"So long as good exists, so too shall evil."
Ronin Darshan
Star Wars Part I:
Legends of The Force
It is three months after Czethros and the Black Sun
Organization have been overthrown by the Jedi Knights.
Enjoying a brief moment of respite, the Jedi Knights decide
to vacation to the planet Ora IV, with Han Solo and his
wife, Leia Organa Solo, to help the peace talks therein.
Meanwhile, Admiral Pellaeon has moved forward in the
Galactic Empire's peace talks. However, a dissident
Moff of the Ora sector, Terca, has opposed the peace
talks and plots to kidnap a young man and twist him into
another Darth Vader.
When whiling away time on the sparsely-habited Ora IV, the
young Jedi Knights discover a scraggly young hermit, who
has great Force potential. Meanwhile, Terca has begun
sabotaging the peace talks...and could start a civil war
spanning several star systems!
Ora IV Spacedock
"Control, this is the Millennium Falcon. On approach to spacedock."
"Acknowledged, Falcon. Welcome to Ora IV, General Solo." the controller replied through the headset. Pushing a few buttons, she said, "Dock number 25 has been opened. You are clear for docking procedures."
As the docking bay grew larger, Jaina Solo brushed back her long brown hair and peered out of the cockpit viewport at the jewelled planet of Ora IV. Lush forests, open plains, and huge bodies of water made this planet a virtual paradise. She wondered why it was so diminutively inhabited.
Her twin brother, Jacen, leaned up next to her and stared down at the planet. "Whoa..." he said breathlessly. "I'll bet there's some interesting animal life down there."
Jaina rolled her eyes. Jacen had a virtual zoo back in his room at the Jedi academy on Yavin 4. He had almost no greater love in his life than his menagerie. Jaina, on the other hand, had her room cluttered with mechanical junk and scrap metal and wiring.
Well, uncle Luke always said everyone had their own gifts.
Minutes later, they disembarked. Docked across the way, in the Rock Dragon, were their friends, Tenel Ka, the red-headed warrior girl from Dathomir, Lowbacca, Chewbacca's nephew, and Zekk, their dark haired young friend.
The twins' mother, Leia Organa Solo, stepped down the ramp and into the airlock, close behind her, her husband, Han Solo, and his constant Wookiee companion, Chewbacca.
A royal guard detachment met them at the end of the airlock. The Orans were an aquatic species, almost froglike, and resembling the Mon Calamari, but instead of domed heads and sandy colored skin, they had light teal hued skin and flat skulls.
The ambassador appeared. He was wearing outlandish, flashy, colorful robes that dragged behind him for several more feet. He wore a fake wig of what appeared to be seaweed. He bowed, and spoke in a high-pitched, whiny voice. "Princess Leia Organa Solo of Alderaan...welcome to Emerald View Station. I welcome your companions, as well, and offer you full tours and vacation leave to the planet."
Leia nodded. "Thank you..." she paused.
The ambassador, who was clearly nervous, snapped his head up. "I am ambassador Zhel."
Han sighed, and Leia elbowed him in the ribs. Han straightened, and Jaina suppressed a giggle.
"Mom, Dad?" Jacen spoke up. "Would it be okay if we took a ride down to the planet...?"
Ambassador Zhel looked at Jacen. "Oh, most certainly! The people in Goba Lake City are most peaceful, and welcome outsiders with open arms. There is no safer place in the galaxy, I assure you."
Leia nodded. "Jacen, Jaina, your father, Chewbacca and I will remain and open negotiations. You take care...have fun, and be careful."
Once aboard an atmospheric vehicle called a troposphere hopper, the group settled into the plush, cozy seats.
"Please fasten your crash webbing," the friendly pilot droid said, in a pleasant voice. "I am your pilot for your stay, designation A6-47. I will also be your translator and guide once we are planetbound."
Aysix Fourseven was a tall, lanky droid, not unlike Threepio in build, but obviously much newer and much more advanced. Aysix had a
handsome dark silver paint job, and luminous triangular eyes. He had a much better range of motion than most
protocol droids, as well; his movements were precise, fluid, more humanlike.
Jacen and Tenel Ka took seats next to each other; Zekk and Jaina did likewise across the gangway from them.
Lowbacca settled his large, hairy frame into the seat furthest from the cockpit and strapped himself in. He
grumbled a few noises that the small, bodiless protocol droid at his belt, M-TD, immediately responded to.
"I don't think they intended for Wookiees to be their main passengers aboard the hoppers, Master Lowbacca." the little droid put in.
Lowbacca replied.
