Starting to introduce some of the other surviving Jedi through out the galaxy. Though for now there will only be brief glimpses of them for now. I've always like the number of surviving Jedi who escaped to the dark corners of the Galaxy.
The trip through hyperspace was far shorter then Leia expected, and she happened to be sitting in the co-pilot seat next to Han. The planet that appeared ahead of them appeared green, though the almost solid green was mottled with blue. The lowest portion of the planet was completely blue.
"Where are we?" Leia asked looking at Han. She had strange feeling about the planet, it looked familiar.
"If memory serves, that is Takodana. I think I know who the shipment Hondo has us moving are for." Han commented dryly, checking his flight instruments, "Go tell Hondo we've arrived and get Chewie here."
Leia glared at Han for a second before spinning her seat and striding out the cockpit. She quickly made her way through the Falcon, she found Hondo and Chewie playing a game of Dejarik. Chewie seemed to be winning, but Leia suspected it was mostly through intimidation, "We've arrived over Takodana."
Hondo leapt to his feet and ran past Leia, a large grin on his face. Chewie let out a mournful growl before following Hondo only pausing to pat Leia on the head. Leia sighed and followed Chewie back to the cockpit. Chewie and Leia arrived to find Hondo sitting in the co-pilot seat. Hondo looked over excited checking out the controls of the Falcon, both Han and Chewie picked up on this. Chewie stood behind Hondo and simply lifted him off the co-pilot's seat and placed him in one of the chairs in the back. Hondo started to protest but stopped when he heard the low growl coming from Chewie's throat. Chewie grunted something at Han.
"Chewie asks why you wanted to hide that the person you're delivering to is Maz Kanada." Han translated dryly.
"You know how it works, Han my boy." Hondo said evasively, this earned him a death glare from both Chewie and Han. Leia stared out at the forested landscape, watching as the land flew past. Han flew the Falcon low, almost skimming the the water of a lake as they approached an Ancient looking castle. The Falcon kicked up some over the water as it flew past, finding a spot to land just outside the massive castle. When Han stood up leaving his chair Hondo stood and stepped forwards as if to take Han's seat, as he did both Han and Chewie lifted him by slipping an arm each under each of his arms and dragging him backwards out the cockpit, "What don't you trust an old friend?" Hondo practically shouted at Han.
"I have a list of reasons not to trust you with my ship." Han practically growled at Hondo. Chewie growled and let out a low roar, to which Han added to by saying, "Even Chewie knows how you like to operate Hondo. You're a pirate, only an idiot would trust you with their ship willingly."
"I'm hurt you think that of me Han!" Hondo exclaimed, slipping free of the two smugglers, though before he was able to slip past them Han caught him and shoved him so he was ahead of the group.
"Deal with it old man." Han growled at Hondo, "Now, since it's your delivery you're going to get the payment from Maz yourself. Then pay us yourself, deal?" As Han spoke he jabbed Hondo in the chest. Leia rolled her eyes dismissing what she took to be Han's show of dominance, still thinking of her encounter with the two Jedi on Nar Shadaa. Thinking back it became even stranger to her that she had only been able to sense the presence on the Neti and not her companion. Quietly Leia lamented her inexperience with Force users with skills other then those of a Jedi Guardian, as the others continued to argue as they retrieved the cargo from the hidden compartments Leia's hands unconsciously started gently gripping her lightsabers, tracing the grips. Once the group stepped off the Falcon onto Takodana Leia snapped out of her thoughts, she could feel someone probing her through the Force. Leia closed her eyes, remembering her father's lessons, lessons that felt like they have occurred a lifetime ago, on mimicking the presence of a non Force sensitive, hiding her power. The probing stopped, Leia could feel it receding, though it seemed to flail around for a moment before it vanished completely. Leia opened her eyes to find Han and Chewie staring at her, well at Hondo who appeared to be trying to slip one of her lightsabers off her belt. Leia grabbed his had and delivered a powerful punch under his ribs, driving the air from his lungs. Hondo fell to his knees gasping for air.
"Are you an idiot?" Leia asked kneeling next to him, "Why would you try and take a lightsaber from a Jedi you're traveling with?"
