CHAPTER 13
Master Oden had finally made her way down to the Temple hanger-bay, after packing most of her necessities into a small duffle, which seemed like hours to accomplish. She was ready to go home, Dorshe' had pulled some strings with Master Yoda allowing her to get a ride on one of the small Jedi-shuttles that were heading past the Orveaous system. So as not to trouble any of the republic transports agencies with arranging another travel plan during one of Coruscant's largest tourist seasons. The hanger spanned well over a mile distance's across the Temple's basin, and housed many of the Jedi's small craft, most of them belonging to masters and those who make frequent visits to the sanctuary. Dorshe' began to pace towards the Mon Calamari shuttle, 'Lorrax'. It was a small vessel, only one-fourth the size of the Everlasting, but it would suffice for the journey to Orveaous. As Master Oden came upon the access ramp to the Lorrax, she could sense a presence known to her. She waited there as a figure came out from the ship, it was Grem. "Well if it isn't Grem Venad." She said in a tone common of a parent with immense pride for a child. "I'm to understand that you will be escorting me home as you proceed to your first mission as a Knight." "Yes Master Oden." He responded in a tone of a still loyal Padawan. "I have been assigned a mission to Tatooine, but I was asked by Master Skywalker if I first escort you to your home-planet" "Well at least you're not going out to settle border disputes just yet!" she remarked. "Is the ship ready for departure?" "All she needs is her pilot and a passenger named Oden to hop aboard and get underway." She complied by following the Vurk up the access ramp as it sealed behind them. Grem then pointed to a small room adjacent to a dark corridor. "That's the lounge if you wish to relax and wait for us to reach your destination, Master Oden." "No Grem, I believe I would prefer to take this journey in good company with you in the cockpit." She made her point clear that she would have it no other way. "Very well, this way." The two legged reptilian led Dorshe to the tiny command cabin. "You can have the nav. chair." "Thank you Noble Venad." She reminded the young man of his achievement as she placed her duffle on the floor and they sat in their respective seats. Grem went strait to work at his console preparing the Lorrax for its departure. His head turned and his eyes swept all the surrounding panels that blinked, each having been activated after the other panels were interfaced. Dorshe' was impressed by the blue one's swift motions during the pre-launch sequence a true display of his reliance an the Force. She felt compelled to ask Grem he would like any assistance but before she could open her mouth the Lorrax was already hovering above the hanger deck. Grem put in a call to the hanger control droid. "This is the shuttle, Lorrax, requesting permission to leave the temple." The voice of a cold mechanical robot replied via the comm. system. "Shuttle Lorrax you have permission to get underway." The bay doors then began to separate horizontally, Grem waited for the doors to clear then guided the ship through the opening. The Lorrax, once in free airspace, began to point to the heavens, and with a great thrust of the engines the vessel was propelled in that direction. Dorshe' looked out the view ports in front and beside her, as the Coruscant landscape gradually became more and more distant. The endless lines of air traffic seemed as if they went on to the other side of the planet itself, a great line of tiny insects that never ceased. Eventually the grand skyscrapers seemed like needles, poking through the clouds. Dorshe made sure to keep her eyes on the Temple before the Lorrax completely entered the stratosphere, not just because it was the only structure noticeable from such a distance, but it would be the last time she would see it in all its glory for a long time. Her face remained attached to that view port well after any geographic details could be made out from Coruscant's surface. Grem piloted the ship around the busy traffic that occupied the City-planet's orbit before looking over to find the daydreaming Dorshe'. "Master Oden, are you all right?" he queried in a voice like that used for addressing coma victims. "Hu-Oh yes Grem I'm fine just a little lost in my own thoughts that's all." "Oh, okay." He returned to his console setting the ship on auto pilot, since the coruscantian government doesn't allow vessels to enter or exit hyperspace until it reaches five marsecs past its own moon. Grem would take this time on repulse to relax before jumping beyond the light speed barrier. "I've programmed the computer on a heading for Orveaous, once we're past the moons regulated jump zone, the hyperdrive engines will activate, in the mean time is there anything you like to eat, drink maybe?" "Perhaps I should have something." She took a moment to ponder what it was her body desired for nourishment. "I will have some Nabuian green tea." "As you wish." He rotated his chair to a small syntho in the wall, Gren then typed in the codes for a Nabuian tea as he pulled out a small cup from a compartment just below the opening. he held the cup underneath the liquid syntho's spout as the tea began to poor into the mug. "Here you go Master Oden." "Thank you." She took a slip as the Vurk replicated a drink for himself. "I was unaware of your condition until after my initiation, congratulations on your baring child Master Oden." She blushed slightly at the unexpected comment. "Thank you once again Grem." "On my planet, women are treated sacredly for their ability to carry and bring life into the universe, it is in my blood to be worthy of escorting you to your home for such a miracle". He returned his chair to the command console keeping his attention between the Jedi master and the pilot's console. "You are to kind, but don't disrespect your sex, you play a part in the child's coming to life too." She encouraged. "We merely supply the