"Well, how rude! At least give me a partially civilized insult when commenting on my programming!" Em Teedee retorted loudly.
"Settle in, please," Aysix said, cutting Em Teedee off, "we'll be departing from Emerald View in a few moments...you might want to take a few holographs of the planet, or finish stowing luggage. Let me tell you," he said, turning his chair to look at his passengers, "the going can get slightly rough, and I don't want anything flying around in here."
Jaina and Zekk stowed the packs of clothing they had brought behind their seats, and the others followed suit.
Lowbacca unclasped Em Teedee from his fibrous belt and deactivated him (thus preventing another round of
complaining from the little droid), and set him behind his seat as well. Energy sizzled as mini-tractor beams took
hold of the luggage, thereby securing them.
Suddenly, in a booming voice that seemed to come from everywhere inside the hopper; "Tropo-hopper, please identify."
Aysix spun his chair back around and set his hands flurrying across the control panel. "Tropo-hopper Crystal Dawn identifying, please acknowledge."
The voice paused for a moment. "Crystal Dawn, this is Control. You are cleared for departure, please check moorings and await final launch status."
Aysix pressed several buttons and the clear tube running from Emerald View into the hopper's airlock retracted,
as the lock closed. Several other tubes, mainly for oxygen and fuel, popped away from the crystalline surface of the
hopper. "Moorings cleared, requesting final launch status." Aysix responded.
Jacen looked at the planet for a long moment, then turned to Tenel Ka. "Doing any shopping at Goba Lake City?"
Tenel Ka replied, "Yes, actually, I promised a few people at the Academy some 'souvenirs.'"
"Oh, really?" Jacen said. "Like who?"
Tenel Ka didn't answer, as the door to the bay slowly opened and the Crystal Dawn floated free.
At once, the small hopper was pummelled by solar winds and debris from the atmosphere.
Aysix studied his panels. "Don't be alarmed, this is normal...but an unusual amount of solar winds...no matter."
Jaina looked nervously at the seemingly glass-like shell of the Dawn. "Aysix, are you sure the shuttle's exterior is
up to the task?"
The entire shuttle had absolutely no technology in sight. For all the passengers might know, it could just be an
elaborately fashioned bathysphere.
The shell was like crystal. It had many intricate curves on the skin outside. Jaina guessed the tiny 'cracks' in the crystal were the actual power source. They glistened like tiny veins of precious metals.
"Oh, yes," Aysix assured her. "It is made of crysalla 76, a material unique to Ora. It is often employed as focus crystals for our weapons."
"What are your weapons?" Tenel Ka inquired.
"Ora IV militia members employ sonic weapons. They cause no permanent damage to the victim. High frequency vibrations are tuned by the crystal. If the crystal is not of a perfect mass, the result will either be ineffectiveness, or death." Aysix replied. "However, since most crystals are cut by computer-driven machines, there are very, very few mistakes in the crystal's production, making the weapon almost entirely safe and humane."
"Fascinating," Tenel Ka said without awe.
"Is Goba City very technologically advanced?" Jaina inquired.
Jacen rolled his eyes. His sister, the perpetual mechanic.
"Yes. Goba Lake City is a tropical metropolis. Goba Lake has the purest water of the planet, Goba being derived
from a word meaning 'of a bright blue color.' The water is extremely warm, however, save the shallows, which
are under 20 degrees." Aysix responded as he punched several commands into the console.
"A few basic rules apply to life and visitation in Goba Lake City. One," Aysix began as he swiveled his chair to face the group, "do not wear hats or headgear. Such things would be offensive, as only the highest honored in society are allowed to hide their heads. Two," he continued, "no weapons are allowed outside of your private
chambers. Three, stealing and gambling are offenses punishable by death.
"Four, all visitors must check into the Embassy, where you will speak with Ambassador Svfar, and have a chance to exchange your credits for the local currency, Oran imats." he finished.
Jacen raised his hand. "Why do the honored cover their heads?"
"Because different coloration's in the Orans' foreheads reveal their emotions, and being given clearance to cover their emotions is a great honor." said Aysix.
"We are approaching the inner atmosphere. Please brace for turbulence." the computer announced.
Turbulence was a slight understatement. Wind roared across the fore-most hull, and fire consumed the small
craft in a spectacular if blinding display. Suddenly, they were free of it, and by the time Jacen's vision had
returned to him, they were beneath the clouds.
A tremendous storm was whipping at the small hopper. Lightning lanced across the sky in an incredible show of
nature's fury. Never had Jaina seen a storm of this magnitude. Normally ships as small as the Dawn would be
swept away and smashed against the ground. Obviously, the technology here was extremely advanced.
