TWO
Andur Naraga, master of the Jedi arts, sat comfortably on the long bed inside his relatively posh dormitory. It sat inside the highest towers of the Jedi Temple. A room reserved only for the members of the Jedi Council that resided in the temple. He was in a deep Jedi trance, reflecting on the living Force, the essence, Selquia, as his people called it. Naraga was a Selquian, a tall, simian-evolved alien with lightened auburn fur covering his body. His head was considered somewhat long, with a horse- like muzzle and a large bony crest at the back of his skull. Andur's jaw was gray black, showing his age, with a thin braided goatee. A dark, bat- like nose sat atop his muzzle with hanging sacks underneath his onix black, white pupiled, offset eyes at the opposite sides of his head. The master's head sat above a long neck, crooked outward like a bird. His humanoid body with projecting shoulder blades was covered in a gray tunic and pants. The black Jedi robe he usually wore lay on the bed beside his curled prehensile tail. Andur's fingers were thin, fur covered digits with small pointed climbing claws at the ends. Claws he had not had the chance to use since the last time he was on his home world of Tekaida IX some years ago. Tekaida IX was a small jungle moon in the Tekaida system, home to the Selquian race. The Selquians were a special species of people, naturally attuned to the Force. They had evolved from mammalian reptiles that had dwelled in the trees. Over the course of millions of years, those creatures became more adept at surviving on the forest floor, eventually becoming the modern Selquians. Their plant was discovered a few years after the war with the Vong, as primitive as it appears today. They believe in a religion known as "Selquia", a following of the energy field that created all life on their world. The Selqia was everywhere, in the rocks, the trees, the water, the animals, and the moon. It was the father of reality itself. The supreme power in their single world universe, fore they knew nothing of the galaxy at large. Perhaps out of pure primitive ignorance or contentness with what they already had. Few knew that it was the latter that was true. All Selquians lived at peace with nature and themselves, which led to their unorthodox lifestyle. In their entire history, there has not been a single act of aggression between species. No wars, no battles, no duels for power, but complete pacifism. They all shared a supernatural bond with each other that led to peaceful solutions to all their problems. Having a total connection to all things, Selquians did not see the reason to soil their utopia with technology of any sort. The more prosperous technological advances become, the wider the rift between living beings and nature. This ideal was almost identical to that of the Yuuzhan Vong, except that Selquians did not shun or despise those who utilize technology when contact was made. Instead, Selquians greet all visitors to their world with open arms. When those visitors did arrive-a group of Jedi that had found the system by accident-they were amazed at the society before them. All the beings were attuned to the Force and deeply connected with it. Those Jedi: Anakin and Jaina Solo, the Twi'lek, Ralin, and the Noghri, Tehani, had met up with a wise and powerful being known as Andurnaiqui of clan Naraga, or Andur as they came to call him. Andur had been a Selquian hunter. When he had gotten lost from his party and badly injured by a predatory creature, his cry of help in the Force rang-out loud and was felt by the Jedi. They set down on the unknown planet believing one of their own was in peril and found the young man unconscious on the ground in a pool of blood beside the dead creature. Acting quickly, the Jedi took the strange being aboard their ship and provided medical aide and Force-healing. Naraga had woken-up and was not the least bit alarmed at the sight of unfamiliar life forms. Through the Essence, he had known they were friendly and wished him no harm. By using their bizarre golden automation, Andurnaiqui was soon speaking with his rescuers by way of the living metal being.
Andur clan Naraga had led them to the large village he called Tatel a few kilometers south of their location. A wondrous gathering of the alien's called Selquians that came in an assortment of colors, from brown, tan, and black fur, to white, red, and even gold pelts. All teeming with the Force, the whole planetoid was awash in the mystical energy field. The Jedi learned that the Selquians knew a great deal about the living Force, what they called the Essence. But they knew nothing of the magic- like powers that very "Essence" bestowed upon them. This fact and the notion that everywhere was beings that were connected to nature amazed them. None more than Andurnaiqui of clan Naraga. He would keep the visitors up at all hours during their stay, listening to the stories of their great and sometimes dark history as he slowly learned Basic. For the first time in his, in any Selquian's, life he was not content to remain on Tekaida. He wished to leave with the visitors and become a Jedi like them. The elder of clan Naraga, the universally wise and unbelievably strong in the Force, Tiznipiniquo or Kamiko as he was known, listened well to his son Andur's reasons and motivations and grudgingly agreed to allow him to go off and pursue his dream. The younger Naraga had stated that he had learned of dangers to peaceful beings and more importantly the possible dangers to the motherland, Tekaida. Like all his kind, Andur had a vast understanding of the Force; only the Jedi equaled his emotional stability. Once the Jedi High Council realized this fact, Andur began his bright career as a Jedi. After just eight years of training under the council, Andur Naraga was given the title of Jedi Knight. His mastery of hunting spears and other long weapons made him the only Jedi in the history of the order to build and control the formidable double-bladed lightsaber. This weapon came in handy when Valen Draxx began his Dark Jedi Insurrection. His bravery and clear thinking in those battles with the Dark Siders earned him the title of Jedi Master and assured his place of the Council.
Across the room, the communications terminal beeped its signal that their was a person trying to contact the master's quarters. Through the Force, Naraga already knew who it was.
Unfolding his legs for the first time in hours, The Selquian moved to answer the call. The machines flat screen showed a flawlessly clear picture of a distraught Anakin Solo.
" Anakin, you look worried, my friend." Naraga commented. " There is a problem?"
" I'm afraid so." He replied from his guest dormitory. " Allon is missing."
" Missing? For how long?"
" It's been more than two hours." Solo told him. " I know that sounds dumb, but he was only supposed to go down to the Temple workshops for some parts-He's almost finished building his lightsaber, you know-that was over two hours ago. Allon lived here for nine years, surely he knows his way around, so he couldn't have gotten lost. I was expecting him to be back within a half-hour. But you know Allon; he's young and mischievous. For all I know, he's been distracted by something and has lost track of time."
" Indeed." Andur agreed.
" What worries me the most is that I can't sense him anywhere. Perhaps I'm not focused enough. I was wondering if you would be able to sense him."
" I was just meditating, good friend. I could feel all in the Temple, but I could not feel Allon, I'm sorry."
" Don't worry. I'm doing enough of that for the both of us. I guess I'll have to go searching for him."
" You are tired from your journey, dear Anakin, you are in no shape to trek around the Temple." Andur told him.
" Well I must do something. I can't just sit around and hope for the best."
" Then do not. Go to sleep old friend. You need the rest." The Selquian Jedi instructed. " I have been searching for another test of Jados's skills as a Jedi. I believe this would be a fair trial."
" I don't mean to offend you or Jados, he's an amazing an apt apprentice, but I can't put my faith in him for this task. I sense possible danger afoot." Solo revealed.
" As do I. Which is why we must not stall. So, I am asking you to trust me. I would not put Allon's life in danger merely to satisfy my own whims. Trust in Jados. Trust in me."
Anakin was quiet as he considered. " You believe he can be depended upon to find Allon, even if he is in the gravest of dangers?"
" I do. Jados will find Allon, I assure you."
" Alright." The son of Han Solo agreed. " But I'm not going to sleep until he's found."
" As you wish." The alien said with a nod.
The image faded to black as Solo ended the transmission.
Jados sat alone at a large metal study in the anteroom of the dormitory he shared with his master. With his less-than articulate three digit talons, the young trandoshan thumbed through a copy of Jedi literature. He couldn't find any mention of trandoshan Jedi ever existing before him.
As far as anyone could think, there had never been any trandoshans in the entire history of the Order. Surely they were wrong. Surely there had to be others. While it was obvious that his species was not very well connected with the Force, Jados felt it hard believe that none had ever been trained as a Jedi. Their home world of Dosha had been allied with the Galactic Republic, so they were in the eyes of the Jedi Order of old, yet nothing. Master Naraga had suggested that trandoshans might have been opposed to handing away their young to members of an alien species, Jados chose to believe that not all trandoshans were as stingy. They weren't some terrible monsters that wanted to kill all, trandoshans, while emotional, were civilized creatures.
He had taken into account that trandoshans were a normally very carnivorous, blood thirsty, intolerant species, but he felt it didn't matter much. He had been born with those same instincts, but through the Force and the ways of the Jedi, he had purged those feelings. Indeed he may be a trandoshan by race, but he was something else by heart. He was a Jedi.
Jados had many friends, beyond Conrad, Talia, and Troy. They all accepted him for who, not what he is. They would never betray him and always stand beside him the face of adversity.
But still Jados felt empty inside. He longed for a person he could truly identify with; a being that felt as left out as he did.
