Outside the dormitory the children huddled.
"Okay," Tasher Jaken began, "let's get it all settled. Jedi Knight Nario Rhea is trapped on Dagobah with the Jedi bounty hunter Aurra Sing. Both are wounded, both have no way off. It's become a fight to the death, only Nario Rhea has a communications link to the Jedi Council."
"But the Jedi Council are gone," Ka'shard Hett continued, "off on some mission to help Obi-Wan Kenobi. We were playing in Jedi Council Chamber when W5 received Nario Rhea's transmission. He asked for the Council's help, but all he can get is ours. We are the only ones who know of this problem, and other than the other Initiates, we are the only Jedi left on Coruscant."
"So," Miran Daa sighed, "we have to go save him. Or at least help him. We'll bring medical equipment and heal him so that he can have the advantage over Aurra Sing. That's it. We have no lightsabers and no official training with them anyway. We're just going to help."
"Our best bet is to have W5 access one of the Republic Cruisers in the hangar," Ennem Terth said slowly, "I'm a pretty good pilot, we've all had training. W5 can help anyway; we'll eventually make it to Dagobah. He gave us coordinates." Ennem trailed off.
"We can do it," Casse Rion finished slowly. Neither Ennem nor Casse really wanted to go.
W5 beeped happily.
"Okay," Tasher instructed, "everyone return to their bunks and prepare. Dress appropriately; take anything you think can be useful. Miran, please find medical kits. Ennem, stop by the training room and pick up some training sabers. We may need to at least look threatening. We'll meet in front of the entrance to the hanger as soon as possible. Okay, let's go."
The group broke and everyone went off.
Ennem could be heard grumbling about getting stuck with a job as he ran off to the training room. Miran ran off quietly in the direction of the medical center. The other three and W5 walked into the dorm. They shook hands and ran to their separate rooms.
Tasher ran down the hall and entered his small domicile. He had his bed as well as various keepsakes from his life in the temple. The room was meant for sleeping in and meditating. The rest of a child's life was spent training throughout the temple. There wasn't much in the room, but even so, Tasher opened a drawer and pulled out a brown hooded robe. A robe like a real Jedi. It made him feel powerful.
He took one look around the room. It wasn't much, but it was all he had. It was his entire life. Last night he'd slept on that bed. He was just another Jedi Initiate, just another kid in the Force. Now he and his friends had a real adventure before them. They'd barely left the Temple with a supervisor let alone stealing an entire Republic Cruiser to jet off and try to rescue some lost Jedi Knight.
He was 9 years old. He could very well be kicked out of the Jedi Order for this, all of them could. Unless they succeeded. If they saved the day, maybe they would become heroes. They would definitely be chosen as Padawan learners if they succeeded in helping Nario Rhea.
Tasher remembered seeing Nario Rhea around the Temple once or twice. He was a traveling Knight; one who would go out to whatever planet the Council asked him to. The kind of life Tasher figured Ka'shard would have.
Tasher sighed heavily left the room. It was time to move out, the others might be waiting. He wanted to show up first. He knew they would listen to him; he had the feel of a leader. They respected him and Tasher knew his friends would follow.
He threw one last look around his room and stepped out into the hall. Only to come face to face with Charrgk, Mell, and Nelschyyg, the three toughest kids Tasher knew. They were bullies. All three seemed to be more powerful in the Force than most, so they, in some sense, had the right to be snobbish.
But it in no way gave them the right to walk around like they owned the place.
Especially not now.
"Hey hey Tasher," Charrgk, a trandoshan, snarled crossing his arms. "Where do you think you're going all dressed up?"
"Shouldn't you be in your room?" Tasher asked back.
Nelschyyg snickered.
"We took it upon ourselves to make sure everyone else remained in their rooms," Charrgk explained. "Master Windu knows I'm the best Jedi Initiate there is. He'd be happy to know I kept order while the Jedi were away. So again I ask: Why aren't you in your room?"
Nelschyyg and Mell moved forward menacingly.
Tasher knew they'd push him around. He knew he and his friends could use help on Dagobah, but perhaps selfishly, he wasn't going to ask these three idiots. He just needed them to get out of his way.
"I don't have time for this Charrgk," Tasher said as threateningly as he could.
"Really?" Charrgk chuckled and pushed Tasher back a few inches using the Force. "What are you up to?"
The distinct sound of a lightsaber being ignited silenced all noise in the hallway and the three bullies turned around to find a Tusken Raider holding a bright red lightsaber. A rather short Tusken Raider.
"Hey savage," Charrgk laughed, instantly knowing it was Ka'shard. "Aren't you all fancy looking?"
Ka'shard's father and grandfather were both "adopted" into a Tusken Raider clan back on Tatooine. They each wore their Tusken Raider armor as Jedi, it made them unique. So when Ka'shard was born and brought to the Jedi Temple, his father gave him Tusken Raider armor as well, so he would be unique. The Tusken Raider Jedi, it was a great legend. Ka'shard carried it powerfully.
"Leave Charrgk," Ka'shard said slowly, his voice somewhat distorted by the breathing mask, "all three of you. Now!" Ka'shard held the lightsaber in an offensive position.
"Oooooh," Charrgk howled facetiously, "mean old savage is gonna beat me up with his training saber."
Ka'shard didn't move for a second, then he cocked his head slightly atilt. With one quick movement he sliced the real lightsaber through some empty crates against the wall. The lightsaber sliced through cleanly and cut the crates in half. A training saber wouldn't cut.
Charrgk froze. Mell took one step backwards.
"Go," Ka'shard said slowly.
Charrgk shrieked and turned and ran past Tasher. Nelschyyg and Mell followed behind. Tasher stuck his foot out and tripped Mell as he passed. The young boy picked himself up quickly and ran after his friends.
"Thanks Ka'shard," Tasher said proudly.
"It's my grandfather's lightsaber," Ka'shard said, extinguishing the blade and clipping it to his belt. "It's a secret. I don't know if I'm supposed to have it. But it's part of the reason I'm so good at training with a lightsaber. I have lots of practice, as well as a goal to look forward to. Graduating to this powerful tool is something to look forward to."
