The Adventures of Rickon and Osha Chapter 5
Outline
This chapter is about Rickon and Osha learning more about the Jedi and the wider galaxy from their Jedi rescuer Han Lee. This chapter also introduces a new Jedi character named Tamati Kiore, who becomes Rickon and Osha's mentor. Kiore is a Ranat, a rodent-like species from the Star Wars Legends storylines. For more information on Ranats, feel free to visit Wookieepedia. Reflecting the influence of my adopted homeland New Zealand, Kiore is the Māori word for rat. I thought that this would best reflect my new character's rodent identity. Like Han Lee, he is a survivor of the Great Jedi Purge. Meanwhile, rifts begin to emerge between the Inquisitor Mara Taral and Darth Vader. Hey there, feel free to give reviews and feedback but please keep them respectful.
Part 1
It was high noon and the sky fluttered with the sounds of birds and insects. After escaping the Inquisitor Mara Taral and her minions, Rickon, Osha, Shaggydog and their Jedi rescuer Han Lee had stopped to rest in a cave at midnight. After breakfasting on some berries and acorns, the travellers continued their journey. They were travelling through a dense forest. Han was leading them to a "safe haven". For Rickon and Osha, the encounter with the mysterious dark woman Mara and her minions had been a terrifying one. It had also been the first time they had been attacked since their parting with Bran and the Reed siblings almost a fortnight ago. Han Lee had sustained a wound on his left arm during the fight with the dark woman. Fortunately for Han, Mara had only inflicted a flesh wound. Osha had wrapped the cut in a clean rag. Lightsabers were capable of slicing through flesh and bone, and even wood and steel. Had Mara cut a few centimetres deeper, Han would have lost an arm.
"Are we there yet?," grumbled Rickon for the third time "My legs are getting sore and tired."
"Almost there, just a little further," replied Han.
Shaggydog trailed behind the three human travellers, carrying a wild fowl he had caught along the way. Throughout their journey, Rickon and Osha had learnt a lot about the Jedi and the wider galaxy from Han Lee. Han explained that the Jedi were a religious order consisting of sentient beings who had the power to tap into a mystical energy field called the Force. For twenty-five thousand years, the Jedi had been the guardians of peace and justice in the Galactic Republic. Rickon was amazed to learn that the Republic was much older than the Wall in Westeros, which had stood for eight thousands years. Han also briefly related the chain of events which had led to the downfall of the Jedi. Seventeen years ago, several star systems and powerful corporations had seceded from the Republic, sparking a civil war known as the Clone Wars. In response, the Republic's Supreme Chancellor, a man named Sheev Palpatine, had created an army of clones to combat this threat. On behalf of the Republic, the Jedi had led this clone army to victory over the Separatists. However, Palpatine had turned on the Jedi and denounced them as enemies of the Republic. Thousands of Jedi had been killed across the galaxy while survivors like Han were driven into hiding. Some Jedi like Mara, the dark woman they had encountered the previous night, had joined the Empire to save their own skins. These opportunists became the first Inquisitors, Dark Siders who served as the Emperor's elite henchmen and hunted down their former brethren. Palpatine had also transformed the Republic into the very first Galactic Empire, unleashing a reign of tyranny which engulfed many star systems.
"Why would Palpatine want to turn on the Jedi?," asked Osha curiously "After all they had done for the Republic."
"Palpatine was a Sith, the sworn enemies of the Jedi," explain Han Lee "For millennia, the Sith have sought to control the galaxy. A thousand years ago, the Sith had destroyed each other in a great conflict, victims of their own greed and lust for power. However, one man named Darth Bane survived and rebuilt the Sith around a new doctrine called the Rule of Two. From then on, there would only be two Sith: a master and an apprentice; one to wield power and the other to crave it. The Rule of Two enabled the Sith to escape detection and to concentrate all the powers of the Dark Side into two individuals. For centuries, the Sith had ingratiated themselves into key positions of power and leadership in the Republic. Palpatine was a crafty Senator from Naboo who eventually became the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. We the Jedi were fools for not realising that the very threat to our existence was standing right in front of us. This folly has been our greatest undoing."
"What is the difference between you Jedi and the Sith?," asked Rickon "And what is this Dark Side which you speak about?"
"Good question, the Sith are the polar opposites of the Jedi," said Han Lee "What you need to understand is that there are two sides to the Force. While we Jedi only use the Force to do good and to help others, the Sith use the Force exclusively for their own selfish gain. We Jedi draw our strength and power from the Light Side of the Force while the Sith draw theirs from the Dark Side. The light side is associated with positive emotions like compassion, honesty, mercy, love, duty, and self-sacrifice. The dark side manifests in negative emotions like anger, hatred, deceit, green, lust, and jealousy."
