Authors Note: - This takes place concurrently with the previous chapter.
The lambda class shuttle Soaring Star landed in a field of freshly cropped stalks on the planet of Tanaab, in a specially cordoned off area. It settled gently, barely disturbing the rest of the field apart from sending a light breeze through the abruptly cut off stalks.
When whine of the repulsorlifts died away a flock of children approached the landing ramp of the shuttle. As soon as Janson appeared at the doorway several overeager children mobbed him.
"Ack! Hobbie help!"
Hobbie smiled slightly. "Friendly aren't they?"
"Get 'em off!" yelled Janson, grinning as his nieces and nephews climbed all over him, demanding that he told them about his latest adventures.
Suddenly the mobs' attention was taken as Tai, Agumon and T.K, with Patamon in his arms, appeared at the ramp. Tai and T.K. exchanged nervous glances. "Hi?" ventured T.K.
Instantly several of the younger children clustered around him.
"Wow, what's that?" asked a brown haired girl, pointing at Patamon.
"Is he a pet?" asked a boy.
T.K. shook his head. "Nuh-uh. He's a digimon."
Patamon flapped his ears and rose out of T.K's grip. "Betcha can't catch me!" He flew off.
The boy was impressed. "You have cool toys!"
T.K. tugged at his sleeve. "Come on! Let's try and catch him!" The group of children ran off on Patamon's trail, laughing and yelling.
Janson laughed and shook his head. "Those kids never seem to run out of energy."
Some adults came out across the fields and Janson, Hobbie, Tai and Agumon moved to meet them. Janson went to one of the women and hugged her. "Myri! It's so good to see you."
Myri released him, then punched him lightly on the shoulder. "It figures. You spend all this time away, then come home the day after all the work is done."
"Huh?" Janson shook his head, confused.
Myri laughed. "Wes, the Harvest was yesterday. Today is the first day of the Harvest Celebration." She ruffled his hair playfully. "Always out playing when there's work to be done, aren't you Wes?"
Janson held his hands up. "I surrender."
Myri smiled. "Well now that's settled, how long can the Republic spare you?"
Janson shook his head sadly. "They can't, I'm here on business." He waved a hand towards Tai, then over towards where he could hear T.K. and the other children playing. "I'm on baby sitting duty."
Myri's husband Beren put a hand around her shoulder. "The great Major Janson, hero of the Republic is carting children around?" He grinned. "Who'd you annoy Wes?"
Finally the children all collapsed in a giggling heap.
Patamon floated down into T.K's arms. "Told ya you couldn't catch me!"
T.K. laughed. "We sure couldn't."
"I'm Kiri," said one of the girls. "What's your name?"
"I'm T.K. I'm a Jedi Knight."
Most of the children giggled.
"You may dress like one," said one of the boys, "But you're not Luke Skywalker. You can't make stuff fly."
"Oh come on Erin," said Kiri. "He's just a kid who wants to be a Jedi. Is that so very wrong?"
"I can too make stuff fly," said T.K. "Izzy said it was called Telekidneysis or something."
"Uh-huh," said Erin. "Then prove it."
T.K. looked around. "Um… Aha! See that pebble?" he asked. Kiri and Erin nodded. T.K. put his hand out. Slowly the pebble lifted off the ground.
"Wow! Cool!" exclaimed Erin.
T.K. waved his hand about and a few more pebbles joined it. "I'm a bit outta practice."
"That's out of practice?" asked another kid.
T.K. shrugged. "My brother Matt could lift something the size of a truck." He moved a finger in a stirring motion and the pebbles began to circle. "And I'm only little, so I'm not very good yet."
"That's not good?" asked another boy. "I've never seen anyone do something like that before!"
"Better be nice to him," said another one. "I heard that the Jedi could melt your brains."
T.K. laughed. "That's silly. Jedi have to promise not to hurt anyone or anything. I know Tai won't hurt anything, even if he has got a lightsabre."
"He does?" asked Kiri.
Erin leaned forwards. "Can they really cut through anything?"