Others had families: A father, a mother, brothers, sisters: a history that they could claim when they were ready. Jados would never see his parents. They had abandoned him while he was still inside an egg. It wasn't known whether it was intentional or by a twist of fate. But Master Naraga had found him on a deserted space station orbiting the home world. He in his egg was the only living thing on the station, lying in a pile of debris from the all but destroyed space habitat. Apparently pirates had raided it and it for dead. No sign of any trandoshans, killed or otherwise. There was just a hidden egg. Naraga had taken it to the council while he was still a knight, sensing the unborn child's aptitude for the Force. They had accepted it and sent it to the academy on Yavin 4. Once hatched, Jados was trained as a Jedi, treated like all the other students had been. When he the age, the now Master Naraga took him as his apprentice. Jados had been told he had a bright future, but he never had a real past. Just then, Master Naraga emerged from his bedroom with a sense of patient urgency on his face. Unless you were familiar with a selquian's facial movements, their emotions were difficult to read. But Jados had been around Naraga for some time now and therefore knew something was amiss. " A problem, Master?" He inquired. Naraga placed his arms behind his back and said, " Potentially." Jados turned completely around to give his master the attention he deserved. " I have just spoke with Master Solo. It would appear that Allon Paje has gone missing." " How terrible." The apprentice commented. " Yes. Allon was sent down to the Workshops to obtain the final components for his lightsaber." " Alright. What's the trouble part?" " That was two hours ago. He hasn't returned since." The trandoshan whistled. " That's quite a long time just to go down a dozen floors. He must be lost." " And you will determine if this is so." The master instructed. " What?" " I have volunteered your services to find Allon." Naraga clarified. " But Master, I'm in the middle of some important research here, I don't have time to traverse the Temple corridors to find a wayward padawan." " Time for studies later, young Jados. A being is in need of your assistance. Surely you will not decline." The younger Jedi sighed. " Yes, of course I won't." " Excellent. You may be ready to be a knight after all. This task should provide me with some reasonable insight into thought." " Then is this a test?" He asked as he got-up from his chair. " Refer to it as you wish, Padawan." " Yes, Master." Jados replied as he started off. " I would go to the Workshops first, if I were you." " Yes, Master." The tan door slid closed behind him as we walked for the nearest turbolift at the end of the hallway. Jados felt this wasn't going to be as easy as it seemed. The Force was hinting at it. He entered the lift and instructed the computer to take him down to the twentieth floor, inside the training sections of the Temple. The giant tower was made-up of five sections. The training centers on the bottom took up the first twenty-five floors, with the student dorms on the next dozen. The ten hanger bays made the following eleven levels. Quartering for quests, the temple staff, and the council was third with another dozen floors. Finally, "Jedi Central" as it was called, capped the spire with thirteen floors, the Council Chamber at the very top. Jedi Central was the place where the Jedi Council monitored, guided, and assigned the current five hundred and two Jedi Knights and Masters roaming the galaxy. It also served as a place of discussion and decision among the council. Any business concerning the order was carried out there. Only the council and a few other trusted Masters had access to all the floors in that section. It was rumored among the Temple's initiates that on the restricted levels was a vault filled with priceless treasures from countless ages as well as a secret museum of Sith artifacts that had been found inside the Imperial Palace, relics from Emperor Palpatine's personal collection. But the masters neither confirmed nor denied the accusations, merely stating to the students as a reply, "Become a Jedi Master and then see for yourself." The lift came to a stop a minute later and opened into a hall with dark green walls and strategically placed plants along the way. It was short and ended with a gray sliding door that led into the shops. It all seemed strange to Jados as he came into the colossal room that took up the remainder of the floor, filled with a triple handful of ten meter work tables and a multitude of power tools. Usually when one came to this place, they entered a world of buzzes, blares, and whistles of tools being operated as well as the shouts of instructions from the shop instructor, an old and experienced craftsman, Master Finch, an antiquated soul from the fringes of space. If you needed training on construction, whether it is a lightsaber or an astromech droid, he was the man to see at the Temple. He was strict, but friendly when you got to know him. The man with short cropped-gray hair and blue Jedi robes spied the entrance of the trandoshan padawan of Andur Naraga through the large window of his office. The room was positioned beside the storage chamber at the southern end of the shop. He promptly came out to greet him. " Little late to be acquiring parts, son." The man commented with a yawn. " I was about'ta close-up fer the night." " No parts today, Master. I need a bit of information." Finch placed his hands on his sore back and replied, " Shoot." " I understand that Allon Paje was down here a while ago requesting some parts for his lightsaber." " Who?" " Allon Paje, Master Solo's apprentice." " Oh, Solo's boy. Yah, he was down'er 'bout.two hours ago, I reckon. Needed some Quantix surge fuses, but we're all out till the next shipment gets here in two weeks. Told'em I'd let'em know soon as they got in." " Okay." Jados listened. " But that boy was adamant 'bout getten those fuses ta'night. He told me not'ta go'ta the trouble of givin him special treatment, that he'd go to the difficulty of getten'um elsewhere. So's I said all right, assumen he'd go back'ta Solo and get'em to take'me elsewhere. I sense now, he didn't, did he?" " Not as far as Master Solo, Master Naraga, and I know. He was last seen heading for the Workshop." " Well, I wish I could tell'ya I knew where he went, but I can't." Master Finch said. " He didn't say anything about where he was going?" Jados asked. " Sorry, no." The young Jedi thought for a moment, then said, " Thank you for your help, sir." " Hey, wish I could do more." Jados nodded. " Thank you." " You're welcome." Finch said back. " Have a good night, Master Finch." " You too, Jados. May the Force be with'ya."
Jados knocked at the small door to the Temple's security office. He was on the sixty-eighth floor of the tower, well into Jedi Central. It was the most technological floor in the Central, also housing various communications and holoprojector rooms. The level was one of the more open areas of Central; all non-initiate Jedi had access to it. For apprentices, admittance was only provided if you had a legitimate reason. Jados felt it did. He was focused on entering the security office, nothing else. It contained the monitors and more importantly the recordings from the holocams installed throughout the Temple. Ran by Chief of Security Tilier, a stern Twi'lek Jedi Knight, the security office should give the trandoshan apprentice a good lead as to where Allon might have gone. Chief Tilier answered the knock, already notified by Master Naraga of Jados's need to view security tapes and given instructions to allow the young Jedi full access to the system. An order Tilier did not agree with. " Come in, Jados. I have the recordings from earlier tonight ready for your search." The alien in navy-blue security robes told him, a faint hint of agitation in his voice. Tilier was from a military background. His father served in the New Republic's navy back when Admiral Pellaeon conceded the Empire's defeat. His grandfather was a General that fought the Imperials through the entire civil war. His great grandfather was an Old Republic Admiral who as a child lived out of Republic jurisdiction and was passed over for Jedi training. It was for the best though; fore it saved him and his family from the Emperor's purge. Tilier had the firm belief that anyone not associated with temple security should back away and let the professionals do their job.
" Thank you, Chief Tilier." Jados said politely, not sensing the old Knight's frustration. The Twi'lek led the trandoshan into a darkened room that was awash in monitors and surveillance equipment, staffed by droids, five other Jedi Knights, and two initiate aged security interns. There was an empty space at the consoles where Tilier led Jados. " All the tapes from the last three hours have been loaded in, so go right ahead and begin your search." The Chief said. " If you need any assistance, I or any one here would be happy to help." Jados nodded and took a seat where he was directed and got straight to work. His first order of business would be to decide which areas of the Temple that Allon could possibly have gone to. He deduced that the likely places would be the initiate quarters-there were only a few dozen where one might find lightsaber parts (If you were willing to steal from hardworking students). Jados didn't know Allon well enough to have a sense of the boy's morals. He took a few minutes to check that out. Solo's padawan wasn't there now, nor was he there ever. Next was the warehouse on very first floor. It was possible that Master Finch was unaware of any clandestine crates of Quantix surge fuses. Likely Allon went there. He searched the records. Sure enough, there was the little brown-haired ten- year-old boy rummaging through boxes. Jados checked the time of the tape. That was more than an hour ago. Allon wasn't in the warehouse now and he hadn't returned to Master Solo. If that were so, Master Naraga would have notified him that the boy was safe and sound. Indeed, the monitor now showed Allon leaving empty handed.