"Ah, but to be able to hold such a weapon again, and the credits that could be made off selling it." Hondo wheezed with a grin. He forced himself to his feet and spun extravagantly on his heel, striding towards the castle. Han and Chewie shared a look before following the Weequay with his cargo. Leia followed, now far more aware of her surroundings and keeping a close eye on Hondo. As the group walked through the courtyard Leia was struck with a strong feeling of Déjá vu. Looking up Leia saw a large statue of an Alien holding her arms out to the sides and slightly up. Around them banners of may peoples were draped over the walls. Just before they got to the door a small breeze blew through the courtyard, making most of the flags flutter and wave. Hondo walked up to the door opened it quickly, ushering his companions through the door before following himself. The room they walked into was huge and full of a wide assortment of aliens, humans were in the minority, Han and Leia being two of about seven in the room. Hondo stopped and looked around the room and opened his mouth, but before he could say anything someone called out, "HONDO OHNAKA!"
Almost every being in the room turned to see who the voice was calling to before dismissing them and turning back to what ever they had been doing before Hondo had been called out. Except a single Weequay female who ran through the crowd and dive tackled Hondo, slamming him into the wall next to the door. Before she could do anything else a diminutive orange alien appeared at Leia's elbow and spoke in a gentle yet threatening voice, "If you wish to cause Hondo harm, please do it after I have completed my business with him."
The Weequay looked down at the little orange alien before, surprisingly, stepping away from Hondo. Leia was taken aback for a second before shrugging it off. Han and Chewie showed no reaction at all to everything that happened. Hondo, in typical fashion, shook himself off and bowed to the smaller alien, "There was no need Maz, I could have handled that myself. However I still thank you for coming to my aid."
"Yes, yes. Do you have the artefacts I asked for?" Maz asked looking at the crates.
"I have, but first we need to discuss payment for the items. They were rather difficult to acquire." Hondo said gesturing with his right hand. Maz looked at everyone in the group before turning sharply on her heel and gesturing for everyone to follow her. As they walked through the Crowded room the crowds split to allow Maz and her companions through. Maz lead the smugglers down a short series of stairs to a room filled with artefacts and art from around the Galaxy. Strangely most of it was piled around the room, as if someone had just dumped it there.
"Open the boxes, Hondo." Maz ordered once Han and Chewie had placed the two crates in the centre of the room, the only relatively clear space in the room. Hondo looked taken aback for a moment before opening the first crate revealing an ornate wooden box, which Hondo delicately removed from the crate. Hondo gently place the box on the floor before flicking the latch open and opening the box to reveal a silver glowing rock with what looked like a bright yellow eye glowing in the centre. Maz knelt over the box and lifted the rock from the cushioning of the box and held it up. As she did the eye seemed to shift to look at Leia and Leia started to feel a tiny presence through the Force coming from the rock.
"What is that?" Leia asked. Maz turned her head to look at Leia.
"This young one, is the Eye of the Sun. It was created by the Jedi long ago during last great war against the Sith." As Maz spoke she placed the stone back in the box.
"What was it for?" Leia asked looking at the stone with interest before Maz closed the box.
"That knowledge was lost long ago, sadly." Maz said with a sigh before turning to the other crate, "You'll receive your payment once I've seen the other artefact."
"Very well, personally I don't know why anyone would want these items." Hondo opened the other crate revealing a broken sword that seemed to glow a faint red. Beside the sword was a large Kyber crystal, though it looked somewhat strange. The side that was facing the sword was dark red, however the side facing away was a deep blue with tendrils of red starting to slip over and through the blue. Maz examined the sword for a moment, before scooping up the crystal in a swift motion and handing it to Leia. The crystal was so big Maz had to hold it with both hands as did Leia once she held it.
