Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Mandalorian Wars
Chapter 7

Alek leaned back in his seat as the shuttle made its final approach to Taris. The pilot had informed them that they'd been waylaid by the arrival of a shuttle carrying refugees. Now the hanger bay was free and the shuttle was heading there.

"You don't need to look like this is the end of the galaxy," Darious stated from where he sat across from Alek. "Avner will be here."

"There's no way to tell that for certain," Alek bit back a growl. It wasn't Darious' fault. The damned council was to blame for this. Then there was so much more they could've done, not just for Avner but to stop the mandalorians from taking Tarnith in the first place. "Look, I'm not happy with the assignment, but I won't let my emotions cloud my judgment."

"There's no need to tell me that." Darious smiled at Alek. "I've known you long enough to know you won't compromise the mission just because Avner is in danger or…" he trailed. "I doubt he's dead," he muttered more to himself than to Alek.

Alek let out a long breath and looked out of the corner of his eye at Jasper. The young padawan was looking between Darious and Alek with confusion. "Why would the council send a Knight so close to the old front?" he asked just as the shuttle entered the atmosphere. "I didn't think they'd do something like that."

"They believed Tarnith wouldn't fall so easily to the mandalorians," stated Darious as he stood. He moved into the cockpit to speak with the pilot as they neared the hanger.

"Why?" Jasper asked Alek.

"There was a Republic ship there, but it pulled out when the mandalorians made their move," Alek replied. If the Republic hadn't pulled out, Tarnith wouldn't have fallen to the mandalorians and a knight wouldn't be stuck behind the line with no one coming after him.

The shuttle docked and Alek stood, stretching stiff muscles. Darious reappeared and nodded to Alek as the ramp lowered. Alek and Darious went down the ramp together with Jasper following several steps behind them.

Out of the corner of his eye, Alek saw a cloaked figure being shoved towards the doors into the hanger on his left. He paused and looked over at them. The figure was wearing Jedi robes and Alek could see black hair. They vanished through the door before Alek could be certain if it was Avner or not. He spread out his awareness, but it did next to nothing. If Avner didn't want to be found, he could easily block another force user from finding him.

"Welcome."

Alek turned his attention to group before them. The man in the lead was the representative of Taris. He wore extravagant purple robes and had white, curly hair with a neatly trimmed beard. He stood with several security officers flanking him and an extravagantly dressed skrilling just behind him. If Alek recalled from what Darious had told him about this world, the representative was named Haydel Goravvus and the skrilling was called Jervo Thalien.

"You three must be the Jedi the council sent," Haydel stated as Alek and Darious stopped before him. "I welcome you to Taris, Master Jedi."

"Thank you," Darious gave the man a polite bow of his head.

"Where was that refugee ship from?" Alek asked, looking at the shuttle. It didn't seem too large of a vessel and couldn't have carried more than twenty people and that was packing it tight.

"Tarnith," Haydel said with sorrow. "It's the first one we've gotten from there." There was a note to his voice Alek didn't like.

Alek shivered. "Have you received many refugees?" he asked as they started towards the door. He and Darious walked beside the senator while Jasper, the guards, and Jervo walked several paces behind.

"Many from all across the outer rim," Haydel replied. "Most are in the lower city until they can pay to get off world."

Alek stiffened and glanced at Darious. His friend gave the slightest nods as if telling Alek that he agreed. If Avner was here, there was no way a Jedi mistaken as a refugee would be able to pay his way off world. Jedi didn't make credits unless it was from someone who they'd helped and wanted to give them some. The Order was paid by the senate for its services which was how the temples where funded. Other than that a Jedi was given only enough credits to get them to the planet they were assigned. Most of the time food and shelter was provided for them.

"I'd hoped to get Taris a seat on the senate before one of our supply worlds fell to the mandies," Haydel continued to speak. "With the fall of Tarnith, it's even more urgent Taris gains a seat in the senate."

Darious nodded. "And that's why Alek and I are here. The senate wants the Order's opinion before you're given a seat."

"Yes," Haydel smiled at Darious.

"The High Council is also interested in placing a temple here if Taris is granted a seat," Darious continued.

Alek frowned. He wasn't certain Avner would've mentioned that right away. Something about it being wiser to hold more cards in such talks than the others… though Alek didn't see the point in it.

"There was mention," Alek started, "of a high crime rate in the lower city. I would like to investigate some of it later on." It was his chance to also search lower down from Avner.

"Of course, Master Jedi."

x – Meanwhile – x

Taris was in sight. Avner let out a sigh more out of relief that these people would soon be able to try to get back to a normal life than anything else. Though, he didn't know how long they would have a normal life for. If Mandalore's goal was Taris, then they could end up trapped on this world instead. Especially if the people here wanted to keep their refugees until they could pay to get off world.

"This is Taris control. Hanger bay twenty is open."