"Why's it red?" Tasher asked.
A red lightsaber was the tool of the Sith. Jedi lightsabers were green or blue. Master Yoda's was green. Master Windu's was purple, but there was a good reason behind that.
"It just is," Ka'shard said slowly.
Tasher regarded his friend carefully, but let any feelings of dread pass.
"C'mon, let's go," Tasher said playfully, running past his friend.
Ka'shard laughed and quickly fell into step behind Tasher. The two boys ran down the hall and found Casse and W5 waiting at the lift.
Casse wore a dark green dress. It was form fitting so it wouldn't get in the way. It had a small green skirt part as well. She wore tight black pants underneath. She left her Jedi boots on and also wore the brown Jedi cloak over the dress. The hood was down and the boys could see an ornamental tiara resting slightly above her horns.
She looked beautiful.
"You look great Casse," Tasher said with a smile on his face.
"Well thank you Tasher," Casse responded blushing, "and thank you for proving my point. I knew most people would put on a Jedi Cloak and continue to wear their tunic. You have, so to be unique I opted for this dress. I rather like it. How else can we stand out as Jedi if we all look the same. Right Ka'shard?"
The Tusken Raider Jedi simply crossed his arms and tilted his head. They couldn't see it from the outside, but he was smiling.
Casse looked at Ka'shard's lightsaber. It was the normal silver hilt, but was wrapped in some kind of leather with ornamental beads.
"What's that?" Casse asked as they all boarded the lift.
"It's his grandfather's lightsaber," Tasher explained on the way down.
"That's Sharad Hett's lightsaber?" Casse asked in surprise.
"Yep," Ka'shard replied all stoic and calm. He was eating it up.
"Enough hero-worship," Tasher cut Casse off before she could continue. "Just know that Ka'shard has a real lightsaber. Sure, his young hand can barely fit around it, hehe, but still, he's pretty good with it."
Casse nodded and W5 bleeted.
"I wonder what the others will be wearing," Casse pondered after a few seconds of silence.
"Ennem couldn't be creative if he tried," Ka'shard remarked with a chuckle.
"Maybe he'll tie a string around all his horns?" Tasher suggested.
Casse sniggered at the remark.
The lift stopped and the four warriors took off down the hall at a rapid walk.
"So where is this security you told us about Casse?" Tasher asked as they turned a corner.
"I don't know," Casse responded, "maybe they're hiding."
"It doesn't matter really," Tasher said, "I wasn't too serious when I asked. They couldn't stop us anyway."
All three laughed with that one.
They reached the door to the hangar and W5 opened it easily. It was an incredibly large room. Various starfighters and transport crafts or other space traveling vehicles filled the room. The three of them stood on a large platform. It overhung the berth of the hangar that held the ships. A ladder led down to the floor. They would take a repulsorlift carriage to move them to the entrance of some Republic Cruiser.
They had to wait for the other two first.
The three children filled the time by joking or reminiscing. None of them touched upon what they were about to do. It was still too huge. It was still too hard to believe.
Tasher hadn't even accepted it yet. He probably wouldn't accept it until he was trudging through the swamps of Dagobah.
Ennem arrived first. He walked in calmly with his hands together in front of him. Five training sabers floated above his head. Ennem was dressed in a black Jedi cloak with the hood up. His head was lightly bowed, hiding his face and he approached his friends. A saber zoomed down to all three and they accepted them. Ennem grabbed the last two and clipped one to his belt.
He pulled the hood back and raised his head. He had been to work on his face. Zabrak had a huge tolerance for pain. They enjoyed decorating themselves with epic tattoos. Eeth Koth had some, as did the infamous Sith warrior. Ennem had drawn in black on his usually tan face. Crisp and jagged blades above his eyes extended down in thin lines down the bridge of his nose and ended in large circles on his cheeks. It was the design he would be getting when he was old enough for the real tattoos.
"Waiting on Miran?" he asked as he surveyed his friends' choices of attire.
"She's the last one," Tasher agreed, "you ready Ennem?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," he sighed.
Just then, the door opened once again and a young blue Twi'lek girl stepped in carrying a large medical kit. As soon as she was through the door noticed her friends staring at her, Miran set the medical kit down and struck a modeling pose.
Twi'lek's were renowned through the galaxy as beautiful and sexy creatures. Miran knew this very well and had ditched her Jedi tunic entirely. She was dressed in a black body wrap. Long, tight black boots stretched up to a few inches above her knees. Her blue skin shown for a few more inches until her tight black shorts. She wore a black top and long black gloves. A headband covered the area at the base of her braintails, extending slightly with short sleeves down each tail.
She even added some sparkle around her eyes.
The boys were dumbfounded.
"You look great Miran!" Casse exclaimed. "Proves girls do know more about fashion than these boooys."
The two young girls sniggered together.
"You look great Miran," Ka'shard said weakly, smiling greatly under his mask.
"So do you Ka'shard," Miran replied with a wink, "all of you boys do. Apparently we all decided to dress unique."
"It makes for better heroes," Ennem responded with a smile.
W5 bleeted an interruption and Casse walked over to the control panel the droid had been working on. After a few seconds of beeping and blinking, W5 told Casse about their ship.
"Our ship is..." she pointed out at the variety of them and the lights on one lit up, "that one."
"C'mon," Tasher said as everyone boarded a repulsorlift carriage. It was a piece of flooring, rectangular and gray, which hovered through the air on repulsorlifts. It brought them to the entrance of their ship in a matter of seconds and W5 opened the door to the Republic Cruiser.
Tasher was the first aboard.
"What should we call the ship?" Miran asked as she climbed aboard.
"Every ship has a name," Ennem agreed. He helped Casse lift W5 aboard. Ka'shard and Casse were the last two aboard.
All six headed to the bridge arguing about the name of the ship.
"Let's call it the Warrior," Ennem suggested as he took a seat at the controls. The bridge was arranged with two main seats at the front of the ship at the controls. Other, passenger seats, lined the rest of the main room.
"The Dancing Beauty," Miran said with a classy tone of superiority. She took a seat on the side.