He must have gone elsewhere. This kid is pretty mischievous. He and Conrad have a lot in common, Jados thought. There was only one more logical place to look for him: The airspeeder hanger on the thirty-eighth floor. But was Allon defiant enough to actually go out on his own? Jados had another thought. Allon couldn't have gone any farther than that. He was only ten years old and more than likely had never even flown an airspeeder in the simulators. Besides, whoever was on airspeeder duty this week would certainly not allow a ten-year-old padawan access to a vehicle, even if they claimed to have authorization. It was temple policy that no one under the age of sixteen could pilot an airspeeder unless accompanied by a certified adult. Any apprentices over sixteen still required the okay of their master or other senior Jedi. There were no exceptions to any of the Temple rules. Jados called up the recordings for that floor. He forwarded through a few hours of relative stillness and it began to look as if he was wrong after all until finally the little Jedi boy showed up at the admissions desk and began a conversation with a sixteen-year-old female Iktotchi padawan of a piloting instructor, Kral Zeda. Unfortunately, there was no audio. The trandoshan Jedi watched intently. After a moment, Kral turned him away.
Well, I'm out of ideas.
He was about to give-up his observation of the hanger tapes when something caught his attention. Jados played back what he saw, a small dark figure partly visible, moving in the shadows. He quickly froze the image.
" Chief Tilier." The alien Jedi called out.
The Twi'lek came in from his office and stopped beside him, saying, "Yes?"
" Is there a way to focus on the image over in the corner?" He pointed his big middle claw at the figure.
Tilier narrowed his eyes to focus on the spot. He typed a few keys on the console before them.
A box surrounded the frozen image and brought in tight on the screen. The resolution cleared up, but it was still to dark to see clearly.
" Hold on." Tilier told Jados then pressed more buttons.
The screen tinted red and the entire figure was visible illuminated.
" That's Allon!" Jados exclaimed.
" Now calm down." The Twi'lek told him then took up the search himself."
The screen switched to the view from another holocam in the hanger.
Allon crept to a small, two person, blue airspeeder and slowly opened the swinging door. He looked around to see if anyone could see him, then slipped in side. There was no movement after he shut the door then the engines powered up and the ship flew. Kral Zeda came into view as she rushed to see what was going on. She looked around desperately to see if anyone was around. Then stopped and stared out the open hanger. " She never reported anything." Tilier commented then blew out a big breath. Kral gradually walked out of the picture. " I can't believe it. She didn't report!" Tilier exclaimed. He turned to Jados, " Let's go." The two Jedi quickly sprinted out and through the halls, not stopping until they were in the area of Zeda's responsibility. The green robed female sat at her desk nervously. She jumped up as Jados and Tilier dashed into the room. " Young lady, you've got a lot of explaining to do." The security Chief snapped. " But I-" She began. " What were you thinking?" " I.I.I knew I would get in trouble if I reported a speeder was taken without my knowing. I didn't think it would be a problem. Who ever took it obviously knew how to fly it and must've had a serious reason." Kral responded frantically. " You know very well who took that airspeeder. Don't play dumb with me, Zeda." Tilier reprimanded. " A lot of trust is put into you when you're given this assignment and." The Twi'lek stopped and looked at Jados. " What are you doing? Go after him!" " Yes, sir." Jados said. He turned on his heels and went for the closest available vehicle, a white four-seater ten meters away. In a flash, he was off into the night.
Jados calibrated the instruments inside the airspeeder he piloted to show the location of a specific vehicle. He input the information for the transponder signal for the speeder that Allon had borrowed; though the term stolen sounded better to the trandoshan. It didn't surprise him much to see that the small craft's low-powered scanners couldn't pick up the trace. It wasn't likely that he would get anything unless he was close. And on a giant maze of a planet like Courscant, it would take a miracle to locate him by this conventional method. The ship's onboard comlink chirped, telling him that there was someone trying to get through. The identifier told that it was based at the Temple. The senior padawan flicked the channel open and asked, " Yes?" " Chief Tilier, here." Came the voice. " Go ahead, sir." " I figured it would be best to stay in contact with you incase you require any help from the Temple's systems." Tilier told him. " Yes, sir." Jados told him. " I appreciate the assistance." " I've done a survey with the security scanners and I'm afraid I couldn't pick up anything." Jados took his craft around some slower ships and jinked around a skyscraper. " I've got negative on my sensors." The younger male commented in agreement. " Try to stretch out with the Force to see if you can feel his presence." Tilier directed. " I'll give it a shot, but I haven't really been around Allon enough to be able to distinguish his presence from anyone else out here." Tilier's grunt was audible over the comm. " I was afraid of that." " I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help in that area, sir."
" Don't fret. We'll think of something."
Jados took the airspeeder down lower to avoid traffic, then came up again and soared of the rooftop of a nearby office building. Still the "borrowed" ship did not appear on the scopes.
" What happened with Kral Zeda?" Jados finally asked.
" She was taken back to the dorms by her master to be reprimanded." The Twi'lek answered.
" What is going to happen to her?"
" Well, I would imagine she'll go before the council tomorrow. Her punishment depends on Allon's well being. When you find him-If you find him- if he is all right, than I believe she will only receive probation from the hangers, as well as a stern talking to by her master. But if he is wounded-- or worse-than her punishment will be sever. We can only hope for the best, for Allon's sake."
Great! No pressure here! If I can bring Allon back in one piece, Kral will be all right. But if I fail, I fail her, Allon, Master Naraga, and more importantly, Master Solo! No pressure at all.
Jados shook all the thoughts from his head as he veered around a pair of cargo freighters. If would serve no one if his mind was clouded by doubt. If he calmed himself and let the Force flow naturally, with hope it would lead the two together. The Jedi immersed himself in the energy field. Like a warm blanket, it wrapped around him, guiding his actions. Jados felt his hands become one with the controls. He became the consciousness inside a larger metallic creature. A majestic bird that glided through the sky with nimble grace. It swooped and swerved around the landscape, always choosing the quickest, simplest path.
Suddenly, a green dot popped up on the sensor screen. Jados's concentration was shattered. He spied the instruments for further information.
" Chief Tilier, I've got something." He said.
" Yes?"
" It's a faint signal, but it's there...Stationary, it would appear." Jados elaborated.
But does that mean it's parked or crashed?
" Receiving coordinates." Jados announced. " I'm going in for a closer look."
According to the data in front of him, Allon's vehicle was about a half klick away and rested on the wide rooftop of a corporate storage building-not exactly a designated landing spot. It led Jados to only think the worse.
" Uh-oh." He mumbeled as the facility came into view.
The airspeeder was still unable to be seen, but that did not apply to the plume of black-gray smoke lifting into the heavens from the craft's general direction.
As he decreased to landing speed, a charred wreck of metal finally became visible.
" Oh-no." Jados, though not acquainted with Allon's Force signature, could nonetheless fell no life what so ever in the area of the crashed ship. He set down his vehicle and was quick out the pilot's side door.
He approached the wreckage with caution, not assured yet that there was nothing left to combust inside it. Still, he felt no presence.
With the Force, he levitated a chunk of blackened debris and flung it to the side. To his surprise and great relief, there was no crisped body of a young ten-year-old human boy. It seemed Allon had survived the strange crash and vacated the scene-not an intelligent decision is Jados's mind. But at the very least, there was a good chance that he was still alive.
The trandoshan padawan sighed. Allon could be anywhere now and Jados couldn't tell how long ago he had wrecked. It seemed like it was going to be an especially long night tonight. He closed his dark-sienna Jedi robe to shut out the cold night area and took a look around in the obscurity. Obscurity only to one whom could not see well in darkness, but this was not the case with Jados. Low light, no light, bright light; it was all the same to a trandoshan. It was a talent Jados relished in having when he needed.
" Allon, where are you?" The young alien whispered.
As if in reply, there was a small flicker in the Force. A living being not to far away.
Allon?
It came from Jados's left, about two dozen meters out.
The Jedi spied the top of a ladder protruding form the edge of the roof in that direction. Without giving it any further thought, he sprinted to the ladder and peered out.
There, out in the distance on the long, adjoining rooftop was a sliding door that led inside. Just as the alien looked, the door sealed shut.
Allon.
