A/N: Hope you guys like it so far!

Ch. 3 In the Temple

        Ben scratched his head and stared thoughtfully at the monitor as it displayed information about the last known living specimens of thud bugs on New Coruscant. He was investigating the possibility that they might have reproduced and created a new generation of the infamous exploding insects from the Yuuzhan Vong War. But the last specimens on New Coruscant were found nowhere near Eastport Island; in fact, they were found on the other side of the planet. "Any luck, Ben?" asked a weary voice. Ben turned around and saw the aging Corran Horn entering the Archives room. Corran had just heard the news about the death of the Corellian senator and as a Corellian himself, was quite stunned by the incident. Brist Fultrex had been one of the youngest and brightest senators in the Galactic Alliance. It had even been rumored that he had been planning to run for Chief of State at the end of Triebakk's current term.

"Nope," sighed Ben. Corran replied, "You'll find something, Ben. I know it." and patted Ben on the shoulder before leaving. Ben decided he needed to take a break and left the room as well. The New Jedi Temple had been built directly upon the ruins of the original one, which had been bombed during the rise of the Emperor and damaged even more during the Yuuzhan Vong occupation of the planet that had been Coruscant and Yuuzhan'tar. As Ben strolled down the hall, one that had probably been strolled by Jedi for over 25,000 years, he glanced into the open doors along his path. Inside each one, there were Padawans training and Knights and Masters honing their skills. As he rounded a corner, he nearly bumped into Master Tahiri Veila. She was a very soft-spoken woman, and arched her eyebrows slightly. Ben couldn't help noticing the scars on her forehead and arms, inflicted by the Shaper Mezhan Kwaad and later by Master Veila herself. Ben was about to apologize when Tahiri suddenly looked alarmed and said, "I must go!" before running towards a nearby doorway, leading to the Jedi Temple Hangar, where the Jedi stored their Sekotan X-Wings.

    Ben shrugged and continued down the hall before sensing his best friend approaching him. He looked up to see Vix hurrying up to him. "Ben! I found something that might be the lead we've been looking for!" Ben leaned forward with interest. "Tell me," he responded. Vix Katarn grinned and replied, "My master told me she heard reports of smugglers on a small planet near Bakura transporting cages full of snakes!" Ben cocked his head and smirked. "And just what do snakes have to do with this? I think you've been spending too much time around Master Sebatyne." Vix returned his smirk and replied, "Leave my master out of this, Skywalker. And snakes do have something to do with this. The Yuuzhan Vong carried amphistaffs! You know, snake-like things? And if these smugglers have amphistaffs, they've probably got thud bugs too." Ben's eyes widened at the thought of smugglers utilizing Yuuzhan Vong biotech for their own purposes. "So do you think our masters will let us go on this solo?"

Vix shrugged and said, "It's about time for us to face the Trials anyway. This will be a good test. Let's talk with them about it." Ben nodded his head in agreement. "Let's go."

***

        Jacen frowned as he considered the request. He and Master Saba Sebatyne were seated in the High Council Chamber along with the other Jedi on the Council. Ben and Vix stood before them. "I am confident in your abilitiessss, Vix. I am sure that you would do well on thissssss mission," said Saba. Jacen finally nodded and said, "I think Ben is also ready." He looked up at the other Council members. No one seemed to have any objections and the matter seemed settled. "You will depart for Aphridoc IV tomorrow morning," he finished. Aphridoc IV was the name of the "small planet near Bakura" that Vix had told Ben about. The two Padawans grinned at each other. Tomorrow they would begin the mission that would prove whether or not they were ready to be elevated to Jedi Knights.

***

The Millenium Falcon flew alongside the Jade Shadow through the upper atmosphere of New Coruscant and into the vacuum of space. Jacen and Saba were aboard the Falcon, escorting Ben and Vix to the edge of New Coruscant's gravity well. "Jade Shadow to Millenium Falcon. All systems are a go," said Ben over the comm. The Shadow's cargo bay contained a Sekotan X-Wing, with R2-D2 in the droid socket for good measure. Sekotan X-Wings were X-Wings modified by technology from Zonama Sekot to become much faster and efficient. "Falcon to Shadow, you have clearance to enter hyperspace," returned Jacen. "And remember, Padawans, thisss mission is very important. May the Force be with you."

"And also with you," commed Ben and Vix. At that moment, the Jade Shadow left New Coruscant's gravity well and entered hyperspace. Jacen sat thoughtfully at the Falcon's controls a minute before turning his father's modified Corellian light freighter around and heading back for the planet. Saba sensed his worry. "Do not worry, Massster Solo. They will be fine," she said. "I certainly hope so," replied Jacen.

***

          The stars in the viewport stretched into elongated streaks before there was a blinding flash of light. The viewport then displayed the swirling colors of hyperspace. Ben leaned back in his chair. This ship had been his mother's. He was sitting in the very chair that she had sat in so many times in the past. When Jacen had let Ben fly his mother's ship for the first time, he had been so excited and sad at the same time. Before Mara Jade Skywalker had died, one of her requests was not to sell the Jade Shadow, but to give it to Ben when he was old enough to pilot it. This ship was his mother's her final gift to her only child, the sole heir to the legacy of herself and her beloved husband.

Vix sensed his feelings and gently put her hand on his. "Its okay, Ben. I know that your parents will always be with you in the Force. " Ben smiled and was surprised when he felt himself blush at Vix's touch. Vix quickly pulled away and returned her attention to the datapad with the mission objectives on it. Little did either of them know that once they reached their destination, their lives would never be the same again.