"I dunno," shrugged T.K. "Tai said he fought some robot and used his lightsabre to cut its arms off, so I guess they can cut through metal."
"Do you think he'd let us play with it?"
T.K. shook his head. "Tai won't let me touch it. I don't think he'd let any of you touch it either."
Hobbie sat, lightly tapping his finger in time with the music on the long table where he sat. Every so often he could see Janson dancing with various members of his family. The wild music kept the various members of the Janson family moving through what Hobbie was beginning to recognise as a set dance. That or Janson was trying to dance with every woman present. Hobbie suspected that it could be the latter.
Finally Janson dropped into the chair next to Hobbie, his face flushed. "That was fun."
"Oh was it?" asked Hobbie. "Any of them willing to dance with me?"
Janson shook his head. "Do you think I'd willingly subject any member of my family to you?"
Hobbie clutched melodramatically at his chest. "I'm hurt."
"Oh you'll love this."
"I don't like your tone of voice Wes." Hobbie picked some of the spiced grain off his plate, then stuck it in his mouth. "That tone of voice only leads to trouble."
Wes pointed over the dance floor. "That's my Aunt. She thinks that you're too thin and is planning…"
Hobbie clapped his hands over his ears. "I don't want to know."
Janson laughed. "Okay, okay."
Hobbie removed his hands from his ears. "Good." He peered across the room to where Tai and T.K. were sitting at the children's' table. "Do you think the kids are okay?"
Janson shrugged. "I don't see why not. The kids have never really been nasty to any visitors that I've seen."
Tai pushed his unfinished meal over towards Agumon. "Here."
"Something wrong Tai?" asked Agumon. "It's not like you to turn down food."
Tai sighed. "I just don't feel hungry. This whole thing with Matt has got my stomach tied up in knots."
Agumon pushed the plate. "But you gotta eat Tai, otherwise how will you be able to face Matt?"
Tai shook his head. "I can't." His face contorted and he slammed a fist down on the table, making several people look up. "Damn it. Why did he do it?"
"You're pushing yourself too hard Tai." Agumon took the plate and started to eat. "You won't help Matt if you're this frustrated. You'll just end up on the Dark side yourself."
Tai lowered his head. "You're right. I guess I'm taking this way too personally." He looked up, and all those watching him quickly pretended to look elsewhere. "I wish they'd all stop staring. I'm just a kid like them."
Agumon shrugged. "Well what would you do if suddenly someone who claimed to do the thing the Jedi can arrived in your neighbourhood?"
Tai mustered up a smile. "You're right. Doesn't make me feel any better though." He picked up a knife and started to twirl it around his fingers. "We don't seem to be accomplishing anything here. T.K. hasn't said anything about smelling chocolate, has he?"
Agumon shook his head. "Nope. Maybe we can get him to work at it tomorrow."
Tai sighed and made a decision. "I'm going to go back to the shuttle and sleep." He shoved his chair back and got up. "I can't take this anymore." He moved quickly away from the table and the easy laugher between the children. Matt and me used to laugh like that together. What happened?
About half way back to the shuttle Tai found a group of three youths blocking his path. All of them were older than him by several years, just on the cusp of adulthood.
Tai sighed. "Can I get past? I'm going back to the shuttle in the outer field."
In the gloom he could see them exchange looks. Finally one of them spoke up.
"I thought Jedi didn't need to sleep."
"We don't have to," said Tai, "But it's better for us if we do, and right now I'm too tired to do much meditation. I'd rather just sleep."
"Huh." The three of them got closer.
"And why is it that you feel that you should leave without eating?" asked another. "Is that our simple life is beneath the great and powerful Jedi?" he mocked.
Tai rubbed his forehead. "I'm just tired. That's what happens when you're trying to save three worlds at once." As soon as he said it Tai realised that the youths were going to only be encouraged by that comment.
"Oh save three worlds is it?" asked the first one. Together the three youths started to circle Tai, reminding him uncomfortably of sharks. "And what worlds would that be?"
