The laborer's shuttle, though enclosed, still seemed as bitter cold as the frozen Arkanian landscape over which it skimmed. Mission was glancing jealously at Juhani, who returned the glance with a slight smirk; the Twi'lek glared petulantly before wrapping her cloak even tighter about herself and attempting to snuggle in even closer against Dustil.
It was good to have fur.
To her left sat her equally furry Padawan. A Bothan, Palana appeared to be equally unfazed by the substandard thermal gear they wore. Of course, she was a Jedi and an exceptionally composed one at that. If Juhani had noticed her shivering then she would have been truly concerned. Likewise, Dustil gave no outward indications of being uncomfortable, though his cheeks were exhibiting a slight blue shade.
Juhani had wondered if their composure was unusual and might draw attention, but after some time watching the other workers, she had concluded that there was a wide variety of reactions to the cold and was satisfied with their anonymity. The shuttle was filled mostly with the sub-class of Arkanians known as "offshoots." Gifted with eye-sight and dexterity superior to the genetically pure Arkanians that had created them, this lower caste of society made excellent manual laborers and had been skillfully repressed for just that purpose. Forced to live outside the splendid and fully enclosed cities of the "natural" Arkanians, the offshoots had long ago become used to the frigid conditions of their planet.
Many of the other species in the shuttle, however, appeared less than comfortable. Presumably, everyone on board was there willingly, each hoping to strike it rich in the famous Arkanian gem mines. Perhaps it was due to her life as a Jedi, but Juhani had never understood the desire to acquire wealth, particularly when the quest could lead you to such inhospitable places.
The speed of the shuttle suddenly slowed dramatically and they began a steep descent. Their view out the windows was quickly obscured by blowing snow, swept into a surrounding spiral by the repulsorlift engines. With a heavy jolt and ka-thunk, they landed. The settling snow revealed ice-covered rock walls on both sides. The shuttle's rear hatch hissed open and everyone began filing out.
Mission pointedly waited to be the last member of the group to exit.
It was still bitter cold, but they were at least sheltered from the wind that scoured the ice plains 40 meters above them. The chasm in which they had landed was littered with a combination of functional and abandoned mining equipment. It was perhaps a half kilometer long and there were mining lifts stationed throughout, but beings were only entering through the one nearest their shuttle. The rest had been sealed off, and the permitted entrance was swarming with Adascorp guards.
"It's gonna be tricky smuggling our weapons in," Mission muttered under her breath as the foursome huddled together outside the hearing range of the guards. "Those are Krupx 8-series scanners over there – they set off tons of loud, flashy alarms when they detect anything."
"There's a lot of people here," Dustil observed. "We can't use a mind trick on all of them."
Juhani concurred. "Even if we could fool all the guards, someone else will notice."
"Perhaps we could bribe one of the guards," Palana offered.
A sudden shout turned all their eyes towards the mine entrance. A light rain of powdery flakes from the cliff overhead suddenly became a torrential avalanche of snow and ice. In seconds half of the mine lift was covered a meter deep. Then it stopped just as quickly as it had started, leaving dozens of workers to struggle free with their comrade's help. The guards spared only a passing glance.
"I have an idea," Juhani said. "Give me your weapons."
Palana and Dustil handed over their lightsabers without hesitation. Mission gave Juhani a long, suspicious look before reluctantly handing her a blaster.
"All your weapons, Mission. Unless you want to try the scanners."
The young woman rolled her eyes expressively before producing another, smaller blaster, a vibroshiv, a hold-out blaster, a collection of computer spikes, and two old-fashioned lock picks. "It detects security hardware too," she explained unapologetically.
Juhani tore a section of cloth from her winter cloak and wrapped all the items into a tight bundle. With a quick look around to ensure no one was watching, she sent the bundle rocketing upwards until it was only a tiny speck against the gray sky. Then she directed it towards the cliff's edge above the mine lift. A tiny puff of snow was the only indication that it had landed.