Using a trick that Troy had shown him once, Jados slipped down the ladder and bolted across the duracrete floor, within seconds he was through the door. The slender corridor inside was adequately lit and boasted a single door at the other end that just recently shut. The trandoshan Jedi wasted no more time and moved swiftly through the portal. On the other end was a commodious chamber that had multiple exits. Graffiti shrouded signs of various establishments lined the walls in several languages and crude pictographs. All this would strike Jados were he in a different situation, but his focus was on the brown-haired boy in Temple robes trotting away, unaware of Jados. The trandoshan halted. " Allon Paje, I presume." The boy froze in his tracks and slowly turned to face Jados. " I'm in trouble aren't I." It wasn't a question. Jados came forward. " I'd say so. Do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you?" " You're Jaddo, aren't you? Where is Master Solo?" Allon asked with a Core accent in his speech. " It's Jados. And I've been sent by Masters Naraga and Solo to find you." The elder apprentice told him. " I doubt you would have wanted Master Solo to come after you anyway." " That's true." " So, one question. What in the name of the Force do you think you're doing out here?" Jados exploded. " You're ten years old, for Force sake! What do you think gives you the right to steal an airspeeder and go off on your own on the busiest planet in the known galaxy!" " I.I.I." Allon nervously stuttered. " Just how did you manage to crash that speeder?" Jados demanded to know. " I'm sorry about that, sir. I guess I miscalculated the landing trajectory and came in a little hard." " A little hard! A little hard! You totaled the thing. Do you know how much those things cost?" " I'm sorry. I just wanted to complete my lightsaber." Paje told him. " I didn't think anyone would mind if I slipped out for awhile. If I hadn't crashed the airspeeder, I would have been back long ago." Jados fought hard to quash the anger and frustration brewing deep inside him. What Allon did was reckless, stupid, and foolhardy. Master Solo was going to have a field day reprimanding Allon about this. But at least he was safe. So to now was Kral Zeda. " Then I hope you got what you came for, because we're leaving-now!" Allon Paje lowered his head in shame and prepared to follow the alien Jedi back to the Temple. He knew he had a lot of explaining to do. Jados turned back to exit the multi passageway chamber, but stopped quickly. He frantically scanned all the tunnels, each identical to the others. Which way had they come in from? " Which way did we come in from?" Allon looked around. " I thought you knew." " Just hold on." Jados sounded as he held up a claw to silence him. He concentrated and looked around to all the doors, trying to remember which was the one they had entered through. " That one." He announced as he pointed to a nondescript corridor. " Are you sure?" Allon asked. " I thought we came from this way." He gestured to a similar gate on the opposite side. " No. It was this one, I remember." The older male corrected. The young boy sighed. " I suppose you're right." Jados gave a grin and said, " Exactly as I thought. Let's go." Without another word, Allon followed the trandoshan through the door and down the familiar seeming hall. They exited. Before them was a small set of stairs that led into a dank tavern that smelled of rotten vegetation, ozone, and something else that the two could not identify. " While I can't be sure, I do not believe this is where we came from." Allon commented. Jados leered at him. " You're in no mood to be wise cracking, boy." " Sorry." Allon got serious. " So I was wrong, I admit that. Let's just turn around and be on our way." The young padawan nodded and turned around. His forward motion was obstructed by a large, imposing Abyssin. Jados turned to see the large alien was joined by others. They didn't look very nice to him. " My ap-" Allon began. " Hey! Who you think you are, eh?" This didn't look good. " I'm sorry, sir." Jados was quick to say. " My friend here is clumsy." A Rodian pushed through the crowd of aliens and pointed a thin finger out at them. " Hey, I these guys are Jedis." He squawked. " The boy's got their hair and the lizard's got their mark on his head. There learners." The two Jedi really wished the green creature did not have such a broad history of the order. " It's Jedi-both singular and plural, genius," Allon mumbeled from behind the older Jedi. Jados's head shot back in disbelief, thinking, What is doing. That'll only provoke them! " What he say?" The Abyssin asked. " Nothing." The alien padawan blurted out. The Abyssin bared his mistreated teeth in anger. " You lie, PadaJedi!" he growled at them. The two began backing away slowly as the group followed their apparent leader closer to them. They stopped at the bottom of the stairs, inside the bar filled with other lowlifes. " Now, don't be rash here guys. The kid's young, he doesn't know how to hold his tongue in the face of such fine gentlemen such as yourselves." Jados pleaded while using the Force to release the clasp on his robe. The act went unnoticed. The Abyssin pulled a long vibroblade from a sheath behind his belt. " Ah, 'haps we teach him." He waved it menacingly at them. Jados's big yellow eyes shifted to Allon as he whispered, " Pekai a'dee." It was a simple Selquian sentence taught to Jados by Master Naraga that translated to " Stand back". He hoped the boy had learned enough of the language while with the Selquians on their world. " Understood." Came from the boy, to Jados's delight. He did so casually. " Hey!" The Rodian sounded. " What did you say to him?" The Jedi dismissed the question and merely stated, " Please let us leave, we mean you know harm." The Abyssin gave a throaty laugh. " Ah, but we do." There came a sound of mugs hitting tables and bar stools grinding across the floor. Jados turned to see all the patrons of the cantina up and staring at them. " Seems our friends think same, eh?" The situation was beyond mediation. Well past it, Jados knew. With lightning fast reflexes, Jados's arms came up to guard position. A blazing red-bladed lightsaber griped between his claws. " This is your last chance. Allow us to pass or I will be forced to defend my friend and I." In response, all his friends drew weapons ranging from knives to blasters. The Jedi narrowed his eyes. " You should rethink your life." In a flash, Jados sent a green bolt back to its owner, evaded a swipe from the Abyssin, severed his armed hand from the wrist, and then kicked him in the back as he glided past. Allon dove for cover behind an empty booth. The other Jedi sliced the muzzle off a blaster carbine, elbowed it owner in the face, and spun in a blur to hack the gun-toting rodian in two. A scarlet blast grazed his flowing robe and Jados slashed the squid-faced Quarren across the chest in retaliation. He hopped aside from a knife thrust and smacked his attacker in the face with the stock of his saber. With the calm fury of a Knight, he turned to face the much larger group of potential assailants. " Last chance." He told them as he tightened his grip on the Jedi weapon, but they were unfazed. Enhanced by the Force, Jados bounded to the other end of the room, parrying beams as he flew. He came down hard with his saber on the lead attacker and Fore-slammed another in to the soiled durasteel wall. A three-eyed Gran came in with a descending knife and was met by a crimson blade that dismembered his hand then plunged into his belly. Jados spun, decapitated a blaster holding Nikto to his left, turned to shorten the muzzle of a blaster rifle and round-kicked its owner on the side of its head. Alerted by the Force, he flung his blade back to impale a female human's shoulder and rammed his opposite elbow into her face. The Jedi turned to face the next batch before them. To his surprise, they hesitated to strike, then stopped completely. They lowered their weapons. " Smart decision." The Trandoshan told them, but focused on their movements just in case. One, a Devaronian, spoke up. " It evident we are no match for such a powerful Jedi as yourself." " We did not wish a fight. I did what I had to do, unfortunately." The devilish alien smirked mysteriously. Jados didn't understand. Suddenly, the one handed Abyssin that had sneaked-up behind him smashed a barstool over his back. The Jedi Padawan went down hard, his lightsaber flying from his hands. The weapon deactivated as soon as it left his grip and rolled away after it joined him on the floor. " Vee make you pay Jedi!" The large black furred cyclops grunted, before smashing his boot into Jados ribs. It didn't take long for the remainder of thugs joined in on the pummeling. Jados had made a very common-possible fatal-mistake of an apprentice. He had placed all his attention on the people in his vision and not stayed open to the thought of attack from behind. Now it was too late. It was impossible now to mount any kind of defense against the strikes to his body. Allon was to young to help and Jados hoped that he'd taken the chance to run away. He could only take solace in that and the fact that he would die without fear. He was to die defending one who could protect himself.
Master Naraga. will be proud, I hope. Though he never expected it to happen anytime soon, Jados was prepared to become one with the Force. And to think, Jados had great plans for his future. The Abyssin was suddenly jerked away and the other stopped for the moment to see what was up. There, towering over Jados was surely a sight for his sore eyes. The Abyssin jumped-up with rage and lunged forward at his attacker. Anakin Solo turned, caught the alien by the throat and snapped its neck. The mighty Jedi was silent. A member of the bar patrons rose his blade, prepared to attack, but was stopped. Not by Solo, not by Jados, nor Allon had done anything. It was the Devaronian who grabbed the man's arm. " Hey!" He said. " Don't you know who that is? It's Anakin Solo." The vibrodagger-toting man went pale with fear, the weapon dropping from his hand. Allon came out from hiding behind his master as the scum all threw down their weapons in apprehension. Master Solo gave them an icy stare. Without any reluctance or words, the Jedi Master scooped up the injure apprentice and was followed out by Allon.
Anakin Solo walked in to the quarters of Andur Naraga and found the Selquian meditating as usual. " You assured me Jados would bring Allon back safely." The human said with irritation. Naraga merely smiled with his eyes still closed and replied. " I only guaranteed that Jados would find Allon. I said nothing of him bringing him back." Anakin huffed and exited.
