a leather and stud clad Rodian.
Tyro nodded sharply back, a huge grin spreading across his face. It was Jeak. One of his best friends, the two of them went way back. Sure, Jeak had a tough exterior, beings didn't mess with him lightly, but more than anyone else here, he was a good guy. The guy did honest, well, as honest work as a scoundrel could, and drove a hard but fair bargain. That and he had saved Tyro's hide on more than one occasion, and Tyro every once in awhile had to return the favor.
"Go grab yourself a drink. It's gonna be weird with you just looming behind me," Tyro said back to Gavyn as he made his way over to Jeak. "If you need an excuse to join our conversation grab me a water or something. No booze. I'm not legal yet." Without looking back he strode off.
Gavyn smiled cheerfully at the young Rodian, making him one of the few people wearing a sincere smile at the bar. However, Tyro's tone struck a sour chord in him. The kid had a lot of nerve dismissing his own Jedi master like that. The teen jaunted off before Gavyn had a chance to say anything, although there wasn't much he could do without causing a scene here regardless.
Wounded and irritable, Gavyn shuffled to the bar. He muttered his order. Just because Gavyn was a Jedi didn't mean that he couldn't drink. Plus, he had recently picked up a fondness for cheap beer from his clone trooper friends. As he began sipping his drink, lamenting that this was in fact too cheap for his taste, Gavyn picked out the name Daska Blith from behind him. He turned around slowly, only to be surprised that the two women discussing the missing Senator making their way towards him. He turned back to his beer as they sat down beside him. Gavyn let his hair fall in front of his face as he listened.
"Do you think it is ironic. Making a pre-emptive strike on someone about to make a pre-emptive strike?" One of the women asked the other. They were both rough around the edges, armed, inked and ready for trouble.
"Don't be an idiot" The other snapped back. "You heard the speech." The hair on the back of Gavyn's neck stood up. He had just found their 'political activists'. Maybe Tyro knew a few things about this area after all.
Tyro and Jeak embraced with a rough slap on the back. "It's been ages! Where've ya been!" teased Jeak with a playful punch.
Tyro's smile faded slightly. It was true, he had missed the city. He had missed Jeak.
Jeak hesitated, lowering his tone. "Look man, sith happens, ya know? I'm not gonna push it but you know I got your back, yea?"
"Thanks man," Tyro said wearily. If only he knew how right he was. "I'll tell you later."
"Well at least tell me who you're with. You got a bodyguard now?" Jeak craned his neck to get a better view of Gavyn sitting hunched over the bar.
Tyro followed his gaze with a fond smile. "Yeah, he's...he's my...well you can guess, yea?" Tyro tugged on the vibrant green braid that hung by his left ear. Jeak was one of the few people down here who fully knew who, and what he was. He was cool about it, didn't let get in the way of their friendship.
"Oh wow, that's awesome man." Tyro grinned, it was. "I always imagined him different though...like not so big, darker hair..." Jeak continued to muse.
Tyro's face grew solemn. "Later, somewhere that's not here. Speaking of which," he lowered his voice, "what are you doing here?"
Jeak nodded, knowing what Tyro meant. This was not their usual part of town. "Man, you haven't been around lately have you?" Jeak shook his head, staring off into the distance. "The war's messed stuff up here. All the politics are just...weird now. Gangs, factions for causes. They've been upping the patrols in the districts too. At first it was clear they were trying to keep better tabs on things, but it's gotten worse lately. Business has been pushed back to places like this," he said darkly. Then he grinned. "Never would have thought it but it's been great though! You wouldn't believe the kind of credits I've made lately. I guess everything got centralized down here, better networking, more deals and jobs." Jeak always had an optimistic streak.
"You haven't heard anything about senator Daska Blith have you?"
Jeak shook his head. "Nothing more than I've told you, though if something's happened, I wouldn't be surprised if we could catch wind of it here."
"You say we…"
"Look, if two of you guys are down here than something real's going on. Of course I'm gonna have your back on this. Besides, solving your little mysteries always seems to work in my favor."
Gavyn was only halfway through his beer by the time the two vigilantes took three shots, picked up their weapons and starting heading out the door. He moved quickly to Tyro's side, disregarding any sort of embarrassment he might draw for his apparently too-cool-for-school-sanctioned-dangerous-missions Padawan. "We need to move now. I found the suspects." He commanded, in a hushed tone.
"Right," Tyro looked up, suddenly focused. Jeak gave a curt nod.