Then, Goba Lake became visible. Heavy raindrops spattered against the ship's hull like small projectiles, but Jaina still heard Aysix. "There is Goba Lake. Beneath the canopy nearby is the city."
Jaina stepped out of the ship, preparing to be bombarded by rain, but surprisingly, she remained dry. The small ship hovered upon a small pad that led to the city. Jaina looked up to see rain drops falling no further than four feet above her head. They stopped there.
Aysix carried all of their luggage on a small hover cart. "Aysix," Jaina asked, "why is there no rain?"
Aysix focused his optical sensors upward. "That is a pellucid shroud. It's almost like a force-field, but very low
level...it would not shock you if you came in contact with it, but it keeps pedestrians and pilot droids dry."
After walking (perfectly dry) across the platform, they came to a small cart which was attached to several small
wires. It had two rows of seats, each facing the other, and a small area in the center which was apparently for
luggage and other accoutrements. Aysix unloaded their luggage into the small area, which shimmered a second
later with the same tractor-beam technology which had secured the luggage aboard the ship.
Aysix then sat upon one of the seats and secured a small magnetic device to his legs and waist. "Please, we have no time to waste. Svfar is awaiting your arrival."
The Jedis looked at each other, then took their seats.
Zekk and Tenel Ka got paired off in the first set of seats, along with Lowbacca and Em Teedee. Jacen and Jaina
took the row where Aysix was seated.
Without a sound, the cart began to move across the platform, and then into free space. With a slight whooshing
of air, it accelerated at astronomical speeds and moved downward below the canopy.
"Tell me, Aysix," Zekk spoke for the first time since they were on the station, "what sites of interest are there in Goba Lake City?"
"The main attraction is, of course, the Jedi temple at the center of the city," Aysix replied, and eyebrows shot up.
"Other areas include the sub-aquatic ruins in the lake itself, and Shonada Jungle. There was a war here about 40 years ago, and the remains of many crashed ships are in the jungle."
"Tell us of the Jedi temple," Tenel Ka said.
"It is a large, hollow monolith. It was preserved mainly because of the Empire's lack of interest in the Ora sector during the Rebellion. There are beautiful and intricate carvings inside, but...no one can decipher them." Aysix said. "Ah...We are approaching the Skyline."
Seconds later the cart came to a smooth stop, despite it's abrupt cease in acceleration.
Their luggage was loaded into a small car that hovered inches from the ground. They were then bidden to be seated in the air car. It had a seat layout similar to the Skyline's wire boat, only more traditionally placed...both rows of seats facing the front.
They took their seats and Aysix sat down into the uncomfortable-looking metal chair that was the pilot's. As he piloted the small car, the rain suddenly poured into it. They were drenched in less than a second.
"Oh! Excuse me." Aysix exclaimed. he pressed a small button, and another pellucid shroud popped over the car. If a droid could look embarrassed, Jaina guessed Aysix would look it.
Their luggage remained dry, thankfully, being stowed away neatly beneath their seats. "We will be arriving at the embassy presently. Please be sure your luggage is secured. From the embassy you will be transported to Goba Hotel, one of the finest on the planet." Aysix instructed them.
They rounded a corner, and the small jungle path that led from the Skylines to the city widened. The entire road became a paved mosaic of incredible color. Pictures of wildlife, deities, and other objects of great importance were immortalized in the streetways.
The bazaar stands ranged from simple wood-and-fabric structures to small buildings with open air roofs, covered by more pellucid shrouds. The sweet aroma of local chef-d'oeuvres lingered in spite of the heavy weather.
Music from nearby plazas drifted easily to Jacen's ears. He looked and saw several citizens braving the rain and lightning to take their odd pets for bad-weather promenades.
The most lavishly embellished building was the one they stopped at. An Oran dressed nearly the same as ambassador Zhel stood in the aula, awaiting them. The group disembarked from the aircar and walked to meet him.
Tenel Ka immediately took charge. "Consul Svfar, we presume?" she asked as she shook his hand boldly.
The consular shook each of their hands in turn and then bowed. He spoke in a high pitched but mellifluous voice, unlike Zhel had. "I bid you welcome to Ora IV's jewel, Goba Lake City. Your ride was free of turbulence?"
Jaina spoke up. "Yes, you have some very interesting forms of transit on Ora IV."
Svfar nodded. "Thank you, young lady. Now...if you'll follow me...we can get on with the general tour and the chance to exchange your credits for imats."