Andur Naraga, master of the Jedi arts, sat comfortably on the long bed inside his relatively posh dormitory. It sat inside the highest towers of the Jedi Temple. A room reserved only for the members of the Jedi Council that resided in the temple. He was in a deep Jedi trance, reflecting on the living Force, the essence, Selquia, as his people called it. Naraga was a Selquian, a tall, simian-evolved alien with lightened auburn fur covering his body. His head was considered somewhat long, with a horse- like muzzle and a large bony crest at the back of his skull. Andur's jaw was gray black, showing his age, with a thin braided goatee. A dark, bat- like nose sat atop his muzzle with hanging sacks underneath his onix black, white pupiled, offset eyes at the opposite sides of his head. The master's head sat above a long neck, crooked outward like a bird. His humanoid body with projecting shoulder blades was covered in a gray tunic and pants. The black Jedi robe he usually wore lay on the bed beside his curled prehensile tail. Andur's fingers were thin, fur covered digits with small pointed climbing claws at the ends. Claws he had not had the chance to use since the last time he was on his home world of Tekaida IX some years ago. Tekaida IX was a small jungle moon in the Tekaida system, home to the Selquian race. The Selquians were a special species of people, naturally attuned to the Force. They had evolved from mammalian reptiles that had dwelled in the trees. Over the course of millions of years, those creatures became more adept at surviving on the forest floor, eventually becoming the modern Selquians. Their plant was discovered a few years after the war with the Vong, as primitive as it appears today. They believe in a religion known as "Selquia", a following of the energy field that created all life on their world. The Selqia was everywhere, in the rocks, the trees, the water, the animals, and the moon. It was the father of reality itself. The supreme power in their single world universe, fore they knew nothing of the galaxy at large. Perhaps out of pure primitive ignorance or contentness with what they already had. Few knew that it was the latter that was true. All Selquians lived at peace with nature and themselves, which led to their unorthodox lifestyle. In their entire history, there has not been a single act of aggression between species. No wars, no battles, no duels for power, but complete pacifism. They all shared a supernatural bond with each other that led to peaceful solutions to all their problems. Having a total connection to all things, Selquians did not see the reason to soil their utopia with technology of any sort. The more prosperous technological advances become, the wider the rift between living beings and nature. This ideal was almost identical to that of the Yuuzhan Vong, except that Selquians did not shun or despise those who utilize technology when contact was made. Instead, Selquians greet all visitors to their world with open arms. When those visitors did arrive-a group of Jedi that had found the system by accident-they were amazed at the society before them. All the beings were attuned to the Force and deeply connected with it. Those Jedi: Anakin and Jaina Solo, the Twi'lek, Ralin, and the Noghri, Tehani, had met up with a wise and powerful being known as Andurnaiqui of clan Naraga, or Andur as they came to call him. Andur had been a Selquian hunter. When he had gotten lost from his party and badly injured by a predatory creature, his cry of help in the Force rang-out loud and was felt by the Jedi. They set down on the unknown planet believing one of their own was in peril and found the young man unconscious on the ground in a pool of blood beside the dead creature. Acting quickly, the Jedi took the strange being aboard their ship and provided medical aide and Force-healing. Naraga had woken-up and was not the least bit alarmed at the sight of unfamiliar life forms. Through the Essence, he had known they were friendly and wished him no harm. By using their bizarre golden automation, Andurnaiqui was soon speaking with his rescuers by way of the living metal being.
Andur clan Naraga had led them to the large village he called Tatel a few kilometers south of their location. A wondrous gathering of the alien's called Selquians that came in an assortment of colors, from brown, tan, and black fur, to white, red, and even gold pelts. All teeming with the Force, the whole planetoid was awash in the mystical energy field. The Jedi learned that the Selquians knew a great deal about the living Force, what they called the Essence. But they knew nothing of the magic- like powers that very "Essence" bestowed upon them. This fact and the notion that everywhere was beings that were connected to nature amazed them. None more than Andurnaiqui of clan Naraga. He would keep the visitors up at all hours during their stay, listening to the stories of their great and sometimes dark history as he slowly learned Basic. For the first time in his, in any Selquian's, life he was not content to remain on Tekaida. He wished to leave with the visitors and become a Jedi like them. The elder of clan Naraga, the universally wise and unbelievably strong in the Force, Tiznipiniquo or Kamiko as he was known, listened well to his son Andur's reasons and motivations and grudgingly agreed to allow him to go off and pursue his dream. The younger Naraga had stated that he had learned of dangers to peaceful beings and more importantly the possible dangers to the motherland, Tekaida. Like all his kind, Andur had a vast understanding of the Force; only the Jedi equaled his emotional stability. Once the Jedi High Council realized this fact, Andur began his bright career as a Jedi. After just eight years of training under the council, Andur Naraga was given the title of Jedi Knight. His mastery of hunting spears and other long weapons made him the only Jedi in the history of the order to build and control the formidable double-bladed lightsaber. This weapon came in handy when Valen Draxx began his Dark Jedi Insurrection. His bravery and clear thinking in those battles with the Dark Siders earned him the title of Jedi Master and assured his place of the Council.
Across the room, the communications terminal beeped its signal that their was a person trying to contact the master's quarters. Through the Force, Naraga already knew who it was.
Unfolding his legs for the first time in hours, The Selquian moved to answer the call. The machines flat screen showed a flawlessly clear picture of a distraught Anakin Solo.
" Anakin, you look worried, my friend." Naraga commented. " There is a problem?"
" I'm afraid so." He replied from his guest dormitory. " Allon is missing."
" Missing? For how long?"
" It's been more than two hours." Solo told him. " I know that sounds dumb, but he was only supposed to go down to the Temple workshops for some parts-He's almost finished building his lightsaber, you know-that was over two hours ago. Allon lived here for nine years, surely he knows his way around, so he couldn't have gotten lost. I was expecting him to be back within a half-hour. But you know Allon; he's young and mischievous. For all I know, he's been distracted by something and has lost track of time."
" Indeed." Andur agreed.
" What worries me the most is that I can't sense him anywhere. Perhaps I'm not focused enough. I was wondering if you would be able to sense him."
" I was just meditating, good friend. I could feel all in the Temple, but I could not feel Allon, I'm sorry."
" Don't worry. I'm doing enough of that for the both of us. I guess I'll have to go searching for him."
" You are tired from your journey, dear Anakin, you are in no shape to trek around the Temple." Andur told him.
" Well I must do something. I can't just sit around and hope for the best."
" Then do not. Go to sleep old friend. You need the rest." The Selquian Jedi instructed. " I have been searching for another test of Jados's skills as a Jedi. I believe this would be a fair trial."
" I don't mean to offend you or Jados, he's an amazing an apt apprentice, but I can't put my faith in him for this task. I sense possible danger afoot." Solo revealed.
" As do I. Which is why we must not stall. So, I am asking you to trust me. I would not put Allon's life in danger merely to satisfy my own whims. Trust in Jados. Trust in me."
Anakin was quiet as he considered. " You believe he can be depended upon to find Allon, even if he is in the gravest of dangers?"
" I do. Jados will find Allon, I assure you."
" Alright." The son of Han Solo agreed. " But I'm not going to sleep until he's found."
" As you wish." The alien said with a nod.
The image faded to black as Solo ended the transmission.
Jados sat alone at a large metal study in the anteroom of the dormitory he shared with his master. With his less-than articulate three digit talons, the young trandoshan thumbed through a copy of Jedi literature. He couldn't find any mention of trandoshan Jedi ever existing before him.
As far as anyone could think, there had never been any trandoshans in the entire history of the Order. Surely they were wrong. Surely there had to be others. While it was obvious that his species was not very well connected with the Force, Jados felt it hard believe that none had ever been trained as a Jedi. Their home world of Dosha had been allied with the Galactic Republic, so they were in the eyes of the Jedi Order of old, yet nothing. Master Naraga had suggested that trandoshans might have been opposed to handing away their young to members of an alien species, Jados chose to believe that not all trandoshans were as stingy. They weren't some terrible monsters that wanted to kill all, trandoshans, while emotional, were civilized creatures.
He had taken into account that trandoshans were a normally very carnivorous, blood thirsty, intolerant species, but he felt it didn't matter much. He had been born with those same instincts, but through the Force and the ways of the Jedi, he had purged those feelings. Indeed he may be a trandoshan by race, but he was something else by heart. He was a Jedi.
Jados had many friends, beyond Conrad, Talia, and Troy. They all accepted him for who, not what he is. They would never betray him and always stand beside him the face of adversity.
But still Jados felt empty inside. He longed for a person he could truly identify with; a being that felt as left out as he did.
