Chapter 2: Knol Ven'nari

Sluis Van

In a prefabricated durasteel shack in the centre of Cresh Base, the Bothan Jedi Master, Knol Ven'nari sat on a red cushioned meditation pad, regarding the Sluissi holopresence before here. The air conditioner in the background hummed, cooling the sparsely decorated room at full blast.

"Master Jedi," Gazd Fenstir sighed wearily. "To what do I owe the honour?"

While Knol Ven'nari had only been amongst Sluissi for a month or so, she could see that the sitting Khedive, Gazd Fenstir, had seemingly aged years. Wrinkles now spanned his green flat reptilian face. His previously jet-black eyes had grown somewhat pale. Almost like cataracts, the Bothan thought to herself in fascination. On the tip of her scarred snout, her lips pursed in an amazed o-shape.

"Are you… Are you going to say something?" Gazd asked, growing impatience in his tone.

A ripple of worry travelled through Knol's brown dark fur and rusty red mane. I am worried because you look very old. Ancient in fact. I think you are going to be 'One with the Force' soon… No… I can't say that. "Yes, my apologies. I was just—Are you all right?" she growled in concern.

"It is difficult to decide where to begin," Gazd sighed, closing his eyes in anguish. Much to Knol's disappointment, the Sluissi began listing everything that was wrong, counting issues with his fingers. "I am stepping down as Khedive in three days. This, after losing an election to a complete madman. My party barely holds a majority in the Congregate. My successor is causing such a panic, that the visa processing office has begun summarily denying all exit visas…"

Knol entered a meditative state, nodding politely while she attempted to reach out to Gazd with the force.

Most of what the Sluissi Khedive said was next to meaningless to the Bothan. While Knol Ven'nari was nominally a Jedi Master, she was actually more of a vagabond. In more polite circles, Jedi would often call her a quote 'Jedi nomad.' She had spent most of the last three decades roaming the Galaxy, fighting pirates on the edges of Bothan Space, building homes for orphans on Toydaria, and even finding lost Nerfs for Nerf Herders on Alderaan, among other things.

The Bothan had never taken a Padawan on and had only visited Coruscant six times in the last ten years. While she knew how to fight, farm, speak sixteen languages, and had experimented with numerous force powers other Jedi would refer to as 'unnatural,' the Bothan did not have the slightest inkling about politics. After years of living on her own, Jedi culture now felt quite alien to her. She didn't even know who the current chancellor of the Republic was. Until about a month ago, when she received an emergency recall to the Jedi Temple, she had never worked with anyone under her command before, let alone a battalion of more than 600 Judicials.

"…The Techno Union," Gazd muttered angrily. The Techno—"

—Shaking her head vigorously, Knol interrupted the Sluissi's tirade with an ahem. "The Techno Union is what I wished to discuss with you. Under the authority of the Jedi High Council, I have decided to prolong our Judicial deployment to play an…" Damn it! What was the word Mace Windu used? "Observer role in the peaceful transition of power," she growled cautiously, careful to get the foreign-sounding legalese words right.

"But you certified the results," Gazd stammered. "I—I don't understand! The Techno Union will be most displeased."

"Even though your successor has pledged to withdraw from the Republic, your party still…" The Bothan paused, fur betraying a slight ripple of embarrassment as she wracked her memory for what she had been briefed on. "Well, from what I understand," she said in a half-question, "your party controls the Congregate."

"Yes, we do," Gazd muttered impatiently. "But it isn't like the Galactic Senate here on Sluis Van. The Khedive has the sole power to enter or withdraw from interplanetary agreements. If Candobar Inglet chooses to withdraw from the Republic, there is nothing the legislature can do."

"In any case," Knol said, "we will not be returning to Coruscant for nine days, depending on how peaceful the transition of power is."

"I—I don't think that is a good idea, the Techno Union is—"

"—The Galactic Republic is not asking for your permission," Knol snarled, biting the air as she spoke every word. She stood up furiously from the meditation pad. "We are staying for nine days. I am telling you this!"

"Well, thank you—thank you for your consideration, Master Jedi," Gazd stammered, his holopresence recoiling slightly in fear.

"Good day, Khedive," Knol huffed, reaching out to the holoprojector across the room with the force and flicking the switch.

"Have a good—" Gazd began his farewell, but his holopresence disappeared before it could finish.

Knol sighed despondently. The Bothan was the most unfulfilled she had felt in her entire life. When she helped out the beings of the Galaxy on her own volition, she could see the effects, feel them. Aside from interacting with local politicians, all she had done on Sluis Van was set up a base, organise that base, sit in comfortable air-conditioned rooms with a bunch of Judicial troopers, mostly humans from well-to-do Coruscanti families, relayed their reports to Coruscant, and had politics explained to her by Mace Windu's holopresence.

She was certainly not happy about staying here another nine days. What was the High Council thinking putting a drifter like me in charge of this?

As Knol was about to step out and wander the perimeter of the base aimlessly, panting in the humidity as Judicials snapped to attention, giving her polite formal greetings, the holonet terminal suddenly beeped. Her ears perked up as she read the number's hyperspace code on the redout. Blast… A 000 number. The only thing I'd rather do less than spent another nine days here. Talk to another Jedi.

She reluctantly answered the call, growling politely. "Good afternoon Master Windu."

"Master Ven'nari," Windu said in a testy tone. "I advised you to diffuse the situation with the Sluissi, not—"

"—Hold that thought," Knol gasped, closing her eyes. Her fur swirled nervously for a moment, then held still as her calm returned. Still, in the background, her danger sense was telling her something… That Ardennian I've been watching…

Mace Windu blinked, unable to believe his eyes. "What is—"

"—I am sorry, Master Windu," Knol interrupted as consolingly as she could manage. "I sense an urgent matter that needs my immediate attention. No time to explain."

"Very well," Windu sighed, giving a polite nod. "I have no choice but to trust you."

At that, the Bothan terminated the transmission and began formulating a plan. With only vague vision that the Ardennian and his friends were going to be attacked by nets, Knol was not sure exactly what the danger was, but was certain of who was in danger. Having spied on the Ardennian for a week, she was also certain where the danger would be.