Chapter 18

Leo sat on the very utmost rung of the massive climbing frame that was built into the stone walls of the gym. His feet braced him against the next rung down, and his left and right hands braced on the organic structure to either side of him.

It was very high here – much higher than Leo had originally expected it to be. The perception of height from below was much different to the perception he now had, looking down to the ground below. But that wasn't where his eyes wanted to remain.

Right now he was basking in the sunlight from the two suns that the planet revolved around. It wasn't like an installed window, but more like simple wall, which happened to be transparent. It had an obvious texture, but did not obscure the view beyond.

Below him the beautiful, intricate gardens of the Jedi Temple stretched out like a painting. The Initiates learnt to focus on the Force in living things, and they were capable of encouraging a plant to grow with this power. Thus, garden tending lessons kept them in good practice, and allowed them to provide their own food, and keep such a beautiful environment.

Some of the Initiates were on their break, while the others were in lessons. He could see the Masters below leading groups of students between tasks in fours or fives. Elsewhere, students played amongst themselves, or held races up and down the central path. Two of the elder students were practicing lightsaber techniques in slow motion beside a fountain, watched by their friends.

Further beyond the garden stretched infinite landscapes. Mountains that seemed too close to be reasonable. A lake, a river, even a desert, seemed almost planned in their proximity. Had this planet been terra-formed, then? Like someone might plan a garden, only on a larger scale?

It was a daunting prospect, but it would make sense. A day's walk could have the Initiates training in the snow after all; the perfect planet to train on, indeed. It would be wonderful to stay here a while and test his own boundaries…but he didn't have that kind of time. They would be leaving soon for Xircamede.

He swung across from one wall to the other and wriggled his way down between the bar he'd been sitting on, and the one his feet had rested on. He descended a little at a time, making good use of the Force to affirm his grip. At one point in his descent, he had to make a daring leap between one side of the cone shaped ceiling and the other.

Due to the battle, he was now far more confident in his abilities. Not to the point where he thought he might be able to pull his own against an enemy – but he wasn't afraid of defending himself. He let go of the bars and dropped the last two metres to the ground, landing with bent knees and then rising back to his full height.

Time to find Ranzel, he supposed. If everything was right, the older man should already have returned to the shuttle. He was looking forwards to seeing his mother again, and his heart was light as he took up his towel and brought it to the back of his neck to dry the accumulated sweat there.

He stepped over to recover his robes, pulling them around him as he made his way out into the hall.

And then he froze, as two powerful beings swept past him, ignorant of his presence. A gold skinned woman, and a lesser, in a cloak that covered his head. They weren't Masters here…

They seemed too busy to notice him, so he simply stood still to watch them as they disappeared further down the corridor. They were headed towards the landing bays, which was of course where he intended to go himself.

He began after them. The Renzucon and Ranzel were in this direction. The two figures seemed to be heading towards the same place, because they entered the bay ahead of him.

Leo was suddenly struck by the amount of power confined to the landing bay. Like the feeling that the Masters had given off when they were together. Why were they there…? A stroke of foresight warned him to be careful, and cautiously, Leo made his way to the door, peering through it.

A group of people were standing by the entrance hatch of he Renzucon, and the gold skinned woman was offering her hand towards the hatch.

Two people stepped forwards, escorting Ranzel, apparently. One held the gold skinned woman his Master's lightsaber, and Leo flinched. They were arresting him – taking his guide from him. At least now he knew why the people here felt so powerful. They must be from the Jedi Council.

But they would be looking for him now, would they not? Leo squinted – Ranzel was speaking calmly with the golden skinned woman. Arakaziel and Tehirehtil were there, and the woman turned to speak to them once she was done with Ranzel. They nodded in agreement then began to turn.

Leo moved back instantly, pressing his body against the wall. If there was any need to suppress his noticeable ability in the Force, then this was the moment. He turned and walked towards the second bay, calmly, trying to seem invisible; blend into his surroundings.

It was an odd feeling: He hadn't realised he had done anything - or that it was even possible. His vision dimmed little by little until he seemed to be walking in darkness. His footsteps made waves of sound in the dark, which seemed to get absorbed into the bubble Leo had built around himself.

The bizarre feeling continued. Arakaziel and Mehirehtil slipped by behind him, without - apparently - noticing him at all.

What had he done? It was like being blindfolded. He could still feel everything, avoid the walls as he moved, but he was blanketed by this darkness, and apparently, it had helped him hide.

Like the GanGan bird.

Slipping into the next room along, he could finally breathe, letting down the protective cloud from around him. It was a relief, because he was now exhausted. His chest heaved and he lowered his head slowly.

He had to think about what to do. Ranzel had warned him that if they came, they would send Leo back to Earth. That was one of the places Leo did not want to go, under any circumstances. Not now…not when the Galaxy had just been opened up for him. Besides…if they sent him there, would that be where the Empire followed him next? He didn't want to cause the destruction of his home world.

Ranzel wouldn't want him to turn himself in either…so there was only one option, Leo would have to go before the Council could catch him. On the run from both the Empire and the Jedi Council he would at least be able to continue his life.

