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Turning around I walked back towards the cockpit of the ship, and Raena came up wrapping her arms around my body and laying her head on my chest. We shared a seat behind Shomari, and I secretly saw her return Shomari's sword. The green planet of Naboo showed itself on the visual screen of the luxury pod, and we began our descent into the atmosphere, my mind already reminiscing of past times with my best friend Trance Pierson. Shomari expertly set us down on a large landing pad, where we saw Senator Amidala with a large procession waiting for us at the door of the port connected to the launch pad. As the ship shut down, I stood up at the opening door of the ship and walked down the stairs. Shomari and Raena followed me, and I moved quickly to the door and bowed my head slightly at Senator Amidala, my mind fruitlessly scanning for Trance's unforgettable presence.
"You know Déshawn, since I am now Senator, royal etiquette now longer applies to me." Senator Amidala nodded her greetings to me.
"Ah, you'll always be a Queen to me," Shomari grabbed her hand and kissed it politely.
"My apologies Senator," I glared at Shomari, who was grinning, and turned back to the Senator. "But the 4 of us must speak immediately."
"Of course," she nodded obligingly as we retreated into the port. "I have quarters near here."
"We should get there as soon as possible." I advised.
It took us a little under 10 minutes to reach her "quarters" which happened to be an apartment. The room had an elaborate feel to it, with white and black square patterns along the walls, matched congruently with the furniture strewn around the room. As we sat down, I noticed that the chairs and couches also formed matching squares.
"Who decorated? It's beautiful." Raena asked curiously.
"It was like this when I bought this apartment. I haven't bothered redecorating because it's kind of appealing and I've been busy traveling." Amidala answered off-handedly. "It's actually odd because the landlord nearly begged me to leave the living room like this. So I thought nothing of it and left it like this."
I rolled my eyes at the discussion and cleared my throat. "We do have important business to get to."
Raena gave me a look that seemed exasperated, as if I'd just cut off something of immense importance.
"Of course." Senator Amidala took a seat, and held out a sweeping hand, inviting us to follow suit.
"I trust that you received a message from the Council of the tense situation our mission has created?" I asked.
"Yes and I've given it some tho-" she started but was cut off.
"What time did you receive this message?" Shomari asked leaning forward looking interested suddenly.
"About 1600 hours." She sounded annoyed. "But I would appreciate it if I would be allowed to finish my sentences."
"My apologies Senator. I'll avoid future infractions," Shomari leaned back looking off into space again.
"As I was saying. I've given it some thought and it seems best that, instead of questioning the nature of how we got the 'Jar' but we attack them on the nature of it." She said. "You see, the three of you were completely unjustified in taking it, which is why the Council only told you to find out what it was. But now that we have it, they can't be allowed to reclaim it because that would only help them speed up whatever activities they're taking up in the Federation. So we must keep them stalled until we can learn more about what they're doing."
"This would seem a wise decision, as most likely it will be taken before a jury. Hopefully we can unravel this mystery before then." Shomari said sagely.
"How long do you think we will have if this is taken to trial?" Raena asked eagerly.
"Don't hope for much more than a week. Maybe less," Amidala had an apologetic tone in her voice.
"We will be done before then," I assured her.
"We will be counting on you Déshawn," the senator smiled at me.
Raena rose to her feet, and turned to me, "well we must be going. We still have one more item to resolve before we can even begin on this case."
"Ah yes, of course." I picked up on her thoughts about the note given to her by Yoda. "And of course you will have the 'Jar' examined by the best Senator."
"May the force be with you," Amidala nodded to us.
"And may the force side with you, my queen," Shomari smiled nodding back at her.
Back inside the ship Raena had spread Yoda's note on a table and we were perusing it carefully looking for the clue Yoda had given to Raena.
'You, along with your partners in crime, Déshawn Jackson and Shomari Jackson are hereby expelled from the Jedi order.'