Hefting their luggage, the Jedis followed the Oran down the marble hall.
The weather on Ora II was always bleak. Moff Terca scratched the stubble on his chin and sighed. His office overlooked the main plateau on which Spire Metro had been built.
It was so called because of the Imperial palace at the center...it was in the shape of a huge obelisk that stabbed upwards from the ground. Almost like a terrestrial knife jabbing at the stars.
Terca was a short man, but not fat and out of shape like most of the Moffs he'd seen in his day. He was actually quite muscular. He had short cut brown hair hidden beneath a Moff's uniform calotte. He had equally brown eyes, which were sharp as a laser beam; cold, and calculating.
Inside of his office was covered wall to wall with local paintings, mostly from the extinct clan of natives from Ora I's moon. Over the elaborately carved door, which was adorned with precious jewels, was his favorite painting. It was of the late Sith Lord, Darth Vader. Vader held a flowing scarlet lightsaber in his right hand, and two skulls in his left. In the background, very faintly, was the foreboding shadow of Emperor Palpatine.
The name of the painting was 'Imperial Enforcers'. It was painted by a man who once lived on Coruscant.
Terca looked at the image. "You left quite a mess in your wake, Majesty," he said almost wistfully. The painting of Palpatine did nothing but sneer at him...as it had for the past twenty years.
The Empire was dead...Terca had to admit to that fact. But...remnants were still fighting against the New Republic. Although Admiral Pellaeon had convinced most of those remnants that a peace treaty was the right answer...several of the groups refused to commit to such a cowardly affair. They would continue fighting...till the bitter end.
Terca smiled tightly as he stared at Darth Vader's likeness. "What the Empire needs..." he said to no one in particular, "is another one of you. Another Sith...or Dark Jedi. Someone who can compel the lagging troops...someone the Empire can believe in...another grand warrior for our cause."
Which set Terca to thinking...
Five minutes later, Terca pulled up a database record from Installation 5's main computer.
"Aha," he muttered.
Years ago, after the Clone Wars, when the Jedi had been killed off, many people related to the Jedis whom had been slaughtered had disappeared. Some were captured and killed...but others escaped.
Terca remembered hearing of a small task force that had appeared near Ora IV, quite a number of years ago. There had been a great space battle...and Ora IV's greatest jungle, the Shonada, had been leveled by several ship crashes. All of the other passenger ships had been reported as missing.
Terca's head jerked up. Maybe one of the Jedi families that had escaped were living on Ora IV. It was a long shot, but worth it.
He pressed a button on his desk. "Central, this is Moff Terca...get me Captain Ifka on the double."
"Most impressive," Tenel Ka said, and meant it. Some of the architecture rivaled buildings on Hapes, her father's homeplanet.
Some of the important buildings were carved from crystals jutting from the planet. "They were created eons ago by volcanic eruptions. The eruptions created the continent on which we stand now." the guide explained. "These huge crystal formations resulted in some of the mountainsides that were either naturally eroded or artificially removed. This whole city is based in a valley that was created by those volcanoes."
"What is some of the local animal life?" Jacen inquired.
"Oh, very troublesome. Because the city is open to the jungle, we have large insects that chew through wires, and even on occasion, a spivaar will come from the jungle and eat food from the vendors." Svfar laughed. "It's quite an amusing spectacle. Spivaars are large, harmless herbivores. They'll wander into the streets and eat from the fruit vendors. The vendor's owners scatter, for fear of being crushed. No one has ever been, though, and small children will sometimes play with the spivaari young."
Jacen looked very interested, while Jaina looked around at some of the buildings slowly passing as their tour speeder flew through the city. "How do they power the crystal structures? I mean, without power cables or anything like that showing through the structure itself?"
"Ah, that's the trick, isn't it?" Svfar smiled. "Actually, they aren't powered. Energy properties in the crystal's structure have been scientifically harnessed for a completely inexhaustible, completely self-sufficient power source."
"Why don't they apply it to, say, starships?" Jacen asked.
"The unpredictable nature of the crystal's power." the guide, seated next to Svfar, and piloting the craft, spoke up. "It has been used for small repulsorcraft, such as the one we are in, but we attempted sending unmanned craft into hyperspace with Caducus crystal reactors, and the result was...well, rather devastating on the ship."
Jaina was about to press for further details when the small comm in the speeder chimed. "Approaching craft, please identify."
"This is Ambassador Svfar, with the New Republic tour group, i.d. number 20041 Alpha, please confirm." Svfar said with authority.
There was a pause.
Then, "Identity confirmed. Welcome to scientific outpost Xiulia."
