understand. I feel you love each other very much." Urela said with hope in her voice. Her stomach then growled and she blushed. Jayme waved her on and she lead straight to the cafeteria. The food was plain, but varied and fresh and it had been a long time since they ate fresh food. Aric saw that a few of the tables contained older jedi and more of a balance between the children, teens, and adults. He also thought it was strange that they were not an attraction being strangers as they only received wary glances from the knights and masters present. After they finished Urela talked about the classrooms they passed and what was taught in each. She lead them into an exercise room and quickly hurried across in the middle they heard someone rushing towards them and they turned and saw a being that reminded Aric of Kit Fisto flying through the air with lightsaber in hand. They all rolled away from the sudden attack and each activated their lightsabers. Aric and Jayme realized that they were not the focus of the attack as the floor vibrated from his landing and went after Urela. Aric felt her sudden fear and sprang after the Nautalonian. Her fear turned to surprise as the jedi turned to Aric and blocked his attacks and let him maneuver around to separate the two of them. Jayme stayed out of it, but didn't lower her guard. The jedi laughed and pressed his attack on Aric, and Aric smiled as he judged him an equal in ability. It was no longer to interfere but to see how good the jedi was? After ten minutes they locked blades and the jedi nodded.
"You fight well an equal to most of my students. I would say this is a draw don't you agree." he stated and they backed off putting their blades away. "I had heard their were strangers here and I didn't expect to see them so soon, or to get a chance to spare with them."
"Nor did I expect to have to defend an attack on one not prepared for such." Aric replied.
"Ah well this is a training room all must expect to face a challenge when crossing the room." the jedi explained. "I am Knight Jortu, weapons master and Urela's master."
"I am Aric Lorn and that is Jayme Stone." Aric replied. "I wouldn't have interfered if I didn't feel Urela's fear."
"Ah yes something that we have been working on for some time." Jortu answered. "She excels in so many areas, but the fighting arts are still a challenge."
"Maybe it isn't her but her trainer. If she is afraid then she lacks confidence and what little I have seen proves that jumping her is not the best way." Aric stated.
"Hmm, yes I have been thinking to get to that, but I had to try a few different approaches first as she doesn't lack for confidence and she is skilled with the blade. Her weakness is fear of surprise attack and only by being surprised can she work to overcome that fear." Jortu explained.
"Increasing her fear or attacking her like you have only brings more fear not understanding. It only increases the fear and can turn to hate faster then confidence. Do you want her to hate you?" Jayme asked calmly.
"Well, you certainly have confidence in full, and a sharp mind." he replied. "I was wondering why the council placed her under my tutelage and you revealed the answer in minutes were I have spent months. Thank you sometimes the teacher must learn from the student. I will learn to change how she is to be taught." Urela was surprised and she began to smile at his change of heart.
"Good, cause I met a few fighters in my day that still have yet to learn that lesson." Aric said as he walked away. He wasn't convinced that Jortu would change that easily.
"He does not believe me does he?" Jortu asked.
"Should he? I know what he speaks of and he has been training in martial arts since he was five, and he has had many teachers each different and some cruel." Jayme explained. "I have seen him fight and he was holding back. Had he attacked like he did one of his cruel teachers you would not have left this room conscious."
"Oh I don't think it would have gone that far." Jortu replied. "I was holding back also."
"Overconfidence is a weakness, Knight Jortu." Jayme said before she also walked away.
"You better catch up Urela, and I am sorry we will talk later." Jortu stated and Urela smiled.
"Yes master." she said as she ran after them. "Thank you for your help I didn't think he would listen."
"I have met his type and they rarely do listen and only when one stands up to them." Aric replied. "That is what you have to learn. He is your teacher and your master, but you are not a slave. Always question whether to do something, out loud or silently. Don't do something because he told you to, but question the why? If it is new, try it and if it bothers you ask for another way. A good teacher will then show you one or explain this is the only way. Think on that, and feel free to tell him what I said."
"I will think on this and tell him." Urela stated. "Here we are the great library. It is said that if you search for something here and don't find it then it no longer exists, hasn't been found, or never did."
"It is even larger then I imagined." Aric said as he looked around. "It looks like you could get lost in here for days."
"Some students have, but they are found within hours." Urela stated. "Is there anything you want to look up, or learn about?"