"Where are you taking us?," asked Rickon.
"I'm taking you to meet a fellow Jedi comrade," replied Han Lee "I'm taking you two to somewhere safe."
The four travellers soon came across a thick hedge enclosure with a wooden gate in the middle. At the middle of the door was a sliding peephole. Han knocked on the door five times. There was the pattering of footsteps and seconds later the sliding peephole opened to reveal a set of peering eyes.
"Oh, it's a delight to see you again, bro," said a shrill, squeaky voice "And who are these grubby strangers may I ask?"
"I'm Rickon Stark," replied Rickon "I am the youngest son of Lord Eddard Stark and Lade Catelyn Stark of Winterfell,"
"And I'm Osha, his guardian," added Osha, gesturing towards Shaggydog. "And this is his pet wolf Shaggydog. He's a very friendly wolf and means no harm."
"They've some locals whom I rescued from the clutches of the Empire," said Han Lee.
"Oh, replied the voice warmly "Enemies of the Empire? Well, they are then welcome to stay at my humble lodgings."
The gate opened to reveal what looked like an overgrown rat standing on its two rear legs. The master of the dwelling was no more than a meter tall with a large tail and a pair of long, tusk-like incisors jutting out from his lower jaw. The figure was dressed in brown robes. Osha at first screamed in fright but the host laughed and apologized, explaining that he was used to people being taken aback when meeting him on first sight. Shaggydog growled but Rickon sent him a calming telepathic message assuring the direwolf that this stranger was a friend.
"He's no harm," spoke Rickon "Shaggydog is very friendly once he gets to know you."
"This is Tamati Kiore," said Han Lee "He is a Jedi historian and a fellow survivor of the Great Jedi Purge."
"Welcome, Rickon Stark and Osha," said Tamati in a warm and gentle voice "I have been expecting you. You must be hungry and thirsty. Come in and have some refreshments."
Upon entering the enclosure, Osha and Rickon saw a tiny round hovel that had a straw roof. There were plots of vegetables growing around the hut, ringed by the thick green hedge. There was also a well. Like Han Lee, Kiore was a Purge survivor who had become stranded on Westeros. The hut was cobbled from a mixture of wood and cannibalized starship parts. Its walls had been constructed from the hull of an escape pod. However, the frame of its roof had been constructed from wood harvested from the nearby forest. Once inside, Rickon, Osha, and Han squatted down around a low table while Tamati brought them some hot green tea, biscuits, strawberries, and raspberries. Shaggydog settled down inside the front veranda, feasting on his newly-caught fowl. A glowing portrait of a bald dark-skinned man dressed in Jedi robes hang on a nearby wall.
"Who's that?," asked Rickon, pointing at the portrait.
"Oh, that's my former Master Mace Windu," replied Han Lee "He was killed by Palpatine at the start of the Jedi Purge. He was a good man."
Over hot drinks and biscuits, Rickon and Osha shared their life stories and adventures with their Jedi hosts. Rickon related his time growing up at Winterfell and the pain of being separated from his family. He talked about how his father Ned Stark's death at the hands of the newly-crowned King Joffrey Baratheon had sparked a war that had devastated Westeros. He and his older brother Brandon Stark had narrowly escaped betrayal and death at the hands of Theon Greyjoy, the family's Ironborn ward. Bran and his friends were heading north to find the "three-eyed raven." He and Osha were traveling to the Last Hearth to seek refuge with Greatjon Umber, one of his family's bannermen. Osha related her time growing up as a Wildling and how she had lost her husband to the White Walkers, malevolent ice demons who inhabited the far northern wastes of Westeros. She had fled south to escape the advancing march of the White Walkers, and had crossed paths with the Starks. With the death of both the Stark boys' parents and their betrayal at the hands of the Ironborn Theon Greyjoy, Osha had become like a mother to Bran and Rickon. Knowing the danger that lay north, she had opted to accompany Rickon to a safe haven. In addition, Rickon and Osha related their newly discovered magical powers to Han Lee and Tamati Kiore.
"I can enter into the mind of my direwolf Shaggydog," explained Rickon "My brother's friend Jojen Reed calls it warging. "
"Lately, I also seem to have magical powers," added Osha "I felt something surge through me when I attacked that Dark Sider last night. I have also been having a strange dream of being someone else in a different life."
"Me too," interjected Rickon "A few nights ago, I encountered a big, scary knight dressed in black armour in my dreams. He had a glowing red laser sword. Who was he?"