Ronin Darshan
Star Wars Part I:
Legends of The Force
It is three months after Czethros and the Black Sun
Organization have been overthrown by the Jedi Knights.
Enjoying a brief moment of respite, the Jedi Knights decide
to vacation to the planet Ora IV, with Han Solo and his
wife, Leia Organa Solo, to help the peace talks therein.
Meanwhile, Admiral Pellaeon has moved forward in the
Galactic Empire's peace talks. However, a dissident
Moff of the Ora sector, Terca, has opposed the peace
talks and plots to kidnap a young man and twist him into
another Darth Vader.
When whiling away time on the sparsely-habited Ora IV, the
young Jedi Knights discover a scraggly young hermit, who
has great Force potential. Meanwhile, Terca has begun
sabotaging the peace talks...and could start a civil war
spanning several star systems!
Ora IV Spacedock
"Control, this is the Millennium Falcon. On approach to spacedock."
"Acknowledged, Falcon. Welcome to Ora IV, General Solo." the controller replied through the headset. Pushing a few buttons, she said, "Dock number 25 has been opened. You are clear for docking procedures."
As the docking bay grew larger, Jaina Solo brushed back her long brown hair and peered out of the cockpit viewport at the jewelled planet of Ora IV. Lush forests, open plains, and huge bodies of water made this planet a virtual paradise. She wondered why it was so diminutively inhabited.
Her twin brother, Jacen, leaned up next to her and stared down at the planet. "Whoa..." he said breathlessly. "I'll bet there's some interesting animal life down there."
Jaina rolled her eyes. Jacen had a virtual zoo back in his room at the Jedi academy on Yavin 4. He had almost no greater love in his life than his menagerie. Jaina, on the other hand, had her room cluttered with mechanical junk and scrap metal and wiring.
Well, uncle Luke always said everyone had their own gifts.
Minutes later, they disembarked. Docked across the way, in the Rock Dragon, were their friends, Tenel Ka, the red-headed warrior girl from Dathomir, Lowbacca, Chewbacca's nephew, and Zekk, their dark haired young friend.
The twins' mother, Leia Organa Solo, stepped down the ramp and into the airlock, close behind her, her husband, Han Solo, and his constant Wookiee companion, Chewbacca.
A royal guard detachment met them at the end of the airlock. The Orans were an aquatic species, almost froglike, and resembling the Mon Calamari, but instead of domed heads and sandy colored skin, they had light teal hued skin and flat skulls.
The ambassador appeared. He was wearing outlandish, flashy, colorful robes that dragged behind him for several more feet. He wore a fake wig of what appeared to be seaweed. He bowed, and spoke in a high-pitched, whiny voice. "Princess Leia Organa Solo of Alderaan...welcome to Emerald View Station. I welcome your companions, as well, and offer you full tours and vacation leave to the planet."
Leia nodded. "Thank you..." she paused.
The ambassador, who was clearly nervous, snapped his head up. "I am ambassador Zhel."
Han sighed, and Leia elbowed him in the ribs. Han straightened, and Jaina suppressed a giggle.
"Mom, Dad?" Jacen spoke up. "Would it be okay if we took a ride down to the planet...?"
Ambassador Zhel looked at Jacen. "Oh, most certainly! The people in Goba Lake City are most peaceful, and welcome outsiders with open arms. There is no safer place in the galaxy, I assure you."
Leia nodded. "Jacen, Jaina, your father, Chewbacca and I will remain and open negotiations. You take care...have fun, and be careful."
Once aboard an atmospheric vehicle called a troposphere hopper, the group settled into the plush, cozy seats.
"Please fasten your crash webbing," the friendly pilot droid said, in a pleasant voice. "I am your pilot for your stay, designation A6-47. I will also be your translator and guide once we are planetbound."
Aysix Fourseven was a tall, lanky droid, not unlike Threepio in build, but obviously much newer and much more advanced. Aysix had a
handsome dark silver paint job, and luminous triangular eyes. He had a much better range of motion than most
protocol droids, as well; his movements were precise, fluid, more humanlike.
Jacen and Tenel Ka took seats next to each other; Zekk and Jaina did likewise across the gangway from them.
Lowbacca settled his large, hairy frame into the seat furthest from the cockpit and strapped himself in. He
grumbled a few noises that the small, bodiless protocol droid at his belt, M-TD, immediately responded to.
"I don't think they intended for Wookiees to be their main passengers aboard the hoppers, Master Lowbacca." the little droid put in.
Lowbacca replied.