But first he would have to visit his mother… His only weakness, he mused. She had been his pillar in the past, and she would serve now, he knew that well enough.

If he was to be alone in a bid to earn Ranzel's freedom – face a Galaxy he didn't understand, full of aliens he knew nothing about, with only the Force on his side – it would have to be a very strong pillar of support.

Now he had to get to the ship. A glance down the corridor revealed that the train of Jedi Masters were leaving. He reached out with the Force with silent concentration. There was still another in the bay, but they seemed to be standing guard rather than following the retreating Masters. He took in a breath and stepped into the hallway, bringing his hand up to pull the hood of his cloak up over his head, far enough to cover his eyes, and the majority of his face.

He swept into the room determinedly, making his way towards the ship. The figure stepped in front of the ramp, protectively, and Leo fell still and inclined his head a little.

They stood in silence for a moment.

"I must board the Renzucon," Leonard said, his voice at complete ease. This person wasn't a Jedi Master. Instead, he was one of the Padawan's that had been watching their fight earlier. That, at least, was a relief.

"You can't. My Master insists that none shall pass," replied the Padawan, with as equal steadiness as Leo had portrayed.

Leo lifted his head a little further, so he could see from under the hood. The boy he faced had short brown hair and a thin pony tail. His pale blue eyes were fixed warily on him. "Why is that?"

"The Council wishes to return you to your planet."

"Have I not earned my place amongst the Jedi? Don't I deserve the right to fight for my planet?" Leo asked, tentatively.

The Padawan seemed nervous. Obviously he thought that everyone should have the right to defend their home world.

"Let me pass," Leo insisted plaintively.

"I cannot…" The Padawan was having second thoughts, but he was still intent.

"Then I will have to pass you by other means," Leo said, recovering his lightsaber from beneath his robes and lifting it before him. "I do not wish to fight. Your Master did not order you to defend with force."

Obviously not, but still, Leo wasn't sure it would work.

Thankfully for him – it did. The Padawan sighed and stepped aside. "I cannot stop you. My conscience would not allow it."

Leo lowered his lightsaber and bowed. "I will remember your choice. And if you ever need my help, I will willingly provide it."

There was a space there, and the Padawan offered his hand. "Zennoth Omaga."

"Leonard Black," Leo replied, taking Zennoth's hand for a moment. It was only a moment, because as soon as he took it, a surge of warning ran through him. The Masters were returning.

"Goodbye," Leo said, hurriedly, stepping away and making his way up onto the ramp. He hit the door control swiftly enough that the stunned Padawan hadn't time to change his mind.

Locking down the ship like Ranzel had taught him to do on Pentusar, Leo found himself in momentary safety. There was no doubt the Masters would find their way to get into the ship if given the chance. Leo would have to have it up before such a time, which meant taking off as soon as possible.

He was in the pilot's chair in seconds, and very glad of Ranzel's good foresight in teaching him to fly. Now, he supposed, he would be having a lot more practice. He activated the computers, eyeing the more complicated controls of the navi-computer. The numbers were different to the designating number which had identified Cantauri.

Leo suspected that they represented the end point of their journey: Xircamede, the planet that his mother was on. At least he hoped that she was there.

He was procrastinating far too much. His mind told him the Masters where standing on the bay floor now, scorning Zennoth for letting Leo board the ship. He hoped the other Padawan would be okay, despite Leo's escape. He shifted to press his fingertips against the thrust control, bringing the power of the engine slowly upwards until the ship let a rumble of response and began to move forwards.

A little backwards tilt on the directional command allowed the ship to rise up in a smooth arc. Leo could feel the Masters below, and more noticeably Ranzel, full of relief, and worry. The Masters weren't furious, it would have betrayed the meaning of their existence – but they were irritated for the most part as they watched the ship rise without any chance to stop it.

Momentarily, Leo wondered if a combined effort from them might simply make his ship stop moving in midair. On second thoughts, he didn't want to know. He sent the ship to full power, and only began to relax again when he broke through the atmosphere into the empty vacuum beyond.

Unfortunately, his relief was short lived. He finally knew why they hadn't tried to stop him. The space he had come into was far from being empty. Maintaining its orbit, around the planet was the saucer shaped vessel Leo had seen in orbit around Xircamede, what seemed like years ago.

The display before him showed the vessel in green, with small, scrawling text beside it identifying it as a Mirage Class Union of Planets Battlecruiser. There was no way Leo wanted to get close enough to it to know more. If this ship was anything like the Empire ships, it might have tractor beams. He turned the Renzucon instantly away from it, bringing the nose around as he activated the navi-computer.

The bigger ship turned after him laboriously, its massive bulk making it difficult to point in the right direction – but its massive engines made up for it. It began to close with the Renzucon.

There was no fear now. Leo knew that the Renzucon would be in hyperspace before the ship could catch up with him. With any luck, the larger ship would be reluctant to follow until the members of the Jedi Council returned on board.

With a gentle tap of command, the Renzucon lurched obediently into lightspeed, leaving everything behind in a flurry of stars.

The last leg of his journey had begun. Back to Xircamede, and from there to embrace a life of secrecy.