The trio of students emerged from their ship, and Gred could very nearly feel the tension. The two males glared at each other, Trasae trying to mask her anxiety. "Welcome back, my students," the wizened being said, "How did things go?"

"Solo nearly killed Trasae!" Neca growled.

"I told you, it was an accident, I have no idea what happened."

"You're lying."

"Silence! Both of you. Do not let your anger control you."

"Don't speak to us of the Dark Side, Master," Neca returned, "We've heard it all before. Besides, there is already a great darkness coming. I've felt it. The power of the Dark Side is rising again."

"Don't be foolish, child. The Masters would know if there was a resurgence of dark power."

"You are the fools! You're old, weak, and complacent. You will all be destroyed." With that, Neca stormed off into a passing crowd.

Outraged, Ran'sot went off in the opposite direction.

"Master…"

"Do not worry, Trasae. They will find their way to a sense of peace. We need only to give them time."

"Yes, Master."

"Now come, I want you to accompany me to an important meeting. It will serve you well to learn the workings of the Republic."

At that, she finally glanced over to Sentak's primary attraction. Needing to hold representatives from both galaxies, the Senate building was the single largest structure on the planet. The spheroid building looked as if a small moon had come to a gentle rest on the planet. The main Senate chamber took up a fair percentage, in addition to smaller meeting rooms, and quarters for the Senators, their aides, and at times families. The Jedi got into a small speeder and were off to the massive thing.

Minutes later, they entered a long, moderately decorated room. Its main feature was a long, low, pseudo-wooden table. Around the table sat the more influential Senators, including Trepik Forthay, and the Chief of State.

"Welcome, trusted Jedi. It is good to see you and your apprentice. But where are the others?"

"They are dealing with personal matters at the moment."

"Ah well, let us begin."

The meeting started, and Trasae was once again struck with the pure egotism of the Primary Council and the Senate as a whole. How can so few decide what is best for so many?

"…And what of the increase in criminal activities?"

"I have a proposition for the Council on that matter," Forthay stood as he spoke.

"Proceed, Senator."

"I would be willing to use my own private funds to develop a specially focused task force dedicated to wiping out the few remaining criminal organizations. With their removal, the RSF will have an easier time of cleaning up the smaller disturbances."

"The idea has some merit. Let's have a vote. In favor?" Around the table, hands went up. With a relatively small group, advanced technology was unnecessary. "Opposed?" a noticeably smaller number of hands went up. "Very well. You are free to begin at your earliest convenience.

"Thank you, sir." He smiled.

After the meeting, Trasae and Gred returned to the Jedi Temple. Trasae sat in her quarters, deep in thought. She was worried about Ran'sot and Neca. The strenuous day weighed down on her, and she fell asleep.

* * *

Near a tourist center on Sentak sat a small shop owned by an otherwise unknown Bothan. He had tried to make a living out of politics, but had failed miserably. Without enough credits to return to Bothawui, he'd been reduced to selling souvenirs. He wished that just once, something important would happen to him. Looking out a window, he saw a group of Ewoks.

Wretched things, he thought, If not for Republic researchers, they would not be off Endor, much less able to understand Basic or use modern weapons. Startled, he noticed they were headed for his shop. Entering, they glared at him.

"What do you want, vermin?"

The leader smiled almost wickedly. With an ear-shattering cry, the Ewoks raised their ceremonial spears and, standing in a circle, touched the tips together. The contact set off a bioelectrical spark, which coursed down the wooden shafts, through their hands, and to the contents of the packs they carried.

Neca winced instinctively as the massive explosion rocked the surrounding area. In a moment, he was off through a crowd, armor and lightsaber active. He used the Force to allow his body to leap over and speed through the masses of people in his way. Arriving at the site, he found the small group of Ewoks left outside as guards. Seeing the Jedi, they yelled and charged him. Neca sensed that there was something deeper wrong with them besides mere interspecies rivalry. It was if the rising darkness had driven them mad.

They were less than a meter away and Neca moved in with his blade. The Ewoks fell in a mass of scorched fur and flesh, pieces falling in chaotic piles. Soon after, RSF officers arrived on the scene, and stood in shock. "You, stop now! We need them for questioning!" The lead officer raised his stun rifle. The Jedi glanced at them, and disappeared from view.

Neca ran off to get his fighter. Altering others' perceptions was still difficult, so as soon as he deactivated his armor, he relaxed his focus on the Force. Startled civilians stared at him, but he continued on, unhindered.

* * *

The Trainer I dropped out of hyperspace in a random system. Ran'sot had been plotting courses spontaneously for hours in an attempt to relax. The control visor registered one average-sized planet within reasonable range. Nearby was a swirling cloud of unknown objects. Identify objects in grid sector A-21. The display came up almost instantly.

// Objects are various starships. 53 fighter craft, 18 capital ships. Both counts decreasing. //

Identify affiliations.

// Fighters-21 Hutt (decreasing), 32-Unknown. Capital ships-6 Hutt (decreasing), 12-Unknown. //

Take us there.

Within minutes, Trainer I was in visual range. In that time, the unidentified ships had completely wiped out the Hutt forces. What am I dealing with here?

// Unknown. //

I didn't ask you.

"Unidentified ships, this is Jedi Ran'sot Solo, state your business and affiliation."

Without reply, the ships opened fire.

"Evasive, take control, combat action Aleph. I'm going to my fighter." The ship used its extra available power to strengthen the shields beyond standard levels. Hidden panels opened up, revealing ion cannon batteries and launch tube for ionpulse warheads. The now well-armed ship dove into the fray as Ran'sot jumped into his fighter. The cockpit molded closed and the various nodes and connectors reached out for him. A section of the larger ship went transparent, then folded away.

The fighter shot out into the storm of light and machinery. With subtle manipulation of the controls, Ran'sot sent it into a series of spins, dives, climbs, and rolls, using the Force as his guide. On the sensor display, several fighters stopped dead. Weaving through the dance of chaos, the human checked Trainer I's progress. It had disabled several enemy ships, but was taking heavy damage from what appeared to be full-force turbolasers and a type of warhead he'd never seen. This isn't good. His own shields were close to failing. He was obviously overwhelmed.

Trainer, come around to point one-nine mark three.

// Complying. //

I'm sorry, friend, I have to leave you here.

// Very well. //

He came in front of the Trainer and used it to shield his escape. The larger ship took an incredible beating as he plotted another random course. The fighter shot off into hyperspace, and the Trainer vanished in a rage of light and heat.

The bridge of the attacking force's flagship was alive with the flurry of rushing crewmen.

"The big ship was destroyed, sir," one man said, "But sensors seem to indicate the fighter escaped."

"What?" The captain spun, blaster in hand, and fired at the one giving the report. A clean hole appeared in his forehead, and a splotch of red splashed against the far wall. "Keep in mind, people, a Jedi now knows the existence of the Abyss. The boss will not be happy."