"How about," Tasher said taking one of the passenger seats on the side, "the Training Saber." He looked around at the others. Casse had taken the other front seat as W5 plugged into the ship between the two. Everyone else was sitting along the sides.
"I like it," Ka'shard said.
"Me too," Ennem agreed, going through take off procedures. "How are we doing W5?"
The droid beeped a response.
"We're starting up just fine," Casse translated, looking over the controls as well.
"You sure you can fly this Ennem?" Tasher asked, strapping himself to his seat.
"Of course I am," Ennem responded, not even bothering to look up.
"Good," Miran giggled. "We're actually doing it."
"Yes we are," Ka'shard agreed, gripping the armrests on his chair.
Suddenly, the ship began to hum and all lights came on. They had gotten it started.
"Yahoo!" Miran squeaked uncontrollably.
"Haha!" Tasher concurred.
"Open us some doors W5," Ennem instructed, "we are out of here!"
Cheers filled the bridge as W5 released the holds on the ship and it hovered on its own in the hangar. Ennem pushed the controls forward, and with the help of Casse and W5, he guided the ship out of the Jedi Temple Hangar and into the air traffic of Coruscant.
"Guess we never thought about the traffic on Coruscant," Tasher commented.
"Well it can be forgiven," Casse answered, "we've only been out of the Temple a few times. Not to mention the fact that none of us has ever flown. Let alone flown through a busy Coruscant."
"That's nothing," Ennem assured everyone, "we just have to head up." Ennem started a vertical rise and eventually pulled forward and began the actual flying.
"What about orbit patrol?" Tasher asked.
"What about it?" Ennem answered by asking.
"Don't we have to get clearance to leave?" Miran asked, ringing her hands nervously.
"Probably," Ennem muttered, slowly increasing the speed.
W5 beeped and flashed a red light.
"They're hailing us," Casse urged.
"Ignore it," Tasher quickly shouted.
Everyone looked at him except Ennem.
"We have to go," Tasher swallowed, "we can't stop for anything. Besides, we don't have clearance of any kind."
There was silence for a few moments.
"Right," Ka'shard asserted, "let's blow right on past."
Ennem increased the speed to full, and the children quickly blasted out into the dead of space. There was little resistance. Space was empty and black.
"W5, can you find Dagobah for us?" Ennem asked, easing back on the controls. The others in back remained patiently silent. There was no going back now.
"Should we go to hyperspace?" Miran asked innocently.
"Yes we will," Ennem said, glancing at various monitors, "Casse, run...um, a hyperspace plot course...thing. Please."
"You don't know what it's called?" Ka'shard laughed.
"You should be lucky I can even fly this cruiser," Ennem quipped and Casse signaled the 'okay'.
Ennem pushed the appropriate buttons and with W5's help, of course, the Training Saber blasted into hyperspace on its way to Dagobah.
"Okay, it should be a couple hours," Ennem told them, turning around in his chair. W5 could handle the ship while it drifted through hyperspace.
"Why didn't we stop for the orbit patrol people?!" Casse burst from next to Ennem.
Everyone remained silent and watched her.
"We could have gone to them for help, told them what was wrong," Casse continued, her voice calmer. "They could send real help, real security. But no, we have to go after all. Why?"
She looked at the faces of her friends one by one, finally ending on Tasher Jaken.
The young boy cleared his throat.
"Because this is our chance Casse," he said slowly, standing. "I mean think about it. There are thousands of Jedi throughout the galaxy. There are probably even more children, Initiates like us, training in the Temple. Us five, we are five in a million. None of us personally really matters to the galaxy, let alone the Council. To them, we're probably numbers. You saw Master Yoda in class today when I was late. His mind was somewhere else because the last thing he has to worry about is some lone Initiate. You know what happens if we're not chosen as Padawan learners we're sent to some meaningless job throughout Coruscant. I read too much, what use do they have for me? Where will my knowledge of ancient history come in handy? Not in defending some world from uprising, no, I'd be better of as a historian in some museum somewhere."
"You're right," Ka'shard said softly.
"This is our chance everyone," Tasher continued. "To make a name for ourselves. To stand out. Yes, we broke the rules and went to play in the Council room, and we have to pay the price. The Force is mysterious, and we were saddled with Master Rhea's burden. This is our task, our mission, our chance to stand out. To be heroes."
He looked longingly at Casse.
"We could die," Miran spoke up.
"I know," Tasher answered, still looking at Casse.
"We won't," Ennem interrupted, standing as well.
"How do you know?" Miran asked him, not angrily, more aloofly.
"I can feel it," Ennem bowed his head.
"So can I," Casse agreed surprisingly.
"This is our chance," Ka'shard repeated and he walked over and took Miran's hand, "our chance to be heroes."
"To be warriors," Ennem added with a smile.
"To mean something," Casse said quietly.
"To be the best," Miran said as she looked up at Ka'shard.
"To be Jedi," Tasher concluded with a grin.
Silence filled the bridge for a moment.
Miran broke it with an innocent giggle.
"What's so funny?" Ka'shard asked her. Everyone looked at them.
"We are," Miran answered with another laugh.
Ennem chuckled as well, a short little laugh.
"What's so funny about us?" Tasher asked Miran.
"How old are you Tasher?" Miran asked him.
He looked perplexed and locked eyes with Ka'shard.
"I'm 9 Miran," Tasher answered, "same as you, same as everybody."
"Yeah," she laughed again. Casse and Ennem laughed too. "We're just 9 years old, off saving the galaxy."
W5 beeped.
The three children laughed more and more.
"She's right," Ka'shard agreed, joining in on the laughter. "All this brave talk coming from a bunch of children."
Tasher thought about it for a second and joined in on the laughter.
"Have there ever been heroes this young before?" he asked through the laughs.
"Anakin Skywalker was 9 when Obi-Wan found him," Casse laughed.
"Yeah, but he's got nothing on us," Ennem added, laughing louder than before.
"Can you imagine Yoda at 9 years old?" Miran asked the group which caused another powerful wave of laughter.
"I bet you he wasn't rushing off in a stolen Cruiser to save the day," Tasher told them.
