Well, this day was just getting better and better.

I finally reached the Fountain Room, it seemed vacant at the moment, at least at the first few seconds before I bumped into someone.

Normally I would quickly turn around expecting the worst, some kind of intruder or whatever, but I froze instantly as I identified the person I collided with.

"Are you alright?" She asked while coming closer to me, a tone of concern evident in her voice.

Standing near me was a female trandoshan, she was a bit taller than me, light brown scales barely visible considering her Jedi attire. Her incredible bright green eyes studying me coolly. I was almost dumbfounded, never heard of trandoshans being Jedis before.

It was uncommon, but not unheard of, that some Trandoshans were Force-sensitive. Because of their reputations as bounty hunters they weren't usually accepted as Jedi or even Sith; there were exceptions, however, such as the rogue Jedi Kras'dohk, and Mrssk that fought during the New Sith Wars. Normally they would use their Force-sensitivity to their advantage as bounty hunters.

"Hum, yes ma'am. Forgive me for my carelessness, I was a bit distracted with the view of this place, never I've been designed to guard the Fountain Room before," I said while gathering my nerves again.

"It's alright," She said dismissively with her right hand. I had I strong suspicion that she must be a Jedi Knight, considering her relaxed manners. Older Jedi, especially masters, would be much more strict. "You're from the Security team, right?" She asked while pointing to my uniform.

"Yes, I am. Captain Adregallus at your service," I couldn't help but chuckle a bit. Much to my surprise she giggled a bit.

Well this was going rather easy than it should.

"Nice to meet you Adre, I'm Lissarkh. I used to be Master Plo Koon's apprentice a couple of years ago. I've recently passed my tests," She said while smiling confidentially. "I never saw you around before, are you a new member?"

Okay, first she already addressed me as 'Adre', well no big deal, I guess? Second is that she never saw me around, which is weird cause I've been here for years!

Perhaps this damn temple was way too big as I previously thought.

"A pleasure Lis," I said returning the 'favor', both her eyebrow's raised on pure astonishment. What? Weren't you expecting the same treatment? Or perhaps 'Lis' sounds a bit too intimate?

Whatever.

"So you're a Jedi Knight then?" I asked out of curiosity, I knew damn well how Jedi could sense my feelings and know if I was lying or not. As if I never took precautions to shield myself of such, of course I wasn't a force-sensitive but having a strong mind helped greatly.

"At the moment I'm designed as Jedi Guardian," She said while moving around me. Thankfully she did without staring at me, that would've made me uncomfortable.

A Jedi Guardian was the name given to one of the three distinct branches of Jedi, the other two being Jedi Consular and Jedi Sentinel. The Jedi Guardians skills and talents lay in battle, a light side mirror of the Sith Warrior.

Their role in the Jedi Order had remained largely consistent throughout its history but was first written down by the Guardian Jedi ace Crix Sunburris in the text, The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force.

Because not all Guardians could specialize in every field of study, there were several different paths a Jedi could take to hone their own skills to better serve the Order. Separated into four major divisions, this class not only focused on martial skills, but that of piloting and space combat.

"Did you specialized on any particular field of the Guardians?" I asked now deeply interested. This somewhat seemed to make the Trandoshan happier than before, I wonder if she's lacking of having anyone to talk with.

"I've received Ace and Lightsaber instruction from my master, Peacekeeper never caught my interest," She said innocently. I couldn't help but smile. This girl liked some action.

"Sounds really nice, what are you up to at the moment?" I asked while pratolling around the Fountain Room, Lissarkh seemed okay with following me around. Despite her, apparently, happy personality I couldn't help but think she needed some company.

Well, as long she don't stalk me around, I never spent this much time with a Jedi before. Rules are rules after all, but this time I had to make an exception.

She walked rather gracefully for a reptillian species of her size, also I wondered if the fact that the Fountain Room had a more appealing environment for her species is what made her be around this area much longer. Perhaps this is why I we never saw each other before. Most of the temple areas were cold and empty, not exactly what perhaps she was looking for.

Few more Jedi were around at that area, though I notice most of them weren't human, mostly other alien species that I never saw around before. Never I could guess they would spent their time a this location because of the more inviting environment.

Did it felt closer to their previous homes?