"Raena, I don't what the big secret is, look at these signatures." I waved my hand at the note.
"So why tell me to study it?" Raena asked.
"You know, I think you're both right," Shomari got up and walked over to the note. "It's obvious the problem, but we don't understand why it's like that."
"You're losing me…" I looked at Shomari.
"In Lehman's terms need to find out whose signature these resemble," he explained in annoyed tones.
"Looks like it'd be someone rich," Raena said looking at the paper. "Probably lives near the richer section of the planet. All the curls and loops indicate a woman's handwriting."
"I know who would know this signature." I told them.
"It seems like Raena has a pretty good idea." Shomari waved off my suggestion.
"An idea what she's like, not who she is." I pointed out. "Trance Pierson could probably tell us exactly who this belongs to."
"Trance Pierson…I've heard of him," Raena said. "He's supposedly got some extra ability no Jedi has."
"He's my best friend, and although he's goofy, he's a constant source of information and facts." I answered.
"Well then, you're in charge." Deuce smiled.
"We're going to have to get to the village area."
We were walking through a thick-forested area. It was made of mostly tall, thin and strong trees. Occasionally there was a thick tree, or one that seemed to be weak. Feeling uneasy I let my mind become immersed and fused with the Force inside of me. My body is overtaken by a comforting cool sensation all over. As we continued through the forest I could see the huts and tents of the village near the edge of the forest, and suddenly I feel a warm flash on my left temple signaling danger to it.
"Get down!" I shouted as a log came swinging down from left.
Reacting quickly I use a force-boosted jump into the air and catch the rope that keeps the swinging log suspended. Balancing on the log I rode it back towards the tree that it came from, in the hopes that I can find who pushed it. I reach the branches and jump into the tree spotting a small woman running across a plank bridge that connects to a tree directly ahead of me. I run around the brush in front of me and begin to sprint across the bridge gaining on the would-be assassin. But she beats me to the edge, and the cuts the thin ropes that hold bridge together. Pulling my light saber out quickly, I cut the rope on the right side of the bridge to alter its falling course to the left instead of straight into a tree trunk. The bridge swings down and to the left, with me on it, at a diagonal motion until the middle wraps around a stray branch. The branch causes the bridge to fold around it and I'm thrown through the air into another branch. I groan in pain as I hold onto the branch and look down judging my distance from the nearest branch below me. I take a deep breath and re-center my mind on the force flowing through my body. I relax and let my mind plan my descent from the branch to the ground. Then I take a leap of faith and jump away from the branch out to the nearest tree trunk. Sliding down the vertical platform I push back through the air quickly to a branch sticking out. I grab it and my momentum causes my legs to swing and pull me into a gymnastic rotation over the bar. As my legs swing back under the branch I let go letting myself soar, flipping, into the air. Through the blur of trees from flipping, I spot Deuce and Raena waiting for my return facing the same direction I left from. I stop my rotating motions and land on the ground behind them panting, and slightly bloody in my forehead.
"You have just completed, the most complicated and useless circle ever made by a Jedi." Deuce criticized me.
"She got away, and cut the bridge okay," I said pressing my hand to my forehead to stop the throbbing pain in it, slightly embarrassed.
"The important thing is that you know who did it right?" Shomari teased.
"Shut it."
"So Shomari, I have a question," Raena changes the subject as we finish our trip to the edge of the village. "Why did you need to know the time?"
"To make sure she got the message from the real council."
"Did she?"
"Well, Adi Galla called me down at about 1800 hours so it's a safe yes," I answered.
"Not necessarily but it definitely leans that way."
"Why not necessarily?" I was now confused.
"Because we're not sure when the Council lost it."
"Halt," a large guard, with a partner stops the three of us. "ID?"
We each hand him the Jedi Certification and he nods returning them.
"Welcome to the Village of Nobles."
"Thank you sir." I nod to him surprised as I expected to have difficulties with him. But I hadn't gotten a warning from the Force so I hadn't prepared myself either.
