Chapter Three
Moth was surprised at how calmly Yoda took the decree. "Come Yoda." He said as he turned to leave the Council chamber. Yoda followed him out waited, patiently for him to complete his other business and head back to the ship.
"Are you alright Yoda?" Nyla asked, concerned about Yoda's uncharacteristic silence.
"Practicing patience, Yoda is. See they will, trainable Yoda is."
Yoda refused to tell Master Moth where to take him or how to find Tarbocca. No one thought about taking him to Kashyyyk, so Yoda continued traveling with the Jedi team. Master Moth was not trying very hard to get rid of Yoda since he was starting to see his trainability and starting to like him, it helped that Yoda was now sitting quietly and watching instead of always clamoring for more knowledge or playing practical jokes. Moth hoped the Council would change their minds and was willing to give Yoda time to prove himself. He knew he would take some heat for this decision when Master Poof found out Yoda was still traveling with him but he thought it was worth it. 'Worst comes to worst I could always become a farmer.' He thought.
oOo
Several months later Master Moth and Nyla were assigned to go to the planet Kornel with two other Masters, Poof and Vanek Bria, and their Padawans, Dayl Kell and Gen Hillel to settle a border dispute. Tempers were flaring and listening had stopped. People had already been injured and reasoning usually ends when blood flows. That was why Master Moth always tried to prevent injuries in his fighting.
Master Poof had heard rumors that Yoda was still traveling with Moth so he chose to go on this mission himself. He was still surprised to see it for himself. "I thought I, a… we told you to take him to where you found him and drop him off." Poof barked.
"That wasn't his home and his companion had already left. We couldn't just abandon him there." Master Moth said, sizzling from the heat of Master Poof anger.
"I want this matter 'settled' when this assignment is over." Master Poof demanded.
"Yes, Master Poof." Moth said obediently but not happily as Master Poof turned and left angrily, hopefully to go meditate. "Yoda, you had better stay in the ship and out of Master Poof's way or he may personally drop you off in a gundark nest."
"Anger leads to the dark side, dangerous Master Poof is." Yoda said to Nyla as the Masters left.
"You have that affect on people when they first meet you." Nyla said smiling at the thought of Master Poof falling to the Darkside over Yoda.
oOo
Yoda slipped around and listened as best as he could, staying out of Master Poof's way. There seemed to be easier ways to settle the dispute to Yoda but no one wanted to hear his advice, so he waited.
'Patience, I must learn.' He thought.
Several days into the discussion compensation for damages came up both sides thought the other side owed them. Tempers flared. Before anyone could stop him a hot head had thrown a dagger and the fight was on. Word spread faster than sound and the whole compound was fighting, the disputers with each other and everyone with the Jedi.
Yoda came out of the ship, slipping from one table to another to get to his friends. Unfortunately Master Poof and Master Moth were fighting back to back so he couldn't get to him, so he looked for Nyla. She had gone to the cookery to insure that no one doctored the refreshments when the fighting had broken out. Now a large Besalisk with four arms and a knife in all four hands was detaining her.
Yoda scampered through the door. "Whoa! Looking place to hide, I was." He said as he startled the Besalisk. He peeked back out the door at the commotion. "Better watch her, Jedi she is. Use lightsaber on you." He said pointing toward Nyla's lightsaber, just then it flew over to him. He ignited the huge saber, nimbly jumped up on the table and cut the blades off all the knives in a flash of purple light, leaving the Besalisk holding only the handles. "Into root cellar, you go." He said in his most menacing voice.
"Thank you, I was just going to do that when you came in. You are not trained to handle a lightsaber." She scolded, taking it away from Yoda and locking the Besalisk in the root cellar.
"Welcomed, you are. What training needed, turn on, not cut own head off." Yoda said honestly not seeing the problem.
"Stay behind me." Nyla said preparing to leave the cookery.
"Who saved who?" Yoda said following Nyla out. 'Not helpless, no need hide in skirt.' He thought fuming.
"We have to get to Master Moth." Nyla said shushing Yoda.