I also realized most of the other people were avoiding getting too close to both of us, I frowned slightly at this. Why were they avoiding us? What could be wrong with a Jedi and a...

Then it hit me.

She is Trandoshan.

How could I have forgotten what most people of the galaxy think of Trandoshans? Perhaps I had to remind myself of how problematic this was.

As a species, they were renowned across the galaxy for great strength. This is evidenced by several members of other species boasting physical prowess and power by having defeated a Trandoshan, either in battle or in a contest of strength.

The Trandoshans originated on Trandosha, also known as Dosha or Hsskor. It was in the same star system asKashyyyk, the homeworld of the Wookiees. In 7000 BBY, the Trandoshans joined the Galactic Republic. During the New Sith Wars Sith troops landed on Trandosha, and the Trandoshans slaughtered many of the troopers. The Sith retaliated by invading their world and burning the homes of the Trandoshans, leading the surviving Trandoshans to save themselves from death by pledging loyalty to the Brotherhood of Darkness.

A couple of months ago Trandoshan bandits invaded and occupied the planet of Jabiim before later moving on. At this time, Dosha was only indirectly represented in the Galactic Senate by the Wookiee Yarua, much to the Trandoshans' dismay. In response, Trandoshan terrorists attempted to assassinate Yarua in 32 BBY. A Wookiee vessel was attacked over a moon of Trandosha, resulting in a Wookiee blockade of Trandosha. Peace talks to resolve the issue were conducted and failed when it was revealed that the Trandoshans were pushing for Senatorial representation with Trade Federation backing.

As a society, they were despised.

"For now I'm just waiting for future assignments, though it's really hard to tell if I'll have any. With me being a recent Guardian at their ranks I don't expect any tasks for the next months. I'll probably just improve my training," She said a bit more formally than before. That made me think if she was somewhat disappointed with this perspective.

"I understand, ain't easy to spent whole day at this place, but you've spent most of your life here, doesn't it get boring?" I asked while checking my comm link. So far no contacts were made requesting me for anything, normally expected but I would appreciate more things to do while in this Temple, the more work the fsater the day would go. At least my vacations were almost at the door, just a cople weeks and I'll be making my way off-world to one of the resort planets in the Core.

Lissarkh seemed conflicted about my question relating the life at the Temple. I was pretty sure she did find it boring, but it was her home after all, it's hard to for her to compare it to something else if she never lived elsewhere aside this place.

"Well, it's...manageable," She said with a tone of uncertainty. "I can really precise how much this place does for me, but it's being home ever since I was very little."

"I guess so, but you ever tried to live outside the Temple?" I asked pretty amazed more Jedi haven't done it yet. Yes, such occurrence was pretty rare. There weren't enough Jedi to socialize out the temple mostly because of their rules and nature of their teachings. Still there were few that decided to find their own space at the large city instead of inside the Temple.

"Like most of the other Jedi, still it's not really a bad thing, of course you'll never know unless you give it a try. It's not really allowed for me to recommend you this kind of stuff. I'm just giving you an idea, it's up to you anyways," I quickly said not wanting to get myself into trouble with a Jedi Master later. I barely knew this girl but she seemed rather ok.

For a Jedi.

"Don't worry, I won't mention about it," She said, probably feeling my distress over the matter. "Thanks for talking with me Adre, normally anyone else just says few words and walks away. Sometimes I wonder why," She said while crossing her arms and looking away thoughtfully.

"Well, the guards are not really to talk with the Jedi unless necessary for emergencies," I said automatically.

"It's not only the guards that avoid talking with me," She added, I winced a bit. Okay, interspecies problem identified.

"Well, if that's the case why don't you take some time away in the city, if you want I can help you after my shift," I suggested amazing myself with such. Since when I became so carefree about someone else? Or perhaps I was always like this and never noticed?

"Really?" Her scaled face brightened a bit after that offer. I nodded slightly. I wouldn't be doing such if I wasn't aware that there isn't any security cameras on the corner we are currently standing at. "That sure makes my week, I was getting really bored,"

I raised my eyebrows at her playfulness.

"I thought Jedi never get bored," I pointed out sarcastically.