Juhani returned her attention to the earth. Mission was wearing a broad grin.
"Nice."
"Just do not get crushed," she teased in return.
Now devoid of anything controversial, they were quickly and gruffly ushered through security and on towards the mining lift. As they approached the lift Juhani extended her senses upwards and focused on finding her lightsaber, whose faint rhythmic hum in the Force she was intimately familiar with. Once she had located in she made a broad, clumsy push with the Force against it and everything around it.
For a moment nothing happened. Then there was a loud crack, followed by a slow rumble. Miners around them looked up and most began to back away from the cliff and away from the lift. Juhani led their group onto it and no one moved to warm them of their apparent folly. The rumble turned into a dull roar. Juhani prepared herself for the impact. Mission looked upward and let out a yelp.
The crush of snow brought the Cathar to her knees. She made a broad swimming motion with her arms to help straighten her back and pull her head to the surface. For a moment she couldn't see Dustil, Palana, or Mission. Then her Padawan's head broke through a half meter from her; she spat out a mouthful of frozen slurry.
"Arkanian snow tastes foul," was all Palana said.
"Look for our companions," Juhani ordered. Miners were now gathering around with shovels to help remove the snow. She wondered if the action was charitable, or driven by the simple reality that this lift was the only route into the caverns below.
She set about shoveling with her hands, unable to use the Force to assist while there were so many eyes around. A minute later Dustil broke the surface and was able to refuse the assistance offered by the miners. A few seconds after that Juhani had found Mission's hand and was pulling her from the icy pile.
"I have the package," the young woman informed her, nodding toward the arm that she had not yet withdrawn from the snow. Juhani moved to cover Mission from the view of the others and a few moments later the bundle was dropped on the ground behind the mound. Mission proceeded to shake herself off while Juhani stooped to undo the cloth; Dustil and Palana gathered around them.
"Mission, I think we are missing your blaster." The regretful look she wore as she looked up from the bundle was immediately smashed into confusion because Mission was grinning triumphantly.
"It's already in the holster," she declared.
"When-"
"I had air, I could feel the bundle right in front of me. Priorities, Juhani."
Dustil laughed. Palana shook her head. Juhani gave a uniquely Catharian purr that was a mix of confusion and amusement and set about redistributing the weapons.
As the lift descended into the mines, Juhani was struck by the surreal beauty of the place. Ice and rock seemed to swirl together; in many places, it was hard to tell when one ended and the other began. The caverns were suffused with an eerie light that bounced through the ice from the surface, and artificial illumination sources were only sparsely placed.
The lift stopped and they exited into a line of individuals waiting to receive mining equipment. While providing no safety equipment, Adascorp was all too happy to supply the drills and las-cutters necessary to remove gems and precious crystals. The tools were expensive and well beyond the means of most miners. Adascorp provided the tools, the miners provided free labor, and the giant corporation got to keep 80% of everything that was extracted from their mines.
Several hours later they were deep within the caves, having only spent a marginal amount of time pretending to mine to keep up appearances. Mostly they had been exploring, striking up conversation wherever possible, and watching carefully for anyone who seemed out of place.
Of course, according to Mission, they (meaning herself, Palana, and Dustil) were the ones who appeared most out of place.
The miners were generally quite reluctant to speak with strangers. The Arkanian offshoots spoke freely amongst themselves but quieted as soon as an offworlder came close. Juhani got the impression that they felt they had a truer claim to the resources of this world than any others; unfortunately for them, Adascorp didn't seem to particularly care who worked in their mines, and Adascorp controlled the planet's customs and immigration services.
Juhani imagined that she would have wanted as much company as possible while she eked out a miserable existence.
Every miner who would talk with them said versions of the same things:
"There's no work up there for offshoots. This is the only option I've got."
"We know we're probably not gonna strike it rich, but what else can we do?"
"I lost everything in the war. Coming here was as good odds as any."