"Well, how rude! At least give me a partially civilized insult when commenting on my programming!" Em Teedee retorted loudly.
"Settle in, please," Aysix said, cutting Em Teedee off, "we'll be departing from Emerald View in a few moments...you might want to take a few holographs of the planet, or finish stowing luggage. Let me tell you," he said, turning his chair to look at his passengers, "the going can get slightly rough, and I don't want anything flying around in here."
Jaina and Zekk stowed the packs of clothing they had brought behind their seats, and the others followed suit.
Lowbacca unclasped Em Teedee from his fibrous belt and deactivated him (thus preventing another round of
complaining from the little droid), and set him behind his seat as well. Energy sizzled as mini-tractor beams took
hold of the luggage, thereby securing them.
Suddenly, in a booming voice that seemed to come from everywhere inside the hopper; "Tropo-hopper, please identify."
Aysix spun his chair back around and set his hands flurrying across the control panel. "Tropo-hopper Crystal Dawn identifying, please acknowledge."
The voice paused for a moment. "Crystal Dawn, this is Control. You are cleared for departure, please check moorings and await final launch status."
Aysix pressed several buttons and the clear tube running from Emerald View into the hopper's airlock retracted,
as the lock closed. Several other tubes, mainly for oxygen and fuel, popped away from the crystalline surface of the
hopper. "Moorings cleared, requesting final launch status." Aysix responded.
Jacen looked at the planet for a long moment, then turned to Tenel Ka. "Doing any shopping at Goba Lake City?"
Tenel Ka replied, "Yes, actually, I promised a few people at the Academy some 'souvenirs.'"
"Oh, really?" Jacen said. "Like who?"
Tenel Ka didn't answer, as the door to the bay slowly opened and the Crystal Dawn floated free.
At once, the small hopper was pummelled by solar winds and debris from the atmosphere.
Aysix studied his panels. "Don't be alarmed, this is normal...but an unusual amount of solar winds...no matter."
Jaina looked nervously at the seemingly glass-like shell of the Dawn. "Aysix, are you sure the shuttle's exterior is
up to the task?"
The entire shuttle had absolutely no technology in sight. For all the passengers might know, it could just be an
elaborately fashioned bathysphere.
The shell was like crystal. It had many intricate curves on the skin outside. Jaina guessed the tiny 'cracks' in the crystal were the actual power source. They glistened like tiny veins of precious metals.
"Oh, yes," Aysix assured her. "It is made of crysalla 76, a material unique to Ora. It is often employed as focus crystals for our weapons."
"What are your weapons?" Tenel Ka inquired.
"Ora IV militia members employ sonic weapons. They cause no permanent damage to the victim. High frequency vibrations are tuned by the crystal. If the crystal is not of a perfect mass, the result will either be ineffectiveness, or death." Aysix replied. "However, since most crystals are cut by computer-driven machines, there are very, very few mistakes in the crystal's production, making the weapon almost entirely safe and humane."
"Fascinating," Tenel Ka said without awe.
"Is Goba City very technologically advanced?" Jaina inquired.
Jacen rolled his eyes. His sister, the perpetual mechanic.
"Yes. Goba Lake City is a tropical metropolis. Goba Lake has the purest water of the planet, Goba being derived
from a word meaning 'of a bright blue color.' The water is extremely warm, however, save the shallows, which
are under 20 degrees." Aysix responded as he punched several commands into the console.
"A few basic rules apply to life and visitation in Goba Lake City. One," Aysix began as he swiveled his chair to face the group, "do not wear hats or headgear. Such things would be offensive, as only the highest honored in society are allowed to hide their heads. Two," he continued, "no weapons are allowed outside of your private
chambers. Three, stealing and gambling are offenses punishable by death.
"Four, all visitors must check into the Embassy, where you will speak with Ambassador Svfar, and have a chance to exchange your credits for the local currency, Oran imats." he finished.
Jacen raised his hand. "Why do the honored cover their heads?"
"Because different coloration's in the Orans' foreheads reveal their emotions, and being given clearance to cover their emotions is a great honor." said Aysix.
"We are approaching the inner atmosphere. Please brace for turbulence." the computer announced.
Turbulence was a slight understatement. Wind roared across the fore-most hull, and fire consumed the small
craft in a spectacular if blinding display. Suddenly, they were free of it, and by the time Jacen's vision had
returned to him, they were beneath the clouds.
A tremendous storm was whipping at the small hopper. Lightning lanced across the sky in an incredible show of
nature's fury. Never had Jaina seen a storm of this magnitude. Normally ships as small as the Dawn would be
swept away and smashed against the ground. Obviously, the technology here was extremely advanced.
