Yoda stared at Nevari and sneered at him in contempt. The green Padawan became angered and switched on his lightsaber, as the two pose for another show down, a voice calls out from the distance.
"Yoda! Anabi!"
Nevari turns his head to look and sees Master Jin Wan and Tinara running out of the darkness to spot the two Padawans standing there with their swords dawn.
"What the -?" Jin Wan utters as he comes to stop and gazing at them both. "Nevari? What are you doing here? Where's Anabi?"
"Master So'bal…I…I…" The young boy stammers as the Jedi Master notices him wearing the white robe.
Looking down at the ground, he got his answer he was looking for. The woman was lying face down and motionless as her lightsaber lay on the ground beside her, So'bal raised his eyes back up at Nevari and realized everything as if it flooded into his brain at once. The unanswered questions that were in his mind suddenly fit together and opened his eyes to only one possible conclusion.
"It's you…you're the one behind all this! You murdered Master Daus…and now…poor Anabi…why? WHY?!"
The young boy became fearful of him and backed away slowly. With one last look at Yoda giving him a scowl of hatred, Nevari quickly dashed out of the ally using the force to increase his speed. Yoda gave a somber sigh once he was gone; he then stepped over to the body of the female Jedi and stroked her blonde hair as he now could morn her passing. The small boy gazed up at his Master who was still trying to take it all in, the shocked look never left the Jedi Master as he couldn't believe his eyes.
"Why? Why is this happening? Nevari…my god…it was him."
"No Master…" Yoda suddenly says to him. "Sensed his mind I did…until this moment…killed another he did not. Daus was killed by another."
Tinara came over and crouched down to comfort the sad looking Padawan. She stopped his hand from stroking the dead woman's hair and looked straight into her friend's eyes.
"Are you ok?"
"No…I am…ashamed." Yoda whimpered. "Stopped him I could have…stopped him I should have…now others will suffer."
Jin Wan grips his lightsaber and tightly holds in his hand as he grits his teeth in anger. The loss of more Jedi was hard to bear for him, never had he witnessed so many friends and well-trained Jedi Knights fall in so short a time. It was hard to control his emotions in the moment, but he tired his best not to take it personal and not to step out of his Jedi mentality. He lowered his head to the small boy and tried to reassure him.
"There will be no more suffering. Come Yoda…there is only one place the boy could go. To the Temple!"
Yoda straightens up as he hears his Master and nods agreeingly as So'bal walks past him. The small green Padawan looks at Tinara one last time and gives her a grin to show her he's alright.
"Miss you I will…my friend." He says.
"And I you Yoda. Go be a great Jedi Knight…and don't forget me."
The boy bows to her in respect and quickly runs up to give her a big hug. Jin Wan already runs halfway down the ally and shouts back at his small learner.
"Come on Yoda! We must hurry if we are to catch him!"
Tinara rubs the small boy's hair as he steps away and watches him quickly run to his master's side. Together they use their power to increase in speed and make a mad dash for the Jedi Temple. Tinara rises back up from her crouched position and takes out a small communicator from her belt. The unit is small and very worn looking, a device that has seen better days and no doubt been shot, dropped or put together a few times. Tapping on one of the small buttons on the face of it, she brings it close and speaks.
"Mort…ya there?"
The furry companion speaks to her loudly in his language over the communicator and she flinches with every word he howls.
"Alright! Alright!" She screams back in frustration. "Never mind that…just get the Razorclaw ready will ya! Remember we've got a job to do…but there's been a slight change in our pick up. I'll tell ya shortly…come get me first, Tinara out."
As she switches off her small device and places it back onto her belt, she stares up at the city and can just make out the tip of the Jedi Temple. Her eyes give a soft expression and sighs as she stands alone in the dark, dimly lit alleyway.
"Don't trust anyone Yoda…not even me."
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
The two Jedi run as fast as they can and leap onto various hovering transports, taxi, and other objects in their path in order to reach the temple's main entrance plateau. As they skillfully and acrobatically land onto the concourse area, they halt at the base of the steps and catch their breaths as they gaze at the temple.