Their desperation broke her heart. When she heard screams for help, she didn't think twice and took off running. The source of the cries was only a hundred meters away, trapped under a pile of rock and ice. A las-cutter and a vibro-pick lay mangled and half-buried in rubble. Juhani couldn't see the victim but she could sense him; he was conscious but in great pain.
She began to move rocks by hand, lacking the skill to safely cut them away with her tools. She grunted with exertion as her muscles bunched and sinew stretched. Her own strength was inadequate – she stepped back and took a centering breath, opening herself to the flow of the Force, calling on it to reinforce her strength.
She began to lift small boulders, first one, then two, then three until finally, she saw the scaly green hand of a Rodian emerge, clawing for freedom.
"Stay still!" Juhani ordered. "I will have you out in a moment!"
"Over here!" she heard Dustil shout from somewhere nearby. Seconds later her three companions had all converged on the rock pile and were furiously removing debris. They lifted the Rodian out as tenderly as possible and laid him on a soft snowdrift. In these mines, it was no colder than anything else.
He was bleeding from cuts all over his body and one leg was badly deformed, bent at an entirely unnatural angle. An arm was broken but reparable. He moaned and mumbled things in his native tongue as Juhani inspected him; she got the impression he was deliriously thanking her.
The medkit in her coat pocket was entirely insufficient, but she emptied it on him nonetheless. Other miners were starting to gather around now, though none of them as yet had made a move to help.
"Well, what do you do when somebody gets hurt?" Mission was asking the crowd in a frustrated tone.
Somebody offered a callous reply.
"Yeah, well we'll see what happens when it's you lying here!" she snapped.
Deducing that no professional medical help was imminent, Juhani gently spoke to the Rodian. "I'm going to put you to sleep for a little while. It will help you heal, and I promise you'll wake up after a few hours." The Rodian stared back at her with black, glassy eyes and she didn't know if he had understood her or not. She placed her hand on his forehead and within a few seconds, his labored breathing had softened into a more natural rhythm.
"What's going on here?"
An authoritative voice boomed through the cavern and the crowd of onlookers immediately parted ways to allow an offshoot through. He wore numerous satchels, sported a worn thermal parka, and looked entirely at home in the mine. He stooped to look closely at the Rodian, then turned to eye Juhani strangely.
"Tresk, Loband!" Two more offshoots stepped forward. "Get a cargo sled, lay some pads on it, we'll use it as a stretcher." Tresk and Loband paused and looked at each other for a moment. "Now! We help everyone, not just Arkanians! Move it!"
The two departed quickly. "You four," the offshoot gestured to Juhani and her companions. "What are you doing down here?"
"Told ya that you stick out," Mission mumbled to Dustil.
"He said four," Dustil retorted.
"We are just helping," Juhani replied. The offshoot appeared to be sizing her up. Then he turned to the rest of the crowd.
"Nothing to see here! Get back to work." The crowd quickly dispersed. Whoever this was, it was plain that he held some authority down here. He waited until everyone was out of sight to speak again.
"What 'er Jedi doing down here?"
"I think you are mistaken," Juhani replied. The smoothness of her voice belied the shock she was feeling.
"I know what a Jedi healing trance looks like, darlin'." He gestured to the unconscious Rodian. "I've been in one before myself."
Mission scrambled to intervene. "You have us at a disadvantage, mister…?"
"Perth Oosen. I'm what passes for a foreman down here. I know the regulars, the outsiders," he fixed a withering glare on the young woman, who was unfazed, "and the cons."
"Mister Oosen, we're just here to make a profit, same as anyone else," Mission tried soothingly. "And we saved a man's life just now, in case you've forgotten, so why the hostility?"
At that moment Tresk and Loband returned with a gravsled in tow. They had laid a sheet of plasteel across the central hopper and covered it in a thick layer of filthy cloths. Juhani opted to help load the Rodian on board while Mission played her part.
"Don't trust outsiders, and 'specially don't trust you lot."
"Look, we don't need any trouble. What if we cut you in on our haul?"
