Chapter 4

"Guys, we forgot Viran." Aang said.

"I wondered when you guys would notice." Jo said, grinning and stifling a laugh.

"You knew we forgot him and didn't say anything?!" Aang exclaimed.

"There's the Jo I know." Exar sarcastically complemented.

Then the shuttle exited hyperspace into the Takodana sector. "You're lucky we're here, otherwise I'd have chewed you out on that."

"Not yet used to having someone watching you, huh?" Jo asked, leaning back and crossing his arms behind his head.

"It's not that I'm not used to. Let's go." Aang said as they got up and headed to the ramp. He grabbed one of Jo's arms and said, "We'll continue this later."

"Why does it seem as if forgetting someone has become strangely personal?" Jo asked, staring into Aang's eyes with discomfort. Aang realized his point and let go.

They looked over at Exar and saw him fiddling with his mechanical arm. Exar then looked up to the lever, that was used to lower the ramp, and grabbed hold of it. Testing the arm's strength, he pulled down ever so gently as to not pull the robotic forearm off his severed arm. He was successful in not harming himself, and the ramp lowered. 'Pull my arm off? I really gotta reevaluate my mindset.' He thought.

"Good job." Aang said, walking off and patting Exar on the shoulder. Exar and Jo followed him down.

The team got a load of the tropical sight in person. Lush greenery was seen all over. A lake was in the distance, and there, they saw the castle. "There it is. The owner will help us." Jo pointed to the castle. Then the team started towards the castle, through the forest. Jo led the way.

"Aang," Exar whispered to Aang, catching his attention. "Why is forgetting Viran such a big deal?" He asked quietly.

"He was told to watch over us from then on, and now we're not under his supervision. It might slightly damage his reputation, for one thing. And we're going after a sith holocron. If anything was to happen, or more likely, show up, who'd be here to protect us?"

"I'm understanding a little bit." Exar replied.

"And Jo didn't forget. He should've gotten Viran to come with us before we left. If anything shows up, it'll be because of him we might lose more than we already have." Aang finalized.

"Very good points. But you kow Jo, always on his feet. Who knows, maybe he forgot, and only remembered when it was too late."

"Maybe. But like you said, 'who knows'." Aang said.

"You should probably talk to him." Exar said.

Aang nodded and went forward. "Jo, I need you to understand why it means a lot to remember something crucial to a mission."

"O...kay." Jo replied, a bit confused.

"Well first: why didn't you remind us to bring Viran when you had the chance?"

"I forgot... And remembered after we entered hyperspace. I also had some other personal things on my mind. And to be honest, I'm surprised you of all people forgot. You're always the one to remember little bits and pieces, little details."

"True." Aang thought about it. "I guess we're all not yet used to being supervised like that."

"For crying out loud, we were barely supervised. We only had one mission with him. This is seeming strangely unrealistic."

"It is. Well, all I can say about that is: whatever happens, happens. The force is our best guide."

"And," Exar said, popping in between them, "You know that makes me the odd man out. Jo, you remembered before Aang did. And I remembered only after Aang proclaimed that we forgot him."

"Right. So what about that 'crucial to the mission' thing?" Jo asked.

"Ah, yes. Considering our battle with Erk, if something came up and we couldn't handle it, who would be there to protect us? If a sith arrives to obtain the holocron, we're going to have needed all the help we can get."

"Point taken. If only one of us remembered before we took off."

"Guys." Exar called, suddenly yards away from them, looking through macrobinoculars. "If anyone dangerous arrives, I don't think we'll have a problem. That castle is armed to the teeth."

"What?" Jo exclaimed happily, going up to have a look through. Exar gave him the binoculars and Jo looked through and saw it all. "Maz, you old smarty you."

"What?"

"She upgraded her castle. Years ago, her castle was attacked by the First Order and it was demolished. She rebuilt it and apparently gave it this major upgrade."

"That is smart."

"We should hurry, though." Jo said, giving Exar his macrobinoculars back. "That holocron isn't going to obtain itself."

"Right!" Aang said as he and Exar followed.

Meanwhile on Coruscant, Rye, Erickson, and Ben were also making progress, keeping things in order. The ships were getting fueled and the crew was getting attended. Garm went to Rye to ask about the mission.

"What is it we're getting into here?" Garm asked.

"Well we discovered that the sith are alive, and we're capable of taking him out. But new problems have arisen since then. Another sith is side-by-side with the said sith, and led an attack over Coruscant. Using data we've collected, we might be able to home in on where they're hiding."

"Being sith, you think they made it that way to throw us off?"

"It's a 50/50 for me. It could be that, or being teenagers, they didn't think things through completely."

"Seems fair enough." Garm said, crossing his arms and gazing down at the gathered army. After a moment, he spotted the transmitter. "What's that?"