Tai shook his head and started to move forwards. Two of the youths grabbed his arms, while the third took his lightsabre.
"Interesting," said the youth holding the sabre. Tai could tell it was the first one who'd spoken, obviously the leader of the group. "So why is it that your friend T.K. will let us play with his toys but the great Tai won't, hmm?" He turned it round in his hands.
Tai looked at him angrily. "You have no right to take that."
"I'll do what I like." The youth ceased examining the lightsabre and held it away from him. "What makes you so special anyway?" He tapped the activation switch and the lightsabre flared to life, illuminating Tai and his tormentors with an orange glow. "See? I now have a lightsabre, so I must be a Jedi." He grinned at his friends.
Tai remained still. "Last chance. Let me go and give me my sabre back. Or else."
The three youths laughed. "What are you going to do?" asked the one holding his left arm. "Pebble us to death?"
Tai shook his head, then dropped to the ground. His captors, positioned to stop his advance towards their friend, fell down with him. Tai rolled forwards, tearing his arms from their loosened grip. He sprung to his feet and faced their leader. "Give it back."
The youth shook his head and grinned.
Tai ducked as one of the youths he'd pulled down swung a metal bar at him from behind. He swung his leg out and knocked the youth off his feet. He then turned to the other one who had a vibroblade in his hand. The youth lunged and Tai jumped and flipped over him. While his opponent was gawping at where Tai had been, Tai spun round in a kick to the youth's head. The youth fell to the ground, and didn't move.
Then his friend with the metal bar approached again. Tai set himself in a fighting stance and waited. The youth swiped at him and Tai jumped backwards. The youth grinned as if he'd just won a major victory and swiped again. Again Tai jumped back.
When the youth swiped for a third time Tai, instead of moving backwards like before, dived down and tackled the youth. They went down together and Tai straddled his opponent. He forced the bar from the youth's grip, then stood and brought his foot round to connect to the youth's temple as his opponent rose. The youth joined his friend in unconsciousness.
Tai rounded on the last youth. "Last chance before you join your friends." He moved forwards. "Give. It. Back."
The youth waved the lightsabre in a semi-threatening manner. "I think I'm the one who's armed here."
Tai shrugged. "I have the Force. You just saw what it did against your two friends." He smiled evilly. "Just think yourself lucky. One of my friends could fry you where you stand. Me, I'll just beat you until you're unconscious." Okay, so Izzy wouldn't do something like that, but he doesn't have to know that.
The youth eyed him nervously. "I don't believe you."
Tai shrugged. "Your choice." He held his hand out.
The lightsabre in the youth's hands jerked, then flew into Tai's outstretched hand, shutting itself down in mid-flight.
Tai clipped it to his belt. "Care to try it now you're unarmed?"
The youth took one look at him, then fled.
Tai sighed. Maybe now they'll realise how unfair it is to pick on those smaller than them. I bet they're the local bullies. He worked his shoulders round. Man I'm tired. They took way too long to deal with.
He walked back off towards the shuttle.
"Tetchy!"
Tai moaned and pulled the blanket further over his head.
Janson stomped into the cramped cabin. "Tetchy!" he bellowed, yanking off the blanket.
Tai sat up. "What?"
Janson loomed over him. "What. Did. You. Do?"
"Huh?" Tai rubbed at his eyes sleepily. "What are you talking about?"
"My nephew and his friend have a rather interesting collection of bruises this morning. Another friend tells me you're responsible." Janson put his hands on his hips. "So what did you do?"
Tai yawned. "Defence."
Janson glared. "Care to explain?"
"They cornered me late last night, grabbed me, and took my lightsabre." Tai waved his hand vaguely. "I took it back without killing them or myself."
Janson shook his head. "Not buying it. You don't have a scratch on you."
"That's what happened." Tai got up off the bed and stretched. "They attacked me, one with a pipe, one with a knife. I put them out of the fight as fast and as gently as I could."