"He was probably still an infant," Ennem laughed, "only able to move small planets with the Force."
It was great Tasher felt. They were laughing and having fun. They weren't clutching their chairs in fear and lashing out at each other. His friends were brave.
Tasher thought about Master Yoda. The speech Tasher had given earlier had come spontaneously. He realized that maybe Yoda didn't care all that much about Tasher Jaken being late. Yoda was 800 years old. Tasher would be lucky to live past 100. He couldn't imagine being as old as Yoda.
What did one human kid matter? Yoda and seen millions of kids, trained millions to be Jedi. How many of the current Jedi Knights or Master had been trained by Yoda. Ki-Adi-Mundi had been Yoda's Padawan and Ki-Adi-Mundi was old.
Tasher took his seat again as the laughter died down. Miran stood and announced she was going back to the crew quarters to take a nap. They had a few hours before they reached Dagobah, a nap was a good idea. Ka'shard agreed with her and left too. They had hours until they reached the actual fight, it was better to sleep the time away than let it grow on them and chew at their nerves.
A few minutes later, Ennem yawned. He was tired too, but was too proud to leave the controls. He wanted to feel important. Tasher and Casse convinced him to take a rest, just a small one. He reluctantly left his post and went to find the bunks.
After a few seconds of silence, Casse walked over and sat next to Tasher. She took his hand.
"Are you afraid?" she asked him, looking into his eyes. Tasher could see a distinctive sparkle in her eyes, probably due to her unique heritage. They were a very light blue, especially blue.
"No," Tasher answered, "I can't be afraid. Fear is the path to the dark side."
"I know," Casse admitted, "but I can't help it." It was true. Tasher reached out with the Force to feel the waves of fear washing off from the young girl. It was almost too much fear. Tasher began to worry for Casse.
"Don't be afraid Casse," Tasher assured her, squeezing her hand gently, "we're all here together. Nothing is going to happen. We're going to land, find Master Rhea, and just bandage him up. We won't be in any trouble."
Casse actually laughed a little. The fear was reducing.
"Don't lie Tasher," she giggled, "that's not all that's going to happen. Ka'shard and his lightsaber? You and your...youness. I know you boys, you're gonna go out and try to win this on your own."
Tasher grinned, he wasn't going to admit it, but she was right.
"This is our chance Casse," Tasher repeated from before. He let go of her hand and stood. Tasher looked back at her and walked to the view port and stared out at the whiteness of hyperspace. He rubbed some sleepiness out of his eyes and stretched out on the tip of his toes. He turned back to Casse and smiled.
"I'm still afraid Tasher," she told him.
He sighed and let go of the stretch.
"I know," he replied. "And I know that it's okay to be afraid. But don't be so afraid that it affects your thinking and acting. I suppose you could stay on the ship when we get there. I doubt W5 would do so well in the swamps so he'll need someone to stay and watch him."
"But I want to go," she told him. "I just want to be brave enough to go."
"You're already brave enough," Tasher told her and walked over to the seat.
"Really?" she asked looking at him, longing for assurance.
Of course," he responded with a smile. "C'mon now, let's meditate."
"Okay," she said moving down to the floor and setting her legs in the meditating position.
Tasher joined her, they were facing each other. "It will help." She was already lost to the Force.
Tasher grinned and closed his eyes, reaching deep within himself as he had been trained to do. Tasher found the Force. It was always there, waiting for him to ask for something. The Force was a welcome constant in his life. His life was nothing more than adhering to the Force. Yoda, Mace Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi, all great warriors in the Force, all great Masters. Then there was Obi-Wan Kenobi or Jorr Anga, great Jedi Knights; even Padawans like Anakin Skywalker. All of them were powerful in the Force. More powerful than Tasher.
Even Charrgk was better with the Force than Tasher.
But still, Tasher was one with the Force. He reached for it, and he found it, always deep within, all around him. It was powerful. The dazzling feats Master Yoda could perform with the Force were great. The things he could lift. His skills with a lightsaber.
Tasher knew he would one day be that powerful. One day he would be that great with the Force. But he was still young; there was still a lot to wait for.
Now he was racing off into a real adventure, a real dangerous situation. Life was training and meditating. Life was the halls of the Jedi Temple. Tasher couldn't remember ever being off Coruscant, not even his apparent home back on Corellia. He didn't remember much about his infancy, but with the help of the Force he could remember some.
Aurra Sing was dangerous and very deadly. But Tasher hadn't even really thought about her at all on the way. He realized he wasn't worried about the bounty hunter at all. His mind had been on Master Rhea and his friends, she didn't matter. She was nothing. His friends were important. Like Ka'shard, or Casse, they mattered to him. He knew Casse was afraid. He knew Ka'shard was overly confident. But everything would work out.
Tasher thought of his friends. All of them were young, probably more afraid than any would admit. Tasher wouldn't admit he was afraid, and he was trying hard not to be. Miran was a beauty, eager to be powerful but possibly too innocent. Ennem was a strong young boy, stronger than he would show. But that strength was buried deep down, he was as afraid and insecure as anyone on the surface.
Ka'shard was brave, possibly too brave. He was living in his grandfather's, and even his father's, legacy. He was expected to be a hero and would always be referred to as Sharad Hett's grandson. It was hard living in another's shadow, but Ka'shard was very strong.
And Casse. Casse didn't have to be there. She was too innocent, she had kind of been dragged along with the others. But she was still strong. The Force flowed through Casse at that moment. Tasher reached out with his meditation and felt her presence. She was beautiful. There was no more fear in Casse, Tasher could sense it. He could only feel pride and warmth, it in turn made him warm.
Tasher smiled. He reached deep down with the Force, deep into its essence. He thought about everything he had been through in his short life, and he indeed found fear.
And Tasher thought of his mother.
He didn't remember her as a person. He only remembered her face, like a hologram, just what she looked like. He had never had time to get to know her. The closest thing he had was the one lady who checked on them from time to time in the dormitories.
Tasher Jaken was racing off through the galaxy to a dangerous situation where he could very well die. With the help of the Force, he thought of his mother.
And like the young boy that he is.
He longed for her to hold him.