"No, with Master Poof, he is." Yoda warned.
"Now's no time to worry about you offending Master Poof." They skirted around the wall of the courtyard and toward where the Masters had last been seen, lightsaber ignited.
The two Masters were assisting Master Bria's Padawan, who was injured, to Moth's ship. Gen had been struck by a flying dagger in the leg and was bleeding profusely. As they waited for the ramp to drop so they could help stop his bleeding in safety another dagger came flying at Master Poof. He turned just in time to see it veer off from the center of his chest, his second brain, and clip the sleeve of his robe. He turned to Moth to thank him but saw he was busy with the Padawan, unaware of what had happened. He turned to Nyla who had just come into sight but she was cutting the support out from under the roof of the porch, dropping it on the dagger thrower. Then he saw him, the little green troll grinning proudly.
'Oh! No!' He thought, 'Not him. Now I'm indebted to him.'
"Inside!" The Master barked not wanting to admit, the troll had saved him.
Nyla and Yoda ran inside shielding Master Moth and Gen and Poof closed the ramp. "These people are crazy, both sides are attacking the ones sent to help them." Nyla said in disbelief. The holo-com unit beeped and Nyla turned it on. Master Bria and Master Poof's Padawan Dayl Kell had taken refuge in Master Poof's ship and called to say they had only minor injuries. Nyla told Master Bria, Gen Hillel had been struck in the leg by a dagger but Master Moth had stopped the bleeding and was bandaging it. They all agreed it was too dangerous to go out until the cooler heads prevailed.
Eventually most of the hotheads did each other in and the survivors were more reasonable in their demands. Enough lives had been lost and both sides agreed to allow the disputed area to be set up as a wild life sanctuary to be used by neither side. Master Poof never actually said where he got the idea for the sanctuary but there was one well-pleased green elfish creature sitting in the back of the Conference Hall.
As they prepared to leave for Coruscant Master Poof asked. "How long before Nyla is ready for the trials?"
"She's close, only six standard months or so. Why?" Moth replied.
"There is no other available Master to train Yoda, if he wants to accompany you until Nyla completes her trials, you may train him next." Master Poof turned and walked away before Moth could recover from the shock of the choice of his next Padawan. (No explanation was ever given as to why he changed his mind. No one knew the truth but him and Yoda.)
"Well, my soon to be Padawan, how did you manage that?" Asked one confused Master Moth.
The only answer he got was an all-knowing grin.
As Nyla practiced her lessons, Yoda watched, listened and learned. Many of the assignments he was already proficient in but he had learned it was not wise to show up the Padawan. She had mentioned 'spacing' once too often. There was still a lot for a naive Yendell to learn about people, 'offworlders' as the Yendell called them.
oOo
Their next assignment was to assist two other Masters on a mission to Lidio, where a war was imminent. The Masters were trying to work out a peaceful solution, the mission didn't look like it was going to be successful. Master Moth being a healer it was assumed he would be needed. Master Bria had already become acquainted with the little green one but Master Tona had not.
"I see you now have a Padawan and a half, Moth."
"Careful, he is sensitive about his height and he's deadly with a cactus." Moth warned.
"Not sensitive, tallest of my people. Thinking a pet I am, offends me, it does. Wear clothes I do, wear clothes pets do not." Yoda protested.
"I did visit a planet where people and their pets wore matching outfits, strange place." Master Tona teased.
"Not pet, Great Jedi Master, Yoda will be." Yoda bragged.
Master Tona turned to Master Moth. "I know," Moth said, "Humility is going to be a hard lesson for him to learn."
"I'm glad it's you and not me teaching him." Master Tona said.
"I've come to like my cocky 'future' Padawan." Moth said.
"Learning patience, Yoda is. Humility later, I will learn." Yoda boasted.
