Exiting hyperspace presented Laeus with the final planet of her mission, Havaru. From orbit it looked exceedingly normal, a standard continental world, but something about it Laeus didn't like. There was something about it that was lacking, as if the lands and seas were muted, the whole place without the vibrancy that other such worlds possessed. The flight over the city gave her the same impression, so did the spaceport. It was a city, with buildings and streets, and there wasn't much more to say than that. But as they left the spaceport and began walking through the streets Laeus did start to sense something particular about the surroundings: tension.

The city had offered no transport or delegation to meet them. Part of Laeus was glad for the lack of fanfare, but another part was slightly put off. The communication between the ship and the city when they had first arrived in orbit was dry and bureaucratic, then when they had identified themselves as Jedi coming to collect a youngling it became curt as well. They were just offered a landing pad and nothing more, barely even an acceptance of their presence.

Laeus didn't mind walking the distance to the outer city, and she didn't mind the occasional glances they got, that was standard. What she did mind, and found worrying, were the glances that people on the street gave each other. They all looked human, but when she reached out with the Force she could sense that only some of them were genuine. The rest only appeared human and internally were something else, the planet's indigenous people, and it was obvious that the looks they gave each other across that divide were not ones of friendship. Dhoril's stories to her of the long history of species conflict on the world had sobered her attitudes to the planet before they'd even arrived. How exactly the natives had come to so closely resemble baseline humans was a very strange thing, but the repercussions of it had been felt for millennia. It was this enmity she felt saturating the streets that made her very spirit tense. The Force was unhappy in this place.

The city centre was concrete and glass, people in work attire toing and froing across pavement, roads and plazas. Aside from a few token trees on the side of the road there was very little greenery, and a seamless cover of grey cloud covered the sky, leaving no one bothering to look upwards. Leaving the centre reduced the height of the buildings but did not raise the level of sunshine. In the mid-city concrete was replaced by brick, and then entering the industrial areas the trees were replaced by pipes, as if the city stopped trying to pretend.

The streets became nearly empty of activity, and it was hard to tell whether any given building was for work or residence. They were only able to identify their destination because it stood on its own, an orphanage whose only neighbours were five metres of asphalt, the wilting grass poking through it, and the chain link fence surrounding the car park.

Laeus walked up two oversized concrete steps to an equally oversized heavy wooden door that was splitting with age, using a peeling brass knocker to hammer on it. Waiting for it to be answered she mused that orphans weren't that common in the temple. Their origins were sad, but she was actually happy whenever one was brought in. On top of there being no pain of separation for the parents, the child would get a brighter future and a greater family than they would ever have gotten growing up orphaned. And so Laeus was quite keen to get inside and take the child away from this bleak place, back to the light of the temple.

Finally, the door was answered by an old human woman, dressed in clothes that looked like some sort of carer uniform but had faded over many years. She eyed the two Jedi with confusion, then when she was about to ask why they were here the answer finally arrived in her head.

"You must be here for the Okrala child, yes?" Her voice was tired from a lifetime of graft. Laeus wondered if so was her empathy.

"That's right. May we come in?"

"Yes, yes, come in." The Jedi walked up the oversized steps, Dhoril lifting his massive form up the giant steps was somewhat impressive to watch. Entering, Laeus noted the lobby was a curious mix of old wood, old technology, and brand-new technology stuck in. A creaking and warped wooden stairway had fuse boxes nailed the side of it, kept shut by rusted padlocks, meanwhile a fairly new holotransmitter hung on the wall, framed in still shiny metal, which was currently showing a holoprojection of the area outside the door. Laeus saw Dhoril on it before he entered, and she guessed the view could be changed to anywhere in the grounds.

"Where is the youngling then?"

"Follow me," said the lady. She ascended the wooden staircase, though her age meant that she only walked up it as fast as Dhoril did.

Eventually they came to the second floor. There were a couple of young human boys playfighting on the landing and the old lady snapped at them to go back to their room.

"Whoa, are those… Jedi?" One of the boys asked, standing still in awe.

"Have they come to take the Xylkie?" the other asked, his speech noticeably more disdainful than his counterpart.

"Never you mind, now go back to your room. Go!" She snapped her fingers and pointed off down the corridor. When the children still remained where they were, staring at the Jedi, she moved forward. "Go!" she shouted again, gesturing down the corridor, and finally the boys moved away, their gazes lingering on Laeus and Dhoril as long as they could. "Sorry about that master Jedi. The child is just in here."