And to tell him that everything was going to be okay.
"Okay," Tasher Jaken began, "let's get it all settled. Jedi Knight Nario Rhea is trapped on Dagobah with the Jedi bounty hunter Aurra Sing. Both are wounded, both have no way off. It's become a fight to the death, only Nario Rhea has a communications link to the Jedi Council."
"But the Jedi Council are gone," Ka'shard Hett continued, "off on some mission to help Obi-Wan Kenobi. We were playing in Jedi Council Chamber when W5 received Nario Rhea's transmission. He asked for the Council's help, but all he can get is ours. We are the only ones who know of this problem, and other than the other Initiates, we are the only Jedi left on Coruscant."
"So," Miran Daa sighed, "we have to go save him. Or at least help him. We'll bring medical equipment and heal him so that he can have the advantage over Aurra Sing. That's it. We have no lightsabers and no official training with them anyway. We're just going to help."
"Our best bet is to have W5 access one of the Republic Cruisers in the hangar," Ennem Terth said slowly, "I'm a pretty good pilot, we've all had training. W5 can help anyway; we'll eventually make it to Dagobah. He gave us coordinates." Ennem trailed off.
"We can do it," Casse Rion finished slowly. Neither Ennem nor Casse really wanted to go.
W5 beeped happily.
"Okay," Tasher instructed, "everyone return to their bunks and prepare. Dress appropriately; take anything you think can be useful. Miran, please find medical kits. Ennem, stop by the training room and pick up some training sabers. We may need to at least look threatening. We'll meet in front of the entrance to the hanger as soon as possible. Okay, let's go."
The group broke and everyone went off.
Ennem could be heard grumbling about getting stuck with a job as he ran off to the training room. Miran ran off quietly in the direction of the medical center. The other three and W5 walked into the dorm. They shook hands and ran to their separate rooms.
Tasher ran down the hall and entered his small domicile. He had his bed as well as various keepsakes from his life in the temple. The room was meant for sleeping in and meditating. The rest of a child's life was spent training throughout the temple. There wasn't much in the room, but even so, Tasher opened a drawer and pulled out a brown hooded robe. A robe like a real Jedi. It made him feel powerful.
He took one look around the room. It wasn't much, but it was all he had. It was his entire life. Last night he'd slept on that bed. He was just another Jedi Initiate, just another kid in the Force. Now he and his friends had a real adventure before them. They'd barely left the Temple with a supervisor let alone stealing an entire Republic Cruiser to jet off and try to rescue some lost Jedi Knight.
He was 9 years old. He could very well be kicked out of the Jedi Order for this, all of them could. Unless they succeeded. If they saved the day, maybe they would become heroes. They would definitely be chosen as Padawan learners if they succeeded in helping Nario Rhea.
Tasher remembered seeing Nario Rhea around the Temple once or twice. He was a traveling Knight; one who would go out to whatever planet the Council asked him to. The kind of life Tasher figured Ka'shard would have.
Tasher sighed heavily left the room. It was time to move out, the others might be waiting. He wanted to show up first. He knew they would listen to him; he had the feel of a leader. They respected him and Tasher knew his friends would follow.
He threw one last look around his room and stepped out into the hall. Only to come face to face with Charrgk, Mell, and Nelschyyg, the three toughest kids Tasher knew. They were bullies. All three seemed to be more powerful in the Force than most, so they, in some sense, had the right to be snobbish.
But it in no way gave them the right to walk around like they owned the place.
Especially not now.
"Hey hey Tasher," Charrgk, a trandoshan, snarled crossing his arms. "Where do you think you're going all dressed up?"
"Shouldn't you be in your room?" Tasher asked back.
Nelschyyg snickered.
"We took it upon ourselves to make sure everyone else remained in their rooms," Charrgk explained. "Master Windu knows I'm the best Jedi Initiate there is. He'd be happy to know I kept order while the Jedi were away. So again I ask: Why aren't you in your room?"
Nelschyyg and Mell moved forward menacingly.
Tasher knew they'd push him around. He knew he and his friends could use help on Dagobah, but perhaps selfishly, he wasn't going to ask these three idiots. He just needed them to get out of his way.
"I don't have time for this Charrgk," Tasher said as threateningly as he could.
"Really?" Charrgk chuckled and pushed Tasher back a few inches using the Force. "What are you up to?"
The distinct sound of a lightsaber being ignited silenced all noise in the hallway and the three bullies turned around to find a Tusken Raider holding a bright red lightsaber. A rather short Tusken Raider.
"Hey savage," Charrgk laughed, instantly knowing it was Ka'shard. "Aren't you all fancy looking?"
Ka'shard's father and grandfather were both "adopted" into a Tusken Raider clan back on Tatooine. They each wore their Tusken Raider armor as Jedi, it made them unique. So when Ka'shard was born and brought to the Jedi Temple, his father gave him Tusken Raider armor as well, so he would be unique. The Tusken Raider Jedi, it was a great legend. Ka'shard carried it powerfully.
"Leave Charrgk," Ka'shard said slowly, his voice somewhat distorted by the breathing mask, "all three of you. Now!" Ka'shard held the lightsaber in an offensive position.
"Oooooh," Charrgk howled facetiously, "mean old savage is gonna beat me up with his training saber."
Ka'shard didn't move for a second, then he cocked his head slightly atilt. With one quick movement he sliced the real lightsaber through some empty crates against the wall. The lightsaber sliced through cleanly and cut the crates in half. A training saber wouldn't cut.
Charrgk froze. Mell took one step backwards.
"Go," Ka'shard said slowly.
Charrgk shrieked and turned and ran past Tasher. Nelschyyg and Mell followed behind. Tasher stuck his foot out and tripped Mell as he passed. The young boy picked himself up quickly and ran after his friends.
"Thanks Ka'shard," Tasher said proudly.
"It's my grandfather's lightsaber," Ka'shard said, extinguishing the blade and clipping it to his belt. "It's a secret. I don't know if I'm supposed to have it. But it's part of the reason I'm so good at training with a lightsaber. I have lots of practice, as well as a goal to look forward to. Graduating to this powerful tool is something to look forward to."