"Oh there is many things I would love to learn about, but I doubt we will be given access." Aric replied.
"You have basic access all you have to do is go to a terminal and wave your hand over the scanner and it will open up the index." Urela answered as she showed them. "See that easy."
"Let me guess, there is a chip in your arm?" Jayme asked before Aric did.
"Yes everyone has one." Urela replied.
"We don't and as for me, I will never have one." Aric said as he looked at the index and saw it was similar to the one on the Perseverance.
"I see." Urela said.
"I don't think you do, but it is not my place to question." Aric replied. Aric sat down and looked at the console. It had a hand scanner like the ship so he placed his hand on it not thinking it would work. It scanned his hand and the screen changed. Urela gasped as her ID went away and another appeared.
"How did you do that?" she asked.
"My father's hand print. I sliced it from the Perseverance to have quicker access to my father's logs and to certain information the biots wouldn't give me access to. Coming here I thought I would need it and it seams it works here too." Aric explained. "I may have been denied the records from his ship, but I want to see what he was talking about when he mentioned the library." Jayme sat down at the next terminal and waved her arm over the scanner. It opened the same index that Urela had.
"You have access too I thought you two didn't have chips?" Urela asked.
"I don't but this is my father's watch and he said as an officer he had limited access to the jedi library, and I figured I would try it." Jayme replied and started typing and like Aric was oblivious to her surroundings in seconds. Urela having nothing to do, but wait chose to study one of her subjects until they were finished. Aric studied Darth Gorith's history and a better understanding of who he was and of the war he waged. He also looked up his father's records what he did and how he thought. He then looked up Earth wondering what information they had on the planet. He got a wait symbol and then a restricted access from this terminal message and then an access revoked user deceased message. Aric sighed and got up.
"Got the user deceased message I see." Jayme stated as she too got up.
"Ya, but I learned enough." Aric replied as he took off the fake skin. "I am surprised we are not surrounded by now."
"They noticed and will mention it to you, and to me for not saying anything." Urela said looking meek.
"Just tell them it wasn't your place to question our access and it wasn't. I wasn't looking at anything I didn't already know in part." Aric stated. "Come on you can finish the tour and leave us by our quarters. I am sure you have other duties that you need to complete before bed." She agreed and completed the tour. She left them in the cafeteria when she was done and explained how to get back to their quarters. Aric and Jayme sat down and discussed what they had seen and discovered. No one talked to them and many glanced or stared depending on their curiosity level. They felt the others shock as they openly kissed something they did when without thought. Jayme shrugged and they left without showing they felt the objection to the disregard for their customs. They returned to their quarters and found them functional and the bed would be big enough for them. They meditated and practiced Tai Chi before giving up on being called back to the council tonight. The next morning they were awakened by a Kamino Jedi master.
"Rise it is time for you to be tested." she stated. "Up, up."
"How did you get in here?" Aric asked. "Ever hear of knocking?"
"The door was open and jedi masters have no need to knock." she replied. "Get up, you are to be tested and the council will be watching."
"That's nice and we will as soon as you close the door on your way out." Aric stated.
"We?" she asked. "And you have nothing to hide that I haven't seen before." Jayme pulled the covers down and glared at the master.
"Yes we and we are naked and it is considered a very large breach of privacy on my planet to be in someone's bedroom, and in some places a capital offense." Jayme quickly explained. She gave here biggest smile. The master cocked her head and wordlessly left the room. "That is something I will not tolerate. My mother even asked permission to enter my room, and at four in the morning." Aric chuckled as he got up and started to dress.
"Things are way different here, but I think we can handle it for a few days." Aric stated.
"Oh I figured that when I saw that only the bedrooms had doors but that didn't stop her." Jayme fired back and then sighed. "There is emotion, yet peace."
"That is the old code they may use the new code. There no emotion, only peace." Aric mentioned.
"I don't care the new code is broken. The Sith code proves it." Jayme countered.
"Then maybe we shouldn't mention the code until they do." Aric said.
"Wonder what their tests are going to be?" Jayme asked. "Not as hard as yours I hope." she said as she kissed him. "You ready slow poke." He laughed and they walked out. The Kaminoan Master was calmly waiting in the hall and walked away as they appeared. They followed behind to where they were lead to. It was a large exercise room with an obstacle course taking up most of it.
