Star Wars: Illumination: The True War

by LP Marcus writes Fanfiction

For more than a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic and its successors, before and after the dark times. But now, centuries later, as criminals seize control of neutral worlds in the Outer Rim, a new threat arises from within the order itself, one that seeks to undermine the Jedi's sole allegiance to the light…

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...

STAR WARS

Illumination

THE TRUE WAR

Centuries after the rebirth of the Jedi Order, the crime lord Asharr strives to increase his CONSORTIUM's control over hundreds of neutral systems. The TRIUMVIRATE, an alliance of the New Republic and the reformed Galactic Empire, is caught unable to stop the spread of this new power in the criminal underworld.

Bound by their loyalty to the Triumvirate, the Jedi Council faces schism as more knights join the OMNISTS, a faction within the Order that preaches the embrace of all aspects of the Force.

Amidst this inaction, the rogue Jedi Master Kali'sto traverses the lawless sectors of neutral space, seeking out his allies to fight Asharr's takeover….

Prologue

New Dolus Colony, Ambria, 199 Years ABY (After the Battle of Yavin)

If there was one thing Kali'sto understood, it was that appearances could be deceiving. Ambria was a beautiful planet from space, with striking violet rings surrounding a dusky spheroid. But the beauty faded once one traveled to the surface. All he could see was wasteland, a vast expanse of desert as far as the eye could see, barely habitable for mammalian life. Yet there it was, a small colony, with several huts bearing a round shape, reminiscent of huts he had seen in his long, long life. It was early in the night, the sky was dark. Lights from houses whose owners were still awake, and hand held lights from those who were outside on that day.

Kali'sto set his ship down on the colony's edge, deciding to keep a low profile and not attract too much attention. He moved out of his seat, but experienced difficulty standing, his right leg not budging.

He understood what it was. He looked at his leg and adjusted the servo on the brace that covered his still-damaged leg. It took him a minute, but with a grunt, he loosened the jammed gear and flexed his leg. Satisfied, he grabbed his staff, and placed his lightsaber within the shoulder bag he wore. Walking carefully, cautious that the brace might be a little weak, he opened the ship's landing ramp and ventured out to the colony. There wasn't much commotion about, so Kali'sto moved his right hand and adjusted the audial scanner implanted in his damaged ear.

Several people were out and about, selling items they had somehow procured, or wandering the streets. The people here were mostly humans and near-humans, though Kali'sto noticed a few rodians and even an old wookiee wandering the streets. How strange, he thought as he walked the streets, pretending to take no notice of the Wookiee, Why would a Wookiee live in a place like this? It was very odd to see a Wookiee live in a desert like Ambria, as they had evolved in the jungles of Kashyyyk. Most of the people dressed in simple drab clothing, similar in fabric to Kali'sto's desert robes, allowing him to move with ease through the colony, another traveler visiting a colony, the only notable thing about him being his two-meter height, his Brylak wood staff, and the slight limp he wore.

He moved towards a Kadas'a'Nikto woman exiting a shop.

"Excuse me, sir. Is there anyone who knows things, where everyone is, a community person who I can talk to? I'm looking for an old friend," Kali'sto asked him.

"Try old Tim, he's right over there,'' she replied, pointing to Kali'sto's left. Thanking him, Kali'sto turned. He saw a dusky-skinned human man resting on a crate, his hair was greying and he was bearded. He was dressed in trousers and a drab tunic stained with dust.

"Thank you," he responded before limping towards the old human.

"Hello," Kali'sto said. The man looked up.

"Yer a Jed'eye, ain'tcha, Grandpa," the man smiled.

"I never had grandchildren," Kali'sto replied, "May I sit down..?"

"Go ahead, getting kinda lonely just sitting here by myself." Kali'sto sat down next to the man.

"Finagy Timmayn," the human introduced himself, "people 'round here call me Old Tim."

"I'm Kali'sto," Kali'sto introduced himself, "I am a historian and sociologist." From a certain point of view, it was true: Kali'sto had always been a wanderer, always fascinated with different cultures and the way ordinary people lived their lives. There were times when he wondered if it was as much his love for cultural diversity as his desire to help innocents that had made him into a nomad.

"Kalee'sto what?," Old Tim asked, a hint of excitement in his eyes.

"Just Kali'sto, I don't have a surname," Kali'sto replied.

"You know, I met a Jed'eye once," Old Tim stated, "Forty years ago, "Lowbacca his name was, if I remember correctly. No offense Kalee'sto, but you looks like you could have known him."

"None taken," Kali'sto replied, "Unfortunately, we are not acquainted."

"Well, it was at this very colony, when it was set up. He was helping out with the colony's development, setting everything up. I was jus' one of those young'un settlers looking fer a new life out in the inner rim, Darth Krayt ravaged my homeworld in the last war, ya know?"

"I do. I lost my home in the Clone Wars," Kali'sto replied.

"No way," Old Tim replied in awe, "Yew fought in them clone wars against those droids?"

"For a time, yes, I did fight," Kali'sto replied, "But, if I recall, you were telling me the tale of how you met your first Jedi. You explained that you were a member of a group of settlers joining the colony here, and Lowbacca was helping to set it up, if I recall."

"Oh yeah, right," Old Tim cleared his throat and continued his story, "Lowbacca talked to each o' the settlers, well, not quite exactly, wookiees ya know? So 'e needed a tran'slater droid to help 'im. Gold as hell and kept complaining about the climate, kept saying stuff like 'Oh my, my joints are clogged!' Hehehe." Old Tim laughed, while Kali'sto smiled.

"Finagy, that was a great tale.."

"No no," Tim interrupted him, "Old Tim, remember?"

"I don't think of you as old, Finagy," Kali'sto replied, "When you live as long as I have, anyone your age may seem like a child or at most a young adult."

"How old are ya?" Tim asked.

"In Galactic Standard Time, I am three-hundred-eighteen years old," Kali'sto answered.

"Wow, I feel...middle-aged," Tim replied. As Kali'sto chuckled, Tim asked, "Where were you born?"

"Kashyyyk," Kali'sto answered. Well, it was where Yoda had found him. Vie'vantae were an unusual species; they were, literally, sentient plants, containing the same basic anatomy as humans and most related species, only said anatomy was made of cellulose and other botanic materials. Plant-esque traits did sometimes appear on members of their species; eye pigmentation was always bright and comprised of gradations, the skin hardened slightly and became more like bark as they aged. It wasn't common knowledge, few understood the biology of Vie'vantae, and Kali'sto generally preferred not to discuss it. It led to many awkward questions, "Anyways…"

"Lemme guess," Tim interrupted him, again, "Ye're here for research purposes, this planet does have a lot of history to it..."

"That is not why I'm here," Kali'sto interrupted, "I'm looking for an old friend. Her name is Miranda. She lives nearby, if I'm not mistaken..."

"Ya mean Miranda Nai-Jal? The artist?"

"Yes, her," he answered, "I'm looking for her."

"She's not alone," Tim replied, "Miranda just had a baby." Kali'sto was stunned. And happy for Miranda. A baby! He could not believe it.

"I am curious, where do they live?" He asked, barely able to contain his joy.

"They live out west,' 'bout a mile away. People come to 'Anda all the time, her artwork is beautif'll. And she's a really good medic."

"Thank you Tim," Kali'sto replied, before asking, "Who is the father?"

"Nobody knows," Tim explained, "The baby was already on the way when she arrived."

"Thank you anyways." He stood up and began to walk back towards his ship.

"You're welcome sir, always happy t' help newcomers!" Tim replied.

---

Tim waited until Kali'sto left before walking back to of his house. A robed and hooded figure awaited him inside, their face covered by a dark mask that blended into the shadows the hood cast over their head.

Asharr was the commander of the crime/military coalition known only as the Consortium. Keeping their identity behind a mask, nothing was known about them; species, sex, age..all were completely unknown. All Tim had heard was a rumor that they had trained as a Jedi at some point in the past.

Asharr did not move a muscle, but something told Tim that they knew he was here.

"The Jed'eye yew told me 'bout, he was here," Tim reported. Asharr had warned him that the visitor would disguise himself as a historian and sometimes walked with a slight limp, "He's going to Miranda."

"Good, good," A filtered voice came from the mask, "I will deal with them personally."

"Sir, remember your promises," Tim begged, "Yew promised to help us with our water shortage…"

"I have supplies ready to deliver," Asharr interrupted as they moved towards him. Tim was genuinely terrified as he looked up into their mask, noticing strange, angular glyphs.

"Thanks my lord. Just...I know you criminal types, clearly you're planning something, and you need them."

Tim swallowed before he continued, "Don't kill either of them, okay? They're both good folks."

"I intend to host a reunion, not an assault."

Kali'sto's Skiff, flying over Lake Natth

A powerful nexus of Dark side energy, Lake Natth was surrounded by carnivorous creatures called hssiss and their prey, the neeks. The dark side energy present in Lake Natth had once surrounded Ambria, the results of a failed Sith ritual millennia ago, an experiment that had cost the planet most of its indigenous life. The ancient Jedi Master Thon, however, with great difficulty, had trapped the dark energy in Lake Natth forever, though restoring Ambria to the world it had once been was an impossible task. Despite the best efforts of Thon and later disciples of the force, the planet was beyond healing, possibly forever.

"A sad fate for this world," Kali'sto thought as he passed over the churning waters, "A pity indeed."

The radar screen displayed a hut built around ruins that Kali'sto recognized as the Ambria Jedi Enclave. A small compound located a few miles away from Lake Natth, it had been home to Master Thon. It made sense that Miranda would settle there, in a place of light. Kali'sto sensed Miranda's familiar presence in the enclave. There was another there, a younger presence that felt like a spark…

The Force is with this one, Kali'sto thought, the circumstances reminding him of another promising Jedi from the old Order.

With this recollection, Kali'sto began to feel uneasy. Kali'sto remembered those terrible years; he long remembered the Empire, Palpatine, and Darth Vader.

Now is not the time to think of him, Kali'sto reminded himself before saying out loud, "You are meeting an old friend." Kali'sto calmed himself, although the sound of a deep mechanical breathing, and the image of a black mask and a red lightsaber still echoed in his mind.

His vessel landed next to a cluster of cacti, a few meters from the compound, briefly stirring up dirt and gravel as the skiff set down. A woman stepped out, carrying a bundle in her arms. Her hair was still short and black, her skin a beautiful shade of tan, her eyes a bright shade of emerald. Faint lines had began to form around her eyes, but they were difficult to see. She was clad in a baje robe with esoteric patterns sewn into the fabric. Kali'sto knew that underneath, she wore body armor, even if her beautifully-designed vambraces and gauntlets, and the helmet clipped to her belt, were the only thing visible.

"I wondered when you would go looking for me," Miranda stated.

"It wasn't too difficult, we are all drawn to home," the old man replied with a smile. Miranda gave a faint ghost of a smile back.

"I'm glad you have found peace here, Miranda," Kali'sto stated, "I understand you have had a child."

"Yes," Miranda smiled, "He's right here." Kali'sto looked at the bundle. A baby boy, swaddled in blankets and a tiny robe, was carried in Miranda's arms. He had a faint thatch of black hair and Miranda's green eyes. He didn't cry, giggle, or make any other sound; he just looked at Kali'sto with adorable curiosity.

"He's beautiful," Kali'sto remarked, "I could sense the Force in him."

"It didn't come from me," Miranda replied, "Or his father..." Her voice faded. For one moment, an alarm filled his mind, the Force granting him a warning. A shadowed light in the Force, one that was tormenting the systems Kali'sto traveled...he was coming.

"Is something wrong, Kali'sto?" Kali'sto had been negligent to readjust his hearing aid, and Miranda's raised voice made him wince. The pain helped him anchor himself back into the present.

"Asharr is coming," Kali'sto gasped, "We should go…"

Suddenly, several warriors, clad in black, armed with lightsabers, approached the group, almost appearing to materialize out of thin air.

"Go!" On his orders, Miranda ran to Kali'sto's ship. Igniting his lightsaber, Kali'sto defended Miranda and her baby.

"State your purpose!" The warriors gave no response. Then they charged.

Kali'sto's training in lightsaber combat had been limited, by his own request, to the simplistic, yet balanced blade work of Form VI, Niman, and the defensive strokes of Form III, Soresu. Although his bladework had improved considerably during the Clone Wars, it had been many years since he had made the time to practice fighting this many opponents at once. Now, faced against half a dozen warriors who were obviously very skilled with their weapons, Kali'sto was starting to regret that decision. Sadly, these warriors had almost mechanical coordination. They circled and stalked him, striking when Kali'sto least expected it, ready to make a move that would slice an arm, a finger. Kali'sto used Soresu's "eye of the storm" principle to redirect their sabers whilst using the Force to push them back, but he couldn't stop every strike, realizing he had suffered a painful gash on his lower back.

Experience was the only reason he didn't let the pain prevent him from holding his ground.

Kali'sto's plant-like physiology would make him hard to kill, but even Vie'vantae could not survive being sliced to ribbons. He adopted a posture of quiet and serenity. If he would die, he would hold them off as long as possible.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of a grappling cable fire. One of the warriors cried out, clutching at his throat, before being pulled back towards a warrior clad in full armor and helmet. Kali'sto heard a vibroblade cut through flesh, and the warrior dropped to the ground. Miranda, grabbing and igniting the fallen warrior's saber, had joined the fight. Her stolen golden blade and Kali'sto's green blade lit the area. The remaining five warriors had violet, yellow, silver, purple, and azure bladed lightsabers. They all stood back and assessed their new foe.

Kali'sto and Miranda against five warriors. Their odds didn't seem too terrible. Rays would have viewed the situation as winnable.

Don't think of him, Kali'sto berated himself, Stay in the here and now!

"Stop!" a voice, filtered to sound neither male nor female, boomed through the air.
A masked humanoid marched into the fray, the scarlet glow of their lightsaber framing their dark, loose cloak as it blew in the wind. They were tall, and marched with conviction, with determination. There was a sense of familiarity, and a frightening resemblance to Vader, one that far exceeded the person's masked visage.

For one second, Kali'sto was staring across the field of ruin at Vader's mask, his dead troops strewn across the ground, Rays in his arms…

Kali'sto could barely focus.

"There is no need to fight," Asharr declared, unleashing a storm of lightning upon master and apprentice.

Miranda rolled in front of Kali'sto and held it back with her stolen blade. Pulling himself back, Kali'sto noticed that she was holding a small, silver switch in her free hand.
"Take the child and leave," Miranda ordered as she held back the storm.

"I can't leave you here!" Kali'sto couldn't believe what she was asking.

"We can't defeat him! I can buy you time!"

"Your son needs you!" Kali'sto countered.

"You'll have to do!" Kali'sto was pushed by invisible hands and thrown back towards his ship. Slammed on the boarding ramp, Kali'sto heard Miranda speak one more time as the ramp started to rise, "His name is Riko!"

"STOP HIM!" Asharr yelled.

For a brief moment, Kali'sto was unsure of how to proceed. Then he heard Riko's crying. The boy was frightened, alone, and in grave danger.

If Kali'sto hesitated for another second, they would be stranded. The boy would be taken away, on a dark and dreadful path.

For a second, Kali'sto reviewed this tactically, as Rays had taught him: as much as he wished to stay and fight, he knew that they could not defeat their assailants. If both of them tried to flee, Asharr and her warriors would destroy his ship, there would be no escape.

Choking down his grief and knowing he would forever regret his hypocrisy, he ran to the cockpit, grunting in pain as he taxed his braced leg. Taking his seat, Kali'sto activated the engines, and lifted off, hoping the best for Miranda, any chance of his reentering the battle vanishing as the ramp shut and sealed the ship and its occupants from Ambria's atmosphere.

One of the assailants, the one with the violet blade, jumped onto his ship, his hooded face staring through the viewport at Kali'sto's. He too was masked, much more simply than Asharr; he was probably just wearing a scarf pulled up to his eyes.

Kali'sto accelerated the skiff to maximum speed as he flew up into the atmosphere. The warrior lost his grip, slipped across the viewport, and fell away from Kali'sto's sight. Even if he somehow held on, the vacuum of space would end any chance he had of hurting Kali'sto or Miranda's son.

When they entered hyperspace, Kali'sto set his ship to autopilot, then rushed into the cargo hold.

Riko lay on a bunk built into the vessel's hold. The boy was still wailing, Kali'sto knew that he understood his mother was absent. Kali'sto soothed him, cradling him in his arms. He stopped crying, falling asleep, now appearing at peace. Despite the grief and guilt Kali'sto felt, he was comforted holding the child in his arms.

He beheld the boy's smooth, formless features, unhardened by time or pain. It was beautiful, it was an experience unlike anything the old Jedi had ever felt.

Kali'sto lay him down on the bunk. Grabbing a blanket from his stores, he placed it over Riko's tiny form.

He might grow hungry later.

Kali'sto moved his hand into his bag to look through his datapad. Childcare was new to him, he should know what Riko could and couldn't eat at this stage. He was surprised to feel a metallic, cylindrical object inside, with patterns engraved into the surface.

He pulled it out, confirming with his eyes that it was Miranda's lightsaber, which he had built, but she had designed.
His amazement at his pupil's ability turned into guilt and sadness for her needless sacrifice. Miranda should have had this moment, this responsibility.

If she survived, Kali'sto would find her. If she hadn't, he would make her sacrifice worth it. He would keep tabs on Asharr, do what he could to protect other communities from afar. The Consortium wouldn't be allowed to exploit these worlds, he wouldn't let this happen again.

As for Riko…

I can raise him, Kali'sto thought, Riko can be my child. Miranda trusted me with him. It was her last wish, I should do it.

Kali'sto turned his gaze back to Miranda's weapon, knowing why she had given it to him. Now, Kali'sto could see that the baby wasn't as powerful as he had first believed. He had potential, but the Force wouldn't be his greatest ally. This was for the best.

I will make sure he stays safe, I will not reveal my past to him…

Twelve years later.

Chapter One

Riko's Room, A113 Thicket Ave, Señalar un, Orîlla, 211 ABY

Half buried in a pile of wires, circuits, panels, and frames, a hydrospanner in his left hand, an arm in his right, Riko Nai-Jal was completing his work on a droid. It was a 9D child-care head cobbled onto a narrow, box-shaped S-series Mobile Cargo Mech body, which featured a vac-sealed cargo compartment on its back. B2 battle droid arms, their blasters stripped off long ago, had been attached to pit droid biceps, which had been fused to the joints where the MCM's forward legs should have been. This jalopy was attached to a wheel from a PS-03 mountain treader. The pieces were rusted and discolored. Some components, like the arms, made it clear that this droid was built out of junk, but this was all Riko had to work with.

"Riko!" Kali'sto's voice echoed through the room's confines.

"I'm almost done!" Riko replied. And he was. After five months of junkyard salvage, component trading, and assembly, he was almost done. The twelve year old finished adjusting the droid's shoulder servo, then stepped back, admiring his accomplishment. Despite his age, Riko was an expert on mechanics, an ability which was almost instinctive; he had this knack for how devices worked, he could mentally figure out how to upgrade or fix them. And now, he was undertaking the biggest mechanical project of his young life; he was building a droid.

Riko raised his goggles off his face. Moving to the droid's back, he flicked the activation switch. The droid's massive circular green eyes flickered on.

"Hello," Riko spoke to the droid, grabbing his datapad, wires linking it to the droid's brain, which contained a number of programs required. He had already inserted a basic autonomy, schematics, program, everything the droid needed to function.

The droid started trilling in binary. Riko remembered that he hadn't added a Basic-to-Binary program yet.

Riko uploaded the binary-to-basic program, even though the linguistic database was incomplete. He could fix it later.

"Hi there," A high-pitched, squeaky male voice that sounded weirdly adorable issued from the droid's vocabulator. Between that and his cute, bizarre appearance, he reminded Riko of a cartoon character, "Who is you?"
Clearly the droid needed some work on his grammar program. But that was a problem for later. Riko had more important issues with the droid's development anyway.

"I'm Riko. I built you."

"That is twenty-seven-point-one-five percent likely," The droid said innocently, "You must have had help. You is either lying or joking."

"I'm not joking! I didn't have help!" Riko took a deep breath, "I have trouble making friends." Riko lived on the planet Orîlla, in the Mid Rim. The man who raised Riko, Kali'sto, had chosen to live in Señalar un, capital of Orîlla's independent trade-based civilization. Kali'sto loved living in the thick of things, surrounded by people, wanting Riko to live the same way.

It hadn't worked out as well as he had hoped; Riko was a gifted academic, but had a lot of difficulty adjusting to the school's rigid teaching style and social environment, to the point that his teachers had recommended private school. Kali'sto now handled Riko's education, which Riko didn't mind, as he preferred spending his time working with machines.

"I have trouble making friends, so I thought I'd build one," Riko explained.

"That's the purpose of me? To be your friend?"
"If you want. If not, feel free to do whatever."
"Whatever what?"
"Depends."
"On which variable?"
"What everyone else is okay with, and what you want," Riko was getting bored. He wondered if installing a strategic analysis calculator within the droid's brain had really been a good idea.

"Okay," the droid seemed satisfied, "I as well be your friend, if you is not lying. Have you a name for me?"

"I don't have a name for you yet." Riko activated a screen connected to a holonet router that Kali'sto had reluctantly allowed Riko to install in his room.

"A lot of new droids have been built lately. if there's a name you like, maybe you can base yours off it." Riko stepped back letting the droid peer at the screen and look through the list.

"Riko, your dinner is ready!"
"I'm almost done, father!"
"You were almost finished four minutes ago, please come outside."

"The Four-Are-Dee Astromechs sound interesting. But I is clearly not four-RD."

"Okay, you're not an Four-Are-D." The idea hit Riko. The droid's head was from a 9D droid.

"How about Nine-Are-Dee? Or just Nine-Are? Nine-Are-Zero, the prototype of the Nine-Are droid series?" Nine for the nanny droid, R for the astromech and Riko's initial, and zero to mark him as the prototype.

"I enjoy my name Nine-Are-Zero."

An idea crossed Riko's mind, "Niner for a nickname."

"Okay!" the droid responded eagerly. Riko was just as happy as his new friend.

"Ok. Glad to have you, Niner." Riko disconnected the holonet interface. Niner whistled in happiness, beginning his life.

Backyard

"The goggles," Kali'sto scolded.

"Sorry, dad," Riko pulled them off his head and set them down.

"Come on out, Niner," Riko called back into the house. The droid slowly advanced out.

Riko had imagined ithat ntroducing Niner to Kali'sto wouldn't be easy. The man had mixed emotions about Riko's time with mechanics, believing he spent too much time inside.

"So this is the friend you have hoped to create?" Kali'sto asked.

"This is Nine-Are-Zero, dad. I call him Niner." Kali'sto smiled in response, "Niner, this is Kali'sto, my father."

"Hello, Kali'sto. I is excited to meet you." The droid slipped on a bump in the ground and fell on his face.

Riko grabbed Niner and helped pull him up, although Niner did attempt to push himself back upward.

"I is?" Kali'sto asked, clearly amused.
"He needs some work on grammar, but otherwise I think he's good with words." Amused by the scene, Riko was considering leaving the grammatical impediment intact, if Niner wanted it.

"How is he your pappy?" Niner asked, "He is a different species."

"He adopted me," Riko shrugged. Kali'sto neglected to tell Riko about his past. A strange frown marred the old man's face every time Riko's family was brought up.

Kali'sto simply continued making Riko's dinner: a soup made of various crops and foodstuffs, some imported, some purchased locally, and some of which Kali'sto himself grew in a small herb garden in their backyard. The pot was raised over a fire in said backyard, behind their house. Kali'sto had chosen a dwelling at the edge of the city, so as to have a less cluttered view of the sky.

When it came to what he owned, Kali'sto chose to live simply, and enjoyed it. The old man preferred living an uncluttered life, and spent much of his spare time outside, enjoying his time on Orîlla. To provide for himself and his son, he had taken on the occupation of historical consultant for Señalar un's schools and occasional mediator for Orîlla's government. He was happy with what he had and wanted nothing else.

That lifestyle had the opposite effect on Riko. He loved to collect things and build machines. His room was cluttered with the devices he had built and upgraded over the years, the ones he could legally lay claim to anyway. Other people sometimes came to him, looking for a mechanic to repair their devices. Occasionally Kali'sto provided tutoring to individual students, in exchange for components Riko needed or food.

Occasionally, as a treat, Kali'sto took Riko to a nearby junkyard to find spare parts that were in good condition. Luckily, Orîlla was largely unspoiled, with that junkyard being one of only a handful across the planet's surface.

Kali'sto handed Riko his bowl and sat down, with Niner moving next to him. Here came the part of the day that Riko enjoyed the most: The story at dinner.

"I am the storyteller, full of history. In my memory are legends passed on from hundreds of worlds. Ask, and I will tell..." Kali'sto began.

"I want to hear about Yoda," Riko interrupted.

"Riko, I've told you his story already," Kali'sto responded.

"Please?" Riko asked.

Kali'sto sighed, "Very well." Riko had taken a vested interest in the stories of the Jedi, and the story of Yoda was one of his favorites.

"Yoda was a mysterious Jedi. No one knows where he came from, or which planet his species is from. Some believe that he was trained on a swamp planet by Jedi Master N'Kata Del Gormo. What I am sure of is that he finished his formal training under Grand Master Fae Coven on Coruscant and became a Jedi Knight. When he was almost one hundred, he became a Jedi Master and found his first apprentice, whose identity is lost to history. Yoda spent decades training his apprentice before the apprentice became a knight himself…"

Riko and Niner listened throughout the story as Kali'sto continued through Yoda's tale, with Niner throwing in an "oooh" or "interesting" here and there. Twilight had descended just as Kali'sto reached the Jedi Purge.

"He chose to exile himself on Dagobah, now a holy place to the Jedi, remaining there for two decades. Finally, he was responsible for the training of Luke Skywalker. On the eve of the Emperor's defeat at Endor, he succumbed to his age and finally rested." Kali'sto's face grew sad, as if he'd known Yoda personally.

"Or did he?" Riko's attention came back to the story, "Many believe that Yoda learned how to preserve his consciousness after he died. Perhaps he did. I hope so." Kali'sto smiled, again as if he were telling Riko about an old friend rather than the legend of a Jedi Master.

Kali'sto rarely spoke of his life, merely telling Riko that he had lived a long time, that he had seen much, and that he had always loved exploring other cultures, the reason he had taken a job as a historian. Occasionally, he did share little stories of his recent adventures exploring worlds before Riko had been born, but nothing more specific than that. Riko partly understood, he knew everyone had things in their past they'd rather not talk about. Perhaps Kali'sto had seen some tragic event he'd like to forget. Yet despite this, Riko was still curious, and he had vowed long ago that one day he would find out his guardian's past. One day.

Niner spoke, knocking Riko out of his deep thought.

"How does he know all this? Is he long-lived?"

"He's a historian. And he's seen a lot in his life," Riko replied.

"I have, my little friend," Kali'sto moved his hand to Niner.

"What is this?" Niner asked.
"It's called a handshake, Niner. You shake his hand. It's a form of greeting."
"How do I shake his hand?" Riko rolled his eyes.

The droid showed no sign of noticing his expression.

"My query still hasn't been responded."
Kali'sto started chuckling to himself. Niner looked confused.
"I did not make a kidding. Why is he laughing?"
Riko smiled, "I'll explain later."

Homestead, Interior

Afterward, Riko walked back into his home. Feeling tired, he was heading to the refresher with the intent to brush his teeth and then climb into bed, planning to read a holonovel until he dozed off.

On the way, he noticed something. A box, wooden, with carvings engraved in its surface, sat on a shelf that Riko had passed many times. The box hadn't been there before. Riko moved toward it. The shelf was low enough for him to open the box. Inside was a strange object. It was cylindrical, sleek, with artistic patterns woven into the metal. Grabbing the device and holding it upward in one hand, Riko pressed the button. A bright blade, not quite blue, but not quite green either, ignited from the cylinder. Riko stared at it in disbelief and awe.

"Is this a lightsaber?" Riko thought to himself. Lightsabers were extremely rare weapons, almost exclusive to the Jedi and their Empire-based counterparts, the Imperial Knights. Riko didn't doubt Kali'sto's stories of the incredible feats Jedi could perform with the Force; in fact, sometimes he wondered if he could use that power as well.

"Woah," Niner stood in the hallway, "How did he get this?"

"I don't know Niner," Riko deactivated the weapon, "I hope we can find out."

Chapter Two

Jedi Shuttle Keeper of the Peace, orbiting Orîlla

Jade Skywalker stared out the viewport in the shuttle's crew compartment, gazing upon Orîlla's visage. A world that had mostly managed to escape the pollution and overurbanization that swept so many worlds in the core, the landmasses of the planet were a beautiful yellow-gold coast, green dots scattered over its surface, a massive blue spill defining the landmasses' edge. It resembled an elegant version of an old parchment map. The only sign the planet was inhabited was the capital city, Señalar un, which was barely perceptible as a bright dot against the night side of the planet. It would be almost morning there, Tau would conduct his meeting in five hours, once the day had begun.

The only thing that marred the planet's beauty was the orbiting Star Destroyer. A venerable, aging warship of the Pellaeon class, it carried enough firepower and fighters to blockade a single planet on its own.

The Orîllan House of Administration was considering joining Asharr's Consortium, and Tau was there to negotiate with the House of Administration to convince them to maintain their friendship with the Triumvirate.

"We're coming down on Orîlla." Tau's voice called from the cockpit. Jade left her quarters and traveled toward the cockpit.

Tau was fifty-one years old, still fit and healthy. His hair was blonde, greying at the temples and in his beard at the jaw. Lines underscored his blue eyes, an imprint of his experiences.

Jade's resemblance to her father could not have been more lacking. While Tau was practically the spitting image of his ancestor Luke, Jade could have been mistaken for a clone of her mother; mutations could account for the differences in her hair and eye color.

Her father sat at the controls with his droid in the cockpit. It was rare for a Jedi Council Master to go on a mission himself, much less take his child along. But Tau Skywalker had insisted that Jade see the galaxy before becoming a formal apprentice. So an informal arrangement lay between Tau and the Council regarding his daughter: Jade was Tau's unofficial apprentice. This arrangement came with conditions, though. The Jedi Council had ordered Tau to stay away from hostile zones to avoid the cold war with the Consortium, which prevented Tau from fighting criminals the way he had in his youth. Tau didn't seem to mind though, he loved being able to spend more time with his child than most Jedi could. And Jade enjoyed traveling the galaxy, seeing all the different planets.

"Remember," Tau instructed, turning Jade's attention back to him, "The council chose to keep this mission confidential. We can't tell anyone else we're Jedi."

Jade found this troubling, "Why?"

"Jedi aren't well-regarded out here," Tau replied, "Who knows what would happen?" Jade already knew that Jedi weren't as well-regarded in the outer rim, but she found the idea of hiding her identity sad. Had trust for the Jedi really degraded that badly out here?

Jade reached into her pocket and pulled out her lambent crystal. A relic of one of her travels, it had always acted as a source of calm, and a connection to home.

Turning it in her hands, Jade hoped she would find the answer as their ship passed the Destroyer and entered Orîlla's atmosphere.

Jasz's Hardware, Señalar un

Riko was beginning to theorize that Kali'sto was deliberately avoiding discussing the lightsaber. He attempted to bring it up but never succeeded, as if his father knew what Riko would say before he spoke. Over the past day, Riko had concocted several theories on how Kali'sto acquired a lightsaber, but the one that was most likely (as calculated by Niner) intrigued him the most. What if Kali'sto was a Jedi himself? At first, Riko almost laughed at the idea. But it became more and more believable to him as he reexamined the theory. And it made him wonder if the saber was there by accident or on purpose. Kali'sto rarely left things he considered important in random places like that shelf. A lightsaber was definitely important.

Riko decided he would attempt to find time to speak with his guardian about the matter later that day as the two traveled to Orîlla's Capital building. Kali'sto was asked to mediate a meeting between a Jedi and Orîlla's minister, and Riko wished to return the leftover demetris circuitry that a friendly shopkeeper had lent him to construct Niner. And there he was, with Kali'sto waiting outside.

"Nice work," Jasz, the shopkeeper, smiled at Niner. The smile added to the wealth of wrinkles in the Dressilian woman's face.
"Thank you," Niner said. After a few days, he was starting to understand compliments.

"How much?" Riko asked, holding a handful of credits in his pocket. He was worried about the price of building a droid. Jasz simply smiled, "No charge. You built yourself a friend, I shouldn't ask for money."

"Thanks Jasz!" Riko smiled and left the store, Niner in pursuit. He walked to Kali'sto, who stood at the entrance.

"Economies confuse me," Niner stated bluntly as they left. The droid was developing a habit of blurting out facts that came to mind. Luckily, they were generally related to the conversation, if vaguely at times.

"She didn't charge me anything!" Riko happily exclaimed. Kali'sto smiled in return.

"Let's go." They walked through the streets, Riko and Niner doing their best to stay close to Kali'sto. However, in the mass of the crowd, staying close to their guardian became harder and harder.

---

Jade walked with her father alongside Señalar un's streets. There were many markets in the city, some were thriving, some were shut down, abandoned, plain for all to see. As a result of the Consortium's war on independent worlds, Orîlla's products, both local and imported, produced a high demand on neutral worlds, and sometimes harvests went poorly, craftsmen were unable to find adequate materials, merchants were unable to meet said demand or said promises, sometimes with disastrous consequences.

It made Jade both sad and angry to look at the ruins of their failures, sometimes see them on the street, sometimes with their families, unable to provide for themselves, starving. She became so engrossed in one abandoned store, which was surrounded by a massive crowd, that she didn't carefully examine her surroundings and bumped into someone, causing her to fall to the floor.

---

Riko was generally able to keep Kali'sto's brown jacket and shoulder bag in his sight, until they passed an abandoned restaurant which had drawn a larger, thicker crowd about it, Riko unable to move through the crowd, losing Kali'sto and Niner. As he stumbled and finally cleared the mass of bodies, he bumped straight into another person.

"Woah!" Riko slipped, with the other doing the same. Both of them fell to the ground, Riko wincing at the impact.

"Sorry," she stood up, revealing herself to be a girl Riko's age, with fair skin. She had long red-brown hair, with a single blonde streak near her right temple. She had sapphire blue eyes that Riko found enchanting.

She raised her hand to help pull the boy to his feet. Riko took it.

---

"Sorry," Jade called out to whomever she ran into. She looked up. A child, her age, sat up as well. He was human, with a skinny frame, short black hair that curled in places, skin that looked like it should be tan-brown but was pale, as if he spent little time in the sun, and green eyes that stared at Jade's own. Jade stood up. The child attempted to, but he couldn't. Jade offered her hand, and pulled him up. His fingers were incredibly callused.

"I wasn't looking carefully," the child apologized nervously.

"It wasn't your fault. I didn't either," Jade replied.

"Is you alright Riko?" The very sentence confused Jade. The voice was clearly that of a droid, but why was the grammar incorrect?

A droid rolled next to the boy. It had big green eyes, an elliptical head, an astromech-style torso, long, skeletal arms, and a treaded wheel instead of legs and feet. He was smaller than Jade, four feet tall at most.

"Who are this?" the droid asked.

"I don't know, Niner." Jade was about to answer when she heard a new voice: The warm, deep rasp of an elderly man.

"I see you made a new friend," Jade turned her head. An old man approached the two children, walking with a slight limp. He was tall, probably two meters, and slim like a tree trunk. He was dressed in a tunic and cargo pants with a brown jacket and shoulder bag, all in shades of brown. He looked humanoid, with a smooth, arching nose. His skin was a pale shade of brown-grey, wrinkled in a manner that reminded Jade of tree bark. His eyes were a mix of colors, ranging from green to yellow to pink, the colors surrounding his pupils in a way that made Jade think of a rose. His shoulder-length white hair was unkempt, if clean, and receded from the top of his head. On his face, he sported a mustache, as snowy in hue as his hair.

The old man smiled in a friendly way. Jade was a little frightened by her father's absence; she decided to stay near the store so he would have a better chance of finding her. She was rewarded with relief as he walked up behind the old man.

"Thank you for finding my daughter…" Tau's tone changed when he saw the old man's face. He broke into a smile.

"Kali'sto! It's been way too long! How are you?" He hugged the old man.

"I am well, Tau. I see your child has met my son." Tau's expression changed quickly from happiness to surprise to confusion.

"How is he…?"

"I will explain later."

Jade jumped into the conversation, "Dad, how do you know each other?"

Tau smiled, "Kali'sto and I go way back. You can trust him."

"I have heard of your deeds on the Council," Kali'sto smiled, "We have much to discuss when your negotiations are complete."

"You know why am I here?"
"It appears that you are the Jedi that will meet with Orîlla's government...in the negotiations that I have been asked to mediate."

Jade turned her attention back to the boy.

"I'm Riko. Riko Nai-Jal," he introduced himself, and extended his hand.

Jade shook his hand, deciding to trust him, "Jade. Jade…Skywalker."

Chapter Three

Riko walked with Jade and Niner, Kali'sto and Tau believing that they would stay out of trouble. The child decided to show Jade around this part of the city, as long as they stayed within sight of the capitol building.

"So you're a Skywalker? As in related to Luke?"

Jade smiled, "Yep. Luke's my ancestor." Jade spoke with a hint of an accent, one that had diminished, but was still present. It reminded Riko a little of his father's.

"You guys still live humbly, like Luke said, or do you have a big temple again…?"

Riko kept asking questions. Jade did her best to answer them, but Riko asked quite a few. More than once Jade asked him to repeat each question.

"So your name is Jade. I'm guessing that's after your ancestor. Mara Jade Skywalker."

"Yes. That's where I got my name." Jade replied, clearly feeling bored. Riko was beginning to see it.

"Sorry if I'm asking too many questions," Riko apologized.

Jade shrugged, "It's okay. It comes with being a Skywalker."

"Can I have the opportunity to meet Are-Two-De-Two?" Niner asked.
"Sorry. He went missing years ago." Jade had never known Artoo well, she only had holovids and her father's stories.

"Oh," Niner was clearly disappointed.

"What about you?" Jade asked, deciding to turn the tables.

Riko was briefly stunned by her statement, "What about me?"

"Well, what are you like? You've geeked out over me, but I don't know anything about you. What are you like, Riko?"

"Oh," Riko was still stunned; he annoyed most of his peers in school, another reason he had trouble making friends.

"It's ok if you want to go back to geeking," Jade assured him...

"I'm a mechanic," Riko blurted out.

"What do you mean?" Jade looked confused this time.

"I love engineering, I read manuals all the time, I fix things. Somehow I can see how machines work. Even when they're broken, a design just...forms in my mind."

"That's actually pretty cool!" Jade said. Feeling elated, Riko delved further, "I don't know how I do it, though. I somehow just know it."

"And yet, your droid can't talk properly."
"What do you mean?" the droid asked, "I is a good speaker."

"I rest my case. Anyway, I think I know how your ability works," Jade answered Riko's question expressed as a statement, "I think you're using the Force."

"The Force?"

"It's a mystical energy field generated by all living things," Jade explained, misinterpreting his reaction, "It gives Jedi their abilities…"

"I know what the Force is," Riko interrupted. He quickly realized that he had interrupted her, quickly adding, "Sorry."

"No problem," Jade responded. Riko hadn't been annoyed or irritated in any way, he was just curious. Was he unconsciously tapping into the Force every time he saw a mechanical object? Could he become a Jedi?

Perhaps you could be a Jedi," Jade assured him. This made Riko panic a little. How did Jade know what he was thinking? How?

Niner replied first, "The chance of that being the case is," the droid trailed off, "fifty-seven-point-three percent."

When the droid was done, Riko asked her, "How did you…"

"You're pretty easy to read," Jade replied, "It's a talent my father taught me. Curiosity radiates off people easily when someone looks at them in the Force."

"Could you tell what I was thinking?"

Jade shook her head, "Lucky guess." Riko simply smiled in response. He felt relieved.

"The probability of that is…" started Niner.

"Are you ever quiet?" Jade's tone was a little annoyed.

"Sorry. He tends to blurt things out," Riko apologized.

Cul-ejan Conference Room, Capitol

Kali'sto was one of a dozen sitting at the circular table in the capitol's conference room, wincing at the sunlight coming through the glass roof. Handpicked by the Jedi Council to be their envoy, Tau was attempting to prevent Orîlla's admission to Asharr's consortium, and at the very least, ensure the planet's neutrality in the conflict. Kali'sto made sure to follow the entire meeting, but it was hard not to focus on his former student.

Kali'sto could sense the Jedi Master's frustration easily. The delegates here refused to accept any of Tau's proposals. The most radical among them dismissed his ideas as impossible or as lies the Triumvirate conceived to lure Orîlla into a false sense of security, gradually destroying the planet's independence. Kali'sto's mind focused on the unfortunate consequences caused by those who had chosen to fight Asharr's dominion…

"Jedi Skywalker, have you considered the possibility of... " Kali'sto turned his attention to Orîlla's commander in chief.

"Forgive me," Kali'sto apologized, "I occasionally get lost in thought. I believe it happens to everybody."

"No apologies necessary," replied Ayax Juli, the prime minister of Orîlla's government, and Kali'sto's friend. Unlike the rest of the delegates here, Juli supported the Jedi and had the idea to negotiate with the Order. Kali'sto had lived here long enough to know the people who ran Orîlla's government. While an Alliance or Imperial world might have been a more secure place to raise Riko, Kali'sto had also wanted to ensure he could still work against the Consortium; placing himself on a neutral world was a better option. Well-positioned as the 'gateway to the Subterrel sector,' Orîlla acted as a common trading post, allowing Kali'sto access to a large flow of information.

There was also less possibility of running into another Jedi, and Kali'sto preferred it that way. Tau, Miranda, his allies, and Tau's daughter, very few Jedi knew he existed. Kali'sto hadn't felt at home in a large temple or even a Jedi Order since he was Yoda's Padawan, long before the Clone Wars, before the Empire…

The distinctive breath of Vader's respirator echoed again...

"Master Skywalker, what is your opinion on our affirmation of neutrality?" Dray Altha, representative of the House's scarlet faction, and a politician with an extremely negative view of the Order's ability to regulate itself, asked Tau. Kali'sto tried to focus.

"A good compromise," Tau was responding, "Both sides are equally unhappy." A chuckle echoed from one representative. Kali'sto smiled. His apprentice still had his sense of humor.

"I'm not in the mood for jokes today, Jedi Skywalker," Dray spoke the word with malice and venom. Dray showed his hatred for the Jedi very easily, as if he meant to intimidate Tau and Kali'sto. The mediator had no doubt he was trying to. Dray didn't succeed.

"You can't stay neutral, Asharr will come for you if you try," Tau argued.

"We can't survive if we have to abide by Alliance regulations, we'll be forced to sell out to one of the major corporations," Dray argued.

"Perhaps we could increase tariffs, encouraging local revenue," Tau offered, clearly strained by a mere hour of listening to Dray's fearmongering.

"This isn't about profit! It's about security and independence!" The debate collapsed as each politician raged insults at the two masters and each other, ranging from "Triumvirate pet" to "You want to exploit us!" Kali'sto sighed in disappointment. These negotiations wouldn't go well; these men wouldn't listen to reason, no matter what.

"Can we all please be civil!" Kali'sto ordered, "Perhaps we should issue a recess."

As he spoke, a quartet of waiters walked through the doors, each carrying various non-alcoholic drinks and small foodstuffs.

"Perhaps we can better cooperate after a meal," Ayax suggested.

"Agreed," Kali'sto silently doubted that food would in any way diffuse the tension in the room. Ayax prided himself on his ability to be a gracious host, an approach that was often a good strategy, but it now felt gratuitous.

The Jedi had a fragile reputation in this sector, often being viewed as a band of religious police that served only the Triumvirate's interests, similarly as to how they had been viewed back in Kali'sto's youth. Rim planets such as this rarely held favorable views of major galactic governments like the Alliance, or the Empire, or the Old Republic, and the Jedi were often seen as the enforcers of said government.

Ayax took his reeska juice and declared, "Let our recess commence."
Kali'sto grabbed his water, and prepared to imbibe. That was when he felt something. A faint ripple in the Force.

Kali'sto adjusted his artificial eardrum, and heard...movement.

Kali'sto examined one of the waiters around them, and felt shocked. They felt wrong, their presence in the Force was...different, feeling …altered somehow.

Tau turned to Kali'sto, confirming he felt the same anomaly.

"Something's wrong," Tau announced, his voice growing sharp. Kali'sto wasn't sure what was going on. What sorcery or science had changed these people…?

"What do you mean? There is no…' Ayax gasped suddenly, falling onto the table, convulsing. Several of his ministers suffered the same fate.

"Don't drink!" Tau ordered, "We're under attack!"

It was at that moment that the waiters pulled out blasters and began firing.

Tau ignited his lightsaber and decapitated one, "Get them to safety, Master!"

"Master?" Dray wondered aloud before declaring, "Your cover has been exposed, Kali'sto."

Ignoring Dray's revelation, Kali'sto ignited his lightsaber, pushing the second and third waiters into the wall. He quickly moved out of his chair, wincing as his leg throbbed.

"Get out, go!" Tau commanded. The council members complied.

Kali'sto was disappointed and saddened. This attack had been clearly meant to paralyze Orîlla's government, allowing the Consortium to sneak in and take over. Orîlla would fall now that the last Jedi sympathizer in the government was dead. In his negligence, Kali'sto had failed to prevent a planetary takeover. He resolved to never become so trusting in a world's security again.

More importantly, Riko would have to leave. Kali'sto had kept him too close.

Kali'sto deflected bolt after bolt, shielding each official, even Dray, from the assassins, escorting them out of the building as quickly as possible.

"Barricade!" Tau yelled as they left the room. It may have been years, but Kali'sto remembered that little military maneuver. Kali'sto Force-pushed the doors, ancient ones that opened outward, shut.

"Find the emergency transport!" Kali'sto ordered, "I will meet you at your evacuation point."

While he held them, Tau grazed the lock with his saber's blade, holding it in place and letting the metal melt. They had bought themselves a few extra minutes.

"Tau," Kali'sto ordered, "Get them offworld. Keep Riko safe."
"I promise."

Outer streets, Señalar un

Jade continued talking with Riko, discussing his life on Orîlla, when her comlink beeped. Jade took it from her belt, and a hologram of Tau appeared.

"Jade! Assassins attacked the council! We must leave! Get to the ship! I'll meet you there..." The image faded with the sound of a lightsaber igniting. Jade felt alarm. The region was no longer safe.

"We gotta find Kali'sto!" Riko exclaimed.

"Maybe he can help us," Jade concurred. The two ran back to the capitol building. Running through the crowd was difficult, but the two squeezed through, Niner following.

Finally they reached Kali'sto. The Vie'vante turned his head.

"Father. We're under attack! We gotta leave!" Riko exclaimed. Jade stayed silent. Kali'sto remained calm at the news.

'You do have to leave," Kali'sto replied, "They are coming."

Riko had rarely been more glad to see his father. But Kali'sto's response confused him. What did he mean by you have to leave, instead of we have to leave?

"There's a landing pad a few streets away. My ship is there," Jade offered.

"Yes!" Riko exclaimed, "We can all leave and…"

"I can't go," Kali'sto interrupted him.

"Why?" Riko's face became sad.
"Riko. I know about the lightsaber," Kali'sto replied. Riko didn't say anything. How did Kali'sto find out? He had placed the weapon back in its case after he found it. But his father found out.

"That was meant for you, when you were old enough." Riko's heart skipped a beat. What was Kali'sto saying? Why would Riko need a lightsaber? Riko's head was filled with questions. Jade had already confirmed most of this, but Riko was finally piecing together the puzzle.

"You're a Jedi too, aren't you," Riko realized.

"I was," Kali'sto smiled a little, sounding resigned.

"Why can't you come?" Tears began to flood Riko's eyes.
"I have to stay and help these people. Maybe I can get some of them to safety before the worst comes." Riko didn't accept this. He loved Kali'sto as his father. Kali'sto was his family. The only family he ever knew.

"It is a terrible thing, when a father can't be there for his child." Kali'sto attempted to comfort the boy, "Whatever happens, I promise I will see you again. It might be a week, a month, perhaps even a year, but one day. I promise."

"The probability of that is…"
"Niner!" Jade interrupted the droid.

"What if you don't make it?"
"You'll know if I don't."
"I don't want to go. I can't leave you, father." Tears ran down Riko's cheeks. He had never known such sadness. He hoped he never would again.
"No matter what happens, whatever you become, you will always be my son." Kali'sto hugged Riko, before reaching into his pouch and holding the lightsaber in his hand. Riko took it.

"Make sure you stay safe, stay out of danger," Kali'sto ordered.

Riko nodded. He was beginning to find some faint measure of acceptance. Kali'sto never broke his promises. Astronomical odds; they were frequently beaten in this galaxy throughout history. Kali'sto would find a way.

Even with that happy thought, Riko still had to force out his goodbye.

"Goodbye Father," he spoke, still sad.

"Goodbye Riko."

---

Jade retraced her steps while Riko and Niner followed. Jade continued running, growing tired. Riko was also beginning to show signs of fatigue when Jade looked at him over her shoulder.

"Hurry up!" Jade ordered before realizing how inconsiderate she sounded. She ran back towards Riko, grabbing his hand.

"Come on! We're almost there!"

"Wait!" Niner yelled.

After several minutes, the trio reached the landing bay. The Keeper of the Peace stood inside, her engines ignited, her landing ramp lowered, ready to leave.

All three stopped in their tracks.

Tau was surrounded by a pile of bodies, some not moving, others weak. He was dueling a masked figure armed with a lightsaber.

"Go!" Tau commanded. Jade and Riko ran. Niner lay ahead of them. Riko reached the ramp, with Niner ahead of him. Jade had almost made it when she heard a blaster discharge, heard it ricochet off of a lightsaber, and hit her in the ankle. Crying out, she slipped and toppled to the ground, feeling the smack as she hit it.

"Jade!" Riko ran back toward her. Jade tried to sit up, gritting her teeth. What she saw filled her with fear. Riko walked toward the assassin, an expression of anger on his face.

"Leave us alone!" He commanded. The assassin began to clutch for his throat and dropped his weapon. This horrified Jade. Riko was brushing up against the dark side. Though that by itself didn't bother Jade, the manner in which he used the Force scared her very much.

"Stop!" Jade begged. Riko turned his head. His senses came back. He let go. The assassin dropped to the floor and coughed. His companions were taken by their own expertly redirected blaster bolts and Tau's lightsaber.

"Let's go!" Riko ran to the shuttle. Tau used the Force to grab the assassin and impale him in the chest. Jade was vaguely aware of this, she was distracted by her throbbing ankle.

"If only I could heal this, Jade thought to herself. If only she could convince the cells to regenerate and heal. Jade wished she could task her cells to divide more quickly and repair the injury.

Jade's ankle stopped hurting. Puzzled, the child attempted to walk. She'd succeeded, somehow. Jade looked down at her ankle. The skin had a faint scar, yet it was already healed. Feeling relieved and confused, Jade ran to the shuttle.

"Who was that, dad?" Jade asked when she entered the cockpit.

"Yulen Vers," Tau responded, "He disappeared just a month ago."

The ramp raised and the Keeper of the Peace flew off into the sky, just as starfighters and troop transports started to fly into the atmosphere.

Crew quarters, Keeper of the Peace

Tau's ship, a Hoersch-Kessel light shuttle, was a small vessel. It was comprised only of the cockpit, a six-bed living quarters, and a lower hatch for maintenance. Riko waited in the vessel's quarters. He just wanted to be alone with his thoughts for the moment. Niner understood this, albeit with a lot of explaining, he was in the cockpit, as was Jade. Riko was by himself.

Riko was still trying to wrap his head around the events of the day. He still couldn't bring himself to admit that Kali'sto was gone, possibly forever.

Had that been the cause of his brief usage of the Dark Side? Had he unconsciously tapped into a dark energy at that moment? Could he control it?

The sound of a door opening moved Riko out of his brooding. Jade chose to enter the vessel's quarters. The young girl sat down next to Riko.

"Can I have some time alone?" Riko asked, wishing for solitude.

"I just came to grab some tools," Jade replied, "My dad wants the hyperdrive checked."

"Nice try," Riko replied, "I'm sorry Jade, I just need some space."

"I actually was getting a hydrospanner," Jade confessed, "But you do need some company. That's also why I came."

"No thanks," Riko responded.

"Look. I'm sure Kali'sto isn't dead. He told you you'd know if he was. Is he?"

Riko pondered Jade's words. Was Kali'sto dead? He would feel it…

"No," Riko concluded, "He's alive."

"See?" Jade smiled.

"But I might not see him again," Riko moped, "Jade, you ever had to say goodbye to someone you really cared about?" Jade hesitated. Riko had a feeling his question was already answered. Finally Jade spoke.

"Yes," Jade paused, "My mother. She and Dad… Things went south between them when I decided I wanted to be a Jedi. It meant that she wouldn't be able to be with my family anymore, because of her job. I was eight." As Jade talked, Riko had a feeling a new friendship had blossomed.

"Jade?" Riko asked, "Do you really think I could become a Jedi?"

"Well, I'll admit that you using the Force that way was a little scary," Jade replied, "But my dad told me that every Jedi struggles with their anger at some point in their lives. If you ask me, you're definitely Jedi material. I'll tell my dad about your request. I'm sure the order would be happy to have you."

As Jade started to leave the room, Riko's hopes flew. Things may have gone badly that day, but Riko could still hope for a good future. A future as a Jedi.

A question came to his mind, "Jade, did I use the Dark Side?"

Jade turned around and looked at him, "You did. But every Jedi struggles with their control over the Dark Side at some point. Besides, my dad told me that the two sides aren't good or evil. It's the way you use them."

This contradicted the impression of the Force that Riko had been given in Kali'sto's stories. He had always believed that the light side was the path of the Jedi, even if light and dark didn't necessarily mean good and evil.

"Really, Jade?" Riko asked as he thought this.

"That's at least what my dad thinks," Jade replied, sitting down next to the boy, "We think that as long as Jedi protect people, they can use both sides of the Force."

"What do you think, Jade?" Riko wasn't entirely trustful of this viewpoint, as well as Jade's use of the word they.

"I kinda agree. Mom always told me that the Dark Side can be tempting. But I think that as long as those emotions are controlled, it is possible."

"I gotta help Dad out," Jade finished, "See you later."

After she left the room, Riko wondered what Kali'sto would have thought of this philosophy.

This made Riko remember the lightsaber. He had retrieved the weapon from Niner before the droid left the cabin. Grabbing the hilt from a table next to the bed which Riko sat on, he stared at the patterns engraved into the metal, thinking about Kali'sto's words. Kali'sto had intended for Riko to find it. After all, he wasn't prone to leaving things around by accident. Especially a lightsaber.

If Kali'sto wanted this for Riko, Riko would become a Jedi.

He activated the bright blue blade and stared into its light, "Father, if you're listening, I'll do it. I'll become a Jedi."

Riko was sure that he heard Kali'sto's voice,

May the Force be with you, Riko.

Two years later...

Chapter Four

Coronet Spaceport, Coronet City, Corellia, 213 ABY

"Bao!"

The Trandoshan turned his head. Walking towards the landing ramp, he smiled toothily at the sight of his longtime friend.

"Su'cuy'gar, Val," Bao's voice was relatively formal, if friendly. As they moved up the ramp and towards the ship's living area, he said, "Tion Jorjaa'gar."

Ignoring his appreciation at the fact that Bao was speaking Mando'a instead of Basic, Val realized where this was headed.

Val and Bao had been close friends, brothers in arms, for more than two decades, a friendship that had indirectly cost Val his clan and a bounty on his homeworld. The renamed Val Fett–an appropriate sobriquet for a man with the life he lived–now acted as Bao's unofficial agent in Consortium territory, investigating their crimes against neutral worlds and disrupting their activities when possible. This was Val's life, and he wasn't unhappy with it.

Aside from Bao, one else knew his former name or what he had been exiled for anyway. Except Miranda, but she had left him long ago.

"I still need a new co-pilot, ner vod," Val continued in Mando'a, "Emdee's skilled but it's not what she's meant for…"

"Very well. I'll see what I can do. What did you find?"