We entered the village and looked around the many different tents, which seemed to be color-coded. The tents were green, red, blue, or gold, in no sort of particular pattern that I could tell.
"Interesting name for this village," Shomari pointed out.
"More interesting is the color of these tents," Raena said interestedly.
"What's with your focus on decorations lately? First the senator room, now these tents."
"Because each one has a higher meaning. The senators room is a ritual room, for what kind I don't know but my mother used to do a lot of rituals, and that room definitely isn't a just a place to relax."
"That sends chills up my spine," I shivered as we walked through the village.
"Well all I can tell you about that room is that it's designed to channel some kind of energy outside of yourself, unlike most other rituals which are to help focus energy inside of you." Raena said.
"So what about the tent colors?" Shomari pointed out.
"That sir," a voice from behind us caused us to whip around, "is how you tell where to get your different supplies from for the war."
"The war?" Raena cocked her head to the side.
The man, was tall, about 6' 5" he was bald, and very skinny giving the appearance of being extremely agile. He seemed to weigh about the same as me, but had an aura of power. He had tan skin, and his lanky arms were connected to very large hands.
"Yes the war against the Federation. Surely you must know about it."
"Of course," I said. "But what about these tents?"
"The green ones are food and first aid, red is for weapons, blue is for armor and shields, and gold is for information," he explained.
"You have a whole tent dedicated to information?" Shomari said. "That seems pointless."
"It's the main reason we're still here actually. You can probably tell we really don't have all out confrontations with the Federation's sizeable army. But about 80 of this camp is a well-trained in espionage. The best from where ever they came from. So we find it a good idea to have several areas to keep updated info so they don't re-report known facts, and so they don't go into a situation blind."
"Well when you put it that way," Shomari mumbled.
"Déshawn!" I heard the enthusiastic shout of my old friend and whipped around to look for his voice.
"Trance!" I shouted as he ran up to me.
I gave my best friend of 10 years a hug for a second then backed up a little to look at him. He looked matured from the last time I'd seen him, the war was sure to take some of his goofiness but I hoped he hadn't lost his sense of humor. He was shorter than me by about 2 inches but he was sure to weigh more, as he'd gained a lot of muscle. His hair was cut short and extremely neat, and it looked like a droids work.
"You got your hair cut by a droid?" I asked in shock.
"I didn't have time to do it myself anymore, from spearheading this camp, I've had to give in." he sighed. "Still got your scar right?"
"Still burns sometimes to," I tilted my head to show him that it was still there, he chuckled slightly at the sight.
"Hate to break this up, but we have something to ask you about this note," Raena produced the note Yoda had given her.
Inside of Trance's small brick house we all sat across from him at his long dinner table, which seemed to indicate he usually had guests of large numbers. He gazed at the note carefully after Raena had told him what kind of person she thought wrote this.
"Hmm, interesting thoughts Raena, but this handwriting doesn't belong to a women. It's actually the writing of our effeminate Count Popsomuo," he chuckled.
"Effeminate?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, he's the closest to a rich woman on this section of the planet you'll get. He's extremely sexist and racist, so it's easy to sneak into his camp using stereotypical stories. He's like a soft-hearted Hitler, it's his police force that enforce his ridiculous and discriminatory laws." Trance's voice turned to a darker tone at the mention of his police force.
"Who's Hitler?" Raena piped up.
"An Earth dictator," Shomari brushed her question aside. "What interest would he have in the Jedi Council?"
"What would any pitiful leader with only money to lead with want?" Trance looked at him suggestively.
"The Jedi Council controls every legitimate Jedi there is," I said understanding suddenly. "If he can control them, he can nearly control every galaxy that Jedi's are in."
"He can't control the Jedi Council, they're far to powerful for anyone to control. He's found a way to sort of…" he struggled with the words to describe what is ailing the Council. "Uh 'block' off the reasoning centers in their brains, if you get what I mean."