"This is the first test. It has many paths and some are harder and others are a challenge. The three over there shall demonstrate each path. You may begin when they finish. They watched and saw the various challenges from impossible jumps and drops to other obstacles that tested strength and flexibility. Jayme took the easy path and Aric the middle and sometimes the harder obstacle. Jayme completed the course before Aric and was as winded as he was when he finished. He had found the course a challenge and had taken the low way when he found he couldn't leap as far as he thought. The master said nothing and continued on. The next series of rooms contained puzzles some childishly simple to the impossible until shown how. Aric did what he could and left it at that. The end rooms contained puzzles that you had to move with your mind to complete or heat up or cool down. Some were explained others were left to be figured out alone. After breakfast two hours later they were sat down and told to complete a four hour test on knowledge. Aric answered what he knew and some of the questions he didn't even understand the structure. No multiple choice for jedi it seamed. Once he had the math science and engineering questions he knew out of the way he meditated until the time was up. He felt Jayme's frustration until she too gave up and calmed herself.
After lunch they were lead to another exercise room and the first test was in martial arts, hand to hand. Jayme was taken to the other side and both were told to demonstrate what they knew. Jayme was finished before Aric as she knew only two styles and Aric showed only three of his most complex styles. Then they faced off against another and fought. As with the obstacle course they had and easy, medium and difficult partner. Jayme won the first one and it was a draw for the second and lost the third but it was close. For Aric this was his show and won the first fight quickly and the second just as quickly and the third almost got a point in before he won that one too. He then faced a fourth opponent and had to switch styles many times to avoid certain strikes and only beat her when he switched to an Echani style followed by another switch to drunken monkey kung fu which he hadn't mastered yet but his opponent couldn't counter. From what he felt from their observers they didn't expect him to win. He didn't want to preform for them but this is what he had wanted to be challenged by people that had spent their whole life perfecting and thousands of years to learn the best ways to do things.
"Very good I am impressed." Jortu complimented. "Now I will get another chance to fight you, but I won't hold back."
"Good I won't either." Aric replied.
"To face me all you have to do is go through these three tests and I'm all yours." Jortu added. Aric looked at the three stations and frowned. He saw that they were made to test his ability with a lightsaber, but as he searched the sword fighting styles he knew none of them felt they fit and he could only go through the stations on instinct alone.
"Single or dual wielding?" Aric asked.
"Your choice." he answered.
"Do I get a demonstration?" Aric asked.
"None, but I do suggest you close your eyes and let the force guide you." Jortu suggested to him. No help at all, great, Aric thought. He studied each section in turn and it still left questions in his mind. He went to the first and centered himself in the force, and let go. He didn't care if he had done anything or did it perfectly, but as he opened his eyes he felt their satisfaction. Then he felt the pain from the sting shots from the droid balls that shot at him. He checked himself and found no burn marks and he pushed the pain to the side and let the force wash them away. He was energized and Jortu's sudden attack didn't surprise him in the least. Jortu was leaping and jumping all over the place. Aric felt like Count Dooku when he fought Yoda. Aric smiled this was best part of the day and he let go and countered and feinted and stabbed. He added kicks here and there and leaped away as he felt something was wrong. Jortu had felt it too or he would have gone after him and Aric saw that had he not pulled his last strike Jortu would have been missing his arm.
"I'm done with these tests." Aric said.
"Why are your blades not properly set?" Jortu asked.
"Because they are weapons and not training blades, and you deliberately left yourself open at the risk of your arm to get a killing blow that would have come had I remained in place." Aric explained. "I am a stranger here and though my father gave me memories to guide my training. There are things he left out. Like training settings and all the schooling a jedi goes through. Without the memory node I couldn't have known. With it I may have."
"Jedi Lorn you have shown many strengths and weaknesses but most are in areas that we expected you to lack knowledge of. Knight Jortu lost his arm a long time ago and he knew you would be faced with a dilemma either take his arm and lose the fight or break contact thinking he foolishly risked himself in a test." Master Vronik explained as he walked slowly up. "We know what your father left you and what he didn't. You are an exceptional fighter with a strongly balanced fighting style. You solved puzzles that take at least a few demonstrations to solve. We can teach you to gain a better understanding of the force and fill in the gaps in your education, but you have a different education base, very focused in a specific field. Taking in your results you passed the padawan and the knight trials. Jedi Stone passed the padawan trials and with a bit more training she would be ready for her knight trials. If it is your desire we would welcome you both into the Jedi Order." Aric thought about it and he looked at Jayme she looked thrilled at the idea, but their isolation and what they had failed to do was another thing lastly they followed an ethics code that was flawed, but at one point in history it was not.