raw essence of the being, you are the ones who grant birth." He made his point clear, as a show of pride for his people's belief. Dorshe' saw no use in arguing over different view points. "So Grem, what business do you have on Tatooine." He finished his first sip before answering. "Missing person, the authorities on Mos Espa believe it to be a kidnapping, but they have been searching for several days now and have had no leads, so Master Skywalker assigned me to go investigate." This made Dorshe's attention grow with curiosity. "Why didn't the Mos Espa government try to reach their planet's watchmen?" "They did try, but apparently all their forces are busy dealing with a conflict between the Hutts and the Tuskins. Master Skywalker said that it would take to much time to pull any of their people away from that conflict, and he decided to send me in to deal with the disappearance." Dorshe' began to speculate, wondering if this could be the work of the Sith. "Grem." she waited until she had his full and complete focus. Dorshe' then went on to tell Grem of her theory that she assembled with Master Chevacca and Yoda's help. She told him about all the disappearances over the past two decades, all the Jedi hopefuls that never made it to the temple, all the other individuals that disappeared as well during that time. She even shared the story of Master Bretew, and his part in the battle on Kamino. All the while Venad assessed the information in his mind, realizing every connection to the recent events, and the even seeing them in the Old Sun Prophecy Master Romdel told him of. He then pulled out a small touch panel that contained all the information pertaining to his mission, he was hoping the situation didn't fit the characteristics of the ones told by Master Oden, but to his disappointment they were. An infant child, from a family with means have no connection that would benefit the Republic, and the possibility of being Force sensitive could be existent as well. "This is very disturbing, what should I do. If it is true and the Sith have kidnapped this child what good can I do to get her back?" he began to question his abilities, something Dorshe' would never except even if Grem was a knight now. "At the very least you still can investigate as to how the child was taken." She then felt this rush run through her heart, it was the Force trying to tell Oden what she said, and she thought of Pacres, and the mission he never returned from, as if he was warning her by the Force, not to let Grem go on this mission alone. "Grem I'm going with you to Tatooine, please don't take this as a judgment of your abilities, but I strongly believe if you go to Mos Espa alone, you might not come back." Venad was not hurt by this, infact he was pleased that he would have such an accomplished Jedi as Master Oden to assist him. "I will let you have complete control over the conduct of this investigation; all I ask is that I be with you so you will have the benefit of our combined connection to the Force." He nodded in compliance having heard what happened to Dorshe's husband from Saliv just prior to the mission that led to Kamino. Then after placing his cup in an equal sized holder, Grem started reprogramming the navigational computer to set course for Tatooine. The Lorrax had since passed the jump marker. "We have past the moon, ready to jump to Tatooine in five.four.three.two.and." Grem pushed the hyperdrive ignition panel, and the Lorrax disappeared in to the stars. Not knowing what dangers the Dark side has in store for the Jedi.
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Jiles was angered by the growing fleet of Jedi-Battleships that assembled in a battle ready formation over Coruscant's orbit. While the Slave twelve was cloaked, and hidden by the ion wakes created by the endless expanse of starships entering and exiting the system. This would make it extremely difficult for Capt. Fett to obtain the clone, but this was what he lived for. Whether or not Jiles was sure Tagro enjoyed the rush from the tension of the moment, Oiket knew he wouldn't fail, he hoped. The Slave twelve's bridge was on code six; silent running, as the ship slowly made its way into a sensor shadow left un-maintained by the probe-stations surrounding coruscantian space, so as to not tip off the Jedi to the shuttle launching. This shuttle would be operated by Fett, and five members of his elite foot- soldiers along with Jiles himself. The tiny craft would make its way down to one of Fett's many off world safe houses posing as an ambassador's transport, once there the evil task force would rendezvous with the Cole android and .well, Fett did not properly inform Jiles of what happens next, but Tagro reassured him that he would be needed. Sufficed to say, Jiles was still a little on edge, even with that said. "Are you prepared to leave Jiles?" the stern voice of Fett, came from behind. Oiket then about faced only to find Tagro incased in a gleaming cast of formfitting armor. The metallic portions covered most of his body, leaving space for every joint, so not to hinder his mobility. The under suit that lie underneath the second was a royal purple, giving Fett a status of importance with the impression of warrior and the helmet held under his left arm. He now had a mantel that displayed his true clod, soulless nature, that of beast. "The shuttle is awaiting us." He cocked an eyebrow as he dawned the cape in his right arm around his neck. "I have always been ready." He implied in more ways than one to the pirate Capt. "Good, follow me." The pair walked into the nearest lift, Fett then tapped the control panel to command the lift to the hanger, after which the hatch sealed and the elevation craft descended downwards while Tagro slid his head piece on. He turned his head toward Jiles to test his verbal amplifier, and visual modulator. "Can you hear me?" Jiles not noticing Fett's new portrait until he just spoke, gave him a uncaring response. "Yes I can hear you." "Good, testing visual interface, thermal." and