"Whoever said that probably wasn't a Jedi,"

Now that surprised me. This girl seemed a bit off from the regular Jedis that walked around the temple, such behavior was typical of younger members, but not so evident like this towards strangers.

"How old are you again?" I asked hoping that I wasn't getting too personal on her. She seemed relaxed before answering.

"I'm about twenty-five standard years old, and you?"

"Twenty-three," I replied rather dryly. She was at the limit age of padawans. At least I could rest assured that she was a Guardian, Master Plo Koon must've taught this girl really well for her to developed fast as that.

For a Trandoshan she was on her best years, since they would only be considered old after the age of fifty.

"Okay then, Lissarkh. I'll pick you at the gates after the sun sets, deal?" I raised my hand in a friendly gesture. She smiled, though her smile seemed more like a smirk, I guess that's the best she could express since she was reptilian.

"Deal," She said while quickly shaking my hand. "Just in case you're leaving and I'm not around don't worry, I might have to leave unnoticed,"

Well, that was expected. It's not like she could report her absence and having me around leaving with her, that would raised many suspicions if anyone sees it.

I gently waved a goodbye to her before turning around and resuming my shift. Launch came by and I took my break feeling much better than I should. I knew I was breaking several rules by what I've done, but this made me feel much better about it. Probably something my father would advise me carefully about it.

Now I wonder if I could get something else in this friendship with Lissarkh. Yes, she's a guardian, and with few more weeks she would be ranked higher and get access to the Jedi Archives.

The Jedi Archives were a vast library of information gathered by theJedi Order and found within the Jedi Temple. The Archives were overseen by Jocasta Nu, the Chief Librarian who would assist Jedi in finding the information they needed and also controlled access to the restricted Holocron Vault contained within the library.

The Archives contained historical records dating back thousands of years, maps of the entire galaxy, scientific, mathematical and astronomical journals, engineering and technology documents as well as Jedi records on the Sith. It also detailed the geography and cultures of various planets and species across the galaxy, as well as their zoology and botany. Secrets about how the Jedi used the Force and biographies of numerous Jedi's and their identification details were also housed in the Archives.

My only reason to work at this damned Temple was to get that amazing information stored into those archives. So much the Jedi were too selfish to share with my father. He knew the Jedi would never allow him access to the archive, so he convinced me to work at the Temple and figure out a way to copy the data in the archives.

He was totally convinced that the info for the secret location of the Valley of the Jedi would be in there.

Now into those archives there was also the Holocron Vault.

The Holocron Vault was an archive chamber within the Jedi Temple home of the Jedi Order's holocrons, storage devices which held a powerful library of knowledge. The Holocron Vault held the Order's holocrons under the watchful eye of the Chief Librarian.

The Vault was found along the outer edges of the Archives' Second and Fourth Halls, shielded by a pair of dilating security doors. A circular hallway between the two contained security lasers which could detect movement and if they did, sound an alarm. Official access to the Vault was only allowed to the twelve Jedi Masters with seats on the Jedi Council, who could activate the lock using the the Force.

That was far as I could discover. I just wonder what would be in there.

"Are you flying off into space again, Adregallus?" A voice asked shaking me off my thoughts. I stared around to see one of my friends from a long time since I came to the temple, his name was Tera Sinube.

Tera Sinube was a wizened Jedi Master of advanced years, who had yellow eyes, speckled brown-green skin, and white hair. He wore a slight variation of the traditional Jedi robes that accommodated his Cosian physiology enough to allow his lengthy tail to move without restriction. He required a cane to support his gnarled frame and moved about at the same measured pace with which he approached every situation.

A methodical investigator and a keen observer of people, Sinube was recognized by the Jedi Order as an expert on the inner workings of Coruscant's criminal underworld. Even the Chief Librarian of the Jedi Archives, Jocasta Nu, deferred to Sinube's superior experience in the subject and directed related inquiries to him when he was available

Sinube was skilled in the Force with regard to sensing the emotions of those around him. He was well trained in lightsaber combat, and wielded a sabercane, one with an intricately designed handle made from Cosian wood, and an enlarged ferrule with which to provide the elderly Jedi Master increased support.