The woman led them into the room where the youngling lay. The holocron had informed them that it was an Okrala, the native species to the planet and the ones who looked superficially identical to humans. Laeus had a lot of questions about that. Dhoril had explained them as a race of cold-blooded lizards who had evolved to mimic humans but did not do so voluntarily. Laeus had more questions about that, but Dhoril had simply recommended she read their entry in the archives to understand more.

The room itself felt remarkably unsympathetic for an orphanage. It was very bare, most furniture removed, and judging by the marks on the walls, quite recently. The plaster on the walls was flaking, revealing the brick underneath. Laeus knew that it would have been worse, but when plaster is peeling away she really would have expected to see more wires, given the technology level of the planet. But there weren't many wires, or much sign of technology at all apart from the single light in the centre of the ceiling and the one radiator at the end of the room. The child lay in a cot near the radiator in the corner and was pretty much the only major feature of the place. Laeus walked over to it, the clacking of her shoes on the hard wooden floor the only sound.

Peering down into the cot, she saw the Okrala child. He was nestled under faded and itchy blankets, obviously not resting well. He stared up at Laeus, and Laeus smiled. He didn't smile back, instead he seemed wary of what this stranger was doing. Laeus reached out with the Force to calm the child, assuring him that she meant well. He relaxed at that, and Laeus reached down to pick him up. His skin felt cold to the touch. Being cold-blooded his body temperature was dependant on his environment, which explained the blankets and the position next to the radiator, but clearly that hadn't been enough to keep him at a healthy temperature. Laeus took the child into her arms and held him close to her, trying to use her own body heat to warm him up a bit more.

"Yes, I'm afraid we don't really have to resources to properly care for it," commented the old lady. "Glad you're taking it to be frank."

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to the child's parents?"

"Ah, they were killed in those awful riots a few months ago. The city was considered too unstable, so they sent him here. But as I said, we can't really care for it properly. But that's the Xylkie for you, just creating problems, even as babies."

"What was that you called it? Those boys said the same thing."

"Xylkie? Oh, that's nothing, just a nickname."

"I see…" was all Laeus said. Then she looked to Dhoril. "What was the name on the holocron again? I forget."

"Halwyn." Dhoril replied.

"Yes, Halwyn Obris. We tried to find other family for him, but nothing came up. Silly, the Xylkie should really be with their own kind, but none of them are even claiming it." The old lady chuckled to herself.

"It is actually standard practice in the order to give orphans a different last name," said Dhoril.

"That's right," confirmed Laeus, "they're effectively starting again in family terms, so we give them a new family name to reflect that. Usually a word from old Jedi texts."

"Oh really, you're not going to keep Obris then?" Said the lady, sounding interested. "So, what are you going to call it?"

"Don't know yet, we'll decide once we get him back to the temple. Speaking of which…"

"Yes, we must be off now," Dhoril said to the lady. "Thank you for your hospitality."

"Not at all master Jedi. As I said, it's probably good that you're taking it." She then put on a smile that seemed to Laeus to be at most half-sincere. "I hope it will grow up to be a great Jedi."

The Jedi nodded in thanks to the lady, then left the room. They went down the stairs, left the building, and began the walk back to the ship. Before they began though, Laeus turned to Dhoril and asked one short question.

"Is Xylkie really a common nickname here?"

"It is certainly common, but I would not call it a 'nickname'," was all Dhoril said in return.

"I thought as much."

As they re-entered the mid-city, it was reaching lunchtime and the streets were more populated. But the streets being more populated did not make them more friendly, and Laeus still saw the obvious separation in the groups. Passing by one area, two men were arguing outside a shop. Laeus could tell that one was human and one was Okrala. Other men were trying to break it up, but they continued yelling. Laeus hoped it wouldn't turn violent, but she could do more than just hope. Turning to Dhoril she spoke with a calm but steady voice.

"Could you hold Halwyn for me?" Dhoril obliged, he didn't need to ask what Laeus intended to do.

Laeus crossed over the street to the arguing men. They all turned and stopped yelling at the sight of her, more out of confusion than anything. As she began to talk to them Dhoril watched from the other side of the street, then cast his eyes down at the baby in his claws. The baby looked back, gently squirming in the rags and puzzling over Dhoril's unreadable, inhuman face. Meanwhile, the men weren't being as receptive as Laeus would have liked.

"Oh, a Jedi huh? And what the hell do you know about this?"

"This isn't about me or the Jedi, this is about you. What has upset you?" Laeus's voice and presence had made most of the crowd quiet, but the human man was being particularly belligerent.