"I will have to think about it as I have reservations that deal directly with the jedi code." Aric replied. "If I were to agree then I would put myself under the jedi code and I find too many faults with the code. On the other hand I do agree with the old jedi code."
"The jedi code has served the order well. We see no faults in the code." Jortu interrupted. "There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force."
"Without emotion we deny ourselves love, compassion, hope, joy, forgiveness, and all other positive emotions. If you deny ignorance then you claim you know everything and cease to learn. Life is full of passion good and bad. Serenity comes with understanding passion. Chaos and harmony are also link to each other without one you cannot have the other." Aric argued. "To deny emotions, ignorance, passion, chaos, and death you are no more then droids. Emotionless logic driven machines unable to see beyond your programing. Emotions, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force. By understanding my emotions and controlling them I gain peace. By claiming I am ignorant, I never stop to gain knowledge. By claiming I am driven by passion because I am human, I can strive for serenity. Knowing there is chaos and that with understanding I can balance it with serenity or order. Finally the Force is life but also death. Life is the beginning and death is the end and another beginning. I am human and I do not deny what I am that is something I must live with. Just like a Wookie must control his natural rage, or be called a mad claw, so too must a jedi recognize his humanity or racial equivalent."
"Then you understand the jedi code very well. This is something we teach and the wisdom to see the underlying meanings of the code. It is not the words that makes up the code, but the understanding of the code." Master Vronik stated. "Both wordings of the code can be misunderstood. It takes understanding to make the code apply to your life."
"I will think on this then." Aric replied. "Have you come to a determination on Darth Gorith and my father's mission?"
"We have and it is complete." Master Vronik answered. "The creature that was Darth Gorith is more your father then Gorith or both. Which ever one it is now is not a threat this much is clear through the force. Had Gorith been in control he would have killed you all once the Perseverance was taken. He gained strength from death. The biots will find him and bring him here if possible. The programing that you have developed has changed the feel of the force. The scales have tipped, but this will require much thought and meditation determine its direction. More I cannot say." Aric and Jayme watched him go and the other masters who had stayed silent. Jortu congratulated them both and the few other knights did as well. At the evening meal things had changed. Many spoke with them and even some of the masters hinted at wanting to train them further.
They didn't turn the offers down, but neither did they accept them. Over the next five days they immersed themselves in daily life at the temple. Aric and Jayme spared with many of the other knights, or studied in the library or were trained in abilities that Aric or Jayme had trouble with or didn't know about. On the sixth day Aric made his decision and sat down with Jayme to discuss it.
"I am leaving." Aric said. "I can learn much here but I feel this is not the time to stay."
"We have learned so much a few more weeks and we will know twice as much as before." Jayme countered. "I feel we must leave, but I feel that we will need further knowledge."
"A few more weeks that turn into months then to years. I can see that happening, but I am drawn to help and in here I cannot help. I know you feel it too." Aric argued. "We were just beginning to make a difference, and now if we stay I sense the jedi in this temple will never come out of hiding."
"We could argue this for weeks, but I sense the same. I guess I needed you to voice it." Jayme replied. "Plus our permit at the landing pad will expire tomorrow." Aric laughed and so did she.
"I have explored this place and I have found a few interesting things mainly they have enough ships to leave here." Aric mentioned. "I asked Jortu about it and they said that they couldn't use the ships as they required droids to assist in they operation of those vessels so I gave him the anti droid programing. He said he would sneak onto the ships and work on the droids stored inside, but could never activate one for very long before it tried to kill him. I think once he finishes the council will maybe decide to come out of hiding."
"Or run to where ever they decide to go." Jayme countered. "I wonder if they would really leave the temple. They would be giving up the library and thousands of years of history."
"They did that the minute the doors closed and raised the shield." Aric added. They looked to the door as they heard a knock. A few knights and padawans stood there. Aric wondered how much they had over heard them talking about. "Hi guys what's got you looking so serious?"
"We over heard that you are leaving and what you said about the ships. We also want to leave and have for some time but didn't know how to pass the shields." Knight Ferc replied. "We want to come with you."