"Why's it red?" Tasher asked.
A red lightsaber was the tool of the Sith. Jedi lightsabers were green or blue. Master Yoda's was green. Master Windu's was purple, but there was a good reason behind that.
"It just is," Ka'shard said slowly.
Tasher regarded his friend carefully, but let any feelings of dread pass.
"C'mon, let's go," Tasher said playfully, running past his friend.
Ka'shard laughed and quickly fell into step behind Tasher. The two boys ran down the hall and found Casse and W5 waiting at the lift.
Casse wore a dark green dress. It was form fitting so it wouldn't get in the way. It had a small green skirt part as well. She wore tight black pants underneath. She left her Jedi boots on and also wore the brown Jedi cloak over the dress. The hood was down and the boys could see an ornamental tiara resting slightly above her horns.
She looked beautiful.
"You look great Casse," Tasher said with a smile on his face.
"Well thank you Tasher," Casse responded blushing, "and thank you for proving my point. I knew most people would put on a Jedi Cloak and continue to wear their tunic. You have, so to be unique I opted for this dress. I rather like it. How else can we stand out as Jedi if we all look the same. Right Ka'shard?"
The Tusken Raider Jedi simply crossed his arms and tilted his head. They couldn't see it from the outside, but he was smiling.
Casse looked at Ka'shard's lightsaber. It was the normal silver hilt, but was wrapped in some kind of leather with ornamental beads.
"What's that?" Casse asked as they all boarded the lift.
"It's his grandfather's lightsaber," Tasher explained on the way down.
"That's Sharad Hett's lightsaber?" Casse asked in surprise.
"Yep," Ka'shard replied all stoic and calm. He was eating it up.
"Enough hero-worship," Tasher cut Casse off before she could continue. "Just know that Ka'shard has a real lightsaber. Sure, his young hand can barely fit around it, hehe, but still, he's pretty good with it."
Casse nodded and W5 bleeted.
"I wonder what the others will be wearing," Casse pondered after a few seconds of silence.
"Ennem couldn't be creative if he tried," Ka'shard remarked with a chuckle.
"Maybe he'll tie a string around all his horns?" Tasher suggested.
Casse sniggered at the remark.
The lift stopped and the four warriors took off down the hall at a rapid walk.
"So where is this security you told us about Casse?" Tasher asked as they turned a corner.
"I don't know," Casse responded, "maybe they're hiding."
"It doesn't matter really," Tasher said, "I wasn't too serious when I asked. They couldn't stop us anyway."
All three laughed with that one.
They reached the door to the hangar and W5 opened it easily. It was an incredibly large room. Various starfighters and transport crafts or other space traveling vehicles filled the room. The three of them stood on a large platform. It overhung the berth of the hangar that held the ships. A ladder led down to the floor. They would take a repulsorlift carriage to move them to the entrance of some Republic Cruiser.
They had to wait for the other two first.
The three children filled the time by joking or reminiscing. None of them touched upon what they were about to do. It was still too huge. It was still too hard to believe.
Tasher hadn't even accepted it yet. He probably wouldn't accept it until he was trudging through the swamps of Dagobah.
Ennem arrived first. He walked in calmly with his hands together in front of him. Five training sabers floated above his head. Ennem was dressed in a black Jedi cloak with the hood up. His head was lightly bowed, hiding his face and he approached his friends. A saber zoomed down to all three and they accepted them. Ennem grabbed the last two and clipped one to his belt.
He pulled the hood back and raised his head. He had been to work on his face. Zabrak had a huge tolerance for pain. They enjoyed decorating themselves with epic tattoos. Eeth Koth had some, as did the infamous Sith warrior. Ennem had drawn in black on his usually tan face. Crisp and jagged blades above his eyes extended down in thin lines down the bridge of his nose and ended in large circles on his cheeks. It was the design he would be getting when he was old enough for the real tattoos.
"Waiting on Miran?" he asked as he surveyed his friends' choices of attire.
"She's the last one," Tasher agreed, "you ready Ennem?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," he sighed.
Just then, the door opened once again and a young blue Twi'lek girl stepped in carrying a large medical kit. As soon as she was through the door noticed her friends staring at her, Miran set the medical kit down and struck a modeling pose.
Twi'lek's were renowned through the galaxy as beautiful and sexy creatures. Miran knew this very well and had ditched her Jedi tunic entirely. She was dressed in a black body wrap. Long, tight black boots stretched up to a few inches above her knees. Her blue skin shown for a few more inches until her tight black shorts. She wore a black top and long black gloves. A headband covered the area at the base of her braintails, extending slightly with short sleeves down each tail.
She even added some sparkle around her eyes.
The boys were dumbfounded.
"You look great Miran!" Casse exclaimed. "Proves girls do know more about fashion than these boooys."
The two young girls sniggered together.
"You look great Miran," Ka'shard said weakly, smiling greatly under his mask.
"So do you Ka'shard," Miran replied with a wink, "all of you boys do. Apparently we all decided to dress unique."
"It makes for better heroes," Ennem responded with a smile.
W5 bleeted an interruption and Casse walked over to the control panel the droid had been working on. After a few seconds of beeping and blinking, W5 told Casse about their ship.
"Our ship is..." she pointed out at the variety of them and the lights on one lit up, "that one."
"C'mon," Tasher said as everyone boarded a repulsorlift carriage. It was a piece of flooring, rectangular and gray, which hovered through the air on repulsorlifts. It brought them to the entrance of their ship in a matter of seconds and W5 opened the door to the Republic Cruiser.
Tasher was the first aboard.
"What should we call the ship?" Miran asked as she climbed aboard.
"Every ship has a name," Ennem agreed. He helped Casse lift W5 aboard. Ka'shard and Casse were the last two aboard.
All six headed to the bridge arguing about the name of the ship.
"Let's call it the Warrior," Ennem suggested as he took a seat at the controls. The bridge was arranged with two main seats at the front of the ship at the controls. Other, passenger seats, lined the rest of the main room.
"The Dancing Beauty," Miran said with a classy tone of superiority. She took a seat on the side.