"Why…gasp!…Why in the temple would he attempt to hide, Master? Easily caught he would be…"
Jin Wan also gasped for breath again and shook his head negatively as he tries to explain to his young learner.
"He'll mask his presence to us. A Jedi can almost shield his mind from others when he's with a group of ten or more, with a temple of hundreds…I fear he will be able to hide until he can find a way to leave undetected. This will be difficult my young one, very difficult."
Yoda takes a deep breath and scowls at the thought.
"Hide from me he cannot…able to see a Jedi's thoughts I can. Sense him I can…sense him I still do."
Jin Wan smiles, as he is relieved to hear of the Padawan's ability. The man takes a breath of air for himself and gets a better hold on his lightsaber once more.
"You are powerful as the council has foreseen. Very well my Padawan…my trust I place in you. Let's go seek him out!"
The two quickly run up the long stairs and continue into the building. As they run side by side, Yoda stretches out his mind and tries to trace the young Nevari's direction. The small boy darts to the left and head up another long descending stairway, Jin Wan tries to keep up with his vigorous student and hollers at the other Jedi passing by with puzzled looks.
"Nevari, Padawan Nevari…have you seen him?"
Everyone admits they have not as he scurries past and he motions them to stand aside as they continue on. Level by level they run, Yoda like a bloodhound is hot on the heels of the Jedi killer, who suddenly appears at the top of the last stairs leading up to the Jedi Council Room and notices them heading straight for him. The boy gasps in amazement and darts around the top floor looking for a place to hide. He dashes down the corridor and comes to the main entrance to the Jedi Council sanctum. He hesitates to go in, but as soon as he looks back at the stairwell, he sees the two pursuers popping up and locating him. The boy whines in fear and steps lively through the main doors as they open for him. Jin Wan and Yoda manage to get to the end of the corridor, but stop as the doors close again.
"In there he is, no place to hide from us now." Yoda grumbles has he breathes heavily.
"Yes my Padawan, well done. Now control your anger, let us take him without having to destroy the room."
Yoda curiously looks up at his trainer and raises his eyebrows in a humorous fashion.
"Trust me my friend…the council loves that room, they hate having to redecorate."
Yoda shrugs his shoulders and gives a slight giggle.
The two hold their lightsabers up and as soon as Jin Wan activates the doors, they switch them on and stand ready as they open. The council chambers are dark, the sun hasn't yet begun to break but the pale glow of it is on the brink of happening. It barely gives the room any light at all; the surrounding windows all around are tinted until the council returns at dawn, shadows and dark corners are numerous as the two carefully step in. The light of their swords reflect off their faces and give them just enough light to see in front of them.
"Where is he Yoda?" Jin Wan whispers.
The boy looks around and gives a frustrated brow as he tries to use the force to sense him.
"Sense him...I…I cannot. Something…something blocks my mind."
The two quickly stop in the middle of the room and notice someone standing in front of the large window ahead. The darkness conceals the person in a dark robe as he stands there with his back turned and his arms folded behind.
"Nevari?" Jin Wan guesses. "Give yourself up…there's no more room to hide. This rebellion is over…we may be able to help you return to the way of the Force and cast off this darkside you've placed yourself in."
"Indeed, Master So'bal." The person answers back. "But it's much too late for that now, his path has already begun."
As the Jedi master stands there squinting and noticing the voice does not sound youthful or close to resembling Nevari's, he looks at the figure and ventures closer.
"Who are you? What are you doing in here?"
The dark robed man turns around and lowers his hood back to reveal himself.
"I'm the man that taught you how to control that sword, but the real question is…what are you two doing in here without permission?"
"Master Oberon Sa-hee!" Jin Wan says bowing.
And while So'bal bows to his former trainer, Yoda gives him a curious eye and notices the smile creeping on the old man's face. Another surge in the force gives the boy uncertain feelings of which danger is present in the room.