Others had families: A father, a mother, brothers, sisters: a history that they could claim when they were ready. Jados would never see his parents. They had abandoned him while he was still inside an egg. It wasn't known whether it was intentional or by a twist of fate. But Master Naraga had found him on a deserted space station orbiting the home world. He in his egg was the only living thing on the station, lying in a pile of debris from the all but destroyed space habitat. Apparently pirates had raided it and it for dead. No sign of any trandoshans, killed or otherwise. There was just a hidden egg. Naraga had taken it to the council while he was still a knight, sensing the unborn child's aptitude for the Force. They had accepted it and sent it to the academy on Yavin 4. Once hatched, Jados was trained as a Jedi, treated like all the other students had been. When he the age, the now Master Naraga took him as his apprentice. Jados had been told he had a bright future, but he never had a real past. Just then, Master Naraga emerged from his bedroom with a sense of patient urgency on his face. Unless you were familiar with a selquian's facial movements, their emotions were difficult to read. But Jados had been around Naraga for some time now and therefore knew something was amiss. " A problem, Master?" He inquired. Naraga placed his arms behind his back and said, " Potentially." Jados turned completely around to give his master the attention he deserved. " I have just spoke with Master Solo. It would appear that Allon Paje has gone missing." " How terrible." The apprentice commented. " Yes. Allon was sent down to the Workshops to obtain the final components for his lightsaber." " Alright. What's the trouble part?" " That was two hours ago. He hasn't returned since." The trandoshan whistled. " That's quite a long time just to go down a dozen floors. He must be lost." " And you will determine if this is so." The master instructed. " What?" " I have volunteered your services to find Allon." Naraga clarified. " But Master, I'm in the middle of some important research here, I don't have time to traverse the Temple corridors to find a wayward padawan." " Time for studies later, young Jados. A being is in need of your assistance. Surely you will not decline." The younger Jedi sighed. " Yes, of course I won't." " Excellent. You may be ready to be a knight after all. This task should provide me with some reasonable insight into thought." " Then is this a test?" He asked as he got-up from his chair. " Refer to it as you wish, Padawan." " Yes, Master." Jados replied as he started off. " I would go to the Workshops first, if I were you." " Yes, Master." The tan door slid closed behind him as we walked for the nearest turbolift at the end of the hallway. Jados felt this wasn't going to be as easy as it seemed. The Force was hinting at it. He entered the lift and instructed the computer to take him down to the twentieth floor, inside the training sections of the Temple. The giant tower was made-up of five sections. The training centers on the bottom took up the first twenty-five floors, with the student dorms on the next dozen. The ten hanger bays made the following eleven levels. Quartering for quests, the temple staff, and the council was third with another dozen floors. Finally, "Jedi Central" as it was called, capped the spire with thirteen floors, the Council Chamber at the very top. Jedi Central was the place where the Jedi Council monitored, guided, and assigned the current five hundred and two Jedi Knights and Masters roaming the galaxy. It also served as a place of discussion and decision among the council. Any business concerning the order was carried out there. Only the council and a few other trusted Masters had access to all the floors in that section. It was rumored among the Temple's initiates that on the restricted levels was a vault filled with priceless treasures from countless ages as well as a secret museum of Sith artifacts that had been found inside the Imperial Palace, relics from Emperor Palpatine's personal collection. But the masters neither confirmed nor denied the accusations, merely stating to the students as a reply, "Become a Jedi Master and then see for yourself." The lift came to a stop a minute later and opened into a hall with dark green walls and strategically placed plants along the way. It was short and ended with a gray sliding door that led into the shops. It all seemed strange to Jados as he came into the colossal room that took up the remainder of the floor, filled with a triple handful of ten meter work tables and a multitude of power tools. Usually when one came to this place, they entered a world of buzzes, blares, and whistles of tools being operated as well as the shouts of instructions from the shop instructor, an old and experienced craftsman, Master Finch, an antiquated soul from the fringes of space. If you needed training on construction, whether it is a lightsaber or an astromech droid, he was the man to see at the Temple. He was strict, but friendly when you got to know him. The man with short cropped-gray hair and blue Jedi robes spied the entrance of the trandoshan padawan of Andur Naraga through the large window of his office. The room was positioned beside the storage chamber at the southern end of the shop. He promptly came out to greet him. " Little late to be acquiring parts, son." The man commented with a yawn. " I was about'ta close-up fer the night." " No parts today, Master. I need a bit of information." Finch placed his hands on his sore back and replied, " Shoot." " I understand that Allon Paje was down here a while ago requesting some parts for his lightsaber." " Who?" " Allon Paje, Master Solo's apprentice." " Oh, Solo's boy. Yah, he was down'er 'bout.two hours ago, I reckon. Needed some Quantix surge fuses, but we're all out till the next shipment gets here in two weeks. Told'em I'd let'em know soon as they got in." " Okay." Jados listened. " But that boy was adamant 'bout getten those fuses ta'night. He told me not'ta go'ta the trouble of givin him special treatment, that he'd go to the difficulty of getten'um elsewhere. So's I said all right, assumen he'd go back'ta Solo and get'em to take'me elsewhere. I sense now, he didn't, did he?" " Not as far as Master Solo, Master Naraga, and I know. He was last seen heading for the Workshop." " Well, I wish I could tell'ya I knew where he went, but I can't." Master Finch said. " He didn't say anything about where he was going?" Jados asked. " Sorry, no." The young Jedi thought for a moment, then said, " Thank you for your help, sir." " Hey, wish I could do more." Jados nodded. " Thank you." " You're welcome." Finch said back. " Have a good night, Master Finch." " You too, Jados. May the Force be with'ya."
Jados knocked at the small door to the Temple's security office. He was on the sixty-eighth floor of the tower, well into Jedi Central. It was the most technological floor in the Central, also housing various communications and holoprojector rooms. The level was one of the more open areas of Central; all non-initiate Jedi had access to it. For apprentices, admittance was only provided if you had a legitimate reason. Jados felt it did. He was focused on entering the security office, nothing else. It contained the monitors and more importantly the recordings from the holocams installed throughout the Temple. Ran by Chief of Security Tilier, a stern Twi'lek Jedi Knight, the security office should give the trandoshan apprentice a good lead as to where Allon might have gone. Chief Tilier answered the knock, already notified by Master Naraga of Jados's need to view security tapes and given instructions to allow the young Jedi full access to the system. An order Tilier did not agree with. " Come in, Jados. I have the recordings from earlier tonight ready for your search." The alien in navy-blue security robes told him, a faint hint of agitation in his voice. Tilier was from a military background. His father served in the New Republic's navy back when Admiral Pellaeon conceded the Empire's defeat. His grandfather was a General that fought the Imperials through the entire civil war. His great grandfather was an Old Republic Admiral who as a child lived out of Republic jurisdiction and was passed over for Jedi training. It was for the best though; fore it saved him and his family from the Emperor's purge. Tilier had the firm belief that anyone not associated with temple security should back away and let the professionals do their job.
" Thank you, Chief Tilier." Jados said politely, not sensing the old Knight's frustration. The Twi'lek led the trandoshan into a darkened room that was awash in monitors and surveillance equipment, staffed by droids, five other Jedi Knights, and two initiate aged security interns. There was an empty space at the consoles where Tilier led Jados. " All the tapes from the last three hours have been loaded in, so go right ahead and begin your search." The Chief said. " If you need any assistance, I or any one here would be happy to help." Jados nodded and took a seat where he was directed and got straight to work. His first order of business would be to decide which areas of the Temple that Allon could possibly have gone to. He deduced that the likely places would be the initiate quarters-there were only a few dozen where one might find lightsaber parts (If you were willing to steal from hardworking students). Jados didn't know Allon well enough to have a sense of the boy's morals. He took a few minutes to check that out. Solo's padawan wasn't there now, nor was he there ever. Next was the warehouse on very first floor. It was possible that Master Finch was unaware of any clandestine crates of Quantix surge fuses. Likely Allon went there. He searched the records. Sure enough, there was the little brown-haired ten- year-old boy rummaging through boxes. Jados checked the time of the tape. That was more than an hour ago. Allon wasn't in the warehouse now and he hadn't returned to Master Solo. If that were so, Master Naraga would have notified him that the boy was safe and sound. Indeed, the monitor now showed Allon leaving empty handed.
