Wow, two years just flew by! To anyone still reading this I'd like to say thanks for your patience.
I thought the first section of this story was a little rushed. It was all about getting the characters to the same location. This one will focus more on the characters themselves.
Section 2: New Galaxy, Old Vice
Chapter 5
"This planet is called Telos Four." said Brax to Zurak and Michelle. "It's lush, fertile lands are home to Ithorian balba trees and the omnivorous cannoks."
"Sounds like a great place to go grocery shopping." commented Michelle dryly. "I could use new tooth brush."
Brax chuckled."Oh, it wasn't always so green. Three hundred years ago a Dark Jedi named Malak led an assault that devastated the planet. His fleet bombarded Telos from orbit, killing almost everything on the surface and leaving the planet uninhabitable. A few refugees managed to escape and make their way to the Republic."
Zurak tensed as he listened to Brax describe this ancient atrocity. The Covenant had done essentially the same thing to several Human colonies during the Human-Covenant War. At the time Zurak had believed that the Covenant's Fleetmasters were purging the galaxy of a species whose very existence angered the gods. Now, after learning the truth about the Covenant's religion, he felt certain there was a special place in Hell for anyone who had participated in such wanton genocide. It was a source of shame that younger Sangheili like Rodhim Larem, who had not fought in the Human-Covenant War, couldn't fully understand.
"After the war, the Senate began a project to restore Telos and other planets that were ruined." Brax continued. "Citadel Station, which orbits the planet, was built to help the restoration process. As you can see, the project was a success. With your permission, Shipmaster, Jerrod and I would like to go to the surface of Telos to look for supplies."
"You may go, but I need your apprentice here to translate more of the data that your A.I. gave us." replied Zurak. "Take 'Larem with you instead."
"As you wish, I will contact you when we're ready to depart." as Brax turned to leave he nodded to both Zurak and Michelle saying "Shipmaster, Corporal."
"Say what you will about him, but these Jedi have such nice manners." Michelle said when Brax was out of the Control Room.
"The Prophet of Truth also had nice manners." retorted Zurak. "Despite what their kind words suggest, they're here to do more than help us navigate territory unknown to us. They're here to watch us, to determine if we are a threat to them. We must watch them in turn."
"Beware of Greeks bearing gifts." Michelle quoted.
Zurak cocked his head to one side. "Greeks?" he asked.
"A tribe of humans. In ancient times they tricked the Trojans, another tribe, by bringing them a giant wooden horse as a gift. The horse was filled with Greek soldiers. That night those soldiers destroyed the Trojans city. " explained Michelle. "Kevin tells it better than I do."
"Dawkins?" Zurak scoffed. "That tactless oaf is a scholar?" he decided not to pursue the subject. "Using gifts to fool one's enemies is a sound strategy, and one we must be prepared for should these Jedi betray us."
"That's why your sending Rodhim." said Michelle. "To keep an eye on Brax and report to you if he does anything suspicious."
"Indeed." said Zurak. "For now, we wait."
Rodhim and Brax strode among the balba trees, on their way back to the Phantom dropship. They'd bought a few supplies in the city of Thani with Brax's money and other than a brief argument with a haggling vendor the trip was a success.
"How did you get him to agree with you?" asked Rodhim. " One moment he was arguing the price, the next he was nodding and repeating your words."
"I used the Force in a very subtle way to persuade him to lower the price." said Brax.
"How?"
"Some call it a 'mind trick'. Don't worry, it only works on the weak-minded, so you're safe from it."
"Am I? What makes you say that?" Rodhim asked skeptically.
"I tried a mind trick on you before we left Divine Justice. You may recall I tried to convince you not to come with me. The mind trick had no effect on you." answered Brax. "You have a very disciplined mind, Rodhim."
"Indeed I do." said Rodhim. "You've mentioned 'the Force' before. What is it?"
Brax spent the next hour trying explain nature of the Force to Rodhim. The Sangheili understood the basics, but the more complex concepts, like how anger led to the dark side, escaped him.
They were still two hours from the dropship when Rodhim abruptly stopped walking. "We're being followed." he said.