"Those two knights were kidnapped by Black Sun. The consortium's behind it."

"Do you have proof?"

"My witness was executed."

Bao sighed, "You'll have to go for the big one."

"Taris?"

"I think you can find the data we need there," Bao replied.

"Let's hope I can make it in."

"Do you know what happened to Master Twan'etu or his brother?"

"Zip."

"Our mystery leader?"
"Nothing. How's things on your end?"

Bao's expression became grim, "Relations between us and our fellow states have never been worse."
"People just don't understand the Jedi," Val reasoned. People didn't understand the Jedi any more than they understood Mandalorians or the Consortium crisis. Most people didn't take the time to explore things, they accepted brief explanations, some true, some slanted, a few that were complete osik, and moved on, if they paid attention at all. Beings like Val were an anomaly in a galaxy of disinterest.

"K'Kruhk wants to be more transparent to the public," Bao replied, "He keeps advocating to move the Temple back to Coruscant."

"You think this will help?" Val asked halfheartedly.

"I advised him against it," Bao responded, "The Old Temple's a monument to our failures, it was a mistake to rebuild it the first time."
"Times change."

"I trust you have a way to get onplanet," Bao changed the subject, "Contact me when you have the intel."

"May the Force be with you, ner vod," Val responded.

Zorba Memorial Archive, Taris (Three Months Later)

Infiltrating the facility wasn't easy. Val was incredibly lucky that Asharr secretly employed Dar'manda mercs like himself; at first glance, he was just one of several elite guards.

"Emdee," Val said into his comlink, "How close am I?" A reprogrammed Medical droid, MD-D0C was the unofficial co-pilot/gunner of Val's ship, the Vali'rakeri, or Wild Nomad.

"The financial archive is to the right, ninth door on the second corridor, thirty-nine-point-three-seven-six meters ahead," a female mechanical voice echoed from his comlink. Val grumbled. Why did Emdee have to be so precise?

She's a droid, Val thought, It's what they do. He silently joked to himself, Maybe that's why the Yuuzhan Vong hated them so much.

"Hey!" Val turned his head in response, only to feel a blaster bolt slam into his chest-plate as he turned around. The durasteel plate felt uncomfortably warm, but he was otherwise unharmed, if highly irritated.

The visor of his helmet gave everything a subtle yellow cast, and his HUD highlighted enemies. Val had expected his red-highlighted assailant to be a common merc or militiaman.

Instead, this was a stormtrooper. Soldiers of the Triumvirate, they served as the elite troops for the Empire. Had a handful of them defected? Was someone in the Empire a traitor? Was someone collecting stormie armor?

The trooper's blaster triggered the place's alarm, soon guards would come.

Val quickly fired his rifle and hit the trooper's shoulder, enough of the burst-fire moving past the armor plate and hitting the unprotected armpit. Val quickly switched settings and hit the stormtrooper's knee, enough bolts getting through to burn through the armor plate and vaporize a portion of his bone. Screaming, the trooper fell to the floor and yelped. Save for his left arm and right leg, he was paralyzed.

Val swung his rifle onto his back and removed the trooper's helmet, placing his hand over the trooper's mouth. The trooper was a male Weequay, with facial scales that reminded Val of broken ceramics.

Grabbing his disruptor pistol, Val declared, "If you tell me why you're here, I'll let you live." He moved his hand from the Weequay's mouth the trooper's injured arm with his other hand, pointing his pistol at the trooper's face.

"That red cut is too recognizable, you should cover that up," the trooper said with contempt.
"Appreciate the advice, now what are you doing here?"

The trooper was silent. Made sense, stormtroopers were trained to resist interrogation.

Val didn't have time to waste, moving his hand up his arm and grabbing the blaster burn on his joint. The trooper cried out, eventually responding, "Alright, alright. My commander is working with Asharr. I was sent to escort his aide."

"Who?"

"Moff Arkus Itecht was working with the Black Sun on a deal. His aide is here to complete it."

"What's the deal?"
"Funding for one of Itecht's projects…? I don't know."

"You don't know?" Val increased the pressure on his arm injury.

"AAAHHH!...I don't know, we just carry out orders."

Val decided he was ready to complete the mission. This trooper wasn't worth his time anymore. He pistol-whipped the trooper in his temple and let him drop to the floor, unconscious. The medics would find him.

"No wonder you lost to a bunch of di'kut rebels," Val commented before he ran off.

It took a few more steps, but he made it. There were two guards, both dressed in leather armor, wearing the symbol of Black Sun.

"Sir," one of them said, "Status on the intruder?"
"I've been ordered to secure the archive vault," Val said quickly, "Let me in."
"Very well." The guard opened the door. Val ran inside.

Once the door closed, Val walked to the nearest console, imputing the passcode he had taken from a drunken aide to a prominent Black Sun Vigo who had an eye for Mandalorians. He reviewed financial information on major transactions. There was a lot, the most surprising of which was a fleet of scrapped Alliance starships were being taken to Taris itself for refurbishment.

Finally, another file came to his attention, a series of encrypted transmissions between a facility on Taris, the Consortium headquarters, and...a set of coordinates beyond the Stygian Caldera. After copying the info, Val continued digging, then found another series of files. Recorded transmissions, between Asharr on Taris...and the Jedi temple on Atarashi'ie. Val thought his heart stopped for one second before he copied the file and downloaded it onto his personal datapad.

Someone in the Jedi Order was in league with Asharr. Val was sure that only a high-ranking knight or master could have a secure link and be in a position to report anything useful.

Val pulled up one of the transcripts, the console containing the encryption code. He started reading;

Atarashi'ie: Report.

Taris: Master, Savareen is secure.

Atarashi'ie: Good. You're certain Master Wallis won't interfere?

Taris: She won't.

Val continued until he spotted one particular note that chilled him to the bone.

Atarashi'ie: My position on the Council is secure. We will ensure the Jedi are set on the correct path.

Taris: You believe the Order will accept this?

Atarashi'ie: They will never know. We'll bring the order on the correct path.

A divide had been growing within the order for some time. Those who held true to the original Jedi Code were pressing down on the Omnist faction these days. Clearly this had something to do with this conflict.

Val didn't want to point fingers at K'Kruhk. For all he knew, a master within the Omnists had grown so desperate so as to contact criminals for help.

Whatever happened, it wouldn't take long to find the culprit: Val was certain that he would find the traitor by looking through the transcripts and the audiofiles.

"Hey! Stop!" Val removed the interface from the datapad and turned around. A squad of mercs, none of them Mandalorian, having just entered the room, fired at him. Val ducked behind the control panel.

Reaching into the emergency shoulder bag he carried, Val took out his emergency cargo: BTI-1262 mag-detonators. After placing one on the console, he ran, dropping and throwing more detonators throughout the room, firing his heavy blaster, killing two of the aruetii mercs. He made it to the door, closing it and moving away from the wall. Grabbing the detonator, he pressed the button. He heard a scream as the guards were vaporized, but it was muted by the sound of the explosion and the wail of the resulting alarm. Val didn't look back. He ran, reopening his channel with Emdee.

"Emdee, I got it. Direct me to the nearest landing bay."

"You are a mere fifty meters away, just turn left," Emdee started.

"Got it," Val followed through.

"Stop right there!" Val groaned. Another stormtrooper had his blaster pointed at the saboteur. Val immediately fired, sending the trooper to the deck.

"...left again."
"Repeat that, Emdee?" Val had missed her directions.
"Continue down the corridor, then turn left again. You'll find it."

Val followed through, sprinting until he reached the landing pad.

"Freeze!" Val disobeyed, running towards one of the speeders, a green, sleek Nubian model with an open canopy.

"Get him!"

He climbed in, activated the speeder, and began to lift off.

"Don't let him get away!" Blasterfire glanced off the speeder's hull. It was always the same: When would they learn that this approach never worked?
Before Val flew away, he noticed that some of the mercs were boarding an Ubrikkian patrol speeder with the insignia of the Desilijic clan.

Val flew off, turning downward into the Lower City, attempting to avoid the upper city's traffic. He knew he hadn't escaped, due to the fact that he could hear the speeder's warning siren.

"Attention saboteur, surrender now!"

Val attached a grappling hook to his rifle, slowing his speeder to a crawl.

"Alright!" Val shouted, "I surrender. Take me in!"

The mercs positioned their craft right next to Val's Nubian, firing a tractor cable. One of the angular speeder's side-doors opened.

Val immediately opened fire with his rifle, taking out most of the speeder's complement with one spray, leaving only one nerfherder who retreated, he wasn't wise enough to surrender.

Val jumped aboard the Ubbrikian, only to be knocked to the floor. The remaining merc held him down, brandishing a knife in his hand. Val wasn't even sure what he hoped to accomplish with it.

Val grabbed the knife, pinning the merc's arm. He then kicked his assailant with his left leg, pushing them towards the open door, Val almost rolling off the edge and the merc falling off the craft to his death.

Rolling back into the craft, Val just lay on his back for a second, catching his breath.

He got to his feet and drew his sidearm.

The speeder was empty, these mercs had been so undisciplined that they had left their speeder unattended.

Filled with contempt, Val took the pilot's seat and flew downward, towards the Lower City. He directed the speeder towards an empty walkway overlooked by an archway.

The rogue agent activated the last of his BTI charges and fired his grapple towards the archway.

Val jumped out and swung towards the walkway. As he did so, he detonated the explosive, which consumed both speeders in a fireball.

Val bumped against the walkway, gripping the ledge with his hand. Using both his grapple and the ledge, he pulled himself up. He swung his legs, one at a time, onto the platform. Val rolled his body over, quickly moved to his feet.

He was alone, there was no danger.

The adrenaline fading from his bloodstream, Val quickly found an elevator that took him back to the Middle City.

He soon reached the apartment building which contained the landing pad upon which stood the Wild Nomad. As he entered his room, Emdee was waiting for him at a computer terminal.

"I got the data, Emdee. You ready to go?"

"Asharr has instituted a planetary shutdown. All non-military vessels are prohibited from leaving the planet."
Even with her almost-absurd armament, the Wild Nomad would be unable to bypass Taris' orbiting fleet. For the moment, they were trapped. Val would be unable to supply the data immediately. He knew that whatever scheme Asharr and the Jedi Master had concocted, it would likely happen soon.

"How are comms?"

"Anything larger than one kilobyte is being intercepted. We can't transmit anything larger than a short text message."

"Alright. It's been too long, anyway."

With that thought in mind, Val went to the terminal, removed his helmet, and prepared a message to send in the blink code Bao and Val had prepared. It would be cycled to the spacer Chak on Serroco, who would discreetly deliver it to Bao during one of his supply runs to the Jedi Temple.

Mission accomplished, Val typed, Got the info. Traitor on the Council, said they wanted to bring the order onto the correct path. Trapped on Taris by blockade, won't transmit info here, they'll intercept. You'll have to come to me.

Chapter Five

Jedi Temple, Atarashi'ie, Wild Space, 211 ABY

Five days had passed since the events on Orîlla. Riko, Jade, and Tau stood before the Jedi high council, the order's governing body. Each of the Council's twelve masters gazed on the trio. Riko felt nervous and excited at the same time. These were the wisest and most experienced Jedi in the Order!

"Tau, we are disappointed at your failure to prevent such a tragedy," Grand Master K'Kruhk stated. The Whiphid was clearly disappointed, he scowled at Tau.

"Perhaps your daughter shouldn't participate in that much risk," the Chev master Zhann Uniah suggested, "We can't permit you to take her into danger anymore."

Tau protested, "Master…"

"No," Bao-Sklar Pierce—not yet a councilor, not even a master quite yet, but still influential—replied, "Jade will remain here and train as a standard Jedi would. I am willing to allow Riko to train. He does have potential."

"I would not normally wish for one of your age to train this late," K'Kruhk commented, "But Bao vouched for you, and the council voted." Master Lowbacca growled warmly in Shyriiwook.

"It's decided then," K'Kruhk turned back to Tau, "Your daughter will remain here until a teacher is found. You will retain your seat on the High Council, but your status as Jade's mentor is revoked."

Jedi Temple Corridors

Less than five hours had passed since the Council's verdict. Riko wasn't sure what he was expecting. He knew that he would learn to wield the Force and use a lightsaber, but not much else. Kali'sto had described the Jedi mainly through stories, through the tales of iconic masters and knights such as Odan-Urr, Thon, Nomi Sunrider, Jolee Bindo, Juhani, Revan, Bastila Shan, Bao-Dur, Ngani Zho, Satele Shan, Kerra Holt, Yoda, T'ra Saa, Fay, Djinn Altis, Tholme, Qui-Gon Jinn, Nejaa Halcyon, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ferus Olin, Galen Marek, Luke Skywalker. Riko had learned all their stories, heard their deeds repeated over dinner a dozen times. Riko had thought about every single name he could remember, pieced what he knew of the circumstances of their recruitment and training in his mind, trying to craft a picture of what Jedi training probably looked like.

The planet, Atarashi'e, had been the site of an outpost belonging to the Kwa, one of the first civilizations to harness the Force, and the former site of an Infinity gate, a technological predecessor of the hyperdrive. Though the gate was long gone, the Jedi Order had co-opted this temple, which had been created to study the Force anyways, as their new headquarters following Darth Krayt's defeat. Built into a mountain with a vast garden, the temple was a vast plinth that blended into the surrounding cliffs, with various spires jutting out towards the sky, marking it as towers. The temple's outline didn't look so different from the old Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

Jade had spent the hours before the meeting showing him around, letting him visit the archives, meditation garden, some of the verandas, the crystal stores, everywhere she was allowed to go. Rooms such as the Council Chamber and Lightsaber assembly room were restricted for initiates like her.

Riko had been overjoyed and amazed, eager to dig through the archives especially; he loved reading, and while the library did not come close to rivaling that of the Old Order, he could spend years in there, just reading.

The whole planet felt different. Riko even felt lighter, gravity was certainly different here.

She had promised to show him the ever-growing memorial behind the waterfall, but after Tau's sentencing, she had declined. Riko couldn't blame her.

Not long afterward, Riko had been summoned up to an observatory in one of the temple's main towers. Jade had given him directions, but he had quickly gotten lost. All he could tell was that he was on the correct level. He would normally ask for directions, but he wasn't accustomed to making his way around...anywhere on his own. He had relied too much on Kali'sto to guide him through the outside world.

He was walking down a hallway that branched off into a crossroad of corridors. On his right, Riko could see a quartet of padawans strolling.

"Excuse me?" Riko ran towards the Padawans, who turned their heads. "I'm looking for the observatory…" Riko explained.

"You're new here, aren't you?" one of them responded.

"Yes," Riko explained.

"Be careful, then," another added.

"What do you mean?" Riko asked, confused.

"The Omnists, those future Sith. Steer clear of them," the third, a Togorian kid, declared.

Riko, perplexed, wasn't sure what to say.

"It's just down there, to the left," said the fourth one, a Caamasi youngling with golden fur.

"The observatory," he explained when Riko didn't respond.

"Thanks!" Riko said, grateful for his advice.

"You're welcome."

"Be careful of the dark side, youngling," the Togorian reared himself to his full height as he said this. He was definitely intimidating, even if he probably wasn't much older than Riko himself.

As Riko followed the Caamasi kid's direction down the corridor, he heard one of the apprentices say, "You trust too much, Tarrin…"

Riko decided to stay out of their sights for now, and found the door. He opened it, and found himself in a vast chamber beautifully carved into the stone. A vast window, reinforced by transparisteel, took up almost the entirety of the chamber's walls and even parts of its canopy, allowing natural light to fill the chamber as the sun began its descent. Next to the window, observing the sunset, was Bao-Sklar Pierce.

Riko had learned from Jade that Bao was Tau's former apprentice, a family friend of the Skywalkers. He was, as Jade described, a true Jedi Guardian, if the Jedi were warrior-scholars, Bao had always been more of the warrior. Some of his most noteworthy achievements included taking command of the rebel militia group known as the Irritants in the N'Zoth-Alliance War to victory over the Yevetha and breaking up a dozen spice smuggling rings as a young knight, before the Consortium had risen to power. He was said to have few, if any equals, with the lightsaber in the Jedi Order, even among many of the masters. There was talk of immediately giving him the title of Battlemaster once he became a Master.

He did resemble a soldier more than a Jedi. Well over six feet tall, he appeared to have an athletic build, contrasting with Riko's small, scrawny frame. Instead of the robes favored by the Council Masters, he wore combat pants, a tan Galactic Alliance officer's vest, albeit without rank, a blaster at his left hip opposite his curve-hilted lightsaber, and a brown, hooded, sleeveless cloak, held at his shoulders by a bronze clasp bearing the Jedi seal. His scaly skin had a dark blonde hue, with dark oak trim on the small number of horns on his head. A lengthy, curved scar was visible on his neck, beneath his protruding jawbone. His reptilian eyes were dark, his sockets less prominent than on most members of his species Riko had seen. He was intimidating.

"You're wondering why I summoned you here," Bao assumed. His voice had a faint rasp, there was a hint of a siss, but it wasn't extremely prominent.

"Yep," Riko admitted.
"We used to avoid structuring the training process as if you were students in a classroom. When he began training students, Grand Master Skywalker believed that every student should learn at their own pace, design their own regimen, even after they find a master."
"Are you saying you want to train me?" Riko asked.

"I've never taken a student," Bao responded warmly, "Personally, I'm almost never here. I agree with Luke Skywalker that students learn as much through experience as they do via instruction. I did."
Riko thought about what Bao was saying, why Bao was so interested in him.

"Were you like me? Did you come here at my age?" Riko asked.

"I lost my family to criminals, I felt lost, alone. That's when Tau found me, I found a new home," Bao responded, "I will be watching you, Riko. I do see a lot of potential in you."
"I'll find my dad though," Riko responded, "I know it, Jedi Pierce."
Riko had learned from Jade how to address Knights by their formal title. Apprentices were referred to as Padawan, Knights as Jedi, and Masters as Master.

"Maybe precognition is one of your gifts," Bao replied, smiling as he added, "Call me Bao."

Once Riko realized what precognition probably meant, he walked towards the viewport, where he saw the sunset. Shades of gold, orange, blue, purple, amethyst, and black were visible across the evening sky.
"It kind of looks balanced," Riko commented, "Jade mentioned something about the Jedi having to keep the Force in balance." The viewport limited the view Riko had of the sky, it did kind of look like the sun was balancing between shades of light and dark.

Jedi Temple Training ledge

After five weeks at the temple, Riko was beginning to learn the basics of what a Jedi could do. But, it wasn't as empowering or vast as it should have been. If Jade felt a wave of energy, Riko felt a trickle.

In this day and age, while there were group sessions for training initiates, students were expected to learn at their own pace, make their own journeys. However, lately the high council had tried to station more Adherents at the temple and increase the number of group sessions, to better reinforce the idea that the Jedi's role in maintaining balance was to embody and protect the light side. It didn't always work.

Now Riko stood in front of a boulder. It wasn't too big, just a foot tall and two feet across. It wasn't budging, however.

"Concentrate, padawan!" Tau and Bao were observing the group of apprentices, who were today managed by Master Zhann Uniah, Council Master and strict Adherent. She had been encouraging Riko for several minutes.

They were beneath the temple, at dusk, on one of the many cliffs that overlooked the lake at the base of the mountain. Patches of bioluminescent moss grew here and there among the rocks, illuminating the area in a way that Jade found beautiful.
Jade had already lifted that boulder several times, the last time, she had made the rock circle the students in an almost predator-ish manner before setting it down.

"You can do it, it's easy!" Tarrin cheered him on. Still, Riko didn't make it budge.

Jade wasn't sure what to do. She could sense Riko's frustration.

"Control your frustration, focus on your determination!" Master Uniah ordered.

Jade was sure by now that Riko would never be able to lift that boulder. It was growing more and more tempting to lift the boulder for him.

"The Force is within all of us, you reject it!"

She closed her eyes and prepared to help him.

No. Her father's voice echoed in her head, He'll never learn anything if you do all of the work for him.

Jade couldn't risk it. Besides, as she admitted to herself later on, her father did have a point.

Riko never succeeded in lifting that rock.

Riko's quarters, 212 ABY (Five months later)

Months had passed, and Riko still hadn't made any progress. Jade had told him that the Force felt like a flood of warmth, a burst of energy that invigorated the wielder and showed them what they should do.

Riko had felt that flow on Orîlla, but it had grown silent since. He just couldn't feel it. Master Yuniah had felt that he was simply "emotionally unbalanced," and that he might be too old for training.

Niner was recharging, keeping himself in low-power mode whilst doing so, running diagnostics and sorting through memory files, essentially sleeping. Riko envied the little droid's ability to fall asleep at will.

Riko couldn't rest tonight. Instead, he lay down, awake, reading to pass the time. His failures as a student had not limited his access to the archives. He was reviewing a diagram on his padd showing the basic moves and maneuvers of each of the Three Rings of Defense, focusing now on the four defensive positions for the Middle Ring. He knew that academic knowledge wasn't the same as experience, but he had to try learning in some manner.

"Hey Riko!" a voice whispered.

Riko yelped, dropping the padd.

"It's only me, don't worry," Jade whispered. She was standing at the foot of Riko's mattress.

"Jade, this is against the rules," Riko responded.

"I need to show you something. Bring your lightsaber," she ordered.

Riko got out of the covers and went straight to his small duffel bag. He retrieved his weapon. The masters had allowed him to keep it, as long as he kept the setting to the lowest intensity. What had possessed them to allow a twelve-year old boy to keep his lightsaber, Riko had never understood. But he had kept it.

"Come on," Jade grabbed his arm and pulled him out into the corridor.

"Jade, I'm not allowed to be out this late."
"Just trust me."
"At least let me get my boots."
"Okay."
Jade waited while Riko dressed for the night's chill.

"Let's go," Jade led him out of the room.

They snuck down the corridors, dodging the small number of Jedi and droids who patrolled the Temple at night.

Eventually, they reached their destination.

"The sparring chamber?" Riko asked, "Are you sure we should be here?"
"Riko, you need the practice," Jade responded, "Clearly they're not teaching you anything."
"I've learned how to do some things."
Jade walked over to the wall and grabbed a padded sword; a training saber.

"My dad gave me some private lessons when I first arrived. It's part of the reasons I'm such a good student."
"So," Jade handed him one of the training sabers, "Maybe I can help you in the same way."

Riko was conflicted. On the one hand, he didn't want to break the rules; they provided a clear code of conduct, made everything simpler. On the other hand, Yuniah and the other Masters weren't adjusting their methods, simply telling him to catch up.

"I bet your dad broke a few rules in his lifetime," Jade responded.

Riko took the training stick, holding it in the opening guard position of the Middle Ring.

"Try to make sure you're holding it comfortably," Jade suggested. Riko adjusted his grip, keeping his left hand next to the activation switch, moving his right hand just subtly. But, the saber did fit his grip more neatly.

"Okay," Jade began, "There's a trick I use to memorize each move. Just tell yourself where you want your blade to go, and then move it. Do it over and over again, and it becomes a reflex."

"Okay," Riko responded.

Low, Riko tilted his blade downward, the tip facing the floor. Riko repeated this again and again.

"Try it with the other guard positions," Jade suggested.

High. Low. Right, Left. Riko repeated each of these maneuvers again and again over the next hour, drilling them into his head. Eventually, his exhaustion began to overtake him.

"Aren't I supposed to find my own way?" Riko asked.

"Riko, they aren't going to change things for you," Jade explained, "You could get kicked out."

Riko understood. It was school all over again, only this time, the stakes were higher.

"I really appreciate it," Riko responded, "Can we do this again?"

Jade smiled, "Yep."

Announcement Hall, 213 ABY

Riko, Jade, and a handful of other apprentices stood in line, amongst a crowd of Jedi. Most of the masters wore the traditional tan and brown robes of the original Jedi Order. Many of the apprentices and knights, including Jade, were dressed in the same style, only with different colors: white and black intermixed, symbolizing their desire for balance.

Several of the council masters had gathered for this event. Each one had a legendary status among the younger students. Tau, of course, who needed no introduction. Zhann Yuniah, a Chev woman who had destroyed one hundred smuggling rings and defeated a platoon of Mandalorians single-handedly. Lowbacca, a two-hundred-year-old male Wookiee who had known Luke Skywalker and many of the great masters of the New Republic. And Master Libre, who now led the Omnists and served as their greatest advocate, with Tau at his side.

Friction amongst the Council and the "Omnists," as some called the movement, had grown. The High Council, primarily made up of more conservative masters like Yuniah and Lowbacca, had begun cracking down on Libre's ideas. Riko understood that some of the stauncher members on the high council were considering rescinding Tau and Libre of their Council seats.

"Almost all of you have completed the journey of a Jedi initiate." Tau addressed the apprentices. In the two years since Riko had joined the order, Tau's influence had steadily increased among the students and younger knights. K'Kruhk, while wary against Libre's teachings bringing the order closer to the Dark Side, had, as a gesture towards the Omnists, had chosen Tau as the Jedi representative to the Triumvirate and allowed him to speak here, even as the Council placed Adherents in charge of every single class. It had become more like a typical classroom in the past two years.

Riko still couldn't call upon the Force, but he had still developed a number of skills. Riko, while he still couldn't lift a stone or really process the Force as well as the others, had developed a reasonable skill with his lightsaber to the point he felt comfortable he wouldn't slice his own hand off. He wasn't bulky, but still somewhat athletic, speed was more his style. His skin had darkened to a healthy shade of tan-brown, even though all of his free moments were either spent studying, reading, building and/or repairing devices or with Jade, either training or just spending time together. Early adolescence had resulted in slight acne, which Jade routinely pretended not to notice.

Jade, already accustomed to the challenges, both physical and mental, of Jedi training, had fared much better. She was basically the Temple's star pupil by now, she had grown in confidence and ability; lightsaber, senses, telekinesis, illusions, all of these came naturally to her now. She even served as an assistant instructor in some of the classes that she and Riko shared, she was that good. Riko was surprised she hadn't already been chosen as an Apprentice.

She had developed a graceful, sinewy figure, able to wield a lightsaber in one hand with as much strength as Riko could with two. Her brown/blond hair was now tied back into a ponytail, so as to not impede her. She had developed a tan from all the time she spent outside. Her features had sharpened, she didn't quite resemble an adult, but she was clearly no longer a child. Lately, Riko sometimes had trouble focusing on his lessons when they were together.

"It is time for you to be assigned to a master."

"I will train Riko Nai-Jal and Jade Skywalker," Bao suddenly declared.

Riko was frozen. He wasn't a terrible student, but the masters hadn't judged him ready to be an apprentice, he was far behind many of his peers.

"We haven't judged Apprentice Nai-Jal as ready, Master Pierce," Master Uniah responded, "He still lacks the emotional commitment…"

"Some learn through experience, rather than in a classroom. I did."

"It's not customary to take more than one apprentice at a time, Bao," K'Kruhk added.

"There are no rules against it," Bao reasoned. As the two Jedi debated, Jade moved a few inches closer to Riko, grasping his hand.

"You hoping Bao succeeds?" She whispered, almost all traces of the accent she had two years ago gone. Riko nodded. Bao-Sklar Pierce was a highly renowned knight.

Now, finally, Bao had finally requested to be Riko's teacher. But why did he also want Jade?

Maybe he feels responsible for training me, but he wants you as his apprentice, Jade's voice echoed in his mind.

"That's a little creepy sometimes," Riko whispered back.

"Sorry," Jade replied, speaking this time. Jade constantly tried to use telepathy. When it came to the Force, she was incredibly skilled when it came to connecting with others, and she viewed this form of communication between them as a sign of their bond. Riko could do it, but it made him a little uncomfortable. While there was no one in his life–save for Niner–that he felt closer to, Riko viewed it as a slight invasion of his privacy. He was attempting to overcome this preconception, but it would probably be a long time before he succeeded.

Bao picking Jade made perfect sense to him; in addition to being the Temple's star student, she was a family friend.

"I hope Bao succeeds," Riko whispered back.

"That makes two of us," Jade replied.

"Please be quiet," a knight whose name Riko didn't remember ordered. The two stood in silence for the remainder of the short debate.

Bao turned back to the apprentices.

"Riko Nai-Jal. Jade Skywalker. Step forward." The two apprentices did so.

"Riko Nai-Jal, if you accept, you will be my formal apprentice. Jade, Master K'Kruhk, against everyone else's wishes, has agreed to allow you to attend the briefing on our mission, he will decide whether to allow you to come following said briefing. The Council will either formalize my request for you to be my padawan or deny it on a later date. Do you accept my request?"

"We do," Riko and Jade said almost unanimously. Riko glanced at Jade, who shrugged.

"It's my honor to teach the two of you."

"It's an honor to be your student, Bao," Jade replied.

"Likewise," Riko added. He was both nervous and excited at the same time. Not only was he finally an apprentice, Bao was his master! His teacher, his mentor. And at the same time, his best friend would be there.

Jedi Temple corridors

Jade could sense Riko's nervousness. When two force users developed a close relationship, a very close friendship or more, a bond formed between them. Jade welcomed it, enjoying the links formed with her father, with Riko. Riko, on the other hand, had mixed emotions on the subject. He had trouble opening up, he was shy with that form of communication. He was doubtful, unsure, always shy, always spending too much time indoors, always working on droids. Humans were social creatures by nature, and spending too much time immersed in technology made one unhappy.

"You're nervous, aren't you?" Jade projected. She knew Riko would find it uncomfortable, but she thought he needed to learn.

"Hey!" Riko's voice echoed in her head. Jade smiled in response. Her smile was always wide and beautiful.

"See? You can do it. You just did," she replied.

"I was trying to make a point," Riko retorted. Jade sighed.

"What point?" Riko didn't reply.

"Jade, Riko," Bao's voice brought Jade's attention back to him.

"Master K'Kruhk will meet with the three of us tomorrow, at nine."

"Yes, Master," Riko replied.

"I'll be there," Jade assured him.

---

Jade had felt nervous at the apprentice ceremony. She wasn't alone. Given Bao's perpetual absence from the temple, Riko was sure a mission lay ahead.

"You think we're ready?" Riko asked.

" We've got lightsabers. We know how to use them." A month ago, Jade had assembled her first lightsabers. To find the crystal, students often took trips down into the caves at the base of the mountain, as Jade had for her second crystal. Then the apprentice would take the components of the hilt and crystal and assemble their training lightsaber. These days, apprentices didn't construct their own weapons from scratch until the end of their training. When they were ready to become knights, the apprentice dismantled their training weapon and used either their original crystal or a whole new one and assembled their own weapon from scratch. One of her weapons, her favored one, carried her lambent, whilst the other carried a dragite crystal. They were identical in design: the hilts were short, black and silver, culminating in a cupped emitter, designed to better fit into one hand rather than two. They featured green blades, one lime, one vermillion, that were shorter than the average lightsaber so as to provide greater dexterity and maneuverability.

Riko, on the other hand, instead of building his own saber, had been allowed to keep the saber Kali'sto had given him. It hung from his belt at that exact moment. He hadn't thought about what to do with it once his training was complete, even though he was disappointed that he hadn't been given the chance to find his own crystal.

"Doesn't mean we're ready," Riko countered.

"I wasn't finished yet," Jade replied, "I think we're ready for a mission like this. Master Bao's leading it."

"There we go," Riko grinned. He still shuddered, daunted at the thought of going out before he was ready.

"Want to get some saber practice in?" Jade asked.

"You always ask me," Riko responded, "Twice a week is plenty for me."

"You need the practice, Riko," Jade said, "Come on," she took his arm and began to lead him towards the temple's sparring room.

"Jade, it's getting late," Riko protested, "I should get some sleep."
Jade sighed, "Ok, I guess I'll just have to make sure I have your back."
"You will," Riko responded. He was pretty good with his lightsaber now, it was one of his strengths. Blast deflection hadn't come naturally, but he was pretty good in a saber-to-saber battle.

"I'll meet you in Bao's quarters, then," Jade said before heading off to the sparring room, probably to get some practice in on her own.

"Jade," Riko called out. She turned around.

"Good night." Jade smiled before turning back. Riko started walking back towards his room.

See you tomorrow, Riko heard Jade's voice in his head.

Very funny, Jade, Riko replied. Even best friends could be irritating sometimes.

Chapter Six

Jade's room, Apprentice quarters

Waking up early was becoming harder and harder as Jade grew older. She used to be an early riser, but that had changed in the past year, as her body developed and now required far more rest than she had allowed herself as a kid. Now getting out of bed was a challenge.

Perhaps Riko was right to head to retire early in the night. Normally he was the one who was up late, practicing with his saber. Jade had stumbled in, barely remembering to go through her nightly routine. Tau had elected to stop helping her in lieu of letting her solve this challenge on her own.

She envied her father. Many Jedi were able to last days, sometimes weeks without sleep, throwing themselves into light, restful meditation trances for an hour or two as they drew on the Force to rejuvenate themselves, including her father.

Can't wait till I learn how to do that, Jade thought, rolling the thin blanket off her body.

She always made sure the door was locked before she got in bed, she wasn't worried about anyone seeing her. Besides, the cold did help wake her up.

After several minutes, she managed to roll herself out of bed and fell on the floor. Nothing was broken, or even bruised. The only thing damaged was Jade's pride.

Jade took a deep breath, trying to focus and awake, rather than calm herself. Things such as the chill on her skin, the faint residue of the impact of her fall, and the glare from the sun significantly helped.

She managed to pull herself off the floor and stood up, rubbing her eyes.

She lived in the apprentice quarters, which was comprised of one room with a refresher. There was very little in the way of refurbishment; a small dressing cupboard, a wall-mounted chrono, a native Naegi sapling, a dalsa flower, a merelda succulent, a family datacrystal carrying most of her favorite books, and a holo of her family before her parents had split up, which Jade lingered on for a moment.
Now more or less awake, Jade glanced at the chrono.

"Oh kriff!" Jade cursed as the shock and adrenaline purged the last vestiges of sleep from her body. She hurried towards the cupboard, glad that she had already showered the night before.

"Dad!" Jade yelled futility as she opened the cupboard and pulled on her shirt. It was obvious that her father had left their quarters before she had woken up.

Pulling up her pants, buckling her utility belt, and grabbing her boots in her left hand, Jade rushed out the door, hoping she wouldn't need her lightsabers for the meeting with Master K'Kruhk.

Riko's room, Apprentice Quarters

After washing and dressing, Riko went out to survey his room. It wasn't too different from his room in his old house on Orîlla; It still contained spare parts, disassembled droids, numerous holozines and books, and various other pieces of technology.

Two things were different: first, his room was far more neatly organized. The holozines were confined to a shelf on the wall, next to his bed, while all of the technology he had was kept within a crate stacked into the corner. Kali'sto had always encouraged Riko to be neat, and now that he lived at the Jedi Temple, where material possessions were few and needs fewer, Riko had realized just how much junk he had accumulated, how claustrophobic it had been. He now preferred it this way; neat, uncluttered, and simple.

The other change was the view. Atarashi'ie, particularly the Bakufu mountains, was a beautiful planet, if the person saying so had an eye for waterfalls and really high cliffs, decorated with vines that sprouted pink orchids. This room might have been small, but it possessed a massive window that, in addition to helping Riko get out of bed each morning, also allowed him to look out at a beautiful horizon.

Still though, the scenery was spectacular; the sky was as much shade of gold-yellow as blue most of the time. Clouds frequently passed through the mountainside. Now, the unique sunrise shined through the window, again, bursting through the mountainside.

From his room, Riko could just make out the waterfall that flew from the cliffs into a vast lake at the mountain's base, that region home to many caves, many filled with and illuminated by Dragite crystals.

Riko admittedly didn't look out the window often, and he hadn't even noticed until Jade had pointed it out, but now he reminded himself to look outward at least once a day. The Jedi had chosen a beautiful place to settle. He remembered Kali'sto's disdain for the Old Order's choice to build the old Temple on Coruscant; he had been happy that the current Jedi Order had apparently evolved beyond that sense of vanity, at least he had before he learned that K'Kruhk wanted to rebuild the old temple.

At first, it had been hard for him to settle here. Save for his lightsaber and Niner, he had none of his former possessions with him. Beyond that, it was difficult, living without his father. He missed when his hair had itched and Kali'sto scratched it while he lay in bed, or when they cuddled on stormy nights or when Riko had a bad dream. He missed his meals and stories.

On his own, Riko never would have come through those first few months. He was lucky to have Jade, Bao, Tau, and Niner there to support him.

Speaking of which …Niner had been freshly recharged for today. With access to newer parts and fresh layers of paint, Riko had given Niner numerous upgrades in software and hardware.

Now painted in a snowy-white hue, the droid was still obviously homemade, but looked finished, completed, designed with better care and skill. To complete Niner's finished appearance, Riko had painted the name "Niner" in Aurebesh on Niner's torso, the letters arranged horizontally just beneath his chest panel.

"Good morning Riko," Niner said, his photoreceptors glued to the small holonet terminal, "How is you?" True to Riko's predictions, since Niner had no problem with the blank spaces in his linguistic database, and because both Riko and Jade admittedly found it amusing, he had decided to simply leave it that way.

"I'm good. Come on Niner, you can't spend all day on the holonet."
"But this droid's really interesting! The R-series astromech…"

"Come on, Niner."

"Very well." Niner had been the third member of Riko's family, and in moments like this, he felt like Riko's little brother...not always in a great way.

Riko removed the plug. It would be weeks before Niner needed to recharge again. Riko opened the door. He walked out of his quarters and he and Niner walked to Bao's quarters.

General quarters, Jedi Temple

"Good morning Jade," Niner attempted to say as Jade rushed in. Riko and Bao had arrived first. Jade felt disappointed and a little embarrassed. Perhaps they had delayed the meeting until she showed up.

Bao's quarters were spartan, his habits regarding materialism resembling those of the Jedi in the days of the Old Republic. While Jedi these days did not accumulate much personal property, these quarters, comprised only of a single room with a small refresher, were the kind that Jade would expect of an apprentice or even a junior knight. Not one of Bao's status.

Already surprised that the meeting took place in this room instead of the council chamber, she was shocked that only Grand Master K'Kruhk, Bao, Riko, and her father were at the meeting.

"Sorry I'm late, Masters," Jade apologized as she hurried in, "I was up late sparring." To Tau, she projected, You couldn't have woken me up?

Independence, Jade, independence, was all Tau replied with.

"It is partially understandable," K'Kruhk smiled, "You're not the first apprentice I've known who didn't always show up on time."

Tau turned to Riko and Jade, "Before we begin, we must brief you on the Consortium Crisis."

"We hear things," Jade responded.

"We don't fully understand what's been happening out there," Bao responded, "There's rumors of rogue Jedi amuck on neutral planets, we have a missing Jedi attempt to assassinate Master Skywalker. Something's happening, and we're being scapegoated. The Triumvirate has allowed us to investigate the crisis via a limited number of proxies."

"Really?" Jade asked. Riko said nothing, though something in him did change. She knew that he didn't want more planets to suffer his homeworld's fate, and if there was one thing he always hated about the Triumvirate, it was their unwillingness to acknowledge the problem. At least, until now.
"Jedi have been disappearing," Tau explained, "You'd be surprised what we uncovered."

"So," Jade said, "Which is it? Are we allowed to do something, or do we have to stay out of it?"
"We can't take military action against them," K'Kruhk explained, "Information retrieval, on the other hand…

"As long as our information is verifiable," Bao said, "As is the case here. Five days ago, one such proxy infiltrated their headquarters on Taris. He found transcripts and records that prove that the Consortium is behind the disappearances of Master Juna Wallis, Knights Venn and Bey Twan'etu, as well as numerous others, including Yulan Vers."

"Very well," K'Kruhk responded, "I will bring this to the Council…"
"But he found more beyond that. He found and recorded a series of transmissions between Taris and the Temple, here. They showed that a Jedi Council Master had colluded with Asharr."

"What?" Jade blurted out as Bao's words slammed into her with the force of a beskar gauntlet, "Is this information reliable?"
"I trust my source," Bao responded.

Tau withstood the shock better, though surprise and shock were pouring out into the Force, along with slight disapproval at Jade's lack of composure.

"That's why the rest of the council didn't show up," Riko reasoned. Those words outlined Jade's surprise at the fact that her father was here, now that she knew why the rest of the Council was absent.

"I trust you both, Master Skywalker and Grand Master K'Kruhk," Bao replied to Tau's reaction, "But he said that the tapes revealed the Councilor wanted to 'set the Jedi on their proper path.'"

"Thank you, Bao," Tau replied, his sense of formality slipping for a moment, "You believe that this is related to the feud between the two factions?"

"Yes," Bao said, "I'm sure of it." Bao was a known critic of the Council's handling of this situation, himself an Adherent but willing to accept both viewpoints. Jade knew that the council generally tried to limit the Omnists' representation on the High Council. She suspected that Tau's views had more to do with Jade's removal from her apprenticeship as the disaster on Orîlla.

"The majority of those who have disappeared are Adherents," K'Kruhk explained, "It would not surprise me if the culprit is an adherent."

"Are you accusing one of my allies of orchestrating a coup, Grandmaster?" Tau asked, "Ghroi Valex and Nars En were very vocal Omnists."

"We don't know who exactly is planning this, Grand Master," Bao responded, "You know relations between the two groups haven't been cordial. We Jedi are proud of our ideologies, and we can react with hostility when they are threatened. I worry that someone might view collaboration with a hostile enemy as necessary to solve the problem."

"True. But back to your report. Why haven't you told us who the culprit is?" K'Kruhk inquired.

"Asharr has initiated a planetary blockade and has suspended all non-military ships from coming to or leaving Taris, trapping my operative there. Our operative couldn't risk sending them over the holonet. He feared the full details of the message would be intercepted. He has to tell me in person. We have to come to him."

---

Riko felt proud. And a little curious. Was Bao only choosing him because he needed help on his mission? Was that why he picked Jade as well?

"Can't we just send another proxy to get the intel?" Riko asked.
"The proxies operate independently of one another," Bao explained,"Our communication with them is infrequent, they are usually left to their own devices. We can't send anyone else to help him."

"So, you're going to risk open warfare to get the intel," Jade reasoned.

"The Consortium is planning a takeover of the Jedi Council," Tau responded, "We can't just ignore this."

"Even if you are caught, who's to say the council sent you?" K'Kruhk added.

Riko spent a second processing the Grandmaster's words before he understood.

"Oh," Riko said, "If we're caught, you can just say we went rogue. I get it."

"Yes," Bao grinned, "Should things go for the worse, the Jedi can disavow us. We'll pose as a group of pirates and sneak into their ranks to retrieve the intel, if you still wish to participate."

Riko was nervous, but also excited. He had already speculated that Kali'sto was out there, fighting the Consortium's efforts to take over neutral worlds. He could help him!

"Yes," Riko responded quickly, "I'd love to!"
A little loud there, Jade winced.

Sorry, Riko apologized.

"Are you aboard, Jade?" Bao asked.

"Yes," Jade responded quickly, "If it means we get to save lives and tear down this menace, I'm aboard."

Tau nodded in approval.
"What's the plan, then?" Riko inquired, "How are we sneaking in?"

"My plan is to use the Myrkr Capture to bring us into Consortium space."

Developed during the Yuuzhan Vong War, the Myrkr Capture was a technique to infiltrate enemy territory by surrendering to the opponent and then commandeering the enemy craft. However, despite succeeding, the mission that gave the tactic its name was a costly victory, claiming the lives of six of the almost-twenty Jedi participating, including the team's leader, Anakin Solo, a distant ancestor of Jade.

Riko began to feel nervous again as Bao went into the specifics.

"How many Jedi do you wish to accompany you, Bao?" K'Kruhk asked.

"Just my new apprentices and I. I have twelve Why-Vee-Aech-Ell combat droids reprogrammed to serve on the team. We're going to capture a lone ship in a patrol."

"That sounds reasonable," K'Kruhk responded.

"I'll try my own investigation into Asharr's meddling," Tau responded, "We'll keep tabs on Master Libre, to begin."

"It's settled, then," Bao declared.

"This plan has my approval," K'Kruhk replied, "Only, I do not see the need to bring Jade along. Surely you can handle this with your Padawan and your droids, Master Pierce."
"Jade and Riko are close, Grandmaster," Tau responded, "They should work together…"
"I would prefer to have her stay here, aiding our investigation," K'Kruhk responded.

"Master, with all due respect," Jade started, "I'm already in the know about this plan. I should come along."
"She can't help you in any way here," Tau responded, "It would be best if she accompanied Bao and Riko."

K'Kruhk was clearly frustrated, but then sighed and declared, "Very well, you will accompany them. Do not tell anyone about this. If word of the depths of our internal struggle reaches the Triumvirate, it will worsen the tensions between us and them. I cannot tell the Council, or else our spy will find out how much we know. You are to keep this confidential. Tell no one."

"Yes master," Riko replied reluctantly.

"I won't tell a soul," Jade swiftly assured them.

"This session is closed," K'Kruhk declared.

Chapter Seven

Lower levels, storage area

As a gifted mechanic, Riko was asked to inspect the droids reprogrammed for the mission. Yuuzhan Vong Hunter Legacy droids, YVHLs, had been decomissioned a few years back. Heavily armed with faces designed to resemble human skulls, even when inactive, they were terrifying.

Keeping in the spirit of secrecy, they were gathered in a level that had housed prisoners back when the temple had been a Kwa outpost. It was dark and a little cold, although that didn't bother Riko; the nature of the mission did.

"What do you think?" Bao asked. Riko left his train of thought and looked down at his data pad.

"You added a second layer of programming beneath the primary directives," he observed, "I'm guessing one of us will transmit the code sequence that will activate the program."

"Exactly," Bao clarified.

Riko was familiar with this tactic: it had actually been used to ambush a Jedi conclave millennia prior, and a Republic battalion whose stories Kali'sto recounted had tried the same at the battle of Balmorra during the Clone Wars, with a decisive victory.

"Our target is a class nine bulk freighter called the Intrika, it belongs to the Azalus Bargona pirates. My plan is this: I will pose as a pirate who owed the Consortium money. While I turn myself over to them, you and Jade will hide on the vessel's exterior in EVA suits. You will sneak aboard before we enter hyperspace. When we are deep enough inside enemy territory, you will trigger the signal. This will activate the droids' secondary programming. This will order the droids to open the airlock. Following this, you and the droids will fight your way to the prison region and meet me at specific coordinates inside the vessel. Then we'll secure it."

"Master, I don't have EVA training," Riko admitted.

"True," Bao observed, "So you wish to switch places."

"Exactly…wait, Master, what are you suggesting?"

"You're afraid," Bao changed the subject, or delved.

"Yes," Riko admitted, he didn't see the point in denying it.
"You underestimate yourself…"

"Sorry we're late, I've never been down here," Riko turned to his left. Jade stood a few feet away.

"Are you usually this late?" Bao asked.

"Not usually," Jade admitted.

"You didn't have to come. I only needed Riko's help here. I planned to give a complete briefing on the entire mission later."

"I wanted to be present for this stage, but if I'm intruding, I'll leave." Jade started to turn around.

"Jade, wait," Riko pleaded. She didn't listen. Riko decided to try another way.

Bao didn't mean anything by it, Riko projected, He would have welcomed your help. Jade stopped walking away.

This is what it takes? She replied.

Riko smiled, "Yep." Jade turned around and walked back toward them.

"Force telepathy, I assume," Bao reasoned, "Never learned it."

"Yep. Rudimentarily at least," Jade replied, "I can only do it with people that have a Force bond with me. Riko falls into that category."

Looks like there's something we can teach him, Jade projected into Riko's mind.

Maybe, Riko replied. Maybe the Force telepathy was becoming more comfortable for him now that he initiated a mental conversation. Or maybe it was because that was the only way for him to communicate under certain circumstances. Either way, it was becoming less irritating to use the Force's telepathic abilities. Or were those abilities unique to every Force-user who used them? It didn't matter. He wasn't an expert in that field. Riko simply turned back to the conversation.

---

Bao repeated the plan for Jade, who, whilst appraising most of Bao's strategy, held doubts about one key point.

One of the plan's aspects troubled her. She had voiced so, and now Bao questioned her on it.

"You don't think Riko should volunteer as the bait?"

"The fact that Riko and I are new apprentices is as much a liability as it is an asset, master," Jade explained, "Me and Riko trained together. We're familiar with each other's abilities with the Force, our skills with the lightsaber, etc. I don't want Riko in there alone."

Riko hadn't commented on her suggestion. She only sensed relief from him, he had already intuited what she was suggesting.
"You want to accompany him as a prisoner."
"Yep," Jade answered, "Me and Riko have a better chance of escaping together."
"True," Bao agreed, "Your capture will not be inconceivable."

"I think that covers it," Jade summarized, "You'll go EVA when we make contact, we'll board with combat droids. Once inside, we'll trigger their reprogramming remotely, let you in, then take over the ship. Then we'll fly to Taris, use the cargo shuttle to fly past the blockade, meet up with your contact, Val the Mandalorian with a red slash on his helmet, and then use the captured transport to sneak back out of Consortium space."

"Correct," Bao said, "Help me load up the shuttle."

Riko looked at the sheer scope: they had a single repulsorsled for transporting the droids and EV suit, but they'd have to carry around a lot: food rations, spare parts; it looked like Bao hadn't even loaded up their ship yet.

"I'm guessing we can't use the Force?" Jade asked.

"That didn't occur to me, but yes, now that you mention it, you can't," Bao admitted.

Riko looked at Jade.

Sorry, Jade apologized.

Landing pad Cresh, beneath the Temple spires

"Bao!" Bao turned around towards the other figure on the landing pad. He walked towards his former master, who began moving away from the shuttle. Bao understood him well enough to realize he wanted to talk alone.

Right before Bao walked towards his master, he could have sworn that he sensed movement somewhere.

"Is something wrong?"
"It's nothing," Bao dismissed it. It had probably just been a bird or something. He walked towards his old mentor.

When they were a good few meters away, Tau said, "I have some advice."

"I see you never run out of lessons to teach me, master," Bao replied. Tau smiled in response.

"I need you to protect Jade."

"I will, master," Bao vowed to do this with every effort he could.

"Don't put her in harm's way, keep her out of anything too dangerous," Bao was reminded of his responsibility. He had taken on quite the challenge mentoring two apprentices at the same time.

"I will try, Tau," Bao replied. Tau smiled, but it waned as he noticed something bothered Bao, "You're feeling the weight of it, aren't you? Your first day as a teacher."

"Exactly. Especially since I am not as experienced as you were."
"I was younger than you are now when you became my student!" Tau protested.

Bao grinned, "Still, it is a lot of responsibility. Double that responsibility..."

"...And you'll know how I've felt the last few years as her father."

Bao chuckled.

"To be blunt," Tau added, "you chose to train both Riko and Jade."

"It was your idea for me to train Jade."

"And you chose to also instruct Riko."

"In addition to the fact that the two are inseparable, Riko intrigues me as a student. Besides, you supported me when I announced it."

"Regardless, if you feel too much pressure, I place the blame on you for giving it to yourself."

"Alright, the blame is on me," Bao conceded, "I will be the best teacher I can. And if I fail, I will ask the council to return Jade to your tutelage."

"Farewell, my old apprentice. And I hope you prove a poor teacher to Jade. "

Despite knowing that Tau's jest was just a jest, that the Council would never return Jade to Tau's tutelage, and that she would clearly be assigned to an Adherent master when her apprenticeship was formalized, Bao grinned, "May the Force be with you."

"And you."

---

After a tedious hour, Riko and Jade were almost finished. The droids' captured ship was visible, a seventeen-meter long transport shuttle. Jade still felt nervous. This was her first mission, and it was a big one.

"Jade!" Jade turned her head as soon as she set down the last crate. Her father stood a few meters away, just the shuttle's airlock.

"I'm here to see you off on your first mission," he smiled sadly, "I wish I could accompany you."

"I wish you could too," Jade replied. She knew that Tau would be needed here, but still, this was her first mission.

"Jade, it's time to go," Bao's voice caused her to turn her attention back to Bao and Riko. She hugged her father.

"Goodbye, Dad," Jade whispered, "I'll make you proud."

When they ceased their embrace, Jade reluctantly got up and walked onto the shuttle towards her future, watching the ramp close behind her. She took a deep breath and walked towards the cockpit. She had received some rudimentary training on being a co-pilot whilst she traveled with her father, but she had never flown a vessel on her own.

"Are we all set, Riko?" Jade asked over the comms.

"We are," Riko responded from the cargo bay.

"Alright," Bao responded from the pilot seat, "We're all set for launch."

Jade tried to get a glimpse of her father through the viewport, but found nothing. She had to admit to herself, she felt more nervous than excited at the prospect of her first mission, as opposed to Riko, who felt...almost exhilarated, yet at the same time, that feeling was suppressed.

Bao was steadily focused on his duty, but he also had hints of excitement that he allowed to fill his mind.

"Now," Bao activated the vessel's engines and they flew off, departing Atarashi'ie and the life she had known for so long.

Chapter Eight

Imperial Palace, Coruscant

Duties as a triumvir took their toll on Thalia Fel. Between the Moff Council's deliberate negligence of the Consortium Crisis, K'Kruhk's new proposal to restore the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, and Chief Theron's growing desire to consider seceding the Alliance from the Triumvirate, Thalia was overwhelmed.

As the Moff Council denied her from deploying the Empire's armies to liberate the Consortium's captured worlds, the Alliance Senate denied Theron from doing the same, and the Jedi were left unable to officially act against them without Triumvirate approval, they were effectively letting the criminal state flourish. Thalia had no doubt many of her opponents on this issue were bought by the cartels. There was only so much that their proxy infiltration program could accomplish.

I wish Mother was still alive. She might have been able to handle all this. Considering the state of the galaxy, Marasiah Fel wouldn't have been pleased in her daughter's efforts.

Thalia was sick of not being able to fight a criminal organization because of treaties and technicalities. She was tired of compromising left and right with one greedy, power-hungry Moff after another. In government, you either compromised until you lost sight of why you participated in the first place, or you never accomplished anything.

She missed the days before her entry into politics. She missed her days as an Imperial Knight. But most of all, she missed her daughter.

The door chime activated.

"You can enter," Tau Skywalker entered the room.

"How is Jade?"

"Bao has taken her as an apprentice. Her first mission started recently."

"Really?" Thalia felt a little envious, "I hope she can look after herself."

"She'll be fine."

"Why did you come by, then?"

"I am attending to a mission of high importance."
"What importance?"
"We have been infiltrated, Thalia," Tau explained, "The Order is dealing with an internal crisis. One of the Masters is planning a coup against the council."
"How have you come by this information?" Thalia asked, moving to her feet.

"I cannot say."
"I see."
"Who is the culprit?"

"We do not know. The Grandmaster and I are making preparations to expose him. A conspiracy is clearly in play, Thalia. I suspect that this extends far deeper than we know."

"Should I tell Chief Theron?"
"No," Tau responded sharply, "K'Kruhk has ordered us to keep this quiet. I should not be telling you this."

Thalia grew uneasy. She walked away from her desk and towards Tau.

"You're placing me in a bad position," she said, "Theron's been campaigning to place greater restrictions on your order for years. If he learns we are keeping secrets from him.."

"He underestimates the need for clandestine operations..."

"And you underestimate the need for honesty, Tau."

"I need you to be ready, Thalia."
"To do what?"
"If this rogue Master succeeds, I don't know what direction they will steer the order in. You have to make sure you'll be prepared to defend the Triumvirate against a rebellious Jedi Order."
"Tau, I shouldn't surreptitiously prepare…"
"Promise me," Tau was standing very close to her now. Perhaps a little too close.

"I'll prepare," Thalia agreed, "I'll see if there's anything I can do."
"It's been a while since we've been this close," Thalia commented as she mulled over Tau's words.

"Do you miss this?" Tau asked, as he leaned in a little.
Thalia forced a smile, "I miss Jade."

She walked past Tau and back towards her desk, "I'm glad to have you as an ally and as a friend. I don't miss scurrying around with a Jedi Master who's my distant cousin. Dealing with politicians is easy after tangling with an idealistic Skywalker."

"Jagged Fel's wife was a Solo. What happened to your sense of adventure?"

"You killed it."