"Concentrate quickly, cleanse it of the darkness." Maz commanded Leia. Bewildered for a moment Leia looked down at the crystal in her hands, closing her eyes Leia centred herself and felt the crystal through the Force. Feeling the two waring sides of the crystal, Leia started to channel the Force through the crystal, though neither the Light or the Dark in particular only the Living Force as she could feel it. As she did the world started to feel like it was spinning and she was standing somewhere else. The room she found herself standing in was large, several large windows on all sides except behind her. Behind her was a long passage lined with thick pillars on either side. Outside the windows Leia could see what the windows of another building. In front of her behind a large desk sat a woman in dark dress and an ornate and overly complicated hairstyle. Several people sat around Leia, all of them seemed to be examining her. Then she heard herself speak she sounded slightly different by couldn't tell quite why, "Your majesty, unfortunately we request that you going into hiding for your own safety. The Emperor may have a fondness for his old home world, however with the way you've…"
Before Leia could hear the end of that sentence or finish it, the scene shifted and she was back in Maz's cantina. However now she was small, barely six years old holding her mother's hand. Padmé looked so young compared to the last time Leia had seen her. She was wearing what looked like clone armour, though it was only a chest plate and a single bracer. The armour was covered in scorch marks, some looked fresh. On the other side of Leia was her father. Anakin looked the same as he ever had, though his face was covered in the start of a beard. On Anakin's other side Luke walked, clinging to his father's arm, looking around in wonder at everyone around him. Both Padmé and Anakin looked tense looking around with suspicion. Maz walked in front of them leading them to a corner table. The scene shifted again and Leia was standing on a large landing pad holding both her lightsabers, rain beating down on her back and leaving steam trails on the blades of her lightsabers. Luke and Alex stood behind her deflecting blaster fire from an unknown source. Somewhere in the distance she head Han yell something. Ahead of Leia stood two people both wearing the uniforms of Inquisitors, holding their spinning scarlet blades in front of them like shields. Then she was back standing in the middle of Maz's collection holding the strange Kyber crystal, though she wasn't sure that's quite what it actually was. The colours that divided the crystal had now reversed, as the blue was now almost completely solid and sending tendrils of blue into the red. Leia looked up, "What happened?"
"Nothing beyond the colours of that crystal shifting." Han said pointing.
"What did you see?" Maz asked calmly, looking up at Leia.
"I'm not sure, it was confusing. It was a confusing mix of scenes and memories." Leia said as she handed Maz the crystal. Maz looked and the crystal before giving Leia a thoughtful look.
"The Force like to show you what you need to see, however it is rarely clear what it truly wants you to know." Maz said in an even tone as she walked back to the crate with the glowing sword, "Hondo please remove the sword, show me the last two items I requested you acquire for me."
"I have those here." Hondo said reaching into his long coat. He pulled out two lightsabers, both of which looked familiar to Leia. The two lightsabers were different sizes as one appeared to be shoto. The larger weapon had a design that reminded Leia very strongly of her fathers. It was somewhat different though, having a pair of the tuning ring flanges.
"Who did those belong to?" Leia asked.
"These once belonged to Ahsoka Tano. To my knowledge she has never made any effort to try and reclaim them." Maz held out the shoto horizontally infant of her before activating the weapon. A yellow-green blade blazed to life for a moment before spluttering and going out.
"The power cell is probably dead." Han commented boredly, "Everything is there, right? If it is can we get our payment, I want to just be able to relax for a night."
"And we have to return to…" Leia paused as she said this considering her words for a moment, "… Return to our base. We're long overdue back."
"Aaaarg, we need more time before we go back. Revan gives me the creeps." Han complained, Chewie let out a low moan, "No, that's not why. It's not the mask, it's his voice. He sounds like Vader."
Hondo looked mystified by the conversation and quietly listened, while Maz stood silently in thought before asking, "Han what did the mask look like?"
Han was caught a bit off guard by the abrupt question, "Uh, it kinda looked like a Mandalorian helmet, like the old royal guard ones, I think."
"I think it's one of the ancient Mandalorian masks." Leia said, "If memory serves it was a mask for a female warrior."
"I gave the man who now wears it that mask." Maz said gravely, "I personally believe wearing it is a mistake. Now for your payment, Hondo Ohnaka."
"Ah yes. The only reason for my trip out here." Hondo said with a grin, "I believe our original price will suffice for all items with the exception of the lightsabers. I will require extra for those, they have a certain sentimental value to me."
Leia raised an eyebrow at Hondo's declaration, "I somehow find that hard to believe." She muttered to herself under her breath.