"Since Yoda's arrival Nyla's usual assignment has been to keep Yoda occupied, which is usually a lesson in patience for her." Moth informed the other Masters.
oOo
The Padwans and the half were assigned to inspect the conference hall every day and make sure no one set up any booby traps. Nyla was assigned to check under the tables and chairs, so she supervised Yoda as he inspected the underside of the tables easily. Master Bria's Padawan Gen Hillel was still limping from his previous assignment was to inspect the pillars, curtain areas and window seats. Master Tona's Padawan Evea, who loved to climb, was assigned to check the rafters.
As usual, the Masters arrived before the meeting to verify that the hall had been properly checked. Bria checked the grounds, Moth, the hall and Tona, the cookery staff and food. Finally the meeting would proceed; the Members of the Delegation filed in from opposite sides of the hall, each suspicious of the other. The Progressive Party wanted to use scientific technology to improve the people's lifestyle and the Purist wanted everything to revert to a more primitive style of living, banning all technology.
One day well into the talks Master Bria noticed one of the delegates was heavier than the previous meetings but dismissed it as an optical illusion because of the color change in his outfit or a stomach ailment. Just in case, he watched to make sure the delegate didn't leave in the middle of the conference or approach the opposing Parties table.
After Purist had spoken the Progressives leader had he turn. He had spoken for a while when he started to pace back and forth in front of the tables in his usual manner. An explosive device blew up under the table of the Purist; the blast was from a shape charge, channeling the blast toward the leader of the opposing party. Master Moth and Nyla rushed to help the injured. Bria and Tona prepared for secondary attacks and tried to quiet the sea of accusers, both sides blaming the other.
"You planted the bomb under our table!" The Purist accused.
"You planted the bomb under your own table to kill our leader! Your people were barely hurt." The Progressives retaliated.
"That's ridiculous! We wouldn't endanger our own people." The Purist answered.
"We wouldn't kill our own leader!" Said the Progressives shocked at the accusation.
"You just set the bomb wrong! It was meant for us." The Purist accused.
"I knew we couldn't trust you 'techies'." Another Purist said slipping into name-calling.
"Primitives…" The Progressives answered in kind.
"You'll blow up the whole planet." A Purist hothead replied.
"You would have us go back to the stone-age." A Progressive hothead challenged.
"At least no one would be bombed that way." The Purist snapped.
"I'd rather be blown up than live your way." The Progressives announced.
"There they confessed." The Purist insisted.
"Did not I never sai…" The Progressive started to protest.
"Quiet! Everyone! Everyone out, we have injured people to help." Moth called over his shoulder.
"Let's take this outside." Bria said trying to usher the people out.
Tona saw it was going to be useless to try to get them out till they calmed down. "There has to be an investigation. Don't jump to conclusions. We will get to the bottom of this. Go home. You will be contacted as soon as we have any information." Tona ordered the increasingly hostile group.
"How did you miss the device in your security search?" scolded the Purist turning their anger on the Jedi.
"Yeah you were here to protect us you failed." The Progressives accused.
Moth was hesitant about making his announcement but felt he had to. "I am sorry but The Honorable Master Klemen has expired. All other injuries were minor. Please go home and allow us time to investigate this event." Moth said trying to calm the people.
Slowly everyone filed out of the hall, muttering to each other. The Progressive delegates to tell the wife of their leader that she was now a widow and offer their sympathies. Then decide who would replace him in the now shattered conference if it ever started up again. Everyone on both parties wanted to increase their security.
"I checked behind Nyla and Yoda there was no device under that table before the conference." Moth assured the other Masters after the hall had been emptied of delegates and med-techs.
"No one brought anything in but the refreshments and they were even checked." Tona added.
"I did see one thing out of place. One of the delegated looked heavier this morning then lighter later at the break. I thought it was a stomach ailment. I watched to make sure he never went near the Progressives table." Bria confessed.
"Are you saying the Purist set a bomb under their own table to hit the Progressives leader?" Tona asked shocked.
"No one is that accurate in building explosive devices. They could have killed themselves as well." Moth exclaimed. "Who would be callous enough to take a chance on blowing himself up?"
"It's unheard of even in the days of the Sith." Bria protested.
"Piece of it, I found." Said Yoda pointing it out to the busy Masters.