"Do you?" Jayme asked. "Do you think the world outside would want you? Or is it you see us as a way to escape this order that has raised you, trained you, and supported you? Do you feel this is a prison? You will have nothing if you leave and the government might help you, but more then likely they will use you. We have a ship and we also have connections that you do not have. Plus we have money not much but it is a start. If we show you the way out then we would only do so if two of you were our friends, but none of you are. I am sure that there are more of you then the few here and I do not want to except the responsibility of letting you all out. Go I think a bit of patience is all you need."
"How can you judge us so? We know what we will face, but it is our choice." Knight Ferc replied.
"It was Revan's and Malak's choice to disobey the council and it lead them to the darkside. If they had heeded the council. The Republic would have survived and found out why the Mandelorians attacked. The jedi then would have been able to face the Sith Empire in strength instead of with so few three hundred years later." Aric reminded them. They all looked at each other, and then back to them.
"Very well Knight Lorn and Knight Stone." Ferc replied.
"Knight Ferc I am a padawan and not yet a knight." Jayme corrected.
"Your bearing and wisdom shows me that you are a knight." Ferc replied.
"That is just a title but that is not who I am." Jayme countered. "Padawan, Lieutenant of the Air Force, Captain of the Republic Navy, Jedi Adept those are titles that I carry and they make up a part of who I am. Jolee Bindo was a padawan for most of his life. Never a knight and in the end was one of the masters on the rebuilt jedi order's high council, but he still claimed to only be a padawan."
"I understand." Ferc replied and left to follow the others.
"Open doors this I will not miss." Jayme stated.
"I wonder if we should say something?" Aric asked.
"No, I think the masters will know." Jayme replied. "This place is like a small town. Secrets are impossible to hide for long."
"Do you think they will follow us out?" Aric asked.
"Let them it will not be our fault, but I don't think we should make it easy." Jayme replied.
"My thoughts exactly." Aric added. They tried to avoid any further groups or individuals who wanted to leave. Many hinted that they wanted to discuss something with them or other reasons to be close to them. None of them as bold as the ten who confronted them earlier. That a master didn't approach them or notice what was going on was interesting, but they had learned it took many of the masters to maintain the field around the temple. Instead of two or three to a master it was more like six to ten, and rarely did they eat with the younger jedi or see them outside of the classrooms and exercise rooms. They went exploring like they did every night and when they felt the residents of the temple were asleep they went to the door that let them into the temple. Jayme opened the door and they slipped out without seeing or feeling that anyone was watching. They quickly created an opening and jumped through letting it close behind them. They then sprinted across the bridge and headed for their ship.
"Percy Vao of the Independent Holo News here. What you are seeing here are two jedi most likely the ones who entered the temple seven days ago leaving. What they were doing inside and what they found are a mystery and I, Percy Vao, plan on finding out. Oh look at that gentle beings, it appears they are heading to a parked ship. One moment while I pull up the information and that is the Hawke's Nest a newly registered ship under the name's of Aric Lorn and Jayme Stone, who if my sources are correct is the captain of the Perseverance which has been missing since the droid war began and near the end of the Gorith Insurrection. I am going to try to get a few questions answered." Percy ran up to them as they waited for the ramp to drop. They both turned just before he turned his spotlights on them. "Percy Vao with the Independent Holo News here, would you like comment on what you planned to achieve by entering the temple and what you discovered?"
"That is for us to know and you to not." Aric replied pointing at him.
"Please be serious the public has a right to know." Percy complained.
"Go ask the jedi council I am sure they will be more then happy to talk to you. Oh wait they haven't talked to anybody in more then fifteen years. Do you really think it was any different for us, or that they were even there to begin with?" Jayme stated.
"So the jedi are alive?" Percy asked.
"We are not going to say as we were only inside to return a book to the library. We knew it would be over due but better late then never." Aric said as Jayme headed up the ramp. "Oh and I would have your camera checked as the little red light that I think means recording wasn't. Have a nice night." Aric sprinted up the ramp as it closed. He chuckled as he heard cursing from the reporter.
"Did you have to tell him that. Even without footage he will publish his story." Aric asked Jayme.
"I think he will have a hard time getting anyone to believe him other then that we entered and then came out." Jayme replied. "No how about we fire up this ship and pay an admiral a visit. We have a very large ship to hunt down."