Thalia Fel's quarters, Imperial Palace

Exhausted, Thalia locked the door, mulling over Tau's request, only to be interrupted by a small mass of flesh and snowy fur with dark eyes that sprinted towards her before immediately stopping and remaining stationary several feet in front of her, panting as they smiled. Even despite the naturally foul odor that was barely covered by a daily bath that Thalia's protocol droid administered each morning, she was still happy to be greeted by a member of her family every night.

"Hello Lulu," Thalia lowered to her knees and rubbed the Strill first behind the ears, then on their belly once they rolled over. A hermaphrodite, Lulu had joined the Fel family on Jade's sixth birthday, bringing a great swell of joy to the child's life.

Lulu was as energetic as ever, but they carried a great sorrow: they missed Jade just as much as Thalia did.

After spending several minutes playing with Lulu and ensuring they were fed, Thalia sat on her bed, Lulu curled up in her lap, her eyes closed, breathing slowly and deeply, attempting to clear her mind.

Most Imperial Knights didn't meditate frequently; they viewed the Force as a tool–a powerful one deserving respect–but not one requiring contemplation and meditation.

Thalia had a different view. During their time as lovers, Tau opened her eyes to the Jedi's view on the Force, and Thalia realized how limiting the Imperial Knights' view on the Force was. They could learn from the Jedi philosophy, learn to see the Force as a guide as well as a tool.

Thalia needed to clear her head and figure out what she should do.

Thalia's surroundings faded as she tapped into the currents of the Force. And images began to fill her mind.

The Galaxy was subjugated; the Triumvirate reformed into a new empire. The catalyst of all this: a Jedi, one whose actions seemed to unravel a system that had existed for millennia, one that would mean salvation or destruction.

As Thalia looked more closely, one thing was clear: their actions would mean the destruction of the Jedi Order and the Sith.

Alarmed, Thalia asked herself, Is this inevitable? How can I stop it?

Suddenly the images faded, a second vision took the place of the first. This was much more literal: A forgotten city world, Taris. A massive fleet dominated its orbit.

The fleet faded as the vision grew clearer, the presence of Jedi on the planet seemed to become the focus of the vision. Three, a Trandoshan and two humans.

Thalia didn't know what to make of the vision until she saw her face on one of the apprentices. The face of her much younger self. It wasn't exact, the eyes were a different color, a blonde streak colored her hair instead of white, but she was virtually identical otherwise.

Jade, Thalia realized.

Hours later...

Ares Theron was an Ishi Tib. With his eyestalks pointed slightly downward and his beak constantly moving, he appeared curious. He was a strong advocate of actively going to war against the Consortium through conflict, hoping to end their control over the .

"So let me repeat this," Theron said, ignoring Lulu's barking and pawing at his feet with all six of their limbs, "A Jedi is planning on taking over the Order, and they're worried he'll turn on the Alliance?"

"Yes," Thalia clarified. In light of her vision, she had decided to act. She knew that the visions were likely inevitable. She would try to prevent the first one, but in case she failed, there would be someone to oppose the tyrant she foresaw.

"Where did you get this information?"
Thalia said nothing.

"Ah, of course. Your Jedi skills," Theron reasoned.

"I'm not a Jedi."

"Of course. My apologies Empress Fel." Ares was not a religious man, and despite his appreciation of other cultures and their beliefs, which earned his respect in the eyes of the alliance senate, leading to his position, he tended to blur the views of the Force together. His understanding of the organizations and orders regarding the Force was limited. He assumed that the views of the Imperial Knights and the Jedi were the same. Either way, his views on Force-Sensitive orders were soured by their inaction against the Consortium.

"There might be a link between the Consortium and this crisis, Ares. If we prevent this and find a link, we can take action against the Consortium," Thalia responded.

Ares did not respond, clearly he was considering her words. Ares was as much a politician as Thalia, but he still cared about the commonfolk, both his constituents and those outside the Alliance's borders.

"I will bring this to the attention of the galaxy when this is over."
"No," Thalia responded.

"Then give me the intel. I need to know this is credible."
Thalia was disappointed. But she wasn't surprised, either. It was unlikely Theron would agree with her idea; he didn't try to violate the law, nor give himself additional power. He had sworn an oath to protect the Alliance and abide by its laws.

Thalia reached out with the Force and gently nudged Theron's mind. She hated doing this, but she wasn't dominating him. She was just making him more willing to listen to her.

"The Jedi have sent a strike team to retrieve the intel and learn any further details we can," she explained, "I intend to help them."
Theron was clearly considering.

"Why have you told me all this?"
"I believe in transparency, Ares. People should know the truth, so they can hold their governments accountable"
"Yet, you don't want me to bring the Jedi's internal struggle to the galaxy's attention."
"The Jedi are as much a civilization as the Empire or the Alliance, and they have disagreements and political feuds. Perhaps…" Thalia ruminated, "Perhaps we should coordinate with the Order to allow for greater transparency. People think of the Jedi as religious zealots. We need to show that they aren't so different from the rest of us, despite what K'Kruhk claims."
"An agreement where both sides get everything they want. Rare, in politics."
Thalia smiled, "Agreed. I have grown tired of my throne, Ares. I miss the days when I was surrounded by blasterfire and lightsabers. Leave the politics to you and other officials who enjoy haggling."
"Thank you for being honest with me, Empress Fel. And I wouldn't call it haggling."
"I am glad to work with you Chief-of-State Theron," Thalia shook his large hand.
"Now, how exactly do you intend to retrieve the intel?

Landing platform Aurek, Imperial Palace

Officially, Imperial Empress Thalia Fel was en route to Valcaran on a diplomatic mission, having just departed Coruscant aboard the Star Destroyer Resurgence.

In truth, it was her body double, a shapeshifting Shi'ido diplomat named Maral, who would handle the mission in her absence, accompanied by two doubles would substitute a dyad of Imperial Knights who would be accompanying the real Thalia on her true mission.

Harkaq Oqerio, a stubble-faced Cerean with an elongated skull which housed his binary brain structure, and a former apprentice of Thalia's father, Antares Draco. Despite the fact that he was recovering from a recent capture at the hands of pirates, he was still ready to fight and was one of the few people Thalia could trust on a matter this personal.

His apprentice, Kara Ryn, a female green-skinned Twi'lek. Her training was mostly complete, though, and she held promise as a good Knight. They had all sworn to secrecy and Thalia knew she could trust them.

Both usually wore the crimson armor, black capes, and white-bladed lightsabers used by the Imperial Knights. Today, however, they wore nondescript civilian clothing, their lightsabers hidden within blaster holsters. Thalia completed her disguise with a hooded cloak.

Thalia was briefing them within the confines of the Xi-class shuttle they would use on this particular mission.

"The Consortium has an ally in one particular Jedi Master," Thalia explained, "That Jedi Master is planning to execute the Jedi Council. They are aware of this development, and they have sent a strike team to retrieve the data that will allow them. I have received a vision. They will fail in their mission, unless we help them."

"Why are you accompanying us?" Harkaq asked.

"Very well," Thalia admitted, "My daughter is on that strike team."
"My lady," Kara responded, "This is a conflict of interest, is it not?"
"Perhaps. I appreciate your candor, Kara," Thalia said genuinely. She believed every word that she had said to Ares earlier. This was personal. At least, that was what she told herself as the word hypocrite echoed in her mind.

"So will you accompany me, now that you have spoken your mind and now may work with a clean conscience?"
"Of course." As her companions joined her in the cockpit, she kept wondering whether she was motivated by her desire to taste adventure again as she was saving her daughter.

Despite her lineage, Thalia wasn't born for politics. She had known that for a long time.

"Care to do the honors, milady?" Harkaq asked.

Thalia took the pilot's seat, and took the joystick in her hand. She started up the activation sequence and felt the ship come to life.

Despite her doubts, she couldn't help but smile. Yes, this, she missed.

I never supported the idea of a Monarchy anyway. I'm sorry Mother, but I was always more like Father. My place is here.

Thalia couldn't help but laugh in guilty joy as she lifted the shuttle off, and sailed into the sky.

Chapter Nine

Droid Carrier Shuttle 1140, En route Corsin System, Hydian Way Route

A lot had happened today, and Riko needed to focus. Most Jedi meditated, but sitting still wasn't one of Riko's strengths. Eventually, he just got up and tried pacing around.

Maybe try focusing on your environment, Riko heard Jade's voice in his mind, simultaneously grateful for the advice and creeped out that she was reading his emotional state.

Riko's mind wasn't incapable of focus, but a complete lack of stimuli drove his predominant cognitive process back into his own self-reflection.

He tried looking around, trying to truly take in the cargo bay. It wasn't large, featuring only a now-empty recharging rack for the ten droids that had accompanied them, a few boxes stored in one corner, the bay's primary locker in another corner…

Clang clang! It sounded a little like someone was banging on the door.

If Riko hadn't been actively trying to focus on his environment, he probably wouldn't have noticed it.

Jade, you and Bao might want to come down here, he thought.

He walked towards the locker, hand on his lightsaber, and typed in the numerical sequence needed to open it.

"Aaaahhh!" An electronic squeak came from whatever was inside as the door opened so quickly, it would have smacked Riko in the face had he not rolled to the floor instinctively. He quickly moved up and ignited his lightsaber to see what was inside.

Niner lay on the floor, making a sound that Riko believed was meant to be synonymous with groaning.

"Niner?" Jade and Bao entered the bay, lightsabers ignited.

"Hi there," Niner greeted, his vocabulator muffled.

Riko quickly deactivated his blade and grabbed Niner's torso.

"I didn't want to be solo at the palace," Niner responded as Riko helped him move upright, "You need me."

"What do you think we're doing, Niner?" Bao asked.

"Going on an adventure! Like in the stories," Niner responded.

"Niner, you aren't ready for an adventure," Jade critiqued.

"Riko isn't ready," Niner responded.
"Niner," Riko responded, "I've trained for this, I'm ready."
"You're not ready," Niner rebuked, "You can't depart without me. Everyone has a little buddy."

"But…" Riko responded.

"I think we can make some space for him," Bao responded, "I have an idea."

"Yay!" Niner beamed, his photoreceptors lighting up, "When do we start?"

---

"I bring it back!" Niner protested, "This is too scary!"
"Niner, you're getting a jetpack." Riko responded, "You've always wanted to fly." While a typical Jedi might have been able to halt Niner with telekinesis, Riko had reluctantly attached a restraining bolt, with Niner not exactly eager.

Upon getting Niner to sit still with a restraining bolt, Riko had directly installed a small EVA mobility jet on Niner' back, and he was just finished welding the attached thruster nozzles all over Niner's torso. In his mind, he could directly see the wiring from Niner's brain that allowed him to manipulate his limbs, wheel, hatches, and now, thrusters. Working on machines always allowed Riko to focus, it provided him an escape and gave him something useful to do. What most Jedi accomplished with meditation, Riko did by grabbing a hydrospanner, putting on his maintenance goggles, and adjusting Niner's wrist joint hydraulics.

Hearing footsteps, Riko paused his efforts and looked up. Jade entered the sparse cargo bay that served as their makeshift quarters.

"Alright," Riko finished attaching the scattered jets. He grabbed his fuser and carefully welded a remote onto Niner's chest, "The thrusters are scattered all over. You should be able to move in virtually any three-dimensional direction." As soon as he finished, he grabbed a small datachip from the floor, and inserted it into Niner's head, "I pulled this from the manual for the jetpack, you'll know which jet to activate."

Niner's eyes flashed in a staccato sequence for the next minute as he assimilated the data, "Okay."

The little droid was clearly fearful of what was to come, as intimidated, nervous, even frightened, as Riko. Riko took off his goggles and removed Niner's restraining bolt, unsure of what he should say to put the little guy at ease.

"Just stay close to Bao, and you'll be ok," Jade commented.

Niner swiveled around, looked at Jade, then turned back to Riko.

"What about you?" Niner asked.
"I'll be with Jade," Riko hugged his little buddy.

"We'll be fine," Jade assurred the little droid, "Just take care of yourself and Bao. You'll be okay."

"Okay," Niner said, "I shall be okay." Niner rolled out of the cargo bay, towards the cockpit. He loved looking at stars, that had been apparent; he had never once left the Keeper's cockpit on the journey to Atarashi'ie.

Riko turned his attention to Jade. He moved over and sat down next to his friend.

"You okay?" he asked, though the question was semi-rhetorical.

Jade sat down on an empty crate, "I was actually checking on you," she admitted, "You slipping back towards the Adherents?"

"They've gained a few extra points," Riko admitted, "How are you holding up?"

"I always knew that I was falling away from the old teachings, that there'd be friction. But now I'm worried that Asharr might have been helping this conflict. You gotta admit, it is disturbing, no matter who the culprit is."

Riko had similar conversations in his head and with Jade many times over the course of the past two years. While Riko understood some of the points of the Omnists, he still pitted them against Kali'sto's view. He was having trouble balancing out the two philosophies. Drawing on any anger or pain he felt wasn't something he wanted to do, in any case.

"You're afraid of it again, aren't you?" Jade said. Riko nodded.

"It's simple. Just open yourself up, let it flow through you."
"I still have nightmares," Riko said, "It's a lot harder than you think."

Jade stood up and walked in front of Riko. Riko could tell she was doing her best to remove any form of emotion from her expression.

"Alright, remember," Jade stated in a humorous tone, "Jedi can't show any emotion whatsoever. We have to be sociopaths."

This seemed a little immature, but at the same time, Riko didn't mind it.

"There is no emotion, there is peace," Jade continued, reciting the opening line of the Jedi code, "So you can't act happy, sad, annoyed, or anything if you're a Jedi."
Ok, Riko did think this was a little funny.

"Oh no! I smiled! I showed emotion! I fell to the dark side!"

"Okay," Riko laughed a little, "You're right."

"Yep," Jade sat down, "Suppressing yourself is just hiding. You can't keep doing this."

"Easier said than done," Riko responded.

"There's no quick fix for fear of life," Jade admitted, "But I broke out of my shell with your help. I want to return the favor, and so does Bao."

"I'd like that too," Riko admitted. He had to admit, he was happy to have a moment alone with Jade like this. He always enjoyed her company. She was intelligent, witty, fun to be around…

Riko suddenly noticed that she had grown quiet.

"There something bothering you?" Riko asked.

"It's nothing," Jade quickly responded, "It's nothing."
"Riko, Jade," Bao's voice echoed on the overhead speakers, breaking Riko's train of thought.

"Yes master," Riko replied.

"We're approaching the EV zone. I'm going to need your lightsabers."

"Okay, master," Jade moved to her feet. Riko joined her and and walked to the airlock, Niner in tow. He only now realized that he was clutching his hands together around his chest, the way he often did when Jade was around.

Airlock

To Bao, the EV suit felt constraining. It was bulky, and the detachable jet on his back and oxygen pack on the chest limited his maneuverability. Regardless, it would serve its purpose, hopefully quickly.

Riko, Jade, and Niner stepped into the corridor. Or rolled, in Niner's case. The two of them together, excluding Niner, made Bao reflect on his reasons for choosing them. Jade and Riko worked well as a team, and their unique Force abilities would be a valuable asset to the Jedi trio.

"Here," Riko handed over his weapon. The decorated hilt was slim, allowing it to fit in Riko's hand more easily. It felt slightly small in Bao's fingers. But that wouldn't be a problem; Bao would simply hold onto it until he activated the droids' secondary programming and freed Riko and Jade.

Jade handed over her lightsabers. As she was ambidextrous, it was easy for her to use the Jar'Kai style of lightsaber combat; she could wield both sabers with equal efficiency, giving her an advantage over many opponents.

"Niner, I need you to carry these," Bao ordered. Niner responded by opening up his chest panel.
"Thank you," Bao said as he placed the weapons inside. Niner's panel closed shut.

"Sure," Niner responded.

"Niner has an internal comlink," Riko explained.

"Set it to frequency Bee-Es-Gee-thirty-three," Bao ordered. Niner's eyes flashed for a second as he executed said command.

"Done," Niner responded.

"Okay," Bao handed Riko a device. It was a remote activator equipped with two buttons, one green, one blue. It was designed to fool sensors, so they wouldn't detect it. Even if it was detected, Bao would receive a signal, which would transfer the remote activation sequence to his suit's control panel.
"The green button will activate the primary programming and false memories," Bao explained, "The blue one will trigger their secondary programming. If you lose this, I can activate the droids remotely with a panel on my end."

"Got it," Riko replied.

"Sir," one of the droids spoke over the intercom, "We are entering realspace."

Bao placed his helmet on as he felt the faint hint that they had reverted to sublight speed, "Understood," he replied as he activated the suit's comm systems. He turned back to Riko and Jade, "May the Force be with you."

"And you," Jade replied.

"Good luck," Riko smiled a little nervously. Bao ignored it. He knew that his apprentices were ready, even if they didn't.

"Be careful…"
"Don't worry. I'll be working on your systems in a day," Riko replied.

"The chance of that is…"
"Niner," Jade whispered.

Niner was silent for a moment. He then said, "Might the Force be with you two."

The airlock entrance door opened. Bao and Niner stepped through the door and watched as it closed. He could still see Riko and Jade's faces through the transparisteel window, but he focused on the other door. He pressed the panel next to it, opening it.

Bao activated his mag-boots and left the safety of the ship's artificial gravity.

He turned back towards the open airlock, seeing Niner right on the edge, still within the ship's gravity field, like a child reluctant to jump off a diving board.

"First time in space, I see," Bao grinned.

He held out his manus, and Niner reluctantly took it.

"Come on," Bao pulled Niner out, the droid panicking, flailing his free arm about. Bao held firm, and wouldn't let the droid slip.

After a moment, Niner calmed down and really seemed to realize the incredible circumstances he was in.
Wow. Words appeared on Bao's HUD, transmitted from Niner.

Space was as beautiful as it was vast, new constellations, gases, and rock for the eye to behold. To Bao, who could see into the infrared range, he primarily perceived space as heat traveling through a sea of cold, life in a void, lights in the darkness. Almost a metaphor for the Jedi in a chaotic world. It was easy to get lost, only by being careful could one navigate this simultaneously terrifying and beautiful expanse.

As always, Bao couldn't hear anything but his own breathing, which always unnerved him, but he drowned it out with a mental recitation of the Jedi Code.

I'm scared. The probability of you losing me is forty-five-point-one percent.

"I'm glad to know you have faith in me."

Cockpit, Shuttle 1140

Riko and Jade observed the vessel they were going to board. The Intrika was clearly a converted vessel: even with a handful of additional turbolasers visible on the hull between the engines and the spire protruding from the bow that served as the bridge, it was clearly designed to haul cargo rather than serving in combat.

Its escorts: a squadron of mixed starfighters, ranging from outdated T-92 Broadsword class T-Wings to TIE Predator-class fighters to more recent TIE/X1 fighters.

"That's a patrol force?" Riko asked to no one in particular. Jade didn't blame him. Even Jade, who wasn't an expert on military strategy, could see that the freighter was a bad choice for a patrol. This system must not have been considered important, even though reconstruction efforts were in progress on the damaged tropical world.

"Okay," Jade stated nervously, "Time to activate the droids.

"Just one moment," Riko was clearly also nervous.

He held up a pair of non-functional stun cuffs. Reluctantly, Jade accepted them and Riko helped her clamp the cold metal cuffs to her wrists.

"Droid Zero-Nine, can you help me with these?" Riko asked. One of the droids moved away from the control console and walked toward Riko and Jade.

"Yes sir," the droid attached the second pair to Riko's wrists, Niner trying to look away. Jade understood; with its two-meter height, red photoreceptors, heavy armor plates, and the vaguely skull shaped head, the droid did have an intimidating appearance.

"Okay," Jade stated, this time she sounded nervous. She certainly felt that way, "To the cargo bay."

Riko was terrified. The child from Orîlla never would have been able to do this.

Riko thought that Kali'sto's adopted son, the boy who built Niner, the child who loved to build and fix things, was still a part of him. Certainly, none of that had changed. He was sure Kali'sto was still alive, and that was one of his primary hopes as a Jedi: To find Kali'sto.

This was just another test on that journey.

"Ready?" Jade asked nervously, breaking Riko's train of thought.

"Hang on," Riko replied. After some effort, due to the stun cuffs, he managed to grab his comlink.

"Droids, you ready?"

"Please specify the question," Droid 01 responded.

Riko sighed, about to respond, but Jade beat him to the answer.

"Are all droids in the assigned positions to trigger the primary programming?" she asked.

"Droid Zero-One: Affirmative. Droid Zero-Two: Affirmative. Droid Zero-Three: Affirmative," Each droid listed its status. Riko endured the reports in silence, albeit slightly annoyed.

"Droid One-Two: Affirmative," the report ended.

"Are Bao and Niner in position?" Riko asked this time.

"Affirmative, me and the droid are ready," Bao's voice came from the comlink, "May the Force be with you both."

Jade managed a smile, "Thanks Master."

Riko still felt nervous despite Jade's apparent optimism.

Deactivating the comlink, Riko used the Force to disable it. He threw the defunct comlink into an open crate and grabbed the remote.

"Okay," Riko finished nervously, "I'm ready." With this, he pressed his finger to the green button.

Shuttle 1140 Outer hull

The shuttle was preparing to land in the Intrika's ventral hull, flying underneath the ancient beast. They were close enough for Bao to see the freighter's battered underside, its rusted grey paint scheme, and its primary hangar, the doors opening, giving it the appearance of a maw sucking up its prey.

Bao was ready, even if his charge wasn't. Niner now hugged Bao, holding onto the Trandoshan's back. He was squirming, clearly panicking.

"Try to stay still," Bao requested, "Please."

Ok, Niner responded, Should I do it now?
"Not yet." They were almost there, almost in the right position.

Bao let go of the railing and deactivated his magnetic boots.

"Now!" Bao ordered, kicking himself upward with his feet, propelling himself towards the freighter.

Niner activated his jetpack, rightside nozzle, moving the duo closer to their destination. Had Niner not altered their course, they would have missed their destination by five meters.

They were untethered, weightless, and at risk of slipping into the void forever.

Bao reached out with his manus as he came closer. Two hundred meters, one-fifty. One hundred...fifty…

"Upper central thruster!" Bao ordered.

Their ascent slowed, Bao reached out for the railing.

He missed, his manus hitting the hull.

Niner squirmed again, clearly panicking. Bao didn't, successfully grabbing onto the hull.

Twisting his body, he let go of the railing and engaged his mag-soles. He stood on the freighter's underside, Niner still holding onto him like a backpack.

We did it! Niner responded, What now?

Bao grinned again. Things like this made him feel alive.

"We wait again."

Chapter Ten

Bao's plan was going perfectly. The droids had departed the captured cargo ship, with Riko and Jade. Once one of Asharr's cruisers entered the system, it would hopefully enter hyperspace and cut off from aid, the team would capture it. And thus, all Bao had to do was find a good place to lodge himself until the cruiser entered hyperspace and he initiated his plan. It was just a precaution.

Should we arrive now?Niner transmitted onto Bao's headset.

Bao gave a reassuring smile, "We still have time."

More words, Are Riko and Jade all right? And you did not answer my question.

Bao peered through the hull with the Force. Riko and Jade's presences in the Force stood out like beacons in a cave.
"They're okay. Now we just have to find a means of entering the ship."

Niner sent him another message.

We can enter the primary airlock. And my question still isn't answered.

"I mean besides the primary airlock."

Niner sent a schematic of the vessel to his helmet display, with all airlocks highlighted in a red hue.

"The one at the cargo bay may work." There was a door directly attached to the cargo bay in case something inside the cargo aboard the freighter posed a risk, it could easily be ejected. And it did have an external override panel.

"Understood, let's go."

An alert on his HUD reported that someone was trying to reach him on the secure frequency that his suit used. A confused and concerned Bao accepted. Had something gone wrong for the plan to be activated this early?

"Master," Bao recognized Jade's voice, "The bridge is secure. Go to Airlock Aurek. We'll meet you there."

Intrika Interior

The Intrika looked as worn-down on the interior as it did on the exterior. Lacking even the classic Correlian cushions that adorned the walls on most CEC craft, the corridors were covered in fading crimson paint, some of which had dripped onto the metal grates that comprised the floor. The doors were painted in a hue that looked like bleach, with the same level of adequacy. The air felt dry after two years on Atarashi'ie, Riko was thirsty.

Riko was itching to press the remote, which was concealed inside his boot. He wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.

I hope things go according to plan, Jade projected into Riko's mind.

Me too, he replied. The Jedi and droids entered the bridge. A fairly large room, roughly the size of a small gym, it had a long, sectional control panel that encircled the entire room. Eight officers, all humanoid, manned the consoles. Standing next to the door were a pair of droids identical to the ones currently escorting the Jedi adolescents. A Nautolan female officer with a command insignia on her uniform walked towards the guards and their "prisoners."
"These are the prisoners?"

"Affirmative." Riko was feeling impatient. Now he just wanted to end all this waiting.
Be patient, Jade suggested, Bao's en route. Riko could still sense she was also impatient, but she was keeping her feelings under control to the point that it would be difficult for a non-Force sensitive to detect her true feelings.

"Alright, prepare the cargo bay as a makeshift prison, we can…"

"Captain, we're being hailed," one officer interrupted.

"Activate it," The captain ordered.
A life-sized hologram materialized within the room. It was a humanoid in a black cloak with a hood. The cloak gave the image of shadows surrounding the figure. Beneath the hood lay a mask that completed the spectral allusion, with two bright red lights, clearly indicating eyes, flashing.

"Captain Varik." The voice was distorted, Riko couldn't tell if Asharr was male or female beneath the mask, they sounded cold and drawn, akin to a ghost. The captain faced the hologram.

"Lord Asharr. I was not expecting your transmission." Riko was beginning to feel worried. Was the plan exposed?

"Are these your prisoners?" The warlord asked.

"Yes," Varik responded, "They are pirates who stole from one of our convoys…"
"It is a trick!" Asharr yelled, "These are Jedi!"

No no no… Riko thought. It was all falling apart.

"Jedi, my lord?" the commander asked nervously.

"Yes, Jedi."

Oh no, Jade projected. Anxiety was beginning to become visible in the Force. Jade made no effort to hide her emotions this time.

"There is a third Jedi somewhere in the vicinity. Find him. But ensure these two are alive."

"Yes, my lord."

The hologram deactivated. Varik turned back to the apprentices.

"Prepare the cargo hold. Examine the droids. Search for the third Jedi." Riko didn't hesitate. He probed the stun cuffs and examined their circuitry. It was easy to disable and loosen the binders. The cuffs fell to the floor. With his hands free, he ran straight to the controls. The droids raised their blasters. But Riko anticipated this. He probed the closest droid and disconnected a few circuits. It toppled to the ground. Ducking behind an empty chair as the droids began firing, he removed his boot and grabbed the remote.

"Stop him!" Varik yelled.

Riko didn't hesitate. He pressed the button, yelling, "All droids, secure the ship! Spare all lives!"

Riko hadn't warned Jade about his improvised plan. But Jade acted as quickly as she could. WIth the droids firing at Riko, she jumped up behind one and flung her stun cuffs around its neck, whilst, with difficulty, managing to move one foot on the droid's head. A blaster bolt tore through the cuffs, making her fall to the ground. One of the droids tried to stomp her with its foot, but she rolled out of the way.
Then she heard Riko's orders, "All droids, secure the ship! Spare all lives!" Suddenly, half of the droids gathered in the room turned their blasters toward the other half. It became a nightmare of light inside the cockpit. Jade crawled underneath the control panel next to Riko in order to decrease her chances of being hit by a stray blaster bolt.

"Nice plan," Jade complemented.

"Thanks," Riko replied, panting. Jade was just glad Riko made sure not to harm anyone.

"Let's go get Bao," Riko suggested.

"Yep. We're gonna need him. And our sabers."
"No argument there."
The commandeered droids had destroyed the remaining droid guards. eight crewmembers lay stunned on the floor. The commander and the ninth crewmember were nowhere to be seen. They must have escaped through the door in all the confusion.

"Droids six, nine, and eleven," Jade ordered, "We'll need you to escort us to the nearest airlock." The droids left the fighting and joined the two as Jade and Riko crawled out from under the controls and stood up. Riko replaced his boot on his foot. Jade realized that Droid Six was the one she had held in a chokehold. The bolt hadn't seriously damaged it, but a noticeable chunk of metal had been melted by the heavy blaster.

"Sorry," Jade apologized.
"You are not accountable," the droid countered, "I was unaware of my true mission."

Jade joined Riko at the control panel.
"We've got a secure line," Riko assured her.

"Master," Jade began, "The bridge is secure. Go to airlock Aurek. We'll meet you there."

"Are you sure?" Bao's voice responded.
"Our cover was blown," Riko explained, "We need you."

Jade turned to the rest of the droids. Nine were still standing.

"Droids One and Four, stay at the bridge," she commanded, "Five, secure the shuttle. The rest of you, divide into squads of two and secure the vessel."

"Let's go," She turned to Riko. Running through the door, the quintet moved toward Airlock Aurek.

---

Riko was proud of his improvised plan. He could show initiative when the situation truly required. Perhaps the teachers were wrong, perhaps he did have gifts. Maybe actual life/death situations brought out his creativity. He felt alive, invigorated in a way that he had never felt at the Jedi Temple.

They ran down another crimson-painted corridor, this one housing the circular set of doors that was Airlock Aurek.

Riko stepped over to the portal's control panel, quickly activating comms.

"Okay," Riko spoke into the comm, "Bao, we're at the airlock. The droids are securing the ship. We're ready to leave." Instead of Bao's voice, Riko heard a Wookiee growl and roar in Shyriiwook.

For a moment, he felt confused. Then it hit him. He realized that in his haste, he forgot to check the comm's frequency. He had just informed the starfighter squadron that the ship was commandeered.

"What happened?" Jade asked.

Riko didn't know what to say, he felt like an idiot. An idiot who would get them all killed.

"Contact the bridge," Jade ordered the droids, "Tell them to raise shields! Hurry!" She was too late.

"Oh, scrap," Riko cursed as the fighters opened fire.

Chapter Eleven

Intrika Outer hull

What had gone wrong? This was the question Bao was asking himself as he pulled Niner up the Intrika's hull toward airlock A. Evidently Riko and Jade had managed to activate the deflector shields, but the starfighters were pummeling the freighter and it already had suffered a hull breach in the aft section.

Niner sent another message to Bao's helmet display, On our right! A blast bolt! Bao knew what he meant. In a few seconds, he managed to walk to his left, though he still felt the blast impact. Turning around, he looked at the damage. Sure enough, a blaster bolt from a passing fighter blew a boulder-sized hole in the hull. Bao could see the air venting through it. An idea struck the Trandoshan once he saw the remains of one of his droids flying through the hole.

Reaching out with the Force, he grabbed the blast door, refusing to let it seal the breach; it couldn't close, not yet.

Do you has an idea?

Bao finished listing his instructions.

This insane!

Bao ignored his comment, then, moving as close as he could to the hull, he threw Niner inside.

There is a fifty-seven percent odd that I will be sucked back out!

Using the Force to ensure that Niner landed on the correct side of the breach, Bao released the blast door, allowing it to close. Niner was sealed on the same side of the ship as Riko and Jade were presumably. With luck, he would be able to reach the two.

With Niner in a safer position then he was in previously, Bao turned to executing his new plan.

Intrika Interior

Jade didn't know what to expect as she and Riko and their droids went to the escape pods. They presumed the commander and the third crewmember would end up there. But it might also be a means of escape if the freighter suffered too much damage. Riko had explained what happened, and now she was angry with him. She didn't completely blame him, the cockpit fight had left them both attempting to act so quickly Jade sometimes acted without thinking. But Riko's mistake could get them killed. If that happened, Jade hoped it would be quick, killed by a blast rather than being sucked into space, which was a very horrifying way to die. Not that she wanted to do so at all, of course.
They reached the pods. But they were too late. A blast door sealed the section off, meaning it was exposed to vacuum. But a familiar droid lay on the floor next to it, his plating cooling from his time in EV.

"Niner!" Riko went down to his knees and attempted to pull the droid up. Jade kneeled down and assisted him. Niner's metal plating was as cold as an ice cube, but Jade ignored the painful cold of her hands until they brought him rightside up. One of his chest panels opened up, revealing their lightsabers.

Jade reached out with the Force and her weapons flew into her hands. Like Niner, they also felt cold after their exposure to vacuum , almost painfully numbing her fingers. Jade affixed them both to her belt, before rubbing her palms together. Her sabers felt like icicles against her thighs.

"Where's Bao?" Jade asked.

"He is still in vacuum. He is maybe crazy."

"He's still out there?" Riko asked, "Why?"
"He is going to attempt to take a starfighter. His plans have below fifty-percent chance of success."

"Okay, I hope he's alright," Jade commented, ignoring Niner's sanity comments.

"Let's get to the bridge," Jade suggested, "Maybe we can try maneuvering out of the system so we can jump to hyperspace."
"Probably not a good idea," Riko countered, "Our shields are low, and we have a big hull breach. Let's try the shuttle. It's still docked."
"Good plan," Jade agreed.

"There is a ninety-percent chance that the bridge is exposed to space. I agree with Riko's plan."

Intrika Outer Hull

Bao waited for the first starfighter to come close. He was confident he could hold it in place long enough with telekinesis to land on it. From there, he would simply examine the controls and use the Force to press the appropriate buttons to open the canopy, or he could slice it open with his lightsaber. Then he would knock the pilot out and fly the fighter himself. He had been given training on how to fly a starfighter. This would take attention away from the freighter.

Finally, a T-92a Broadsword-class T-Wing Fighter flew by, angling her bow towards the freighter's hull, the cannons on its rotating wings attempting to blast Bao.

A descendant of the iconic T-65 X-Wing, T-92s resembled their Imperial-era ancestors conseribly, sharing the narrow, elongated snubfighter profile and astromech socket. However, instead of the S-foils that gave the wings their famous X-shape, T-Wings had a rotating module affixed to the aft section. The engines, while now numbering two instead of four, were shielded by the module's armor, the exhaust visible from the vessel's rear. Two sturdy, stubby, triangular wings protruded from the sides of the module, located exactly 180 degrees apart. While grounded, the wings were parallel to the ground. In flight, the wings usually rotated ninety degrees. Each wing sported a laser cannon powerful enough to vaporize a being like Bao in one hit.

Bao deactivated his magnets and pushed himself toward the fighter. Bao successfully grabbed the astromech that served as the fighter's navigator. Magnetizing his feet, he stepped forward and crouched down so the blaster cannons behind him on the wings wouldn't hit him. From this angle, he could see through the canopy. The pilot was humanoid, but his body and his head respectively were covered by a flightsuit and a helmet with an air recycler in case he ejected.

Bao activated his lightsaber. The curved hilt altered the angle of his weapon subtly, increasing the difficulty of some movements while making many others much more efficient. He sliced a hole in the canopy big enough for his arm to fit through.

He moved his blade to the pilot's safety harness before the pilot could react, and he sliced the buckle in two. He finished by telekinetically pressing the eject button, opening the canopy and blowing away the pilot.

Moving into the cockpit himself and magnetizing his feet, Bao took to the controls and closed the canopy. He was glad he was flying this fighter. T-92a T-Wings had been built by Incom, one of the Galactic Alliance's best starship design companies. Incom used the same basic controls for all their starfighters, and they also produced the much more advanced T-93 Rapier-class fighters flown by the Jedi Order. Bao had successfully flown one of those on a dozen occasions. Considering the advanced subtleties of the T-93's design, flying a T-92a would be child's play.

Intrika Interior

It was difficult, making their way around the vessel when laser blasts tore their way through the vessel's hull, opening up breaches at unexpected turns. Riko, Jade, Niner, and the droids had run into five sets of blast doors, and it was difficult to reach Airlock Besh.

They had just reached Airlock Besh when Riko heard an explosion behind him. His back grew painfully warm for a moment, then numbingly cold. Assuming he had caught on fire for a second, he quickly grabbed onto Niner's arm as the droid activated his jet and moved his body into a horizontal position. Riko knew that it would only delay their plunge into the vacuum. Jade, who was ahead of him, managed to grab onto the airlock control panel, with her body floating vertically amongst the escaping air.

The combat droids weren't so lucky. Closer to the explosion than Riko, Jade, and Niner, they were likely caught in the blast. If they survived the explosion, they were likely out in the void of space. Sure enough, when Riko looked over his shoulder, his eyesight growing dim as the moisture was sucked out, he could see the faint specks of silver that might have been them droids.
He accidentally exhaled. The air shot out of his lungs and he started coughing.

Well, Riko thought, Killed by haste. Bao wouldn't have been happy.

Riko! Jade's voice echoed in his head. She knew it would be useless to try to speak to him over the escaping oxygen. Riko could barely hear, well, anything.

The airlock! An image entered Riko's mind. Jade had managed to move herself inside the shuttle's exterior airlock doors. While her legs were wrapped around the half-closed door of the interior airlock, with her right hand holding on to an unseen component inside the airlock, her left arm was outstretched, pointing in Riko's direction. Riko felt surprised for a moment, then he felt himself being pulled up and being moved toward the airlock.

Niner! Riko thought, worried.

Don't worry, Jade assured him, I got him.

Riko couldn't even see his surroundings anymore. And yet he could. It appeared different, though. Riko could see he was inside the airlock, it didn't appear different. It was Jade. She seemed to glow with a powerful aura of energy. Rikorecalled a lesson he learned at the academy; A Jedi does not need his eyes to see.

He was amazed. He hadn't done anything this spectacular yet, much less instinctively.

The door closed. Riko fell to the floor. He was just glad he was safe from the vacuum. He attempted to stand and found himself unable to move off the ground. His entire body was either freezing cold or numb. He kept shivering.

As he tried moving, he heard Niner's unmistakable voice.

"Thanks you Jade."

Riko felt relief at that noise, only to realize how dizzy he felt.

It was only then that he noticed that he still held his breath after exposure to vacuum.

He tried to inhale. A burning sensation erupted in his chest, and he coughed repeatedly. Each exhalation sent more spikes of pain through his body.

Oh no. The shuttle didn't have a medical droid. Riko could die from his injuries.

"Hang on a sec, you're injured."

"There is a sixty-percent chance of those wounds killing you."

Shuttle 1140 Cockpit

Jade quickly moved Riko into the cockpit. After quickly activating the shields, she checked his wounds.

His burns weren't too serious, but Jade was sure they would be painful once Riko stopped shivering and heat set in. The real problem was his lungs; they were likely damaged from an accidental exhalation. That injury could kill him.

They wouldn't have to worry about the shuttle suffering significant damage, yet. The droid piloting it had ensured the shields were still active before they departed.

Jade closed her eyes, and examined the injury, focusing on it. It had been two years since she discovered this unique ability, but she hadn't forgotten. It was one of the first things she consulted her father about following the mission.

Jade had just finished explaining what had happened to her father. They were still aboard the Keeper of the Peace, en route to the Jedi Temple on Atarashi'ie.
"Many Jedi have innate abilities in the Force. Your new friend Riko has his ability with mechanics. I think that you have found one of yours. But you're not the only Jedi I have heard of who could use this," Tau commented, "My father could use the Force in a similar manner. He called it 'Dark Transfer.' It's possible you have Grandfather Cade's gift."

"Not really," Jade said, "It only works for the worst of the injuries."

Tau maintained his smile, "You're a very empathetic person, Jade. I believe that this is an extension of that."

Jade completed her examination. She began to channel the Force, drawing on her fear for Riko's life, energy pouring into Riko's damaged lungs. After some examination, she could tell that this was Dark Transfer.

The damage undid itself. Jade finished, the effort wearing her out.

Riko ceased to cough.

"Breathe deeply, Riko," Jade instructed.

She heard Riko follow her instructions. He sounded normal.

"Any pain?" Jade asked, intending for him to answer verbally.

"No."

Jade opened her eyes in relief.
She hadn't addressed his burn wound, but she didn't need the Force to heal that injury. The shuttle did have medical supplies that would address superficial injuries.

Quickly running to one crate, she found a medical kit. It contained bacta bandages, a spray hypo with a fluid designed to knock Riko's healing systems into overdrive, and a laser scalpel. Jade quickly took the bacta bandage and placed it on Riko's back. Following this, she injected the contents of the hypo into his arm. Riko gasped for a second, but then he sighed in relief. He sat up on the medical bed.

"Thanks, Jade."

"No problem," Jade replied as she reached in the bag and found two moist cloths, handing one to Riko. She took the other and placed it over her eyes, feeling relief as moisture seeped into her eyeballs. It was just a precaution in case she had kept her eyes open for too long.

"I can't think of an explanation for what happened," Niner added, "And so, I will file what you did under the 'Force' category in my memory."
"You file your memories?" Jade asked, before realizing how Niner would respond.

"Yes, it makes it easier to recall things when code words turn on each memory. That way, the most important information…"

Riko stood up, "Come on, let's see what we can do."

Thanks, Jade thought.

Commandeered T-92 Broadsword-class T-Wing Fighter

Bao's could still sense Riko and Jade aboard the shuttle, but the Intraka was reduced to scrap, very little of the vessel stayed attached to its frame. He felt frustrated at the failure of his plan, and knew that they might have to withdraw.

His sensors detected that there were still fighters scanning the wreckage. The remaining T-Wings were gone, leaving only an arguably deadlier predator: TIE/X1s.

Modeled after the infamous TIE fighter used by the Old Empire, and crossed with the similarly famous X-Wing starfighter, the TIE/x1, or "TieX," as it was commonly referred to, was comprised of the standard ball cockpit and twin blaster of the TIE series, and the S-foils most commonly found on the X-Wing, the wings mixed with the Santhe-designed solar panels used on TIE models. To increase its manuverability, it was equipped with a series of venting jets that allowed it to rapidly changed its direction, rather than relying on the natural maneuverability of a snubfighter's shape.

Incom had filed for copyright on the overlaps between their iconic designs, but they relented when Sienar Fleet Systems, the corporation that produced the TIE series, offered to share the rights on the current and more advanced variants, the TIE/X2 and X3.

The TieXs began to converge on a specific point in the field. The T-Wing's sensors detected movement in that area.

Gritting his teeth, Bao powered up his T-92a around and moved to intercept them.

Shuttle 1140 Cockpit

Riko's jaw dropped when he saw what lay outside the viewport. The freighter was gone, reduced to a pile of twisted hunks of metal. Their ship was just floating around, only its shields kept it from being torn apart. In the wreckage, he thought he could see a handful of escape pods, intact.

Looks like the commander and other crewmen survived, Riko thought. He didn't mind that. But his and Jade's chances of escaping the battle alive looked grim.

"Well," Riko said pessimistically, "I never thought it would end like this."
"It won't end like this," Riko turned around. Jade stood in the doorway, a disapproving expression on her face.

"There is a seventy-three percent probability that we perish," Niner countered.

Riko could see several holes in Jade's reasoning, but all he could think to say was, "We don't have a pilot."
Jade walked over to the controls and sat down, "Yes we do."
Riko felt confused, then he felt shocked, "You can fly a starship?"
"Not really," Jade replied, still confident, "But I am a fast learner, my family's full of ace pilots, and I have you to tell me where everything goes."

---

Jade let her message sink in. Her father had actually given her some initial lessons, and she had spent a few sessions in a flight simulator...managing to avoid crashing the final time. The Force didn't really enhance one's senses when that person was in a simulator.

Riko finally responded after a few seconds, "Well, it's our only chance. I'll take it." Riko sat down in the co-pilot/gunner's seat.
"Okay," Jade started, pointing to a movable handle right in front of her on the control panel, "That's the control yoke."

"Yep," Riko confirmed.

"Acceleration," Jade gestured to the throttle on her left.

"Yes."

"Inertial dampeners." A knob on Jade's right, currently set to 100 percent. Jade knew that often in dangerous situations the pilot dialed it down to 95 percent to give themselves a better feel for the ship they were piloting.

Riko pointed to a digital keyboard next to the inertial dampener, "Hyperdrive interface, that's the copilot's job, though."

Finally, he pointed to a holoprojector, "Comm system. I'll be happy to handle it though."

"Okay," Jade asked, growing impatient, "Is that enough to allow me to pilot until we find Bao?"

"Basically," Riko replied nervously.
Jade activated the engines, dialed the inertial dampeners to 95 percent, and grabbed the yoke. She felt the ship shudder as she slowly maneuvered out of the cluster of debris that made up what was left of the hangar.

"Left and up!" Riko yelled. Jade complied, feeling a slight bump as the ship clearly hit debris. They continued like this for another few seconds as they slowly steered out of the debris. Slowly, the field dissipated.

"We're coming out!" Riko yelled, "Be ready to accelerate before they see us!"

Jade was focused now. She held the vessel in her hand, and steered past the last large piece, which was probably whatever was left of their bridge.

"Now!" Riko yelled.

Jade accelerated the vessel to maximum sunlight, and they were flying.

Jade was, at first, nervous, but the feeling faded as she flew into open space. Jade felt the vessel's impact as it bumped against wreckage, but it didn't faze her. Even sparring with a lightsaber didn't feel as powerful. Jade couldn't help but grin: the motion of the craft, the feel of the grip in her hand, it all felt wonderful.

As they steered away, the fighters closed on the shuttle.

Jade was nervous, but she was still willing to take the risk.

"Come get us," she challenged under her breath.

Commandeered T-92 Broadsword-class T-Wing Fighter

Bao knew someone was flying the shuttle. Most of the fighters were chasing it, but three had gone after him. It was a trio of T-wings, like his own. Thus, his fighter shared their weaknesses and strengths.

Bao had ejected the astromech since it was not being helpful to him. He would not use this vessel for hyperspace anyway. While he wished he could rely on the droid as an additional tool, Bao did have something the other pilots didn't. The Force.

The T-Wings opened fire. Bao moved to the left, avoiding some blasts, taking the others on his right shields. Bao knew his flight pattern was reckless, but he had no intention of preserving this fighter. It had already suffered damage, but it was still capable of flying.

The fighters undertook evasive maneuvers. A plan began to form in Bao's head. A reckless one, but a plan all the same. Jade and Riko were likely trying to find him.

He'd come to them.

Chapter Twelve

Shuttle 1140 Cockpit

Riko didn't feel like the best person to judge Jade's flying skills, or anyone's for that matter. But he was impressed with Jade's improvisation. She was attempting to evade the fighters and lose them through the shuttle's maneuverability. She frequently turned on the Y-axis, moving up and down.
Jade wasn't failing, but she was far from succeeding.

"Aaaaghh!" Niner yelled. With the inertial dampeners dialed down, he kept rolling around the vessel, unable to find an even footing. Or wheeling, perhaps, since Niner didn't have feet.

"We'll be fine, Niner!" Riko replied, "We just need to find Bao!"

Jade didn't speak at all, simply focusing on piloting the vessel.

"Your ability," Jade finally spoke. Riko was already suspecting what would come next when Jade asked, "You think you can disable the fighters?"
"I've never tried it on something like a moving starfighter," Riko confessed.

"I think you can do it," Jade encouraged.

"What if the pilot died?" Riko asked, "The fighters will keep moving. They could hit one of the pilots."
"Leave the the e-eject systems intact. Or just disa-able the weapons," Jade suggested as the blasterfire rocked the shields. Riko felt relief.

"Fifty-five percent chance they will crash into us if he tries that."

"Okay," Riko could tell he sounded nervous. He certainly felt that way.

He closed his eyes. Extending his awareness, he tried to shift his perception outside of the vessel. As usual, the Force felt clouded.

There is no emotion, there is peace… Riko mentally repeated the Jedi code, hoping he would be able to pierce the fog and reach out.

Suddenly, Riko felt the ship shake with enough force to knock him out of his seat and hit the ground.

Riko yelped as he did so, but he felt okay. But his arm still felt the remaining effects of the impact, and the bacta bandage had been pressed deeper into his burn wound when he hit the floor.

"You okay?" Niner asked.

"I'm ok," Riko responded, trying to move back on his feet. As he got up, Riko noticed an alarm coming from the vessel's master systems display.

Commandeered T-92 Broadsword-class T-Wing Fighter

Bao was ready to eject. He had shot down the other T-Wings, and he was pursuing the remaining two fighters.

One of the engines had been hit, and the shuttle was venting hyperdrive coolant. It wouldn't last long in hyperspace before the hyperdive overheated. They would have to stay and fix it somehow.

A triangular dot appeared on Bao's display screen. The transport had arrived. Scanning it, Bao recognized the image of a Turbulent class Star Destroyer.

Bao was now sure of one thing when it came to the damaged hyperdrive: it was better than being captured with a small chance of escape.

Bao circled around, intending to fly right past the shuttle and catch the two TieXs.

His targeting screen flashed, the three ships almost in range.

He zipped right past the shuttle and opened fire with both cannons, rotating his wings so that enough blasts would catch each fighter.
Both TIEs were reduced to wreckage.

Bao changed the comm frequency and hailed the shuttle.

"Riko, Jade, it's me. I'm going to match my fighter's trajectory to yours, then EVA to your airlock. Understood?"

"Understood!" Riko responded over comms.

After the shuttle slowed down, Bao set the ship to autopilot and opened the canopy. Keeping his feet magnetized, he walked on the starfighter's bow.

Soon, he was close enough to jump. He leaped across the void and grabbed onto the hull's exterior railing.

Bao felt his way for the switch that would activate the exterior airlock panel. That panel would activate the exterior airlock doors.
his manus closed on the switch. He pulled it.

A section of the hull retracted, showing the controls. Bao quickly pressed in the code sequence required to open the doors, then he saw a rush of escaping door as the exterior airlock doors opened. The interior doors didn't open, of course. But Bao was able to enter the shuttle. He quickly sealed the outer doors and waited as the chamber was repressurized.

The inner doors opened, Bao removing his helmet. He ran straight to the cockpit.

"You ok, Master?" Riko asked.

"Hurry!" Bao shouted, passing Riko and walking to the seat next to Jade.

"You flew the shuttle?" Bao asked as he sat down.

"Yes," Jade answered proudly.

"We have to abort," Riko advised.

"Something terrible will happen at the Temple soon, the only way to prevent it is to get that intel," Bao responded.

"The drive unit's leaking coolant," Riko retorted, "We can't reach Taris. The closest friendly system is even further away."
"Any inhabited systems between us and Taris?" Jade asked.

"Yes," Bao agreed.

"Can we reach them?" Jade asked.

"Maybe," Riko answered, checking the display.

"And if we don't?"
"We could still reattempt the Myrkr capture if we are found by Consortium forces," Bao suggested.

"Or travel on sublight speed if we are close enough to a nearby system," Jade added, "It would be a long voyage, but we could sell the parts and buy a new ship. That's probably the best option now."

"We could be found by civilians," Niner added.

"We can't," Riko insisted, shaking his head.

"It's either this or being captured by that Star Destroyer." Jade pointed to the triangular-shaped warship that was now visible on the viewport.

Bao reconsidered for a few seconds. He then realized that the more time they spent debating, the more coolant vented.

"Punch it," Bao ordered, earning a smile from Jade as the vessel entered hyperspace, sensing only fear from Riko.

Chapter Thirteen

Shuttle 71A3, En route to Taris

Thalia was always comfortable with Hyperspace travel. It was certainly a beautiful view inside a Hyperspace tunnel. It vaguely reminded her of the blade of a lightsaber. It was as if beyond the surface of the cutting energy blade lay a massive tunnel.

Thalia reflected on this as she stood in the small crew quarters.

Thalia felt a presence in the Force, interrupting her "hyperspace-gazing," for lack of a better term. It was familiar. Thalia recognized it immediately. And she knew it was close by.

She ran over to the cockpit.

Thalia sensed Harkaq was confused, "We haven't reached Taris yet."
"What we are looking for is near, Harkaq," Thalia insisted.

Ryn and Tromayn entered the cockpit, "We heard you shouting, Empress," Ryn said, "Is anything wrong?"
"Do it now, Harkaq!" Thalia ignored Ryn. Thalia was feeling anxious. She needed them to revert to realspace.

Harkaq considered for a few seconds. Thalia could sense his loyalty to her conflicting with a lack of a detailed reason for undertaking the order. He rarely acted without knowing all he could about a situation.

His loyalty won out. He reverted the shuttle to realspace.

They were located in the De Trama system, located along the Hydian Way, several parsecs from Taris.

"Scan for other ships, anything!" Thalia urged Harkaq.

For a minute, she held her breath in anticipation. She was rewarded when Harkaq responded with, "Sensors are picking up a shuttle forty-five minutes away at sublight."

Thalia didn't need to tell him to intercept, he quickly started the shuttle towards said coordinates.

I'm coming Jade.

Shuttle 1140, unknown location along the Hydian Way

A warning erupted from the console. Even after surrendering the pilot's seat to Bao, Jade still heard it from the cargo hold. Quickly running over, she saw Bao, Riko, and Niner in the cockpit.

"We've run out of coolant," Jade guessed as Riko and Bao noticed her enter.

Riko swiveled his seat around and nodded. Bao quickly pressed a few controls and then deactivated the hyperdrive.

The ship didn't revert. Instead an alarm sounded on the console, saying, Insufficient proximity from gravity well.

Bao checked the navicomputer, "We're passing near a star, we can't emerge from hyperspace this close, we might crash into…"
The coolant alarm continued, saying, Warning, hyperdrive critical!

"We have to pull out now!" Riko opened the console, looking for what Jade guessed was a manual hyperdrive deactivation. She didn't know what happened to a ship when a hyperdrive burned out in hyperspace, but this wasn't how she wanted to make the history books.

"Got it, hold onto something!" Riko pulled the release. Jade grabbed one of the chairs.

Unlike most hyperspace-capable voyages Jade had been on, this one was not smooth. Even with the inertial dampeners raised at maximum, she still lost her footing and hit the ground, landing on her stomach. She was almost blinded as light from a nearby star filled almost half the viewport, quickly closing her eyes. The oppressive light faded as someone, probably Riko or Bao, maneuvered the ship away from the star. Despite this, Jade still saw dozens of spots in her vision, her eyes ached. She would probably need her retinas examined later.

Riko looked at the display screen and groaned.

"What's wrong?" Jade asked as she pulled herself up, already worried.

Riko turned around, "The hyperdrive burned out," he reported, "It's useless."

Bao's expression appeared even more grim after he checked their coordinates, "We're at least two parsecs from the nearest inhabited system."

"We can't rely on impulse," Jade stated. The shuttle only had enough supplies for a few weeks. It would take far longer to reach the nearest system at sublight.

"We still have power," Riko suggested, "Maybe we can activate the rescue beacon. A ship may come by."

"That's also our best chance of being found by Consortium ships," Jade countered.

"There is a seventy-seven percent chance that Consortium warships have decided our basic location already and searching for we," Niner added.

Jade did think about it for a few seconds. Considering their circumstances, perhaps being found by the enemy wouldn't be the worst option.

"But it can't be worse than starving to death," Jade admitted, "Right?"

Shuttle 71A3, En route to Taris

"Hail them," Thalia ordered.

"I can't, it looks like their comms are down," Harkaq reported.

Thalia looked anxiously out the viewport. Eventually, she saw it. A damaged shuttle.

Thalia reached out, searching for her daughter's presence. She felt a lump of joy as she felt her daughter's presence aboard. Jade was on that shuttle. Happily, Thalia reached out to her, letting her know that she was on the other ship.

Shuttle 1140 Cargo Bay

Riko was buried under a layer of wires and circuits. He attempted to divert extra power to the rescue beacon by rearranging circuits from the hyperdrive. The ship's transmitter was fried, but the rescue beacon should alert any ships that came near this system that they were in danger.
He dropped a piece of wiring, which landed and sank into the pile.

"I got it," Jade crouched down and extended her hand. The wire panel flew into her hand. She handed it to Riko.

"Thanks," He said as he grabbed it, grateful for Jade's help.

"It's no problem…" Jade's voice trailed off. Riko could sense her emotions were a mixture of surprise and attentiveness, as if she were listening to an unexpected message.

"Riko! Jade!" Bao's voice came from the cockpit, "There's a shuttle approaching."

Riko stood up, brushing some wires and circuit panels off his shirt.
"Wait!" Riko stopped as Jade shouted, "It's not hostile!"

"How do you…" Riko asked.

"I'll explain later." Jade ran to the cockpit. Riko followed suit. He could just make out the outline of a shuttle with massive wings.