"Thank you, Taris control," Avner replied over the comm. He moved the shuttle into the atmosphere. The shuttle shuddered as it broke through. Clouds blocked Avner's vision. As the clouds parted, the large city of Taris dominated the window.

The shuttle landed smoothly in the hanger bay. Avner could sense several people moving towards the shuttle as the refugees exited. Sighing, Avner stretched before he stood and followed the refugees out into the hanger. It was a bare place compared to others Avner had seen. The shuttle was the only one there and there were no crates lining the walls.

His eyes traveled o the group walking towards them. Avner stepped to the front of the refugees. "Hello," he greeted them with a bow of his head.

"I take it you're refugees from Tarnith," stated the leader, he rested his hand on his blaster pistol, eyeing them with a look of contempt. "You'll need to follow us to the lower city. All refugees are to gather in the encampments down there." The man turned away from them.

"It's urgent I get to Coruscant," Avner stated, stepping forward. "I'm a Jedi who was on assignment on Tarnith when—"

The man turned, giving Avner a cold look as his gazed flickered down Avner. He took in the tattered robes before his gaze rested on Avner's features. "Jedi? You look more like a common refugee than Jedi."

"I assure you, I'm a Jedi." What did he have to do? Use the force to show this idiot he was a Jedi?

The others from Tarnith were being herded away by the rest of the team. But Avner stayed where he was, looking calmly at the leader as he looked at Avner with the same look of superiority.

"You're no Jedi, now get moving and out of my sight, filth!" he barked at Avner before turning and striding away.

Avner stared at the man and was certain his mouth was open a little. Oh, he'd been greeted and called many things in his travels, but never before had someone called him filth or not believed that he was Jedi.

"Move it." One of the other security members shoved Avner in the back with his blaster rifle.

Staggering, Avner glanced at the man, but didn't resist. If the leader of this group hadn't stayed and tried to believe Avner, there was no point in speaking to this man or any of the others here. To them he was just a normal refugee.

Avner gritted his teeth. This was a really bad situation to be in. There was no way he'd be able to leave this world without someone either believing he was Jedi or finding either a smuggler or credits to pay his way back to the upper city and for a shuttle to Coruscant. Both the last ones would cost more than he'd be able to make in thirty years. Over all, he just needed to figure someway to just get off this world and get the information he had to the Republic and the Jedi Order.

The security officer shoved Avner into the lift before following him in. Avner leaned against the wall of the lift as it started down to the lower levels of Taris. Looking at the "escort" out of the corner of his eye, Avner knew he could use the force on the man or just over power him with ease. What was the point in doing so? It would just land him in greater trouble and make it so the masters' would only be concerned in what Avner had done instead of the matter of the mandalorians. The elevator jarred to halt.

"Out," the guard shoved Avner from the elevator. "You'll soon find where to stay."

Avner turned. "Wait—" the door hissed closed in his face. He blinked and took a step away from the elevator. Well, this situation sucked, but he had to believe the force would guide him out of it just as easily as he'd gotten into it.

Avner started down the narrow street, heading to where he sensed more people were gathered. The street was nothing like the upper part of Taris let alone most streets he'd seen on Coruscant. Trash lined both sides of the street and the harsh, foul scent of the place was overpowering. It was dark here compared to places where the sun should've been seen.

Sighing, Avner glanced at the trash and paused as he caught a glimpse of his reflection in shattered piece of mirror. He stared into his dark brown eyes, a frown pulled at his lips. He hadn't shaved since all of this had started but it wasn't this that made him stop and look. What the leader had said echoed in his mind. He didn't look like a Jedi, but what was a Jedi supposed to look like? He supposed the shabby and poor shape his robes were in made it appear he wasn't one, but the robes should've given away that he was no matter the condition they were in.

His eyes remained locked on his reflection. He did admit that compared to Alek and Darious he didn't standout in a crowd. With sharp, ordinary features like his it was a wonder people hadn't thought he wasn't a Jedi before now. Avner pulled up his hood. Shadows fell over his face, making it next to impossible to see his features.

Starting off down the street, Avner turned to matters that were more important. While he was stuck here he might as get as much information as he could from the refugees down here. There were bound to be people from across the outer rim who'd gathered here. All of them would have some story or another on what had happened, how the mandalorians had invaded, and more.

Avner spent the next few days moving among the refugees. Over the days he learned that people were more likely to believe he was Jedi when he kept his hood up. When they believed it made it so he could exchange his healing ability for information on the mandalorians and stories that these people had on the attacks of their homeworlds.

Soon Avner had a small timeline, dating back to just under ten years ago. The skirmishes and battles the Republic knew of only dated back three. Avner leaned back against the wall. The battles, whether they were won or lost, showed just how long and how brutal the mandalorians were. From what he gathered, the mandalorians were now just biding time. The attack on Tarnith was just the beginning. He suspected the mandalorians hadn't expected the Republic to pull back its forces from the world.