"Oh, it's a long-range transmitter. We're going to contact our team to make sure they don't do anything stupid until their supervisor arrives."

"Why not do it now?"

"My brother, Erickson, made me wait for him before doing so. He wants to see it work the first time."

Garm hummed in understanding and asked no more. Then, breaking the long, awkward silence, Erickson joined Rye in the hangar. "You ready?" Rye asked.

"I am now." Erickson replied.

Rye pressed the team's contact number into the transmitter, and they stood back, waiting for the miracle to happen. The antenna twirled around, hoping the team on Takodana would receive the signal. Rye and Erickson both figured that they shouldn't have a problem getting through, Takodana being in the Mid-Rim.

"Well," Rye said, observing the feedback, "The signal's being sent. It's just waiting for someone to respond."

"What will they respond with?" Garm asked.

"They have comlinks." Erickson answered.

"Are you sure comlinks will pick up that kind of signal?"

"Yeah. We have one over on our base that we used to contact them when they were on Kamino a few days ago."

...

"Why didn't you use that one?" Garm asked.

"We're building these transmitters at every Republic base in the galaxy, so we won't have to drag ourselves over to our base to contact someone, might happen to be across the galaxy." Rye replied.

"Smart. With leaders like you, that team of yours is going to be very intelligent."

"They're on their way there. There was a thing or two we actually learned from one of them."

...

"You're full of fun facts, Rye." Garm said, suddenly feeling succinct.

Jo and the team reached the castle perimeter. Exar took in his first experience on Takodana, while Aang and Jo relished the memories.

"You know I've been here before?" Aang asked.

"You don't say?" Jo said.

"Yeah, it was only a few years ago. You mind if I... attend, to something, before we get down to business?" Aang asked, his face growing sad, his voice going soft.

Jo noticed and nodded his head. They went on to the castle and up to the door. Jo raised his lightly clenched fist to knock, but before he moved it any further, the door opened to reveal the short, orange alien of unknown species.

"Ah! Jo!" Maz playfully shouted, the team slightly cringing.

"Hey Maz, glad to hear your voice is still in shape." Jo said, rubbing his only ear.

"You've grown since I last saw you, and you got an upgrade." Maz said, observing Jo's new half-face.

"Yep. Sith problems."

"Oh," Maz's tone dropped,"Those beasts are still around?"

"Yep, and uh-"

"One moment." Maz said, going over to Aang. "Hello again, Aang."

"Hi Maz."

"You guys know each other?" Jo asked.

"Yeah. It was the funeral of the Resistance's General Leia Organa." Aang dropped his head slowly.

"Many still feel your pain. She is always missed." Maz said.

After a moment of silence, Aang spoke up with a quiet tone, "I'll be right back." Then he walked off.

"You boys come inside, we'll talk for a bit before he comes back." Maz said, motioning inside.

Maz led Jo and Exar to a table inside the cantina, and had them sit down.

"First of," Maz said, sitting down and looking over to Exar, "We haven't met."

"I am Exar."

Maz hummed, then said, "Unique name, I must say. And rare color for your species."

"You know we're not born with these tattoos, right?"

"Yes, I know. I've seen Zabraks like you with either red or yellow, but orange means something different."

"It means something different?"

"Yes. Tell me, Exar, do you know of any prophecies, not well-known?"

"Well you might have to be more specific, the planet I gained knowledge from is rich with rare documents and old prophecies."

"Were there any documents that were restricted from being read?"

"There was one. Only the ancient leader knew what it was."

"I know little of it, I just know that it had something to do with a young, literally bright leader saving the galaxy. I know that seems like an entire prophecy, but for once, I knew that this one had more detail to it." Maz said with a little laugh.

"Sounds interesting, but we're here on urgent business." Jo cut in.

"The sith holocron?" Exar and Jo were about to ask how she knew, but Maz raised her hand and said, "I sent the message."

"Oh. Well, we should, uh, probably get Aang."

Exar and Jo found Aang on his knees in front of a grave stone in an isolated area of the castle. They slowly, quietly approached him and sat down behind him. Exar sensed that Aang was peaceful, and was sort of surprised. After a moment of tranquility passed, Jo peeked over Aang's shoulder to see the grave stone.

It read:

Here Lies Leia Skywalker Solo

Beloved General, Sister, Wife, And Mother

19 BBY - 41 BBY

"She was the greatest leader the galaxy ever had." Aang said.

"I bet she was." Exar replied.

"Well, Aang, we uh, got a mission to do. Sorry if I ruined the moment." Jo said.

"It's okay. Let's do this." Aang said as the team got up and moved out.

Rest In Peace Carrie Fisher

October 21, 1956 - December 27, 2016