Then, Goba Lake became visible. Heavy raindrops spattered against the ship's hull like small projectiles, but Jaina still heard Aysix. "There is Goba Lake. Beneath the canopy nearby is the city."
Jaina stepped out of the ship, preparing to be bombarded by rain, but surprisingly, she remained dry. The small ship hovered upon a small pad that led to the city. Jaina looked up to see rain drops falling no further than four feet above her head. They stopped there.
Aysix carried all of their luggage on a small hover cart. "Aysix," Jaina asked, "why is there no rain?"
Aysix focused his optical sensors upward. "That is a pellucid shroud. It's almost like a force-field, but very low
level...it would not shock you if you came in contact with it, but it keeps pedestrians and pilot droids dry."
After walking (perfectly dry) across the platform, they came to a small cart which was attached to several small
wires. It had two rows of seats, each facing the other, and a small area in the center which was apparently for
luggage and other accoutrements. Aysix unloaded their luggage into the small area, which shimmered a second
later with the same tractor-beam technology which had secured the luggage aboard the ship.
Aysix then sat upon one of the seats and secured a small magnetic device to his legs and waist. "Please, we have no time to waste. Svfar is awaiting your arrival."
The Jedis looked at each other, then took their seats.
Zekk and Tenel Ka got paired off in the first set of seats, along with Lowbacca and Em Teedee. Jacen and Jaina
took the row where Aysix was seated.
Without a sound, the cart began to move across the platform, and then into free space. With a slight whooshing
of air, it accelerated at astronomical speeds and moved downward below the canopy.
"Tell me, Aysix," Zekk spoke for the first time since they were on the station, "what sites of interest are there in Goba Lake City?"
"The main attraction is, of course, the Jedi temple at the center of the city," Aysix replied, and eyebrows shot up.
"Other areas include the sub-aquatic ruins in the lake itself, and Shonada Jungle. There was a war here about 40 years ago, and the remains of many crashed ships are in the jungle."
"Tell us of the Jedi temple," Tenel Ka said.
"It is a large, hollow monolith. It was preserved mainly because of the Empire's lack of interest in the Ora sector during the Rebellion. There are beautiful and intricate carvings inside, but...no one can decipher them." Aysix said. "Ah...We are approaching the Skyline."
Seconds later the cart came to a smooth stop, despite it's abrupt cease in acceleration.
Their luggage was loaded into a small car that hovered inches from the ground. They were then bidden to be seated in the air car. It had a seat layout similar to the Skyline's wire boat, only more traditionally placed...both rows of seats facing the front.
They took their seats and Aysix sat down into the uncomfortable-looking metal chair that was the pilot's. As he piloted the small car, the rain suddenly poured into it. They were drenched in less than a second.
"Oh! Excuse me." Aysix exclaimed. he pressed a small button, and another pellucid shroud popped over the car. If a droid could look embarrassed, Jaina guessed Aysix would look it.
Their luggage remained dry, thankfully, being stowed away neatly beneath their seats. "We will be arriving at the embassy presently. Please be sure your luggage is secured. From the embassy you will be transported to Goba Hotel, one of the finest on the planet." Aysix instructed them.
They rounded a corner, and the small jungle path that led from the Skylines to the city widened. The entire road became a paved mosaic of incredible color. Pictures of wildlife, deities, and other objects of great importance were immortalized in the streetways.
The bazaar stands ranged from simple wood-and-fabric structures to small buildings with open air roofs, covered by more pellucid shrouds. The sweet aroma of local chef-d'oeuvres lingered in spite of the heavy weather.
Music from nearby plazas drifted easily to Jacen's ears. He looked and saw several citizens braving the rain and lightning to take their odd pets for bad-weather promenades.
The most lavishly embellished building was the one they stopped at. An Oran dressed nearly the same as ambassador Zhel stood in the aula, awaiting them. The group disembarked from the aircar and walked to meet him.
Tenel Ka immediately took charge. "Consul Svfar, we presume?" she asked as she shook his hand boldly.
The consular shook each of their hands in turn and then bowed. He spoke in a high pitched but mellifluous voice, unlike Zhel had. "I bid you welcome to Ora IV's jewel, Goba Lake City. Your ride was free of turbulence?"
Jaina spoke up. "Yes, you have some very interesting forms of transit on Ora IV."
Svfar nodded. "Thank you, young lady. Now...if you'll follow me...we can get on with the general tour and the chance to exchange your credits for imats."
Hefting their luggage, the Jedis followed the Oran down the marble hall.