"Very well, then keep the weapons Ohnaka or give them to back to their original owner. However I am not paying you the promised sum without them." Maz said, a small edge of mirth slipping into her voice. She handed the twin lightsabers back to Hondo, who reluctantly took them back and slipped them back into his coat.
"Fine, now where is the promised payment for the rest?" Hondo said jovially clapping his hands.
"I will have it deliver to the Falcon, after she has been checked for any Imperial tampering." Maz said in a somewhat candid fashion. Han clicked his tongue in annoyance, "Your men had better not leave even a scratch!"
"Not that you'd notice." Leia muttered, just loud enough for Maz to hear. Maz chuckled before examining Leia again.
"You're Leia Skywalker, correct?" Maz asked.
"I am. What is it to you?" Leia asked somewhat suspicious of Maz, though she didn't feel threatened at all.
"I remember when you came here years ago with your parents and brother, though not both brothers. I'm sorry to hear about your mother's passing, she was a truly great woman." Maz said softly looking up at Leia with her eyes magnified.
"She was, but her death could have been avoided. I still don't understand what actually happened or how she died." Leia said, a mixture of annoyance and sadness in her voice.
"I'm afraid I don't know much myself only that she is dead. However I have heard something that may be of interest, there is a rumour of a Kiffar named Quinlan Vos searching for his daughter." Maz stated this almost emotionlessly as she guided the group out the cluttered room. Hondo was positively giddy at the amount of money he was going to get, once the small group had left the room Maz continued, "The same rumours that tell of Quinlan Vos and his search for his daughter also is being chased by a pair of Inquisitors."
"That's not really worth mentioning, I know Quinlan Vos was a Jedi." Leia said a frown creasing her brow.
"This pair are reported to call themselves the Emperor's Hands." Maz said, "From what I hear one was once a Jedi Master, a Miraluka named Jerec."
"Did you say Jerec?" Leia asked remembering the name from when Luke and Ahsoka returned from Dantooine. Luke had told her about watching the Miraluka execute Quian's mother. "Is his companion a human female with red hair?"
Leia's question partly took Maz by surprise, "I believe so."
"My brother ran into them on Dantooine. They killed a Dathomirian woman there, Luke said she was probably Quinlan's wife." Leia explained, "Currently we are sending out teams to try and find Master Vos. His daughter is currently being looked after on our base."
"That is good news. I shall pass it on to the correct people." Maz said with a small smile, "Now let's get something to eat."
Far away over Serenno Quinlan Vos stood impatiently waiting for a computer spike to do it's work and reveal the data on the kidnapped children from around the Galaxy. Behind him were the bodies of several Imperial officers and a squad of Stormtroopers, all of the dead were covered in lightsaber wounds. He had heard rumours for years, that the Empire was stealing children to turn into weapons. He had mistakenly assumed that they would never go as far as Dantooine to find Force sensitive children. He had been off world when they had come, he had come home to find his home in shambles and Asajj's body, still bound and gagged, lying in the middle of the common room. Her eyes still wide open, staring blankly out at the room. The computer let out an alert snapping Quinlan out of his memories, the list of name's wasn't as long as he anticipated. While Tholme and T'ra Saa were also out looking for Quian they had yet to find anything of note or, indeed, anything particularly useful. Still Quinlan was thankful his old master had come out of hiding to help him find Quian. Looking out the viewport Quinlan winced at the memories of what he'd done on this planet. "I hate this planet, why would Palpatine keep the children here though?" He muttered to himself scrolling through the list of names. The deeper he went into the list the more worried he became. Stopping reading Quinlan took a step back and forced himself to calm his mind. Using the Force as his guide he scrolled through the names again stopping and selecting Mara Jade. According to the records she was selected personally by Palpatine for a special training program, however what the program was, was redacted from the records.
"Damn!" Quinlan shouted slamming his fist on the console, "Where the hell did they take her!?"
Back on Takodana Leia and Maz were speaking quietly, mostly trying to figure out how many Emperor's Hands may exist. Han, Chewie and Hondo had ended up playing a game of Sabacc with some of the locals, both the pirate and smuggler were basically bankrupting the other players, mostly by cheating.