the helmet displayed a thermal scan to Fett ".Infared." now and infared scan. ".Anti-matter." the visuals fed to Tagro, were x-rays of the floors the lift had been passing, allowing him to see all that was going on behind the walls as he and Jiles gradually came to a full stop, ".Normal." and Fett retained all that his simple eyes had to offer as the hatch began to open. The Captain led the Sith lord down a wide ramp that stretched the whole length of the hanger below, passing numerous fighters dangling from their docking holsters. When they reached the end the duo was greeted by five soldiers at alert positions lined in order from side to side. They brandished armor similar to that of Fett's but no where near as intricate, Silver and blue each with cloaks of their own to cover their uniformed steel. Tagro Fett stood looking over to them one last time before they would launch. "Men! You know your orders, you know your duties, and you know what will happen if you fail. Any questions?" They responded in unison. "Sir, No Sir." Fett then rose out his solid fist to the men as a salute. They returned it respectfully. "Now board the shuttle, Jiles." he turned once again to Oiket at his side. ".you and I will pilot the ship, lets go." Jiles gave a mocking salute followed by a cocky. "Yes Sir!" even though he wore the helmet, Jiles could tell Tagro was not amused. "Get on the shuttle." Fett walked into the ship's hatch and Jiles followed despite his bruised humor. The cabin was some-what small compared to the overall size of the ship itself, this was due to the vessel's reinforced hull. Jiles sat in the seat next to Fett's command chair as he hailed the bridge telling them to open the bay doors, then gave the order to the shuttle crew for liftoff. The shuttle flew past the hanging fighters and out in the open space, with the Slave twelve's cloak still operating it would seem as if the vessel came from nowhere, like most of the ships in this dense system, when the shuttle exited the sensor shadow it was soon hailed by Coruscant traffic control. They answered the voice of a deep, none human variation. "This is Coruscant space traffic control. Please identify your ship and its purpose in this system?" Fett responded, masking his voice to that of a simpleton. "Umm-yes, this is the transport 'Exodus', we are-um currently ferrying Ambassador Muyt, to meet with his senate representative." The controller took a moment over the comm. link, to clarify Fett's hoax, Jiles just sat there, hoping the Cole droid did its work to create the false scheduling documents. "Alright Exodus, you are approved, welcome to Coruscant." Fett returned with the innocent voice. "T-thank you." then deactivated the transmission as he began to aim the vessel down to the planet's surface. The shuttle quickly passed through the atmosphere dodging the massive structures and traffic that littered Coruscant's surface. Neither Fett nor his crew said a word as the trip continued, it only took half an hour for the small transport to reach the Lople district that was adjacent to New Ossus and the closest district to the Jedi temple. The shuttle landed in the hanger of what seemed to be an old industrial warehouse, but in fact was actually one of Tagro's well kept safe-holds. The garage hatch closed as the ship made a smooth set- down on the steel floor beneath, it's landing clamps released. Jiles was impressed by the display of the large room, there was no hanger just the interior of a very big warehouse that spanned well beyond a single perspectives limit, bare but for a few stacked crates and containers in the far corner. As the shuttle's engines disengaged the starboard ramp began to open. Welcomed by the sight of the android Jillill Cole Fett stepped out first along with Jiles as the other soldiers followed in a wave of black robes. Fett turned to his spy. "Good work Cole, have you made the preparations?" She responded obediently, "Yes my master, by your order the mission will be able to proceed at your most opportune moment." "Good then." he turned to his soldiers of fortune. ".get out the supplies, I want us ready to initiate the mission by night fall. Clear!" "Sir, yes sir!" They replied as one. He then waved his crew away to begin their individual tasks. "Jiles, I have your mission briefing here." Fett pulled out a touchpad from his cloak. "Read over them!" he demanded in a tone befitting a dictator. Jiles snatched the panel from Tagro, in slight disgust. He read over the text and was not happy to by what he saw. "I see." He mused so as to raise his concern gradually. ".what of the Jedi, do you believe they will notice?" Fett turned to Oiket, glaring at him with the cold steel mantel of his helmet. "Not if you stick to the plan. All you need to worry about is your tasks." The plan was risky, even Jiles didn't know if he could pull it off that was when he heard her voice. Jiles, it echoed in his mind. Follow Fett's instructions. He responded out loud not caring that Fett couldn't hear what he could. "But Master, this is suicide he wants me to be a-Gah-k!" the horrible pain she inflicted in his dark heart returned to silence his cowardice. What did I say about questioning my orders? "I'm sorry Master." He began to quench in pain as a confused Tagro looked on at Jiles, writhing in pain from an unseen grip. Time is wasting now go and don't question Fett's orders. The river of torment ended. And remember Oiket, you have the Dark side. "Yes my Master." He cradled his sore skull as her voice disappeared. He then looked into the visor of Fett's eyes. "I will need some supplies." "Understood." Tagro then looked over to one of his subordinates. "Sfial, bring me one of the weapons crates." The well built soldier did such then placed the small container before Fett. Fett then kicked the polymer box, forcing it open. "Here, I believe you will find all you will need." The dastardly grin that separated Jiles from any other man of the Dark side appeared on his face, Maybe this won't be so difficult!