Janson shook his head. "Well Myri told me to tell you that you're no longer welcome at the farm." He smiled slightly. "At least not if you're going to completely beat the locals in unarmed combat."
"Suits me fine." Tai continued to stretch. "They look at me funny. Like I'm a freak or something."
Janson tilted his head. "They may have a point Tetchy."
Tai looked sideways at him. "I don't think they do. They consider Master Skywalker a hero…"
"But he's never come to diner." Janson grinned. "I did invite him once or twice. He believed that my 'culinary expertise' continued into the rest of my family."
"Well at least those guys will think twice before attacking someone smaller than them."
Janson nodded. "I think they might." He moved to the door. "Let's go find T.K. and get that blasted lightsabre. My Aunts are trying to set me up again."
Tai laughed, then grabbed his lightsabre and cloak and followed Janson out the door.
T.K. shook his head. "I don't smell anything Mr. Janson."
"Well surely you feel something odd," suggested Hobbie.
T.K. thought about this for a few moments. "The weather is funny."
Janson blinked. "Huh?"
"It's always the same temperature, day or night. The temperature only changes when I move around."
Janson shook his head. "The weather here doesn't work like that. It's no different than for any other planet."
T.K. shook his head in return. "No, the warmest place I've found was in that field we were playing in." His eyes widened. "Do ya think that could be it?"
Hobbie shrugged. "Got any better ideas?"
T.K. grinned and ran off, Patamon flying behind him. "Come on, it's this way!"
Janson rolled his eyes at Hobbie then followed on. He watched T.K. crisscross the field until he came to a point slightly off centre. "It's here Mr. Janson. It's warmest here."
Together Hobbie, Janson, Tai and Agumon approached. Janson raised an eyebrow at Tai.
Tai shook his head. "Doesn't feel any different to me."
Hobbie leaned into Janson. "Doesn't it strike you as rather odd Wes that this happens to be in your family's field?"
"Don't knock it," replied Janson.
He and Hobbie turned back suddenly as T.K. screamed.
Tai ran forwards, Agumon close behind him. "T.K? T.K. where are you?"
"Here," came a muffled reply. "I think I've hurt my leg."
Tai skidded to a halt at the lip of a gaping hole. "You down there T.K?" He lent over the hole.
At the bottom sat T.K. in a heap. "The ground just opened up and I fell." He started to get up, shaking dust and earth from his hair. He kept one foot off the ground. "I think I twisted my ankle."
"Hold on," said Tai. "I'll climb down." He judged the distances, then stepped off the edge and dropped to the bottom, landing in a crouch. "You okay?"
T.K. nodded, clutching Patamon. "I was just scared when the ground disappeared."
"Hey down there!"
Tai looked up to see Agumon, Janson and Hobbie looking down. "We're okay, don't worry." He looked around the hole and found a tunnel leading out of it. "You okay to walk down there T.K?"
"Uh-huh," nodded T.K. He hobbled forwards. "It sure is dark though."
Tai flicked on his lightsabre. "These things work great as torches." He moved forwards. "I'll go first so I don't hit you with this. Tell me if I'm going too fast." He held his lightsabre up and started to move down the tunnel.
He hadn't got very far when metal rods crisscrossing the tunnel blocked his path. "What the…?" He swept out his lightsabre to clear his path. The glowing blade spluttered, then went out. Tai frowned, then switched it on and tried again, achieving the same result. "Odd." He switched it back on, but kept it away from the bars.
T.K. drew level. "Hey, lookit!" He pointed and Tai could just about make out the hilt of a lightsabre beyond the crossing rods. "I must have to get it to float to me."
"I dunno," ventured Tai. "Maybe whatever is stopping my lightsabre will stop your telekinesis."
T.K. held out a hand. The sabre hilt twitched, then started to rise. "It doesn't seem to be stopping me." The hilt started to thread its way between the closely spaced rods.
Tai watched as T.K. carefully moved it though the small gaps. Eventually it started to drop lower and lower. "You okay T.K?"
T.K. shook his head. "This is making me really tired."