Suddenly Leia asked, "Did you recognise me the moment you saw me?"
"Hmm? No, it took me a few moments to remember where I had seen your face before." Maz answered calmly.
"Why did my parents come to you the first time?" Leia asked before taking a sip from the goblet in her hand.
"They were looking for somewhere to hide. I believe you and your brother were about five years old on that particular occasion. I'm not surprised you don't recall the events that lead to your family arriving here." Maz said in a sage like voice, "Though it was only the first time your parents came here that they brought your or your twin. Your older brother has been visiting me here for years, usually bringing art or artefacts that he finds in his travels."
"Alex comes here?" Leia almost shouted.
"Yes, almost yearly. He was here a few months ago, he was running from something." Maz said sadly.
"Probably mom's death. Alex and Obi-wan were the only two to return. I'm not entirely sure what happened to my father." Leia said almost angrily, "A man calling himself Revan turned up and seems to have taken father's place without any protest."
"Perhaps there is more to the story then you know or have considered." Maz stated quietly, "What do you know of your father's life?"
"Only that he fought in the Clone Wars and was thought of as a hero."Leia said slowly, "And that he trained Ahsoka during that time."
"The seventeen years of war your father, and to a lesser extent your brother and mother endured, left them far more scarred then they will admit." Maz said, "They were all hoping you and Luke would never have to endure war."
"So? I already know that, I can see it in their eyes or I could when we were still together as a family, they looked far older then they should have." Leia said thinking back a few years, only learning history from Threepo and Obi-wan. Whenever she had asked either her father or brother they would get a strange faraway look in their eyes before telling her to go ask Threepo. Padmé would answer her questions, but never about any of the battles only the politics. As a result Leia had a very good idea of why the war lasted so long. The first ten years of the war both sides were far too stubborn to even attempt diplomacy. Even after several attempts by a large variety of senators to try and open negotiations. Admittedly most of these attempts were stopped with the deaths of the senators involved, through a brutal series of assassinations. Two of which were directed at Padmé herself. Leia remembered those particular stories well, Ahsoka and Anakin had stopped the first attempt. Alex and his Master had helped prevent the second, though it had been close. Leia shook her head, bringing herself back to the present, "What does my father's past have to do with Revan taking command of our Cell?"
"Wasn't his last battle of the Clone Wars fought on Mandalore?" Maz said somewhat casually.
"Yes… What of it?" Leia asked slowly.
"Your father almost certainly met this 'Revan' there. From what I know of the time of the original Revan or rather his descendants, a few of them settled on Mandalore under the protection of Mandalore the Preserver." Maz said informatively, "Perhaps you'll find some answers on Mandalore, if you do want to know more of Revan."
"How would that help me?" Leia asked now a bit confused.
Maz gave her an amused look, "Understanding the original Revan and what he represented will help you understand who Revan is and why he would choose that identity to lead a Rebellion."
Leia scratched behind her left ear as she thought about what Maz had said. Knowing more about Revan and his story did sound like a good place to start, to discover why the leaders of her Rebel Cell would allow Revan to take command and follow his orders with so little resistance. "What do you know of the Neti, Maz?"
Maz looked up at Leia curiously, "Not much. Not many know that the Neti exist, let alone much about them. However I have been privileged enough to have met two in my lifetime."
"Do you remember anything in particular about them?" Leia asked, "Like their names?"
"Yes, T'ra Saa and Ood Bnar." Maz said.
"I met T'ra Saa on Nar Shaddar." Maz's eyes widened for a second, "She and her companion seemed to be looking for someone."
"Who was her companion?" Maz asked.
"No idea. All I know is he was an old man with an artificial left eye." Leia answered, "I couldn't even feel him through the force."
"Jedi Master Tholme. Before the Clone Wars they were famous for taking missions together." Maz said adjusting her goggles, "Rumours from the Clone Wars say he could completely hide himself from the Force."
"How? I didn't know that was possible." Leia said frowning.
"Ask him that. I wouldn't know something like that, the only other beings that I've heard of who can do something like it are the Anzati." Maz said mysteriously.