"Let them board. They're friendly," Jade said. Riko was confused. He was sure Bao felt the same way. Who was aboard that shuttle?
"We can't hail them," Bao said.

"Just tell me what to say," Jade instructed, "Trust me, I can do this."

"Alright, tell them to dock."

The shuttle flew past the viewport.

"I'll keep us steady until the airlock is pressurized," Bao said.

"Another file for the 'Force' category," Niner blurted.

"What?" Bao asked the droid.

"Long story," Riko explained. He then turned his attention to Jade, who started running towards the airlock

"Wait!" Riko followed Jade. They reached the door. Jade was already activating the exterior airlock as the small, sleeker Xi finished aligning with the larger cargo shuttle.

"Are you sure about this?" Riko asked. Now he was feeling a little worried. He had never seen Jade this excited before.

It must have been something personal in Jade's life that she hadn't told him.

Jade opened the interior airlock door, and a woman stepped through. She was human, appearing to be in her mid-forties. Her hair, brown albeit with a white streak, reached her back and was tied back into a single thick braid, leaving her face cleared. Worry lines were deeply etched around her eyes, which were brown.

She carried herself like an aristocrat, though without a trace of arrogance. And Riko recognized her. This woman was Thalia Fel, the triumvir of the Empire.

Riko had never met her personally, but he had seen her image once or twice.

Jade stood in front of Thalia. She was not much taller than Jade, or Riko, for that matter, since they were of similar height. Jade's head was eye level with her neck.

Then the two hugged each other, and the realization entered Riko's brain. Now he knew why Jade knew who was on board that shuttle. He felt a hint of surprise, then curiosity as to how this was the case. He decided to find out as soon as he could.

Riko heard Jade whisper one word that confirmed his realization, "Mom."

Chapter Fourteen

"How's Lulu?" Jade whispered, her arms still wrapped around Thalia's back, her eyes still closed and tearing.

Thalia laughed as she held her daughter, "She misses you."

Mother and daughter were finally reunited. Her family was together. Jade felt happy, whole.

"Greetings, Empress Fel," Reality came crashing down with Bao's voice. Releasing herself from Thalia's hug, Jade turned around.

"What are you doing here?" the Trandoshan asked.

A little annoyed, Jade walked toward Bao.

"Master Bao," Jade started, "Empress Fel is…" she struggled at producing the words.

"Jade's mother," Riko finished.

Bao's lips curled upward, revealing more of his teeth, "I always wondered who Tau had seen. He never told me."

Thalia finally spoke, "The secret is out, then." She was the one who had spoken to them over the comms.

"I won't tell a soul," Bao promised.

"I personally is terrible at keeping secrets," Niner added.

"Is terrible?" Thalia asked.

"A problem with the droidspeak-to-Basic program," Riko explained, "Not very good with grammar."

Thalia smiled, "Alright."

The conversation turned to the mission. Throughout the talks, Jade remained silent. Now she wanted to have a talk with Riko.

I can finish my own sentences, Jade projected.

Hey, Riko replied innocently, You were clearly having trouble saying it.

Jade almost rolled her eyes.

"So you are undertaking a mission to discover a traitor within the Jedi Order," Thalia said, "I have a feeling you might need some help."

Bao grinned, "I suppose that we could."

Xi-Class Shuttle 71A3, En route to Taris

Riko found the shuttle to be cramped.

Even after leaving the crew quarters that were meant to house four passengers on a ship currently carrying seven, he still felt slightly claustrophobic.

The cockpit was simultaneously pushed to its capacity limits. All three seats were occupied. While the Cerean Knight, Harkaq Oqerio, sat as the pilot, Thalia and Bao were conversing.

"So they knew you would come. This means that the traitor overheard your plan," Thalia was saying.
"We don't know for sure, but it's looking increasingly likely the collaborator was in the room with us. It could have been Tau or K'Kruhk," Bao clarified.

Thalia added, "I noticed Tau was hiding something last we spoke, he might be our agent."

"Regardless of who the agent is, who knows how long the partnership has lasted?" Thalia responded, "I remember Tau began preaching in the same year the Consortium was founded. I remember the day Tau first introduced the ideas behind it to me, almost fifteen years ago."

"Maybe Asharr's had an agent from the beginning."

Thalia shook her head, "Imperial Intelligence has been studying Asharr for years. It can't hide everything."

"It, Thalia?"

"We don't know what lies behind that mask," Harkaq explained.
"Slow down," Riko requested, trying to piece everything together, "we know that Asharr's always hid beneath a voice-disguising mask."
"History is full of individuals who hide behind masks, my own family included," Thalia explained. She retrieved a holoprojector from her person and activated it. Two images emerged, both wearing the distinct robes and mask of Asharr.

"Look at Asharr's wardrobe; first, robes, now armor. Thirteen years ago, its height changed, it is now five inches shorter than it was when the Consortium was founded. Its gait, body language...these all changed around that time. Clearly, 'Asharr' is more than one individual."

"What else do we know?" Riko asked.

"Nothing," Thalia admitted, "We can only speculate."

"Okay," Riko responded.

"So we know Asharr's kidnapping Jedi," Bao asked, "Why?"

"I'm surprised, Bao," Thalia responded, "I thought that to you, it would be obvious why someone would take an interest in corrupting Jedi to their side."

Bao didn't answer. Eventually, he said, "No. The Sith were defeated generations ago."

"If the Jedi have ever made a catastrophic mistake, Bao, it is assuming that the Sith had been defeated permanently."

"Wait!" Riko added, "You're saying Asharr might be a Sith?"

"We're just speculating."

"That doesn't make any sense," Jade chimed in, "Why would a Jedi help a Sith?"

"I don't know. Maybe our agent on the council doesn't know who he's dealing with."

"Well, whomever it is, Asharr clearly needs Jedi for something," Bao determined, "Recruits or henchmen or disciples..."

"That would explain the disappearances," Harkaq agreed, "Maybe Asharr and her agent are putting together a new order…"
"And are using them to scapegoat the Jedi Order, make us look untrustworthy," Riko added, finding their conversation easier to follow when he participated in it.

"Maybe. I don't fully understand what Asharr's trying to do, maybe she's trying to make the Order look divided, as if we can't keep our loyalties straight," Bao speculated, "Some are fighting against her, others are working with her…"

"Why would a Sith work with a Jedi?" Jade's voice was riddled with impatience and anger, though it was directed at nobody in particular. Riko could guess why Jade felt this way.

"Padawans," Bao ordered, "Please leave."

---

To her chagrin, Riko started talking almost immediately as he and Jade sat down on the bunk, "Good news, don't you think?"
Jade said nothing. Riko likely noticed, but then he took the wrong approach, assuming Jade's silence was due to Ryn's presence in the room.

We don't know who the spies are yet, Riko projected. Jade just felt irritated.

Not really in a talking mood, Jade replied.

Jade...

Jade's emotional dam broke.

"I don't want to talk right now!" she shouted.
Jade didn't bother to see how everyone reacted to her outburst. She simply lay down on the bed and turned over to lie down on her stomach, burying her face in her arms.

The fabric of her tunic felt moderately soft on her face. She didn't cry, she just lay there, overwhelmed. Emotions flooded her consciousness, anger and rage at the forefront.

Jade felt an arm on her shoulder.
"Sorry, Jade," Riko said, attempting to comfort her.
I need some space, Jade projected. All she wanted was to be alone right now.

Jade turned back towards Riko.

Please go.

Riko reluctantly waked out of the cabin. Everyone did. The cockpit would probably be stuffed.

Right now, Jade didn't care.

Interrogation Room A, Consortium Star Destroyer Stronghold, weeks earlier

Harkaq Oqerio wasn't quick to fear. That came with the territory, maintaining order in a vast empire, even if said empire was the most orderly subnation in the galaxy. Dealing with fear was one of the first lessons an Imperial Knight received, long before learning to wield their weapons. Blasters, grappling hooks, comlinks, lightsabers, armor, even the Force, all were just tools to him, to all Imperial Knights, all merely used to keep the peace, or in some cases, disrupt it.

My name is Harkaq Oqerio, and the Force is my weapon…

No matter how many times he had repeated that to himself, it was harder to focus every minute.

It wasn't just the mask, or robes, or armor. It was Asharr. It...Harkaq couldn't quite think of the warlord as anything alive, at least not in the traditional sense; it felt less like a person and more like a force of nature, an entity or avatar. He couldn't identify its sex or any clues to its specific species; every inch of its body was covered up by its shadowy cloak. If Asharr wished to give off the visage of a mysterious, unfindable figure, then it had succeeded.

Its silence...its mind, its presence, its aura reminded him of a black hole; warping reality around it, pulling in all that came too close. Without saying a single word, it added attention. That made for a terrifying spectre.

Harkaq had decided it wasn't important, he had to focus. This certainly differed from previous images, which, aside from the mask and cloak, weren't anything like this warrior...or were they? Harkaq couldn't quite recall the details, or forgot whenever they came to his memory.

He only realized this because he simply had a long time to think. He hadn't been tortured in a conventional way, instead, they had simply chained him up and left him in this cell for...days? Weeks? He had lost track, which did worry him. They hadn't let him go, even to relieve himself. He hadn't been fed much, if at all, he couldn't recall, poor nutrition and a severe lack of sleep was dulling his thoughts. Now, after however long he had been here, his vision was tagged with dark spots and he could barely think clearly in the here and now. The pain in his limbs was a distant echo.

Asharr's behavior followed a pattern; it never said a word, never touched him, barely glanced in his direction. It paced, it meditated. Sometimes it just sat perfectly still, not moving a muscle, just as it was doing now.

Would he get out? He reassured himself daily that he would be rescued. Maybe his apprentice…

For one terrifying moment, he forgot Kara's name. He tried to focus himself on his past, his duty...and couldn't quite remember the name of his...monarch?

Where was Kara? Was she here as well? Did his cooperation affect how she was treated?
He didn't know, and that terrified him.

"Your fears are justified," Asharr whispered in that horribly artificial androgynous that issued from its mask.

Harkaq couldn't tell if they were lying. Panic flooded his mind, he knew that if Kara was under the same conditions, all he could do was submit, he couldn't escape.

My name is Harkaq Oqerio…I am a…

Prisoner, that was the only word he could think of. He tried to think of his duty, his path, his calling in the vain hope of invigorating himself, but it was incredibly distant.

His strength was already gone, his will to fight was slipping from him. All he could do was hurt others if he tried to flee, he was alone. That was the only thing he could do, he had to submit. He broke, letting go of hope in that moment.

It was at that moment that Asharr moved up to face Harkaq.

"I think you've had enough," Asharr decided.
Harkaq had never known anything as painful or horrifying as he did immediately after that statement.

Chapter Fifteen

Cockpit, Shuttle 71A3, Taris System

Taris was nowadays remembered as a faded city world. It had been bombarded to near-extinction during the Jedi Civil War, and following the Old Republic's attempt to resettle the damaged planet, its population had been victim to a biological virus known as the Rakghoul plague for centuries afterward. Despite all the efforts to fix the planet over the four millennia between Revan's era and the current day, Taris was largely known today as an obsolete world, since most practical hyperspace routes avoided it, and fewer of its resources were unique on a Galaxy-wide standard.

In short, Taris was not a high-profile planet. This may have been the reason Asharr had chosen it as the headquarters of the Consortium.

As he looked through the viewport, Riko felt that Taris looked sick, as if it were suffering from a disease or an illness. The planet was an unpleasant shade of dark green, with just a faint hint of blue.

Perhaps Riko's views were influenced by the fact that thousands of years earlier, following the discovery of hyperspace routes that had led to Taris' decline, in the massive loss of trade with the wider galaxy, the Taris government had resorted to using toxic power units, since said power sources were cheaper. They had poisoned their oceans and killed the last of their natural fauna.

"That's a large fleet. It does make sense, protecting a world with that much of a population," Harkaq noted as he took the pilot's seat, referring to the massive fleet protecting the planet, "But that seems more like a staging area to me."
"I can see why," Riko joined in. Unlike Corsin, Taris was protected by a large fleet.

"One Imperious Star Destroyer, one Gahan class cruiser," Bao reported, "five Mothma class frigates, fifteen four-VA interceptor corvettes, and one Pellaeon class Star Destroyer."

"Many of those ships were mothballed, they can still pack a large punch," Riko added.

"We can slip past the capital ships," Bao speculated, "It's the interceptors and fighters that will be a problem. A big problem, especially when we try to depart."

Hearing the door open, Riko turned around. Jade had just entered the cockpit.

"I overheard the talk about the fleet," Jade explained.

Riko's attention was diverted just as Jade finished. The ship's holocomm system activated.

"Attention unidentified shuttle, this is the Consortium Star Destroyer Stronghold. No vessels are to enter or exit the planet until further notice unless they have authorization from Lord Asharr personally."

Riko's heart sank. They'd have to run the blockade.

"I'm sure you Jedi don't have any tricks for this," Harkaq reasoned as he deactivated the hologram.

"He doesn't seem weak-minded," Bao agreed.

"Sensors are picking up targets," Harkaq reported, "four squadrons of TIE/X fighters have launched and are flying to intercept. Two of the corvettes are aiding them."
"Perhaps they found our abandoned cargo shuttle," Bao speculated, "Asharr knew our plan, she probably knows who we are."

We better get everyone ready to leave, Jade projected.

I'll be in the crew quarters, Riko responded.

Bao didn't know if Harkaq could maneuver the shuttle through the blockade successfully.

"May I take the pilot's seat?" Bao asked, "I have experience with maneuvering against starfighters."

Harkaq didn't take this well, "Do you doubt my ability?"
"No," Bao explained, "I started this, I should bring us down."
"All right," Harkaq said, a smile on his face, as he moved out of his seat. Bao took the piloting seat.

"Thank you, Harkaq," Bao said, taking on his task. He analyzed the scenario.

"What's our weapons complement?" Jade asked.

"Two retractable cannons and one missile launcher. We have nine shadow bombs."
"Shadow bombs?" Bao exclaimed. Shadow bombs were almost exclusively Jedi weapons. Empty shells filled with baradium, they were much harder to detect with sensors, and the extra baradium gave the bomb a higher yield range. They lacked propulsion systems, however. In this case, that might prove beneficial.

"Yes."

A plan started to form in Bao's head. But it was incredibly risky.
"I need you to plot a hyperspace jump," Bao told Harkaq, who had moved to the copilot's seat.

"Where? We're not running the blockade?"

"We are," Bao grinned, "Choose coordinates between Taris's exosphere and thermosphere."
"You're insane!" Harkaq said.
"The hyperdrive won't activate this close to the planet's gravity well anyway," Jade added, "We'd have to disable the sensors and wipe the navicomputer."

"Even then," Thalia added, "we'd still risk tearing the ship apart once we hit the gravity well."

"There'll still be those fighters to worry about," Jade responded.

"We'll fire the shadow bombs right before we jump," Bao explained.

"Attention shuttle, you have five minutes to deviate from your course. We are deploying fighters to escort you away. Please hold position."
Bao ignored the warning, "I think that Riko would be up to the task."

Shuttle 71A3, Maintenance Section

For the second time in a week, Riko was inside the inner mechanics of a starship. This time, the maintenance section was located right beneath the crew quarters. As much as he wanted to object to the plan since it seemed, for lack of a better term, crazy, he knew that it was the best chance of escaping the blockade.

The vessel's design came to Riko's mind. Each wire and plug connected into a section for a different aspect of the vessel. He analyzed each one, and then he found it.

"We've got the navi-coordinates plotted and memorized. We're prepared to wipe the computer once you're finished."

"Alright," Riko reported, "Removing this plug should disable the sensors."

"Good. Bao is ready," Jade replied through the comlink on his belt.

Riko clasped his fingers on the wire, connecting to an outlet. A starship's system could be much more simple than an untrained person knew. Remove one plug, and the entire system collapsed.

He pulled the plug.

"Sensors have been disabled," Riko reported.

Cockpit

With sensors offline and the navicomputer wiped, they were officially flying blind.

Thalia was using the Force in lieu of the sensors to man the guns, standing by to fire at the incoming squads. Harkaq was handling navigation. Jade, Riko, Kara, and Niner were in the crew quarters, bracing themselves for the jump.

Bao could see the fighters approaching, x-shaped specks against Taris' sickly visage, the escorting corvettes long and thin, with modules jutting out of the end, like an axe.

"Attention shuttle, you have ten seconds."

Bao gripped the joystick with his manus.

The TIE/Xs and T-Wings were almost upon them.

He could hear Thalia and Harkaq breathing slowly.

Ok, Riko said over the comms, the inertial dampeners are at two-hundred thirty-five percent capacity, we'll survive the jump.

And now they were ready.

"Now!" Bao ordered.

Thalia complied with his order, firing all nine shadow bombs at the nearest vessels.

As she did this, Bao activated the hyperdrive, the view of the blockade receding into a blue tunnel for a millisecond before that faded and their shuttle lay directly in the exosphere, knocking everyone around. Bao himself hit the console, stunned for a few milliseconds.

When he refocused his mind, it wasn't on an estimate of damage the enemy might have faced from their bombs, or the fact that he had touched his manus to his head and found a single drop of blood. It was on the fact that flames were creeping over the edge of the viewport.

This will be interesting, Bao thought as he reactivated the sensors.

Chapter Sixteen

Thalia was filled with the adrenaline of a life-threatening experience. Bao was doing his best to fly the starship, and he was doing a good job. But Thalia just hoped that his insane plan wouldn't kill everyone aboard the shuttle.

"Frame's stressed pretty bad!" Harkaq yelled, "The ship might come apart on its own!"

Thalia looked down at her screen. A series of red dots appeared. All showed the registries of H-25 air combat fighters.
"Fighters approaching!" Thalia yelled, activating the blaster cannons.

The vessel was already rocked with the stress of surviving its atmospheric descent, the intensity increasing with the blasterfire hitting the already strained shields.
Thalia activated the target screen and selected the rear blaster cannon. Opening herself up to the Force, she waited for each fighter to enter the target zone.

Success! One fighter had drifted into the range of her cannon. She fired.

The first airfighter disappeared from the screen, indicating it had been destroyed.

This was the part that Thalia hated. She disliked taking lives, and usually avoided doing so, deciding long ago that, as a rule, she would not kill anyone unless there was a high chance that the opponent would kill her or a friend of hers. Filtered through the events of her life, the rule basically translated to "Don't kill anyone unless they are a Mandalorian Commando or a Darksider with a lightsaber." Today, the list of approved targets included mercenary pilots.

Thalia was almost knocked out of her seat as the vessel rocked, not as if it had been hit by blasterfire, but rather as if something had fallen off or dragging.

"We've lost an engine! The wing's half-torn!" Harkaq yelled.

The city was now visible. Taris was comprised into several levels of an urban region, the Upper City, the Middle City, the Lower City, and the Undercity. All were accessible through the elevators between levels.

Suddenly the ship felt strained again, and it began to spin.

"The wing's gone! The hull's beginning to come apart!"

An idea sprang to Thalia's mind. A crazy one, undoubtedly, but no crazier than Bao's plan.

Thalia moved out of her seat and looked down.

Jade was pulling herself off the floor, a few bruises visible on her forehead.

"Jade," Thalia said, attempting to steady herself, "Get to the crew quarters and prepare Riko, Harkaq, and Kara to jump off the starship."
Bao and Jade spoke at the same time, "What?" Jade threw him a brief glance. Thalia ignored her.

"Bao, maneuver onto that landing pad," Thalia ordered, pointing to a platform jutting out from a nearby building.

"Alright," Bao started to say.

"I'll do it," Harkaq interrupted, moving out of his seat.
Thalia felt curious, "Why?"
"When Bao was flying, he caused us to crash," Harkaq reasoned, "I think this should be on me."
"Alright," Bao said with an obviously forced grin.

"Mom…" Jade said.
"We'll be okay, Jade. But you have to follow my plan if that is to be the case."
Jade moved toward Thalia and wrapped her arms around her mother's back. Thalia returned the gesture. Then Jade ran into the crew quarters.

May the Force be with all of us, Thalia thought grimly.

Crew Quarters

Riko knew that another crazy plan was in the works from the moment Jade ran into the crew quarters.

"Get the airlock open! We gotta leave!" Jade yelled. Riko groaned. He was right.

Open the airlock? Riko projected.

"We're going to jump off the ship once we hit a nearby ledge," Jade explained, "We have to hurry!"

Riko opened the door on the opposite end of the crew quarters, which led to the airlock. Kara had already gathered her lightsabers and were sprinting through the door.

"Fifty-nine percent chance we won't survive!" Niner panicked, stumbling around the damaged vessel.

"Niner, I'll make sure you go first," Riko promised.

Nice to know the droid comes first in your life, Jade projected sarcastically.

Hey, I'm just trying to calm him down, Riko replied. He noticed that the Imperial Knight ignored the comment.

Riko grabbed his lightsaber from the place it had fallen on the floor and affixed it to his belt, "I'm sorry, but, why aren't you guys offended?" He asked, curious.

"We're busy right now, I'll be sure to lecture you later," Kara said. Riko smiled for a moment.

"Almost there!" Riko heard Harkaq shout from the cockpit as Thalia and Bao entered the airlock.

"Harkaq volunteered to stay onboard until we're all off this bucket," Bao explained.
Riko didn't know what to think of Bao's blunt statement.

"Lowering the ramp now!" Harkaq responded as the rear hatch opened, the landing ramp descending right as the ship hit the pad.

Riko was knocked to the floor by the impact of the shuttle crashing on the landing pad.

The back of his head ached, and for a moment, he felt both dizzy and nauseated. The burn injuries he had sustained on the freighter felt sore. He felt the plate beneath his hand somehow fall off and his left hand would have been shredded if it wasn't suddenly frozen in the air. He was pretty sure Jade was the one who saved his appendage.

"Eighty-one percent chance we won't survive!"

Riko shook his head and cleared his dizziness. But Bao was the first to react to the landing. He Force-pushed the section of the door away, leaving the hole open.

"Now!" Jade grabbed the droid with the Force, to Riko's relief, and threw him through the hole.

"Ninety percent chance I won't…." the droid's voice was no longer audible. Bao jumped next. Jade followed just as Riko managed to stand. Thalia followed suit, landing somewhat more gracefully than the first two. Kara jumped next, with her master following.

Now it was Riko's turn.

"Come on, kid!" Riko felt Harkaq grab Riko's arm, pulling him towards the exit.

They prepared to jump, but lept right as the ship rocked from a shockwave that accompanied the sound of blasterfire and an explosion. The ship tilted just as Riko and Harkaq lept out of the vessel.

Riko slipped from Harkaq's grip and missed the platform's edge. He fell, screaming as he plunged to an inevitable death. Everything would end here, with a rush of wind and a massive burst of pain...

Then Riko stopped falling. He just hung in the air, a few dozen meters beneath the landing platform. That's when he started rising upward, toward the landing platform. As he came closer, he could see Jade at the edge of the platform, her arm outstretched. Harkaq, quickly pulling himself upward.

Riko was elevated to just a few inches above the platform, moved forward a couple of meters, and then fell onto the duracrete surface.

Jade and Kara grabbed Riko's arms and helped pull him up.

"Thanks Jade," Riko said as the human Jedi and the Twi'lek Imperial Knight released his arms.

"Don't mention it, but next time, please don't put Niner first."

"Or anyone, for that matter," Kara added.

"I'll remember," Riko promised.

"But...I needs you." That was when Riko remembered the shuttle.

Riko ran over to the edge and looked down. He couldn't see what had become of the shuttle.

"I think we better leave," Bao ordered, "We better hurry to the Undercity. I'll contact the proxy."

"Right," Kara agreed.

At this point the adrenaline was fading from Riko's bloodstream, "Let's go."

Chapter Seventeen

Upper City Walkway

Riko had never walked on a world like Taris. Even Señalar un lacked the skyscrapers he beheld wherever he looked. Atarashi'ie was sparsely populated, almost uninhabited, save for the Jedi. As a result, Riko had never seen anything close to resembling Taris. Everything seemed to blend into one giant mess of permacrete and transparisteel. He could barely piece the walkway he and his companions were walking on, or the occasional civilian that passed them. Riko supposed that they had the luck to crash in a largely unpopulated region of the city.

"This place reminds me of home," Jade stated. Riko didn't know what to think. If Taris—which at least had oceans, overwhelmed him—he wouldn't be prepared to set foot on a planet that was 100% towers and buildings.

"Never been there," Riko replied, "What's it like?"

"I don't think I'd have liked Coruscant before the Yuuzhan Vong tried to terraform it. But now…" Jade's voice trailed off. Riko could see Jade smile as she walked. Riko could tell she was recalling a pleasant memory.

After a few more moments, she spoke, "I think I like the diversity the most. So many different species. I also liked how there is still Yuuzhan Vong wildlife here and there. There was this one building near the Imperial Palace, where Mom and I lived, it had a partially biological exterior, like it was growing a weird, greenish skin. I named it 'The Cyborg Building.' "

Riko smiled. Bao and Harkaq grinned. Riko was sure he had heard Kara giggle. Thalia did smile, but Riko had a feeling it was forced. "Jade tended to ignore names when it came to buildings, lakes, or any landmark," Thalia added, "I had to keep a list to cross-reference everything."

"I not have to," Niner said, "I could add it to my memory banks."

Riko heard Bao laugh. He turned around and saw the Trandoshan sissing.

"Personally, I enjoy the cooking on Coruscant," Harkaq contributed, "So many different restaurants. So many different foods."

"I always had a taste for Acid-beet salad," Jade responded, "There's a field in the Manari craters, someone turned it into an organic farm..."

"Oh, I love acid-beets!" Riko jumped in, "My dad always added punctil."

"Punctil?" Harkaq repeated, "Try Celto, it's much better, and nutritious..."

The conversation continued, and when Riko eventually drifted after he had nothing left to contribute, he realized that right now, no one saw them as Jedi or Imperial Knights.

All of them, with the exception of Thalia, who wore a hooded cloak, were dressed as ordinary civilians. Riko had a hooded azure jacket, dark brown cargo pants, and running boots, his lightsaber concealed in a small backpack he wore, in the slot normally reserved for his water bottle. Jade's coat was tied around her waist, she wore a dark short-sleeved shirt underneath. Bao wore a flightsuit, Harkaq a vest, and Kara…

Riko knew he shouldn't judge people by stereotypes, but Twi'lek women had a reputation for wearing tight, revealing, provocative outfits. Kara had the modesty of an Adherent Jedi Master.

To any bystanders, they were all just ordinary people, just talking. And for one moment, they had been just that.

Elevator

"It's kind of symbolic," Kara observed, "the way the light fades as we descend."

Jade turned her head towards the Twi-lek, "You know half the people in here are Omnists, right?"

Kara turned her head towards Jade's, "Forgive me. I was just making an observation."

Jade knew from her upbringing that Imperial Knights shared views closer to the Adherents, even if they viewed the Force as a tool, they only used one half of it.

"Still," Kara added, "The more you focus on your anger, your rage, the easier it is to fall or break."

"Both light and dark offer different abilities," Jade responded.

"Some of which we shouldn't need," Kara retorted.

"I guess it is a slippery slope," Riko joined in, "Anger can be overwhelming."

Jade couldn't help but reflect on Riko's growth. He was no longer the wide-eyed innocent she had met on Orîlla, that was clear.

To tell the truth, Jade had noticed long ago that he was guarded emotionally. She suspected he tried to avoid his pain, even if he wasn't completely sure he was doing it. She had learned that he always had trouble connecting with other people, that was the reason he had built Niner. Losing one of the few people he truly connected with...

Jade understood the pain of losing contact with a parent, but she had her father to help her through it. While he had become Jade's closest friend, the two had just met when Kali'sto vanished.

She hoped that Riko might finally try to confront it. He was starting to open up, this mission was bringing out a lot in him that she hadn't seen before; initiative, excitement, and a drive...a drive to try, one that Riko had started to lack.

"Here we are," Harkaq announced.

Lower City Streets

Unlike the sleek towers of the Upper City, the Undercity was much rougher, with less grace. It was darker, since the skyscrapers of Upper and Middle City and the decaying structures of the Lower City obscured the sun.
There was no sunlight, no nature: everything was artificial. Jade wondered if this was the same way some people thought of Coruscant prior to the Yuuzhan Vong War; almost completely artificial.
Jade moved closer to Riko as the group walked. She understood that Taris was occupied by some mercenaries and gangs. Asharr had built the backbone of their forces on mercenary units, even after they created their own paramilitary force and augmented it with droids. All the more reason to stay close to a friend.

"I'd keep an eye out for bounty hunters," Bao suggested, "Chances are that Asharr's forces are looking for us."

"Alright," Riko said.

Jade calmed herself in response and began using the Force to more closely examine her surroundings. She could feel the bright presence of the team, but that wasn't all she felt. Since this was a city, Jade was sure to feel other presences; she had no doubt that there were some following them.

Bounty Hunters! Jade thought as a group of figures approached from an alleyway to her left.

Jade looked to their direction and laid a hand on one of her lightsabers. The group did look menacing. There was an Aqualish sporting an array of vibroblades, a red-skinned male Twi'lek with a blaster rifle, and one droid. Jade didn't recognize the design of the droid with its menacing frame and the photoreceptor in its chest.

The Twi'lek carried a strange arboreal creature on his back via a harness.

"Hello," Thalia greeted.

"Greetings," the Twi'lek was the first to speak. As he did so, Jade attempted to feel him in the Force, but, to her shock and surprise, found that she couldn't, as if her connection was somehow blocked. And then she realized what the creatures were. She remembered seeing one, dead, back on Orîlla.

"I think that's a Ysalamir," Jade whispered to Riko.

"Yeah. That makes sense," Riko whispered back.

The Twi'lek raised his blaster, "Asharr's paying a fortune for Jedi like you. Please don't resist."
"What makes you think we'd turn ourselves over? Especially to just you?" Bao asked. Jade's heart began to beat faster as adrenaline started pumping into her bloodstream.

The Twi'lek laughed, "You think we're alone?" Almost on cue, two more Twi'leks, blue-skinned, one green, both wearing combat jumpsuits, backed up by two more of the unknown droids, all armed with blasters, appeared at the edge of the street, walking toward the group.

"I promise, I'll make sure you all stay alive if you surrender."

"Tempting offer," Kara said right before she turned to face the second group of mercs. Riko and Jade both followed suit.

"Forty-nine percent probability we escape," Niner warned.

"I think that's a Magnaguard. They were released during the Clone Wars, I had no idea they're even still around…" Riko whispered.
"I get the picture," Jade interrupted, examining their surroundings. They were in a large alleyway, probably ten meters wide and twenty-meters long. There was a strack of abandoned crates to her left, which Riko and Niner were inching towards.

She decided that the best chance of surviving was to strike first. Still, with the Ysalamiri casting a net around the area, they'd have to fight without the Force.

Jade enjoyed a challenge.

"Go!" Bao yelled. Evidently he had the same idea as Jade. At the split second he said so, Jade grabbed her lightsabers. Even without the Force, her reflexes were still sharp. She ignited both weapons, running toward her opponents.

Riko did the same, igniting his weapon. The two charged at the droid as Kara ran toward the blue Twi'lek. Niner simply took cover behind a stack of trash crates. The droid immediately opened fire.

A blue stun bolt infused Jade's green blade as she ducked to avoid one from the Twi'lek. Riko ducked behind the same stack as Niner, probably attempting to sneak around.

Jade finally came within a meter of her target.

Just a few more inches, just a few more…

That was when a stunbolt hit her, attempting to overload her nervous system.

"Jade!" Jade could barely hear Riko as she fell on her back, overwhelmed by the shock. Both of her sabers slipped from her hand as Jade almost hit the edge of unconsciousness.
Years of mental training caught up with Jade, and she managed to pull herself back at the last moment, her vision didn't go dark.

As she feebly moved her arms, she saw the Magnaguard look over her. It reached with a metal arm and grabbed her by the throat, lifting her up into the air just as Jade managed to grab one saber.

The droid leered at her with its eyes as it started choking Jade, its other hand reaching for her lightsaber, which Jade was struggling to handle. It seemed all but hopeless…

No. It wasn't hopeless. Jade wouldn't give up. With determination, she pressed her thumb to the activation button and swung. She fell to the ground. She didn't have long before the bisected droid fell on top of her.

---

Bao disliked bounty hunters. Unlike soldiers, whose cause he could at least accept, mercenaries had no loyalty. They only served the person with the most credits, killing or capturing whoever they wanted to without a second thought. Bao understood Val had briefly taken a Bounty Hunter path after he was exiled. The Mandalorian at least had a code of honor in his assignments.

From what Bao could tell, these mercenaries had none.

Despite his deadened connection to the Force, Bao's fighting prowess was not slowed. The current situation was still frustrating; he felt sluggish without the Force, as if he was moving in slow motion rather than normal speed, but that wouldn't stop him, instead, he would try a new strategy.

He had already taken the time to deactivate his lightsaber while the hunters boasted, now they would face a real predator. The moment the fight began, Bao charged at the Twi-lek, grabbing both his right arm and biting on his blaster arm with his teeth. The Twi-lek yelled in pain, Bao tasted blood in his mouth while his teeth dug through the soft skin, rough muscles, rope-esque tendons, and hard bone. He hated to do this; years of evolution and civilization disappeared in this act. However, the situation dictated that he must, for the sake of the mission and his companions, and so he did.
Letting go of the Twi-lek's arm, Bao delivered an uppercut punch to his face, then let him fall to the ground as he moved on the droid, which was springing in to defend its master.

Unfortunately, its reflexes were almost as good as those of a Jedi, and it caught his neck in its hand, lifted him off the floor, tightening its grip.

Bao, short on breath, flailed, unable to break free. He heard the sound of metal against flesh and Thalia's yelps of pain before she fell to the ground. The droid threw him down beside her. Wheezing, he turned his head to see the downed empress, her arm clutching her stomach, a visible knot forming on her forehead. Bao turned his head, watching both Kara, Harkaq, and Jade fall as well. As the Twi-leks charged, one of them was hit by a crowbar in the leg and fell to the floor, yelling. The other turned its attention to the pile, which shifted as Riko pushed one of the crates towards the other and ignited his lightsaber. The boy had been clever to sneak around, but was now cornered.

The droid stood over both of his fallen foes. Both Bao and Thalia were slow to rise, even as Thalia was reaching for her lightsaber. The droid raised its fists to beat them into unconsciousness.

Then a series of rapid-fire blaster bolts tore through the droid from the aft section and it turned to its right. Bao looked to his left. A man dressed in armor stood behind them, a RC-1207 interchangeable weapons rifle in his gloved hands, configured to rapid-fire pulse mode.

The damaged droid moved to charge the assailant as it spoke, "Please state your identityyyyyyy…"

The attacker burst-fired into its chest photoreceptor. Just a second later, Thalia, whom the droid seemed to have forgotten in the last second, separated its head, shoulders, and arms from the rest of its body. The droid toppled over and lay still, Thalia barely managing to stand.

Their savior proceeded to fire a projectile from his gauntlet which overloaded the droids. The Twi-leks, one of them still in pain, charged. The injured one fell to his rifle, the other managing to knock in a few punches. Bao could just make out two figures struggling, the Twi-lek holding both arms in a wrist-lock. The intact droid started to shrug off the effects of the EMP and slowly move towards the duo. Bao tried to move up and assist his friend, Thalia started to limp towards the fight.

The warrior didn't need the help, for the droid was sliced across the middle by Riko's blade, its head and arm falling to the floor. Bao could just hear Riko whisper, "sorry," before he ran to help Jade.

The warrior was able to escape the bounty hunter's wristlock, grab his rifle, and bash her in the stomach with it, knocking her to the floor. He aimed his weapon and fired when she drew her pistol. He walked back to the wounded leader, raising his blaster.

"No!" he yelled, "My boss...he can pay you more than them!"

"That's what you always say," the warrior responded as he fired. He turned to his fallen quarry. Bao could make out the details of his armor. He wore a jumpsuit, covered by armored plates and gear from a variety of sources, most of them aruetyc. The phrik-alloy helmet, forged from a genuinely Mando'ade design that dated back to the final days of the Old Republic, featured a blue paint scheme and a yellow-tinted visor, lacking any sigil or trim save for a scarlet slash that was vertically painted on the left side of the faceplate, the likeness of a fresh wound.

Val frequently changed his armor's colors and equipment, but he always left the cut on his helmet and the red in his gloves, Bao would recognize him anywhere.

"Still can't keep out of trouble, can you ner vod?"

---

Jade was sure that a few ribs were, best case scenario, badly bruised, or worst case scenario, fractured, possibly damaging her lungs. Given the amount of pain she felt in her chest, she suspected that the latter was more likely.

She was barely able to hear an unnamed man yell her master's name.

"Jade!" Riko yelled. Jade moved her head to her left. To her surprise, the droid was still active, successfully crawling off of her despite its lack of legs and moving towards its blaster.

Jade had mixed emotions as the droid moved away.

Finally, Jade saw Riko impale the droid in its back, and to her relief, it finally went still. Riko deactivated his lightsaber and crouched down.

Jade tried to speak, but it caused her chest even more pain. She barely managed to wheeze.

"She's injured! The droid must've broken something!" Riko yelled, standing up. Only his feet and legs were now visible.

"Let me treat her," a new voice announced.

Elevator

Bao had an injured windpipe. Thalia suffered from a mild concussion and a broken rib. Harkaq and Kara had both been stunned, and were merely dazed. All of their cases were being treated by an MD-D0C multi-species treatment droid. Her head was literally a vitals display, which was currently blank. Instead of legs, she floated on a repulsorlift. Her multiple limbs, in addition to her two basic humanoid hands, featured a number of useful medical tools, which were all being used to treat the others.

What held Riko's attention, however, was Jade. It was clear she was injured, her injuries undoubtedly serious. The droid had been unable to help her without the benefits of a medical bay.

Now here they were, in the elevator to Val's residence in the Middle City. Riko's heart was hammering in his chest with panic every second.

Val and Thalia were carrying Jade as best they could without potentially causing more damage.

Riko, can you hear me? Jade's voice echoed in Riko's mind. Right now, he was too worried for Jade's life to care about the still-present, albeit minor discomfort he felt about using telepathy.

Yeah, Riko projected back.

I need to focus, Jade stated.

You mean…

Yep.

Riko kept his eyes on Jade. For a few moments, nothing happened. Then energy began to crackle around her.

"What's happening?" the droid asked.

"She'll be alright. You'll see in a minute," Riko explained.

Val and Thalia set Jade down on the elevator floor. The energy continued to surround Jade. Riko sensed that everyone was curious and fearful. He was just feeling relieved.

The energy disappeared. Jade sat up, using her hands to support the weight of her back.

"Jade," Thalia reached out and grabbed Jade's right hand, "You and I have much to catch up on." Jade smiled. Riko did as well.

"Excellent, another 'natural' advance in the field of medicine. Please don't make me obsolete," the medical droid grumbled.

Chapter Eighteen

Val had not expected Bao to bring anyone with him on the Taris mission: Bao worked alone in his dealings with the Mandalorian. And yet, there were two teenagers, presumably apprentices, and three other accomplices, a young adult Twi'lek, a human who kept her hood up, and a Cerean in his thirties. Judging from their white-bladed lightsabers, they were more likely Imperial Knights than Jedi. And finally, they came with a patchwork droid who wouldn't be quiet.

His mind remained on the girl, with her interesting healing ability. Everyone had attempted to ask, and her only response was, "It's something I discovered some time ago. Few people know." Val assumed that it was a Force ability unique to her. Then again, he was no expert.

"These two are unique," the droid commented, "Similar me."

"Niner," the hooded woman asked,"Would you please stop talking for a second?"

"Very well," the droid paused, and then he just resumed talking. Val didn't know what to say.

One Imperial Knight removed her hood. Val was surprised at the presence of Thalia Fel on this mission.
"Empress Fel. I didn't realize that the mission was important enough to demand royalty."
"I needed to stretch my legs, Val…." Thalia paused, not knowing Val's surname.

"Sorry," Bao interrupted, "I don't think I've introduced anyone. This my contact, Val Fett."

No one seemed to recognize Val's adopted surname, save for the shy boy, who grew wide-eyed.
"It's adopted," Val assured him, "Scares the osik out of criminals."

"Oh," the boy responded quietly.

"I am Harkaq Oqerio," the Cerean introduced himself.

"I'm Kara Ryn," the green-skinned Twi'lek introduced herself.

"These are my apprentices," Bao introduced the two adolescents in the group, "Jade Skywalker and Riko Nai-Jal."
Val's heart seemed to freeze at the name Nai-Jal. That had been Miranda's last name! Was this boy…

"A pleasure," Val shook Jade's hand, covering up his surprise, "So you're a Skywalker, eh?"
"Yep," Jade said proudly, though Val's gaze was still on the boy. He did look a lot like Miranda. His eyes were the same emerald hue, he had the same tan skin, and his hair was the same shade of black. His cheekbones and chin were not unlike Val's. It was possible.

Val made a mental note to ask Emdee to perform a DNA test at her earliest convenience. He needed to know.

Bao found Val's apartment in the Middle City to be somewhat small. It was comprised of a living room with a holonet feed, a kitchen with a table next to it, a refresher, a bedroom, and an emergency exit leading to a fire escape. Val had neglected to explain where he kept his ship and where his escape plans were.

Bao had sent Riko, Jade, Niner, and Kara out into the city under the pretense that they would search for a restaurant. Bao was hungry, but he wanted to ensure that the apprentices did not find out until they were ready.

When they came back, Bao would tell them that Val had only revealed the secret to the masters.

"Ok, here we are," Val said as he entered the room. He hadn't removed his helmet, or taken off his sidearm: he claimed that it was for security reasons. Bao knew that in fact, Val only allowed trusted friends, like Bao, to see his face.

It was a little comical, seeing a Mandalorian in full armor and gear relaxing on a couch in a rented apartment.

"Riko and Jade are out with Kara and the droid, they should be fine," Harkaq began, sitting down in another chair, "I think it is time that we found out who these agents are."

"Agreed. Who's our mole, Val?" Bao asked.
"Okay," Val walked to a desk and pulled out a holoprojector and a datachip, "So when I infiltrated the Archive, I found these messages between agents in the Jedi Temple and Asharr's headquarters, as well as a second set between Asharr and Moff Itecht. I went through them, and this is the one that pulled the cloak off."
Val activated the holoprojector.

Jedi Temple, Atarashi'ie

"The day approaches," Vicis Libre, the youngest master on the council declared, "Are you ready?"

Tau Skywalker had dreaded it for a long time, but he knew it must be done.

"Yes, Vicis. I am ready."

He opened his eyes. He was in the Order's lowest chamber, deep in the heart of the mountain. Joining him in meditation were his most faithful followers; Master Vicis Libre and the Jedi Knights Vals Narrekk, Ukai Venn, and Yanas Illa. All of them were dressed in robes of black and white, the colors of the Omnists. All were loyal, faithful, and understood the stakes of what would transpire. None of them had been forced to endure Asharr's conditioning, all of them knew what had to be done. They were the only ones who knew what had to be done, and would spare the rest of the order from the terrible truth.

"Centuries earlier, a name arose that changed the galaxy

Tau stood up, "The Council will reunite here when the sun is highest in the sky," Tau declared, "At that hour, we will save the galaxy."

Chapter Nineteen

Walkway, Middle City, Taris

Kara had reported that they had chosen to grab food at Krio's Deli. It was quite a walk to get there, but Bao never liked using airspeeders.

There weren't any working holocams within the undercity. Bao wasn't worried about being spotted. If anything, most people gave him some berth, intimidated by his appearance. He wasn't too worried about potentially being found.
He needed some time to think, as had Thalia.

Bao's best friend...was a traitor. Tau Skywalker had allied with the Consortium and planned to take over the Jedi Council.

How long had this been the case? How deeply were Tau and Libre's movement intertwined with the Consortium? And by extension, Asharr? What were Asharr's plans for Tau? And what trumped all of these questions was "Why were they working with the Consortium?"

What had driven Tau to this point? That question had concerned Bao the most...and eluded him with frustrating ease.

"Hey Lizard!" a jeer dispelled Bao from his reverie. A young man, a Zeltron boy, had shouted at Bao from an ally that overlooked the deserted plaza which Bao walked through.

"Yeerrrrr not welcome herrreee, lizard," he responded, slurring his words.

Clearly this boy was drunk. He certainly smelled the part.

For one moment, Bao wanted to tear into the Zeltron and rid himself of his anger in his screams.

Bao restrained himself. He simply ignored the kid.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

Even intoxicated, he wasn't dumb enough to attack a Trandoshan on his own.

This distraction had reminded Bao to focus on his surroundings. He decided that he wouldn't solve anything wandering around on his own. This time was better spent going over technical details, attempting to form an extraction plan.

Val thought that it would be best to wait on Taris until the blockade broke. Bao was still considering his decision. If Taris was actually a staging area, the use of alliance ships was strong evidence of the case, where would they attack?

There was nothing in the transcriptions that specified how exactly the assassination would be carried out, nor explained how Asharr had acquired Alliance warships.

What would the point even be of amassing an assault force? Asharr wouldn't risk open warfare with the Triumvirate, unless she intended to use the…

That was it! She wanted to stage an attack with the Alliance warships. Would it have something to do with the assassination?

Bao examined the situation with a tactical eye; assassinating a council of Jedi would be no easy feat, covering up the truth from a temple full of Jedi would be difficult.

Alarm filled Bao as he finally figured it out. The fleet was going to attack the Jedi themselves! That was why they had colluded with Asharr! Tau and Libre must have concluded that in order to convert the entire order to their new ways, they had to eliminate any opposition.
Tau and Libre kill the Council, they control the Order, Bao realized, A coup. And the fleet, the fleet would be an excellent cover-up.

Bao started running; he had to find Riko and the others, they had to leave at once.

Outdoor table, Krio's Deli

Despite the fact that she had only been Bao's apprentice for little more than a week, Jade was able to tell that Bao was hiding something, which worried her.

Riko didn't want to believe Bao was doing so. He wanted to believe that Tau was innocent, that anyone else was the mole.
If Tau Skywalker was a traitor, Jade would be devastated.
This did lead to an internal conflict: Riko's inquisitiveness to find out the truth conflicting with his desire to prevent his best friend from suffering.

"Riko?" Jade's voice stirred him out of his train of thought. He and Jade were waiting outside at a table at Krio's Deli, which served "the finest Corellian cooking in the Outer Rim." Or so the sign over the restaurant claimed, anyway.
Kara Ryn was inside, ordering their food. Due to the restaurant's No droids inside the building policy, Niner had to wait outside, with Riko and Jade staying with him at a table. Well, only one person had to wait with Niner. But Jade didn't mind staying at the table with Riko.
Riko, on the other hand, was getting bored. This restaurant was popular, a long line lay between Bao, Kara, and the stand where everyone ordered their food. Luckily, it no longer extended outside of the door.

In addition, most people tended to favor the indoor tables. Riko, Jade, and Niner were all alone.

"You wonder why they sent us out of the apartment so quickly that day?" Jade asked, "I think it has something to do with who's spying for Asharr."
"Maybe Val found something else here," Riko decided to try avoiding the topic of the traitor and his suspicions about it, "Maybe Asharr's working on some top-secret project, and Bao and the others don't think that we should know, since we're just apprentices."
You sure? Jade doubted what he was saying.

I don't know, Riko projected, Just an idea.

Riko could sense that Jade still doubted him to a degree. He didn't blame her.

"Why do they think it's Dad?" Jade asked, "I know him, he'd never do this."

Riko wasn't really sure what he should say.

Jade remained quiet. On the surface, she did a good job of concealing her emotions. But to a Force-User, it was a lot easier to see what she felt.

Is this what being a Jedi is? No empathy...no trust?

Riko responded by moving his seat closer to Jade, and hugging her. She stiffened for a moment, before she hugged him back.

"We're here," Niner also hugged Jade.

That was the old way. Riko wasn't sure what he was, but he wasn't an Adherent, he wasn't like K'Kruhk.

"We have to go!" Bao's voice drew Riko's attention towards the street, where his mentor was frantically running towards him. A few people in the streets did look Bao's way, but otherwise, no one paid any attention.

"What happened?" Riko asked, speaking the question that both of the apprentices were wondering. Both he and Jade stood up from their seats.
Bao gestured with his hand to move close to him.

Jade ran to Bao's side, with Riko following suit. Kara moved to his right.

"I figured out where the fleet is going," Bao whispered.
"Where?" Riko asked. Jade's emotions were just as mixed.

"The Temple. Asharr's attempting a coup."
They would have to warn the council.

"Let's go," Jade said as she got up out of her seat.

Middle City Streets

Throughout the run back to Val's apartment, Riko had a suspicion that he was being watched.

He hoped that it was just paranoia, that the fact that Asharr's troops were searching for him had an effect on his imagination. If he was lucky, this was the truth.

Knowing his luck, this would likely not turn out to be the case.

Hey Jade, Riko projected, You feel…

Like we're being watched. Yes.

Riko looked around. This walkway, jutting out from the side of one skyscraper, was all but deserted. It also overlooked a vast, multilevel gap clearly meant for airspeeders to traverse through. There was little sound here, though. It didn't seem too implausible that they were being followed.

"Bao?" Riko asked, "Do you feel like we're being watched?"
Bao looked in Riko's direction, turning around for a moment.

"Yes," Bao laid his right manus on his lightsaber, "Be ready."

Riko kept his hand close to his lightsaber. Fear began to spread throughout his system.
Let's just hope they don't have Ysalamiri this time, Riko projected.

We're talking like this, Jade replied, so I wouldn't worry.

Says the girl who was crushed beneath a bisected droid because the bounty hunters had Ysalamiri.

Jade glared at him for a moment, but Riko knew her well enough to see the hint of a smile, indicating that, although slightly annoyed at his statement, she still found it amusing.

As the group slowed their pace, Riko decided to see if he could find their would-be assailants. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and tried to reach out with the Force, gazing into the surrounding area.

His efforts were met with frustration, he only felt the faintest hint of a trickle from the Force within him. Everyone felt like a vague light, unreadable. He only clearly sensed Jade, who appeared to be attempting the same thing as him. Her aura suddenly spiked with what Riko assumed was a sense of alarm.

"Show yourselves!" Bao commanded as Riko opened his eyes.
The snap-hiss of igniting lightsabers caught Riko's attention. He turned around.

Three figures in dark robes stood behind them in the street, all brandishing lightsabers.

After a closer look, Riko recognized one as a member of the three-eyed Gran species. Wearing robes, he carried a yellow-bladed lightsaber.

The second was a near-human of the Zeltron species. She carried a white blade and wore some form of light armor. She looked young, roughly Kara's age, with black hair framing a red-skinned face. Both she and Kara felt...wrong, off.

Riko absolutely recognized the third. Asharr was dressed in the same billowy cloak, its hands covered with dark metallic gloves. The glyphs on the mask stood out in sharp relief to its obsidian surface.

"I recognize the Gran," Bao stated, "That's Ekar Tym. He vanished a few months ago."

"Friend of yours?" Kara asked, eyeing the Zelton with a worried face. Riko was sure that the Zeltron had probably known Kara, judging by the Twi'lek's expression and the Zeltron's white lightsaber.

"Colleague," Bao answered, then he looked at the Zeltron, "You know her?"
"Yani Arquin," Kara said nervously, "And she was a friend. Maybe we can talk our way out of this." Riko could tell that Kara was just attempting to avoid a fight. He didn't blame her, even though her idea was vac-headed.

"Not a chance, Kara," Yani dismissed her idea. She and Ekar remained motionless while Asharr took a step forward. They carried no weapon in they hands. Riko could now decipher some of the patterns on her armor, recognizing weapons and armor in the engravings.

They feel wrong, Jade said, Like they've been altered. Riko could only sense Jade.

"Listen," Asharr began in their unsettling artificial voice, "I have no desire to inflict harm upon any of you."
"The feeling isn't mutual," Kara grumbled, raising her saber.
"Why not surrender?" Asharr asked, "I can clearly take you in if you choose to fight. But I would prefer you come to me willingly."

Bao ignited his lightsaber, "What is it about us that makes us special?"

Asharr turned its gaze towards Riko and Jade, the former of whom noticed its helmet's eyeholes flash a bright red, almost akin to a laser.
"I just want you out of the way."
"So it's true, then," Riko ignited his lightsaber, "You're attacking the Temple."
Asharr said nothing, but its head did lower slightly.

The sound of feet upon permacrete led Riko to turn around. A squad of soldiers, dressed in Mandalorian armor, blocked the other end of the alley, all of them pointing blasters at the four.

Those are stun rifles, Riko reassured Jade, They're not going for lethal force.

Maybe attacking first is the best option, Jade suggested.

Maybe, Riko replied.

A plan started to come to mind. Yet another crazy plan, but a plan nonetheless.
The team members seemed to have a knack for insane plans.

Okay, here's my plan. Riko told Jade his idea on how to escape this ambush. She listened carefully, but when he finished she protested.

You do realize this plan is nerf-headed, right?

Obviously.

Riko turned back and took a step towards Asharr.

"I promise you, I won't hurt any of you," Asharr said in a tone clearly meant to be reassuring.
"I don't believe his promises," Riko said. Then he sprung his trap.

He threw his lightsaber at Asharr, Jade manipulating it with telekinesis, extending one hand towards the saber. With the other, Jade unleashed a massive Force blast that, from what Riko could hear, sent the Mandalorians flying.

Asharr, in a split second, deflected the saber and threw it back, the blade deactivated as the saber fell to the ground.

Riko reached out to grab it before he was suddenly caught and tackled. He was already on the ground with a pressure on his throat before he knew what had happened. Then he saw the armor plates and T-visor and everything became clear.

One of the supercommandos had recovered from Jade's blast and was tackling him, no, strangling him.
Gloved hands around his neck, Riko already felt a little weak, and was genuinely afraid he would die.

Then both he and the Mandalorian were lifted up and thrown into the building's wall, the commando taking the full impact, letting go of Riko, the Padawan falling to the floor, coughing.
In his panic, Riko attempted to call his saber to him. And as soon as the saber came into his hands, he, without a second thought, moved it to defeat his enemy. It wasn't until he fell back to the floor that he realized that he had pushed his hilt into in the lower gap of said enemy's helmet before igniting the saber, the blade, burning through the Mando's chin and definitely going into the brain, blocked by the Beskar outer layer and pushing Riko and the hilt back to allow the full blade to protrude. The helmet itself was pushed up to her forehead, revealing her face, her expression one of pain and horror.

Riko deactivated his saber in shock as the commando's corpse fell to the floor.

---

Bao quickly turned to engage Asharr and her altered enforcers.

"Take Yani, I'll hold Asharr and Ekar. Padawans, go! We'll be right behind!" Bao yelled as he charged Ekar.

Ekar moved his blade into a defensive position, his blade parallel to his body. He wasn't prepared to deal with Bao's curved hilt, and Bao moved past his strike to slice off one of the hooves his species walked on instead of feet.

Ekar was a skilled duelist before he was brainwashed, but he had never been Bao's equal, or one to counter surprises with ease, and now that had cost him.

Bao jumped back to avoid Asharr's strike, noticing scarlet as her choice for a blade color.

Ekar may have been a pushover, but Bao could already tell Asharr would be more of a challenge. He was sure he could handle it for a little while, though. He was confident that Kara would be able to hold her own against Yani.

Then he heard Kara's yell.

Bao's gaze turned for a fraction of a second, and he saw the Imperial Apprentice impaled in the abdomen on Yani's blade.

---

He frantically switched styles as Yani and Asharr banded together against him, striking with uncanny precision.

Riko did not seem calm. He had just killed for the first time, and an experience like that wasn't something to forget.

He made no effort to move the armor-clad body off of him, or to help Jade do the same as she, with difficulty, succeeded in pushing the corpse off her best friend.

Riko! As the dead commando came off of Riko's frame, Jade frantically kept trying to get him to come back, to focus. It was incredibly scary that he had even tuned her out. He would die if someone didn't snap him back.

Jade understood Riko's guilt, she didn't enjoy the idea of death any more than he did. But he had to focus now, or else he could die.

"Come on!" Jade pulled him up and slapped him. That did seem to work, Riko did seem to have a panic-fueled rush of adrenaline.

Jade, I can't…

"We'll talk later, come on, grab your saber!"
"Acquire your blade!" Niner yelled.

