Chapter 3- Jedi Meeting
The Torrent sat down on the grassy plains of Lothal, near a small space yacht called Jade Shadow. In the distance, they could see a tall tower. Rex, Ahsoka, Alora, Ashlan, Coryn, Miisha, Rorric, little Wani, and baby Persis made their way through the tall grass toward the distant tower.
"Dada," hollered Wani, when they had gone about a dozen meters, "dis grass is too tall. I'm gonna get lost!"
Rex laughed and scooped up the little boy, tickling his tiny montrals. "Oh, no! No one gets lost in this family. We stick together."
"No matter what!" added Alora, their adopted human daughter, carrying one-year old Persis on her hip.
"No matter what!" echoed the other children.
"I hope Ezra will be at the tower when we get there." Alora shaded her eyes against the bright sunrise, looking at her friend's home. Ezra had helped to rescue her from the Inquisitors when she was a baby and the two had a special bond.
"I'm sure he'll turn up," Ahsoka assured her. "He always does. Dev will be there too, you know," she added with a sly smile.
Miisha slipped her small hand into her father's big one. "I hope Jacen and Pypey will be there."
Coryn tugged thoughtfully at one of his lekku. "I think Master Luke wants all of us Jedi at his meeting. Even you, Sis."
"Me and Wani and baby Persis, too?" asked Rorric, his eyes wide.
Ashlan nodded. "Maybe even Grogu and Baby Ben. Dada, something bad is happening, isn't it?"
"I don't really know what's going on. That's what we're going to find out. Ah, and here's the man who's going to tell us."
"Rex, Ahsoka! Hi, kids!" Luke stood at the door of the Bridgers' tower home, waving to the Torrent family. A young man, Dev Sibwarra, and a young boy, Kyp Durron, hurried out of the tower to greet them. Jaina and Jacen Solo dashed out close behind.
Sabine followed more slowly, one hand resting on her rounded middle. "It's so good to see you! Come in. Ezra will be back soon. He went to meditate at the old Temple site when he heard Luke's report."
Sabine led her guests inside where a pot of Lothalian herbal tea sat on a table. She poured out cups of the sweet, steaming tea as the Jedi gathered in a circle. A little girl with dark hair and brown, bird-like eyes and a tiny green child with long, floppy ears toddled into the room. Both toddlers babbled excitedly as they Force-tossed a ball back and forth.
"Violet-Meadows, Grogu, inside voices, please!" Sabine scolded gently. "Baby Ben is sleeping."
Mara smiled at the wide-eyed tots and held the sleeping baby out for Violet-Meadows to see. The little girl tiptoed over to peek at him.
The tower door opened and Ezra Bridger entered with his two pupils, Jacen Syndulla Dume and Pypey of Ithoria. He paused, his gaze sweeping the room. His dark hair was tousled by the wind, his orange robe held a lingering fragrance of Lothal's grasslands and his bare feet were dusty and tanned. He stepped up to Sabine and stroked the braids encircling her head.
Finally, he addressed the gathered Jedi with a sad smile. "Well, looks like the gang's all here except for Leia. Luke, I sense more here than we know."
Luke returned Ezra's smile. He was unusual, to be sure, and technically, he wasn't even a Jedi, but he brought a unique perspective to their community. The Balance of the Force was strong in him.
"I have more news from Leia, and it's not good. Two Mersians testified before an emergency Senate. They claim we Jedi destroyed a cantina and hinted that we bewitched those five Clones. They say we are responsible for multiple deaths. A special committee is seeking a supposedly peaceful solution, but Leia believes they're out for blood."
"There are images circulating on the holonet," Mara added, bouncing the sleeping baby. "The cantina appears to have been burned to the ground. Some of the images show injured or dead people, although they don't match the supposed death toll. Mersia is an unorganized planet with little advanced technology. A perfect place to stage something like this."
Rex cleared his throat and approached the little circle, "I'm no Jedi, but I'd like to put in my two credits, if I may."
"Of course," Luke replied.
"Well, the more I think about it, the whole thing was a set-up. A Mersian just happens to meet Wolfe and tell him about the boys, so he can tell us. There just happen to be Ssi-ruuk and one of them suddenly becomes interested in the boys' welfare. Out of all the people in the cantina, too. And the way those trouble makers swarmed us. Most folks at least hesitate before attacking a Jedi, much less three full grown ones and a pack of padawans. No, someone planned this- planned it and paid for it, too."
"Luke, Mara." Ezra turned to the Skywalkers. "Rex makes sense. Can you give us some names from Leia's information? Maybe we can put a face on our someone."
"I think I know," Jacen Solo spoke up, "Mom said a senator named Agati is in charge right now. Everybody was doing whatever he wanted. Do you think he could be a Sith?" The young boy's eyes were wide with fear as he looked up at his uncle.
Luke put a hand on his shoulder. He wished the twins hadn't been in the cantina to see the violence and feel the hate through the Force. If only Leia had taken them on her diplomatic mission instead of asking Luke to spend the time teaching his niece and nephew the ways of the Force.
"I don't think so," he responded soothingly.
Mara frowned. "I think remember Agati, although I didn't recognize the name until just now. He was in charge of designing droids, probes, and automated ships for the Empire before he defected." She stopped and gasped. "Luke, he's been surveilling us!"
"You may be right, my Love. Artoo!"
The little droid beeped from the corner.
"Go check the ship, please. See if we've been tracked, hacked or otherwise compromised."
Whistling, the astromech rolled out the door.
"Master Luke," Dev's spoke softly, "this whole situation is my fault. I had heard that a few Ssi-ruu were stranded in Alliance space. I should have been prepared. But when that big green one put his claw on Punch's shoulder, I could feel it." Dev shuddered and dropped his gaze. He had been mind-controlled, enslaved and abused by the large, lizard-like aliens for five years as a young boy. Luke and Alliance forces had defeated the Ssi-ruuvi invasion forces and rescued Dev, but his mental scars ran deep. "If I give myself up to the Senate and tell them it was my fault, perhaps they will leave the rest of you alone." He swallowed. "These little ones should not suffer because of my lack of discipline."
"If this Agati guy is looking for a reason to pick a fight with the Jedi," Sabine observed from the couch in the corner of the room, "he isn't going to accept a scapegoat. Even if the other senators made him accept your sacrifice, he'd just find another way to turn the Galaxy against the Jedi."
"Dev, they provoked you deliberately," Ezra agreed. "No one's blaming you – we all have our weaknesses. If this scheme had failed, Agati or whoever it is would just try to exploit another Jedi's weakness."
Rex rubbed his beard thoughtfully, "If you don't mind another word of advice from an old soldier, I'd say the thing to do is turn the tables. Agati's been a step ahead of us. Now, it's our turn. We've got to figure out his next move."
"Good thinking, Rex." Luke looked thoughtful. "Let's call up Leia, see what she knows."