He must have gone elsewhere. This kid is pretty mischievous. He and Conrad have a lot in common, Jados thought. There was only one more logical place to look for him: The airspeeder hanger on the thirty-eighth floor. But was Allon defiant enough to actually go out on his own? Jados had another thought. Allon couldn't have gone any farther than that. He was only ten years old and more than likely had never even flown an airspeeder in the simulators. Besides, whoever was on airspeeder duty this week would certainly not allow a ten-year-old padawan access to a vehicle, even if they claimed to have authorization. It was temple policy that no one under the age of sixteen could pilot an airspeeder unless accompanied by a certified adult. Any apprentices over sixteen still required the okay of their master or other senior Jedi. There were no exceptions to any of the Temple rules. Jados called up the recordings for that floor. He forwarded through a few hours of relative stillness and it began to look as if he was wrong after all until finally the little Jedi boy showed up at the admissions desk and began a conversation with a sixteen-year-old female Iktotchi padawan of a piloting instructor, Kral Zeda. Unfortunately, there was no audio. The trandoshan Jedi watched intently. After a moment, Kral turned him away.
Well, I'm out of ideas.
He was about to give-up his observation of the hanger tapes when something caught his attention. Jados played back what he saw, a small dark figure partly visible, moving in the shadows. He quickly froze the image.
" Chief Tilier." The alien Jedi called out.
The Twi'lek came in from his office and stopped beside him, saying, "Yes?"
" Is there a way to focus on the image over in the corner?" He pointed his big middle claw at the figure.
Tilier narrowed his eyes to focus on the spot. He typed a few keys on the console before them.
A box surrounded the frozen image and brought in tight on the screen. The resolution cleared up, but it was still to dark to see clearly.
" Hold on." Tilier told Jados then pressed more buttons.
The screen tinted red and the entire figure was visible illuminated.
" That's Allon!" Jados exclaimed.
" Now calm down." The Twi'lek told him then took up the search himself."
The screen switched to the view from another holocam in the hanger.
Allon crept to a small, two person, blue airspeeder and slowly opened the swinging door. He looked around to see if anyone could see him, then slipped in side. There was no movement after he shut the door then the engines powered up and the ship flew. Kral Zeda came into view as she rushed to see what was going on. She looked around desperately to see if anyone was around. Then stopped and stared out the open hanger. " She never reported anything." Tilier commented then blew out a big breath. Kral gradually walked out of the picture. " I can't believe it. She didn't report!" Tilier exclaimed. He turned to Jados, " Let's go." The two Jedi quickly sprinted out and through the halls, not stopping until they were in the area of Zeda's responsibility. The green robed female sat at her desk nervously. She jumped up as Jados and Tilier dashed into the room. " Young lady, you've got a lot of explaining to do." The security Chief snapped. " But I-" She began. " What were you thinking?" " I.I.I knew I would get in trouble if I reported a speeder was taken without my knowing. I didn't think it would be a problem. Who ever took it obviously knew how to fly it and must've had a serious reason." Kral responded frantically. " You know very well who took that airspeeder. Don't play dumb with me, Zeda." Tilier reprimanded. " A lot of trust is put into you when you're given this assignment and." The Twi'lek stopped and looked at Jados. " What are you doing? Go after him!" " Yes, sir." Jados said. He turned on his heels and went for the closest available vehicle, a white four-seater ten meters away. In a flash, he was off into the night.
Jados calibrated the instruments inside the airspeeder he piloted to show the location of a specific vehicle. He input the information for the transponder signal for the speeder that Allon had borrowed; though the term stolen sounded better to the trandoshan. It didn't surprise him much to see that the small craft's low-powered scanners couldn't pick up the trace. It wasn't likely that he would get anything unless he was close. And on a giant maze of a planet like Courscant, it would take a miracle to locate him by this conventional method. The ship's onboard comlink chirped, telling him that there was someone trying to get through. The identifier told that it was based at the Temple. The senior padawan flicked the channel open and asked, " Yes?" " Chief Tilier, here." Came the voice. " Go ahead, sir." " I figured it would be best to stay in contact with you incase you require any help from the Temple's systems." Tilier told him. " Yes, sir." Jados told him. " I appreciate the assistance." " I've done a survey with the security scanners and I'm afraid I couldn't pick up anything." Jados took his craft around some slower ships and jinked around a skyscraper. " I've got negative on my sensors." The younger male commented in agreement. " Try to stretch out with the Force to see if you can feel his presence." Tilier directed. " I'll give it a shot, but I haven't really been around Allon enough to be able to distinguish his presence from anyone else out here." Tilier's grunt was audible over the comm. " I was afraid of that." " I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help in that area, sir."
" Don't fret. We'll think of something."
Jados took the airspeeder down lower to avoid traffic, then came up again and soared of the rooftop of a nearby office building. Still the "borrowed" ship did not appear on the scopes.
" What happened with Kral Zeda?" Jados finally asked.
" She was taken back to the dorms by her master to be reprimanded." The Twi'lek answered.
" What is going to happen to her?"
" Well, I would imagine she'll go before the council tomorrow. Her punishment depends on Allon's well being. When you find him-If you find him- if he is all right, than I believe she will only receive probation from the hangers, as well as a stern talking to by her master. But if he is wounded-- or worse-than her punishment will be sever. We can only hope for the best, for Allon's sake."
Great! No pressure here! If I can bring Allon back in one piece, Kral will be all right. But if I fail, I fail her, Allon, Master Naraga, and more importantly, Master Solo! No pressure at all.
Jados shook all the thoughts from his head as he veered around a pair of cargo freighters. If would serve no one if his mind was clouded by doubt. If he calmed himself and let the Force flow naturally, with hope it would lead the two together. The Jedi immersed himself in the energy field. Like a warm blanket, it wrapped around him, guiding his actions. Jados felt his hands become one with the controls. He became the consciousness inside a larger metallic creature. A majestic bird that glided through the sky with nimble grace. It swooped and swerved around the landscape, always choosing the quickest, simplest path.
Suddenly, a green dot popped up on the sensor screen. Jados's concentration was shattered. He spied the instruments for further information.
" Chief Tilier, I've got something." He said.
" Yes?"
" It's a faint signal, but it's there...Stationary, it would appear." Jados elaborated.
But does that mean it's parked or crashed?
" Receiving coordinates." Jados announced. " I'm going in for a closer look."
According to the data in front of him, Allon's vehicle was about a half klick away and rested on the wide rooftop of a corporate storage building-not exactly a designated landing spot. It led Jados to only think the worse.
" Uh-oh." He mumbeled as the facility came into view.
The airspeeder was still unable to be seen, but that did not apply to the plume of black-gray smoke lifting into the heavens from the craft's general direction.
As he decreased to landing speed, a charred wreck of metal finally became visible.
" Oh-no." Jados, though not acquainted with Allon's Force signature, could nonetheless fell no life what so ever in the area of the crashed ship. He set down his vehicle and was quick out the pilot's side door.
He approached the wreckage with caution, not assured yet that there was nothing left to combust inside it. Still, he felt no presence.
With the Force, he levitated a chunk of blackened debris and flung it to the side. To his surprise and great relief, there was no crisped body of a young ten-year-old human boy. It seemed Allon had survived the strange crash and vacated the scene-not an intelligent decision is Jados's mind. But at the very least, there was a good chance that he was still alive.
The trandoshan padawan sighed. Allon could be anywhere now and Jados couldn't tell how long ago he had wrecked. It seemed like it was going to be an especially long night tonight. He closed his dark-sienna Jedi robe to shut out the cold night area and took a look around in the obscurity. Obscurity only to one whom could not see well in darkness, but this was not the case with Jados. Low light, no light, bright light; it was all the same to a trandoshan. It was a talent Jados relished in having when he needed.
" Allon, where are you?" The young alien whispered.
As if in reply, there was a small flicker in the Force. A living being not to far away.
Allon?
It came from Jados's left, about two dozen meters out.
The Jedi spied the top of a ladder protruding form the edge of the roof in that direction. Without giving it any further thought, he sprinted to the ladder and peered out.
There, out in the distance on the long, adjoining rooftop was a sliding door that led inside. Just as the alien looked, the door sealed shut.
Allon.