Moving to his feet, Riko reluctantly turned back to the commando. Riko's saber had deactivated and had fallen on the ground. But just as he reached for it, it suddenly lifted off into the air, ignited, and spun towards Bao.

"Bao! Behind you!" Niner yelled frantically. Jade, with just as much panic, reached out with the Force and tried to wrench it back. The blade did slow its momentum, but was still moving towards Bao. Asharr, while dueling Bao, was still without any visible effort, was pulling it towards themself.

Bao got the warning and backflipped over the saber. Jade let go of Riko's saber, and it moved straight into Asharr's empty hand.

They couldn't win. They had to get away, they had to escape. Jade didn't care if she was thinking this because she was scared; in this case, fear was keeping her alive.
"We have to go!" Jade yelled. She knew they couldn't stay here, they'd have to leave.

"Jade, my lightsaber," Riko said quietly.

"Ok," Jade said, "Catch!" Jade knew she couldn't wrestle it from Asharr's grasp, so instead she pulled Kara's forgotten saber towards Riko's hand.

"That's not it," Riko said.

"That'll have to do!" Jade said, deactivating her sabers and grabbing Riko's arm, pulling him away, "Come on!"

"Come on!" Niner tugged at Riko's clothing.
"OKAY!" Riko yelled, scaring Jade for a moment. Now that Riko was moving away, she turned back towards Bao and Asharr. She stretched out her left hand and prepared to pull it back while pushing her right forward.

With the greatest feat of telekinesis she had ever pulled, she pulled Bao back towards her, while pushing Asharr and Yani away. Surprisingly, it worked, Asharr didn't make the effort to block it, instead letting itself be pulled over the edge. Yani did, but still met the same result, screaming as she fell.

For half a second, Jade hoped she had just killed Asharr, but then she realized there was no chance of that. Jade knew that Asharr wouldn't fall to their death, they'd either land or catch something. They would be back soon.

Bao himself seemed a little awed for a second, almost as much as Jade was.

"Come on, LET'S GO!" Riko yelled.

Jade, after taking one last glance at Kara's body, ran and didn't look back.

Apartment Complex Trill-Jenth-Nine-Eight

The door closed behind them as Riko and the others made their way into the lobby, Riko panting, Jade and Bao very much alert.

"Pull up the elevator!" Bao ordered.

"I'll be with you in a minute," the building's droid doorman, LSSC-15, responded.

"Hurry, speed up, speed up, speed up!" Niner rolled straight to the front desk and banged his fist on it.

"I'll be with you in a minute…" LSSC responded as he deactivated. Flipping a circuit breaker telekinetically was easy, but Riko wasn't the one who sabotaged the droid this time. He glanced at Jade, she nodded.

"Take the stairs, I'll take the droid and use the elevator," Bao ordered.

Riko wouldn't do this, he didn't want to leave his master and his little brother behind.
"I'll be fine, Riko," Bao assured him.

"I should go with you," Riko said, "Make sure the elevator isn't sabotaged or something."

"Let's all go," Jade agreed.

"Okay," Riko, breathing heavily, ran to the elevator and pressed the button. Jade and Bao took up defensive positions, and Niner hid behind the two, directly in front of the elevator.

Riko ignited Kara's lightsaber, knowing that a fight was coming. Sure enough, the door opened and troopers dressed in Asharr's colors charged through, firing a spray of plasma.

Jade and Bao deflected them back. Riko was afraid, blocking blaster bolts was not his expertise.

Then the elevator doors opened, the car thankfully empty.

"Come on!" Riko and Niner both ran in, Jade following. Bao gradually retreated, continuing to block blasterfire. Riko kept hitting the button marked close door. To his relief, the doors began closing, only for the troopers to charge, triggering the motion sensors and almost reopening the door.

Riko couldn't disable it, the elevator doors wouldn't close if the sensor was nonfunctional.

Then Jade pushed all of the troopers back, Riko hit the close door button again, and they slammed shut.

For the next minute, there was no interruption, nothing to suggest something was wrong with the elevator, aside from the awful choice of music.

Riko was relieved when they reached Val's floor. He quickly ran to Val's room, ringing the doorbell multiple times.

"Val! Val." Riko yelled, "We gotta go!"

"They're here!" Jade warned. Riko looked and saw troopers enter the hall via the stairwell.

Then the door opened.
"You'll break the kriffing bell…" Val said as he stepped through the apartment door. Then he looked out and saw the troopers that had just broken through the stairwell, "Fierfek! We need to leave!"
Riko could tell that Val wasn't speaking Mando'a when he said that word.

Val drew his blaster from his back, a bulky rifle with a lengthy scope, and fired a spray at the troopers.

"Inside!" Bao yelled. Riko ran into the apartment. Niner and Jade followed, with Bao covering them from behind before entering himself. Val closed the door and locked it.

"I never liked this room, anyway," Val commented.

"We need your ship, Val," Bao said.

"Alright," Val said. He was already dressed in his armor. In fact, Riko had yet to see him without the helmet, chestplate, gauntlets, and other adornments.
A lightsaber blade suddenly sprouted through the door, beginning to cut through the metal.

"Alright," Val opened the doors to the balcony, guesturing to a fire escape.

"Kara?" Thalia asked as she and Harkaq entered the room.

"She didn't make it," Riko said, "I'm sorry, Harkaq."
"We should leave, then," Harkaq said grimly, "She would want us to complete our mission."

"The blockade's still in orbit," Jade warned.

"Your little entrance blew up a bunch of their support ships. We might be able to slip through," Val responded.

Fire Escape

The fire escape, as it turned out, led to a walkway that led straight to a landing pad.

"The thing about this apartment, why I chose it," Val said as he led the group through, "Is that it comes with direct access to a landing pad. Each room has an emergency escape. Most people use the pads in Upper City, easier to leave without navigating between buildings and speeders, so I get the pad to myself."

After some minutes of running, they were just one flight of stairs, the platform was in view. Panting, Jade stared at the vessel resting upon it.
With a height that was at least a third of its length, the bulky vessel had an ovoid shape, with scattered landing gear and a descending landing ramp in the center of its underside . Her hull was predominantly a dark brown hue, with fading grey and green highlights. Scattered around were individual hull panels, painted in a hue that contrasted with the main scheme just enough to make them noticeable, reminding Jade of battle scars. Her cockpit was situated in the bow; a bulge from which sprouted two long, thin mandibles spread several meters apart that housed thin, lengthy cannons. A turbolaser, currently located just above the cockpit, was mounted on a track that spanned the vessel's apex. This vessel looked like an insect, hunkered down.

The most interesting thing about the ship, however, was the auxiliary craft. Located opposite the starboard-facing docking ring in a docking nook, the pod looked like it belonged to another ship. Most of it was covered by the transport's shell, but Jade could tell that it was sleek, painted silver with red and black trim, with a domed viewport that poked out of the transport's shell. As Jade moved closer, she could see retracted wings on her dorsal hull and a pair of lines grouped together that must have been a dual-repeating blaster on her underside.

Samsa class, Riko commented. Hearing this, Jade decided the class was aptly named; with its twin mandibles, carapace-esque upper hull plating, elliptical shape, brown color scheme, and long, thin landing gear, the ship did evoke the image of the massive beetles sometimes found in the lower levels of Coruscant.

"The Wild Nomad," Val presented.

Wild Nomad Corridors

Riko ran up the landing ramp and into the armored vessel. He had spent a decent amount of his spare time reading about the various versions of the Gallofree-Kuat Samsa class freighter/transport. One of the most common types of freighters in service to small-time shipping groups, this twenty-eight meters long, twenty-five meters wide, and eleven meters tall vessel required two crewmen to operate, though it could provide quarters for up to six. It had one long hallway connecting all areas, starting from the cockpit located in the bow and terminating in the engine room. Between those rooms lay two cargo bays, a dining space, crew quarters, the landing ramp, the docking ring, and the docking bay designed to carry a small auxiliary craft, usually a YA-series. This one was modified with heavier hull-plating and more powerful weapons.

Riko ran towards the cockpit.

"Wrong way, kid," Val pointed to his left.

"That leads to the auxiliary craft!" Riko said.

"Not on this ship. Seemed easier to stay on the bridge if I had to escape."

"You modified the auxiliary pod to be the cockpit?" Riko asked.

"Exactly," Val said.

"That's kind of crazy," Riko commented.

"Maybe," Val admitted.

"Where'd you find an H-47? That's Surronian, they aren't cheap," Riko inquired.

"Four years ago, I was tracking an assassin."

"Where'd you get this ship?"

"Belonged to my parents."

"Kind of big for just one person."

"I've got Emdee."

"Alright," Riko ran to the cockpit. A deep curiosity filled his consciousness. He wondered what other secrets this vessel was carrying aboard.

---

As Thalia was running towards the ship's primary cockpit, adjacent to which lay the controls for the ship's turbolaser, Something within the cargo hold caught her sight. They hadn't left quite yet, Val was still starting up the engines. She could take a moment.

Inside, a number of objects awaited her. Spare parts for the Nomad's systems, a couple of speeder bikes, and for an unknown reason, she saw crystals in one box.

Closing her eyes, Thalia decided to take a moment to examine them with the Force.

These crystals were all Force-attuned, capable of being used for a lightsaber. She couldn't identify them specifically, but they didn't resemble the synthetic crystals used in the lightsabers of most Imperial Knights nor the Kaiburr shard that powered her own.

"Thalia, we need you at the weapons station!" Val's voice blared over the ship's comms.
Thalia continued running toward weapons control. Later on, she would have a talk with Val and Bao.

Vagrant Cockpit

The cockpit was narrow, but well-maintained. Painted a dark silver, with blue highlights, the vessel featured benches on the port and starboard side, with a control panel with seats for a pilot and copilot, all on a small pedestal rotated to the left. Jade sat down in what she guessed was the co-pilot's seat.

"Hey," Val sat down next to Jade, "You sure you can handle co-piloting?"
"She flew a shuttle through a debris field," Riko said, standing a few meters away with Niner.

Jade crossed her arms, "It was my first time flying, too."
Jade couldn't see Val's expression, but she suspected he was smiling.
"Alright, Ms. 'I flew through a debris field.' Let's go."
Val flicked on the ship's systems, lights and displays providing the only non-natural illumination.

"It's a little dark," Jade noted.

"My ship, my rules, kid."

---

With the sound of footsteps in the cockpit, Val turned around and saw Bao entering the cockpit, appearing shocked.
"Jade, what are you…"
"I think she can handle it," Val interrupted.

"She's only flown once! And we're going to try to break through a blockade!"

"I think she can handle it," he repeated, smiling.

"I warned him," the patchwork droid that Riko had called 'Niner' said to Bao.
Val ignored Bao's following comments and activated the engines. Through the viewport, he could see the troopers open fire on the bulky freighter. Again, when would they learn?

Val activated the ship's comms, "Thalia, where are you?"
"I'm entering the weapons hatch,' Thalia replied, "Hang on."
Val was rewarded a few seconds later when blaster bolts from the Nomad's antipersonnel cannon started tearing through the shock trooper ranks. Still the troopers continued firing, with their Dark Jedi commanders following. The Nomad continued firing, Thalia even activating the ship's dorsal turbolaser, tearing into the landing pad and balcony.

"Now!" Val pulled up the starship and flew into Taris' upper atmosphere.
"TieXs!" Jade yelled. Asharr's flagship, the Imperious class Star Destroyer, rushed to intercept the freighter, deploying multiple squadrons of TieXs and T-Wings. Bao had briefed Val on the theory that Taris was being used as a staging area for an attack. Val agreed with him.

"You guys punched a hole in that blockade! We'll slip through!" Val explained, activating the comms, "Let's light that destroyer up!"

Val moved his starship closer to the incoming destroyer, maneuvering to avoid the TieX fighters. Blasterfire rocked the shields. Even the inertial dampeners were having trouble compensating for the amount of force the Nomad was taking.

"Look out!" Jade yelled, "Head to the right!"
Sensors detected no blasterfire from their forward angle that the Nomad wasn't already evading, but Val decided to trust Jade's judgement. She was a Jedi, after all.
Val moved the Nomad to the right, and sure enough, a storm of blaster fire hit the spot where the Nomad was located a moment ago.

The destroyer's sleek triangular visage faded as the ship moved closer, Val seeing the utilitarian design of the destroyer up close.

"Move towards her bridge and fire. Loop around and target her engines," Bao suggested.

"Got it," Val responded, "You get that, Thalia?"
"Yes, loading torpedoes now."

The Imperious class Star Destroyer, like its Pellaeon class predecessors,had a hull that sloped at an angle, the Imperious's sloping at a 36 degree angle between the bow and stern, giving the ship's turbolasers an excellent vantage point with which to pick off enemy starfighters. Its ventral hull, however, lacked said advantage, and was far more vulnerable. For a ship like the Nomad, with its heavy armor and military-grade shields, what weapons were located there would have trouble causing serious damage until the freighter was too close.

"How often do you do this?" Niner asked.

"All the time!" Val yelled.

And now it was, the Nomad flying to the destroyer's summit a mere four meters from the hull. Within a minute, the Nomad circled upward, Val could see the ship's engines.

"Thalia, now!"

As the Nomad flew towards the cruiser's bow, a score of proton torpedoes streaked from the transport, creating a conflagration that engulfed the ship's starboard engines. Right before she flew away, the Nomad concluded by firing her deadliest projectile: a seismic charge. The device soared into the hole made by the proton torpedoes and detonated, blasting the destroyer's engines, fin, trapezoidal bridge, and surrounding deck from the ship's frame. The destroyer began to plummet into Taris' atmosphere. The Nomad flew right past its dorsal array of cannons, safe in the knowledge that no one would be gunning for them now.

"We're clear!" Jade said.

"Alright!"

"The Atarashi'kei system! We need to go there!" Bao shouted.
"He's right," Riko added, "We think we know where the fleet is going."
"These agents might try to assassinate the high council, and an attack would be an excellent means of covering their tracks," Bao explained.

This strategy made sense to Val. The Dar'manda proceeded to type in the coordinates, while the computer made the calculations for a jump to Atarashi'ie.

Val summarily looked at Jade, asking, "Care to do the honors?"

Jade smiled. She grabbed the lever and pushed it. The TieXs, the stars, the blackness, all of it disappeared in the tunnel of blue light that was hyperspace.

Cargo Bay, Hours Later

Riko was feeling intense guilt over the death of the supercommando by his hand. He sat down in the Wild Nomad's cargo bay, thinking over what he had done.

"Hello, Riko," Thalia entered the room.

"Hey," Riko said. He wanted to be alone right now.

"I know about the supercommando," Thalia said. Riko felt a sense of curiosity with a hint of panic. What did she think about what had happened?
"Jade told me. Your guilt only speaks to your empathy," Thalia sat down next to Riko, "I feel guilty about killing too, which is why I limit it."
"What do you mean?" Riko asked.
"I have a personal code," Thalia explained, "I avoid killing except in extreme circumstances, when it is highly likely that I or someone I care about would die. You would have died, Riko."
"I like that," Riko said before he asked,"Will I ever...?"
"No," Thalia responded, "Killing stays with you. All you can do is learn from it."

Thalia was right. This had been a kill-or-be-killed scenario. Riko thought back to the commando he had force-choked on Orîlla, and realized that that might have also been one of those times. Riko had acted to save himself and others. Now that Riko understood, he could hopefully prevent this from happening again. At least, he could find ways to restrain himself in the future.

Riko and Thalia hadn't spent a lot of time together, but she had seen that he was in pain and given him something useful: advice on how to learn from his mistake and prevent it in the future.

That made him think of Bao. Despite his role as Riko's teacher, Bao hadn't formally given him any lessons. There had been plenty of time over the last few days, yet Bao frequently neglected his new duty.

Riko was a little irritated by this realization, he would certainly talk to Bao...

"I understand you lost your lightsaber," Thalia declared.

"Yeah," Riko said as he held up Kara's weapon,"I guess I could use Kara's…."
"I don't know," the weapon moved out of Riko's hand and into Thalia's, "Here lies a better opportunity."

Riko didn't know what Thalia meant. A better opportunity for a lightsaber?

"Riko Nai-Jal, I think that you should construct your own lightsaber."

Riko didn't believe it. Most apprentices didn't construct their lightsabers until the end of their training, where they had more knowledge of how the weapons worked.

"I just got paired to a master," Riko said. A week ago, he wouldn't even consider the possibility that he could do this.

"Ah yes, I know about your new tradition of building lightsabers later. But I was your age when I built mine"

"I'm an underdog student, I even have trouble using the Force..."
"You're a gifted mechanic, Riko. Jade told me you love machines. We all have hidden talents, perhaps the secret lies in your passion."

Riko considered for a moment. It wouldn't be a bad idea, Riko already knew how a lightsaber worked. There was just one problem.

"The Jedi don't think I'm ready, they won't let me get a crystal or anything else I need." Riko explained.

Thalia smiled, "Val keeps spare parts for all of his ship's systems right here, you could find enough." She sat up and grabbed a crate, "Start with these," Thalia grabbed a crate and withdrew a crystal from it. Riko peered into the crate and beheld a rainbow of gems.
"These are Stygium crystals," Thalia explained, "Cloaking devices use them as an energy matrix. Since this ship is too small for a cloak, I think they'll suit you well."

"Wow," Riko said. One last thing did occur to him, "Won't Val be mad?"

"Val agreed to let you use whatever you needed, in exchange for a fee."
"What about Bao?" Riko asked, "Is he okay with me doing this?"
"He encouraged me to suggest it," Thalia said, smiling.

One Hour later

Riko's raid through the cargo bay had been surprisingly fruitful. Lightsabers, although they needed to be constructed intricately and delicately, were not that complex. The energy cyclers, the flux aperture, the power cell, switches...Everything he needed to build a lightsaber was aboard this ship, all laid it all out on the floor in front of him, salvaged from everything ranging from spare parts to circuitry to even tools.

He closed his eyes and attempted to meditate, to call to mind the design of the weapon. The specter of his old weapon killing the supercommando went through his mind. Assuring himself it wouldn't happen again did nothing to quell the image. He thought of how he had panicked and grew still…

Niner, Riko thought, isn't he alive? For a few minutes, Riko contemplated the age-old debate over the sentience of droids. While many people did not believe that was the case, Riko believed that the beloved droid was more than a collection of circuits and programming. Like a person, Niner's behavior wasn't static. There weren't any formal limitations on his growth, save for a basic ethics program Riko had installed.

You created him. You created life, just as you create a means to defend it now, Riko realized. He wasn't building a mere device that produced a shaft of plasma. To a Jedi, the weapon was a means to stamp one's own identity into their tool, a creation that was the product of their connection to the Force, just like Niner. This was another machine full of life, another means to create, another puzzle to solve.

Riko's mind immediately drifted to technical details; which crystals he would use, how to wire the circuitry into the power cell, the exact placement of the negative flux aperture…

Suddenly, Riko felt a deeper sense of isolation, as if everything except the cargo bay had disappeared. It was just him and everything he needed to build his future lightsaber.

It's just a vision, Riko calmed his anxiety. It was ridiculously unlikely if not completely impossible that the rest of the universe would suddenly vanish.

For an instant, the sorted components seemed to glow before spectral images of each part flew into the air and assembled themselves into new designs. Riko had no doubt as to what he was seeing. These were all the potential sabers he could build with the parts in the bay.

Riko had a difficult time choosing. They didn't appear that different, but Riko could somehow sense that each one was unique in some subtle way. Yet, that subtle way may be the key to saving his life someday.

Riko's eyes suddenly came onto a lightsaber that really stood out from the others. Its standard length-hilt was a ghost, the parts glowing in various colors. Two crystals floated within its chamber. It had multiple switches. Riko looked more closely to see its properties.

The handgrip, charging port and much of the circuitry came from one of the torquedrivers he had gathered, a tool which he was very familiar with, and did make him consider. Then he saw the saber's most unique feature.

This lightsaber had two blades, one protruding from each end of the hilt, with two activators placed next to each other on the hilt. But both blades could be activated separately. This weapon would provide innumerable options. The design of the torquedriver hilt allowed the power cell and recharging port to be placed in a grove on the side of the hilt, clearing space for a second emitter matrix.

Riko had found his lightsaber. He placed his hand on the ghost, which was surprisingly solid. Riko could even feel the firmness of the plastalloy-rubber handgrip pressed into his palm as he wrapped his fingers around it. The other sabers faded, and the glow around most of the scattered components faded. Only those he needed were still present.

Riko went straight to work, picking out what he needed, brushing aside what he didn't, and immersed himself in his task. He remained razor-focused on every aspect of the process, ensuring everything was aligned perfectly.

He channeled everything into his creation, following the diagram his own mind created. He made tweaks and adjustments here and there, but generally followed a logical progression as he built around the cloaking housing that he had converted into the crystal chamber, screwing on the flux aperture, and only really came to realize how hungry he was and how long he had been working on the weapon after he had spent several minutes charging up the power cell.

Riko's hand was cramped, and his legs felt sore. He felt a pressure in his bladder, but he could hold it.
When the power indicator flashed green, he disconnected the charging cord and clearly examined the weapon in his hand for the first time.

At first glance, it didn't look like much; it was a dissimilitude of components, colors, age, and wear. From the smooth rubber of the blue-and-black hilt to the aged silver of the flux aperture to the tarnished bronze of the switch casing to the baje plastalloy of the rectangular primary switch, salvaged from a lightswitch, to the bright circular red of the secondary activator, it was all contrast. It didn't look anything like his first lightsaber.

And yet, there was something unique in that jumble that Riko couldn't describe. A bunch of pieces, all from radically different sources, merged into one, somehow working together in harmony. Just like Niner. A reflection of that same determination and creativity.

Riko loved it. It just felt…right.

Riko took his weapon in both hands. The torquedriver's design gave him some difficultly holding the weapon with both hands, he had to keep his hands close together. Perhaps he would have to rely more on parries than blocks.

Riko held his saber parallel to his body, flicking off the weapon's safety feature. He then took a deep breath, and activated it. A fiery orange blade sprouted from the hilt, casting the room in a brilliant ember glow. Riko's mouth gaped, he almost couldn't believe it.

He swung a few times, getting the feel of the weapon. It worked even better in his hand than his old one had, it was clearly meant for him.

Riko hadn't felt this exhilarated in a long time. He had done something incredible, something most students waited years further to accomplish.

"Nice design," Riko turned around to find Jade standing in the entrance, a smile on her face.

"Thanks," Riko returned Jade's smile, "But you haven't seen half of it!"
Riko moved his upper thumb and pressed the second activation button. A second, skinnier blade ignited from the lightsaber's "pommel." Riko proudly held it, reveling in his accomplishment.

You might want to look down, Jade suggested. Riko did, surprised to see his lower blade grazing the floor.

Riko quickly deactivated his second blade, once again, he had received another lesson on control. Riko wasn't used to the exhilaration of a triumph like this, or the excitement of a mission, it was twice now that he had gotten lost in his emotions and made a mistake.

"No one's going to believe this," Jade said, clearly in awe.

"I hope so," Riko responded, knowing he had to work on working with his emotions instead of getting lost in them.

Chapter Twenty

Days later, hours before they would reach Atarashi'ie, Jade knew that the time had come to discover who the agent really was. It had been nagging at her, a thought that she couldn't let go of. It was time to find closure.

Jade didn't want to discuss this with Bao or Niner, and she hadn't known Harkaq or Val for very long. And while Riko might be her best friend, there were some things that Jade would want to discuss with only one person.

Jade found Thalia in the ship's living quarters, which, according to Riko, was another converted cargo bay, sitting down near the ship's holographic table, her garments soaked with perspiration.

"Bao is a highly skilled duelist," Thalia explained, noticing Jade's arrival.

"No kidding," Jade responded.
Neither of them spoke for a minute.
"You've been thinking about Tau," Thalia stated, breaking the silence.

Jade responded, "It's hard not to. I remember you suspected him…"
"I understand," Thalia assured her.

Jade knew that it was time, she had to know.

"Is Dad one of the agents?" Jade asked, her voice sounding sad, perhaps a preemptive emotion in the event of her worst fears coming true.

Thalia was silent for a moment. Jade could tell that she was feeling sadness.
"Yes," Thalia admitted, "The recordings implicated him as well."

Jade's emotional wall shattered. Sobbing, she hugged her mother. Thalia proceeded to wrap her arms around Jade's back. Jade was comforted by the gesture.

Despite her anticipation of this moment, the blow of the realization hit her with more force than a concussion missile. How long had they been spies? Was this movement a tool of the Consortium? Had Jade been trained under a lie?

"You okay?" Jade heard Riko's voice behind her.

It is him, Jade replied.

Riko was also hit with the force of a missile. He hid it better than Jade did.

The boy hugged Jade and Thalia, joining the group.

Jade was filled with a riot of emotions. Sadness at her father's secret, confusion at where her life would lead after this, rage that she couldn't do anything to change the past, somehow, and comfort from the rest of her family.
"I was taught that...that the Force was neutral: that light and dark were just abilities, and it was how you used them that counts as good or bad. I don't even know if Dad was lying or not," Jade confessed, "Have I been wrong the past few years?"

This time, Riko spoke, "I wasn't sure either, when you first told me. Maybe it's the emotions you draw on to use the light and dark sides that influence your behavior."

That didn't make Jade feel any better. A few words wouldn't heal the damage of her entire view of the Force being torn to pieces, combined with the realization of her father's betrayal.

"I've been thinking," Thalia whispered.

About what? Jade's ability with Force Bonds included her mother.

Thalia released the hug, "I missed you the most these last six years. And being the Empress of an Empire means that many people depend on you to run their civilization. Only you."

"What do you mean, Empress Fel?" Riko asked. Jade remained silent.

"Don't call me Empress, please. My name is Thalia. The Empire should learn to choose its own leaders. I'm disbanding the Fel dynasty and reforming the Empire into a democracy, the way Jagged Fel once intended."

Jade looked up, "Really?"

Thalia smiled, "Yes. Jade, I will be there for you."

Jade hugged Thalia again. At least, her mother would still be there for her. And so would Riko, Bao, even Niner.

Jade may not have her father, but she still had her family.

Council Chamber, Jedi Temple, Atarashi'ie

All of the Council Masters had gathered, just at the proper hour. The sun was at its highest point, it was noon.

"Tau," Master K'Kruhk greeted him, "It is good to see you."
"Indeed," Tau replied, smiling.

"After all this time," K'Kruhk's tone turned serious, "I can no longer condone our neglect of the Consortium. We have evidence that they are behind the recent disappearings we have been investigating…'"

Tau grew silent as K'Kruhk continued. He had spent fourteen years preparing for this moment. As much as he dreaded it, he couldn't wait any longer.

"Tau, your thoughts?"
"Oh," Tau replied, startled, "Forgive me, I was thinking about my daughter. I haven't heard from her in over a week." It was partially true, he had no indication of his daughter's location. With luck, she was alright and far from completing her mission.
"Stay focused Tau," K'Kruhk said, "We need you here, now."
Tau pitied the other Jedi who were about to die. He looked at Master Libre, and the official founder of the Omnists nodded to the real founder.

As Tau did so, he imagined Kali'sto, Thalia, Jade, Bao. How would they… Tau shut out that line of thought. They will all understand in time, he assured himself.

"Perhaps we could…." K'Kruhk's voice trailed off. Something clearly preoccupied him. Tau hoped it wasn't what he believed it was.

"We're under attack!" The Whiphid yelled, "We need to…"

"No," Libre interrupted, locking the door to the chamber. He stood up and ignited his lightsaber.
"This is for the good of the galaxy, and the Jedi."
"Vicis," K'Kruhk activated his lightsaber, "It was you. You are the agent we were looking for."

"More like a savior," Libre replied, moving his lightsaber into an offensive stance, "I'm just trying to bring peace. The only way to do that is to balance out the Force. The two sides of the Force clash and assault each other. When this happens, millions die. We have to stop it, by any means necessary."

Tau's friend, and puppet, was doing well.

"No," K'Kruhk replied as the other masters ignited their lightsabers, "You're wrong. Thanks to you, many people have died, and are going to die."
"The price for peace," Libre replied sadly. Tau began to draw on the Force, preparing for an attack, "A few to save many."

Tau had gathered up as much of the Force as he could, preparing to release it.

"Arrest Libre," K'Kruhk ordered, "He has fallen to the Dark Side."

"You're right," Libre lied, turning the tables. Tau admired his performance, "I am making a mistake." As he spoke, he projected an aura of regret growing dramatically, seeking to lower their guard. Even as he did this, he sent waves of Force suggestion, subtly telling them to accept his surrender. Tau subtly augmented his efforts, probing the minds of the other masters and lowering their barriers of suspicion. Though the suggestion would have little effect on K'Kruhk and the wiser masters, they would at least lower the guard of the other council members.

Now. Tau thought. He released the Force energy in a massive torrent of telekinesis and Force lightning.

K'Kruhk, Libre, and two others, Lowbacca and Zhann Yuniah, were able to deflect the lightning and shield themselves from the worst of the energy.

Most of the other masters were incinerated by the lightning, the few semi-intact skeletons smashing the windows and plummeting below the cliff.

The air smelled of ozone, and the wind blew at Tau's robes.

Tau and Libre ignited their lightsabers. The door opened as Illa, Narekk, and Venn arrived, joining the fight.

Yuniah drew her lightsaber and attempted to attack Tau as K'Kruhk and Lowbacca faced the Jedi shadows.

Zhann Yuniah was a famed weapons master, but surviving the blast had left her weary, and Tau, despite being somewhat weary himself, easily powered through her defense.

Right before Lowbacca's lightsaber left a groove in the floor a centimeter from where Tau was standing, he slashed Yuniah in the chest before throwing her corpse against the Wookiee.

K'Kruhk drove Tau back across the remains of the room with a series of vicious slashes. Tau heard a yell of pain as Lowbacca cut Venn down. But Tau was soon able to regain his composure and regained the upper hand.

"Please, Tau," K'Kruhk pleaded, "Don't do this. You're making a mistake."

Tau drew on the Force as K'Kruhk continued talking. He would unleash it against him. As much as it pained him, he would never understand. He would have to die.

"I'm sorry, my old friend," Tau replied. He released the energy again, this time simply as a storm of Force lightning. He aimed it at the hilt of his lightsaber, making it difficult for him to deflect it instantly.

K'Kruhk was barely able to deflect the lightning, moving his saber in a fraction of a second, but a saber ignited through his gut as Narekk impaled him.

K'Kruhk fell to the floor, Narekk and Tau standing over him for a moment.

Then K'Kruhk reignited his saber and bisected poor Narekk before Tau could respond. Tau, Libre, and Illa fell back as Lowbacca roared. The Wookiee charged towards Libre, drawing on the light to overwhelm the Omnist. K'Kruhk lunged towards Tau, separating him from the others. Libre and Illa put up a strong defense, but he failed to hold off the Wookiee's assault. Lowbacca pierced his defense and sliced him across the chest.

Genuinely angered, Tau channeled his fury towards the Wookiee and fired a blast to pulverise the Wookiee. Lowbacca was sent to the edge of the room and fell off, presumably falling to his death. However, Tau knew not to underestimate Wookiees.

He pushed K'Kruhk back, letting the old master rise up again. He was drawing on the Force so deeply, his body was almost glowing.

Illa reignited her saberstaff, ready to fight.

"Stay back, Illa. I must do this," Tau responded, taking a step forward.

Tau could tell that K'Kruhk was dying. Tau himself was growing tired, but K'Kruhk was approaching the end of his lifespan. And he was approaching the end of his life.

"Give up, K'Kruhk," Tau taunted, "You're going to lose."

"A Jedi exists...to stop madmen like you."
"A madman?" Tau asked, "Says an old fool who wants to kidnap children."

K'Kruhk stood back up, "This is our way. Your path will destroy what we have built."

"The galaxy has changed, K'Kruhk. So must we."

"The Jedi are adherent to the light," K'Kruhk reignited his saber, "And I won't let you destroy them."
"They destroyed themselves because they followed your path," Tau responded, "We learned from our mistakes under Luke. We let ourselves change. I won't let you drag us back to the dark ages."

K"Kruhk lunged. Tau held K'Kruhk back with a defensive screen, letting the old master use up the last of his strength. Then he barraged switched from the deadly fury of Juyo to the precise strikes of Makashi. He sought to pierce K'Kruhk's guard and kill, or at least badly injure him.

K'Kruhk fought harder than he probably ever had in his life. Despite injuries that would kill a much younger man, he still managed to hold off Tau's attacks, and even bring offensive strokes of his own to bear. He had actually fooled Tau into thinking that he was spent. He didn't put as much effort into resisting Tau as he did attempting to break through Tau's defense. He seemed to understand that he wouldn't survive this duel, no longer caring about his own life, only intending to take Tau's.

Tau would have found this end to be noble, if K'Kruhk was fighting for anything other than his own honor. Tau attacked and parried again and again, and he finally saw an opening.

He ducked beneath K'Kruhk's blade and swung at his sword arm. K'Kruhk saw his sequence and attempted to move out of the way. But he was too late.

Tau's lightsaber cleaved through the Grand Master's elbow.

K'Kruhk screamed, but Tau didn't waste an opportunity. He unleashed a storm of Force lightning at the elderly Whiphid, letting him roil in pain. Finally, to end it all, Tau grabbed Uniah and Lowbacca's lightsabers telekinetically and impaled the Whiphid with their blades, Tau proceeded to throw him through the remains of the window, plunging him down the tower and even past the temple. His body would probably hit the cliffs, possibly landing in the lake.

Tau collapsed to his knees, utterly exhausted. Closing his eyes, he drew on the Force to replenish his strength, but he knew that he would still be weary. All indications would show that K'Kruhk had attempted to attack Tau and Libre, that the masters had grown so desperate as to kill the leaders of the Omnists. Venn, Narrek, and Illa had arrived to save Tau.

One more sacrifice had been required.

Suddenly, he felt a ripple in the Force, an advancing wave. Tau opened his eyes.

He quickly ran out of the room and jumped through the window, feeling the heat of an explosion behind him.

Tau landed on a ledge jutting out from the main complex, panting. He heard the careen of explosions, the crumbling of rock, the impact of turbolaser blasts slamming into the surrounding structure. The Temple was clearly being bombarded. He looked up to identify his attackers.

To his shock, a fleet was visible dimly in the upper atmosphere. He could just make out the distinctive shape of Gahan class carriers: a wedge, with a massive forward shield on one end, engines on the other.

The Alliance was attacking the Temple! Chief Theron wished to cripple the Jedi in one stroke!
Tau ran back inside, he had to rally the temple, they had to defend themselves!

Living quarters, Wild Nomad,

Even though he had expected events to transpire the way they had, Bao had been shocked by Riko's progress.

In a matter of hours, Riko had constructed his own lightsaber. Bao had never heard of a Jedi who could build such a weapon that quickly. Bao had spent three weeks finding the parts for his weapon and assembling it. Riko had done it in the span of nine hours. This boy had a hidden gift.

"I don't believe it," Val said as he observed the lightsaber that Riko proudly demonstrated, "You built that from the pile of junk in my cargo bay?"

"I'm an advanced student," Riko replied jokingly.

"Well done, kid."

Bao hadn't seen the lightsaber yet. For some reason, Riko hadn't wanted to practice with him. Instead, he sparred with Jade, Harkaq, and Thalia.
Bao knew he was being excluded for some reason and he intended to talk to Riko about it later.

"I will admit," Riko said, sounding slightly regretful.

"Yes?" Val asked when Riko didn't answer.

"I also cut a hole in your cargo bay's floor," Riko confessed.

Val was silent. Bao almost wanted to lecture Riko on the responsibility of wielding his weapon carefully before Val suddenly said, "So that explains that damaged power converter…"
Bao was briefly alarmed, but then realized that Val was joking. He could tell that Riko never believed that Val was being serious.

"Seriously, though, I'll be more careful," Riko said.
"It's ok, kid," Val responded, "It's ok."

"I'll go check on Thalia and Harkaq," Riko said, deactivating his new weapon. When he left the ship's mess hall/lounge, Bao turned to Val.

"I thought you'd be harder on him," Bao commented.

"I'm in a good mood."

Val was clearly hiding something, Bao knew him too well. Underneath his jubilant exterior lurked a mixture of fear, surprise, curiosity, and...was it joy?

Bao would talk to him about it later, when the crisis was over.

Val changed the subject for him, "Is that true? Is he really that good a student?"
"Actually, the masters at the Temple viewed him as an underdog," Bao admitted, "Aside from his skill with machines and the lightsaber, he didn't perform well. He could summon some basic Force powers instinctively in serious circumstances, but he couldn't channel it at will. He was scarred by his past, hiding from himself, motivated largely by his desire to find his family. They didn't think he was ready to be an Apprentice yet."

"I guess everyone learns at their own pace," Val admitted, looking like he was mulling over Bao's comment, "Didn't you?"
"Why do you think I picked him?"

"We're coming out of hyperspace," Jade reported, entering the living room. Three days had passed since they had left Taris.

Riko deactivated his lightsaber. Bao ran to the cockpit, with Val and the boy following,

Thalia and Harkaq served as the pilots when Val and Jade weren't present. Val had actually spent a considerable number of hours at the Nomad's helm, attempting to teach Jade the nuances of piloting the ship through hyperspace. Bao had even heard Val joking that he wanted Jade as his permanent co-pilot.

Of course, knowing Val, Bao wasn't completely sure he was joking.
Then again, the entire mission had been one crazy plan after another. The team seemed to be turning into mad geniuses, or were just lucky.

True coincidences are rare, Bao. Even the knowledge that his master was a traitor didn't stop his advice from echoing in Bao's memory from time to time.

"Here we go," Thalia said as the Wild Nomad reverted to realspace.

Bao was shocked at the sight beyond the viewport.

A large fleet of starships, all of various ownerships, blockaded the planet. Some were wrecks, others were damaged. Some, Bao recognized as Alliance property. He could tell what had happened.

"They beat us here," Bao said grimly.

Jedi Temple lower corridors.

Smoke filled the air as Tau evacuated the younglings to the Temple's lower reaches.

The Jedi no longer had their council of masters, they were all gone. Of course, Jedi were smart enough to know what to do on their own, but the Jedi High Council was comprised of the wisest and most powerful members of the order.

The fleet had arrived unexpectedly, they were already pouring blasterfire into the Temple, damaging the structure.

When Tau reached the landing pad, narrowly escaping the destruction of the Council chamber, apprentices had running in panic. Knights had been igniting their lightsabers and rushing outside.

The troops had deployed. Twenty massive Celchu-class Alliance gunships had flown from the sky and landed in the courtyard. On the port and starboard sides, hatches had opened, twenty YVH combat droids disembarking from each craft.

A landing ramp had deployed from each gunship. Squads of Consortium soldiers disguised as Galactic Alliance marines, many wearing Ysalamiri, had rushed in.

Just now, at Tau's moment of triumph, this had happened. A simple assassination had heralded a massacre.

The battle had continued for another two hours. Tau and the survivors, mostly knights, younglings and apprentices, had been cornered in the Temple's lower reaches.

"What will we do, Master?" Padawan Tarrin asked. His master had been a member of the council, some of his friends had been killed. He wasn't much younger than Riko or Jade.

Tau had no answers to his questions.

Suddenly, the rumples from the bombardment stopped. Tau sensed that another battle was taking place.

"Someone must have come to help us," one of the Knights said.

Tau selected ten knights to accompany him. He placed Jedi Knight Daultay Haako in charge of the apprentices before he and his followers left the cramped detention level.

They traversed through the temple's reaches, occasionally running into a squad of Alliance troopers, but finding nothing too serious. It wasn't until they reached the courtyard that they met their saviors.

They saw mercenaries, dressed in Mandalorian armor, escorting Alliance troopers, all handcuffed, into their craft. A couple of the former had lightsabers visible on their belts.

Tau realized what must have happened. It all made more sense now.

A young Zeltron woman, dressed in heavy armor, carrying a lightsaber on her belt, walked towards him.

"I am Yani Arquin," she greeted the collaborator, "Asharr sends her condolences, and will be happy to help you relocate."

Swallowing his disgust, Tau responded, "I am Jedi Master Tau Skywalker. As the senior member of the high council, I accept."

Vagrant Cockpit

The Nomad had veered away from the motley fleet and was circling around from the planet's far side, traversing through the atmosphere.

Riko had never felt so afraid. He was walking into a massacre.

"Scanners are picking up a large number of life-forms within the Temple. Most of the Jedi shuttles are gone. It's likely evacuations have already taken place."

"Maybe their disappearance is meant to fool anyone returning to the Temple," Bao commented, "It's possible that there are still survivors. We at least need to take a look."
"The Force telling you to go there?"
"The Force has guided us here for a reason."
Riko supposed that they felt the will of the Force. He himself felt the compulsion, but wasn't swept up in it. It was an impulse, and instinct, no different from any other. He knew that this time, he had to follow it, even if it terrified him.

"Fine," Val replied, "I don't like this, but I'll still land you there."

"Thanks, Val," Riko said. Following this, Bao walked out of the cockpit into the hallway outside the airlock. Riko followed.

"Alright," Thalia said to the group, issuing orders, "Find as many survivors as we can and lead them to the landing pad. From there, Val will land the Wild Nomad."

"What if there are too many of us?" Jade asked.

"At this rate, that might not be the case," Thalia said grimly, "But the Consortium has starships. With luck, some of them have hyperdrives."

Thalia's statement didn't calm Riko.

"What about I?" Niner asked, rolling into the room, "What does I do?"

Riko answered his question, "Niner, we need you to stay aboard the Nomad."

"But can't I come?"

"Niner," Riko said, "You're an unarmed droid. There's probably a ninety-nine percent chance you would die in there."

No one spoke for a moment. Riko began to walk away.

"Ninety-Seven-point-Nine-Two-Seven," Niner corrected.

Riko turned around and crouched down on his knees, his eyes level with Niner's.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Niner admitted, "You can't go in there."
"I have to."

"You could die," Niner said.

"I know," Riko said. It was tempting to stay onboard and let Bao, Thalia, and Harkaq handle the problem. The frightened child in Riko wanted to hide in the Nomad's cargo bay, convince Jade to follow him, and cower.

But Thalia, Jade, and the others, both members of the team and the Jedi still inside the Temple would need all the help they could get. And Riko wouldn't abandon them.

"I have to help them, Niner," Riko said.

"We'll do our best to keep him safe," Jade stood down next to Riko, "Not just me, but Bao, Mom, and Harkaq."
Niner was silent, which was uncharacteristic of the droid. Finally, he said, "Might the Force be with you."

Riko hugged Niner, "And you, Niner."

"Come on," Jade responded, leading him to the landing ramp.

Jade leapt with grace, flipping in the air and landing on the platform with her feet.
"Come on, Riko!"

Riko normally didn't have a fear of heights. But the platform was too small for a starship like the Wild Nomad. So the airlock was positioned next to the platform, with a small jump required on his part to reach the ledge.

Jade and Thalia had both jumped.

At this altitude, it was very windy, the air blowing through Riko's jacket. Despite the generally warm climate on Atarashi'ie, he still shivered.

"I'll go first," Bao suggested from behind Riko.
"Thanks," Riko replied nervously.

"No problem," Bao said warmly. Riko moved aside as Bao moved to the front of the airlock. The Jedi Knight stood for a moment, breathing in for a second. Then he jumped through the air, gracefully landing on the platform.

"Riko," Jade shouted over the wind, "It's not that far a distance!"
Those words were reassuring. Riko walked to the edge of the airlock. Against his better judgement, he looked down.

The thought of a long fall, splattering on the lake left him dizzy.

Riko didn't know if he could do this.

"We'll catch you if you fall!" Bao encouraged. Riko shook his head to dispel the vertigo. He would do this.

Riko breathed in and out slowly for a moment in an attempt to calm herself, which barely succeeded.

It was time to go.

Riko silently counted to three, and then he jumped.

His feet hit the stone platform less gracefully than Bao or Jade, but he was able to balance himself.

What the heck was I worried about? Riko asked himself.

---

After Riko's delayed jump, everyone had landed on the platform smoothly.

They had entered the corridors of the lower levels of the temple. So far, they hadn't seen any bodies or signs of battle. Bao took it as a sign of hope.

"Okay," the Trandoshan master said after everyone arrived, "We're going to move into two teams. Harkaq, Riko, and Jade, you'll find survivors…"

"Wait!" Jade interrupted, "We're splitting up? We can't!"

Bao sighed. He didn't want to divide their team either.

"You're going after Tau, aren't you," Riko realized.

Riko was perceptive. Bao appreciated that quality in his apprentice.

"We'll bring him in alive," Thalia explained, "He'll...explain all this."

"We should back you up," Jade added, "Dad's pretty powerful."

Admittedly, Bao considered their proposal. While Libre had put minimal effort into his skill with the lightsaber, Tau was one of the few Jedi who could defeat Bao in a sparring match. Even now, Bao had yet to defeat him in any kind of duel.

"I don't want to put any of you at risk," Bao decided.

"Besides," Thalia added in, "If Bao and I work together, we might be able to defeat him. Or maybe I can convince him to surrender." The Imperial Knight said the last sentence reluctantly.

Bao understood what she meant, but Jade answered first, "He still loves you, doesn't he?"

"I think so," Thalia admitted, "Maybe he will listen to me."

"Thalia and I have the best chance of arresting him if he doesn't listen to reason," Bao added, concealing his jealousy. He didn't possess any romantic feelings towards his mentor, but he couldn't help but feel envious at the close bond that the two had shared.

Then again, Tau hadn't trusted anyone else close to him with this secret. Not his mate, not his apprentice, not even his daughter.

"Let's hope," Harkaq said, joining the conversation.

Bao hoped that the two teams wouldn't encounter problems in their respective missions.

Of course, luck hadn't been on their side lately. At least when it came to avoiding violence.

"Do your best to keep out of trouble," Thalia advised. Then she hugged Jade. Bao watched as mother and child embraced for one last time before entering the battlefield.

"Keep them safe, Harkaq," Bao told the Cerean.

"I'll try," Harkaq promised.

"You'll do," Bao corrected, reciting one of the first lessons taught to him as a Jedi initiate; There is no try, you only do or do not.

"Very well," Harkaq said, "I'll do it successfully."

"Goodbye, Mom," Jade whispered.

"Good luck, Jade."

Bao tossed Riko a comlink, which he barely caught, "May the Force be with all of you."

Temple Archives

Tau was still slightly exhausted from the battle. Despite the loss of life that had been the cost, the coup d'etat was successful. Unless K'Kruhk and Lowbacca had somehow survived their injuries and respective falls, Tau was now the last surviving member of the high council. His ascension to Grand Master of the Jedi Order was inevitable.

The surviving Jedi had left the structure, with only Tau and a handful of Knights remaining.

Tau wished that Jade would understand, know why he had done what he did. But she would never agree with his methods of achieving his goal. Luckily, if everything went according to plan, she never would have to know of what had really transpired here.

Tau's comlink activated. The Jedi Master grabbed it.

"Master," Asharr's voice came from the device.

"Asharr," Tau said quietly. He had already been shocked by Asharr's unauthorized alteration to his plan. He was angry with his apprentice, and was starting to lose trust in him. Asharr's usage of Alliance ships meant Chief Theron would be framed for the attack. It was clear that she concealed more than her face and species behind that mask and robes.

Tau knew what would happen if the Alliance was blamed; more innocent lives would be lost.

Tau had made a mistake in trusting Asharr. A mistake he would correct.

"How was the battle?"
Tau was irritated by Asharr's gloating tone, she was trying to rub salt in a wound.

"I am ready to join you on the planet's surface…."
"No!" Tau shouted, his anger erupting, "You will stay in orbit and wait."
"Theron knew of our plans, I had to remove him…"

"You disobeyed me, you attacked the Temple without provocation. You have caused the death of dozens of innocents. I hope you can live with that on your conscience."

Tau deactivated his comlink. He closed his eyes, sat down, crossed his legs, and meditated, drawing on the Force to replenish his strength.
Today was a sad day. Jedi had perished everywhere, their auras filled with determination and acceptance. Tau admired that. At least these Jedi had gone to their graves accepting their fate, if they had done so needlessly. The assassination of the High Council could have had other explanations. Tau had always planned to frame K'Kruhk. But the attack on the Temple...

A familiar series of presences came to Tau's attention. They were scattered throughout the Temple. But they were the familiar auras of friends. But the auras were filled with determination, bent on….

Tau gasped and opened his eyes when he felt the presence of his daughter and former lover amongst the two groups.

Jade and Thalia were here. This most likely meant that they knew.

---

Bao was relieved by the time they reached the archive. Thalia and Bao had encountered Dark Jedi a few more times. Mostly, they had felt the strange, artificial presence they had discovered in the Twan'etu twins. However, a few times, the auras were absent in the Jedi that attacked them. Evidently, not all of the Dark Jedi were slaves. Some were convinced to join the plot willingly. Bao had recognized some of their attackers as members of the new faction.

As Bao and Thalia reached the archive, the Order's historical database, they saw Tau meditating alone in the middle of the carnage. His eyes were closed, but he looked surprised, the aftereffects of shock visible on his features.

"Tau Skywalker," Bao ignited his lightsaber, "We request your surrender."
Tau opened his eyes and stood up.
"Where is Master K'Kruhk?" Bao asked.

"Dead. He did not survive." Bao was sure that Tau was telling the truth. But he was now sure of two things in addition.

Libre had undoubtedly been a sacrifice. Tau had taken his life in exchange for his movement gaining control of the Jedi Order.

The second, the attack made sense now. Bao had no doubt that the surviving Jedi had abandoned the Temple. The attack itself was simply meant to cover Tau's tracks. Casting K'Kruhk as an extremist who tried to destroy his rivals and Tau being the one who defeated him would taint the Adherents greatly and paint him in a heroic light as he assumed the role of Grand Master.

"Bao, Thalia," Tau said quietly, "I'm sorry for all of….this."
Bao was surprised at his tone. Tau sounded regretful, he clearly hated what he was doing.

"Why, Tau?" Thalia sounded as surprised as Bao, "Why are you doing this?"
"For peace, Thalia," Tau said, "Do you know why the galaxy keeps erupting into war? Why the Jedi are constantly threatened by great evils? Why beings like Malak, Naga Sadow, Palpatine, Darth Vader, Caedus, Krayt, keep instigating conflicts? It's because of the Force."
Tau started to walk closer to the Jedi and Imperial Knight, only for Thalia to activate her lightsaber. Tau stopped moving closer.

"The Force has two sides, light and dark," Tau continued, "They never coexist because our teachings prevented us from allowing us to balance them within ourselves. 'The dark side is evil,' they say. Good and evil," Tau stared at both of them, "They don't apply to the Force. The Dark Side and the Light need to coexist in balance. The Force tries to balance itself, and when it happens, billions die. The Great Hyperspace War, the Exar Kun War, the New Sith Wars, the Clone Wars, Galactic Civil Wars, all of it! That is what happens when the Force is out of balance!"

"This is the true war: the war between the Light and the Dark. The Jedi and Sith were the two sides of this. Inevitably one side would temporarily triumph, a massive war begins as the other pushes back, and innocents suffer. We once knew this! We knew this in Luke Skywalker's time, and we did nothing! We saw the problem, and let ourselves forget!"

Tau paused for a moment before continuing, "It's only a matter of time until another dark order arises and a real war begins. We need a lasting peace, not a temporary truce."

Bao could see a hint of a tear on Tau's face, "The Jedi have to expand their teachings. The Dark Side isn't evil, and the Light Side isn't good. Good and Evil are a matter of intent and usage."
"We have changed, Tau," Thalia rebutted, "We know all that now…"

"You don't understand!" Tau was raging, "K'Kruhk was pulling us back, back to the dark days! How long would it have been before we enclosed ourselves in a palace on Coruscant? Before we barred ourselves from loving others? HOW LONG BEFORE WE RESUMED TAKING INFANTS FROM THEIR FAMILIES?"

Tau was weeping, "K'Kruhk would have done nothing to change us. Vader and Palpatine did the galaxy a service by ending the Old Order, by forcing the Jedi to change. We have another chance, and I won't let us become the catalyst for the galaxy to burn, not again. A lasting peace will finally exist," Tau turned to Thalia, "Riko and Jade can live their lives in a world of peace, true peace."
It did make sense. Bao himself understood that K'Kruhk's dogma was misguided and would lead to disaster, that the Jedi needed new leadership and needed to abandon their constrictive teachings. But he couldn't accept Tau's methods of accomplishing this goal.
"Balancing the Force out doesn't require the death of innocents, Tau," Bao assumed the Makashi opening stance, "Change doesn't require murder."

"Asharr is responsible for all these deaths! This attack was her plan! Not mine! I didn't even know about it until it was too late!" Tau retorted.

"Ignorance doesn't justify your actions," Thalia assumed the opening stance of the middle ring, "Tau, you may be right, but murder won't accomplish anything. Perhaps your trial will make clear the need for change."
Tau wept for a moment, and Bao saw genuine sorrow in his aura. Then he composed himself and reached for his lightsaber, grabbing it and igniting it.
"I'm sorry to the both of you. Please forgive me."

Chapter Twenty-One

Vagrant cockpit, Wild Nomad

Emdee, to her chagrin, was piloting the ship, with Val manning the primary turret instead. While Bao and his friends, one of whom might be his son, were risking their lives in the Temple, Val was just waiting here, securing their escape route and desperately hoping they would survive.
A small beeping dot appeared on his targeting screen.
"What the…" Val swung the turret around and locked onto the dot, which morphed into an image of a Thranta-class assault shuttle. Val recognized this design as Asharr's personal transport.

He moved the cannon in the direction of the shuttle and opened fire.
The Thranta lost her engines and cockpit in the first barrage. Val almost congratulated himself, only for his sensor to pick up a life-form exiting the ship and landing on the cliff.

"Em, move us towards that guy on the cliff," Val ordered.
"Yes Captain," Emdee responded dully as she maneuvered the Nomad towards the cliff. Val could see them, grasping onto the cliff with a grappling hook.

Unless he was mistaken, he had Asharr in his sights. Judging from what he could see of their cloak, that was very much them.

They were climbing towards the Temple's entrance, scaling past the cliffs where the Temple kept its craft.

He opened fire, only for the warlord, with an incredible grace that he had only seen Jedi accomplish, jump to the platform's surface.
Val instructed Emdee to elevate the Nomad's position, and the ship moved upward on the Y-axis, with Val's screen showing Asharr, completing a smooth roll onto the cliff's surface, landing on their feet.

Val resumed fire, only for Asharr to ignite a lightsaber and retreat.

Asharr was clearly some kind of dar'jetti.

"Bao, it's Val. Asharr's here!"

Temple Archives

Riko had never personally entered a warzone. He had known that it might happen at some point; it was part of Jedi's duties that they prevented conflict, or ended it if it had already started.

He kept his new lightsaber activated, but the orange glow was actually frightening rather than soothing. It gave everything the glow touched a hint of a fiery look.

The glow unnerved the apprentice. He tried to find the courage within himself he had a few minutes ago rather than drawing on his fear. He wasn't quite successful.

Jade kept her lightsabers activated as well, the green glow creating a ghost-like image over the corpses. And of course, Harkaq's white blade did the same.

They had yet to encounter a live Jedi. Instead, they only found corpses. Maybe that was what caused Riko to think of ghosts. He knew that they didn't exist; beings became one with the Force when they died. There were stories of Jedi learning to preserve their souls after death, but Riko had never found evidence of that being the truth.

You okay? Jade projected worryingly.
Yeah, just unnerved, Riko wasn't sure if he was lying. Maybe he was just fibbing; he was unnerved, but maybe not okay.
Riko, I know you better than that. I'm nervous too. You really think I can ignore this?
Riko didn't mind that Jade was able to see through his lie. Maybe it would be better to have a friend to talk to about this feeling.
"Wait," Harkaq motioned the team to stop. The team was in the middle of a corridor with five dead Jedi on the floor, their lightsabers scattered. This corridor was dimly lit, their lightsabers the primary source of illumination.

"Someone's coming."
"I feel it too," Jade added. Riko also

"Alright, you have to run." Harkaq ordered, clearly panicking "I'll catch up behind you."
"You sure, Harkaq?" Jade asked, "You can't handle this alone…"
She stopped talking as a figure suddenly appeared out of the shadows. It was no different from Taris. Asharr had come.

