Chapter 3

It was only a few minutes after sitting uncomfortably wedged in between his best friend and an eccentric mechanic was Utasin finally able to make out the top of the old Republic base sitting in the valley of four large hills. His dark hair blew in the wind as he tried to discover what on Telos could Fen-dur possibly have to show him that he would be so interested in.

The swoop bike speedily zoomed through a trench between two of the hills until it began to slow down as it reached a docking bay. The two Jedi crawled out and began to look around. They were inside what seemed to be a giant parking garage. Dark and damp, the area didn't look very well maintained from the flickering lights to the grimy walls. The collection of swoop bikes and speeders on the other hand looked straight out of the factory. There were dozens of rows of transports, clean enough to see your face on the side of the cockpit.

"Jealous?" snorted Fen-dur, walking up behind them. "I'd love to give you a tour of my collection, but believe it or not, I got something that will impress you even more. Well, it'll be a bit more meaningful for you."

"These are yours?" asked Blin, a little skeptical.

"Hah, no, I just said that to see your reaction. They're my employer's. But if you'll follow me over here you'll meet the man who lets me play with these toys." Fen-dur began to walk toward a door at the other end of the garage.

"Do we trust him? This could be a trap," whispered Blin to Utasin as Fen-dur's back was turned.

"We've trusted him to this point. If there was an ambush, I expect it would have happened by now. Let's hope our Jedi training is enough for what may lie ahead."

They proceeded to follow Fen-dur through the door and down a long hallway. The hallway was as dank as the garage. In the distance they could hear blaster fire and the clash of vibroblades. The noises grew steadily louder until they reached a blast door at the end of the hallway. Fen-dur entered a security code and the door opened quickly.

Utasin and Blin initially reached for their lightsabers expecting the worst, but quickly put them away as they gazed into the circular room. Inside, a fierce looking Rattataki angrily clashed his vibroblade with that of an overweight, green Mirialan. In the corner, a gruff looking man wearing a military buzz cut and bright white Mandalorian armor stood with his arms folded. He kept a stern face as he looked up to see who had just opened the door.

"Speak, Jedi. We don't like visitors. What has Fen-dur done now?" grunted the man in the corner. His face was tan and covered in more battle scars than the two of them could count.

"This guy… always accusing me. While most of the time justified, I think I deserve a thanks for this. Murdak, I present to you, your son," Fen-dur waved his hands and took a bow towards Utasin.

Murdak and Utasin stared into each other's brown eyes. Utasin didn't have to search his feelings, they flooded over him like a tidal wave. Was this true? Utasin went his whole life with no contact with his family. All his training had taught him to let go of any such attachment. He had been undergoing Jedi training since he was nearly an infant, without a trace of memory of any past life. But it felt right.

"Is this true? How do you know? Tell me your name," said Murdak.

"Utasin Finscar."

"I don't believe it. It is you. There hasn't been a day I haven't thought of you since we left you with the Jedi. I thought I'd never see you again," said Murdak softly. He approached Utasin slowly and outstretched both his hands to touch him. He grabbed him by both arms at first and then quickly pulled him in for a tight embrace.

Utasin was speechless. He didn't know what he should say because he never thought that he would be in this situation. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to feel. Was he supposed to feel happy? He is family after all. What if he got attached? Would he be subject to the dark side? Will he even want to go back to the Jedi?

"So look at you! A Jedi Knight? I haven't a doubt that you've been trained pretty well in combat. Not as well trained as you would be if you stayed with me, but it was necessary at the time. It's a shame I killed a fair share of your order back in my day."

"You use to kill Jedi, but you sent your infant son to join their order? What kind of dad are you?" Emotions swelled up inside Utasin. He felt a little betrayed.

"I understand where you are coming from, son. We have a lot of catching up to do. I think it would be best if I took you back to the house for you to meet your mother. She would be so happy to see you and we can talk over some lunch," said Murdak calmly. "Dreameater. Jaimic. We're done here. Join us for lunch. You too Fen-dur and your other Jedi friend."

"Blin Krieg, sir. It's a pleasure," Blin said smiling.

"These here are my students," Murdak said, gesturing to the Rattataki and Mirialan. "I forgot to introduce them."

"They call me Dreameater. That's what you will call me too," said the Rattataki. His cold grey eyes blended with his stone grey skin. He had gruff voice that made him seem like one who's seen a lot, although he wasn't any older than the two young Jedi that stood before him.

"Jaimic. Jaimic Mor," said the Mirialan. Jaimic was a large young man, also around Utasin and Blin's age. He had long dark red hair that contrasted his forest green skin. He was in shape, but his torso at least twice as wide as Utasin's. Both Dreameater and Jaimic were covered in warn out, green Mandalorian battle armor.

"It'll be a short walk. We can talk on the way there," said Murdak Finscar.