"You mean, he basically shut down they're souls?" Raena said in a horrified voice.
"Yeah." Trance answered.
"Do you know how?" Shomari prodded on.
"A machine called the Serum. It basically uses a brainwave pattern, powered from the mind or soul of a Jedi, to track down the Force of other Jedi's, and it blocks off all capacities that grant you self-control. The 'serum' of the machine is whatever brainwave it's utilized." Trance explained.
"Could it be used to steal a Jedi's Force?" Shomari asked.
"Yes, easily, it could be used to change, give, take, or manipulate anybody's Force, Jedi or not. It's just Jedi's stand out more to the mind of the Jedi that uses it." Trance said.
"So is this Count Popsomuo of yours a Jedi?" Shomari continued.
"Yes, he is. And it seems he's the one controlling the Serum for now. At least when the attack was made on the Council, because they've taken on his characteristics."
"What is the effective working distance for the Serum?" I asked suddenly curious.
"It can affect an entire average sized planet."
"So to work on the Council, the Serum would have to be on Coruscant right?" I spewed out excitedly.
"Yeah, and it's happened recently, so they probably are still on Coruscant!" Trance realized what I was going after.
"Then let's go to Coruscant!" Shomari stands up suddenly. "Before they can move again."
"Calm down Shomari, it'll take at least an entire day for them to get it mobile again, it's not exactly portable, or a rapid fire weapon," Trance said.
"How do you know all this?" Raena asked suddenly suspicious.
"I'm the top spy around here, and I've had a good look at it, and it's schematics and uses. Even how to shut it down." Trance answered.
"Then you're coming with us," I said.
"I thought you'd never ask. We have to make a stealthy landing though, if our dear Count sees us coming, your minds are gone for sure." Trance warned.
"And yours?" Shomari asked.
"I'm Trance Pierson, my mind cannot be touched." He smirked to Shomari's annoyance.
"How can you be so sure?" Raena questioned him seriously.
"You don't know of my unique talents do you?" he said suddenly surprised.
"Not really."
"I didn't fill them in," I said. "I was a little preoccupied." I tilted my head at Raena once to indicate that it was with her.
"Oh." He smirked again.
"So?" Raena pressed.
"They call me Trance, because I can hypnotize anyone that looks me in the eyes for any extended period of time, that is to say, a few seconds really," at these words and his sinister grin, Raena looked at the ground. "And I've found out, that this also seems to work in the reverse my mind is nearly invulnerable, much like a light saber to blaster fire. So they won't be able to penetrate my mind."
"But what if one of us is possessed, if that's the right word." Raena voiced her concerns.
"You needn't worry about that, you aren't likely to be caught, I doubt anyone would be able to find you if you really wanted to stay hidden." Trance assured her.
"I know that," she smiled confidently. "But I'm worried about Déshawn and Shomari actually."
"Well, with Shomari I could probably use my talents to free his mind, but I haven't been able to successfully hoodwink Déshawn, so I took my frustrations out on his neck. So I can only hope that my inability to control him means his mind is as impenetrable as mine. Or if he's possessed then I can penetrate his defense easier. If neither of those theories work out, we'll just have to incapacitate him until we can destroy the Serum, or kill him." Trance explained in a wordy manner.
"So I suggest that we get them first." I said quickly, not wanting to think of not being able to control myself.
"Seeing as your luxury ship is going to be seen coming from 3 galaxies over, we'll have to use the my stealth ship. It's a little less flashy even if a little…tight." Trance said.
"How tight?" Raena asked.
"Well, seeing as it was designed for a pilot, co-pilot, and 1 extra person, who usually was the spy we were dropping off, I'd have to say it's 1 person to small."
"Déshawn and I can share a seat," Raena offered.
"Perfect," Trance said with an evil grin at my red cheeks.
"When do we leave?" I ask.
"Now."