Once again, Riko was standing in the presence of the menace behind the Consortium.

Surprisingly, Riko didn't want to run, even if he didn't want to fight. To an even greater surprise, Asharr didn't activate their lightsaber. They did nothing.

"You will pay for what you have done, you criminal!" Harkaq lunged.
Asharr quickly ignited her lightsaber to deflect his strike and quickly spoke one word in a language Riko didn't understand, "Jen'jidai!"

Whatever it was, it had an effect on Harkaq. The Cerean crumbled to the floor and fell slack.

Jade gasped.

Harkaq opened his eyes, feeling...wrong.

Riko only heard one word from Jade as Harkaq began to rise.

Run.

Temple Archives

Bao blocked Tau's slash as Thalia attempted to strike the former Jedi Master's chest. Tau simply moved his blade to block Thalia as he telekinetically pushed Bao into a computer terminal.

This saddened him. The love of his life was attempting to kill him. If only Tau had opened Thalia's mind to the goals behind his ideas, she might have joined him.

Thalia kept slashing at him with precise bladework, which Tau himself was barely able to counter. Instead of the Three Rings, he switched to the arcane Soresu style; a completely defensive technique used by the Old Jedi Order. Few used it nowadays, relying on the Three Rings instead.
Despite his skills with the blade, Tau's bladework was sloppier than usual. He was barely able to deflect Thalia's precise strikes.
Tau didn't wonder why; it was obvious to him. He couldn't bring himself to attack Thalia, or even mount his best defense against her.
He had started by attempting to move Thalia out of the fight with telekinesis, so he could focus on Bao, whose lesser strength in the Force would make him easier to defeat. It hadn't worked; Thalia was too strong. So he instead kept pushing Bao back, routinely telekinetically pushing him or throwing objects such as data cards or chairs at him, which did slow down his former apprentice. But between defending against Thalia and his efforts to slow down Bao, he was growing exhausted. In addition, his heart was not in the duel. If it came to it, he didn't know if he could bring himself to strike down Thalia.

Striking down Bao would be a deep wound that would also be hard to heal, though it wouldn't affect Tau as much.

Tau was disgusted that he was thinking this way.

He knew that at the end of this duel, someone was going to die. He just had to make sure it wasn't himself. But he didn't know if he could do that.
Thalia struck at his left arm, leaving a shallow cut along Tau's wrist, "You can still surrender Tau," Thalia's voice was pleading, "I don't want to do this."
"Neither do I," Tau responded, ignoring the pain.

Bao charged against Tau, taking the temporary opportunity Tau's injury gave and slicing at Tau's right arm. Tau ducked back towards the shelves.

Then, for one second, a comlink at Bao's belt activated. A man on the other end yelled, "Bao, it's Val. Asharr's here!"
Bao was distracted for one second, but it was all Tau needed. He Force-pushed Bao back into a shelf, and then threw a large number of data cards at his former love.

Flipping ahead and landing on his feet a few meters away from Thalia.

Tau raised his palm for a moment, and smashed a nearby window, the glass falling hundreds of feet.

Wind began to tear at Tau's dark robes, but he continued to focus. Bao yelled as he was lifted up, Tau easily tearing through Bao's Force-Shield. He threw his former apprentice through the window, presumably to an unseen death below.

Tau almost gasped. He couldn't believe he had just sent Bao to his doom.

Focusing on that one thought proved to be a mistake. Thalia jumped towards him, using her blade in a style that reminded Tau of a scalpel. Before Tau could respond and place all of his attention back toward her, her blade passed his own and moved toward his right bicep.
Tau screamed as the blade painfully burned through cloth, skin, nerves, tendons, and even bone, slicing the arm off completely.

The pain fed his anger, which filled Tau's consciousness as he used the Force to snatch the lightsaber from his severed hand to his remaining hand. He completely drew on his anger, and he was focused on one goal; he must defeat his opponent.

Roaring, he swung with fury, intoxicated in his emotions. Even with her combatant only having one remaining hand, Thalia struggled to deflect his blade.

Thalia…

Tau realized what he was doing. If he continued to be ruled by his anger as he was at that moment, she would die.

Tau quickly tried to calm himself, to rid himself of his anger, angle his saber away, but it was too late.

He had backed his opponent against one of the stacks, his green blade embedded in Thalia's chest, horror etched into her features.

"No," he whispered, though his voice grew louder, "No no…."

Tau quickly deactivated his weapon, horror and self-disgust filling his mind. The dark rage that had gripped him evaporated. Everything faded, everything else was blown away.
He only looked at Thalia as she fell and saw only two emotions in her eyes.
Pity and acceptance.

Then she stopped breathing and her aura went dark.

Tau screamed, cursing himself, the Force, everything. When his voice was hoarse, he stopped screaming and instead wept, crouching down on his knees. He had just murdered his only love.

"What have I done? What have I done?"
Tau buried his head in the cadaver's lap and wept at Thalia Fel's brutal and unnecessary end.

Temple Corridors

Riko and Jade kept running, the Dark Jedi closing. Asharr had apparently chosen not to pursue them, instead leaving Harkaq up to the task. Their former friend now chased the two apprentices through the temple.

Luckily, he didn't know the temple the way Riko and Jade did, which gave them a small advantage.

Let's see if we can get back to the Nomad, Riko suggested, We might be able to…

Riko's projected voice grew dim in Jade's head as a dark sensation flooded her consciousness. A feeling of loss. It was brief, but overwhelming. Jade suddenly realized with horror what it was.

"Mom…" Jade barely heard her own voice.
"What happened?" Riko was speaking verbally now.
Jade barely acknowledged his question, "Mom's…."
Riko understood. Jade felt a hint of sadness from him as well.

"I'm really sorry," Riko said. As he spoke, a deep rage flooded Jade's mind.

"Don't be," Jade said angrily. She barely recognized her own voice, "I'm going back."
"Jade," Riko replied. Jade could hear worry in his voice, "What are you saying? You'd never do this…"
"I'm doing it now, Riko," Jade reignited her lightsabers, "You can leave."
"Jade," Riko's voice grew even more worried, "We can't do this. You're probably going to get yourself killed."

Jade ignored him, walking back towards Harkaq and Asharr.

Riko ran past Jade and stopped his feet in front of her, igniting his lightsaber, "I can't let you do this."
"I've lost my family, Riko," Jade said furiously, "I think that I have the right."
"Jade," Riko replied, "Vengeance isn't the Jedi way. Taking your anger out this way won't make it go away, it'll only increase it…"
"How'd you feel the day I met you? When you possibly lost Kali'sto forever?"
Riko's tone was starting to grow angry. Jade had reopened an old wound, "Not forever. I'm going to find him someday…"
"An empty promise," Jade accused. Judging by Riko's emotions, she had probably dealt a blow to their friendship.

Right now, she didn't care.

Wild Nomad

Val began to fly the Wild Nomad around the slope of the structure. So far, Bao had not acknowledged his signal. Something must have been wrong.

Any remaining Jedi in the Temple were most likely dead.
Val probably should have just cut and run then and there. But for some reason, he remained in the area.

"Look!"

Val looked behind him. That patchwork droid had slipped into the cockpit, he was pointing at something Val was missing.

Val looked down at his scanners. According to them, one life-form lay just above the Wild Nomad.

Val looked up through the viewport. He could just make out a large-headed humanoid clothed in brown hanging from a vine near a ledge.

Val moved the ship closer. Apparently, the movement caused the rock to shake, the reptilian barely hanging on. Val realized that Bao-Sklar Pierce was hanging from the ledge.

"Fierfek!" he yelled, "That's Bao!"

Interior, Jedi temple corridor

Riko was wondering what had happened to Jade. In a manner of seconds, she had turned from his supportive, kind-hearted best friend, to an angry young woman obsessed with revenge.

Riko had little doubt that her anger was taking hold of her, he had to stop this.

But now his own emotions were betraying him. The goodbye he had been forced to give to his father. The commando clutching his throat. The dead Mandalorian. All the pain, all the anger, it all started to come back.

Swallowing his pain, an old pain he had learned to numb, he reached out.

Jade, getting yourself killed won't bring Thalia back. It won't suddenly make everything right again. It'll just make things worse, you'll die. It's not justice, it's vengeance. Isn't vengeance what you should be avoiding using the Force for?

It seemed to do the trick. Riko could still sense Jade's anger, but it seemed tempered, controlled.

"You're right," Jade said, sounding more like herself, "We ...We need to go. See if Bao's still alive. If he is, then we have to escape."
"Exactly," Riko said, "We can stop him, we have the tapes, we can do this."

"Okay," Jade nodded, "Let's…" their conversation was interrupted by the sight of Harkaq entering the corridor. His lightsaber was brandished and his eyes were blank.

Harkaq extended his arm and Riko and Jade were thrown across the corridor, barely raising Force-shields as the window behind them shattered.

Riko almost dropped his lightsaber as he landed on the ground just a few feet away from the broken window.

"You can leave with me," Harkaq's voice didn't sound any different, "My master cares about you."
They could still try to run. They could also fight Harkaq.

Neither of those options seemed to have much chance of success.
Should we surrender? Riko asked. He wasn't seeing any other options.

No. Jade's statement left Riko filled with surprise.
I know what to do, Jade suggested. Her tone sounded sad as she stood up, I need you to run. I'll catch up behind you.

Riko was starting to know where this was heading. He stood up.

No, you're not….

Jade activated her sole remaining lightsaber and charged Harkaq.

Go! Go!

Jade swung at Harkaq, attempting to buy Riko as much as she could. Jade opened herself up to the Force in an attempt to bolster her strength.

Harkaq easily deflected her attacks. Jade wished she had her other lightsaber. She might have stood a better chance then. Unfortunately, Jade rarely practiced with just one blade, relying on the advantage of her second blade to confuse her opponents. Robbed of that advantage, she was barely able to hold off Harkaq's attacks.

Jade began to run away from Harkaq, back down the corridor towards the Wild Nomad.

Harkaq continued to follow her. Jade was just hoping that at least, she had bought Riko enough time to locate the Nomad and escape.

Riko didn't want to leave his best friend behind. He wasn't going to lose her in this mess. But Jade had said that she would attempt to follow him. With luck, she would find him.

Jedi Temple exterior

Bao was barely able to hang on to the vine. It was barely enough to support his weight, and falling down and grabbing it as he had done left his fingers sore, making it more difficult to hang on.

This slope was very smooth, with the vine being the only thing that stood between him and a death hundreds of meters below.

Bao's left manus slipped. He was about to fall.

There is no death, there is the Force.

As he tried to make himself accept his death peacefully, he heard the familiar drone of an engine beneath him.

Bao probed his senses, attempting to find a lifeform. He felt the aura of Val Fett beneath him. Bao looked down and saw the Wild Nomad's scarred hull.

An aperture opened in the upper hull. Bao could just make out the round head and large eyes of Niner. His voice was barely audible.

"This way Bao! You might die if no!"

Jedi temple Observatory Complex

"Val," Riko said into his comlink, "I'm in need of evac. I'm in the lower levels."
"Just find the nearest window. I'll try to trace your comm signal."
Riko recognized his location as the upper entrance to the meditation balcony, a series of terraces carved into the rock, reinforced with railing. Apprentices were often encouraged to meditate there. This meant that he was was located just two corridors away from the apprentice quarters. For a minute, he considered finding his own quarters and retrieving some of his things.

He decided against it. He didn't have time. He just ran inside, being greeted with Atarashi'ie's beautiful vista through the massive window.

Riko waited, quickly realizing what he had to do next.

Jade, Riko projected, I'm a few corridors away, in the apprentice quarters. Val's en route. Can you try to stay close by for a few minutes?

Riko grew nervous when he didn't get a reply.

He stretched out with the Force and attempted to find her. He did, but he had trouble finding her precise location. All he could tell was that she was close by.

He hoped that she was close enough to find him when the Wild Nomad showed up.

Jedi Temple corridors

Jade was near Riko's position. She could only tell that much.

Harkaq still pursued her, though Jade was still able to rely on the fact that Harkaq, and by extension, Asharr, had probably never set foot in the Temple before.

Unfortunately, the Temple's structure made it harder for her to find Riko's position. So she had to rely on logic in addition to the Force.

Riko had probably gone to one of the corridors with a window in them, to make it easier for the Nomad to extract him from the Temple.

Jade was making her way to one of the observatories now, hoping to catch him.

As she started to find her way around the corridors, Harkaq's form became visible in front of her.

Jade turned around and attempted to flee. She heard the sound of crackling electricity behind her, turning her head to see.

Harkaq's fingers were dancing with small bolts of lightning. A larger bolt flew from his hand towards Jade.

Jade raised her saber and attempted to block it.

Her saber collided with the lightning and absorbed it, though the pressure caused her to retreat slowly.

Harkaq sent more bolts towards her. These became harder to deflect.

Throughout all of this Jade was just wondering how Harkaq was capable of these dark abilities. This was a question that was quickly answered; either he learned it at some point under a dark Jedi, he was doing it instinctively, or…

Or Asharr was lending Harkaq some of its power. Perhaps she had a link with these artificial Dark Jedi.

That was probably the answer.

Jade moved forward, ready to attack Harkaq, only to fall to the floor in pain. Bolts of lightning slammed into her body. Jade screamed as she fell to the floor, writhing from the pain.

As she started to black out, she saw Asharr's cloaked form walk towards her.

Jade was just barely able to hear Riko's voice in her head before she passed out. With her last conscious thought, she hoped that he would safely escape.

Temple Archives

Tau was barely able to pull himself away from Thalia's corpse. He had never experienced such sadness or guilt in his life. Not when his parents died, not when he had been forced to assassinate the high council, never.

He had to move on, to continue his dream of bringing peace. He no longer trusted Asharr. She was becoming an obstacle to his journey, and Tau had to do something about her rebellious tactics.

But he wouldn't leave Thalia's corpse alone in this room. Not like this.

With a painful effort, Tau dragged Thalia's remains to the center of the room, and placed her arms across her chest. He then proceeded to close her eyelids.

Tau removed his cloak and placed it around the corpse, like a blanket. The Jedi Master took Thalia's lightsaber and placed it on his belt. He would carry it, and Thalia's memory, as long as he lived.

Tau made a final inspection of Thalia's makeshift grave. He smiled weakly as he looked at her.

She might just be sleeping, he thought.
"Goodbye, Thalia," Tau said.

"Master Skywalker."
Tau turned around and saw a Cerean clad in civilian clothing in the room. Tau's mouth opened in shock as he saw his daughter floating a few meters behind, unconscious. He could barely see a trace of smoke coming from her tunic. Force lightning.

Tau ran to the Cerean, asking, "Is she alright?"

The Cerean nodded, "She will be alright. We must leave." Tau noted the odd variation in his voice. There was something...off.

One of her agents, Tau realized. The rituals Asharr told him about were more sinister than he had realized. He had tolerated Asharr's darker deeds for too long. Out loud, he said, "I will leave now."

As he began to leave the room, Tau's thoughts turned to Thalia again, and he felt relieved that her daughter, his daughter, was alive and well.

Goodbye, Thalia, Tau thought as he stroked his daughter's face, leaving his former lover behind.

Meditation Observatory

Riko saw the Wild Nomad's rise through the window, the Vagrant facing the boy. Through the transparisteel viewport, Riko could just make out Val moving his arm to the right.

This probably meant that he was supposed to move to the right. Riko did so accordingly.

Blasterfire tore through the window and even left some charred circles on the adjacent wall.

A faint burning smell filled Riko's nostrils as he continued to search for Jade. He was taking a closer look.

To his shock, he felt no conscious emotions on her part as he felt Jade's presence. She was still alive, but not conscious.

The Nomad's airlock moved up against the window. Riko moved closer to it as the door opened.
Riko could see Bao in the small chamber.

"Where's Jade and Harkaq?" Bao asked.
"Something happened to Harkaq. He attacked us. I think Jade's been captured," Riko replied. It was the most likely scenario.

"Is she nearby?"

"I don't know." Riko admitted, "Let's see if we can catch her on the landing pad."
Riko walked over to the Nomad's airlock. Luckily for him, it was close enough to simply walk onto this time, rather than jump, though he still felt a hint of vertigo.

Through the three-minute flight to the landing pad, Riko waited in the cockpit. His odds weren't looking good; Bao was injured and unarmed, he would remain behind in the cockpit.

The landing ramp lowered. Riko activated his lightsaber and walked out.

The bodies of a dozen dead Jedi were strewn about the platform. Starfighters which had once sat on this landing space had been reduced to flaming wreckage.

The smell of charred flesh filled the air, nauseating the young apprentice, filling him with fear and making him dread what was to come.

There is no emotion, there is peace…

"Hey!" Riko looked up and saw a squad of mercs in patchwork armor.

"Scrap," Riko cursed under his breath.

"Get that kid!"

Riko ducked behind a crate as they opened fire. He was skilled with his lightsaber, but he still had difficulty deflecting blasts from more than three adversaries at once. He didn't know if he could survive the combined fire of the squad. Odds were that one hit from their blasters would kill Riko.

He was saved by the Nomad. Her anti-intruder cannon deployed from her ventral hull and made short work of the mercs.

With the cliff more or less clear, Riko reactivated his lightsaber, keeping his weapon in a defensive position.

He sensed a powerful presence walking onto the landing platform. Riko looked and saw Tau Skywalker, his right arm sheared off below the bicep.

Harkaq and Asharr were next to Tau, their lightsabers activated. Behind them, Jade, floating in the air.
"Hand over Jade!" Riko yelled without thinking first.

He mentally kicked himself. Alone, he was in no position to make demands.

"What he said!" Riko heard Val's voice coming from the Nomad's comms.

Her forward gatling gun targeted the traitorous master.

"I will not give up my daughter!" Tau yelled, raising his remaining hand. A bolt of what looked like blue lightning crackled from his hand and flew towards the Nomad, hitting its blaster cannon and engulfing much of the ship in electricity.

"No!" Riko ran towards Tau.

Tau ceased his attack.

Riko was about to swing at the murderer, refusing to let him leave with Jade, before he rose up into the air and was held still, unable to move.

Then Tau spoke, "You don't have to do this, Riko. I did this for a noble purpose."

"What's so noble about killing Jedi?" Riko snarled. He barely recognized his voice.

"I'm doing this to create a lasting balance in the Force. I hope you will one day understand."

Tau's threw Riko across the platform toward the damaged Nomad.

Riko landed on his back and felt the ground bump against his burn injuries, stinging them.

Riko heard the whine of a shuttle engine, and looked up to see a Crix-class assault shuttle land on the platform. The landing ramp lowered.

No, Riko thought as he tried to stand up, managing to do so barely, and began to run towards the shuttle.

He was too late.

Tau, Asharr, and Harkaq boarded the shuttle, with Jade in tow behind them. The landing ramp raised, and the shuttle flew off.

Riko ran back towards the Wild Nomad, whose bow looked like the ship had flown into a star and barely escaped.
Luckily, the landing ramp was still intact.

"We gotta go after them! They have Jade!" Riko yelled as he entered the cockpit. Bao and Val were already at the controls, already lifting the vessel off of the platform.

"We can't shoot down the shuttle, kid. It's too much of a risk. And half our weapons aren't working, so it'll be hard to defend ourselves," Val said grimly.
"We can't just leave her!" Riko yelled, panicking.

"Don't worry Riko," Bao looked at his apprentice calmly, "We won't abandon Jade. I have no intention of leaving anyone behind."
Riko ignored him, looking up, just able to make out the shuttle entering the hangar of one of the largest vessels. And he could only watch helplessly as the fleet entered hyperspace.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Bao had waited too long to talk to his apprentice. It was clear now that his anger was getting the better of him.

Whatever doubt Bao held about his own teachings, he knew he couldn't let Riko fall.
"Riko," Bao said as he moved out of his chair, "I need to talk to you. In the cargo hold. Alone."
Bao was frightened by the expression he saw on Riko's face. Rage in its purest form. Anger that should never be seen on the face of a boy.

"All right," Riko obeyed, walking towards the cargo bay. Bao followed him.

Neither of them spoke during the way over. Bao preferred it that way. He wanted to give Riko a moment to calm himself.

It didn't seem to work.

Bao entered the cargo hold after Riko did so. Bao proceeded to close the hatch.

"All right, Riko," Bao said calmly, taking a deep breath, "I have a plan on how to find Jade. I need your help…"
"My help?" Riko interrupted, "You haven't asked for my help on anything important! Scrap it, you haven't taught me anything! And you're supposed to be my master!"

Bao didn't make an attempt to calm Riko down. He could tell that it was a lost cause for the moment. Riko would have to wear himself out and face his anger, instead of running from it.

"You never taught me anything! Not one lesson on the Force, not once sequence on how to wield a lightsaber, nothing! You're an embarrassment to the Order's masters, Bao! You're just a knight who was promoted too quickly!" Riko collapsed, sobbing. Riko, who had made a point to bury his emotions deep down.

Bao was deeply hurt by his words. Though Jedi were trained to avoid anger, they weren't prevented from ever being affected by the words people say.

The reason Bao was impacted by those words was because Riko was almost right. Bao had neglected Riko's training. Perhaps he had taken on too much responsibility.

Bao sat down next to Riko, "You're right, Riko," he admitted, "I was promoted too quickly, thrust into a role I wasn't completely ready for. Maybe I wasn't ready at all. Maybe I'm still not ready."
Bao placed a manus on Riko's shoulder, noticing that the boy shuddered slightly, "But, it is a slight exaggeration to say I didn't play any role in your training. Perhaps I did, if not directly."
Riko raised his head, "Not directly?"
"Yes," Bao confirmed, "Not directly. Remember when I told you that Jedi learn through experience, not in classes? Think back. I placed you in situations where you did learn things."
"The battle above Corsin," Riko recalled, "I guess I started learning not to act without thinking."
"Started?" Bao asked, confused.
"I still challenged Tau without thinking. I just wanted to save Jade," Riko admitted.

"I understand," Bao assured him, "You wanted to save a friend. That's not a bad thing, though it would be good to think before acting."
"I guess I should have learned that," Riko showed a faint hint of a smile, "I guess I still can, I'm hoping this isn't an excuse for you to be a lazy teacher."
Bao sissed weakly.

"So you were teaching me indirectly," Riko reasoned, "I never thought of it."
"I wasn't teaching you," Bao decided, "Life was, forcing you to apply the skills you were taught and develop new ones. I just have a hand in it."

Riko gave no response. Bao was silent for a moment. When he spoke, he admitted, "For most of my life, I never intended to take an apprentice. But you opened my mind."

"How come?"

"I saw your determination, your difficulties, your pain, and I realized something. Like you said, I do feel unready to be a master sometimes. To be a protector, to be the guard that protects the nest from the darkness, that's my comfort zone, it's what I know. I chose you because I saw how similar and different you are."

"Jade always told me that we impose our own limits, even as we find our strengths."

"Tau taught me the same principle. We all have our strengths, sometimes we may find them where we never expected."

"Okay," Riko's tone grew serious, "So how are we going to find Jade?"
Bao was silent for the moment, considering how to explain what he was about to say, then spoke, "One reason I chose both you and Jade was because of the unique bond between you both. This connection you've developed. I didn't want to break you two apart."
Riko determined his plan, "You want me to try to find Jade using this ability. I don't know if that's possible over a distance of light years. Jade's probably halfway across the galaxy by now."
Bao knew what to say next, "Sometimes Force-users have unique abilities, things that others struggle with but they do without thinking. Now, Jade's a very powerful Force-user, despite her age. And one of the abilities she has is her connection with others. If you could somehow get a signal to her, she might be able to give you a general sense of where she is."
"I don't know if Luke Skywalker could do that, Bao," Riko shook his head, "But if it's our only shot, I'll try it."
Bao considered his words, searching his memories of his Jedi training for an alternate solution. He then recalled a lesson his master had given him on meditation.

And the answer came to him.

"Remember the day I first introduced myself to you?" Bao asked.

"Yes," Riko responded.

"I mentioned you might have precognitive abilities. All Jedi have them to a limited degree, with enhanced reflexes and the like."
"Jade told me a story of how Luke, during his training, experienced a vision of his friends in danger," Riko responded, "You want me to try meditating to see if I can find Jade. So I'll see the future?" He sounded excited, if daunted.
"The future is always in motion," Bao quoted, "Whatever you will see will just be a possible future."
Riko's voice sounded nervous. The prospect of precognition had excited Bao too, he remembered, the first time he had learned of it, "So we will try to either prevent or cause whatever I see."
"Of course," Bao said, "We'll prepare for the worst, but hope for the best."
"Very well," Riko's voice was nervous. Bao could tell that it was at the prospect of such a daunting task. He didn't doubt that Riko could do it. Changing the topic, Riko asked, "Is there any hope of arresting Tau?"

"We still have the datatapes. I doubt we can wait to rescue Jade, though. We'll have to prepare," Bao eyed the stacks of boxes that, even days later, were still scattered out around the room, "I think it's time I took a leaf out of your book, Riko. I'll need a new saber."

"Wait," Riko walked up to the cargo bay's primary shelf and grabbed something atop it. He presented a lightsaber, forged in the uniform design of the Imperial Knights, to Bao.

"This was Kara's," Riko presented as Bao stood up, "Thalia left it here, I'm guessing she was planning on placing it in a memorial or something. I don't think she'd mind, considering our situation." He handed the weapon to Bao. Bao took it, getting a feel of the weapon in his hands. It felt a little awkward; it was small, he could barely hold it in both hands, and it didn't quite fit into his palm the way his old one had. He supposed that he would learn to adjust his style.

"Thank you, Riko," Bao said with genuine gratitude. Although he would have preferred to assemble his own weapon, it would take time; time they might not possess.

"I'll go meditate," Riko said, "We'll know where to go soon!" His outward optimism concealed his nervousness.

Riko began to walk out.

"Riko," Bao said before Riko left, "There's always a solution to every problem, sometimes it's just harder to find. Sometimes it's easier to take the easy path, the one that steers away from the real challenge."
Bao stood up and moved towards Riko, "Don't take the easy path. Accepting the real challenge is inherent to our nature."

As Riko turned and left, Bao remembered how similar to Riko he had felt at the beginning of his training. The hatchling from Eqalz II, in the wake of the death of his parents, newly a student at the temple on Atarashi'ie, had faced a daunting beginning in his days as a Jedi.

Bao had wondered, several times, if this was why he never became a master of the Force, instead becoming a master of the lightsaber, whether he had taken the easy path.

As Bao had told Riko, Tau had once said, in the earliest days of Bao's apprenticeship, "A Jedi's training never truly ends. We're always learning new skills with the lightsaber, expanding our experience with the Force, determining our sense of morality and how it overlaps with the Jedi Code. Never assume your skills are complete. The only limits are those you place upon yourself."

However misguided Tau had become, Bao now knew those words to be true. In contrast to that creed, he had directed his talents in one direction, taken the easy path. Now, they would have to take on new directions, in light of his failure to defeat the man who did not limit himself. Bao was now firmly committed to the Force, and it would be his domain. It would be the frontier he would push for as long as he lived.

Bao activated his new lightsaber, a white glow encompassing the bay, beginning to practice his sequences. The Force might be his new frontier, but every explorer had a home to return to. After all, sometimes one had to return to the familiar road before venturing again.

When he finished, he walked to the cockpit.

"Val," he announced, "The datatape. We need to review it again."
"Got it," Val grabbed it from his belt and inserted it into the ship's computer. Bao moved to the adjacent seat and attempted to access the records.

A red Access Denied flashed across the screen.

"I...I don't get it," Bao said after a few minutes of trying to hack in, "Why isn't it granting me access?"

"Apparently the files have a built-in firewall for unwanted guests," Val guessed, "That doesn't make sense."
"Exactly, Val, your portable holoprojector was able to access the data…"
"That's it!" Val said epiphanically, "Remember the Hallion raid?" "Yes." Bao responded, remembering Val's botched attempt to capture the director of the Guli Syndicate. He already pieced together what Val was about to say when he responded with, "That holoprojector belonged to the director. It must have override codes programmed into its software. That's how I accessed the info."
"What are we waiting for? Let's access that drive."
"Yeah, about that," Val added. Bao almost groaned as Val said, "I left it on Taris."
"Val...!" Bao yelled, flashing his teeth in frustration.
"Hey! We had to get the fierfek out of there! We were lucky I was able to save the datatape! I didn't realize the holoprojector was so special! Calm down, ner vod!"

Bao took several deep breaths, attempting to contain his anger. Val was right.

"It's been a long day, Val," Bao finally said, "If we can't access the datatape here, we need to find a place with officials with the codes to access the information."

Cargo bay

After retrieving and eating a breadroot patty spiced with small alkazbira leaves from the ship's stores, Riko retired to the crew quarters, which was comprised of a row of three three-by-four meter rooms, each with two bunks arranged vertically. Moving into the room he and Jade had shared, he recalled how Thalia had avoided sleep, instead drawing on the Force while meditating for a few hours at a time so she could fly the ship's night shift.

Riko sat down in the middle of the floor, closing his eyes, pushing the memories away. He had barely known Thalia, though she was a kind, caring woman, and he still felt sadness at her passing. He couldn't imagine how bad it had felt for Jade.

Thinking about these events made him briefly recall Kali'sto. Though he had learned to set aside his grief at his adoptive father's absence from his everyday life, every now and then, it crept up on him.
Normally, he would want Niner or Jade to talk to when he thought about that day two years ago, but right now he would have to focus. Jade's escape depended on it.

Riko calmed himself by mentally reciting the Jedi code, emphasizing the first phrase; There is no Emotion, there is Peace.

He couldn't do it, he couldn't calm his mind, simply setting aside his emotions and distractions never worked.

There's a solution to every problem.

Riko decided to open up a bit, instead of closing out, focusing on his concern for Jade. If he couldn't focus, if he couldn't find her, he'd lose her. The spikes of fear manifested in his gut, Riko shuddered. Instead of closing it out, he tried to pry open his mental guard.

Peace is a lie, there is only passion. The opening line of the Sith mantra echoed in his head. For a moment, Riko reconsidered doing this, he wondered whether he was taking the easy path.

Then he remembered he'd lose his best friend if he didn't do this, and let the fear flow through him, sharpening his determination and focusing his mind on his friend.

This approach worked, he felt...invigorated, ready to do this, pushing aside his fear in favor of a stronger emotion; desire.

A number of images began to race through Riko's mind; he tried to focus with anticipation.

He saw Asharr's mask, the flash of lightsabers, utilitarian corridors, a stormy night.

Focus on Jade, Riko thought to himself. The images slowed and became clear; he saw a guide made of metal and electricity guiding him to a massive platform in a structure extending to the stars, chained to a dark planet located in a system with five planets, ancient, full of dark secrets, a nexus of the Dark Side…

Riko's heart beat with elation. He had found the location! There was little doubt in his mind that he would find Jade there. He was just about to end the experience, pull himself away from the visions to identify the system, when a horrifying image assaulted his consciousness. He saw himself dueling Jade. Both wielded their blades viciously.

Riko ushered a mental scream, attempting to pull himself out even as he saw, to his shock, his own lightsaber impaling Jade's torso.

No, no…..No!

Riko opened his eyes. He was lying on the floor, his forehead drenched in sweat.
Riko moved over, and saw Niner's green eyes staring at him. The patchwork droid asked, "Is you alright, Riko?"
Riko grabbed Niner's hand and the droid helped pull him up, even though the droid was at least a foot shorter than his creator.

"What happened?" Riko turned and saw Bao in the room, Kara's lightsaber clutched in his right manus.

"It's nothing," Riko lied, "I just saw something terrifying while I was searching for Jade."
"What was it?" Val asked as he entered the cargo hold.

"I saw visions of a skyhook on a dark planet in a Sith system…the Dromund System. Maybe it was strong in the Dark Side, and that frightened me."

"Dromund Kaass," Bao clarified. If he could tell that Riko was holding something back, he gave no sign of it.
And was Riko lying anyway? For all he knew, the Dark Side had an effect on visions, causing people to see the worst possible scenarios. For all he knew, the future he had seen war near-impossible.

Yes, that made sense. Riko was only seeing the worst-possible scenario.

"Who was there?" Bao asked, "What was the background, were there people who looked like government officials?"
"I...I don't know," Riko responded. The vision was already retreating into his subconscious, many precise details eluding him. "I think that Tau was there, or something relating to him. Why?"
"I'll explain later," Bao responded, "Get some rest, we'll need you at full strength."

As Riko moved onto one of the racks, he could hear Bao saying "Val, this could be it…" He ignored them. He was tired. On top of that, he would need time alone.

"Niner, can I have my reading padd?"

"Here," Niner removed the reading padd from his torso.

But even after Bao and Val left, with Niner moving to recharge in the cargo bay, Riko felt unsettled.

Reading the latest chapter of Tionne Solusar's Ballad of Juhani didn't quiet his mind or even distract him.

And when he closed his eyes, all he could see was the murderous look on Jade's face.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Consortium Star Destroyer Corsair

Jade woke up in an environment she never expected. An officer's quarters aboard a starship. She would have expected a prison cell or interrogation room, with guards. Instead, if one judged her status based on the room she was in, she would have looked like a guest.

Pushing that thought aside, she swung her legs over the bed and stood up. Instinctively, she looked on her belt and saw that her lightsaber was missing.

That didn't surprise her, considering that she was most likely a prisoner.

The door to her room opened, and none other than her father entered. He looked weary, as if he hadn't been able to sleep.

Tau moved to a nearby chair and sat down in it. Jade didn't know what to say. Her father was a traitor, her mother was dead, and she didn't know where in the galaxy the ship she was on was located.

For several minutes, neither of them spoke. Jade sensed regret and remorse, a sense of duty, fear, a desire to explain what had truly happened, from her father.

"I imagine you hate me for what I've done," Tau finally said. Jade honestly didn't know. She didn't know how long her father had been a spy for the Consortium. Maybe it was a recent decision, and maybe he had been a traitor for all of Jade's life and she never knew it.

Jade remembered Harkaq and the Dark Jedi with the strange, artificial Force-presences. Maybe Tau wasn't acting of his own free will. He showed none of the signs that Harkaq had exhibited, but he was a Jedi master. Perhaps his agent was a better actor than the rest of them.

Jade tried to look at Tau's aura. She felt weariness, sadness, and guilt coming from him, but she could find no hint of the strange presence she had noticed in Asharr's Dark Jedi.

From what she could tell, Tau was acting of his own accord.

"Why?" Jade simply asked.

Tau sighed, "I hated doing it, killing my comrades and friends. But I did it for a noble purpose, Jade."
"What's noble about being a spy and betraying your friends, your family?" Jade questioned.

"I did it for peace," Tau explained, "I did it because the Force falls out of balance. The other Jedi, the masters, they would never accept our philosophy. Trillions of people would continue to die in wars. It has to stop. The Force has to be balanced."
"And your solution was to kill anyone who didn't agree with you."
"Not all of them," Tau corrected, "My intent was to only kill the High Council, the galaxy would have believed that they had died at the hands of Master K'Kruhk in an attempt to end the feud between the two sides. The attack was Asharr's plan, meant to erase any evidence that I was involved. Everyone will believe that the Alliance attacked the temple, the Alliance Chief-of-State and Master K'Kruhk a member of a conspiracy."
"You're blaming your friend and Chief Theron," Jade was disgusted by his plan. He would frame beings who were innocent. "I will take as few lives as I can," Tau's voice no longer sounded regretful, "I will ask Theron to turn himself in. I will have to do something about Asharr, I can no longer trust that she will obey my orders."
"Wait," Jade interrupted, "You don't answer to Asharr?"
"Jade, Asharr was supposed to answer to me."
Jade looked away. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Yes, Jade. I am the one behind all of this."
Jade couldn't bear it anymore. She lashed out and grasped Tau's throat in the Force, anger flooding her mind.

Though shocked, Tau was able to raise a hand, sending Jade back towards the wall, gently pressing her up against the durasteel hull.

He threw up a Force-shield, blocking Jade's attack, coughing.

"I'm sorry Jade," Tau apologized, tears visible in his eyes, "I hope you can understand one day."

Cockpit, Wild Nomad, Atarashi'kei System

"No way Bao, not this time."

"Val, we have to go there. It's the way to find Jade."
"To heck with finding Jade," Val said, "We can bring this tape to the Triumvirate! They can analyze it, find the info, and help us!"
"Tau's probably got warrants on our heads by now. Even if we found someone willing to help, it would take them too long to decrypt the tape…."
"Bao, listen…"
"We'd be wanted fugitives by then, if we aren't now. Tau is taking Jade somewhere important, someplace with important officials…"
"We still can't go to some Imperial stronghold by ourselves!" The Dromund system and the space around it was now Imperial territory. The Stygian Caldera was controlled by Moff Arkus Itecht, who was not only a known militarist, but also the Moff who had secured funding from the Consortium, his aide was the commander of the stormtrooper squad Val had intercepted in the archive on Taris.

"Val, you do this all the time. You have to understand," Bao was growing weary of the argument.
"No. I can't. I've done my job, now I'm done. I've lost enough getting caught up in Jedi business."
Bao was silent. It was clear that Val had an agenda in the matter, though. Bao needed to find out what it was.

"Val, you don't want us to go on the mission," Bao stated, "Clearly you have motives in our safety. I want to know what they are."
"W-well," Val stuttered, an uncommon trait in the Mandalorian, "You're my friend. I don't want you to die, of course."
"We've undertaken missions that were just as risky, and you never complained. Why now?" Bao knew that Val was just trying to make excuses, "Tell me Val!"

"Alright!" Val shouted, "Remember that woman I was involved with fifteen years ago, Miranda? Her last name was Nai-Jal."
Vaguely recalling Val's description of the aspirant healer, Bao suddenly saw where this was headed. He also felt surprised. Val, a parent?
"Riko looks like her. I don't know yet specifically, I asked Emdee to do a DNA test to find out, but she hasn't gotten around to it."

For a moment, Bao was silent as he considered his next words.

"Val, consider this," he finally said, "Riko cares deeply about Jade. They've been friends for years. They have a bond which few Jedi develop. If you don't help us, or even let us rescue her, he'll never forgive you."

Val was silent. It was clear that he had given in.

"Don't worry Val," Bao assured him, "I'll keep Riko out of danger. I promise that he will return safely and in one piece. But we need a pilot and a ship. We need you. So, will you help us?"
Val was silent for a moment. Then he spoke, "I'll do it on one condition. Don't tell Riko. If he is my son, I should be the one to tell him."
"Agreed." Bao detested the idea of keeping secrets from Riko, but it would be worth it.

"All that's left is to find the planet's coordinates. We could fly back to the temple..."

"Actually, we might have them," Val explained. He accessed the datatape.

"Val, the transcripts are encoded..."
"Not the source of the transmissions!" Val explained, "The coordinates are still accessible." A series of numbers appeared on the vessel's holoprojector.

Val nodded. Bao went to the navicomputer keypad and began typing in the sequence. After accidentally Taris on the navigational map, he typed in the second set of numbers.

Those coordinates led past the Stygian Caldera, into ancient Sith space. There was no record of that particular star system in the ship's database.

"That has to be Dro..dromun," Val started.

"Dromund Kaass," Bao clarified.

"It's a good thing I found that stormtrooper," Val commented. Bao could tell how nervous Val was behind his strong demeanor.

The Jedi Knight proceeded to sit down and set the navicomputer to program a route to that world.

"Wait, we're going now?" Val asked.

"We'll just have to steer clear of the cruiser, and we'll be fine," Bao responded.

Within minutes, the navicomp showed a route that would take them through the Caldera's heart and into the specific system.

"Okay..." Val entered the pilot's seat, "Strap in."

The Wild Nomad lifted out of the atmosphere and flew off into the sky, jumping to lightspeed. Curiously, the Consortium warship made no attempt at pursuit.

Mess Hall, Corsair, en route to Dromund Kaas

Tau felt no desire to converse with anyone, or even confront his feelings. This was one of his greatest fears, that he would be forever shunned by those who loved him. Hating himself, that was a price he had long accepted and would be happy to eternally pay, but he had always had the validation that he was protecting his daughter, his family. Now, with his lover dead, his apprentice loose and on the run, and his daughter's hatred, he no longer could say that.
Despite the rumors, Andoan ale couldn't completely drown out something that clawed at him that deeply, no matter how many bottles he drank.

"I wish to be alone, Asharr," Tau said as he felt his old friend approach him.

"Tau," she sat down to him. It had been quite a struggle to bring her to his cause, but at the end of the day, her motives weren't quite so different from his. Tau knew that he couldn't fully trust her anymore, even before he had harmed her greatest love.

It was a shame, she was a close family friend and bore so much promise.

"Tell me, Asharr," Tau requested, still sounding surprisingly sober, "Am I doing the right thing?"

"Of course you are, Tau," Asharr assured him, sitting next to him, "We've won. Our vision will come to pass."

"I lost all of my closest friends, my lover is dead, my daughter hates me," Tau hissed, "I have lost almost everyone I care about. Our family was deeply hurt today. Now tell me, am I doing the right thing?"

"You placed the needs of others before your own," Asharr replied, "That's a Jedi value, isn't it?"

Tau looked into Asharr's HUD. She wouldn't remove her mask in the company of others, she had grown that comfortable within that identity. It sometimes worried Tau, had his friend truly been swallowed up by Asharr's mask? It was far more probable, especially considering the events of the day.

"Maybe you're right," Tau admitted, "I still have one person I still care about in this universe. And I should try to keep her safe."

"You really should," Asharr removed her mask and retrieved another bottle from the shelves. For a while, they comforted each other, Tau was comforted by the fact that she herself seemed shocked, for reasons that seemed obvious to him. At least he had one link, one means of potentially keeping Asharr in check, if she was no longer trustworthy.
Eventually, Asharr departed. Shortly afterwards, Tau was happy that he had at least prevented the Jedi Order from devolving into the regulation obsessed band of enforcers it had become before the rise of the Empire, and was on track to complete the evolution that had begun with Luke Skywalker.

Long after Asharr had departed, Tau began to fear that he had doomed himself and compromised his daughter's safety by divulging how much Jade meant to him.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Wild Nomad, Entering Dromund System

Riko had not told anyone about his vision. His silence had been nagging at him the past few days as the Nomad limped into hyperspace hours behind the fleet, estimated to be less than a day behind. He had tried to bury it by reading, training, anything. Even working on Niner, as he was now, didn't succeed, hours earlier, he had actually nicked himself in his left index finger with his hydrospanner whilst attempting to realign Niner's shoulder servo.

"Riko, we need you in the cockpit," Bao's voice sounded over the ship's intercom.

"Give me a minute, I'm almost done," Riko replied.

"Are you sure that you wish to update me in that fashion?" Niner asked as Riko finished installing a stun blaster, minus the handgrip, in the droid's left forearm, just behind the hand.

"Niner, if you're going to come with us, you'll have to learn how to defend yourself."

Niner was still trembling slightly.
"You'll be fine," Riko assured him, "If you do come, just stay close to me and Bao."

The droid was silent for a few moments. Riko didn't want to place the droid into danger. He hoped that he wouldn't have to.

Niner stared at his arm blaster, and then quickly moved it into a firing position. His head swiveled to face Riko, hoping for approval.

"Let's go," Riko said, standing up and checking his own gear. Val had provided him and Bao full access to al of his gear. Supplementing his lightsaber, Riko had also outfitted himself with a stun blaster of the same type as Niner's, as well as a grappling hook. His backpack was filled with a full kit: a medpac, water bottle, power pack with recharging cord for his lightsaber, and ration bar. He had donned a hooded raincloak in preparation for visiting Dromund Kaas' stormy surface.

Completing his getup, however, were his new goggles. Built into a synthleather headset that strapped around his forehead and scalp, covered his ears, and terminated in a buckle under his chin, the goggles were attached into a pair of circular servos built into the earflaps, which resulted in a flipdown goggle set. The headpiece included a built-in comlink that connected to a microphone located right next to Riko's mouth.

Riko loved it, he was wearing it now. This was the first time he had worn them in front of Niner.

"What do you think?" Riko asked as he grabbed the goggles and pulled them over his eyes, the servos rotating the protective eyegear and locking them into position.

"Oooh. We match!" Niner commented. Riko felt a little uneasy attempting to distract Niner on the eve of battle, but he was at least happy to dispel some of the tension.

He walked to the cockpit, with Niner rolling up behind him.

"Okay, Riko," Bao said as the boy entered the Vagrant, "This is it. I need you to see if Jade is here."

"Okay," Riko closed his eyes. He had tried to meditate prior to this event, but every time he tried, he kept seeing the duel between himself and Jade.

He would do his best to prevent that future from ever occurring.

It was difficult, sensing Jade's presence from this distance. Dromund Kaas was strong in the dark side of the Force, and this far away, it was hard to find anyone located in close proximity to that cursed world.

Then Riko felt her. A mostly light-side presence, with strong hints of anger, that was almost impossibleto find, but it was unmistakable.

Jade, Riko projected, hoping Jade could hear him, We're nearby. Don't worry, we're coming.

"She's here," Riko smiled, opening his eyes, "It was hard finding her this close to Dromund Kaas, the Dark Side's pretty strong there, pretty hard to find people close to it from this far away.

"So I'm not an expert on ancient history," Val said, altering the topic, "I know that Dromund Kaas was a Sith planet, but not much else."

"A Sith armada relocated here after the Great Hyperspace war," Riko began...
"Let's just say that there's a reason most star charts don't have this system on it," Bao commented, "Even to the Jedi the location of this planet is restricted to members of the High Council."

"Oh. State secret," Val commented.

"This is a world of dark secrets, secretss best kept hidden," Bao responded.

Riko looked out the viewport as they moved closer to Dromund Kaas, a dark world whose surface was covered in marshlands that endured endless storms. He had no doubt, this was the planet in his vision. Jade was be here.

"Woah!" Val shouted, "What is that?"

Orbiting the planet, guarded by a Star Destroyer and a small number of support craft, its bright light standing out against Dromund Kaas's gloom, was a spherical space station, the size of a Star Dreadnought.

"Reminds me of a holo I once saw of the Death Star," Bao said.

"What is Death Star?" Niner asked, rolling into the cockpit.

"A superweapon the Old Empire built back before Luke Skywalker was a Jedi," Riko explained.

"Wait, you're not saying Itecht's building a superweapon," Val responded. He paused before adding, "Are you?"

Riko was able to get a clearer look at the station the closer they got. Unlike the Death Star, however, the structure appeared to rely on a metal framework that connected to a large tower in the center of the station that covered from pole to pole and branched out into two large metal structures resembling bands, one horizontal and the other vertical, that encircled the structure.

Riko checked the sensors. There wasn't any apparent space for a superlaser or propulsion system. At this distance, Riko could make out the large pole that tethered the spherical structure to the planet's surface, as well as a faint triangular shape attached to it.

"No, this is just a skyhook," Riko assured Val.

Riko glanced at the sensor screen, confirming that a Pellaeon class destroyer was docked to the station's planetary tether. He was surprised to see the destroyer suddenly start descending towards the planet's surface, still attached to the spire, clearly carried down by some kind of turbolift system.

"It's apparently an elevator for large starships," Riko said, "There's got to be some kind of supply depot on the surface."
"That has to be Asharr's ship," Bao responded.

"Moff Itecht clearly has a taste for the old days," Val proclaimed.

Riko had been briefed on Val's encounter with stormtroopers on Taris, as well as the man who controlled this region of space. Arkus Itecht was one of the Moffs that sat among the Imperial Council, the Director of the Imperial Security Bureau, and a known recluse. He controlled many territories that had formerly belonged to the Sith Empire, and ostensibly kept particularly dangerous worlds like this one under lockdown.

A hologram appeared on the control panel. It was an image of a Duros in an Imperial uniform.

"This is restricted space. Please state your purpose in this system, and transmit an authorization code," the Duros requested.

"We're transferring, uh…"

"Supplies for the station!" Niner improvised.

Riko didn't know if this would go well.

"Specify," The Duros ordered.

"Food, metal, water, basics," Niner said.
Riko groaned. Many of the Nomad's weapons were still offline, they weren't prepared for another dogfight.

"Authorization code," The Duros requested.

"Give us a minute," Val said as he cut the connection.

"Wait, Val!" Bao exclaimed, "We won't make it to the station."
"We'll just have to go full speed," Val suggested, "We'll leave on the Vagrant."
"We're abandoning ship?" Riko asked.
"No," Val corrected, to Riko's relief, "Emdee's programmed with pilot training. I just need to get us close enough to drop us into the atmosphere, then Emdee will fly the Nomad away from the station until we contact her."

"No offense to Emdee," Riko replied, "But I think that you should fly the Nomad and drop me and Bao off."

"You might need me in there," Val protested.

"Riko's right," Bao agreed, "We need you out here. Once we've found Jade, we'll head to a terminal and contact you. Until then," Bao grinned toothily, "Try to keep the Ties off our backs."

Val groaned, "Alright. But you have to take that annoying pile of junk with you."

"Really?" Riko asked.

"Yep," Val responded.

Riko was admittedly reluctant. While he had speculated that Niner might have to accompany them, or at least see combat, he didn't want to put the little droid in any more danger.

Then again, either way, the droid would be in a lot of trouble. Whether being chased by TieXs on a damaged freighter or accompanying a Jedi Knight and his Padawan aboard a Consortium craft that was docked with an Imperial station…

"Deal," Riko shook Val's hand. Though he was afraid for Niner's safety, he wanted Niner to be within his sight. Their mission was to rescue Jade, transcribe their intel, nothing more. They had no plans to arrest Tau or Asharr or anything, not on their own.

"What weapons do we still have?" Bao asked.

"We have the chaingun, the primary cannon, and one missile. That's about it," Val replied.

"Let's hope that's enough."

"Good luck Bao," Val said, handing him the datatape. Then his eyes turned to Riko. Riko didn't need the Force to tell that Val was worried about him. He couldn't tell why, though.

"May the Force be with you, Riko," Val said.

"Likewise," Riko replied.

"We can do this," Niner responded, "I'm lucky."

He'll be fine, Riko thought as his gut squirmed.

Val walked off the Vagrant and back into the Nomad's corridor. Bao walked to a control panel on the door's starboard and closed it. No one spoke as Bao took his seat at the pilot's chair, as Riko sat adjacent to his teacher, as Bao fired up the Vagrant's systems. For a few moments, there was simply silence.

"What pile of junk?" Niner asked, breaking the silence, "We do not have any debris here."

Bao sissed, almost thrashing his sides. Riko could tell that he was laughing.

Niner just brimmed with confusion, obviously oblivious to Val's insult. The little droid had probably assumed he was accompanying the two Jedi no matter what.

Riko was silent and simply stared ahead at the station. Even as he kept thinking to himself, We'll find Jade, it'll be okay, the image of Jade attempting to kill him was most prominent in his thoughts.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Jade's guest quarters, Pellaeon class Star Destroyer Corsair

Jade's newfound insomnia had nothing to do with the stormy gloom that now permeated through the viewport.

There was only one person who entered and exited the room, and she had no intention to discuss her roiling emotions with him.

Jade had no one to talk to, no one with whom to work through the mom-shaped hole in her life, no one to help her cope with the shattering of her worldview.

It was times like this that she wished the most for Riko.

Lying down on her bed, Jade recalled the day she first met her best friend. He had been forced to deal with the loss of a parent, possibly forever. Jade's advice had been that Riko would know if his father had died, and that he would one day see him again.

Jade had known merely a fraction of the emotions Riko had felt that day. Until now.

Jade, a voice echoed in Jade's head. Riko's voice.

We're nearby. Don't worry, we're coming.

Elated, Jade prepared to respond. But she was interrupted by the sound of a lightsaber activating. It was muffled, coming from the other side of the door.

Something was going on.

Jade knew better than to automatically assume that Riko and Bao were on the other side of the door. If she listened carefully, she could just make out voices over the clashing of lightsabers.

"Lord Asharr, what are you…..Aaaaghh!" Jade felt a deep sensation of horror emanating from the outside of the room. Her mind recoiled from it, she backed away towards the refresher.

The door opened. A familiar figure stepped through, wielding a red lightsaber. Next to it stood a female nautolan clad in Jedi robes whose presence in the Force felt eerily artificial.

"Hello, Jade."

Jade didn't hesitate. She sprinted into the refresher, locking the door.

Her heart pounding, Jade examined her options. One, wait for the Dark Jedi to break though and capture her. Two, attempt to fight her way out. Or three…

Jade looked up. She saw a vent on the ceiling in the small room. It was too small for a typical adult human to pass through, but Jade might be able to fit in there….

A red lightsaber blade cut through the door and began to slice a portal into the room. Jade knew which option to go with.

She looked at the vent and extended her hand towards it. The grate fell to the floor with a sharp clang.
Jade cursed her clumsy efforts to sneak away.
As the blade was halfway finished cutting through the door, Jade jumped, managing to grab ahold of the opening in the vent.

The vent's edge dug into the skin of her hands. For one moment, she struggled to pull up the weight of her body.

She succeeded, and was able to drag herself inside.

The tube was narrow, the temperature a little colder than Jade felt comfortable with. But she had no doubt she could move through.

With a last effort, she grabbed the grate through the Force and moved it back into its original position.

She didn't look back. She just kept crawling forward.

Wild Nomad cockpit

Val sat down, taking up his mother's old chair, facing the wide, rectangular viewport. The room now felt cramped compared to the bubble viewport of the Vagrant. Val didn't like this part of the vessel; it was too old, too cramped, too full of memories.

"Incoming transport, please exit the system!"

The Nomad couldn't push through all those ships alone, especially not in her current state.

"Emdee, I need you in the gunner's seat! Now!" Val yelled, activating the intercom to the medbay.

"Val, can't one of the Jedi man the guns?"

"Incoming transport, leave or we will open fire!"

"Just get your besk'shebs up here now, I need all hands on deck," Val said.

"Very well." A minute later, the computer-headed annoyance stumbled into the cockpit, hovering towards the gunner's turret.

"My specific targets?"

"Any TIE/X's or cruisers in range. Hell, just target anything that shoots at us," Val ordered.
"Aye aye, Captain," Emdee said somberly. Now they were ready, or as ready as they would be to fly through an Imperial patrol to drop off an escape pod flown by two Jedi and a broken droid.

Jade had continued for what she guessed was about half an hour. She was shivering in the dry cold of the tunnel. Through the grates in the vent, she could make a rough guess as to where she was going, where on the ship she was now.
Judging by the size of the room, she was located directly above the quarters of someone very important.

It didn't seem like the worst place to enter.

Jade kicked the grate down to the floor, catching it with the Force and ensuring that it landed softly. The girl then jumped and landed on her feet. Relieved to escape the claustrophobic tunnel, Jade looked around.

Clearly meant to provide lodgings for a very important official, this chamber was clearly some kind of living room, with a massive window, a table, chairs, a display case, and a desk, covered messily with datapads, crumpled-up flimsi, and pens. Jade could tell that the cruiser was descending towards a planet, one that appeared dark and stormy.

Jade's eyes came upon the case, which carried two weapons, and she was surprised to recognize not only one of her own lightsabers, but Riko's old lightsaber as well.

He'll be happy to have this back, Jade thought as she grabbed both weapons and affixed them to her belt.

Jade prepared to move back into the vents, but then the entrance opened. A shadow stepped through the portal, the doors quickly closing behind it. A familiar red lightsaber ignited from the warlord's hand with a hiss, like molten metal meeting water.

Asharr had found her.

"You're elusive," Asharr said, "I prefer that in an opponent."
Jade ignited her lightsabers and charged it.

The Dark Jedi easily blocked her attacks, while its own strikes were difficult for Jade to counter. Asharr's style was elegant and precise. Jade sliced, parried, swung, pivoted. She drew upon all of her training in lightsaber combat, but she couldn't defeat her. Asharr already seemed to understand her technique from the first swing.

Desperate, Jade sent a Force-blast her way. Asharr was blown a couple of feet away, only to land nimbly on its feet. Even before it hit the ground, it responded with a blast of their own. Jade raised a shield to deflect the worst of it, but she was still thrown across the room, knocking over the table. Both of her sabers flew from her hand.

Groaning, Jade was sure that she had at least suffered some bruises from the impact, if not worse, judging from the pain. She tried to rise, only to feel her limbs and torso pinned down by invisible hands.