Oosen laughed. "Yer haul? You ain't been down here a full day. Do you even know which end of the las-drill to use?"
Mission's annoyance came across clearly. "Fine, just leave us alone and don't come looking for help the next time one of your miners is buried under rubble."
"Now that's a good point, girl. How did you move all that rubble? Didn't look like you drilled it away." He paused to stroke his stubble thoughtfully while Mission scrambled for a plausible explanation. "You." He pointed at Juhani. "You've the look of a Jedi about you, I'm damned sure."
Juhani stopped checking the Rodian's bandages. "You are mistaken. I am here for the gems."
He snorted. "Sure you are. Then how'd those boulders move? How'd the feller there end up in a healing trance?"
"If I am a Jedi as you claim, then I could be very dangerous to you. Perhaps you had better move along," she warned, narrowing her eyes and baring her canines.
"Nah, you'll have to come with me," Oosen continued as if he hadn't heard her. He clearly didn't fear Jedi, and that intrigued Juhani. She focused her Force senses on him; he was an open book, easily read, with no practice in shielding his thoughts or intentions. He wished them no harm. She realized Mission was carefully watching her face; she must have been wondering the same things. She gave her companion a small nod.
"Alright." Juhani gestured to the Rodian. "Will he receive proper medical treatment?"
"Sure will, he's comin' with us. Get that sled movin'," Oosen ordered his two men. "Ya'll follow me."
Oosen remained stubbornly uninformative during the next hour. Despite Mission's numerous attempts to sustain a conversation, the only thing they learned was that they were headed to "headquarters" and that "headquarters" had sufficient medical facilities to save the Rodian. Juhani trusted her companions to maintain vigilance and spent her time focusing on healing the cave-in victim as best she could. She desperately wished someone more skilled in healing were with them; Visas, Mical, or Master Vandar surely would be able to better help him.
She was just beginning to feel the frustrations of impotence when Oosen called their party to a sudden halt.
"Secure that cargo sled, make sure he's not shifting around," he ordered the other two offshoots. "You four, stand near this wall." After one last examination of her patient, Juhani complied and joined the others in a small space where two rock formations converged to form a tight corner. Oosen produced a keypad from one of his satchels and typed in a long sequence. A moment later the ground beneath them shook and seams appeared in the icy floor, marking out a perfect square. They began to descend on a flawlessly concealed lift.
The descent took several minutes. "Reach out with your senses," Juhani instructed her Padawan. "Let us see what we can discover before we enter this 'headquarters.'" What she could sense, however, was nothing. Whatever lay below them, as far as the Force was concerned it was nothing more than rock and ice.
When the lift stopped and the doors opened into a moderately trafficked antechamber, Juhani and Palana were stunned. She saw the same surprise on Dustil's face – none of them had sensed any living thing below, yet here were dozens of offshoots and a few representatives of other species as well. Mission must have noted their surprise because she leaned into Dustil to ask what was going on.
"Get the Rodian to the medical ward," Oosen ordered. Tresk and Loband exited the lift first with their patient in tow and one last skeptical look at the outsiders.
"Mister Oosen, why couldn't we sense these beings before?" Juhani asked, dropping all pretense. Something told her he knew.
"You'll have to talk to my commanders about that," he replied tersely. "I'm taking you there now."
Oosen led them at a swift pace through corridors that were tightly packed with supplies – foodstuffs, mining equipment, medicine, and weapons were some of the labels Juhani recognized. Some of the corridors were interior to the complex, but others were simply passageways mined out of the ice and rock and reinforced with plasteel arches. The entire complex, as far as Juhani could tell, was unheated. Eventually, they arrived at a quieter section with a large room and low ceiling; telemetry stations cluttered the entire area.
Oosen led them in a winding path through the consoles to a large planning table where several offshoots and one human male were gathered. All were dressed in worn winter gear similar to Oosen's. "Send this report off to the lab," the human was saying just as they neared. Several off the offshoots then scattered, leaving the human male and two others to face their party.