Master Amtlar sat in the Command chair of the Jedi dreadnought: 'Virtuous' the flagship of the Jedi fleet in orbit of Coruscant. The green, fish headed man was reviewing a few last minute reports before the fleet dispatched to the unknown-territory. The Bridge was cluttered with the calm sounds of the Jedi officers tirelessly working at their assigned duties. Baldos Amtlar was born to be a Jedi; he was also raised by his people's heritage to be a distinguished naval officer. Had he been born a thousand years ago, before the Jedi had been considered an equal government body to that of the rest of the universe. He would have had to choose between one or the other but When you become a Jedi you are a Jedi for life, and while he was a master of the Force, and could wield a lightsabre with the best of his peers, he was meant for commanding a ship. His tactical expertise and close bond with the Force made him a formidable strategist, an even more powerful Commander, and with the most advanced ships in the fleet at his disposal, including the Virtuous. In his mind the Sith wouldn't stand a chance. Amtlar waited for Master Skywalker's hail so Amtlar may get underway, while he quietly closed his large flat eyes in a deep state of meditation. He could feel the river of the Force bath him in it's power, he could see what was, what is, and what could be. he could touch the possibilities of the future, all but one that was shrouded in darkness. He tried to reach out to it so he might pull it apart and read the premonition. Baldos was there, his mind reached into the void of a stream, and that was when Skywalker finally hailed the Virtuous. "Master Amtlar." the Mon Calamari, opened his eyes to find the Holo- projection of his human cohort standing before him. "Baldos are you alright?" "Fine, just meditating.Yoda have you sensed anything from the Force recently?" The image of Skywalker gave a questioning look. "Why do you ask?" "There is something unseen to me, blocked almost, as if it were being hidden from us." "Could the Force be concealing the future from us, to prevent us from unraveling possible events?" "No, not the Force, something Darker than the Force." Master Amtlar stated in a tone so as to not alert his Bridge crew that might be overhearing his communication but Master Skywalker knew exactly what his scaly friend meant. "I understand, needless to say you have the order to dispatch the fleet, best see it so. I will look into your concern in the mean time." "Thank you Yoda, May the Force be with you!" "And also with you Baldos!" the Masters shared a bow, and then the Skywalker projection disappeared. "Noble Ser." He now addressed his communications officer. "Yes Master Amtlar!" The nabuian man turned to his superior with respect. "Open all audio channels to the fleet." Ser did so. "Comm. channels open Master." Amtlar stood up from his seat as if he were addressing a present audience with his arms folded behind his back. "This is Master Amtlar of the Jedi dreadnought 'Virtuous', to all ships of the Jedi fleet." He began to pace on his command platform, circling the steel blue -room surrounding him. "As we all are now aware, the Sith have returned. What their intentions are, we are yet to known but there is one thing we do know. That the Sith have no good intentions, they are disciples of evil, the Dark side of the Force. As Jedi it is our mandate that we protect the universe from all evil that exists. Therefore we must destroy the Sith, we must bring the light to the dark for we are the Jedi and we unlike the Sith, are of the true Force. Now let us get underway never forgetting that fact. Master Amtlar out." the knight cut the transmission as Baldos gave his next order to T'sa Jhellows at the conn. "Master Jhellows set course for the unknown-territory. "With pleasure Master Amtlar!" she responded with a wryly grin. "Course plotted awaiting your order to ignite the hyperdrive." Baldos returned to his command seat, clasping his claw like palms together in a content manner he then gave the order. "Engage!" and with that the Virtuous shot into the endless expanse of space beyond, quickly followed by the other twenty two ships that comprised the Jedi task force, honor bound to defend all that is good.
Tatooine was flourishing with its green radiance, unlike the Tatooine of eight hundred years ago, it was no longer the desert waste land that it once was notorious for being. In fact it was a planet of lush plant life, from space it resembled a large green orb found on some alien jewelry. With tall trees and great valleys of green grass and flower beds that rivaled even those on Orveaous. Water was no longer deep with in its core, it now was pooled into large oceans and rivers the spanned through the planet in everlasting lines of water, it is said that Tatooine has more bridges than any other world in the outer- rim due to connecting thousands of expanses of water that seeped the planets cracks. All this was due to the leaps in terra-forming technology over the past eight hundred years. The binary suns that nearly scorched the planet's surface now gave life to lush, fertile vegetation. It was a most beautiful sight to see from space. The Lorrax finally dropped out from hyperspace only to be greeted be this aw-inspiring sight. Grem manned the Lorrax's flight controls as he guided the ship towards Tatooine's surface. Dorshe' walked into the cockpit to find Grem still at the controls, now dressed in her commoner garbs, she relieved the Vurk of his duty so he could change his wardrobe himself. "I'll take it from here Grem, you'd best change into an outfit that won't give you away as a Jedi." She remarked as she pulled the younger reptile out of his seat so that she may take control. "Why must we change from our Jedi Tunics Master Oden?" he questioned only for the purpose of reminding his previously occupied mind. She looked up from her seat to the otherwise seven foot blue Jedi. "If the Sith are responsible for this kidnapping, it might be possible that they have planted covert agents on certain planets in order to search for young Force sensitive beings. If that is so there might be one in Mos Espa and even more on the planet itself, if so we need to keep our identity hidden from them. Waltzing around the surface wearing our Jedi garbs might send them deeper into hiding until our departure." "I see!" Grem cocked his head slightly, giving Dorshe' the impression that he doubted his abilities again, due to a lack of experience on his own. "Don't worry Grem." she reached her hand over to pat the Vurk's elbow. "I was just like you after I became a knight, you are still young take pride that you were offered this mission on your own. It is Master Skywalker's way of displaying his trust in the skills you have." He smirked with his firm lips that remained hidden from his large slopping skull plate. "I will get dressed." "Good, I will find a ship garage on the surface for us to land the ship." With that said Venad made his way to a private cabin where he could change out of his tunic. "He will make a great master someday, and his Padawan will be fortunate to have had him as his teacher." She quietly muttered to an empty control room.