"That is unlike anything I have ever seen before and I pride myself in being up on the latest technology." Tona said in amazement.
"Who could have made this?" Bria asked.
"New makers trading with the Vereen, I have heard. Bad men, very bad." Yoda piped in.
"And you know how?" Tona asked, insulted the troll knew more than he did.
"Spices, weapons all traded same places, same people." Yoda explained, not knowing why he was in trouble this time.
"Let's go check out the mysterious weight loss delegate." Moth said.
"Tona, you go to the infirmary with Moth and I will go to the Purist Headquarters and see what the delegation has to say about him." Bria instructed. "Is it all right if Eva comes with me?"
"Yes, that would be a little more balanced and you get the green one." Tona said still insulted he knew more about the bomb-makers.
When Tona and Moth arrived at the infirmary Nyla met them on her way out. "All patients are bandaged and resting comfortable. Some have already been released." She informed the Masters.
"How about the Purist in the blue robes?" Tona asked.
"He was the first to leave, as soon as his arm was bandaged, he said he had to go and see to the security for the head of the Purist. Is there a problem?" Nyla responded.
"There may be he had an unexpected change in appearance during the meeting, Master Bria noticed, so we came to check it out." Pulling out his com-link Moth called up Master Bria. "Bria. He has already checked out of the infirmary."
"We just arrived at the Purist Headquarters, I will call you back in few minutes." Bria answered.
As he was ushered into the Leader of the Purist Party's office, a short stocky man in a green robe greeted him. "Have you discovered anything new, Master Bria."
"There are a few questions I would humbly like to ask about one of your delegates." Said Master Bria.
"Proceed." The dignified man answered.
"The gentleman in the blue robes and gray beard, How well do you know him?" Bria said trying to proceed with caution.
"Not well, we only met him last week when he was assigned to us as our legal representative by you." The leader said rather puzzled.
"We did not assign legal representatives to the parties, he was not from us." Bria said pulling out his com-link. "Moth, he was an impostor, saying he was by us to act as a legal representative for the Purist."
"We checked his scans, he was not from either side, he is Hedeon. They are arms makers, partners with the Vereen. Tona checked the spaceport there is a Vereen Trading ship in Hanger Bay III. It is scheduled to leave in one hour. We requested the authorities hold it till we get there. Meet us at Hanger Bay III, as soon as possible." Moth said.
Bria turned to the Purist Leader. "Neither side planted the bomb. You were both set-up. I have to go confront the real bomber." Bria said leaving as quickly as diplomatically possible.
oOo
All the Masters and Padawans met across the street from the Hanger and decided how to proceed. Moth and Nyla would come in the door on the right, Bria and Gen would come in the door on the left and Tona and Evea would come in the front door. "Yoda, stay out here. We don't want you to get hurt and we can't protect you at the cost of the mission." Master Moth instructed.
"Yes, Master." Yoda said assuringly.
'He agreed to easily.' Moth thought, 'and he's never called me Master before.'
As soon as the doors opened, and the Jedi stepped in, lightsabers in hand just in case, blaster bolts came from all sides. Men from several offices, men from the ship and from a large piece of equipment in the back all firing at once. The Jedi were able to stop the bolts with their lightsabers but could not get in or out of the hanger. Moth saw the man in the blue robe dash from the front office to the ship but was unable to stop him. Just then a small round metal ball rolled across the floor. Even though they had never seen one before the all knew it was bad, especially since the traders ducked themselves. The ball was a sound percussion device and the blast stunned everyone of the Jedi. The Traders had been wearing ear protection to protect them from the blast and they still ducked, since they knew what it could do to you.
oOo
Slowly one by one the Jedi came to, checked themselves for injuries and started to look around. The first thing every one noticed, besides the loud ringing in their ears, was the ship was gone and so were the Traders. Moth looked around and saw Nyla was no longer beside him. "Nyla! Nyla! Anyone see Nyla? Yoda!" Moth ran quickly to the door hollered out of it. "Yoda!"
Silence!
oOo
A/N: Thank you to all those who have read and/or reviewed this story.