"Commanders, these are the Jedi. We found them in the Pelltodt mine – not sure what they were up to," Oosen reported without preamble.
"We were 'up to' saving a life!" Mission exclaimed indignantly. Their reticent escort rolled his eyes but then proceeded to recount the incident with the Rodian. Juhani was not paying close attention but was instead trying to discreetly study the human's face. She knew she recognized him from somewhere, but could not place it. Brown hair, brown eyes, probably considered handsome by humans. She didn't think she had ever met him.
"Thank you, Oosen," the human said after he had finished. With a nod, the grizzled man left. "I'm sorry if Oosen was less than hospitable," he apologized to their group with a sheepish grin. Mission snorted. "But he is very good at spotting outsiders, especially the outsiders who don't belong to the typical breed of interlopers. Like Jedi."
"Because you've trained him to do so. You are a Jedi," Juhani stated. She had sensed it the moment they entered the room – this one had a strong presence in the Force, though it seemed almost… slippery.
The human nodded. "Essentially, though I haven't formally been a Jedi in almost two decades." He extended his hand with a warm smile. "Zayne Carrick."
Juhani let out a surprised breath. "The runaway Padawan."
Zayne nodded sheepishly. One of the offshoots, a beautiful woman with long white hair and strange blue tattoos on her face, discreetly placed a hand on Zayne's back, as if in reassurance.
"I'm not familiar with this history," Palana noted. Dustil nodded in agreement.
"I'd be happy to share it with you sometime. It's quite a tale," Zayne offered kindly. "However, I'm willing to bet that only urgent business brings you to the crystal mines of Arkania, Master Juhani."
"How do you know my identity?" Juhani asked, startled but not alarmed.
"I have an outdated database of members of the Jedi Order, and our security scanners used it to identify when you entered the lift. And you, Miss Vao," he added with a nod in her direction. "Though even without it, I know your faces from the holofeeds at the end of the Jedi Civil War."
"Ah," Juhani mumbled, uncomfortable at her notoriety. She diverted by completing the introductions. "This is Knight Dustil Onasi, and my Padawan Palana Treyd."
"I'm happy to meet all of you. It's been many years since I've spoken with any members of the Order." Zayne gestured to his right. "This is Commander Lakani, our security chief." The grizzled-looking woman shook each of their hands but said nothing. "And this is Jarael, one of the founders of this operation."
Jarael extended a hand to each of them with a half-warm smile and stony eyes, as if she hadn't decided yet whether they ought to even have let them in the door.
"And what is this operation, Knight Carrick?" Juhani continued.
"Please, Master, I don't have a rank here or within the Jedi Order. Just call me Zayne."
"Then please call me Juhani," the Cathar purred. "So, what is happening here?"
"We are trying to change Arkanian society," Zayne stated simply and with conviction. "We're working to undermine Adascorp's stranglehold on this planet and educate both the pureblood and the offshoot classes about each other. We want to end the caste system and end the Adasca family's control."
"Is this what you've been doing since you left the Order?"
"Not the whole time," he answered with a quirky smile. "They're been other projects as well. But this one we've been working at the longest. Over six years now?" He looked at Jarael for confirmation.
When her eyes turned to Zayne they softened. "About that long." She looked back to Juhani and the icy look was instantly back in place. "We've worked hard and made much progress without any outside help, and it wouldn't be right for even the Jedi to show up now and interfere."
Now Zayne placed a reassuring hand on Jarael's back. "Ah, what she means is that this has primarily been a movement for the Arkanians, by the Arkanians. But we don't even know why you're here."
"We're here because someone is buying up all the lightsaber crystals they can find, while the Jedi Order has none," Juhani answered promptly. She looked to Mission, who was unsurprisingly glaring at her. "It is okay, we can trust him. Zayne Carrick has never been anything but loyal to the Jedi."
"That you know of," the young woman growled out sourly but didn't say any more.
Juhani ignored it and continued. "Furthermore, this someone has actively been discouraging our own acquisition of crystals, even when we try to buy anonymously."
