Baal Legato breathed in the cool, crisp air as he stepped off the transit shuttle that took him from Cataan's capital city and largest space hub of Kingston. The scenery that he looked at on the trip did not cease to amaze him. There were several planets in the New Republic that possessed an awe inspiring natural beauty, and some of them survived the events of the invasion. This was definitely one of them, he thought as he walked down the street of the town that had been suggested he visit. It was on his first visit that he commented on how serene everything felt and was told that it was a tradition of theirs. While they had made advances in technology, they did their best to balance the natural wonder that made up their planet. This was best done with the fact that most of their manufacturing facilities were off-world, on other planets and moons that were rated barren not only in their own system, but their colony systems had made the same decisions.

This was Baal's second trip to Edmonton and remembered the path that led to the residence. He smiled and enjoyed the walk as he pulled the hood of his robe over his head and started towards the Karrde household.

And not a single person ever knew where that old scoundrel called home, he thought. Talon Karrde was mysterious to all who knew him. Even those who were considered closest friends had never knew where he had come from, if he had any family. When Legato had discovered the family name of the youth he had come across it was nothing if not a surprise. The boy's father name sure that it was understood that Talon was a very distant relative, so much as pulling a book out of his massive library and showed the genealogy of the family.

It still made the Jedi chuckle as he went down the road.


"Your stance is too tense," his father said to him, "Relax your posture."

Rishard Karrde walked around as his son held a wooden bokken in his hands. He believed he knew the reason and understood it completely. There was a change coming and, he felt, a great opportunity for his son. And Rishard took pride in that. At one point in ancient history, their family had ties to Jedi in the form of a few members who took up that path. After too long a time, it was Steffan's time to discover that path and, Rishard hoped, would continue to walk that path with honor.

Steffan's mind was heavy with his own concerns as well. Normally, practice with his bokken helped him, allowed him to think as he moved through the first katas his father had begun teaching him. That was when he was five, and after three years it was so ingrained into the memory of his muscles that he was actually able to focus outside of his practice moves. According to his father, that was important...to learn technique to such a degree that to he be able to act and react to an opponent without having to think about the technique.

But what had surprised Rishard was how fast Steffan had reached that point with the basic kata. Most other boys at his age were possibly learning second and third level patterns. Some might be learning the fourth, but his son was already at a level of skill that he was beginning to learn the fifth and last of the basic forms.

The Jedi can teach him so much more than we can, Rishard said to himself as he watched his son move through the first stages he had taught him the other day.

"You're still too tense in your movements," he said as he raised his hand to stop his son in mid-swing.

"I'm sorry father," Steffan said as he lowered the practice weapon. "There's a lot on my mind."

"I understand, son," Rishard said as he walked up and patted the boy's shoulder. "We'll stop for today. The Jedi will be on his way to finalize the plans for your trip to Ossus."

"He's already on the way," Steffan almost blurted out, then settled down somewhat.

"You could tell?"

"I...feel a trace," the boy said grudgingly. "I was reading over some of the things in the book he brought me...and started thinking on it and trying it out. I think he's on the way."

Rishard nodded and shook his head. "I see that you're not just a fast learner on what your mother and I have been teaching you. It sounds like you've started taking a step into a much larger world."

"I don't really want to go to the house just yet," Steffan said quietly. "Can I head towards town?"

His father grinned and stood up. His son might have said town, but he knew the real place he was going to. "Go on, just be sure you're back by dinner."


"You leave tomorrow?"

"In the next few days," Steffan said as they sat underneath the tree. Jade LaCross was sitting next to him, leaning on his shoulder. It was probably the last moment to themselves that they would probably have for a while.

"Kat thought I was nuts for coming out here," she said softly. "After the talk that mother gave to me the last time. But I think father has cooled down her attitude about it some. I just don't know what she has about visiting you."

"I think that it's the times you're seeing me alone," Steffan answered with a laugh. "Your father is the council leader for the province...the lord back in old days. Mine is the magistrate, would have been the chief retainer."

"And I don't care," Jade said, hitting him softly and getting another laugh out of him. "You're one of my best friends and I don't like you going away like this."

"I'm not leaving forever," he told her. "Everyone keeps thinking that."

He stood up and walked out a few steps to look over the mountains. "I've read the old stories...and I wouldn't completely throw away my family and friends...everything I've known for this. Master Legato told me it isn't the same as it was in the old order. The academy has breaks and lets students travel home if they wish...and I definitely will."

Jade stood up and walked up to envelope him in a hug. "Just promise me you'll write while you're gone."

"Why wouldn't I?" he asked with a smile. She tried to smile and pulled a small book out of her pocket to hand to him. "Kat put it together for me. Its got some pictures in it."

"Thanks," Steffan said as he looked back towards the sunset. "Can I walk you home before I have to head back?"

"Please," she whispered as she held him close.