Sinube only revealed the duplicity of his weapon when necessary, separating the cane and producing a white lightsaber blade from its handle. When not in use, Sinube returned the handle to the shaft, effectively concealing his lightsaber from view. He also used the shaft and massive ferrule of his cane as a bludgeon, despite his age Sinube was still a fast opponent and could deliver deadly strikes in a matter of seconds.

"Nothing much Tera, just thinking about how the day went so far," I said while shaking his hand. He took a seat nearby me while closing his eyes into a meditative state.

Sinube and I had a long way when it came to investigating stuff, my hacking skills surely helped him greatly when needed during difficult times, just as his skills taught me lots of how to approach different situations. I surely learned more from him than anyone else, except my father.

I liked Sinube much because of how playful he is on few occasions and didn't have that extra formality of the usual Jedi Masters around the temple. He's different on his own way and I like much of him for that, also he seemed much more happy to be working along the newer generations.

Also he is the only one that has a white-bladed lightsaber, how rare and cool is that? Perhaps it was the only time I wished to be a Jedi and have such weapon.

"Ahn, so a different day you finally had?" He asked with evident curiosity. He never had any problems demonstrating his feelings, being more open than any Jedi I've ever seen.

"Quite, did you ever heard about a Jedi Guardian called Lissarkh?" I asked while serving myself of something to drink. Sinube raised an eyebrow while placing a finger under his check.

"Lissarkh...ahn yes...Plo Koon previous Padawan. If I remind correctly he has been teaching a new Padawan for the last couple of years, her name was Tano I believe. Lissarkh has just recently acquired her Guardian rank after few weeks once she passed her tests,"

"Hum, so you do know her," I said as a matter-of-fact. "I meet with her this mourning at the Fountain Room, she seemed really nice."

"Interesting, I never knew that you would be the one to start a conversation with a random Jedi," Sinube pointed out with a smirk. I frowned.

"Who exactly said it was me who start it?" I retorted while fixing a. annoyed glare at the elder master. This surprised the Cosian.

"Wasn't you? Well, this means that she must be going through a difficult time if she's willing to talk with anyone," He said while playing with his haird. Sometimes Sinube could be really odd.

"I guess it's just because she's feeling very lonely, she's Trandoshan and that makes people avoid her constantly," I noticed the aggravation on Sinube's face. "You know what I'm talking about, we talked about this kind of things before,"

Letting out a heavy sigh the Cosian slowly nodded.

"Yes, even if it sounds rather unpleasant to think such things happen that often, I'm forced to agree with you on that matter. May I have a bit of that?" He asked pointing to my drink. I shrugged.

"Go on, just don't expect to have a great flavor, I was never one for being extremely healthy," I said while finishing my food. "I kinda asked her out,"

The sound of choking quickly came to my ears, I stared to my side to see Sinube spilling the drink all over the table while gasping for air. If this wasn't so serious I would've laughed at his face.

"Now that you're done I don't mean as in a date, for an old man you sure have a creative mind. I just offered to show her the town around," I said feeling already upset with myself.

Sinube stared at me suspiciously.

"Most of the younglings at the temple receive training over the schematics of Coruscant, they don't need to be showed around at such age," He said while crossinh his arms and staring at me severely. "You know you're getting yourself into some problem, you must be careful Adregallus,"

"Don't worry dad," I said with a touch of irony and anger. Sinube's hardened expression softened a bit. He did knew the deal about my father. "I just want to show her the life outside the temple, not where to go. She could use a bit of an adventure, she made very clear she was rather upset with not much to do around here,"

"Well, if that's the case just make sure you don't get too attached with the girl, you know how dangerous this can turn out to be, it's not only your job at stake," He said while raising from the seat and walking around me. "Jedi have rules for good reasons, and you know very well at which rule I'm referring to,"

"Gez man, she's Trandoshan, get your mind of the gutter old man, everything will be fine," I was already tired of this conversation. Just because I finally talked with a girl doesn't mean I wanted her as my girlfriend.

Even if having a Trandoshan as a girlfriend would raised my social status greatly.

'I have to stop thinking nonsense and focus,' I thought with myself while cleaning my plate. "I'll return to my shift, see you around Tera, take care men," I said while waving my hand at him.

"You too Adregalus, may the force be with you," He said before walking away. I sighed.

"What for...I'm not a Jedi,"