"Good idea but he may not want to talk to us." Aric replied as they headed for the cockpit.
"Greetings captains, I was about to report you missing as our permit was soon expired." Sally stated.
"Good thing you didn't a false report would have not looked good and coming from a droid that would have gotten you scraped." Aric replied.
"Oh that is good I didn't call them." Sally added. "You have several messages. One from Admiral Carty and Venoda another from Gara Mano, three from suppliers wondering if you were hauling cargo and several advertisements."
"Dump the advertisements, and play the message from Gara first." Aric requested.
Aric, Jayme, I know it will be a while before you hear this if ever, but the Perseverance is gone and they forced me off the ship. I am in the Argent Housing block, apartment 6654-BJ47, please visit me before you talk to the admiral. The block has a large landing area that seldom sees use. I added the coordinates to get here. Hope to see you soon."
"Admiral Carty here I just heard you walked right into the jedi temple impressive and after that stunt you pulled with the mini jump. I miss being able to do that. Anyway, since the Perseverance decided to mutiny and jump out of the system straight from the docks I thought I should let you know the admiralty will hold you responsible. I am sure we can clear this all up. I can call in a few favors if you need them."
"Captain Stone this is Admiral Venoda as soon as you receive this message I need to speak with you in person asap, and that is a order."
"I am not sure if we are in the frying pan the fire or the furnace by his tone." Aric stated as he started hitting switches.
"Gara was warning us and Carty offering help and Venoda down right pissed. I don't think he is in the loop with the jedi." Jayme replied as she rose the ship and had Sally set the course. "Ga, the traffic is as bad as New York and we are not very maneuverable at this speed."
"This is a ship not a speeder I think we can jump up in the shipping lanes." Aric suggested as he searched for a faster route. Jayme eased up into the lane and was able to pick up some speed. An hour later they landed on the pad nearest Gara's address and after a few bad turns they found her door. Aric knocked instead of hitting the call button and they saw Gara's face and it instantly brightened as she recognized them.
"Come in quickly. I thought you two were gone for good but when I saw the news I sent the message." Gara said as soon as the door closed. "We don't I mean I don't have that much time and I guess you don't either. Any who, I found out a few things after I was kicked off the ship one they wanted to lock me up. Two they want to court martial you or execute you. I am not sure which. I managed to move before they decided to finish their private conversation. I don't think they knew biots can hear conversations from fifty paces away. I don't think they have put out a post on you two yet as they don't want to get you in the spotlight. The press has been running down any rumor about jedi for the last fifteen years and I am sure your vessel is being watched. Percy Vao is an expert on jedi and has more stories and theories then credits. You should have seen his report he only had footage of you leaving the temple and going to your ship but he is a pro at spinning a story. The fact that you shut off his camera didn't stop him from getting your words recorded. His story has gone viral and maybe he does have more credits then stories now."
"Slow down and calm down." Jayme interrupted. "Okay thank you for the warning but I think we can handle things. The Jedi Council ordered the ship to leave, using outside contacts."
"No, you did. I saw it. They showed it to me." Gara argued.
"We have to leave now. Gara come on grab your stuff." Aric said as he felt a warning coming from the force. Gara grabbed a bag and followed them out the door. Gara thought they should be moving a lot faster but they were walking like they lived here not a care in the world. She heard the footfalls of boots coming up behind them and was relieved that they weren't as she looked back. They rounded a corner and entered the nearest lift. Gara was sure they would be caught and nervously urged them to hurry. Correcting them when they went the wrong way. They made it to the landing pad without being spotted and they boldly walked to the ship. "Stop, Navy Security!" Aric glanced at the four beings as the one yelled and sprinted for the ship Jayme was right with him and Gara after seeing them take off was not far behind, and stepped on the ramp as it began to close.
"Sally fire her up we need to move fast." Aric called out.
"I thought we closed the ramp?" Jayme asked.
"Well I guess not it was down." Aric said as they hopped into their seats as the ship lifted. "But I do wonder why they didn't block us from the ship."
"That you can thank me for." Percy Vao said as he sat down. "I followed you here and as I was slicing my way on board I got caught and convinced them it was my ship and they went on their way. Not very bright were they."
"Is there a reason I am not throwing him out right now?" Aric asked as he glared at Percy.
