Entry 19

During the flight to Despayre I conducted Force training with Sacha and Magash. I must admit I am surprised and extremely pleased with their progress. Both are able to utilize the Force to move objects and enhance their fighting abilities. In the hours prior to our arrival to the prison planet we worked on using the Force to distract or manipulate people. Although the Jedi don't like utilizing the Force to influence others it can be a great lifesaving skill, not only for the Jedi but any enemy we face. If an Imperial guard can be tricked into not confronting a Jedi it greatly reduces the probability of violence and death. In reality, a Jedi mind trick is the most humane way to deal with an adversary.

We practiced this technique with the assistance of Den and our young pilot, Kwan Goelth. I had Den and Kwan to sit down on chairs in the cargo hold and told them that no matter what the women said or did they were not to stand up.

I then called on Sacha to influence the men to stand. She walked up to Den and Kwan, hands on her hips, and gazing at them intently before she commanded them to "Stand up". I could feel the power of the Force behind her words, but it wasn't enough. Den and Kwan remained seated, smirking at her defiantly. I then motioned for Magash to come forward and attempt the same task. The Zabrak/Human hybrid gave the two men a level look before she yelled out, "Stand up!" Both men popped to their feet immediately. They looked at each other in shock and embarrassment before they chuckled at their actions.

"You are as good as my mother," Kwan said with a sheepish grin.

That piqued my curiosity. "Is your mother a Force sensitive?"

The dark haired man shook his head. "No, she's just a strong willed woman who won't be ignored." He moved toward the flight deck. "I would love to stay and assist, but I need to get back to piloting. We should be coming out of hyperspace soon."

Den sat back down and crossed his arms across his chest. "You caught me off guard," he told Magash. "Try it again."

"Stand up." Her voice had a hint of amusement that turned to laughter when Den unconsciously bounded back to his feet. The Sullustan's dew flaps flushed red as he mumbled a profanity under his breath cursing his lack of control.

"Make him dance!" I-Five shouted out to Magash. He was standing off to the side his mechanical hand casually resting on the butt of his blaster.

Den turned and glared at his friend. "Don't give her any ideas!" He returned his gaze to the Zabrak woman. "You obviously don't need any more practice. Let Sacha work on this technique."

Magash smiled broadly as she backed off to let her comrade try to influence Den. "Stand up!" Sacha called out. When Den remained seated he grinned victoriously.

I could feel the vibrations of the engines as we reverted back to real space. After a few moments Kwan poked his head out of the flight deck looking troubled. "Hey, guys, you may want to see this."

We all moved to the cockpit of the freighter and stared out of the transparisteel viewport.

"What in the Nine Corellian Hells is that?" I turned to my companions who looked as confused as I. In the distance was the green-blue planet of Despayre. The prison world wasn't the source of my confusion, but what was hovering in orbit above the planet –which looked very much like a metallic skeleton a small moon. Obviously, whatever was being built above Despayre was in the early phase of construction with little more than the steel girder framework of some colossal sphere completed. We could see massive steel crossbeam, spar and truss segments moved in place by small ships that swarmed around the construction project like sting-bees around an enormous hive.

I-Five came closer to the viewport and gazed at the object. "Judging by its size and shape, I would say the Imperials are constructing a space station."

Den frowned. "I've seen plenty of space stations, but nothing this huge. It doesn't make sense to build something that big unless they're expecting to place it in a highly traveled hyperspace lane…but why build one giant docking station when it would be more practical to build a dozen smaller stations?"

I ran a hand over my chin in thought. "Maybe it will be for deep space exploration. It could be a self-sufficient explorer station."

Sacha gave a skeptical snort. "When have the Imperials created anything that wasn't deadly? My bet is it will be some type of weapon."

Kwan took out a holo-imager and started recording. "Whatever it is, I'm sure the Whiplash leadership will want to see it. This could explain the influx of prisoners to this area…they're using convict labor."

I grimaced at the thought. If Sheel was up in space helping build this colossal space station we may never find her. "Hopefully Sheel is still on the planet."

Kwan finished taking holos and turned back to us. "Get ready for landing. I should be coming into communication range shortly."

Den sat down in the copilot seat as the rest of us shuffled off the flight deck in preparation for debarkation. I was already wearing my disguise consisting of black pants and tunic under the standard Inquisitor's maroon Zeyd-cloth robes. On my belt hung the red-bladed lightsaber I acquired from an anonymous benefactor a year ago. Sacha and Magash were in their orange prison outfits and I-Five completed their disguise by fitting them with correctional stuncuffs provided to us by Pol Haus.

As we got closer to the start of this undercover incarceration mission, a sense of unease crept down my spine. I walked over to the two women. "You two don't have to do this if you don't want to. I could go alone." I already knew their answer, but I felt duty bound to allow them a way to back out of this dangerous mission.

Magash scowled at me and I knew I made some cultural blunder. "Do you doubt our abilities?" Her words came out accusing, but I also detected a hint of hurt.

Sacha put a hand on her shoulder. "He knows we can do this. He simply wants to reaffirm that this is our decision to make."

"That's right," I nodded at Sacha thankful for her help. "I don't want you to feel pressured. This is not a military mission with me as commander; we are equals."

I could see Magash relax. "I go willingly."

"So do I," Sacha added.

I reached out and put my hands on their shoulders. "I have every confidence in you two."

I saw a blush color Sacha's cheeks as she averted her eyes shyly. "Thank you Jax."

I noticed Magash rolled her eyes slightly at Sacha's actions. I wasn't sure what that was about. Perhaps Dathomir women don't believe a person should feel abashed when receiving a compliment. Unfortunately, there wasn't time to ask about Dathomir customs, we had a mission to do.