The weather on Ora II was always bleak. Moff Terca scratched the stubble on his chin and sighed. His office overlooked the main plateau on which Spire Metro had been built.
It was so called because of the Imperial palace at the center...it was in the shape of a huge obelisk that stabbed upwards from the ground. Almost like a terrestrial knife jabbing at the stars.
Terca was a short man, but not fat and out of shape like most of the Moffs he'd seen in his day. He was actually quite muscular. He had short cut brown hair hidden beneath a Moff's uniform calotte. He had equally brown eyes, which were sharp as a laser beam; cold, and calculating.
Inside of his office was covered wall to wall with local paintings, mostly from the extinct clan of natives from Ora I's moon. Over the elaborately carved door, which was adorned with precious jewels, was his favorite painting. It was of the late Sith Lord, Darth Vader. Vader held a flowing scarlet lightsaber in his right hand, and two skulls in his left. In the background, very faintly, was the foreboding shadow of Emperor Palpatine.
The name of the painting was 'Imperial Enforcers'. It was painted by a man who once lived on Coruscant.
Terca looked at the image. "You left quite a mess in your wake, Majesty," he said almost wistfully. The painting of Palpatine did nothing but sneer at him...as it had for the past twenty years.
The Empire was dead...Terca had to admit to that fact. But...remnants were still fighting against the New Republic. Although Admiral Pellaeon had convinced most of those remnants that a peace treaty was the right answer...several of the groups refused to commit to such a cowardly affair. They would continue fighting...till the bitter end.
Terca smiled tightly as he stared at Darth Vader's likeness. "What the Empire needs..." he said to no one in particular, "is another one of you. Another Sith...or Dark Jedi. Someone who can compel the lagging troops...someone the Empire can believe in...another grand warrior for our cause."
Which set Terca to thinking...
Five minutes later, Terca pulled up a database record from Installation 5's main computer.
"Aha," he muttered.
Years ago, after the Clone Wars, when the Jedi had been killed off, many people related to the Jedis whom had been slaughtered had disappeared. Some were captured and killed...but others escaped.
Terca remembered hearing of a small task force that had appeared near Ora IV, quite a number of years ago. There had been a great space battle...and Ora IV's greatest jungle, the Shonada, had been leveled by several ship crashes. All of the other passenger ships had been reported as missing.
Terca's head jerked up. Maybe one of the Jedi families that had escaped were living on Ora IV. It was a long shot, but worth it.
He pressed a button on his desk. "Central, this is Moff Terca...get me Captain Ifka on the double."
"Most impressive," Tenel Ka said, and meant it. Some of the architecture rivaled buildings on Hapes, her father's homeplanet.
Some of the important buildings were carved from crystals jutting from the planet. "They were created eons ago by volcanic eruptions. The eruptions created the continent on which we stand now." the guide explained. "These huge crystal formations resulted in some of the mountainsides that were either naturally eroded or artificially removed. This whole city is based in a valley that was created by those volcanoes."
"What is some of the local animal life?" Jacen inquired.
"Oh, very troublesome. Because the city is open to the jungle, we have large insects that chew through wires, and even on occasion, a spivaar will come from the jungle and eat food from the vendors." Svfar laughed. "It's quite an amusing spectacle. Spivaars are large, harmless herbivores. They'll wander into the streets and eat from the fruit vendors. The vendor's owners scatter, for fear of being crushed. No one has ever been, though, and small children will sometimes play with the spivaari young."
Jacen looked very interested, while Jaina looked around at some of the buildings slowly passing as their tour speeder flew through the city. "How do they power the crystal structures? I mean, without power cables or anything like that showing through the structure itself?"
"Ah, that's the trick, isn't it?" Svfar smiled. "Actually, they aren't powered. Energy properties in the crystal's structure have been scientifically harnessed for a completely inexhaustible, completely self-sufficient power source."
"Why don't they apply it to, say, starships?" Jacen asked.
"The unpredictable nature of the crystal's power." the guide, seated next to Svfar, and piloting the craft, spoke up. "It has been used for small repulsorcraft, such as the one we are in, but we attempted sending unmanned craft into hyperspace with Caducus crystal reactors, and the result was...well, rather devastating on the ship."
Jaina was about to press for further details when the small comm in the speeder chimed. "Approaching craft, please identify."
"This is Ambassador Svfar, with the New Republic tour group, i.d. number 20041 Alpha, please confirm." Svfar said with authority.
There was a pause.
Then, "Identity confirmed. Welcome to scientific outpost Xiulia."