Avner turned his gaze towards the rest of the small camp. Despite the late hour, small fires burned in the center of the shabby tents constructed from trash dropped here from the middle and upper city. All of these people had nothing but the clothes on their back. What little credits they managed to make went towards food or paying off the Black Vulkars, one of the local gangs.

To them these people were intruders living in their territory. If the people didn't pay they were beaten. Avner let out a sigh and closed his eyes. If he'd been there he would've tried to stop it from happening. But what good was he to these people?

Here he'd wanted to get back to Coruscant and deliver the warning about the mandalorians… what if the council refused to believe? What if Kavar refused to act? Avner clenched his fist, knowing in his heart he couldn't just stand by and watch the mandalorians slaughter the people of the Republic. War was coming and there was no point in denying it. He had to make the council see this as well. Even if they didn't see it in the proof he'd gathered so far, he would search and find what was needed to convince them. Hopefully before Taris was attacked, for, he knew, it was inevitable it joined the Republic. The "key" was Taris.

Avner drifted off into a light sleep.

A scream jarred Avner awake. Scrambling to his feet, he looked around and spotted several Vulkars pressing down on a woman and her child, who Avner knew to be ill.

"Leave him alone!" she shouted as the Vulkar tried to shove her away. "I've given you everything I have. You can't take him!"

Moving to them, Avner placed a hand on the vulkar's shoulder. "That's enough," he spoke in a stern voice, looking at the man through the shadows cast by his hood.

The man whorled on Avner, his fist aimed for Avner's face. Stepping to one side, Avner caught his fist and twisted around the man. He shoved him away from the woman and her son.

The other vulkars growled at him. "Get out of the way! They've not paid up."

Avner unlatched his lightsaber from where he'd hidden it on his belt. The purple blade hummed to life. "Leave now," he stated.

The vulkar who'd attacked Avner glanced at the lightsaber, an uneasy look in his eye. But another stepped forward. "So what are you going to do about it?" he growled. "You could've taken that lightsaber from some dead Jedi."

"Do I look as if I have?" Avner asked in calm, cool tones. As he spoke, some of the ruble started to lift around him.

This caused all the vulkars to step back. They glanced at the one who'd spoken. He seemed to be the one in charge of this lot.

"Leave now," Avner repeated.

The group glanced at Avner's lightsaber before they started to back away. They turned and left their leader alone to face Avner. "Cowards!" he shouted after them before casting a wary eye over Avner. He backed up several paces before snarling, "Fine, she can keep her son. He wouldn't last a day as a slave anyway." He turned and raced after his friends.

"T-thank you," the woman stammered.

Avner turned to her as he deactivated his lightsaber. The objects he'd lifted with force he placed back on the ground.

"I don't know what I'd done if I'd lost my son," she whispered in a horse voice. "He's all I have left."

Avner looked at the boy who was wrapped in the tattered blanket this woman had. The boy didn't seem to be doing so well. He hesitated before saying, "If you'd permit I could heal you son. I've some training as a healer," he confessed.

Her eyes widened. "So you are the Jedi I've heard about," she whispered with her hand over her mouth. "Please, if there's anything at all you could do for him."

Avner nodded and stepped passed the woman. Kneeling beside the boy, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. This boy needed a healer far more skilled than Avner was.

Careful not to wake the ill child, Avner placed his hand over the boy's forehead. A soft blue light filled the dimly lit space. He could feel some of the boy's pain ebb away and the fever begin to drop. He held to the healing energies for as long as he could, waiting until the last moment to cut it. By then Avner only knew the boy would pull through.

Standing, Avner turned to the mother and gave her a small smile. "He'll live. His fever should be gone by tomorrow night."

The woman knelt by her son, eyes brimming with tears. "Thank you, I wish I could give you something, but…" She shook her head, smiling through her tears at her son.

Avner pulled out some of his remaining credits. It wasn't much, it wasn't enough to get them out of the lower city, but it was enough to feed them for a few weeks. "Here," – he took her hand pressed the credits into it – "you're need is far greater than mine." He hesitated before releasing her hand. "There is something I would like to ask: do you know of anyone who might know away off world?"

The woman looked up, her expression still stunned from the credits he'd given her. She hesitated for so long, Avner was about to turn and leave when she finally spoke, "There might be away, but it's dangerous and could land even a Jedi into trouble."

He frowned before saying, "No matter the risk, I must return to Coruscant. Please tell me."

"Marn Hierogryph is a small time hood who tries to deal in everything. If anyone knows away to the upper city or off world, it would be him."

"Thank you." Avner bowed his head to her before he turned.

He'd taken only a few steps when she called after him, "Please, Master Jedi, might I know your name?"

A name? That was the first time since ending up down here anyone had asked for his name. But was a name as important as he'd originally thought? Names were fleeting at best. It was the deed that mattered.

Avner paused. He looked at her over his shoulder and said, "What matters isn't my name, but what is done while I'm here." With those words he continued on his way.