"Cause you need to fly and dodge!" Percy warned. The ship went spinning and shot upwards.
"I'm not piloting she is." Aric corrected. "We'll talk later about trespassing and what Texans do to your kind." As far as high speed chases go this was not one that any speeder could perform, but as they gained altitude they navy was ready. They were shot at as soon as they got into range and Jayme spiraled back down and away.
"I don't know what is worse them shooting at us or your flying." Percy complained as he turned white.
"Let them be you were the one who wanted a ride." Gara ordered.
"Sally see if you can give us a plot on those navy craft and any others that are up there. We need to find a hole to punch through." Jayme requested.
"Yes searching now and I am glad I transferred my core to this ship so fast and exciting." Sally replied.
"A droid you have a droid on board now I know we are going to die." Percy complained.
"Actually three in the computer systems, two combat droids and one astromech." Aric told him and smiled as Percy passed out. "Sorry did I lie about the combat droids?"
"Plotting course on heads up. Limited coverage in that sector." Sally stated. Jayme smiled and pushed the Hawke's Nest to full. Minutes later they made orbit and pulled away from the planet.
"Captain Stone I know you can hear me. Please come to the station and we can work everything out. No need to run like criminals." Admiral Venoda called. "I am sure you had a perfectly good reason."
"Admiral the jedi council told us they sent the Perseverance out on a mission and you need to ask your fellow admirals about it one of them can contact them. As far as the Perseverance is concerned it is no longer my ship." Jayme replied.
"And as far as the Hawke's Nest is concerned I am not coming anywhere near that station." Aric added. "Oh and as I am a resident of a none member world I think you can't stop me and if you try it will be an act of war."
"You are insane. How can you claim it will be an act of war. Your system would never find out if we did take you in custody." Venoda replied. "What are you trying to prove?"
"Not much but our transmissions are public and redirected at a few Holonet satellites." Aric answered. "I think you don't want the public to know that the jedi have returned and you are trying to arrest two of them."
"Your bluffing. We are receiving no reports from the news." he countered.
"I have Percy Vao on board. Would you like to talk to him?" Aric offered.
"Ya right, good try though." he replied.
"Admiral I am on board and the public wants to know why are you hunting the jedi and how many more have arrested to make sure the public never needs to see another jedi? How many have you had killed or their minds burned to keep your secrets?" Gara asked in Percy's voice. A minute went by without a response and Jayme jumped into hyperspace.
"That was good. Quick thinking Gara I thought I would have had to wake him up." Aric said as he got up. "Didn't think Percy had any value."
"I am sure he is just a man that is obsessed with his job." Gara replied as she checked on him. "Plus for a male he is pretty dashing."
"At least he is not green." Aric said as he looked at the Twilek. "Good since you like him he is yours."
"I didn't say I like him." Gara replied.
"Okay then drop in the hatch so we can drop him off on the nearest rock." Aric threatened and Gara glared at him then he smiled and she blushed. "So where we jumping to anyways?"
"Alsakan." Sally replied. "One of the suppliers mentioned he had cargo to pick up there, and it was along this route the Perseverance fled. Shall I play the message."
"Sure why not?" Aric replied.
"I haven't seen the Dawn's Horizon in years. You can't hide that ship with a new name. I got the transponder code remember. Well if your interested I got a shipment you won't want to pass up. This one will raise the dead."
"If I couldn't understand him I still would know he wants the former owner dead, but the last sentence feels forgiving." Jayme commented.
"He was lying about the code. I switched it with one of the shuttles." Aric added.
"Incorrect you switched the transponder sender code not the engine transponder code. Which only can be scanned close up within a hundred meters." Sally informed him.
"What are the odds of that happening?" Percy said revealing he was awake. "And before you space me I am on your side. Been wanting to talk to a jedi for a long time and I have a personal reason."
"I wasn't going to space you, just place you on the nearest rock." Aric replied.
"In my line of work that is an airless rock." Percy explained. "Sixteen years ago a friend of mine lost his daughter to the jedi. Then they lock up and throw away the key. He wants to know she is alright, that's all."
"Percy Vao, Twilek news reporter famed for digging up every lead on the jedi throughout the galaxy and why for a friend's daughter. You can't lie to a jedi and not to a female Twilek." Gara accused him.
"Okay she's my sister, Urela. I want to know she still lives." Percy confessed.