"That would have been Darth Vader," replied Tamati "Once, he was a Jedi Knight named Anakin Skywalker. But he was corrupted by the dark side and betrayed us. He led the assault on the Jedi Temple and killed many younglings that night. He's now more machine than man, twisted by the Dark Side"
"He's Palpatine's apprentice, the second member of the Sith Order," added Han "I sense that he is seeking to recruit you. The Emperor must be building a new army of Dark Siders."
"What can we do? I'm not letting any harm come to Rickon", said Osha
"We can train both of you in the Jedi way," replied Tamati "I sense that both of you have Force powers and talents that need to be cultivated. We will not let you fall into the hands of Vader and his minions."
"Thank goodness I recovered those lightsabers from the previous night," said Han "They will come in handy for your Jedi lessons."
Part 2
At the makeshift Imperial base in Westeros, Mara Taral was chatting with her liege Darth Vader via hologram. Due to the planet's remoteness, the connection was poor and the holographic projection cackled and constantly faded in and out. Darth Vader was in a foul mood upon learning that Mara's first attempt to capture Rickon had failed.
"We didn't expect that Jedi to turn," protested Mara
"I was wrong to have put my full trust in you to carry out the mission," thundered Darth Vader "Remember, I can offer your place in the Sith Order to one of your rivals if you fail me again."
"I will redouble my efforts," pleaded Mara "I will not fail you again, I promise."
"I give you one more chance," replied Vader "Succeed, and you will be my disciple. And together we will overthrow that old, senile skunk and rule the galaxy. Fail me again, and I will find another more worthy disciple."
"Yes, mi-Lord," said Mara, bowing for the final time as the hologram projection of Darth Vader disappeared.
Hatred and anger bubbled in Mara's mind. No, she would not be doing Darth Vader's dirty work again. Once that business with Rickon was settled, she would kill Lord Vader once and for all. She would then take her rightful place as Palpatine's apprentice and perhaps one day kill him and become the Sith Master. Then, she alone would rule the galaxy. Due to the skirmish with the Jedi fugitive the night before, her IG-100 Magma Guards, IG-164 and IG-165, were out of commission. They were being repaired aboard the Chimaera, a job that would take at least ten days to complete. Having lost all trace of her targets, Mara had decided to deploy several Viper probe droids to search for the fugitives. Viper droids were hovering spider-like droids produced by Arakyd Industries that were used for exploration and reconnaissance. The Imperial Navy had purchased thousands of Arakyd's Viper droids for several years to spy on the Empire's foes and locate new worlds to exploit. Once they had been located, Mara would unleash the full force of her strike team on them. She vowed to kill both the Jedi fugitive Han Lee and the Wildling woman Osha/Nymphadora.
While Corssk was recovering in the infirmary aboard the Chimaera, the Clone Wars veteran Able Fett had been designated her second in command. She exited her meditation chamber aboard her landing ship the Stalker and entered the cockpit. Able Fett was playing a game of holo-chess with the Bothan Mer'slya. Fett, an able-minded strategist was gaining the upper hand.
"Pardon me, Fett," said Mara "Have you hear any word from our probe droids."
"None, whatsoever," said Fett who stood upright and exited the cockpit.
"Well, keep me up to date if there any new developments," replied Mara.
"As you wish," replied Fett "Is it necessary to kidnap a child when there are other more pressing issues facing the Empire?"
"It's not out business to question the Sith's will," barked Mara sharply "It would be in your bests interests to remember that."
"Yeah right," grumbled Fett "If we don't shut our trap. The thought police will come and mess with our heads."
Rather than risk another argument with Able Fett, Mara stormed out of the cockpit and walked down the gangplank to get fresh air. Fett was one of the last relics of the Clone Wars in the new Imperial Army. He had been severely wounded during a Separatist bomb attack in Castell and he had been rebuilt as a cyborg. Over 75% of his body had been replaced with machinery. He was a reliable and loyal soldier but he had always been uneasy about the Empire. Able Fett was one of the few Imperial soldiers to question the official Imperial version of the events around the Great Jedi Purge. Fett had served alongside several Jedi during the Clone Wars and knew that the Jedi would not simply seek to overthrow the Supreme Chancellor and take control of the galaxy, as claimed by Imperial propaganda. Mara had been tempted to report him to the Imperial Security Bureau, the Empire's secret police force. However, few could match his combat and leadership skills. The new Imperial Academy officer graduates, who were recruited through normal means, lacked the same calibre as Fett's clones who had served the Republic so well during the Clone Wars. Rumours within senior Imperial government circles circulated of declining standards and corruption within the Empire's military academies. Officers were being allocated commands on the basis of their personal connections to bigwigs in the Imperial bureaucracy rather than their skills and qualities. Better to have a dissenting but competent commander rather than a loyal and incompetent sycophant.