"Not bad," Asharr complemented, moving towards Jade, "You truly have potential, Jade."

"What do you want?" Jade asked angrily.
"Tau has inflicted much upon you."
"He'll stop you," Jade stated weakly, now filled with panic.
"No he won't," Asharr responded solemnly, "Your revenge upon him, our revenge, is at hand."

Jade was starting to realize what was about to happen.

"No…"

"I am truly sorry.

"No...Please…!"

"I promise, it will be over soon."

"Please!" Jade begged, "Don't…!"

Vagrant Cockpit

Bao could already see a squadron of TieXs flying towards them. Despite their odds, he felt prepared. He trusted in his friend, in his apprentice, in the Force, and most importantly, in himself.

Then he heard Riko screaming, and turned towards his apprentice.

Riko convulsed, falling to the floor. He was clearly feeling pain, whether it was his or someone else's.

"Riko!" Niner grabbed his hand, "Riko! RIKO!"

Bao quickly lept out of his seat, not sure what to do.

"Riko!" He bellowed, "We're here, we're here."

The boy's voice grew silent, he low just lay still, panting.

"Is everything alright over there?" Val asked before explaining, "Emdee reactivated the comm channel without telling me, I heard everything."
"We're ok, Val," Bao responded halfheartedly, "I'll explain when this mission has ended."
"Alright," Val responded, "We're about to enter a real storm here. Buckle up."

"I felt Jade," Riko said, Niner helping him to his feet, "It felt like something horrible was happening to her. As if she was….." Riko's voice trailed off.
"I'm sorry Riko," Bao said grimly, assuming the worst.

"No," Riko said a little furiously, "It wasn't like that. More like…. Scrap it, I can't describe it. All I can say is that it felt painful, whatever it was."

"Hold on!" Bao heard Val's voice over the comm system. He got back into his seat and activated the Vagrant's ion cannon.

"Whatever it was," Bao said to Riko, "We'll find her. I promise."

As the TieXs opened fire, Bao hoped that the promise he had just made was one he could keep.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Val continually maneuvered the Nomad out of harm's way. More than once the freighter had been forced to take hits to its already damaged hull.

Val found himself wishing for Jade's help in this. Right now, he needed his new co-pilot.

Then again, if Jade had been onboard the vessel, there would be no need to rescue her. The entire mission would have been moot.

Now, Val wished more than ever for his new co-pilot.

"That destroyer's firepower is too strong!" Emdee pointed out.

"Not in the atmosphere!" Val responded. He angled the Nomad downward as he flew towards the skyhook. If he was flying in the exact right direction, there was no way a Star Destroyer would risk hitting any Imperial outposts on the planet's surface, or whatever osik they had down there.

"The fighters are still on us!" Emdee warned.

"Try not to let them make us a kriffing light show!" Val ordered.
"I hate this job…" Emdee grumbled.

Emdee's multiple limbs were useful when manning the gunner's chair, but she wasn't designed as a combat droid, and was never enthusiastic about her role.

The ship descended into the thermosphere, still pursued by TIE/xs. Val knew that would give him an edge, Xs weren't suited for atmospheric flight.

He just had to hope that Itecht didn't deploy Marauders or other craft that worked better in these stormy conditions.

As the Nomad entered the troposphere, the sensors picked up a rainstorm that surrounded the spire's base for miles.

"Dim the lights, transfer power to the shields," Val ordered. The control panel lit up in response to Emdee carrying this action out.

Across the rapidly approaching horizon, Val could see the clouds brewing, lightning flashing and thunder roaring.

"Here we go," Val said, taking a deep breath.

Rain splattered and lightning flashed, further weakening the ship's shields. The ship shuddered in the wind, just able to stay on course. With the lights off, the cockpit was filled with the dark blue-grey of Dromund Kaas' gloom, occasionally illuminated for a split second by the flash of lightning.

Val could just make out the spire, and the supply depot where it reached the ground. He was fifty miles from the drop off point, and five miles upward from the descending cruiser.

Val reactivated comms, "You holding up there?"

"It's a little bumpy," Riko responded, "And the lightning is scaring Niner."

"So, fine," Val summarized.

"Nothing we haven't dealt with before," Bao said.

Val felt much better hearing their voices.

"Marauders approaching!" Emdee yelled.

Val looked out the viewport, and he could just see them. TIE Marauders were multirole craft; designed to function in both space and atmosphere, they had far greater maneuverability, if less armament.

Even as blasterfire added to Val's feeling of being on a ship in stormy waters, he didn't change course, eventually being able to make out the descending cruiser, its bow facing outward from the spire.

They were nineteen miles from the cruiser, and two miles from the ground. Val decided to wait until they were closer to the surface before deploying the Vagrant.

The Nomad circled around the spire, descending at the same rate as the cruiser, her port side facing the tall elevator, slowly descending, attempting to outrun the Marauders. One minute passed: The starboard power converter was hit, the ship swaying as if it had taken a punch. Two minutes: Three marauders fell: one struck by lightning and fell to the ground, another hit by friendly fire from the station, and the third falling to the Nomad's cannon. Three minutes…

"Point-five miles to the ground," Emdee finally reported.

"Launch now, quickly!" Val ordered, activating the intercom.

"Understood," Bao replied.

"Thanks, Val," Riko spoke this time. Val hoped that the kid would make it back in one piece.
"May the Force be with you both," Val said right as the Vagrant shot out of the socket. As he deactivated the comm, he could hear Niner saying, "But there are three of…"

"Emdee, aim for the fighters and turbolasers! Draw them away from the Vagrant!" Val circled the depot, attempting to grab their attention for as long as possible.

Bao accelerated the Vagrant to its best possible speed right after it detached.

"May the Force be with you, Val," Bao said to himself as the Nomad departed. Luckily, most of the remaining Marauders had followed the Nomad, with only four pursuing the escape pod.

Vagrant Cockpit

"This will be rough," Bao warned Riko and Niner as he maneuvered the pod towards the destroyer. Flying a hovercraft, in a rainstorm, onto a destroyer with a sloping shape. He was lucky that the destroyer was facing them, rather than turned away.

"Hold on, Riko," Bao warned, securing his crash webbing.

The Vagrant approached one of the destroyer's forward viewports. Curiously, the destroyer wasn't firing.

Tau's probably expecting us.
Bao activated the shuttle's proverbial brake, causing the vessel to slow down with only five miles left to go, causing the Marauders to pass it.

"Fire, Riko!"
Riko fired the pod's ion cannon, sparking out all but one of the formerly pursuing fighters.

"They'll be alright, they can eject," Bao assured Riko immediately afterward. His sensors quickly confirmed that all three of the pilots whose craft Riko had hit had ejected.

Bao resumed his course, and quickly skidded the Vagrant onto a maintenance platform, the pod bumping as it crashed into the tower which the platform surrounded.

"They've landed," Emdee reported. Val then angled the Nomad away from the city, many of the fighters following. With luck, Dromund Kaas's atmosphere and terrain would be enough to hide the Nomad until the team was ready for extraction.

"Come on, follow me you mir'shebs, come on."

"We have to go! Now!" Bao moved out of his seat and opened the airlock. With difficulty, he was able to walk on the hall, unnerved by the same feeling of motion that he got whenever he was on a descending elevator. The wind and rain certainly didn't help matters as the cold of Dromund Kaas' unforgiving weather caressed his scales. Bao grabbed onto a railing, which presumably was used to help engineers move from airlocks to damaged areas of the ship during EVs.

"Come on, Riko!" Niner quickly ran out, grabbing onto the railing to steady themselves. Riko followed, his goggles pulled over his eyes.

Even over the clash of thunder and the howl of the wind, Bao heard the whine of a TIE engine.

"Riko!" Bao ran past Niner and tried to help his Padawan.

Sure enough, a Marauder opened fire on the Vagrant, consuming it in a spectacular fireball that threw both Bao and Riko over the railing. When they hit the ground, they slipped on the walkway's wet surface.

Bao tried to stabilize himself, but he could only grab onto the platform's edge with his manus, a fifty-foot drop awaited him. Whilst he might be able to survive the fall, he did not know if he could say the same for his Padawan.

Wild Nomad

"We're taking heavy fire!" Emdee yelled, "And we're being pursued again!"
The shields continued to weaken as Marauders pursued the Nomad through the cloud.

"One of the Marauders was hit by lightning!" Emdee reported, "the pilot's ejecting!"

Val was reassured.

As the clouds cleared, Val could see cliffs and peaks. A mountain range.

"Maybe we can lose them in those cliffs!" Val suggested, taking them in.

It didn't work as well as he hoped, and more than once the ship shuddered as it collided with rock.

As the Nomad approached a deep canyon, the display showed that the shields had failed completely.

"We could use a miracle!" Emdee yelled, continuing to fire regardless. Val wished that she wouldn't make his last moments annoying. Especially since she was mostly hitting the rocks instead of the Marauders, which were skimming close to the cliffs, flying in a tight formation.

Hitting the rocks…. Skimming the cliffs…a tight formation….
Val knew just what to do.

"Emdee! Take the helm!" Val got out of his seat and moved into the gunner's controls, arming the last of his seismic charges.
"Why?"
"I know how to take out the Ties! But I need you to make sure that we're flying deep that canyon! And prepare to pull out of the canyon at maximum speed!"
"Understood!" Val focused on targeting. He was sure that his ship would be caught in the blast, which was why they would have to accelerate their speed right before impact.

The ship flew deeper and deeper into the ravine, the Marauder pilots foolish enough to follow.

"Four-hundred meters to the floor," Emdee reported."

"Deeper, deeper…"

Their descent continued.

"Three-hundred meters…"

"Two-hundred meters…"

"One hundred fifty."

Val fired.

"Now! Accelerate!" Val yelled right before the force of the blast almost knocked him out of his chair. He heard the charge detonate and saw rocks begin to fall. The Dar'manda's heart hammered as the Nomad ascended.

Finally, the tremor that had seized the ship stopped, and Val, ignoring the subtle pain in his hip that was probably just a bruise, stood up and returned to his seat.

"No ships pursuing," he muttered as he checked his display, "Damage?" he asked Emdee.

"We've lost our rear cannon and the port engine is offline. We can't stay in the air for longer than thirty minutes."

Sweating, Val returned to the control panel, "Let me take the helm. Grab onto something."

After strapping on his crash webbing, Val angled the Nomad towards a cliff that had survived the blast. He felt the ship rock as it hit a small stone spire, causing Emdee to fall to the floor. At least, Val believed that was what the clanking sound he heard was.

He lowered the landing gear, engaging the emergency thrusters to move the bow of the ship away from the cliff's edge.
"Hold on!" Val said as the ship crashed onto the cliff and skied towards the edge, jolting him. The ship had turned almost 180 degrees and was continuing to move towards the edge. Val reactivated the working engine, hoping to stop the ship from falling off the precipice.

It worked. The ship skied to a halt half a dozen meters before the aft landing gear would have passed the cliff's edge.

"Emdee," Val said, "Let's never do that again."
"She wasn't built for speed. I wholeheartedly agree."

Corsair exterior

Riko was trying desperately to prevent himself from losing hope, but only his grip kept him from slipping off the tower and potentially off the ship. The prospect of not only dying, but being lost in the storms of this dark world horrified him.

He was barely able to support his weight, especially since the platform was dripping with rainwater, his fingers straining to keep their grip.

"Try...each th...ling!" Riko could just barely hear Bao's voice over the storm. He suspected that Bao was trying to tell him to pull himself up and reach for the railing.

The railing.

Almost instinctively, Riko reached out. At that moment, he could feel the vibration of the railing in the storm, bolted down to the surface of the cruiser. He willed the railing to flex and turn to the edge of the platform.

The railing began to flex and groan as it was pulled towards him. He heard the supports snap as it was torn off the platform, the metal continued to groan as it was pulled to assist him.

He looked to his right, and saw the sturdy metal pole moving towards him, with snapped supports jutting outward.

Riko quickly moved his hand, grabbing the railing just above one of the jutted edges. He grabbed it with his other hand, and placed his feet flat on the wall.

"Come on," Riko heard Niner's voice. That gave him strength. Riko grabbed the next support beam, and tried to move upward. Miraculously, he didn't slip. He continued, eventually moving back onto the platform.

Even as water droplets blurred the lenses of his goggles, Riko could just make out Niner, clutching the unbroken part of the railing for dear life, practically hugging it.

"Riko!"

"Bao!" Riko reached out again, feeling for Bao's presence. He was only a few meters from himself.

Riko telekinetically grabbed the broken pole and moved it towards his master.

"Climb up!"

Riko felt the pole shudder as someone grabbed it. A moment later, he saw Bao's toothy head as the Trandoshan climbed, making his way over the platform and towards Riko.

Riko wiped his goggle lenses, clearing out some of the water. He could see that Bao was brandishing his teeth, but it didn't intimidate Riko, for he knew that it was a smile of approval.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Corsair Interior

The cycle finished, the airlock opened, spilling its occupants into the destroyer's hall.

Riko held his lightsaber in front of himself, awaiting an ambush.

The corridor was of standard Imperial design, if a few decades out of date. The only indicator that the Empire no longer owned this vessel was the floor's scarlet paint, the same hue as the Intrika's.

There was no one. Riko was relieved, he enjoyed the idea that they would have a few minutes to catch his breath before the next inevitable crisis.

"It's clear," Riko declared, deactivating his saber and slicking his hair back from his face, glad to escape the storm.

Bao and Niner followed. Riko tapped the control panel and sealed the airlock behind them.

"It was cold," Niner said, "I should dry off soon."
Riko would have hugged Niner if it wasn't for his own desire to avoid getting wetter than he already was and the urgency of the mission.

"Let's find a terminal. We'll have to find our way to Jade." Riko remembered his vision.

"Bao," Riko admitted, "In my vision, I saw a droid helping me move through the facility, and it, it...it felt…"

"It felt?" Bao asked.

"...essential. Like we need it to finish the mission."

"Can you tell me anything else about this droid?" Bao asked.

Riko examined his memories of his vision again. Most of the details had faded, but he knew the droid wasn't humanoid-shaped…

"It had a domed head, with one visible eye," Riko recalled, then he realized, "Master, the droid is an astromech!"

"An astromech?" Niner asked.
"An astromech?" Bao repeated, "What did it look like?"

"Like I said, a domed head, one eye, blue and white color scheme...must be an R-series."

"R-series?" Bao responded, "They've been out of commission since my grandsire was hatched…Wait. I know one. Tau told me it was destroyed, years ago."

"You know it?" Riko asked.

"Yes. It belonged to Tau. A family heirloom. Where do we find it?"

"That part is hazier," Riko admitted.

"In that case, we should try to find a terminal. Let's try to access the datatape." Bao said.

For the next few minutes, they moved through the corridors, luckily, managing to avoid guards.
"There's one," Riko pointed. The trio ran towards it. Riko activated the console, and an image appeared on the screen.

"Okay," Riko said, accessing the drive, only to be met with an access denied. Riko was about to report on his failure when a shout jolted him.

"Hey! Stop right there!" Riko looked up and saw a human clad in a brown uniform with dark green highlights, overlaid by patches of armor.

"That's a commander's rank!" Bao said, reaching out with his hand and the Force.

"Wait, what are you…" the commander asked.

"You will give us the access codes required to view classified materials," Bao said. Riko knew what he was doing.

"I will give you...the access codes," the commander said. Perhaps he was resisting. Riko hoped that he wouldn't win.

The commander placed his hand into a pocket and plucked out a datachip, "This contains an override code for restricted files." He walked over and handed it to Bao.

"You are tired, you want to sleep, and when you wake up, you will forget you ever saw us," Bao finished.

"Yes sir," the commander replied before leaving. Riko simply looked at Bao.

"I thought you couldn't use mind tricks," Riko stated.

"I said I couldn't use Force Telepathy. Everyone can use mind tricks," Bao corrected him, handing him the datachip. Bao was proving himself to be more of an enigma than Riko had thought. He was proving to be a more interesting and different kind of teacher.

"Okay," Riko plugged the chip into a second access port on the terminal.

He attempted to access the drive, only to be met with another access denied. For one moment, Riko's mind was left recoiling at the realization of how difficult this mission would actually be. Then it dawned on him, "maybe that's what the droid's for, maybe it can access the file."

"Let's try to find this thing," Bao replied. Riko pulled up the cruiser's manifest and scrolled through the list, "Troops, weapons, starfighters, spare components…" he continued scrolling, "Droids! Maybe it's here!"
"Keep looking," Bao encouraged him.

"Okay," Riko looked through the list of droids aboard the ship. At the end, he felt nothing but disappointment. None of the droids he found on the list matched the droid in his vision.

"No luck," Riko said disappointingly.

"Maybe it's stored aboard the station," Bao suggested.

"Maybe…" Riko thought, "Or maybe...I'll check passenger records."

"Riko, I doubt he would…"

"Tau. Let's see…" Riko muttered to himself, "A couple of crates, that's it. Some personal items. A couple were transferred from the station. Components of an R-series astromech…"

"I found it, Bao!" Riko shouted excitedly, "It's in Tau's quarters!"

"Alright," Bao grinned, "Let's just hope Tau isn't there. Where are his quarters?"
Riko checked precisely where the droid was placed, "Deck five, Number One-two-five, Corridor Eight."

"Our location?" Niner asked.

Riko pulled out of the file and searched locations, "Deck One, Corridor Five."

"We need to find a turbolift," Bao stated.
"Right," Riko accessed the starship's layout on the terminal, "Nearest one is two corridors away. We'll be three corridors away from Tau's quarters when we reach that deck."
"Alright," Bao said, "Let's go."
"What are you doing?" Riko heard a voice as he removed the datachip from the terminal. A squad of mercenaries wearing uniforms similar to that of the commander, only with light armor over the cloth, had their blasters pointed at them.

"It's nothing," Bao replied, "You will let us go on our way."
"I need an explanation first," the mercenary demanded.
Riko almost groaned as he pocketed the datachip and grabbed his lightsaber. Unfortunately, the guards weren't weak-minded.

They'd have to fight.

"Let's go!" Bao yelled, igniting his lightsaber and deflecting blaster bolts back towards the squad.

Riko ignited his weapon, taking position behind Niner.

Reflex, Riko. Jade's words echoed in his memory. Riko held his saber parallel to his body and reached out.

There was one bolt that moved past Bao's screen and was about to hit Riko.

Left. Riko swung his blade and the blaster bolt ricocheted, hitting the wall.

Riko moved to Bao's side and felt each bolt coming.

He swung, blocking each one that came his way, even as he and Bao both fell back.

"Get to the turbolift!" Bao ordered, "It's time to go find that droid."
"Come on, Niner!" Riko said as he started to run down the corridor. The droid followed him.

Finally, they reached the turbolift. Riko deactivated his weapon and pressed the button.

He kept pushing it, but the door wouldn't open.
"It must be in use," Niner stated.

"Do we have our turbolift?" Bao said, joining the group, his blade still ignited.

"It's in use right now!" Riko replied.

"Move," Bao said as he walked towards the door.

"Master, what are you…' Riko's question was answered as Bao began cutting through the doors.

"We'll have to grapple down," Bao said as he carved the portal.

"There they are!" one of the mercs found them. Riko reignited his saber and defended Bao.

The merc fired, holding his blaster pistol outward. Riko angled his blade close to his body, knowing what he should do. He pushed with his blade, causing the blaster to move back, its angle only slightly different, and hit the merc's hand, knocking the blaster out of it and causing him to collapse in pain, holding his wounded hand.

It could have been worse, Riko could have killed him.

"Are there any others?" Riko asked.

"I eliminated the rest," Bao responded as he finished cutting and proceeded to push the severed doors down the elevator shaft, "We'll need your astromech. The whole depot will be on high alert now."

"Okay," Riko saw where this was heading. It was a good thing he had remembered to bring a grappling hook.

"I'll go first," Riko suggested, not even thinking about the words. He didn't know why he wanted to go first. Perhaps it was an unconscious desire to find out what happened to Jade by taking the lead on everything. Maybe he felt that Bao might still be recovering from his injuries on Atarashi'ie.

Whatever the case, Riko fired his grappling hook into the floor and attached the handle to his belt. Then he began to grapple downward.

Riko made the mistake of looking down and a swell of vertigo overcame him. Barely able to hang onto the rope, he just wanted to climb back up.

Jade's in danger! Focus! The image circled in his mind again, and Riko snapped back to his senses. He had to prevent his vision from becoming reality.

With that determination, he ignored his fear. When he reached level five, Riko closed his eyes and searched for the manual release.

The door opened, and Riko stepped through, removing the grappling line from his belt.

"You can come!" Riko shouted.

"Niner will go next! I'll be right behind you!" Bao yelled.

Riko looked and threw his grappling hook up to Bao. The Jedi Knight caught it with the Force, and moved it up to his hand. Riko waited a few minutes, then he saw Niner slowly descending towards him.

Riko grabbed the droid's hand, pulling him into the corridor just as he started to hear something moving up towards them.

"The turbolift! Look out!" Riko heard Bao say right as Niner entered the corridor. He looked up and saw that the elevator now separated the trio.
Riko knew that he and Niner would have to wait for the elevator to move.

Suddenly, the alarm activated. Riko began hearing an electric clang clang clang!

"Go, Riko!" Bao ordered via Riko's comlink, "We'll meet up!"

"We have to leave, Riko! Eighty percent chance we'll be found!"

Riko didn't want to leave his mentor and friend behind. But he also knew that Bao would want him to complete the mission.

As soon as he found Jade and the droid, he would find Bao before leaving. He would leave no one behind.

Tau's Quarters

As Riko suspected, the door was locked. Riko inserted the override chip into the terminal, and the door opened.

Tau was no exception to the Jedi's policy of anti-materialism. All that Riko could see was a table, a bunk to sleep on, a closet, a mirror, and a handful of holoimages.
They were recordings from Tau's life. Riko saw Tau, close to his current age, with his hair just beginning to grey, standing with a woman that Riko recognized as a younger Thalia. Her face lacked the lines it assumed later in life, and, this caught Riko's attention, her belly was swelling. Both were happy.

The second image showed them a few years later. They were joined by a third person in the image, a girl, roughly five or six years old. Riko knew he was looking at Jade when she was a child. She looked happier than Riko had ever known her to be.

The last one left Riko extremely shocked. It was Tau, somewhere in his mid-thirties. He was standing in front of a simple home on an unknown planet. But that didn't capture his attention.

Tau was standing with a man that Riko recognized as Kali'sto, along with a young woman who wasn't much older than him or Jade; dark-haired, green-eyed, her skin a dark shade of tan.

The two knew each other. Riko remembered how Tau had greeted Kali'sto like an old friend. Jade had told him that they had been friends in the past, that was all her father had told her. Judging from the photo, Tau had known Kali'sto for at least three decades.

The third person...Aside from the eyes, skin, and hair, there were other resemblances in her face. She was dressed in a set of robes with beautiful patterns woven into the fabric, patterns very similar to those found on Asharr's mask and his old lightsaber. Was this woman Riko's mother?

Riko was tempted to take the photo. He had lost the last link to his family when he had lost his lightsaber. This was a chance to get another reminder of that connection.

"Niner," Riko asked, "Should I take this?" Riko gestured to the holo.

"I don't know," Niner said. The droid had grown more attuned to Riko's emotions over the past two years, and he could probably guess what he was thinking, "Is because this is the last link to Kali'sto?"
"Yes," Riko answered, "I don't have anything else from him. But…"
"Tau was taught by Kali'sto," Niner said, "Maybe this is special to him."
RIko considered Niner's words. Tau had clearly held a deep friendship with Kali'sto. If Riko took this holoimage, he might be depriving Tau of his last link to Kali'sto.

Riko placed the image back, "I shouldn't. I should just try to find the droid." As he spoke, he realized that he had been wrong. He hadn't lost his last link to Kali'sto and his old life. He had Niner. Niner was his link to a wonderful past. He still had a link to his dad.

Riko still had some good things in his life. And he had to make sure he didn't lose one of them.

"Let's check the closet," Riko suggested, walking towards it and opening the door. He instantly recognized the object he saw.

It was a deactivated R2 unit, matching the droid Riko had seen in his vision. Its head was domed, a dark silver with blue highlights. Two legs protruded from the sides of its white cylindrical body.

Riko found the droid's circuit breaker and pressed it. Lights flickered as the droid's startup sequence initiated.

Once it had finished its activation sequence, the droid came to life with a series of beeps. It waddled on its feet, clearly attempting to move out of the closet. Riko and Niner stepped back as the astromech deployed a third leg from the bottom of its torso and exited the space.

"Dee dee breet?" the droid was clearly curious as to who they were.

"Can you understand him?" Riko asked Niner.

"The code's old, but I get it," Niner replied.

Riko turned towards the droid, "Hello. I know you don't know me, but I need your help. I'm Riko Nai-Jal. This is Nine-Are-Zero. We need a guide in this station. Who are you?"

"Trill de bee breet!"

"Really?" Niner asked, twitching with excitement.

"Bee deet, dreet."

Niner rolled straight up to the astromech and tried to hug him, to Riko's confusion.

"Wow weo!" the droid trilled, clearly annoyed.

"Sorry," Niner rolled back, still awed.

"Riko! This is amazing! It's Artoo-Detoo!"

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Bao knew that Riko had continued on without him. Bao was sure that the child had probably already found the droid by now. The Trandoshan would just have to make sure they found him.

He had no doubt that the boy wouldn't leave him behind. Not willingly, at least.

But Bao was sure that even if he couldn't help Riko, he could still do other useful things.

He would try to capture Tau. He knew that he was onboard.

If he did, then the truth would be revealed to everyone, Tau would be exposed, and this whole conspiracy would unravel.

Things weren't looking too bad. He had fended off a few patrols, all mercs.

He was incredibly close. His hunt had continued to the point that he could sense fear emanating from his former master. He was panicking, desperate…

Bao stopped moving. He knew that he couldn't hide himself from Tau even if he wasn't his former Padawan. Instead, he took up position in the corridor.

Tau then rushed down the corridor, before stopping. He truly was terrified.

"Bao!" Tau yelled just as Bao attacked him. Tau ignited his lightsaber, only for Bao to grab it and push him to the wall. Tau groaned before pushing Bao back with the Force, only for Bao to scissor-kick Tau in the ankle and push him to the ground, using the Force to pin him there.

Leaping upon Tau before he could break free, Bao held his former master on the floor, one hand on Tau's forehead, the other brandishing Tau's deactivated lightsaber, which was held to his throat. Bao was prepared for any attack Tau would make, he would leap off the moment Tau tried something.
"Listen…" Tau gasped.
"I will hear your words in a court of law, Master," Bao hissed. Tau would stand trial.

"NO!" Tau writhed in Bao's grip, not using any of his gifts, "I need your help!"
Bao almost didn't listen. But then he remembered his training, and decided to hear Tau out.

"J-jade…" Tau choked out.

A part of Bao wanted to kill Tau where he stood. He had caused so much pain, not just for the Jedi, but for millions, maybe even billions.

"Asharr…got to her…Please, we have to help her...PLEASE!"
Tau had never looked more desperate, or terrified. He really meant it, Bao knew he wasn't lying. It wasn't the Force that told him.
Bao was still incredibly angry. He knew he couldn't listen to that part of himself. He had to put the predator away, right now. Jade needed his help, and if there was one thing Tau cared about more than anything else, it was his daughter.

Bao let go of Tau's head, and slowly moved off of Tau's body.

Tau, looking shaken, but otherwise unharmed, began to move off the floor.

"Thank you for listening," Tau said, before taking Bao's hand. Bao hadn't even realized he had extended it.

"Will you let Jade leave with me if I stay silent about all this?" Bao asked.

"If she wishes," Tau responded. Bao didn't believe he would honor that agreement. But then again, maybe he was more flexible to change, now that he knew what it could cost him. Maybe there was still a chance to make amends.

"Come on," Tau said frantically, "Asharr's quarters are this way, we must hurry."

Master and Apprentice rushed together to fight the Dark Side, one last time.

When they finally arrived, both activated their lightsabers, both prepared to fight.

"Her quarters are always locked," Tau said as he began to cut his way in.

Bao wasn't sure. He moved to the control panel and, just to be sure, pressed it. The door moved open, Tau's blade leaving a bright orange line in the metal as the door moved through it.

Tau briefly glanced at Bao. Neither had the time nor the need to say anything.

The lights in Asharr's quarters were deactivated, the only illumination, to Tau's eyes, if not Bao's, provided by the flashes of lightning from Dromund Kaas' stormy atmosphere.

Asharr was standing in the middle of the room, its mask firmly secured on her face, her robes billowing with the slightest of movements, resembling a ghost.

Tau advanced in, "Asharr!" he yelled, "I know you did it! Where's my daughter?"
"She's safe, Tau," Asharr said.

"What are you doing?" Bao asked.

"Everything is in place, Tau," Asharr said, drawing its own lightsaber, "I am ready to rule the galaxy."

The door suddenly slammed shut, leaving them all in near-total darkness, the only light generated by their sabers.
"You're not ruling anything anymore, Asharr," Bao responded, adopting a defensive pose.

"You're a Jedi!" Tau said in disbelief.

As his master spoke, Bao closed his inner eyelids, attuning his vision to infrared. There was another. He saw the heat of her body, even as she cloaked herself in the Force. As she let the mask drop, her presence felt dark, unnatural, a storm…

Bao realized what had happened to his Padawan.
"No," Asharr corrected him, "I'm not a Jedi."

The unique markings adorning Asharr's mask, the way her robes moved with even the slightest of movement, illuminated by her red blade, gave her a terrifying image; a demon crafted of shadow and obsidian. Her helmet's eyes flashed a bright scarlet as she spoke.

Tau's quarters

Once Niner had stopped ranting about his apparent hero worship of the astromech, Artoo had provided a brief explanation. Some years ago, at least a decade, apparently, he had accessed a unique coding frequency that had allowed him to access the frequency by which Asharr communicated with Tau. Wishing to preserve the information, he had encrypted it within his memory banks. As Tau was unable to crack the sequestered code and wipe his droid's memory, nor reprogram him to serve his interests, he had deactivated the droid to preserve the secret. Artoo couldn't share how or why he was here, and Riko felt that it was irrelevant at the moment.

"Okay," Riko said once Artoo had finished his explanation, "We have a datatape I need you to crack. It'll pull the rug out from this conspiracy."
Riko took the tape and plugged it into a socket on the droid. Surprisingly, the tape was compatible with the astromech, and the droid beeped with satisfaction moment later.

"He can access the files!" Niner excitedly translated. Artoo beeped again, and Niner stopped rolling in excitement, "He can't copy the files, not here."

"Alright," Riko removed the tape, "We'll figure this all out on the Nomad."
The droid beeped again.

"Our boat. You'll love it there…" Niner started to say until the droid beeped again.

"He wants to trust us, but he feels that we aren't giving him a choice," Niner explained.
"We won't force you," Riko replied, "But we really need you. Tau's taken over the Jedi Order, he's killed the high council, we're trying to expose him."
"Dee dee breet?"

"He wonders where the Nomad is."
"We're not leaving yet," Riko responded, "We still have one more person to find, and we need you there, too. We need you to guide us through the station. I had a vision where you would lead me to Jade."
"Be beep?"

"He's asking if you mean Jade Skywalker, Tau's daughter," Niner translated.

"Yes. She's my best friend, she's Tau's prisoner, we're trying to get her out," Riko responded.

"Wou."

"What's wrong?"
"Wou weow. Wo wouw wou dou dee deep."
"He can't believe how long he has been offline," Niner translated.
"De de deo!"

"He can find the hub's floor plan on a computer, but needs you to tell him where to lead you to," Niner said.

"Okay, give me a moment," Riko closed his eyes and tried to focus. Riko told himself that he would never save Jade until he did this. That burst of determination turned out to be enough; he saw a long platform leading directly to the station's heart.

And there, he saw Jade.

"The spire!" Riko realized, "I'm looking for the base of the spire, the power core. I need you to lead me there."
"De dee?"

"Luke Skywalker was your owner," Niner replied, "I is surprised you is not familiar with these Force things."

"Bee de deet?"

"I like talking like this way. Not a problem," Niner replied.

Riko didn't need Niner to translate what the astromech just said.

"Scan for a girl, fourteen, brown-haired with a blonde streak," Riko ordered. He wanted to verify that they were going in the right direction.

Artoo moved towards the access terminal, attempting to extend what Riko presumed was his scomp link into the dataport.

"Bree-deo!" Artoo beeped in frustration when the probe didn't connect.

"Let me see," Riko examined the droid's scomp link.

"That's a ninety-nine scomp link. I might have an adapter somewhere..." Riko rummaged through his backpack, his hand searching the bottom of the bag.

"I got it!" Riko retrieved an adapter and attached it to Artoo's probe, "Try it now."

Artoo returned to the terminal.

"Dee-bee-beet!" Artoo responded.

"Jade's in that area," Niner translated, "She ran out of her room!"

"Great! Come on, let's go," Riko grabbed his lightsaber and opened the door. Clearly Jade had been tortured, that was it. She had escaped, they would find her, it would be alright.

Asharr's quarters

Tau turned all of his attention to Asharr. She would die for what she had done. It was no less than what she deserved.

Asharr was trying to kill Tau and had violated his daughter to do so. She would die at Tau's hand.

Asharr struck at Tau's head, Tau parried it with a well-practiced sequence of bladework. Asharr struck again, and again. Tau knew that Asharr favored the Juyo style of lightsaber combat, and that she supplemented it with Soresu and Djem So.

Tau knew the strengths and weaknesses of these styles, and he would exploit them.

The two pushed against each other, attempting to move their blades back, and catching themselves in a blade lock.

"Why?" Tau asked.

"You know why, Tau," she whispered.

And as Asharr broke free and came close to striking him across the waist, Tau understood.

Asharr attempted to bisect Tau across the waist. Tau parried it and moved the theatrician's blade back towards her arm.

Asharr's strength kept the older man's blade at bay, but barely.

"You're not going to get away with this, Asharr," Tau gazed into the warlady's mask.

"On the contrary," Asharr smiled, "You are on my ship, the guards will answer to me."
"Then we will leave it." Tau spent a moment gathering all of the Force energy, light and dark, that he could muster. Then he released it in one large explosion that ruptured the room, bending the metal like clay, and blowing everyone out. Falling several feet, Tau overcame the mild disorientation that followed and landed on a nearby platform, shielding himself to minimize the impact and landing on his feet. He used the Force to ensure Jade would land nearby.
Ignoring the rain, he quickly glanced, confirming that Bao had landed, he could not see Asharr, nor Jade.

"Riko will find her!" Bao yelled, "We should take Asharr!"
Tau wasn't sure whether to agree or disagree with Bao. Then he decided, "Let's hope Riko can break through to her. Split up and search the drydock!"
Tau decided to stay close to the spire, intending to break off his search for Asharr the second he found Jade.

Power Core module, exterior

Artoo trilled as he unlocked access hatch 03, removing his scomp link once the doors opened. The droid had gotten them past every safeguard the Imperials had in place, allowing them to escape the cruiser and move through the depot with ease.

Riko was overwhelmed by the size of this section. It had to be at least a kilometer across. The power core was housed in a massive pole at the center of the structure, encased in transparisteel. Surrounding it were dozens of platforms, junctions, and stations. Riko had a feeling that the core was shielded to prevent it from being hit by blasterfire or some other projectile and be destroyed as a result.

"Thanks Artoo," Riko said as he looked around. With a jolt, he realized that this was the place in his vision where he killed Jade.

Panic filled his mind, he tried calming it by reminding himself that there was no reason for Jade to attack him. That mental argument quickly fell apart when Riko remembered Harkaq.

"Wo weeoo! Weeooo!"

"He says 'you're welcome,'" Niner translated. Riko's fear grew as they talked. He wondered if Jade had concealed what had truly happened to her from him, or he had simply been unable or unwilling to understand it.

"Niner, Artoo," Riko said, "I think you should wait here. I don't want you to get hurt."
"Why don't you want us to come?" Niner asked.

"There's something bad in there," Riko admitted, "I should go on alone, just to be safe."

"If it's dangerous, you'll need us…" Niner responded.

"It's that kind of danger, Niner," Riko responded.

"What do you mean...oh," Niner realized. Artoo trilled, genuinely concerned.

"Just wait here until I contact you. If I'm not back in two hours, get out of here."

"Vreet dree de de, deet."

"He wants to come with us. He likes you. You're very like one of his older friends."

"You've been a wonderful guide, Artoo. I think you'll fit right in with the rest of us," Riko said.

"Trill be weo." The droid wished him good luck. Riko wished he could share the droid's optimism. He took a deep breath to calm himself.

"Okay," Riko responded, telling himself he had to go now. Even though an impulse in his mind told him that he had more things to do before he left, he moved forward. He couldn't wait any longer.

Turning his back on the two, Riko set out to find Jade.

Depot module, exterior

The prey was close, Bao could feel it. Asharr was stalking him, preparing to strike.

It wasn't too difficult to hide here. This part of the drydock vaguely reminded Bao of a maze, with high walls that branched off. Bao assumed that this section was used for transporting cargo, probably via repulsor craft.

In the atmosphere of Dromund Kaas, it was dark. Bao was somewhat intimidated, closing his eyes to see red currents of energy tunnel through the cold planet. He was somewhat comforted by the intense heat he could see in the blade of his lightsaber.

He sensed movement. He quickly turned, only to see nothing.

Bao stopped walking. He stood still and prepared to face Asharr.

Predictably, it attacked from behind, Bao blocked its first strike. Its mask was fully illuminated by its red blade, intimidating even to Bao.

Bao wouldn't stop until it was caught and brought to justice.

Power Core module, interior

Surprisingly, this particular area was dark, the area around Riko illuminated largely by his fiery blade. He held it close to his body, clutching it with both hands, advancing cautiously along one central walkway, advancing less and less with each step.

Riko was trembling, hyperventilating even.

There is no emotion, there is peace, he reminded himself, unable to quell the sheer terror inside of him.

He heard movement, the sound of feet on a walkway. He quickly turned towards it, afraid of what he would find.

He could see the faint outline of a person approaching him. Riko held his blade up, peering outward.

Jade? Riko asked, sensing the artificial presence he had felt in Asharr's Dark Jedi.

"Jade?" He asked again, in horror at what she had become.

"Jade Skywalker is gone," Jade's voice replied, "I serve Asharr."

"That's not you, Jade," Riko said, "You're a Jedi. Jade, I know you're still in there."

Jade, or the agent, drew out her lightsabers, assuming an aggressive pose and igniting two blades, one green and the other cyan, the light bringing her surprisingly unchanged features into sharp relief.
No, No! Riko screamed to himself mentally. Everything was going wrong. The worst-case scenario had occurred. Jade's death was becoming more and more likely.

"Riko," not-Jade started, "I get it know. I know what I have to do. I want you with me."
"Jade," Riko replied desperately, "You're still there. Please, try to fight it..."
"You have so much potential. Let me unlock it."

This isn't you! This…" He didn't finish. The agent leaped forward.

Riko quickly raised his blade, quickly switching between guard positions to hold back the aggressive strikes of her two blades. Riko used a rightside chop, aiming for the hilt of Jade's left saber. The agent countered, angling her arm away.

She went back on the attack, continually slashing at his body, with Riko being forced to retreat, all the while attempting to find a weakness in her technique.

It was difficult, keeping track of both of her blades. The advantages of dual-blade wielding was that it doubled the number of possibilities one had in combat. Jade had always taken advantage of this in the student sparring sessions back at the Temple, and the agent's skills appeared to be even greater.

Riko was firmly adhering to the Middle and inner rings to block the agent's attacks. With her enhanced skills, the agent kept Riko on the defensive, leaving him unable to attempt offensive strikes. Riko was forced to retreat, blocking and redirecting her sabers from reaching him.

Right, left-up, right-down… He was given no time to anticipate, he could only react. His mind was continually trying to keep track of all of the moves she might attempt, and he was trying to figure out a way to win the duel without avoiding killing her, all the while trying to suppress his horror.

She attempted to strike him again, this time with force, enough to push Riko to the floor. Riko quickly rolled back, retreating another few meters.

He quickly stood up and reignited his weapon, only to realize that the agent wasn't moving towards him.

Before he had time to take advantage of this, she unleashed a bolt of lightning from her fingers.

Blade high! Riko felt a brief shock of agony before his saber blade up, stumbling and almost falling back, wheezing.

She fired again, and again.

Blade high! Riko kept blocking, but he kept retreating, and retreating, and…

He yelped in pain as the last bolt hit him in the chest, shocking him, causing him to double over.

"You can't win, why not surrender?" The agent asked, mocking Riko, "You are weak, just as Jade was weak."

Riko's anger built. He tried to suppress it.

"You can't defeat me, you can't be a hero."

There is no emotion, there is peace.

"You were always the failure, Riko."
There is no passion, there is serenity.

"Tau will break you!" The cyan blade slipped past Riko's and grazed his bicep. It was worse than any cut Riko had ever experienced, it was plasma contained within a barrier, and the full heat of that barrier vaporized a layer of flesh, causing pain that Riko had never felt, not even from a training saber. Riko cried out, falling to the floor.

The agent did nothing as Riko grabbed his lightsaber, as he tried to move himself back to his feet. Even as the pain faded from a white-hot inferno to a throb, he could barely move to his knees.

She resumed speaking,

"You will be caught up in his schemes, his deception. He will turn you against those you love."
There is no emotion…

"You will hunt Kali'sto and Bao. And he will make you kill them. Are you sure you want that?"

Riko yelled and lashed at the agent aggressively, any reservations about attacking his friend pushed aside. No one would hurt Kali'sto, hurt Jade, hurt Bao, hurt his loved ones any more than they already had. Asharr and Tau had torn families apart, they sacrificed innocent lives. Riko knew that as long as he lived, he would fight to eradicate these plagues on society.

The agent was barely able to counter his blows; Riko had turned the tables on her. His frenzy culminated with his almost knocking her left blade out of her hand and leaving a flesh wound across her belly. The agent leapt to evade the attack and fired again with lightning as Riko's now vulnerable chest, the bolts hit their mark.

Screaming as white-hot fire wracked through his body, Riko fell back to the ground.

"Good!" the agent said, Riko sensing not only a hint of fear from the agent, but...satisfaction?

"But, you need to focus it, make it serve you," she goaded as she produced the datatape in her free hand.

Before Riko could get back up, it burst into fragments. Riko's hopes for preventing the end of his world as he knew it faded as shrapnel fell to the deck.

With dawning horror, Riko realized what had happened. He had given into his darker emotions. He had let his fear distract him from the big picture. He had blindly attacked his best friend. And now any chance of stopping Asharr was gone. Without any evidence, she and Tau would dominate everything. The best Riko could hope for was to survive in hiding…if only he could escape…

If only his best friend wasn't in the way.

The agent had destroyed the chance to right all this. Riko knew that if Jade knew what was happening, she was begging for…

No.

Subconsciously, Riko heard another voice. It was his own as well.

She'll go on to hurt more people, Jade's trapped, she's…

It hit Riko right there. He was giving into despair, losing hope. Now, he would do almost anything to survive.

This was how he'd killed her in his vision. He would grow so desperate he would be willing to do anything…and destroy his soul in the process. If Riko let the ends justify the means, if he sacrificed Jade to save her from the agent once she had regained control, and himself, he would become Tau Skywalker. He would sacrifice his best friend, a member of his family…Riko had never really used that word to describe Jade or his feelings towards her until now…

This was the path that the Jedi had always associated with the Dark Side.

Groaning, Riko slowly began to stand up. He felt adrenaline reinvigorate his weary muscles, allowing him to set aside his aches and pains. As he did so, he quickly reevaluated his situation.

Jade had always been the better duelist, incredibly skilled with two blades…

Second blade, Riko thought, I got it! The weakness to her technique could be found in her overconfidence.

Riko doubled over and fell to his knees; intentionally. He had to surprise her. Closing his eyes, he focused, even as he continued to act as if he was struggling to rise.

The agent was overconfident, her guard lowered. Her Force-shield was down, but she might spring back up again if she realized what Riko was doing.

Riko was trying a new strategy. This time, he wouldn't attack her until he had the advantage. This time, he was subtle, a knife rather than a club, doing what the agent hopefully wouldn't expect.

At that moment, with that thought, he realized that he did possess a strength. His inability to use the Force had forged him to push harder, developing skills in other areas. He was an accomplished mechanic, a competent duelist, a critical thinker with a great knowledge of history. Here, he wasn't being a blunt instrument. Instead he was a club, but a scalpel. Precision. Stealth.

Newly confident in his abilities, feeling a sense of pride and confidence that he hadn't felt in a long time, Riko let the perception of Jade's lightsaber fill his mind. He disconnected the focusing chamber and power cell from the emitter matrix. Opening his eyes, he saw Jade's blade spark and sputter, the illumination erratic. Finally, the blade shorted out, the lightsaber was useless, and the Agent was vulnerable.

The agent lunged before Riko could disable her other weapon, but Riko, feeling stronger than ever, was ready. He rolled past her and quickly moved to his feet, reigniting his blade.

Right-down, fire appeared to meet water as his blade caught hers and redirected it. He struck back, letting the Force flow into him, his feelings empowering him. She was able to hold him off, but barely.

She swung, Riko parried. He swung, she blocked. Jade's minimal practice with one blade carried over to the Agent's skillset; forced to work with a body that had a keen instinct with two blades, yet practically none with one. Riko's skill might not have been equal to that of Bao, or even the average Jedi knight, but against an opponent with that handicap, he excelled.

She was growing desperate, her strikes becoming less and less refined. It was almost scary to see the agent feel...fear.

Riko let that fuel his determination. He was breaking through, he was winning.
Finally, the agent swung from the inner ring, the lightsaber's pommel held near her navel, and Riko angled his saber to match. Their blades were locked, the pommel of Riko's lightsaber a few inches from slicing through the hilt of the agent's weapon. Quick flick of the wrist he would step back, angle his blade to his right so as to give the impression that he would strike at a different angle, ignite his second blade, and damage his old lightsaber right as his second blade activated, leaving Jade/the agent unarmed. It would occur in the span of a few seconds; if everything occurred exactly the right way, Riko could do it.

Riko moved back. But then everything fell apart; the agent moved her arm upward precisely a second before Riko pressed the switch.

As the second blade activated, it cleaved through Jade's wrist and severed it, the hand falling onto the platform. The agent screamed, dropping to her knees, clutching Jade's stump. The cyan glow faded, leaving only Riko's fiery blade as the only illumination. Standing there, shocked, Riko didn't budge.

"There's nothing," The agent eventually said, staring into Riko's eyes, "Finish me."
"No," Riko replied, his feelings in turmoil as he spoke, "I won't lose you again."

"You already have," The agent responded, "Anything is better than the pain."

Please, Riko. It didn't make sense, but somehow, the agent wasn't the one speaking to him. The pain must have weakened the Agent's control somehow. Jade was speaking to him.

No. Riko would find a way. He believed he would, he knew he could. He would save her.

Please…the solution came to him. Riko knew what to do.

Deactivating his lightsabers and sitting down in a meditative posture close to the agent, Riko closed his eyes.

Jade. Don't give up. I'm here…

He felt a weak tug, but everything felt murky. He couldn't see anything.

It vaguely reminded him of one of Kali'sto's lesser soup recipes. Just as he was remembering how much he missed Kali'sto, he was about to try to focus back on the task…

The first time he met Jade flashed before his eyes. Hurting from the fall. His awe in her experiences. The saddest moment in his life when he and Kali'sto departed. When she came to him, becoming his friend, reassuring him that he wasn't alone…

Riko knew what to do.

He let more memories flashed through his mind. The day he first tried to wield a training lightsaber and Jade corrected his grip and stopped him from burning his leg. The day Jade snuck an old dejarik table into Riko's room and he spent a week repairing it.

Every joke that made Jade laugh. Every story she told that he listened to. Riko realized he was smiling, widely, as he let his emotions fuel his work.

It wasn't enough. The murk was fading, but Riko still couldn't push it away. He needed a boost…

More memories flashed through his head. The awful sensation echoing from his friend's entrapment. The fear Riko had felt when Jade considered killing her mother's murderer. The rage when he could do nothing as she was kidnapped…

Riko felt rage and hope at the same time, anger and joy, fear and courage…

Balance, Riko realized, through the haze of the emotions. Oddly, he didn't feel like he was perched on a knife tip. He just felt...whole, alive, more alive than he had felt in a long time. His anger, his rage, to fuel his endeavor, his hope, his passion, his love, to refine it, to focus it. He felt the Force flow through him, empowering him, invigorating him.

Riko yelled as he opened up, letting all these emotions fuel his one goal: he would save the girl he loved. He felt…lighter than usual, as if a great weight had left him.

What Riko saw when he cleared the murk was abstract: two souls locked in combat, each attempting to drag each other down from the surface. One was in varying shades of grey, mostly brighter, though darker shades rippled. The other was ...it just felt hollow, there was nothing. They didn't feel disconnected, but there was a clear divide between each one.

Riko latched onto Jade, lent her his strength, everything he could do. Riko felt Jade's presence grow stronger inside the agent's mind. The agent fought, but Riko held onto Jade, and she onto him. Weakened, the second presence clawed and tore at Riko and Jade, but it was unable to stay, and the two of them worked together to separate it from Jade. She was free.

---

For one moment, Jade felt an overwhelming sense of freedom, relief.

That feeling faded as her physical sensations returned. Sight, smell, touch, all of her senses washed over her like a flood. Most prominent of them all was pain, an inferno that burned through her right arm, chest, and midriff. It numbed the rest of her extremities, she was unable to focus. Overwhelmed, she simply collapsed onto the platform, unable to do anything.

With great effort, Jade tried to call on the Force. She wanted to heal the source of the pain, stitch whatever had been torn apart back together.

The inferno began to die down, slowly subsiding from unbearable to excruciating.

As the pain grew less intense, Jade felt a set of hands on her shoulders, supporting her. Riko's voice slowly infiltrated her awareness.

"Jade, I'm here, I'm here…"

Jade was finally able to open her eyes. She saw Riko's face, worry ingrained in his eyes.

She and Riko were on their knees, cuddled up, the two of them were sitting on a platform in the dark. Jade looked down at her arm.

A searing cut, partially healed, but still glowing, encircled her wrist, clearly the mark of a lightsaber. Her right hand was completely numb, she couldn't feel anything except an intense throb in that limb. She must have healed the tissue unconsciously.

"Riko?" Jade croaked out. Riko moved his hands and wrapped his arms around her back, hugging her. Jade, despite being angry at him, reciprocated, relieved to feel something besides pain again.

"Hello Jade," Riko replied, his voice riddled with joy and relief, but Jade could sense his guilt, "Good to have you back."

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Even after a painkiller injection, a fire still burned through her arm. Jade kept imagining the duel over and over again in her mind, her wounded arm draped on Riko's shoulder, the two supporting each other after the ordeal.

"Niner!" Riko said excitedly, as they reached the entrance to the massive chamber.

Niner was waiting at the exit.

"What happened?"
"We ran into a dark Jedi," Jade improvised. In a sense, it was true.

"C'mon, we need to find Bao and contact Val," Riko quickly changed the subject. Jade was sure that if Niner could change his facial expression, he would be showing confusion.

"Can't you call him?" Niner asked.

"The dark Jedi destroyed my comm," Riko hadn't taken inventory of his equipment until after their duel, "We might need a ride…"

"We has one," Niner said.

Jade wondered if the pain was causing her to hallucinate; she saw two stormtroopers and an Imperial officer, all unconscious. Next to them; a cargo speeder manned by an ancient astromech that Jade recognized from Tau's stories and history holovids.

Artoo-Detoo beeped elately upon seeing her.

"He said, 'I remember you. You were still a baby,'" Niner translated.

"This is real, right?" Jade asked weakly.

"Don't worry," Riko said, before asking, "How'd you do this?"

"It was very easy…" Niner began.

Artoo interrupted him.

"Yeah, we should go," Riko said, walking Jade to the speeder.

"Do you understand him?" Jade asked as she sat down in the seat.

"No, I just guessed," Riko admitted.

As the speeder's repulsor activated and the vehicle started moving, Jade realized how cold she felt. Even though the rain had lessened and was now a mere drizzle, she still shivered.

"Here," Riko took off his cloak.

"Thanks," Jade said, snuggling herself up. She was still angry, but she was beginning to think it wouldn't be the end of their friendship.

Docking Module, exterior.

Bao recognized some of the sequences of his own techniques as he battled Asharr, particularly bladework that defined Tau's technique. Its was filled with more rage, albeit focused and precise, almost like a style presented in a holovid. Still, it was effective, whatever it was.

Bao had found an equal, he realized. Not someone even slightly less powerful, or far more powerful, but a true equal with the blade. If Asharr had a shred of honor or loyalty, Bao might have had a glimmer of respect for them.

But alas, they were a perversion to everything Bao stood for, and the Jedi Master would capture them and bring them in alive. The tapes would be accompanied by a living witness.

Bao swung and parried a blow just after Asharr evaded his first swing.
Then Asharr struck their blade in an attempt to slice through Bao's head, which Bao evaded, though the blade still seared his cheek.

Suppressing a hiss, Bao blocked their second strike, which pushed him up against one of the walls. He called on the Force to aid him, and he grasped a nearby crate and threw it at Asharr.

Even though Asharr deflected it, it was only a diversion. Bao fired a powerful blast. Asharr deflected the worst of it, they still were thrown up at least one level through a viewport into one of the rooms housed in these walls.

Bao deactivated his lightsaber and fired his grappling hook into the room, pulling himself up, almost making it before Asharr sliced the rope in two.

Bao almost fell, but he successfully grabbed onto the window's frame, even though he felt some small shards of transparisteel puncture the thick hide of his manus. Ignoring the pain, he leapt up, swung through feet-first, kicking Asharr back, and reignited his lightsaber, managing to deflect a strike from Asharr's blade.

This was probably some kind of large supply locker, with a door and a viewport that overlooked the docked destroyer.

Bao pushed against the warlady, who retreated through the door. He followed, noticing that they had exited into a vast hallway.

Bao kept fighting and fighting, managing to strike Asharr, leaving a tear in one of the robe's sleaves. The two continued fighting through the corridors.

As they fought, Bao noticed a handful of blaster caches, presumably for the ship's security and troop complement. A backup weapons locker.

Bao could take advantage of those weapons.

Leaping back, Bao pulled a thermal detonator into his manus. Arming it, he Force-pushed the weapon towards Asharr.

Asharr tried to push it back, but Bao held it in place.

The detonator exploded, knocking Bao to the floor.

Bao saw spots in his vision, he was bruised and exhausted, but he moved himself up, drawing on the Force to replenish his weary muscles. He looked over and grinned.
Asharr had been closer to the blast than Bao, and they were just managing to stand up.

As they did so, Bao charged, aiming for Asharr's hands to incapacitate the Dark Jedi.

He grabbed Asharr's lightsaber with his left manus and held it steady. He felt a painful electric jolt in his arm, but he was able to hold. With his right hand, he swung his lightsaber at Asharr's now vulnerable wrists.

Asharr's hands came off cleanly. They did not scream; they gave no indication that they were in pain.

Bao grabbed Asharr's lightsaber and affixed it to his belt.

Bao imagined an ancient predator standing over a wounded rival as he held Asharr at bladepoint. They stood at his mercy. Bao could have finished them in a moment. It was almost tempting. The galaxy would be a much better place without people like them.

But it wasn't the Jedi way.

Asharr would stand trial for their actions. That was the Jedi way.

Bao deactivated his lightsaber, "I won't kill you."
The Jedi Knight sensed contempt, from the Dark Jedi, "Why?"

"I am a Jedi. I don't kill people when they're at my mercy. Beside the point, you'll be sitting in a cell soon anyway."

"Your datatape's gone. Young Skywalker took care of that."

For one moment, Bao couldn't speak. Asharr didn't feel like they were lying.

Moving his unlit saber to Asharr's throat, Bao asked, "What has she done with…"

"She's no longer mine," Asharr responded, "You've taught Riko well."

Perhaps I did, Bao thought as he grabbed a pair of stun cuffs from his belt.