"How about," Tasher said taking one of the passenger seats on the side, "the Training Saber." He looked around at the others. Casse had taken the other front seat as W5 plugged into the ship between the two. Everyone else was sitting along the sides.
"I like it," Ka'shard said.
"Me too," Ennem agreed, going through take off procedures. "How are we doing W5?"
The droid beeped a response.
"We're starting up just fine," Casse translated, looking over the controls as well.
"You sure you can fly this Ennem?" Tasher asked, strapping himself to his seat.
"Of course I am," Ennem responded, not even bothering to look up.
"Good," Miran giggled. "We're actually doing it."
"Yes we are," Ka'shard agreed, gripping the armrests on his chair.
Suddenly, the ship began to hum and all lights came on. They had gotten it started.
"Yahoo!" Miran squeaked uncontrollably.
"Haha!" Tasher concurred.
"Open us some doors W5," Ennem instructed, "we are out of here!"
Cheers filled the bridge as W5 released the holds on the ship and it hovered on its own in the hangar. Ennem pushed the controls forward, and with the help of Casse and W5, he guided the ship out of the Jedi Temple Hangar and into the air traffic of Coruscant.
"Guess we never thought about the traffic on Coruscant," Tasher commented.
"Well it can be forgiven," Casse answered, "we've only been out of the Temple a few times. Not to mention the fact that none of us has ever flown. Let alone flown through a busy Coruscant."
"That's nothing," Ennem assured everyone, "we just have to head up." Ennem started a vertical rise and eventually pulled forward and began the actual flying.
"What about orbit patrol?" Tasher asked.
"What about it?" Ennem answered by asking.
"Don't we have to get clearance to leave?" Miran asked, ringing her hands nervously.
"Probably," Ennem muttered, slowly increasing the speed.
W5 beeped and flashed a red light.
"They're hailing us," Casse urged.
"Ignore it," Tasher quickly shouted.
Everyone looked at him except Ennem.
"We have to go," Tasher swallowed, "we can't stop for anything. Besides, we don't have clearance of any kind."
There was silence for a few moments.
"Right," Ka'shard asserted, "let's blow right on past."
Ennem increased the speed to full, and the children quickly blasted out into the dead of space. There was little resistance. Space was empty and black.
"W5, can you find Dagobah for us?" Ennem asked, easing back on the controls. The others in back remained patiently silent. There was no going back now.
"Should we go to hyperspace?" Miran asked innocently.
"Yes we will," Ennem said, glancing at various monitors, "Casse, run...um, a hyperspace plot course...thing. Please."
"You don't know what it's called?" Ka'shard laughed.
"You should be lucky I can even fly this cruiser," Ennem quipped and Casse signaled the 'okay'.
Ennem pushed the appropriate buttons and with W5's help, of course, the Training Saber blasted into hyperspace on its way to Dagobah.
"Okay, it should be a couple hours," Ennem told them, turning around in his chair. W5 could handle the ship while it drifted through hyperspace.
"Why didn't we stop for the orbit patrol people?!" Casse burst from next to Ennem.
Everyone remained silent and watched her.
"We could have gone to them for help, told them what was wrong," Casse continued, her voice calmer. "They could send real help, real security. But no, we have to go after all. Why?"
She looked at the faces of her friends one by one, finally ending on Tasher Jaken.
The young boy cleared his throat.
"Because this is our chance Casse," he said slowly, standing. "I mean think about it. There are thousands of Jedi throughout the galaxy. There are probably even more children, Initiates like us, training in the Temple. Us five, we are five in a million. None of us personally really matters to the galaxy, let alone the Council. To them, we're probably numbers. You saw Master Yoda in class today when I was late. His mind was somewhere else because the last thing he has to worry about is some lone Initiate. You know what happens if we're not chosen as Padawan learners we're sent to some meaningless job throughout Coruscant. I read too much, what use do they have for me? Where will my knowledge of ancient history come in handy? Not in defending some world from uprising, no, I'd be better of as a historian in some museum somewhere."
"You're right," Ka'shard said softly.
"This is our chance everyone," Tasher continued. "To make a name for ourselves. To stand out. Yes, we broke the rules and went to play in the Council room, and we have to pay the price. The Force is mysterious, and we were saddled with Master Rhea's burden. This is our task, our mission, our chance to stand out. To be heroes."
He looked longingly at Casse.
"We could die," Miran spoke up.
"I know," Tasher answered, still looking at Casse.
"We won't," Ennem interrupted, standing as well.
"How do you know?" Miran asked him, not angrily, more aloofly.
"I can feel it," Ennem bowed his head.
"So can I," Casse agreed surprisingly.
"This is our chance," Ka'shard repeated and he walked over and took Miran's hand, "our chance to be heroes."
"To be warriors," Ennem added with a smile.
"To mean something," Casse said quietly.
"To be the best," Miran said as she looked up at Ka'shard.
"To be Jedi," Tasher concluded with a grin.
Silence filled the bridge for a moment.
Miran broke it with an innocent giggle.
"What's so funny?" Ka'shard asked her. Everyone looked at them.
"We are," Miran answered with another laugh.
Ennem chuckled as well, a short little laugh.
"What's so funny about us?" Tasher asked Miran.
"How old are you Tasher?" Miran asked him.
He looked perplexed and locked eyes with Ka'shard.
"I'm 9 Miran," Tasher answered, "same as you, same as everybody."
"Yeah," she laughed again. Casse and Ennem laughed too. "We're just 9 years old, off saving the galaxy."
W5 beeped.
The three children laughed more and more.
"She's right," Ka'shard agreed, joining in on the laughter. "All this brave talk coming from a bunch of children."
Tasher thought about it for a second and joined in on the laughter.
"Have there ever been heroes this young before?" he asked through the laughs.
"Anakin Skywalker was 9 when Obi-Wan found him," Casse laughed.
"Yeah, but he's got nothing on us," Ennem added, laughing louder than before.
"Can you imagine Yoda at 9 years old?" Miran asked the group which caused another powerful wave of laughter.
"I bet you he wasn't rushing off in a stolen Cruiser to save the day," Tasher told them.
"He was probably still an infant," Ennem laughed, "only able to move small planets with the Force."