Tai took the smaller boy's hand. "Here." He sent some of his own strength to T.K.
T.K. smiled. "Thanks Tai." The hilt steadied, then rose smoothly, passing through the last three holes in the barrier and into T.K's outstretched hand.
T.K. turned it over in his hands. "Cool. Now we both have one."
Tai nodded. "Be careful. Once you've charged it you could hurt someone with it." He helped T.K. back towards the hole. "Hey! Wes!"
"Tetchy!" Janson leaned over the hole. "You get it?"
T.K. held up his lightsabre.
Janson let out a whoop. "Way to go T.K!" He and Hobbie bent down. "Give us your hand, we'll pull you up."
T.K. raised his arms and allowed Janson and Hobbie to lift him over the lip of the hole. Patamon flew up to join them. Janson started to lean back over the hole to help Tai out, when Tai came soaring out of the hole and landing gently on the balls of his feet.
"You shouldn't show off Tetchy," sniped Janson.
Tai sighed. "Taichi. Or Tai, I don't care. But not Tetchy."
"What ever you say Tetchy."
Hobbie rolled his eyes and T.K. giggled.
"Well?" asked Kun.
Tionne knelt in front of him and proffered up the Holocron. "The Gatekeeper refused."
"Refused?" spat Kun. "How can he refuse you when you have obtained information for him before."
Tionne trembled, and kept her gaze averted. "He said he could see your mark upon me."
Kun snarled inarticulately and snatched the glowing cube from Tionne's hand.
Myotismon laid a restraining hand on Kun. "We can find some way around this. All it requires is patience."
"Those meddling fools on the Council have stopped me for the last time." Kun held the Holocron out. "Last chance Gatekeeper. Stay silent and perish!"
The Holocron remained unchanged.
"So be it." Kun threw the glowing cube away from him, then threw an arm out. The Holocron was consumed by the crackling blue energy that spewed forth from Kun's hand. "Now no one can be helped by the past."
"Indeed," said Myotismon. "I find it a shame that we did not take time to discover about this 'Eighth Child'. What if they come to the other's aid?"
Kun laughed. "No one will aid them. While the future is in motion, that fact remains unchanged." He quietened. "But things are unravelling fast. Soon our puppet will face his friends, and will shall see if he can be trusted to serve us."
"What of his power?" asked Myotismon. "Have you still no idea?"
Kun glared at the digimon for reminding him of his failures. "None, but it does not matter. It will change nothing. He shall kill their leader, making them easier to bend." He looked wistful. "It is a shame that Courage could not be turned. He would have made an excellent pupil."
"You know that they will come here, don't you?" asked Myotismon. "Once they have faced the boy at Hoth, whatever the outcome they will come after us."
Kun nodded. "We shall retreat and get our followers to defend us until the children's' doubts start to show, then I shall have them." He smiled. "Fear is the path by which those simple children can be turned."
Janson winced at the colours of hyperspace and sipped at his caf. "Is it me, or is it brighter out there than usual?"
Hobbie shook his head. "You should know better at your age Wes."
Tai came into the cockpit. "Morning!"
"Not so loud Tetchy," asked Janson.
Tai looked at him. "Are you hung over?"
"Who, me?" asked Janson, grinning. The grin left his face. "Oh yeah." He sipped at the bitter caf again.
Tai laughed and Janson winced at the noise. "You should know when to stop Wes."
Janson rolled his bloodshot eyes. "It's tradition to get completely drunk on the last night of the festival."
"Suure," chanted Tai.
"Well we're making good time," ventured Hobbie. "We'll make Hoth in about twelve hours." He turned to Tai. "Think your friend will be there yet?"
"I hope not," said Tai. "If he has we have one mad, bad, and very stupid Jedi with a lightsabre roaming the galaxy."
Authors Notes: - Whoa. That was short. Sorry. It also took a while. Again sorry. I took a two-week break from writing this on the grounds that this was the only thing I could think about day and night. Not good.
So, next up Sora on Bespin. Geh. I can't write Sora. Stay tuned.