"Ah, you're just like that bastard from after the riots. All 'contemplative' and 'understanding'." He put particular mocking emphasis on those words and some in the crowd laughed. Nevertheless, Laeus had infinite patience. Over the next two minutes she calmly mediated the two men, with an unbreakable soothing voice and smile. Eventually the Okralan man had stopped being angry and swallowed his pride enough to apologise for the insult that had started the argument: knocking shoulders and spilling the human man's drink. But when Laeus invited the human to do the same he was just as scornful as ever.

"And why should I? He's already said sorry, like he should. I done nothing wrong." Despite Laeus' best efforts the man only ever seemed to get more angry the more she tried to calm him.

"You've both been angry. This is your chance to just walk away from that, to be a bigger man."

"Oh, piss off, you don't tell me how to feel. Am I right?" He called out to the crowd, but they didn't really want to support him anymore, they rather wanted the Jedi to just end this. "Oh, well screw you all then. And screw you Xylkie. And screw you Jedi." He pointed emphatically at both of them as he said this, then pushed through the back of the crowd and stomped away.

The crowd watched him go, then turned back to Laeus. She smiled sadly at the man as he went, then broke off to say a last word to the crowd.

"This didn't need to happen, and I know no one wanted it to." She looked at the Okralans. "There's no shame in just saying sorry," then turning to the humans, "and no glory in receiving one. Be good to each other." She then gave one last motherly smile before turning away and walking back to Dhoril. No one said anything as she left, and quietly went back to their drinks not wanting to admit their thoughts.

As Laeus reached Dhoril he made his own observation.

"Fairly well-handled Master Laeus, but that man did not take kindly to your words."

"Well, there are always some. But I don't think he's alone. This planet needs more than just apologies."

The walk back to the ship was uneventful. Boarding it, Laeus could only think of what that lady had said back at the orphanage. Riots. There had been riots here a few months ago. Species riots she could guess, and Dhoril confirmed. And it was in those riots that Halwyn's parents had been killed. Laeus looked down at the alien in her arms and whispered to it. "Poor child. But the Jedi will be your family now."


The ship made its final landing back at the temple hangar. Laeus thanked the pilots for their service and walked down the boarding ramp with Halwyn in her arms. As they exited the hangar, she was about to set off straight for the nursery when Dhoril called to her.

"Master Laeus, I am afraid I will be departing here."

"So soon? Don't you want to see all of them together?"

"I'm afraid not. As worthy as this mission has been, I feel seeing them all placed together is but a sentiment."

"Come now Dhoril, don't say that."

"I mean no disrespect by it Janeir, it is a sentiment of the Force and worthy in and of itself. But it is a sentiment I do not wish to indulge in, for my duty to them ends here. Your path is different, I know, so I know it will mean a lot more to you than me. I wish you all the best in raising them Master Laeus, farewell."

"Farewell Dhoril. Till next we see each other." Laeus shifted Halwyn's weight to free one arm and make a short wave. Dhoril made no such movement, but bowed his scaly head, then turned and set off slowly lumbering in the other direction.

Laeus watched him go for a few seconds, but then turned back to where she was heading and set off through the brightly lit corridors of the temple one last time. All the walking on Havaru had taken a while and now it was getting into the evening, the remains of the sun mingling with the interior lights that had just turned on. A few Jedi were still about, and those that recognised her nodded as she passed. Half-way along she passed Verlis, who did more than just nod and stopped in the corridor to talk.

"Laeus, how are you? I take it this is the final youngling?"

"It is indeed Master Verlis. His name's Halwyn, he's an Okrala."

"Okrala? Where have I heard of them…? Well anyway, hello there Halwyn." Verlis moved closer and reached out to feel the boy's forehead as he had before, but quickly withdrew his hand once he did so. "He's cold, very cold."

"His species are cold-blooded. He's only as warm as his environment and he's just had a several hour flight on a metallic spaceship."

"Well, that would explain it. I'm sure he'll warm up once you get him to the nursery, eh?"

"There's a heat lamp and everything."

"Well, good. Listen, I would love to chat, but I have a council of reassignment meeting."

"Always busy with something aren't you?"

"Ha, yes, I'm afraid so. I'll see you later."

"Later then." The two began to walk past each other, but Verlis turned around quickly to say one more thing.

"Oh, and Janeir…"

"Yes?"

"I know many of us who you pass as you ferry these younglings think it, even though we don't say it, but we admire you for what you do. The collection of younglings is vital for the order." Laeus chuckled.

"I am quite aware of that Ikroff."