Master Oden had finally made her way down to the Temple hanger-bay, after packing most of her necessities into a small duffle, which seemed like hours to accomplish. She was ready to go home, Dorshe' had pulled some strings with Master Yoda allowing her to get a ride on one of the small Jedi-shuttles that were heading past the Orveaous system. So as not to trouble any of the republic transports agencies with arranging another travel plan during one of Coruscant's largest tourist seasons. The hanger spanned well over a mile distance's across the Temple's basin, and housed many of the Jedi's small craft, most of them belonging to masters and those who make frequent visits to the sanctuary. Dorshe' began to pace towards the Mon Calamari shuttle, 'Lorrax'. It was a small vessel, only one-fourth the size of the Everlasting, but it would suffice for the journey to Orveaous. As Master Oden came upon the access ramp to the Lorrax, she could sense a presence known to her. She waited there as a figure came out from the ship, it was Grem. "Well if it isn't Grem Venad." She said in a tone common of a parent with immense pride for a child. "I'm to understand that you will be escorting me home as you proceed to your first mission as a Knight." "Yes Master Oden." He responded in a tone of a still loyal Padawan. "I have been assigned a mission to Tatooine, but I was asked by Master Skywalker if I first escort you to your home-planet" "Well at least you're not going out to settle border disputes just yet!" she remarked. "Is the ship ready for departure?" "All she needs is her pilot and a passenger named Oden to hop aboard and get underway." She complied by following the Vurk up the access ramp as it sealed behind them. Grem then pointed to a small room adjacent to a dark corridor. "That's the lounge if you wish to relax and wait for us to reach your destination, Master Oden." "No Grem, I believe I would prefer to take this journey in good company with you in the cockpit." She made her point clear that she would have it no other way. "Very well, this way." The two legged reptilian led Dorshe to the tiny command cabin. "You can have the nav. chair." "Thank you Noble Venad." She reminded the young man of his achievement as she placed her duffle on the floor and they sat in their respective seats. Grem went strait to work at his console preparing the Lorrax for its departure. His head turned and his eyes swept all the surrounding panels that blinked, each having been activated after the other panels were interfaced. Dorshe' was impressed by the blue one's swift motions during the pre-launch sequence a true display of his reliance an the Force. She felt compelled to ask Grem he would like any assistance but before she could open her mouth the Lorrax was already hovering above the hanger deck. Grem put in a call to the hanger control droid. "This is the shuttle, Lorrax, requesting permission to leave the temple." The voice of a cold mechanical robot replied via the comm. system. "Shuttle Lorrax you have permission to get underway." The bay doors then began to separate horizontally, Grem waited for the doors to clear then guided the ship through the opening. The Lorrax, once in free airspace, began to point to the heavens, and with a great thrust of the engines the vessel was propelled in that direction. Dorshe' looked out the view ports in front and beside her, as the Coruscant landscape gradually became more and more distant. The endless lines of air traffic seemed as if they went on to the other side of the planet itself, a great line of tiny insects that never ceased. Eventually the grand skyscrapers seemed like needles, poking through the clouds. Dorshe made sure to keep her eyes on the Temple before the Lorrax completely entered the stratosphere, not just because it was the only structure noticeable from such a distance, but it would be the last time she would see it in all its glory for a long time. Her face remained attached to that view port well after any geographic details could be made out from Coruscant's surface. Grem piloted the ship around the busy traffic that occupied the City-planet's orbit before looking over to find the daydreaming Dorshe'. "Master Oden, are you all right?" he queried in a voice like that used for addressing coma victims. "Hu-Oh yes Grem I'm fine just a little lost in my own thoughts that's all." "Oh, okay." He returned to his console setting the ship on auto pilot, since the coruscantian government doesn't allow vessels to enter or exit hyperspace until it reaches five marsecs past its own moon. Grem would take this time on repulse to relax before jumping beyond the light speed barrier. "I've programmed the computer on a heading for Orveaous, once we're past the moons regulated jump zone, the hyperdrive engines will activate, in the mean time is there anything you like to eat, drink maybe?" "Perhaps I should have something." She took a moment to ponder what it was her body desired for nourishment. "I will have some Nabuian green tea." "As you wish." He rotated his chair to a small syntho in the wall, Gren then typed in the codes for a Nabuian tea as he pulled out a small cup from a compartment just below the opening. he held the cup underneath the liquid syntho's spout as the tea began to poor into the mug. "Here you go Master Oden." "Thank you." She took a slip as the Vurk replicated a drink for himself. "I was unaware of your condition until after my initiation, congratulations on your baring child Master Oden." She blushed slightly at the unexpected comment. "Thank you once again Grem." "On my planet, women are treated sacredly for their ability to carry and bring life into the universe, it is in my blood to be worthy of escorting you to your home for such a miracle". He returned his chair to the command console keeping his attention between the Jedi master and the pilot's console. "You are to kind, but don't disrespect your sex, you play a part in the child's coming to life too." She encouraged. "We merely supply