"Oh Percy all you had to do was come to us without your camera's and voice recorders and we would have told you." Jayme stated. "Urela is alive and she is a padawan and she looked happy."
"Oh you don't know how good that makes me feel. Thank you." Percy said with relief and tears ran down his face. "Look I want to see her and I know you just ran from the navy, but I will stick by you, and I got friends and hideouts all over the place. Been to hundreds of planets you can't ask for a better guide. All I ask is if we ever get back to Coruscant that you arrange a reunion."
"Percy the jedi break all ties to family. She will not remember you or know anything about you." Aric stated.
I know and she doesn't need to know I am her father but that is what I ask. Plus I will write a story that we all can retire from and it just began." Percy said and shrunk as Aric glared at him.
"I don't have a problem with you maybe seeing your daughter but we can't have you reporting on our every move." Aric began.
"I won't not until after I see my daughter or you drop me off and leave me. As long as I am with you guys then I'm quiet." Percy promised. "I rarely make promises and this will be as close to one as I will admit."
"And I will make sure he keeps his word cause I will be next to him and not let him out of my sight ever." Gara stated. Percy looked at her and he smiled like he didn't like the idea but she smiled back and he blink and then he smiled again with interest in her.
"Be careful Gara males are sneaky." Jayme warned and giggled. Aric gave her a look and she gave him the look. "It is going to be awhile why don't you two get to know each other. We'll be in our cabin until just before we come out of hyper." Jayme took Aric's hand and they left the cockpit.
"Now that is something I thought I would never see a jedi do." Percy commented.
"Oh those two are not like any jedi you know or heard about. They share a bond that is like they are twins that have never been apart even for a minute." she replied. "I wonder your name Vao does it have anything to do with history?"
"I come from a long line of reporters so we try to be close to the events that turn into history." Percy answered. "Why do you ask?"
"Just wondering Aric mentioned a Mission Vao at one point past helped save the Republic, but he never said when or where." Gara replied.
"That is a popular name in my family. I almost named my daughter Mission, but my wife at the time refused." Percy revealed. "Hey you're not a jedi are you?"
"No I am a scientist." Gara replied and smiled. "Worried I might put you under a spell?" She then asked with a flirtatious tone.
"Oh you don't have to be a jedi to do that." Percy answered. "But I thought you were."
"No, but to be honest I am putting you under a spell on that note you will not even mind at all, but I think I will hold off on telling you what it is." Gara said. "You need a tour of the ship." She added as she lead him out of the cockpit. "This ship has the rear half of a YT1300 and the front half of a ST22X4 giving the ship its shape. The ST22X4 lacks cargo space, but is a tough ship. Scouts that can get a hold of one never give them up. By joining the rear half of the ship you gain that cargo space and better more reliable engines. The ship can't match the YT1300 for cargo space but it can haul heavier loads that the YT1300 needs upgrades. Right here is the engineering control console and the heart of all the computer systems including three droid cores. Sally has overriding control of all systems and one focuses on the hyperdrive and the other on all the minor systems and life support. The droids are fully protected against going rogue, so don't worry your handsome head over them. Those ladders there lead to the Quad laser cannon and I was told that a full hit will destroy a fighter outright. That corridor leads to the captain's quarters and a matching cabin is on the other side." Percy gave her a questioning look and she smiled and ignored his possible thoughts. "Next is the lounge where you can relax and eat with the food station over there. Entering this corridor leads to the docking ring and boarding ramp with another ring on the other side. Next is the three holds that you would find on a YT1300 with the port side hold serving as crew quarters, sleeping six. Any questions?"
"So where do we sleep?" he asked with an obvious expression on his face.
"Honey you are so obvious. I am a scientist, but I worked as a dancer for fifteen years after the start of the droid war." Gara replied while straightening his shirt. "I see your type all the time and found they were the easiest to milk them of all their credits, and they never even got to touch me."
"I am not like them. Plus I don't give out credits to dancers they are pretty to look at but nothing but trouble." Percy said as he slide closer. "And you must be losing your skills because I am touching you." He had put his hands on her sides and pulled her slightly closer.
"You are only touching my clothes and not me. If I was dressed as a dancer a move like this would put you in the hospital." she replied and he suddenly found himself on the floor blinking in surprise. "Awe you poor baby did you slip