Disclaimer: I am not Rick Riordan or George Lucas.

Enter Luke and Mara, in an airtaxi en route for the Jedi Praxeum.

Luke. Any word on Caedus?

Mara shakes her head.

[aside] I know this is a touchy subject for her. Mara has always admired Jacen Caedus, the former Jedi Councilor from cabin eleven who betrayed us and joined the evil Emperor Palpatine. She won't admit it. But I know she still likes him. When we fought Caedus on Korriban last winter, he somehow survived a fifty-foot fall off a cliff. Now, as far as I know, he is still sailing around on his demon-infested Star Destroyer while his chopped-up Emperor Palpatine reformed, bit by bit, in a aurodium sarcophagus, biding his time until he had enough power to challenge the Je'daii gods.

Mara. Korriban is still overrun with Sithspawn. I didn't dare go close, but I don't think Caedus is up there. I think I would know if he was.

Luke. What about Corran?

Mara. He's at the Praxeum. We'll see him today.

Luke. Did he have any luck? I mean, with the search for Yu'shaa?

Mara. You'll see.

The airtaxi approaches the Manarai Mountains.

Here.

Pilot. [frowns] There's nothing here, miss. You sure you want out?

Mara. Yes, please.

Mara pays the pilot in GA currency, then she and Luke exit the airtaxi.

Luke and Mara enter the Jedi Praxeum, where they approach Jaina's tree, guarded by the rancor.

[to the rancor] Hey. Keeping everything safe?

Luke and Mara enter the Jedi Praxeum.

I need to talk to Saba.

Luke. [frowns] What for?"

Mara. We've been working on something. I'll see you later.

Luke. Working on what?

Mara. I'll tell Yoda you're here. He'll want to talk to you before the hearing.

Luke. What hearing?

Exit Mara.

[sarcastic] Yes. Great talking with you, too.

Luke enters the Jedi Temple Sparring Arena.

Enter Drang, a Force-sensitive vornskr.

Luke activates his lightsaber and charges at the vornskr.

Enter Vodo Siosk-Baas, in the body of a human replica droid Nichos Marr.

Baas activates his own lightsaber and blocks Luke's strike, saving Drang's life.

Baas. Whoa there. Truce.

Drang barks.

Luke. That's a vornskr.

Baas. She's harmless. That's Drang.

Luke. Drang?

Drang barks excitedly.

Baas. Good boy.

Baas tosses a puppet of an Old Republic Jedi.

Get the Jedi. Get the Jedi.

Drang bounds after the puppet.

[smiles] Drang is my pet. I couldn't let you stick a lightsaber in his cargo hold, now, could I? That might have scared him.

Luke. Who are you?

Baas. Promise not to kill me if I put my lightsaber away?

Luke. I guess.

Luke and Baas deactivate their lightsabers. Baas holds out his hand.

Baas. Nichos Marr.

Luke shakes his hand.

Luke. Luke Skywalker. Sorry about . . . How did you . . . er . . . ?

Baas. Get a vornskr for a pet? Long story, involving many close calls with death and quite a few giant chew toys. I'm the new lightsaber instructor, by the way. I'm helping out Yoda while Master Q is away.

Luke. Oh. Wait. Master Q is away?

Baas. Yes, well, busy times. Even Qel-Droma must help out. He's gone to visit some old friends, make sure they're on the right side. I probably shouldn't say more than that.

Drang bounds toward several metal crates, but Baas distracts him with a bronzium shield, which he tosses.

Whoa, boy. Those aren't for you.

Luke studies the crates and reads the name Almania on the side.

Luke. What's in the boxes?

Baas. A little surprise. Training activity for tomorrow night. You'll love it.

Luke. Er, okay.

Baas. You young ones need more challenges. They didn't have praxeums like this when I was a boy.

Luke. You . . . you're a Jedi?

Baas. Some of us do survive into adulthood, you know. Not all of us are the subject of terrible prophecies.

Luke. You know about my prophecy?

Baas. I've heard a few things.

Enter Yoda, in Chironian form.

Yoda. Luke. There you are. I see you've met our new instructor. [to Baas] Nichos. Do you mind if I borrow Luke?

Baas. Not at all, Master Yoda.

Yoda. No need to call me "Master."

Exit Baas and Drang.

Come, Luke. We have much to discuss.

Luke. Nichos seemed kind of . . .

Yoda. Mysterious? Hard to read?

Luke. Yes.

Yoda. [nods] A very qualified Jedi Knight. Excellent swordsman. I just wish I understood . . . [sighs] First things first, Luke. Mara told me you met some Anzati.

Luke. Yes. I killed one of them. However, the other just burst into flames and disappeared.

Yoda. Hmm. The more powerful ones can do that. She did not die, Luke. She simply escaped. It is not good that the vampiric sentients are stirring.

Luke. What were they doing there? Waiting for me?

Yoda. Possibly. It is amazing you survived. Their powers of deception . . . almost any male Jedi would have fallen under their spell and been devoured.

Luke. I would have been, except for Gaeriel.

Yoda. [nods] Ironic to be saved by a mundane, yet we owe her a debt. What the Anzat said about an attack on the Praxeum . . . We must speak of this further. But for now, come. We should get to the forest. Corran will want you there.

Luke. Where?

Yoda. At his formal hearing. The Corellian Council is meeting now to decide his fate.

Exit all.