the raw essence of the being, you are the ones who grant birth." He made his point clear, as a show of pride for his people's belief. Dorshe' saw no use in arguing over different view points. "So Grem, what business do you have on Tatooine." He finished his first sip before answering. "Missing person, the authorities on Mos Espa believe it to be a kidnapping, but they have been searching for several days now and have had no leads, so Master Skywalker assigned me to go investigate." This made Dorshe's attention grow with curiosity. "Why didn't the Mos Espa government try to reach their planet's watchmen?" "They did try, but apparently all their forces are busy dealing with a conflict between the Hutts and the Tuskins. Master Skywalker said that it would take to much time to pull any of their people away from that conflict, and he decided to send me in to deal with the disappearance." Dorshe' began to speculate, wondering if this could be the work of the Sith. "Grem." she waited until she had his full and complete focus. Dorshe' then went on to tell Grem of her theory that she assembled with Master Chevacca and Yoda's help. She told him about all the disappearances over the past two decades, all the Jedi hopefuls that never made it to the temple, all the other individuals that disappeared as well during that time. She even shared the story of Master Bretew, and his part in the battle on Kamino. All the while Venad assessed the information in his mind, realizing every connection to the recent events, and the even seeing them in the Old Sun Prophecy Master Romdel told him of. He then pulled out a small touch panel that contained all the information pertaining to his mission, he was hoping the situation didn't fit the characteristics of the ones told by Master Oden, but to his disappointment they were. An infant child, from a family with means have no connection that would benefit the Republic, and the possibility of being Force sensitive could be existent as well. "This is very disturbing, what should I do. If it is true and the Sith have kidnapped this child what good can I do to get her back?" he began to question his abilities, something Dorshe' would never except even if Grem was a knight now. "At the very least you still can investigate as to how the child was taken." She then felt this rush run through her heart, it was the Force trying to tell Oden what she said, and she thought of Pacres, and the mission he never returned from, as if he was warning her by the Force, not to let Grem go on this mission alone. "Grem I'm going with you to Tatooine, please don't take this as a judgment of your abilities, but I strongly believe if you go to Mos Espa alone, you might not come back." Venad was not hurt by this, infact he was pleased that he would have such an accomplished Jedi as Master Oden to assist him. "I will let you have complete control over the conduct of this investigation; all I ask is that I be with you so you will have the benefit of our combined connection to the Force." He nodded in compliance having heard what happened to Dorshe's husband from Saliv just prior to the mission that led to Kamino. Then after placing his cup in an equal sized holder, Grem started reprogramming the navigational computer to set course for Tatooine. The Lorrax had since passed the jump marker. "We have past the moon, ready to jump to Tatooine in five.four.three.two.and." Grem pushed the hyperdrive ignition panel, and the Lorrax disappeared in to the stars. Not knowing what dangers the Dark side has in store for the Jedi.
* * *
Jiles was angered by the growing fleet of Jedi-Battleships that assembled in a battle ready formation over Coruscant's orbit. While the Slave twelve was cloaked, and hidden by the ion wakes created by the endless expanse of starships entering and exiting the system. This would make it extremely difficult for Capt. Fett to obtain the clone, but this was what he lived for. Whether or not Jiles was sure Tagro enjoyed the rush from the tension of the moment, Oiket knew he wouldn't fail, he hoped. The Slave twelve's bridge was on code six; silent running, as the ship slowly made its way into a sensor shadow left un-maintained by the probe-stations surrounding coruscantian space, so as to not tip off the Jedi to the shuttle launching. This shuttle would be operated by Fett, and five members of his elite foot- soldiers along with Jiles himself. The tiny craft would make its way down to one of Fett's many off world safe houses posing as an ambassador's transport, once there the evil task force would rendezvous with the Cole android and .well, Fett did not properly inform Jiles of what happens next, but Tagro reassured him that he would be needed. Sufficed to say, Jiles was still a little on edge, even with that said. "Are you prepared to leave Jiles?" the stern voice of Fett, came from behind. Oiket then about faced only to find Tagro incased in a gleaming cast of formfitting armor. The metallic portions covered most of his body, leaving space for every joint, so not to hinder his mobility. The under suit that lie underneath the second was a royal purple, giving Fett a status of importance with the impression of warrior and the helmet held under his left arm. He now had a mantel that displayed his true clod, soulless nature, that of beast. "The shuttle is awaiting us." He cocked an eyebrow as he dawned the cape in his right arm around his neck. "I have always been ready." He implied in more ways than one to the pirate Capt. "Good, follow me." The pair walked into the nearest lift, Fett then tapped the control panel to command the lift to the hanger, after which the hatch sealed and the elevation craft descended downwards while Tagro slid his head piece on. He turned his head toward Jiles to test his verbal amplifier, and visual modulator. "Can you hear me?" Jiles not noticing Fett's new portrait until he just spoke, gave him a uncaring response. "Yes I can hear you." "Good, testing visual interface, thermal." and the helmet