It was great Tasher felt. They were laughing and having fun. They weren't clutching their chairs in fear and lashing out at each other. His friends were brave.
Tasher thought about Master Yoda. The speech Tasher had given earlier had come spontaneously. He realized that maybe Yoda didn't care all that much about Tasher Jaken being late. Yoda was 800 years old. Tasher would be lucky to live past 100. He couldn't imagine being as old as Yoda.
What did one human kid matter? Yoda and seen millions of kids, trained millions to be Jedi. How many of the current Jedi Knights or Master had been trained by Yoda. Ki-Adi-Mundi had been Yoda's Padawan and Ki-Adi-Mundi was old.
Tasher took his seat again as the laughter died down. Miran stood and announced she was going back to the crew quarters to take a nap. They had a few hours before they reached Dagobah, a nap was a good idea. Ka'shard agreed with her and left too. They had hours until they reached the actual fight, it was better to sleep the time away than let it grow on them and chew at their nerves.
A few minutes later, Ennem yawned. He was tired too, but was too proud to leave the controls. He wanted to feel important. Tasher and Casse convinced him to take a rest, just a small one. He reluctantly left his post and went to find the bunks.
After a few seconds of silence, Casse walked over and sat next to Tasher. She took his hand.
"Are you afraid?" she asked him, looking into his eyes. Tasher could see a distinctive sparkle in her eyes, probably due to her unique heritage. They were a very light blue, especially blue.
"No," Tasher answered, "I can't be afraid. Fear is the path to the dark side."
"I know," Casse admitted, "but I can't help it." It was true. Tasher reached out with the Force to feel the waves of fear washing off from the young girl. It was almost too much fear. Tasher began to worry for Casse.
"Don't be afraid Casse," Tasher assured her, squeezing her hand gently, "we're all here together. Nothing is going to happen. We're going to land, find Master Rhea, and just bandage him up. We won't be in any trouble."
Casse actually laughed a little. The fear was reducing.
"Don't lie Tasher," she giggled, "that's not all that's going to happen. Ka'shard and his lightsaber? You and your...youness. I know you boys, you're gonna go out and try to win this on your own."
Tasher grinned, he wasn't going to admit it, but she was right.
"This is our chance Casse," Tasher repeated from before. He let go of her hand and stood. Tasher looked back at her and walked to the view port and stared out at the whiteness of hyperspace. He rubbed some sleepiness out of his eyes and stretched out on the tip of his toes. He turned back to Casse and smiled.
"I'm still afraid Tasher," she told him.
He sighed and let go of the stretch.
"I know," he replied. "And I know that it's okay to be afraid. But don't be so afraid that it affects your thinking and acting. I suppose you could stay on the ship when we get there. I doubt W5 would do so well in the swamps so he'll need someone to stay and watch him."
"But I want to go," she told him. "I just want to be brave enough to go."
"You're already brave enough," Tasher told her and walked over to the seat.
"Really?" she asked looking at him, longing for assurance.
Of course," he responded with a smile. "C'mon now, let's meditate."
"Okay," she said moving down to the floor and setting her legs in the meditating position.
Tasher joined her, they were facing each other. "It will help." She was already lost to the Force.
Tasher grinned and closed his eyes, reaching deep within himself as he had been trained to do. Tasher found the Force. It was always there, waiting for him to ask for something. The Force was a welcome constant in his life. His life was nothing more than adhering to the Force. Yoda, Mace Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi, all great warriors in the Force, all great Masters. Then there was Obi-Wan Kenobi or Jorr Anga, great Jedi Knights; even Padawans like Anakin Skywalker. All of them were powerful in the Force. More powerful than Tasher.
Even Charrgk was better with the Force than Tasher.
But still, Tasher was one with the Force. He reached for it, and he found it, always deep within, all around him. It was powerful. The dazzling feats Master Yoda could perform with the Force were great. The things he could lift. His skills with a lightsaber.
Tasher knew he would one day be that powerful. One day he would be that great with the Force. But he was still young; there was still a lot to wait for.
Now he was racing off into a real adventure, a real dangerous situation. Life was training and meditating. Life was the halls of the Jedi Temple. Tasher couldn't remember ever being off Coruscant, not even his apparent home back on Corellia. He didn't remember much about his infancy, but with the help of the Force he could remember some.
Aurra Sing was dangerous and very deadly. But Tasher hadn't even really thought about her at all on the way. He realized he wasn't worried about the bounty hunter at all. His mind had been on Master Rhea and his friends, she didn't matter. She was nothing. His friends were important. Like Ka'shard, or Casse, they mattered to him. He knew Casse was afraid. He knew Ka'shard was overly confident. But everything would work out.
Tasher thought of his friends. All of them were young, probably more afraid than any would admit. Tasher wouldn't admit he was afraid, and he was trying hard not to be. Miran was a beauty, eager to be powerful but possibly too innocent. Ennem was a strong young boy, stronger than he would show. But that strength was buried deep down, he was as afraid and insecure as anyone on the surface.
Ka'shard was brave, possibly too brave. He was living in his grandfather's, and even his father's, legacy. He was expected to be a hero and would always be referred to as Sharad Hett's grandson. It was hard living in another's shadow, but Ka'shard was very strong.
And Casse. Casse didn't have to be there. She was too innocent, she had kind of been dragged along with the others. But she was still strong. The Force flowed through Casse at that moment. Tasher reached out with his meditation and felt her presence. She was beautiful. There was no more fear in Casse, Tasher could sense it. He could only feel pride and warmth, it in turn made him warm.
Tasher smiled. He reached deep down with the Force, deep into its essence. He thought about everything he had been through in his short life, and he indeed found fear.
And Tasher thought of his mother.
He didn't remember her as a person. He only remembered her face, like a hologram, just what she looked like. He had never had time to get to know her. The closest thing he had was the one lady who checked on them from time to time in the dormitories.
Tasher Jaken was racing off through the galaxy to a dangerous situation where he could very well die. With the help of the Force, he thought of his mother.
And like the young boy that he is.
He longed for her to hold him.
And to tell him that everything was going to be okay.