"You seem eager to talk. With no datatape, I'll use the source. I'm taking you and putting you on trial. You will confess everything you and your master did."
"Our seeds are in place," Asharr said, "You cannot stop us now."
"I promise you, you'll eventually talk."
"What makes you think you'll escape here alive…?" Asharr suddenly stopped talking. They fell to the ground, coughing. Bao activated his lightsaber and turned around to see Tau Skywalker looking at him, his face a mural of fury.

"Tau…"
Asharr was lifted up into the air and pulled towards the Grand Master.

"You…." Tau said angrily, "You will suffer for what you did!" As Bao started to move towards Tau, he blasted lightning into his former apprentice. They screamed as they were burned from the inside out, the mask beginning to melt and burn their face. Bao was horrified at what he was seeing, paralyzed with the sheer shock of it all. Then Asharr was thrown across the corridor. Bao actually felt pity for them.

"Why, Tau?" Bao asked. He didn't think that Tau would act this way.

"She was a menace, Bao," Tau responded, "She harmed a member of our family."

Bao had been considered an honorary member of the Skywalker family for years. Thinking about this made him realize something.

"Your plan was to kill the High Council, you timed the attack to make sure I was away."
"I have lost too many friends, Bao," Tau responded, "Your death should not be among them."

"What makes you think I'll join you now?"

"You know I'm right, Bao. We can finish this, together," Tau's voice carried a degree of awe to it, "We're almost finished. Everything is in place. The Jedi will be reformed soon, the Empire is under the control of my allies, and the Consortium will be dissolved. We can finally bring peace to the galaxy. An eternal peace."
For one moment, Bao was tempted. Tau spoke of a galaxy unblemished by the horrors of war. A galaxy of peace and prosperity. Despite everything that Tau had done, wasn't that a noble goal?
Asharr's moaning startled Bao from his train of thought. He turned around and saw the husk of the dark entity at the edge of the hall.
At that moment, he finally understood what he thought he had known. Tau had let the ends justify the means. In his quest to achieve his vision, he was willing to let innocents die, to turn his back on the Jedi code. And now, he wounded Asharr not to save the galaxy, but in his anger over what she had done to his daughter, whether he knew it or not. Even if he didn't know it, Tau Skywalker, the man who had trained him, the Grand Master of the high council, had descended so far, his darkness had consumed him, he had sacrificed his morality in the name of what he viewed as the greater good.

Bao stared down, meeting Tau in the eyes.

"Did the cost ever become greater than the results?" he asked, "When you let a Sith form a pirate state? When you assassinated the high council? When you killed Thalia? When you brutalized Asharr? Will the cost become too high? When you kill me? When your daughter attempts to kill you? When?" Bao reactivated his lightsaber, "I want the same thing as you, but not like this. Not at the expense of who we are." Odds were, he would die. But perhaps he could at least try to take Tau with him.

"Some are just too set in their ways to accept change," Tau responded sadly.

Raising his lightsaber to deliver an overhead strike, Bao charged.

Comm Tower Exterior

Once again, Riko was glad to have Artoo guiding him through the depot. Flying the speeder and bypassing the station's security, the droid was leading them to a comm terminal (with a roof, thankfully) which Riko would use to contact Val. From there, they would set a rendezvous. While Val traveled to the station, Riko would ask Artoo to plug into the security systems and locate Bao. The team would then try to contact Bao, or at least reach him. Finally, they would all board the Nomad and escape.

From there, what would happen? Riko hadn't given much thought to it.

It was odd, he noted, that he wasn't giving any thought to his goals after escape.

Artoo beeped, knocking Riko out of his thoughts. Riko realized how cold he was, and how intently he was hugging Jade.

"He says we're near a terminal that he can hijack to plug into the comm systems," Niner translated.

"Got it," Riko said, shivering, as the speeder stopped in front of a triad of stormtroopers.

"Hey, stop!" All three raised their blasters. Riko ignited his lightsaber, but he saw a series of stunbolts moving the troopers' way.

"Hey, sto…" one trooper was knocked unconscious by the blue bolts.

"You're under arres…."

"What kind of droi…" All three troopers lay on the ground, unconscious.

Riko turned around and saw Niner, staring at his arm cannon.

"You were correct, Riko. I can defend myself!" The droid said eagerly.

Artoo simply beeped, though to Riko, it sounded like a complement of some kind.

"Of course I am braver than him. Wait, I remind you of him?" Niner asked.

"What'd he say?" Jade asked.

"Nothing," Niner replied. For the first time since Riko had built him, Niner sounded embarrassed. This surprised Riko.
Riko decided to ponder Niner's growth later. He had an escape to make. The quartet disembarked, Riko happy at the prospect of escaping the cold.

"There's the terminal!" Niner pointed once they entered the room and sealed the door.

"Okay, Artoo. I need you to access comms," Riko ordered, "I'll type in the frequency." Riko wouldn't make the same mistake he did on the Intrika.

The droid extended a probe from his torso and plugged it into the terminal, bypassing the security codes.

Riko and Jade looked at the screen, wringing some of the water out of their hair while they waited. Finally, a message appeared on one of the terminal's screens. It read, Please enter communications frequency.

Riko keyed in the frequency for the Wild Nomad's comm. They then waited as Artoo used the station's auxiliary transmitter to find the vessel.

"Here," Jade started to shed Riko's rain jacket, "You look cold."

Riko took it, saying only, "Thanks." He eagerly put it on.

Finally, a voice became audible on the comms, "I'm hoping that's you, Riko and Bao."
"It's Riko," Riko replied, glad Val was still alive, "But we lost track of Bao. I found Jade, and we're almost ready for extraction.

"Did you crack the datatape?"

"Yeah, here's the thing…" Riko started to say as guilt creeped in.

"You lost it?"

"He ran into a dark Jedi, and she destroyed it," Jade interjected, "We just need to find Bao. We could try locating him and then flying the ship to his location."

"He might be aboard one of the vessels docked," Riko added, "Artoo, I need you to hack into the security systems of each vessel in this hangar."

"Wait," Val's voice was still audible over the comms, "Where should I land the ship?"

"What's the Nomad's condition?" Riko asked.

"We lost our rear cannon and one of the engines is damaged. But our shields are working again."
Those didn't seem like the best odds. But it was likely that every other ship around here was guarded.

Riko responded, "We'll find a location, then transmit coordinates."

After Val ended the transmission, Riko told Artoo to find Bao's location. The astromech complied.

"Trill dee!" Artoo responded after a few seconds.

"He's in a cargo attic two floors higher," Niner translated.

Artoo's head rotated and projected a hologram. Riko's heart sank.

Bao was dueling Tau in a corridor. Bao was holding up against the former Jedi Master's attacks, albeit barely.

Through the Force, Riko could sense Jade's mind flooded mostly with anger: at herself, at Asharr, at Tau, at him…

You could distract him, Riko suggested, The Nomad drops us off near Bao and Tau. From there, you get his attention while we tell Bao to escape. From there, we follow and escape.

Jade's emotions were mixed. Riko could sense that.

Thanks, Riko, yet another vac-headed plan, but it might work.

We've been getting great at forming those, Riko grinned, though it faded once he sensed Jade's irritation at his positive attitude.

"Why were you smiling?" Niner asked.

"Artoo, find the closest route to that storage hall," Jade ordered, "We'll board it, contact Val, find Bao, and get out of here."

Riko looked towards Niner, "I know you probably don't want to help, Niner, but we need all hands on deck…"

"I'll help! I is a brave warrior now!"

Wild Nomad Cockpit

Val was surprised at the lack of starfighters pursuing him. He expected a squadron to be lying in wait for him, though they seemed to have given up their search.

That was a good thing. The Nomad had taken the beating of its life.

Val had regretted agreeing to this crazy mission the moment he had walked outside and saw the damage that had been done to his home. Shehad never looked worse; her hull was pocketmarked with dozens of blast craters, the circuitry around the port engine smoking, the bow warped from Tau's lightning attack, the paint faded, some hull panels near the turbolaser completely blown away, leaving the circuitry exposed.

It would take weeks, if not months, to fully repair her. It had taken hours to restore the shields and engines to even a semblance of their original power.

The ion cannons were fried, the rear gatling gun was gone, the missile tubes were empty, the point-defense cannon had melted. The Nomad's armament now consisted of one working light turbolaser, that was it.

Thankfully, there were no fighters, and with the storm more or less abated, it was easier for the Nomad to fly to the base.

"They're scrambling fighters, but it will take time to bring them in from nearby bases," Emdee reported.

They just might get out of this alive.

"There is a turbolaser at the base of the tower," Emdee added.

Val's luck never lasted.

Laserfire began to rock the ship as the depot's defenses opened fire.

The Nomad swiftly retaliated, wiping the turbolaser off the face of the planet.

"Vape the landing craft!" Val ordered as they approached the landing field.

As the Nomad approached the landing field, Emdee opened fire on its freight, scattering the maintenance crew.

Through the viewport, Val saw a speeder pull up as it saw the unfolding carnage. He recognized Riko, Jade, Niner, and another droid that he couldn't identify on top.

"Stop!"

Jade was wrapped up in Riko's raincoat, her left hand bracing her arm…

Starting to worry about Bao's absence, Val put the ship down and lowered the landing ramp.

Less than a minute later, he ran down the ramp, pistol and medpac in his hand.

"Bao's here, Jade and I are going back for him," Riko explained Bao's absence from the team.

"Riko, you can't…." Val said.

"It's my responsibility. It was my mission, and I should get Bao out of this," Riko insisted.

Val sighed in defeat, "Good luck Riko."

After injecting her arm with the numbing agent, Riko and Jade began to walk back into the frigate's hallways, but then turned to Val. For a moment, Val hoped that Riko had decided to ask for Val's help, to find some other way to extract Bao.

"The way you extracted me from the Temple, you want to try that again?"

Depot Corridor

Tau was proud of the skill with which his former apprentice was holding him off, even if it was barely done. Interestingly, he could tell that Bao was calling on the Force more than naught.

"You've improved since Atarashi'ie, Bao," Tau commented as he deflected a slash from Bao's new lightsaber.

"I'm not sure if I can say the same, since you're still beating me," Bao commented.
He deflected most of Tau's attacks, and even struck a few times, almost slicing open his cheek, leaving a stinging cut.

The Grand Master attempted to strike at Bao multiple times, often resorting to telekinesis or Force Lightning.

Bao deflected both forms of attack, though he was sometimes swept back across the deck by the former.

Finally, the Trandoshan made a tactical error. He threw his lightsaber at Tau, attempting to use telekinesis to strike at his former master with his lightsaber from a distance.

Tau caught the saber in the air. It budged slightly as Bao attempted to pull it back, but Tau held it firm before he proceeded to slice the hilt in two.

"You haven't learned enough, Bao," Tau said as he advanced.

Bao grabbed a second lightsaber from his belt. A red blade ignited from the hilt. Asharr's lightsaber.

"I've learned, Master," Bao taunted, holding his lightsaber in a guard position from the Djem So form.

Tau hammered and hammered, but Bao, enhancing his already formidable strength with the Force, kicked the Grand Master in the torso, sending him flying into the window. Tau wrapped himself in Force energy to shield himself from the worst of the impact, slamming into the window, seriously cracking it, but regardless, his bruised spine felt painful, with a number of transparisteel shards embedded in it, coupled with the force of impact.

Tau dropped his lightsaber, falling to the floor. The transparisteel was fractured, on the verge of shattering into pieces.

The transparisteel…

Bao stepped towards his former master, even as the latter gathered the Force and placed his hand on the window, which began to further crack into pieces.

"You haven't won, Bao," Tau stated as the window shattered, the pieces flew towards his former apprentice, "You've lost."

Tau pulled himself up as the storm of transparisteel attacked Bao. The Trandoshan roared as he was mauled by many of the glass shards, reducing his torso to a bloody mess.

Bao's agony was heart-breaking for Tau to watch, but Tau continued until his old apprentice crumpled to the ground.

Tau stood over Bao's prone form. Bao was still conscious, albeit barely, and stared into his former master's eyes.

The Grand Master pulled Asharr's lightsaber to his hand and ignited it. He raised it over his head with both hands and, in one stroke, could end Bao-Sklar Pierce. Only to hesitate.

Bao wasn't supposed to be his enemy. What had he done wrong?

Tau simply didn't understand. The ignorance within Bao and other traditionalist masters was his enemy. If only they had understood, he wouldn't have fought them in the first place.

Then again, if Bao and other masters with his viewpoint survived, they would inevitably begin insurrections. The Jedi would be forced to face threats from their own kind.

Although Tau believed in achieving peace for the galaxy regardless of the cost, he began to wonder again if this peace he was forging was worth any more losses, whether Bao should join the long list of casualties…

"Dad!"
Tau looked to his left. He couldn't believe what he saw.

Jade stood at the edge of the corridor, holding her right arm against her chest, her features twisted slightly by pain.
Tau was silent for a moment, but then he began to walk towards his daughter, away from Bao's body. He was really glad to see her…

Suddenly, he heard the roar of a repulsorlift, and then realized he was being targeted. Just as he realized what was happening, a laser cannon fired into the hallway. Tau wrapped himself in the Force, not dying, but being thrown across the corridor.

Tau landed in a heap at the edge of the corridor, Jade not sparing a second glance as she ran past him, accompanied by Riko. Tau was hurt, both physically and mentally, until he saw the airlock of a ship wedge through the remains of the window. Tau had no doubt that it was the freighter from Atarashi'ie. He realized that Jade and Riko were extracting Bao, and intended to be quick about it.

The portal opened, and two droids stepped through. One was multi-limbed and painted blue. The other was Riko's patchwork droid, Niner, who yelled, "Hurry!" They moved to assist the adolescents.
Tau quickly pulled himself off the floor, he couldn't let them leave! He activated Asharr's lightsaber.

Riko ignited his orange blade and charged.

Tau grasped Riko telekinetically and threw him against the wall, aiming his saber towards the boy's heart.

"No!" Jade's plea startled Tau out of his rage. To his horror, she was pointing a blaster pistol at him.

No words were spoken as she fired.

Tau yelped as the blast left an inferno in his side, the shock of his daughter's action multiplied by the pain of his wound, bolting him to the floor. Petrified, he only watched as the roar of TieXs prompted the two novice Jedi to leave, only watched as the last of his family departed forever.

Wild Nomad's Medbay

Regret flooded Jade's consciousness. She had hoped that there was a chance that she could possibly lure Tau away from everything, make him understand what he was doing, only to lose him. Any chance of turning him back away from the path he was on faded in that drydock.

"I am sorry, Jade," Emdee said, "But Master Pierce is in critical condition, I cannot even guarantee I can save his life. I can help heal your hand within the next eight hours, past that point the damage to the nerves will be irreversible. Forgive me if I run out of time."

Jade didn't blame her. The droid was simply following her programming. Besides, Bao was still alive, but barely. When she looked at him, Jade saw small cuts everywhere, some of which had turned into gaping rips. Blood flowed all over the Trandoshan's tattered clothing, she was surprised that the Jedi Knight wasn't already a corpse by now. His life was worth far more than the loss of her hand.
"I," Jade started, "I might be able to help. Val's told you about my skill with healing…"
One of Emdee's photoreceptors moved up to view her, "You're injured. You need rest."
"I can help!" Jade yelled, "Please."

"Okay," Val said as Riko and Niner joined him and Artoo in the cockpit, "We have a star destroyer between us and a hyperspace jump."

The storm had lessened since their entry, and while rain still splattered the viewport, it was far easier to fly through Kaas' atmosphere now.

Wild Nomad Cockpit

With Jade and Bao both badly injured, Emdee was unable to fill the gunner's seat, and Riko was reluctant to take that position.

"Artoo, can you man the guns remotely?" Riko asked.
"Trill de beep!"

"Great, do it," Val ordered.

"You speak binary?" Riko asked as he took the co-pilot's seat, relieved.

"You learn a few things on the run," Val responded.

The storm began to clear up, the gloom began to fade.

Riko looked at the sensors.

"It says here that there's something up ahead," Riko reported, "Something large."

Riko looked up at the viewport, surprised that he couldn't see any stars, considering how high up in the atmosphere they were.

Then the clouds faded, and Riko understood. Everything made sense when he saw the running lights and thick armor plates on the underside of an Imperial star destroyer.

"Turn around, turn around!" Niner panicked.

Val immediately angled the freighter-gunship away, turning away from the massive warship.

"Fire, droid, fire!" Val ordered.

"That destroyer's deploying fighters!" Riko yelled, "We'll have to try something creative!"

"What did you have in mind?"

"I don't know!"
Riko was no longer sure they would make it out of this.

"Trill de dee deep!"

"He's saying to…" Niner was silent for a moment, "circle around the moon, fly away, get out?"
"Slingshot maneuver?" Riko asked. Artoo beeped again, con.

"Yes," Niner said more confidently.

"That could work!" Riko realized, "We can circle away from the fleet and shoot out of the system! From there, Artoo can calculate the jump to hyperspace."
Artoo trilled again.

"He's asking where to jump to," Niner translated.

"Anywhere but here!" Val replied.

The droid extended his probe into the computer socket.

"Alright, let's try your plan, droid," Val said as he flew the ship away from the skyhook and towards Dromund Boga, Dromund Kaas's second moon.

Riko heard Val mumble under his breath, "I'm surprised he's still compatible with modern computers."

"Keep blasting them," Val ordered Artoo, "We can't keep them back forever."

The Nomad flew into a hail of blasterfire, which, if it wasn't for her shields and armor, would have reduced them to quarks.

"How many in pursuit?" Riko looked at the sensor screen.

"Three squadrons of TieXs and two destroyers," Riko reported, "Let's hope their gunners aren't well trained."

They continued racing towards Boga's extremely hot atmosphere, the TIE/Xs in hot pursuit. Boga's storm filled visage increasing dominated the horizon.

The ship shook for the hundredth time under cannonfire. This caused an alarm to activate.

"Our primary transmitter's fried," Riko reported.

"Bee beep!"

"Slowing down to half full," Val responded. The ship gradually began to decelerate.

"They aren't slowing down," Riko reported, "Keep firing Artoo...ahhh!"

The ship shuddered again. Sparks flew out of the wall, illuminating the dark cockpit and stinging Riko's fingers.

Yelping, he tried to stop the pain, only to find his hand in front of his mouth and Niner grabbing his wrist.
"You always say that is gross," Niner scolded.

"Sorry," Riko turned back to the screen once Niner let go.

"Shields are at forty percent and dropping," Riko reported, "We'll have to replace the generator."

"We can do this," Val said to himself, just loudly enough that Riko could hear him. Riko was appropriately reassured.

"Alright Artoo, lay out the course and speed!" Val ordered. The course appeared on the navigation screen.

"Let's go!" Val angled the ship in, moving to twenty, fifteen, ten, and then five kilometers above the moon's atmosphere, encircling it. With a ship like the Nomad, it was difficult, but not impossible. With TIE/Xs, it would be harder, since they were designed to fly in open space and change direction rapidly, rather than angling into a planet's gravity. A Star Destroyer was simply too large to make that maneuver this quickly.

"Wo weoo!"

"The Ties can't tail us!" Niner translated, "They're still following, but they don't have the needy maneuvering!"

"Riko, you have to fix that droid," Val grumbled.

"I like him this way," Riko grinned.

"Me too!" Even Niner joined in, "I like me!"

Artoo began beeping second by second.
"Altering speed," Val reported, "I'm almost ready to pull out. Be sure to adjust the dampeners, especially the ones I installed for the medbay. Three…"

Riko dialed the inertial dampeners up to 100%. From what Val said, apparently the medbay had reinforced inertial dampening, which should ensure Jade, Bao, and Emdee were safe.

"Two…"
Riko strapped in his crash webbing.

"One."

Niner grabbed Riko's hand.

"Now!"

"Woooooowwwww!" The Nomad rapidly pulled from Dromund Boga and accelerated to her maximum speed. Even with dampeners at maximum, Riko was pushed back against his seat. He was unable to hold onto Niner, the metal hand tearing from his grip painfully. Riko was pretty sure his hand would bleed.
"Uuuuhhhh…" Niner groaned, "I am vertigoing…"

"Okay," Riko said, "I think we're clear. Punch it!"
"Got it," Val said as he activated the hyperdrive and the ship escaped.

Supply Corridor, Depot Interior

When Tau had finally been able to speak, he had ordered the security team that had found him to depart. He had insisted that he was fine, that he would visit the nearest medbay later. After attaching a bacta bandage and injecting him with a healing agent, the team had very reluctantly departed. Now he was walking down the corridor of the frigate, his left arm clutching his non-lethal, yet painful, injury.

His daughter was alive, but he might never see her again. He had lost everything in his pursuit of a better world.

Tau was so deep in his thoughts that he almost didn't notice Asharr lying down on the floor in front of him, her mask still steaming.

"Master…" Asharr said weakly, "Please, don't…" Tau knew that she might not live long without help. Was Bao right? Had he crossed a line?

No, he had fulfilled his vision of what the Jedi would become. And he would still attempt to keep the peace. He would do it for Jade, Bao, Kali'sto, anyone else still remaining that would live in a world of peace.

Tau knew that this was the only way to end the cycle. He had crossed the line so the Order he would lead into a new era wouldn't have to. He would continue until the Galaxy was safe. He would not give up now, not after all he had achieved. He would do it for her, ensure that the galaxy was as safe a place as he could make it.

And Asharr ...Tau would decide what to do with her later. She would still be needed.

"Master Skywalker," a Jedi Knight approached him, "They've escaped."

"I am aware, Illa."

Illa turned towards Asharr's ruined body, "What do you want me to do with it?"

"Send her to Miranda," Tau ordered. He moved his hand and used the Force to wrench the melted mask off Asharr's face, taking some semblance of catharsis from her screams of pain.

Wild Nomad, Hyperspace

Five minutes after the Nomad entered hyperspace, Val and Riko both ran back to the medbay, trusting Artoo to navigate the ship. Riko was frantic, his heart hammering.

"Can Emdee save Bao?" Riko asked.

"She'll do her best," Val responded. Riko wasn't reassured.

When they made it to the medbay, Riko couldn't believe what he saw: Emdee, instead of performing surgery on Bao, was instead tending to Jade, who was unconscious and pale.

Emdee's head moved up, her display showing a timer and two pulses.

"What happened?" Riko asked, already worried.

"I was able to remove most of the shards," Emdee replied gravely, "but they have practically ruptured most of his internal organs. Removing them caused further damage; internal bleeding, torn heart chambers, silica in the bloodstream. Damage which Jade attempted to repair, but hurt her in the process."

"Replace his organs!" Riko yelled, "Surely you're stocked with artificial organs, you can treat his injuries…"

"No, we aren't," Emdee responded, "We can't treat him here."

"Put him in stasis! Keep him frozen until we can get him to a hospital…"

"Our cryogenic chamber was critically damaged when we crashed, we can't fix it…"

"I CAN FIX IT!" Riko yelled, "I'm great with machines…"

"We can't repair it, the container carrying the required solution has ruptured."

"We gotta do something!" Riko yelled, "Can't Jade keep helping you..."

"Jade can't do it in her condition. She tried, and the process drained her. She had already depleted herself reattaching her limb."

"Emdee's right, Riko," Val responded grimly, "this is way worse than broken ribs."

No, no, no, no, no… Riko couldn't believe it.

"We'll work together. We can do it!" Riko insisted, "I'm not giving up…"

"I don't want to, either," Val responded, "But what would Bao want?"

Does it matter? He's my friend, my master, I'm not giving up… Just like that, Riko realized what he was doing. Jade would probably die if she tried again. Even with his newfound revelation about his powers, Riko couldn't save Bao now. It was too late.

"What can we do?" Riko asked.

"We can make sure his final minutes are comfortable. I've shut down most of his nerves. He won't feel a thing."

"How long does he have?" Val asked.

"I estimate six minutes and five seconds."

"Can he hear us?" Riko asked.

"Yes. He is still semi-conscious."

Riko wasn't sure what Bao would say about all this. He wasn't sure what he would do now, who would train him. Bao had given him direction, mentorship. He hadn't always seemed like it, but he was there. Now he wouldn't be.

You know enough to find your way, Riko.

Riko heard this in Bao's voice. The thought was within his own head, but...he wasn't sure if it was his own or Bao.

Were you lying about being bad at telepathy? Riko asked mentally. He didn't get an answer to his question, but a response nonetheless.

I know this is scary. But you'll make it through. You'll find a way.

"Can you bring Jade out of it?"
"Unfortunately no," Emdee responded, "She'll recover soon, but for now, she needs to stay under."

You're not alone.

Riko still walked next to her bed, even as he stared at Bao's dying form. Val took up position on the opposite side of the bed and removed his helmet. Riko would have assumed him to be human if not for an indigo tattoo on his cheek that identified him as a member of a Kiffar family. He had fair, if pale, skin, cropped black hair, a goatee, and brown eyes. He had a scar of the burn variety on his right temple.

"Bao," Val began, "before I met you, I never really understood how noble people could be. When I joined the Mandos, they told me that the Jedi were zealots, who enslaved their ancestors, who bravely turned on them and all that osik. Even if that was really the case, that was then. We changed, for the better. You're the bravest man I've ever met, and if I didn't know you, I'd...well, even if I survived, I'd be a real di'kut. Your friendship is the greatest gift I ever received, ner vod."

When Riko looked at him, Val responded, "It means brother in Mando'a. I don't have any biological siblings anyway," Val looked at Riko, "You want to say anything? There's still," Val looked at Emdee's head, "two minutes."

You're not alone, Riko.

Riko took a deep breath, then spoke, "Bao, when I said that you were unworthy, that you weren't a proper master," the pulse further erratizied, "I was wrong. You're the wisest Jedi I know. Probably the wisest one alive, at this point. You would have...no, you were an amazing teacher. I'm honored to be your student. May the Force be with you, Bao-Sklar Pierce." Tears streaked down his face as Bao's pulse flattened and synaptic activity ceased.

Riko realized Jade was holding his hand. He didn't want to let go.

No one did or said anything for a long time.
Val finally broke the silence, saying, "Ni su'cuyi, gar kyr'adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum, Bao-Sklar Pierce."

When Riko looked at him, he translated his own words, "I am still alive, but you are dead. I remember you, so you are eternal."

Riko knew what Val was saying. He was right, in more than one way, "He's a part of the Force now."
Val walked over and did something unexpected. He hugged Riko. Riko returned the gesture, reluctantly letting go of Jade's hand.

Riko hoped she really knew her mother would also always be there, always be a part of them.

For a long time, the Mandalorian held the Jedi Padawan, neither of them wanted to let go.

Eventually, Riko heard servos moving, whispering, and beeping. The droids were doing something.

Riko let go of Val and looked around. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

All three of them had entered the medbay. Artoo was standing vigil in front of the bed. Emdee was spraying Bao's body with something as she either placed bandages on or sewed up his injuries with stitches. Niner was holding a rolled-up blanket. Neither Riko or Val said anything, Riko just wanted to watch.

"I'm done," Emdee finally said in a solemn tone. In one set of limbs, she took one half of the blanket. The droids unfolded it and placed it on top of Bao's body, covering everything except his head and feet. Bao's eyes were closed, his body was relaxed, he could have been sleeping; he certainly looked like he was at peace.

"Goodbye," Niner said, "We miss you."

Chapter Thirty

Galactic Federation Triumvirate Headquarters, Coruscant (Seventeen Days Later)

Tau examined himself as he finished talking with Grand Moff Arkus Itecht, Chief Ares Theron, and Qardo Vere, a Zeltron who had served as Asharr's second in command in the Consortium.

All were loyal to Tau, and they would serve as a proper means of having his will enforced throughout the Empire, Alliance, and neutral space.

"I am glad that things have worked out between the four of us," Tau said at the conclusion of their meeting.

"We shall reunite the galaxy together, Master Skywalker," Itecht agreed.

"It is time for us to address the public," Tau said, straightening his black robes, which, alongside his green lightsaber, fair skin, blonde-grey hair, and blue eyes, gave him a close resemblance to Luke Skywalker, which was good. Appearance and persona were everything in the world of politics, and it would certainly be an advantage for his public image for the new Grand Master to resemble his ancestor who had done so much for them in the past.

Tau examined his weapon. His lightsaber had been repaired and recovered, even if it showed some wear and tear from the battle. Tau felt it was appropriate that his saber remain this way.

The Grand Master fastened a device on his collar that would record his voice and broadcast it as he spoke. It was time to fulfill his duty.

He was briefly interrupted from his revere by a canine standing nearby, not moving.

Tau couldn't resist the urge. He had a few minutes.

Ignoring the Strill's pungent odor, he moved to his knees and rubbed Lulu under the chin, only for them to tilt their head away.

Tau knew how much Jade loved Lulu, and vowed that they would reunite one day. He stood up, took a deep breath, and walked towards the palace's audience chamber.

Finally, Tau stepped outside and greeted the press, Itecht, Hateria, and Qardo at his side. Tau felt a strange presence in the crowd, a ripple in the Force. Ignoring it, confident in his ability to defend everyone from whatever it might be, Tau began,

"I understand that there has been some confusion over the events of the last few weeks. There have been rumors that the high council was operating against the wishes of the Triumvirate, that they were trying to war against the Consortium in neutral space, that one of them was trying to destroy those of us who did not accept his dogma."
"I am sorry to announce that those rumors are true. For years, Grand Master K'Kruhk has been working with Asharr of the Consortium to take control of the Jedi order. Asharr aided his scheme in exchange for kidnaping Jedi and Imperial Knights to brainwash them into becoming her enforcers. A fleet stolen from the Alliance attacked the Jedi Temple, in an attempt to destroy those of us who opposed his dogma and warmongering. We managed to hold them off, though every other member of the high council was killed in their bombardment. Empress Thalia Fel found a lead and personally investigated this conspiracy following her disappearance from Valkaran. Her body was...found in the Temple's halls."
As he spoke, a terrible taste filled Tau's mouth as he uttered the lie. He was desecrating a good man in the eyes of the galaxy. K'Kruhk's, Bao's, and Thalia's faces floated in his consciousness, and guilt started to creep into his heart, though he suppressed it with a sense of duty.

"Asharr was killed resisting arrest."

Tau knew he had to keep speaking, or else his scheme might fall apart. He knew how much evil he had done, and knew that there was more to commit, but he would have to continue on.
"I would like to honor my friend, Master Vicis Libre, who was killed in the destruction of the council tower, and Jedi Knight Bao-Sklar Pierce, once my apprentice, who died not long after, saving my life in the process." Tau knew that Bao had passed, it had broken his heart. He admired the fact that Bao had at least died for his beliefs, however misguided his path was.

"The Consortium was able to trace the link, heard our distress call and saved the Temple. Qardo Vere of the Consortium has agreed to place their syndicate under our supervision, so we may shut down the black market and root out disorder and chaos on neutral planets. Moff Itecht, Chief Theron, and myself have decided that this is the best course of action."

"We will fight against this rebellion, and together restore order and peace within the borders of our new allies."
"As we fight our enemies from afar, we must not forget to look within ourselves. I am formally calling on the entire Jedi Order to look into their hearts and know the truth. We, in a united galaxy, must also change to ensure forces of injustice, if they take the form of the Sith, empires, overzealous corporates, criminals, or even ourselves, will never rise again!"

Tau spoke ever more commandingly as his speech abandoned the lies and moved into the truth, even if he couldn't completely quell his conscience.

"I know that the subsequent years will be difficult for all of us, but I promise that we will emerge with a peaceful and united galaxy."
Tau could barely believe it as the crowd cheered for him. But he did suppose that this was what he wanted, himself leading the galaxy into a brighter tomorrow.

His optimism, however, did not distract him from the ripples he felt in the crowd. For one moment, among the multitudes, he was sure he could see a tall, hooded, brown-robed figure with a long staff. Then the ripples faded and Kali'sto vanished.

Cargo Bay, Wild Nomad, Outer Rim Territories

Even days later, Riko was still wearing those goggles. Val related, his own armor was like a second skin to him. It was actually a little comforting to see Riko echo this tenet of Mandalorian society. Val knew that when this crisis was over, he would have to let Riko keep that darned headpiece. Val resolved to never tell Riko where he had acquired them.

The boy was sitting on his rack in his quarters, twiddling something in his hands. His expression was one of guilt, regret, his head was lowered to the floor.
Val sympathized with him. It wasn't too hard to tell from all the evidence what really happened aboard the station.
"Hey, kid," Val said. Riko looked up, looking a little startled.

"Oh, hey Val," Riko took whatever he was holding and attached it to his belt. It was cylindrical, short, and stubby, probably a lightsaber.
Val sat down next to Riko, "Feeling down?" Riko was silent. Val didn't blame him. In the boy's eyes, Val was little more than a stranger, rather than potentially being his father.

"I miss him too," Val added, "He was my best friend, my family, apart from Emdee."

Riko was silent.

"I remember you, so you are eternal," Val assured him, "He's still here, kid. In memory."

"In memory," Riko repeated. Val wholeheartedly believed what he was saying. No one was ever really gone, not until they disappeared from memory, until all trace of their life had vanished.

"I lost my parents when I was barely older than you," Val started, "Pirates. Wielding lightsabers, of all things. Bao picked up my distress call. He was still an apprentice, maybe younger than you. He saved my life."

Val looked around, "Sometimes I still can't believe it was aboard this very ship. Odd how life works, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Riko responded, "It is."

"I think I know what else happened aboard the station," Val changed the subject. Riko looked up in surprise.

"How?" he finally spoke.

"You're guilty about something, Jade lost her hand, you two were alone when it happened, it's pretty easy to fit the pieces together. I might not be a Jedi, and I can't use the Force, but I can still tell how you feel," Val explained, "But how did it happen?"

"Well," Riko began, "Bao told you his theory on what the Consortium did to captured Jedi, right?"
"He did," Val said, "That happened to Jade?"

"Yep, it did," Riko said sadly, "When I tried to find her, she attacked me. We fought, and I tried to just sever her lightsaber, maybe even nerves, render her hand useless until Emdee could fix it, or she could heal it. But she moved at the last second, and…"

Riko didn't say anything else.

"Okay, that's terrible," Val said. Riko lowered his head.

"First of all, you're a kid," Val stated, "You've never been on this type of mission before. I'm pretty sure most apprentices make mistakes. Second, all we can do is start looking to stop Tau. The best way to cope with this is to do something about it. Third, if years go by, we'll have time to grow as a family."

Taking a deep breath after his near-slipup, Val continued, "I don't think that it was your fault, kid. It must have been crazy in there, I'm not surprised that you made a mistake. It was the same with Bao, you were in the heat of battle and couldn't keep track of everything. You still rescued Jade. We escaped to fight another day. And that's what's important, that's what Bao died for. You have to forgive yourself when you're not ready for something. It won't be easy, but you get on with life, because that's what Bao would want for you."

Riko smiled weakly. Val was sure he had set the kid on the right path. Despite his maturity, he was still a kid, few of his peers would expect him to be an adult by this point in his life.

Had he been raised Mandalorian, by that age, Riko would be old enough to be a legal adult. In two, he probably would have been encouraged to marry.

Val, whenever he recalled his teenage self, was reminded of the stupidity of that tradition. No one was ready for love at sixteen, or being an adult at thirteen.

I wouldn't have made you a warrior that young…

"Speaking of which, I noticed that I never really got to talk to you alone," Val changed the subject, "Bao, Thalia, Artoo, even that bucket of bolts you built has talked to me more than you have."
"You want to know more about me?"

"Well, I have a feeling there's a warrant on our heads in the Triumvirate. Makes sense to stay together for a while. I might as well be your friend."
Riko smiled weakly, "What would you like to know?"

"I never learned where you came from, who raised you?" Val's hopes started to rise. Maybe Miranda was his mother, maybe she had raised him. Maybe she was still alive…

"I was raised on Orîlla by a Jedi named Kali'sto," Val's heart sank, "He adopted me when I was a baby. I don't know where I was born."

Val already knew Kali'sto's name: he remembered Miranda had spent a number of years traveling with a Jedi going by that name as a scholar and an apprentice. This was strong evidence that Val was the father.

"So, Kali'sto," Val felt a little jealous, "Who was he?"
"His species are called Vie'vantae. They're plant-based humanoids, and his appearance reflects it more than most. He always reminded me of a tree."
"A tree?" Val hid his emotions behind a mask of curiosity.

"Yep," Riko was smiling now, "He had grey bark skin, multicolored eyes, and his hair was styled like roots. He was tall, thin, and he always dressed like a traveler."

"What was he like?"
"He was very wise. He's very qualified to be a historian, he has a memory for history that stretches back centuries. He loved learning about other cultures, he made a point to make me learn about as many planets and species as possible, even if he never took me to see any of them. He loved cooking, he was especially great at spices."
"So you view him as your dad?" Val assumed.

"Yeah. He's the only parent I've ever known," Riko's smile faded, "He told me to leave during the coup on the Orîllan government, that's when I first met Jade. I haven't seen him since. That's one of the reasons I became a Jedi, so I could try to find him again."
"You think he's still out there?"

"He told me I'd know if he died: everything I know about the connections Force-users form supports this. I know he's still out there somewhere. And he would never help Tau."
"So if we found him, he'd help us?"
"Yep," Riko said happily, "I'm going to talk to Jade, I should clear things up with her. It was nice talking to you, Val!"

Riko walked down the corridor. Val simply sat down on Riko's rack and thought about what he had just learned.

Riko viewed Kali'sto as his father. He was the only parent I've ever known.

Even if Val was Riko's biological father, Riko wouldn't fully accept Val. No matter how close they might become, Val would never take Kali'sto's place in Riko's life.

Emdee walked by the cargo bay.
"Hello, Val," Emdee walked in, "I am making preparations for the DNA test…"
"Cancel it," Val ordered, "The results don't matter anymore."

"May I inquire as to why?"

"I'd rather you didn't."
"Very well then. I will be keeping the equipment in the medbay in case you change your mind," Emdee started to walk out of the cargo bay.

Maybe Val wouldn't be a father. But he could still do what he could to keep Riko safe.

"Emdee," the droid halted and turned around, "Just so you know, we have a bigger crew now, and now that we've got Jade...Let's just say I know how much you hate being my co-pilot."
If Emdee was flesh-and-blood, Val was sure she would smile, "Very well, Val."

Medical Bay

Jade had spent the last few days lying on her medical bed. Most of the crew had come to see her: Niner, Artoo, even Val. However, Riko had not come yet.
Jade supposed he felt guilty about what had happened inside the station.

After examining how the duel might have gone over and over again, she had concluded that the temporary loss of her hand was an accident, something Riko attempted to avoid but had done via some miscalculated move or even an attack on her part that put his blade into her wrist. Even though she cringed and shook at the memory, she knew that Riko would never have done something like this intentionally. As for the cut on her belly, it had merely been a flesh wound, leaving only a faint scar. Jade was sure that the cut there had occurred under the same circumstances.

The more Jade though about it, she began to realize that it wasn't as if the agent had given Riko much of a choice. She had controlled Jade's body and imprisoned her mind. Jade couldn't fully recall the experience; her mind had sealed off much of it from her conscious memory. All she remembered was that she had never felt closer to complete nothingness, an aching emptiness, the sensation of imprisonment. Scars on her belly and wrist were a small price to pay.

Jade felt weary after everything that had happened in the past few days. She was just glad that the medical bed was comfortable. The reason she had to stay on the bed, though, was because her wrist was hooked up via an IV to a bacta pump, which was similar to a bacta tank, though instead of submerging her in the fluid, the device pumped a large amount of bacta into her bloodstream, which circulated, and was drained, cleaned, filtered, and pumped back in. Bored waiting through the process, she had spent the last few hours trying to move her fingers, as of now, with no success.

Bao's body had been transferred to a hover gurney, moved to the ship's guest quarters, still wearing the blanket, and disinfected daily.

Jade heard the door open and looked to her left.

Riko stood in the doorway, an expression of guilt on his face.

"Ah, Riko," Emdee turned up behind him, "Come to check on Jade?

"Yes, how is she?" Riko responded, making room for the droid to enter her domain.

"Her injury was easy to fix. I hooked her wrist to a bacta pump, her nerves are regenerating. While she may come to favor her left hand, within a few weeks, the only sign that her appendage was amputated will be a scar on her wrist. None of her other injuries were serious or difficult to treat. We will, however, need to restock our medical supplies on our next port of call."
"Can I talk to her?"
"That is for the patient to decide."
"It's okay, Emdee," Jade said. She did want to talk with Riko about the past few days.

"Alright."
Emdee walked over to Bao, and Jade sat up on the medical bed, keeping her healing arm on her lap.

"Hey," Riko said softly.

"Hey," Jade answered back.

"I wanted to check on how you were doing. Well, that and say I'm sorry for...everything that happened," Riko said sincerely.

"It's okay, Riko," Jade assured him, "I know you didn't mean to hurt me." She was pretty sure that he had already heard these words, but he was relieved to hear them from her.

"Besides, you went through all that to save me. I know you didn't do this to capture Asharr or Tau, you did it for me. And you saved me, in multiple ways," Jade gestured to her injured arm as she added, "This is a small price to pay."

Riko clearly didn't know what to say, only uttering, "thanks." Jade could tell that he wasn't expecting the reaction he got. He had prepared for the worst, but found the best.

Jade scooted over slightly on the biobed. Taking the hint, Riko sat down next to her.

For a moment, Jade just looked into the eyes of her best friend. Then, almost as if on cue, Riko remembered something, and took the hilt of a lightsaber from his belt and handed it out to Jade, who recognized it as her own.

"It took me a while, but I fixed it," Riko said, "I thought you might..."

"No thanks, Riko."

Over the past few hours, she had been thinking, and she was ready to tell him.
"No? Why?"

"When I was a child, my mom raised me. Her relationship with da.."Jade stopped, knowing that she could no longer bear to refer to Tau with the honor of family, "Their relationship was kept a secret, I was kept a secret. People knew that Tau had a family, but that was it."

Jade breathed in for a moment before continuing, "I loved my mother, but I rarely got to see Tau, he could only visit once or twice a year, this strained their relationship. I felt like there was an emptiness that could only be fulfilled one way: I had to become a Jedi. I rejected the life my mother lived so I could be with Tau. One day, when I was eight, when he visited, I walked up to my parents and told them I wanted to be a Jedi. I wanted to live Tau's life. They made me go to my room, but I snuck out and saw them arguing. They were shouting, they were...angrier than I ever knew was possible."

Jade felt tears welling in her eyes as the emotions flooded back. She moved closer to Riko, "I tore my family apart. I went back to the temple with Tau. I didn't really accept that I would not be able to see Mom...I guess what I really did was trade one emptiness for another. I didn't see her for years ...and now she's gone. And I learned that Tau did all these things… I thought that becoming a Jedi would fix everything, but now look at me. I've lost almost everything I've ever cared about. I couldn't save Mom, or Harkaq, or Kara, or Bao …I felt helpless, I couldn't do anything."
"I don't," Jade found it hard to say this, "I don't think I should still be a Jedi after this. Everything I've done on that path has caused me pain. It may be for you...but it's not for me."

Jade looked at Riko, not needing the Force to tell that he was a little disappointed at her decision, though he understood it.

"Jade, I can't say I support your choice, I think you're doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. I know you've been through more trauma than anyone else I know, but I think that this is a little too much," Riko responded, "If you think it's for the best, I'll accept it. It's your choice, not mine."

"I'm glad you understand," Jade hugged Riko. They held each other for what felt like hours, Jade taking in Riko's warm embrace. She could tell he felt as vulnerable and doubtful as she did. When they stopped, Jade stared into Riko's eyes. For one second, both of them started to lean in…

"How are…oh," Emdee's voice startled Jade out of her moment.

"Should I leave?" the Medical droid asked.

"No, you can stay," she hurriedly responded.

"I should probably go," Riko said, his ears a shade of red. He moved off the bed and stood up.

"Riko," Jade said as he started to leave, bringing his attention back to her, "You're the closest thing I have to family. I'm glad that, after losing Mom and Dad, I still have you."
Riko smiled weakly, "If there's anything about this that I actually am glad about, it's that I met you."

After Riko left, Jade continued to try to move her fingers. As she did so, she realized that in that moment with Riko, something had changed. The dynamics of their friendship were irreversibly altered.

Surprisingly, Jade didn't find that undesirable, however intimidating it seemed.

After an hour, she almost gave up until she saw her index finger twitch. Satisfied for the day, Jade closed her eyes, resting and healing.

Cargo Bay, a few days later

Riko was engaged in a kind of meditation, one that definitely focused his thoughts; decision-making. He had spent the last twenty minutes examining his two lightsabers, attempting to decide which one he would use as his weapon.

The saber Kali'sto had given him, clutched in his right hand, was sleeker and aesthetically pleasing, with its beautiful artistic engravings woven into the metal. On top of that, it reminded him of his old home back on Orîlla. On the other hand, his original lightsaber, which he carried in his left hand, was a standard design, while his new one had more options. In addition, Riko had built it personally and it was an achievement he was proud of.

Riko reignited both blades, cyan and fiery orange. In the ancient Jedi traditions, blue represented the Guardians, while Green represented the Consulars. Riko's original lightsaber was a blend of the two colors, which Riko felt suited him. His orange lightsaber looked less like yellow with a touch of red and more like red with a touch of yellow, forming a blade that looked like fire.

Both were good weapons, and Riko couldn't really choose.

"Riko!" Niner rolled into the cargo bay. Even though three weeks had passed since the mission, Riko decided to allow Niner to keep his combat upgrade. He might need it again one day.

"Hey Niner," Riko greeted his friend. An idea came to the front of his mind regarding his indecision.
"I'm having trouble choosing which lightsaber to use," Riko said, holding out his two weapons, "Which one do you think I should pick?"

"Why not both?"

Riko understood Niner's answer, even if his choice of words was off.
"You might lose one, why not have two?"

"That's actually a pretty good idea, Niner," Riko responded.

Riko clipped his original saber to his belt, the engraved hilt resting against his right thigh. He clipped his new weapon to the left of the buckle, within easy reach. As he did so, he began to think about all that had happened, and why.

The original Jedi beliefs were simpler, with fewer gray areas and less room for compromise. But they might have actually propagated the cycle of death and destruction that plagued the galaxy. Tau's philosophy had some truth to it, but he had killed innocents and harmed the lives of millions to achieve his goals.

Jade and Tau were right; good and evil did depend on how the user wielded the Force. There were unique abilities that could only be used via the Dark Side, and those that could only be used with the Light. Both sides were accessed by certain emotions, and it was easy to lose oneself in them. That was why the most malevolent people in history were dark side users.

The Old Jedi, the Adherents, had created their code to prevent themselves from going through this, and Riko had tried to follow the ideal they had set. In truth, he had still been ruled by one: fear. Fear of losing, fear of failing, fear of pain. Their code would never work for him. His mind was too active to ever really be silent and at peace.

Riko knew now that many emotions were double-edged swords: it wasn't the emotion, but rather, how the wielder channeled it. The light side could be used for dark purposes, just as the dark could for good purposes. People could let their anger consume them, or channel it into something to benefit the world. Love, compassion, these were the greatest motivators of all, more so than duty or greed. It was how a person used their abilities, not the abilities themselves.

Riko had almost crossed that line in his duel with the agent. His intentions were good, but he would have let the end justify the means had he killed Jade. In the end, he would have lost what he was hoping to attain. He had saved Jade because he was determined; determined to protect the ones he loved, embracing his love and passion. He had solved the problem and found the key to defeat Jade through reason and evaluation, not letting emotions such as anger overwhelm him, even as they guided him.

Embracing compassion, reason, justice, curiosity, and love while drawing on anger and rage, dark and light...this was the Balance, the answer. A world where light and dark were in actions and intentions, not abilities. One where Riko stopped fearing himself. A much more difficult path, but one that left its followers in understanding of all aspects of the Force and all aspects of themselves. When Riko started allowing himself to feel again, when he had avoided the easy path, he really had taken his first real step to becoming a Jedi. He had taken on the real challenge.

Now to expose Tau's crimes…

"Niner," Riko thoughts turned as he spoke, "remember in the station, when I left you and Artoo alone?"

"Yes," Niner responded, "Is this because the data thingy was broken?"
"Yep, I...why am I even talking to you about this? Military strategy isn't your thing."
"Actually, I do have a strategy calculator. Guards spotted us four times. One guy found out how 'odd we look,'" Niner was probably quoting, "I was ninety-four percent sure someone would notice how different we was and have us examined. I was happy you had the data thingy. I was eighty-three-percent sure it was safer with you."

"Your point being?"

"Even for droids, life is weird."
Riko understood what Niner was trying to say. It was basically the same thing as Val.

"In fact, considering that it was just us, I'm amazed we got out at all. Maybe you must adjust my computer…"

"Okay, let's see what Val's up to," Riko interrupted. The droid followed him as he walked to the reserve cockpit. Though they had repaired, (most of the actual work done by Riko and Artoo) most of the serious damage to the Wild Nomad, the Vagrant still hadn't been replaced. Finding another craft to replace her wasn't out of the question, small auxiliary craft were now commonly found on Corellian ships, but finding one that could match the Vagrant's capabilities was unlikely.

"Why'd you do that with Bao?" Riko asked.

"You were sad. I desired to do something nice."

"Why?"

"It was sweet to do."

Niner had come a long way. Riko was a little daunted by this, but happy for his little brother.

"Okay, Jade," Riko heard Val's voice as he entered the cockpit, "So you need to keep us on a precise angle. I know it's a little difficult with your hand still healing, but you'll get the hang of it."
Riko saw Val in the co-pilot's seat, guiding Jade in the pilot's seat, maneuvering the ship with her left hand on the control stick as Artoo interfaced with the computer.

Val had repainted his armor; now it was a dark grey. The scarlet of his painted wound and gloves vividly stood out. Once more, he wore his helmet.

"Hello," Riko said as he entered the cockpit, "Interrupting anything?"

"Just teaching my co-pilot," Val explained.

"Val's agreed to let us stay here, thought I'd get some practice," Jade explained.
"So," Riko responded, "What's next?"

Val answered, "We'll have to find a place for Bao. While we're there, we get our ship fixed."

"You know what he meant, Val," Jade added.

"Right. I don't know our next move," Val responded, "We can't take on Tau alone. We don't have a lot of allies."

I promise, I will see you again. That wasn't Bao's voice. This voice was older, more humanoid, lacking his mentor's subtle rasp. Riko knew for sure that this was a memory.

"Maybe we do," Riko said as everything began to fall into place.

"What do you mean?" Jade asked.

"There are plenty of Adherents left, all of which Tau will be hunting now. Not just that, there are dozens of other Force-using groups. The Jensaarai, the Baran Do, the Aing-tii monks! Don't you get it?"

Jade understood, "You want to get them to help us out?"

"Yes! There's at least one Jedi that's out recruiting. We can get them to help us out. We'll find evidence of the truth. Eventually, we might be able to defeat him."

The cockpit was silent for a moment.

"Trill de vreet! Beet beep!" Artoo was clearly upbeat and optimistic.

"It will work!" Niner said, "He says too!"

"Artoo transmitted your conversation to me," Emdee said over the comms, "Perhaps we should try this."

Elated, Riko turned to Val and Jade.

Jade finally said, "What do we have to lose?"

"Alright," Val agreed, "I'll let my co-pilot and her astromech lay in the course. Where should we begin this great search?"
Riko was silent for a moment and looked out the window, attempting to think of a place to begin.

All Riko could say was, "Guess we'll have to play it by ear." All Riko could think was, I'm finally coming, Dad.

Acknowledgements:

To begin, I'd like to start with my father, who saw how much I loved creating stories of myself as a Jedi, and encouraged me to write them down and share them with the world, even though he would now like me to create my own, completely original story, free of preexisting copyright. (Don't worry Dad, I've got a few ideas.)

Next, there are my friends and family who spent years listening to me rant about this story, this idea or that, this change, that edit, occasionally gave me advice or ideas about this book when they weren't bored or disinterested, helped me find the title for this series, and, in some cases, even helped me write/edit this thing. Thanks for listening and contributing, everyone, love you!

Third, thanks to Lynwen Brennen, president of Industrial Light and Magic, and the only Star Wars film contributor I have met personally, for her company's outstanding work on my favorite films over the decades. Though she can't read this novel herself for legal reasons, I hope her husband Patrick enjoyed the rough draft I gave him.

Fourth, most of the credit for this book's setup goes to all of the authors of the original Expanded Universe, including Timothy Zahn, Karen Traviss, Michael A. Stackpole, Sean Stewart, Genndy Tartakovsky, Chris Avellone, Hayden Blackman, and many, many others. Their stories built the foundation for this one, and I am glad that they contributed their own unique ideas to enrich the story of a galaxy far far away.

Fifth, I'd like to thank prominent contributors to the Star Wars saga, such as John Williams, Ben Burtt, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Frank Oz, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Ian McDarmind, Ewan McGregor, and Liam Nelson, to name a few, who sculpted the vision of George Lucas into the work of art we know and love.

Sixth, I love the EU (and would like to see it continue as a separate Star Wars continuity), but I also enjoy most of the new movies and shows (even if Disney's Star Wars content can be flashy and incredibly over-saturating), so thank you, among many, many, many others, Jon Favreau, Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Emily Swallow, Nick Nolte, Carl Weathers, Werner Herzog, Giancarlo Esposito, Dave Filoni, Ashley Eckstein, Sam Witwer, Dee Bradley Baker, Stig Asmussen, Cameron Monaghan, Elizabeth Grullon, Debra Wilson, Tina Ivlev, Daniel Roebuck, Donald Glover, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Kelly Marie Tran, Derek Connolly, Colin Treverrow, and Rian Johnson (yes, I liked The Last Jedi.) I admit the sequel films aren't perfect, it often doesn't feel like they're being made because someone had a story they wanted to tell, but they are well acted with great effects, they can be fun and occasionally thought-provoking, and in my favorite Disney Star Wars stories, The Mandalorian and The Last Jedi, it is clear that Rian Johnson and Jon Favreau are passionate about the franchise and wanted to tell unique stories that add to it instead of repeating what's already been done. While I will happily admit that Disney the corporation has a horrible track record when it comes to paying their employees reasonably and owns way too many IPs, at the end of the day, the people who actually create these stories (Rian Johnson, Jon Favreau, Gareth Edwards, Colin Treverrow) are usually fanboys like us. Whether it's the story or the themes or the effects or the worldbuilding, they all are drawn to the franchise and replicate and derivate based on what drew them in, just like I did with my favorite part of the franchise: the Jedi and the Sith. Hate them if you wish, but me, I like the sequel movies. Well, 66% of them.

Seventh, to Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Irvin Kershner, Ralph McQuarrie, Kenny Baker, Carrie Fisher, and Peter Mayhew, to name a few: thank you. No one's ever really gone.

Eighth, thank you, George Lucas, for creating this universe that I write my story in.

Finally, to wrap this all up, to Star Wars fans reading this, be they friends or strangers, who have managed to balance out their fandom with a happy, interactive, and successful life in the real world, I'm really proud of you and aspire to find that balance. Franchises like Star Wars are supposed to bring people together. A massive franchise like Star Wars offers a massive variety of stories, take your pick what you like, just let people enjoy what they enjoy, this isn't politics. But…I get how you feel: I don't like Star Trek Discovery or Star Wars: The Old Republic (I love the KOTOR games, not SWTOR) for the exact same reasons you probably hate the sequel trilogy. If any fans of SWTOR or Discovery are reading this, I'm not trying to ruin them for you, if you like them, great! This is just my opinion.

Speaking of stories; this was my first novel, but not my last. It was an experiment for me; I'm using this novel to develop my skills with as a writer before I write original content. I have a history of perfectionism: I started drafting the concept in late 2014, started writing a year later, finished my first draft in early 2017, and then spent way too long editing it. What I have learned is that there is no such thing as a perfect story, and authors never see their work very differently than the readers. If any aspiring writers are watching this, two things: first, always get a second opinion, have friends review your work to advise you on your strengths and weaknesses. And second, don't let a few imperfections get in the way of letting your work get out there! Every artist is their greatest critic, viewing minor details as glaring plotholes. Remember that not everyone will see the story the same way you do. Anyways, now that I am finally finished, I am happy to announce that this is the first novel in the Star Wars: Illumination trilogy, a story that I intend to become better and more original as it progresses. I hope you have enjoyed my debut, thank you for reading it!

May the Force be with you all.