displayed a thermal scan to Fett ".Infared." now and infared scan. ".Anti-matter." the visuals fed to Tagro, were x-rays of the floors the lift had been passing, allowing him to see all that was going on behind the walls as he and Jiles gradually came to a full stop, ".Normal." and Fett retained all that his simple eyes had to offer as the hatch began to open. The Captain led the Sith lord down a wide ramp that stretched the whole length of the hanger below, passing numerous fighters dangling from their docking holsters. When they reached the end the duo was greeted by five soldiers at alert positions lined in order from side to side. They brandished armor similar to that of Fett's but no where near as intricate, Silver and blue each with cloaks of their own to cover their uniformed steel. Tagro Fett stood looking over to them one last time before they would launch. "Men! You know your orders, you know your duties, and you know what will happen if you fail. Any questions?" They responded in unison. "Sir, No Sir." Fett then rose out his solid fist to the men as a salute. They returned it respectfully. "Now board the shuttle, Jiles." he turned once again to Oiket at his side. ".you and I will pilot the ship, lets go." Jiles gave a mocking salute followed by a cocky. "Yes Sir!" even though he wore the helmet, Jiles could tell Tagro was not amused. "Get on the shuttle." Fett walked into the ship's hatch and Jiles followed despite his bruised humor. The cabin was some-what small compared to the overall size of the ship itself, this was due to the vessel's reinforced hull. Jiles sat in the seat next to Fett's command chair as he hailed the bridge telling them to open the bay doors, then gave the order to the shuttle crew for liftoff. The shuttle flew past the hanging fighters and out in the open space, with the Slave twelve's cloak still operating it would seem as if the vessel came from nowhere, like most of the ships in this dense system, when the shuttle exited the sensor shadow it was soon hailed by Coruscant traffic control. They answered the voice of a deep, none human variation. "This is Coruscant space traffic control. Please identify your ship and its purpose in this system?" Fett responded, masking his voice to that of a simpleton. "Umm-yes, this is the transport 'Exodus', we are-um currently ferrying Ambassador Muyt, to meet with his senate representative." The controller took a moment over the comm. link, to clarify Fett's hoax, Jiles just sat there, hoping the Cole droid did its work to create the false scheduling documents. "Alright Exodus, you are approved, welcome to Coruscant." Fett returned with the innocent voice. "T-thank you." then deactivated the transmission as he began to aim the vessel down to the planet's surface. The shuttle quickly passed through the atmosphere dodging the massive structures and traffic that littered Coruscant's surface. Neither Fett nor his crew said a word as the trip continued, it only took half an hour for the small transport to reach the Lople district that was adjacent to New Ossus and the closest district to the Jedi temple. The shuttle landed in the hanger of what seemed to be an old industrial warehouse, but in fact was actually one of Tagro's well kept safe-holds. The garage hatch closed as the ship made a smooth set- down on the steel floor beneath, it's landing clamps released. Jiles was impressed by the display of the large room, there was no hanger just the interior of a very big warehouse that spanned well beyond a single perspectives limit, bare but for a few stacked crates and containers in the far corner. As the shuttle's engines disengaged the starboard ramp began to open. Welcomed by the sight of the android Jillill Cole Fett stepped out first along with Jiles as the other soldiers followed in a wave of black robes. Fett turned to his spy. "Good work Cole, have you made the preparations?" She responded obediently, "Yes my master, by your order the mission will be able to proceed at your most opportune moment." "Good then." he turned to his soldiers of fortune. ".get out the supplies, I want us ready to initiate the mission by night fall. Clear!" "Sir, yes sir!" They replied as one. He then waved his crew away to begin their individual tasks. "Jiles, I have your mission briefing here." Fett pulled out a touchpad from his cloak. "Read over them!" he demanded in a tone befitting a dictator. Jiles snatched the panel from Tagro, in slight disgust. He read over the text and was not happy to by what he saw. "I see." He mused so as to raise his concern gradually. ".what of the Jedi, do you believe they will notice?" Fett turned to Oiket, glaring at him with the cold steel mantel of his helmet. "Not if you stick to the plan. All you need to worry about is your tasks." The plan was risky, even Jiles didn't know if he could pull it off that was when he heard her voice. Jiles, it echoed in his mind. Follow Fett's instructions. He responded out loud not caring that Fett couldn't hear what he could. "But Master, this is suicide he wants me to be a-Gah-k!" the horrible pain she inflicted in his dark heart returned to silence his cowardice. What did I say about questioning my orders? "I'm sorry Master." He began to quench in pain as a confused Tagro looked on at Jiles, writhing in pain from an unseen grip. Time is wasting now go and don't question Fett's orders. The river of torment ended. And remember Oiket, you have the Dark side. "Yes my Master." He cradled his sore skull as her voice disappeared. He then looked into the visor of Fett's eyes. "I will need some supplies." "Understood." Tagro then looked over to one of his subordinates. "Sfial, bring me one of the weapons crates." The well built soldier did such then placed the small container before Fett. Fett then kicked the polymer box, forcing it open. "Here, I believe you will find all you will need." The dastardly grin that separated Jiles from any other man of the Dark side appeared on his face, Maybe this won't be so difficult!