"I know, I know. But I mean that we admire you for doing these things that few of us can do. I certainly would have difficulty with it myself. Collecting younglings is an important task, but it requires a will that not many possess, the ability to put the needs of the Jedi and the Force above individuals when confronted with those individuals. You have that will Laeus, that's why you're so good at the job." Laeus didn't say anything for a few seconds after Verlis had finished.

"It's not just for the Jedi and the Force, Ikroff," she eventually said quietly, "it's for the whole galaxy, and everyone in it, including the parents."

"Of course, I wasn't suggesting otherwise. But I really really must be off. Farewell."

"Farewell," Laeus quietly responded. Verlis turned and hurried away. Laeus watched him go, thinking about what he had said. She had never thought of these missions as a matter of will. It was doing what was right for the Force and for her that didn't take will. But was that what others thought of it? This was a lot to consider, but a wriggling in her arms snapped her out of it early. She looked down at the youngling she was still holding and remembered she was not finished yet. So, she turned back to where she was going and carried on her way.

Eventually she arrived back the nursery for the seventh time. She walked through the corridors memorised by heart and entered the room where the other seven younglings were kept. There was no one else here, not even a care droid. She walked over to the last empty crib and placed the young alien down in it. Then reaching over, she switched on the heat lamp, which began to bathe the crib in a warm yellow glow. She stepped back and admired the youngling, who was now quickly falling asleep in the comforting warmth.

"You'll need to turn that off at night, you know." Laeus turned to the interrupting voice and saw Juvhal there. "Just because it's cold-blooded doesn't mean it can't get too hot." He was leaning on the doorway, and half-smiled when Laeus turned to him. This sight made Laeus smile herself, but also at the mock criticism.

"I know that Master Juvhal, I have done this before."

"Yes, I know you have. And again Laeus, just Relen is fine." Now Laeus chuckled at the mild annoyance in his voice. Her teasing never failed. Juvhal walked over and stood by Laeus, looking at the now sleeping Halwyn. "Every time I look at new younglings, I can't help but wonder what they might achieve when they grow up. You're the same, aren't you?"

"Every time," Laeus agreed. "Though I like to imagine more than just what they might accomplish, but who they might become."

"Ah, every time I think about that I get worried about the pitfalls on that road. They'll face many challenges in life, many temptations. I try not to think about it and just focus on raising them until they're old enough to be a clan, then it's up to someone else to keep them on the right path."

"Well, I do like to think about it. I like to be positive about who they can be. I know that so long as the Force is with them, they cannot be led astray."

"In theory Janeir, in theory. The Force might stay with you but staying with the Force is another matter. Still, as I said, that's not up to us. That's up to their future clan leaders, and then their masters, if they make it that far."

"I'm sure they will," Laeus said after a pause. Then glancing around, "I'm sure they all will."

"And how are you sure about that?" inquired Juvhal. Laeus turned to look at him, looking straight into his eyes as she spoke with the utmost confidence.

"I feel it."

Juvhal looked to be about to debate that but didn't. He knew better than to argue about the will of the Force with Master Laeus. Instead, he shifted himself and spoke again.

"Well, I must get back. I have a few things I still need to attend to today. I'll leave you to finish up in here?" Laeus nodded. "Well then, I'll see you later Janeir. And well done on this mission, you did a fine job." Juvhal turned and exited the room, back to his office.

Now that Laeus was alone in the room again, she took the time to go around each youngling in turn as they slept. She saw Khylla, who seemed restless even in sleep. Geris and Ti, sleeping in separate cribs but still connected through the Force. Merla, who still seemed somewhat uncomfortable in the new environment. Shel, the most serene of all as she lay there. Saf, who looked a lot more suited to the Jedi crib than the regal one from her home. Carvax, who had nestled down somewhat awkwardly in his new nest but was there to stay. And Halwyn, who now slept alongside his new family. She visited them all and bade them a silent farewell in turn, all the while exuding that same feeling of reassurance through the Force.

Finally, she turned and walked to the doorway. Before she left, she turned around and took one last look at the eight new Jedi younglings. Standing in the doorway, she recited the mantra of the Jedi fosterers again to officially end her mission.

"For as long as darkness lives, the light must rise against.
For the light to rise against, the stars must trust in hope.
For the stars to trust in hope, the Jedi must stand strong.
For the Jedi to stand strong, our future must be trained.
For our future to be trained, our young must be kept safe.
For our young to be kept safe, we must watch over them."

Then, satisfied, she uttered one last thing before she left.

"Welcome to the order children. You are the future of the Jedi."


AN: And this is the end. If you read this far, thank you very much!