Zayne eyebrows were arched. "How could the Order run out of crystals?"
"We're not out yet, but most of our stores were lost in the last decade and our usual sources all seem to be drying up."
"And we've been growing quite a bit in the last five years," Dustil added. "We've just been keeping a low profile."
"Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there haven't been lightsaber crystals found on Arkania in a generation or more," Zayne pointed out. Jarael and Lakani nodded.
"It's alright, that is not the only reason we came," Juhani explained. "We suspect the other party has connections on Arkania."
"Although if there really are no lightsaber crystals here, maybe this is a dead-end," Mission said.
"Zayne, is it possible that there is a source of crystals on this world that you do not know about?" Juhani asked hopefully.
"I doubt it," he replied. He looked to Jarael.
"We've mapped all the worthwhile crystal deposits for our sabotage operations against Adasca," she said. "This world has been mined for centuries – it doesn't have many surprises left in it."
"What about Force nexuses?" Mission asked. "Crystals sometimes spring up in weird locations if there's a strong Force presence, right?"
"The area surrounding Arca Jeth's praxeum has been thoroughly scoured by Adascorp," Zayne informed them with an edge of disgust. "The only other place on this planet with a Force signature is right here."
Juhani and Palana shared a startled look. "I don't sense any particular Force presence."
"That's because Master Jeth didn't mean you to. This was his hidden sanctuary," Zayne gestured to the walls around them. "We've expanded and modified it for our own purposes. I don't know how he did it, but this entire area is shielded from perception in the Force. Somehow the effect works from the outside in, but from the inside, you can sense outward just fine. This section isn't part of his original building, but if we were to go in towards the heart of the complex you would feel the echoes he left."
"Incredible," Palana breathed. "I wish we had time to explore this place."
"We may," Juhani replied. "Zayne, may Palana and I remain here in the mines while Mission and Dustil search the cities for further information?"
"I must defer to our security chief on that, but I'll vouch for you. Commander?"
Lakani gave Zayne a hard look then glanced to Jarael, who almost imperceptibly nodded. "Very well. You may stay in our compound, but your access will be restricted." She paused. "Perhaps Oosen can help you make some contacts among the miners."
"Thank you," Juhani said.
"May I make a recommendation?" Zayne asked, now speaking directly to Mission. "There's very little happening on this world that Adascorp doesn't know about and have some hand in. We know because we've successfully tapped their data systems on a few occasions."
"And they love flashing their power everywhere," Jarael added bitterly.
"We could help you gain access. You'd have to make the hack yourself, but we can guide you to one of their holonet uplink junctions."
"There's not much I can't hack," Mission stated proudly. "And it's a better option than hitting the streets. I don't really know where to start here."
"We'd be very grateful," Dustil added.
"Alright." Zayne pulled out a comlink. "Tarcen, can you meet me in command?" A tinny voice replied in the affirmative. "Mission, can I ask you a totally unrelated question?"
"I guess?"
"Have we met before?"
"Um… yes! I knew you looked familiar! You were there on Taris when my brother Griff was keeping that constable's children hostage." Mission grinned. "I saved your life by biting Brejik. You owe me one."
Zayne laughed. "I guess I do. We help you break into Adascorp and call it even?"
"Deal."
"Commander Carrick?" A young-looking Arkanian entered the room.
"I thought you had no rank?" Mission asked curiously, her mood toward their hosts now quite improved.
"He does, he just hates it," Jarael answered. "Tarcen, this is Mission and Dustil. Escort them to the Adascorp uplink site that we hacked the other month."
"Yes ma'am," he answered enthusiastically. "If you'll follow me?"
"Stay out of trouble Juhani," Mission tossed over her shoulder as they left. She rolled her eyes.
"Zayne, will you bring us to the Rodian who came in with us? I'd like to check on him and help if I can," Juhani asked.
"Of course."
"Actually, Master, would it be okay if I explored Master Jeth's compound?" Palana interrupted.