Master Amtlar sat in the Command chair of the Jedi dreadnought: 'Virtuous' the flagship of the Jedi fleet in orbit of Coruscant. The green, fish headed man was reviewing a few last minute reports before the fleet dispatched to the unknown-territory. The Bridge was cluttered with the calm sounds of the Jedi officers tirelessly working at their assigned duties. Baldos Amtlar was born to be a Jedi; he was also raised by his people's heritage to be a distinguished naval officer. Had he been born a thousand years ago, before the Jedi had been considered an equal government body to that of the rest of the universe. He would have had to choose between one or the other but When you become a Jedi you are a Jedi for life, and while he was a master of the Force, and could wield a lightsabre with the best of his peers, he was meant for commanding a ship. His tactical expertise and close bond with the Force made him a formidable strategist, an even more powerful Commander, and with the most advanced ships in the fleet at his disposal, including the Virtuous. In his mind the Sith wouldn't stand a chance. Amtlar waited for Master Skywalker's hail so Amtlar may get underway, while he quietly closed his large flat eyes in a deep state of meditation. He could feel the river of the Force bath him in it's power, he could see what was, what is, and what could be. he could touch the possibilities of the future, all but one that was shrouded in darkness. He tried to reach out to it so he might pull it apart and read the premonition. Baldos was there, his mind reached into the void of a stream, and that was when Skywalker finally hailed the Virtuous. "Master Amtlar." the Mon Calamari, opened his eyes to find the Holo- projection of his human cohort standing before him. "Baldos are you alright?" "Fine, just meditating.Yoda have you sensed anything from the Force recently?" The image of Skywalker gave a questioning look. "Why do you ask?" "There is something unseen to me, blocked almost, as if it were being hidden from us." "Could the Force be concealing the future from us, to prevent us from unraveling possible events?" "No, not the Force, something Darker than the Force." Master Amtlar stated in a tone so as to not alert his Bridge crew that might be overhearing his communication but Master Skywalker knew exactly what his scaly friend meant. "I understand, needless to say you have the order to dispatch the fleet, best see it so. I will look into your concern in the mean time." "Thank you Yoda, May the Force be with you!" "And also with you Baldos!" the Masters shared a bow, and then the Skywalker projection disappeared. "Noble Ser." He now addressed his communications officer. "Yes Master Amtlar!" The nabuian man turned to his superior with respect. "Open all audio channels to the fleet." Ser did so. "Comm. channels open Master." Amtlar stood up from his seat as if he were addressing a present audience with his arms folded behind his back. "This is Master Amtlar of the Jedi dreadnought 'Virtuous', to all ships of the Jedi fleet." He began to pace on his command platform, circling the steel blue -room surrounding him. "As we all are now aware, the Sith have returned. What their intentions are, we are yet to known but there is one thing we do know. That the Sith have no good intentions, they are disciples of evil, the Dark side of the Force. As Jedi it is our mandate that we protect the universe from all evil that exists. Therefore we must destroy the Sith, we must bring the light to the dark for we are the Jedi and we unlike the Sith, are of the true Force. Now let us get underway never forgetting that fact. Master Amtlar out." the knight cut the transmission as Baldos gave his next order to T'sa Jhellows at the conn. "Master Jhellows set course for the unknown-territory. "With pleasure Master Amtlar!" she responded with a wryly grin. "Course plotted awaiting your order to ignite the hyperdrive." Baldos returned to his command seat, clasping his claw like palms together in a content manner he then gave the order. "Engage!" and with that the Virtuous shot into the endless expanse of space beyond, quickly followed by the other twenty two ships that comprised the Jedi task force, honor bound to defend all that is good.
Tatooine was flourishing with its green radiance, unlike the Tatooine of eight hundred years ago, it was no longer the desert waste land that it once was notorious for being. In fact it was a planet of lush plant life, from space it resembled a large green orb found on some alien jewelry. With tall trees and great valleys of green grass and flower beds that rivaled even those on Orveaous. Water was no longer deep with in its core, it now was pooled into large oceans and rivers the spanned through the planet in everlasting lines of water, it is said that Tatooine has more bridges than any other world in the outer- rim due to connecting thousands of expanses of water that seeped the planets cracks. All this was due to the leaps in terra-forming technology over the past eight hundred years. The binary suns that nearly scorched the planet's surface now gave life to lush, fertile vegetation. It was a most beautiful sight to see from space. The Lorrax finally dropped out from hyperspace only to be greeted be this aw-inspiring sight. Grem manned the Lorrax's flight controls as he guided the ship towards Tatooine's surface. Dorshe' walked into the cockpit to find Grem still at the controls, now dressed in her commoner garbs, she relieved the Vurk of his duty so he could change his wardrobe himself. "I'll take it from here Grem, you'd best change into an outfit that won't give you away as a Jedi." She remarked as she pulled the younger reptile out of his seat so that she may take control. "Why must we change from our Jedi Tunics Master Oden?" he questioned only for the purpose of reminding his previously occupied mind. She looked up from her seat to the otherwise seven foot blue Jedi. "If the Sith are responsible for this kidnapping, it might be possible that they have planted covert agents on certain planets in order to search for young Force sensitive beings. If that is so there might be one in Mos Espa and even more on the planet itself, if so we need to keep our identity hidden from them. Waltzing around the surface wearing our Jedi garbs might send them deeper into hiding until our departure." "I see!" Grem cocked his head slightly, giving Dorshe' the impression that he doubted his abilities again, due to a lack of experience on his own. "Don't worry Grem." she reached her hand over to pat the Vurk's elbow. "I was just like you after I became a knight, you are still young take pride that you were offered this mission on your own. It is Master Skywalker's way of displaying his trust in the skills you have." He smirked with his firm lips that remained hidden from his large slopping skull plate. "I will get dressed." "Good, I will find a ship garage on the surface for us to land the ship." With that said Venad made his way to a private cabin where he could change out of his tunic. "He will make a great master someday, and his Padawan will be fortunate to have had him as his teacher." She quietly muttered to an empty control room.