Using a trick that Troy had shown him once, Jados slipped down the ladder and bolted across the duracrete floor, within seconds he was through the door. The slender corridor inside was adequately lit and boasted a single door at the other end that just recently shut. The trandoshan Jedi wasted no more time and moved swiftly through the portal. On the other end was a commodious chamber that had multiple exits. Graffiti shrouded signs of various establishments lined the walls in several languages and crude pictographs. All this would strike Jados were he in a different situation, but his focus was on the brown-haired boy in Temple robes trotting away, unaware of Jados. The trandoshan halted. " Allon Paje, I presume." The boy froze in his tracks and slowly turned to face Jados. " I'm in trouble aren't I." It wasn't a question. Jados came forward. " I'd say so. Do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you?" " You're Jaddo, aren't you? Where is Master Solo?" Allon asked with a Core accent in his speech. " It's Jados. And I've been sent by Masters Naraga and Solo to find you." The elder apprentice told him. " I doubt you would have wanted Master Solo to come after you anyway." " That's true." " So, one question. What in the name of the Force do you think you're doing out here?" Jados exploded. " You're ten years old, for Force sake! What do you think gives you the right to steal an airspeeder and go off on your own on the busiest planet in the known galaxy!" " I.I.I." Allon nervously stuttered. " Just how did you manage to crash that speeder?" Jados demanded to know. " I'm sorry about that, sir. I guess I miscalculated the landing trajectory and came in a little hard." " A little hard! A little hard! You totaled the thing. Do you know how much those things cost?" " I'm sorry. I just wanted to complete my lightsaber." Paje told him. " I didn't think anyone would mind if I slipped out for awhile. If I hadn't crashed the airspeeder, I would have been back long ago." Jados fought hard to quash the anger and frustration brewing deep inside him. What Allon did was reckless, stupid, and foolhardy. Master Solo was going to have a field day reprimanding Allon about this. But at least he was safe. So to now was Kral Zeda. " Then I hope you got what you came for, because we're leaving-now!" Allon Paje lowered his head in shame and prepared to follow the alien Jedi back to the Temple. He knew he had a lot of explaining to do. Jados turned back to exit the multi passageway chamber, but stopped quickly. He frantically scanned all the tunnels, each identical to the others. Which way had they come in from? " Which way did we come in from?" Allon looked around. " I thought you knew." " Just hold on." Jados sounded as he held up a claw to silence him. He concentrated and looked around to all the doors, trying to remember which was the one they had entered through. " That one." He announced as he pointed to a nondescript corridor. " Are you sure?" Allon asked. " I thought we came from this way." He gestured to a similar gate on the opposite side. " No. It was this one, I remember." The older male corrected. The young boy sighed. " I suppose you're right." Jados gave a grin and said, " Exactly as I thought. Let's go." Without another word, Allon followed the trandoshan through the door and down the familiar seeming hall. They exited. Before them was a small set of stairs that led into a dank tavern that smelled of rotten vegetation, ozone, and something else that the two could not identify. " While I can't be sure, I do not believe this is where we came from." Allon commented. Jados leered at him. " You're in no mood to be wise cracking, boy." " Sorry." Allon got serious. " So I was wrong, I admit that. Let's just turn around and be on our way." The young padawan nodded and turned around. His forward motion was obstructed by a large, imposing Abyssin. Jados turned to see the large alien was joined by others. They didn't look very nice to him. " My ap-" Allon began. " Hey! Who you think you are, eh?" This didn't look good. " I'm sorry, sir." Jados was quick to say. " My friend here is clumsy." A Rodian pushed through the crowd of aliens and pointed a thin finger out at them. " Hey, I these guys are Jedis." He squawked. " The boy's got their hair and the lizard's got their mark on his head. There learners." The two Jedi really wished the green creature did not have such a broad history of the order. " It's Jedi-both singular and plural, genius," Allon mumbeled from behind the older Jedi. Jados's head shot back in disbelief, thinking, What is doing. That'll only provoke them! " What he say?" The Abyssin asked. " Nothing." The alien padawan blurted out. The Abyssin bared his mistreated teeth in anger. " You lie, PadaJedi!" he growled at them. The two began backing away slowly as the group followed their apparent leader closer to them. They stopped at the bottom of the stairs, inside the bar filled with other lowlifes. " Now, don't be rash here guys. The kid's young, he doesn't know how to hold his tongue in the face of such fine gentlemen such as yourselves." Jados pleaded while using the Force to release the clasp on his robe. The act went unnoticed. The Abyssin pulled a long vibroblade from a sheath behind his belt. " Ah, 'haps we teach him." He waved it menacingly at them. Jados's big yellow eyes shifted to Allon as he whispered, " Pekai a'dee." It was a simple Selquian sentence taught to Jados by Master Naraga that translated to " Stand back". He hoped the boy had learned enough of the language while with the Selquians on their world. " Understood." Came from the boy, to Jados's delight. He did so casually. " Hey!" The Rodian sounded. " What did you say to him?" The Jedi dismissed the question and merely stated, " Please let us leave, we mean you know harm." The Abyssin gave a throaty laugh. " Ah, but we do." There came a sound of mugs hitting tables and bar stools grinding across the floor. Jados turned to see all the patrons of the cantina up and staring at them. " Seems our friends think same, eh?" The situation was beyond mediation. Well past it, Jados knew. With lightning fast reflexes, Jados's arms came up to guard position. A blazing red-bladed lightsaber griped between his claws. " This is your last chance. Allow us to pass or I will be forced to defend my friend and I." In response, all his friends drew weapons ranging from knives to blasters. The Jedi narrowed his eyes. " You should rethink your life." In a flash, Jados sent a green bolt back to its owner, evaded a swipe from the Abyssin, severed his armed hand from the wrist, and then kicked him in the back as he glided past. Allon dove for cover behind an empty booth. The other Jedi sliced the muzzle off a blaster carbine, elbowed it owner in the face, and spun in a blur to hack the gun-toting rodian in two. A scarlet blast grazed his flowing robe and Jados slashed the squid-faced Quarren across the chest in retaliation. He hopped aside from a knife thrust and smacked his attacker in the face with the stock of his saber. With the calm fury of a Knight, he turned to face the much larger group of potential assailants. " Last chance." He told them as he tightened his grip on the Jedi weapon, but they were unfazed. Enhanced by the Force, Jados bounded to the other end of the room, parrying beams as he flew. He came down hard with his saber on the lead attacker and Fore-slammed another in to the soiled durasteel wall. A three-eyed Gran came in with a descending knife and was met by a crimson blade that dismembered his hand then plunged into his belly. Jados spun, decapitated a blaster holding Nikto to his left, turned to shorten the muzzle of a blaster rifle and round-kicked its owner on the side of its head. Alerted by the Force, he flung his blade back to impale a female human's shoulder and rammed his opposite elbow into her face. The Jedi turned to face the next batch before them. To his surprise, they hesitated to strike, then stopped completely. They lowered their weapons. " Smart decision." The Trandoshan told them, but focused on their movements just in case. One, a Devaronian, spoke up. " It evident we are no match for such a powerful Jedi as yourself." " We did not wish a fight. I did what I had to do, unfortunately." The devilish alien smirked mysteriously. Jados didn't understand. Suddenly, the one handed Abyssin that had sneaked-up behind him smashed a barstool over his back. The Jedi Padawan went down hard, his lightsaber flying from his hands. The weapon deactivated as soon as it left his grip and rolled away after it joined him on the floor. " Vee make you pay Jedi!" The large black furred cyclops grunted, before smashing his boot into Jados ribs. It didn't take long for the remainder of thugs joined in on the pummeling. Jados had made a very common-possible fatal-mistake of an apprentice. He had placed all his attention on the people in his vision and not stayed open to the thought of attack from behind. Now it was too late. It was impossible now to mount any kind of defense against the strikes to his body. Allon was to young to help and Jados hoped that he'd taken the chance to run away. He could only take solace in that and the fact that he would die without fear. He was to die defending one who could protect himself.
Master Naraga. will be proud, I hope. Though he never expected it to happen anytime soon, Jados was prepared to become one with the Force. And to think, Jados had great plans for his future. The Abyssin was suddenly jerked away and the other stopped for the moment to see what was up. There, towering over Jados was surely a sight for his sore eyes. The Abyssin jumped-up with rage and lunged forward at his attacker. Anakin Solo turned, caught the alien by the throat and snapped its neck. The mighty Jedi was silent. A member of the bar patrons rose his blade, prepared to attack, but was stopped. Not by Solo, not by Jados, nor Allon had done anything. It was the Devaronian who grabbed the man's arm. " Hey!" He said. " Don't you know who that is? It's Anakin Solo." The vibrodagger-toting man went pale with fear, the weapon dropping from his hand. Allon came out from hiding behind his master as the scum all threw down their weapons in apprehension. Master Solo gave them an icy stare. Without any reluctance or words, the Jedi Master scooped up the injure apprentice and was followed out by Allon.
Anakin Solo walked in to the quarters of Andur Naraga and found the Selquian meditating as usual. " You assured me Jados would bring Allon back safely." The human said with irritation. Naraga merely smiled with his eyes still closed and replied. " I only guaranteed that Jados would find Allon. I said nothing of him bringing him back." Anakin huffed and exited.