Juhani nodded. "Zayne?"
Zayne turned to Lakani. "Would you show her to the old section? It's up to you how much access to give her."
"This way, Padawan," Lakani directed, and they were gone.
"Palana will be a great historian someday," Juhani commented as she followed Zayne and Jarael to the medical suites, "whereas I am much more of a warrior. I often wonder if that is why Bastila assigned her to be my Padawan."
"Bastila Shan?" Zayne asked.
"Yes. She is the head of the Jedi Order now."
"I had no idea. I didn't even know she still lived. During the Jedi Civil war, I spent all my time worrying about those caught in the middle and didn't think too much about the Order or the Sith." His voice carried the strain of regret.
"You saved countless lives, Zayne." Jarael placed a hand on his arm as she soothed. "You couldn't have been everywhere at once, you know." He smiled at her.
"I know. Anyway, when the Jedi started disappearing I used all the resources I had to find out what was going on." He paused. "I heard about Katarr. I never found out who caused it. Since then I haven't been able to learn a thing about the Order." Zayne placed a hand on Juhani's shoulder. "I'm glad you're here. I was afraid the Order was gone entirely."
"No," Juhani purred. "We are growing quickly but quietly. So far the Force has been with us. Did you know Bastila?"
"No, we never met. Her story is famous, though. Everyone who traveled with Revan is well known. Do you think we'll ever see him again?"
It surprised Juhani that the question made her rather uncomfortable, but she answered honestly. "I don't know. I used to be certain of it. The more time passes, however, the more uncertain I am."
"I suppose that's only natural," Zayne said kindly.
The Rodian was still in critical condition when they reached the medical ward. The doctors assured Juhani that he would recover, though they were uncertain how much use of his leg he would regain. Juhani couldn't help the morose thoughts – was he down here for his own profit, or because he had a family to care for? She sighed.
"We see stuff like this all the time."
Jarael spoke softly while all three of them watched through the operating room's windows. "There is so much desperation already on Arkania, and this world attracts even more to it."
"When we are finished here, I will speak to the Jedi Council about your cause," Juhani offered. "I believe they would choose to help if it can be done discretely." She sighed. "It is a shame that we are still too weak to return to the open. There is much need for us in the galaxy."
"There is," Zayne agreed. "But if the Order returns to public awareness too soon, it could be targeted before it can survive another assault."
"I feel the time is near. Perhaps I am just impatient. We do still send knights and Padawans on assignments, but no Padawan is allowed to travel without a master, and knights are always sent in pairs."
"Much of the galaxy still fears, resents, or hates the Jedi," Jarael noted. "It's smart to tread cautiously."
"In that case, we are lucky you let us in here."
"I had a good feeling about it," Zayne explained casually.
"And I always trust my husband's instincts," the offshoot woman added.
"Well, let's just say that I know they're right when Jarael decides to trust them. I need caffa. Let's go find some and catch up on our histories."
They entered the intel center several hours later. Zayne was retrieving datapads with information on Arkanian mining exports when he was pulled aside abruptly by a junior officer. The officer handed him a report and said some things Juhani couldn't hear; Zayne's face, however, revealed plenty.
"I think Mission and Dustil have run into some trouble," he said urgently as he gestured Juhani and Jarael over. "They've been pulled in by ArMSec."
"Who is ArMSec?" Juhani asked as she took the datapad.
"Arkanian Municipal Security," Jarael explained. "Supposedly government-run, but really just an extension of Adascorp's military wing."
"They were captured?" Juhani asked incredulously as she discovered the word in the report. "By local security?"
"I doubt it," Zayne replied grimly. "The local cops couldn't take a Jedi into custody unless he went willingly, and our source reported a firefight. They had help from Adascorp's paramilitary."
"Why would Adascorp be involved?"
"That's the big question." Zayne's warm and easygoing countenance had disappeared entirely. Juhani did not doubt that he was a leader, whether he wanted a rank or not. "Let's get up to the surface and find out what happened."