"I know." replied Brax. "They've been following us ever since we left the city. At first there was only one, now I count a dozen. We're surrounded."
Almost immediately after Brax had spoken armed figures began to emerge from the trees around them. Like the pirates who had attacked Divine Justice days ago they were an assortment of alien races. Each had blaster rifles aimed at Brax and Rodhim.
"We have no quarrel with you." Brax said to the aliens. "Let us pass."
Some of the aliens laughed at this, but none of them stood aside or lowered their weapons.
Brax activated his lightsaber and brandished it's blue-white blade. Rodhim drew his Energy Sword and ignited it with a savage war cry. He charged the nearest alien and impaled the startled Zabrak before he could fire a shot. Brax cut down two more aliens who had their rifles aimed at Rodhim.
A Rodian armed with a gun too big to be an ordinary rifle cursed in his native language and fired at the Sangheili warrior while his back was turned. Rodhim turned around a second too slowly and was hit by an electrified net. He fell to one knee and struggled to free himself.
Brax leaped into the air, using the Force to augment his leap, and landed outside the circle of attacking aliens. One of them shouted "After him! The boss wants them both!".
Brax took off running back towards Thani. As he did so he drew out his comlink. "Divine Justice, do you copy?"
When he didn't get a response Brax knew that his attackers were jamming all communications in the area. Through the Force he could sense that there were more aliens closing in on him and Rodhim. The aliens, they must have been mercenaries, had planned this ambush well.
An angry bellow and the sound of blasterfire told Brax that Rodhim had freed himself from the net. He hurried back to aid the Sangheili.
Jerrod and Zurak stood at the communications console in the Control Room of Divine Justice. Beside them was a machine that the Jedi called an astromech droid. It stood three feet high, with a canister for a body, a constantly swiveling dome for a head, and two legs that had wheels for feet. This particular astromech was called T3-47. T3-47 communicated using a series of beeps, clicks, and whistles.
Michelle watched the three of them work from across the room mostly out of boredom.
"This allows you to understand different languages?" asked Jerrod, pointing to the upper left corner of the console.
"It does." answered Zurak. "Without it my crew and I wouldn't be able to converse with you or Blair's people."
"Tee-three and I have uploaded Galactic Basic and a few other languages into your database." said Jerrod. "It should only take a couple of hours to fully translate all of them."
"The sooner the better." said Zurak. "I don't like giving foreign A.I.s access to the ship's systems"
At that T3 let out a whistle that somehow sounded indignant. Michelle chuckled. "I think you offended the droid, Shipmaster." she called.
The Jedi and Sangheili both looked at Michelle. Zurak seemed confused by her statement, Jerrod on the other hand, was trying not to laugh. "I should have warned you, Tee-three's a bit sensitive." he said to Zurak.
Zurak gave an exasperated sigh."Why do you humans insist on giving your A.I.s emotions?" he asked.
"You know I didn't program Teethree, right." said Jerrod. "He was built by-" The young Jedi's voice trailed off abruptly. "Has Brax checked in yet?" he asked suddenly.
"Not for two hours, Leedon." Zurak answered. "What is it?"
"Something's wrong." Jerrod stated matter-of-factly. "They should have returned by now."
"You think they're in trouble?" asked Michelle.
Jerrod looked at Michelle as if he was uncertain how to answer that question. Finally he shook his head and said "Call it a hunch." Michelle got the distinct impression that Jerrod knew more than he was saying.
Zurak checked the communications console. "Strange." he said, sounding perplexed. "I detect no communications of any kind within a five mile radius of where the Phantom landed. Perhaps someone does not want your master to report back to us. Major, prep another Phantom, we're going to the surface of Telos. Bring the droid."
"Are you sure that's a good idea, Shipmaster?" said Michelle. T3 let out a whistle in response to this question. "Hey, I'm on your side." Michelle said to T3. "We could be walking into a trap, Shipmaster. If that's the case the droid could fall enemy hands."
"Then you and Leedon will have to protect it." Zurak retorted. "That droid may notice something that we cannot." With that statement Zurak ended the debate and strode out of the Control Room. Michelle, Jerrod, and T3 followed him.