Chapter 9

As the ship exited hyperspace near Aridax, Master Maru and his padawan Keth prepared to investigate the disappearance of Master Sotth and his apprentice Lira. Keth's eyes lit up as he studied the datapad. "Master, Master Sotth's ship is still here in the spaceport," he said excitedly. "It hasn't left the planet."

Maru let out a relieved sigh. "Good work, Keth. Then this is where we start." He maneuvered their ship toward the docking bay smoothly.

Maru and Keth hurried to Master Sotth's ship. The hatch was sealed shut, but no obvious damage was visible. Maru stroked his beard in thought. "The answers are probably in there," he murmured as he punched in the Jedi code and the hatch hissed open. The ship was empty, with no signs of a struggle.

As they began inspecting the interior, a docking officer hurried over. "What're you doing'?" he demanded.

Maru responded calmly. "We're lookin' for two missin' Jedi - Master Sotth and his apprentice."

The officer eyed them suspiciously. "And you are?"

Maru gestured to himself and Keth. "I'm Master Maru and this is my padawan, Keth. We're Jedi like Master Sotth."

The officer still eyed them with distrust. "Still gonna cost you a docking fee." He held out his hand expectantly.

Maru paused for a moment then handed over a few credit chips.

The officer pocketed the credits. "Old Jedi has been meeting with Gogron daily and the girl was scouting the city, haven't seen either of them for four days now."

A frown crossed Maru's face as he considered their options. After a moment, he turned to Keth and said, "We'll check with Gogron. He may know where Master Sotth or Lira are." Keth nodded in agreement.

Leaving the spaceport, it did not take them long to locate Gogron's office. The town only had one building that looked well maintained, with potted plants framing the entrance. They arrived at the tall office building belonging to Gogron minig, they entered into lobby. A secretary looked from desk.

"Can I help you, sir?" she asked.

"I need to speak to Gogron immediately," Maru replied.

The secretary eyed him suspiciously. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No, but it's urgent Jedi business." Maru remarked

The secretary shook her head. "Without an appointment, I can't let you disturb Director Gogron."

Maru leaned forward intently. "Two Jedi have gone missing. Time is of the essence."

The secretary hesitated, then said firmly, "I'm sorry, I can't let you through."

Maru didn't have time for bureaucratic sidestepped the sputtering secretary and entered the lift. , As the lift doors slid shut, Keth turned to face the stern-faced secretary. He cleared his throat. " My friend was in a bit of a hurry."

The secretary eyed him coolly. "I must contact director Gogron at once regarding your unauthorized entry." Without waiting for a response, she tapped her communicator.

Keth grimaced. "That won't be necessary," he said hurriedly. "We mean no trouble, we just need to speak to Master Gogron regarding an urgent matter."

The secretary ignored him, speaking tersely into the comm "Director Gogron, one of the intruders has breached protocol by proceeding directly to the lifts.""It's a Jedi Master sir"She added.

Gogron voice came over comm."The Jedi always think their business is urgent. It doesn't mean I have to drop everything to entertain them. Let me deal with this arrogant Jedi," he replied dismissively.

Keth shifted uncomfortably. "Er, excuse me. This may take a while. Would it be alright if I sat over there to wait?" He gestured to a small sitting area in the lobby.

The secretary eyed him coolly. "You are to remain standing."

Keth grimaced. "Oh, of course." He straightened up again, tapping his fingers nervously on the datapad.

An awkward silence fell before the secretary spoke sharply. "Cease that tapping. You are disturbing the peace of this office."

Keth flushed "Sorry." towing his datapad behind his robes. He stood silently, hands folded, as the secretary returned pointedly to her work.

The doors opened and Maru made his way to Gogron's opulent office. Gogron rose from his desk, irritation spreading across his otherwise pleasant features. "I asked you to leave, Jedi."

Maru stepped forward. "What happened to Master Sotth and his padawan?"

Gogron sighed theatrically. "There was an unfortunate explosion at one of my bordunite mines. Some of my security forces have not reported in, including the two Jedi you sent to snoop around." His tone took on a diplomatic air. "The Republic, of course, will provide adequate compensation for any damages."

Maru ignored the plea for compensation. "What there was explosion?"

Gogron sat back down at his desk and folded his hands calmly. "I understand your concern, Jedi. However, as I said, there was an unfortunate explosion at one of my mines where the two Jedi were seen." Gogron's tone remained diplomatic but firm. "I have reviewed the footage myself. It shows the Jedi entering the mine and after while the explosion occurred.."

Maru didn't back down. "Then let me see it for myself. "

A flash of irritation crossed Gogron's face but was quickly hidden. He smiled politely. "I apologize, Jedi, but I cannot release confidential company footage without a warrant."

Starting to feel anger raising inside him Maru demanded."I want to see the place of the explosion for myself,"

Gogron's eyebrows raised in disapproval. "That area of the mine is unstable and dangerous. I cannot allow access." .

At this, Maru's anger boiled over. "Enough games," he said fiercely. "Jedi will be doing their own investigation"

Gogron's smile faded.. He saw he couldn't dissuade the Jedi. As he sighed in annoyance. "Very well, Jedi. But the Republic will need to provide full compensation for any disruptions to mining operations."

Maru responded in a firm tone, "There will be no talk of compensation until the Jedi have done their own investigation. Now, are you going to show me that explosion site or not?"

"I cannot allow unsupervised access." said Gogron. "only under my workers' supervision and from a safe distance. The blast zone is still unstable."

Maru sensed this was the best he would get for now. "Agreed," he said.

Gogron made a call on his communicator. "Jedi will arrive to inspect the blast zone personally. You are to accompany him and ensure he does not go beyond the approved safety perimeter. Do I make myself clear?

"Yes director" Came short answer.

Maru made his way down to lobby where he left Keth. He explained what Gogron said to Keth heading towards the bordunite mining complex. Keth asked nervously, "Master, do you think Master Sotth and Lira are...dead?"

Maru contemplated as they walked. "I do not know. But from what I've heard of Master Sotth, he a wise Jedi. I cannot believe he would have been so careless."

Keth considered this. "Perhaps whoever caused the explosion meant to trap them?"

"Thats possibilty too but we dont know" Replied Maru.

They travelled in silence the rest of the way to the mining complex. Each lost in their own thoughts.

At the security checkpoint, a supervisor named Gren greeted them. "I'm to escort you to level eighty-six where the explosion occurred," he said briskly.

Maru nodded. "Lead the way."

Gren led them to a lift that descended deep into the earth. The lift doors opened onto long corridor but in distance they were signs of devastation. Maru, Keth and Gren made their way through the tunnel until they reached a massive pile of rubble blocking the tunnel. Stone and debris were everywhere.

After while Gren broke silence" See your Master and his apperentice" he said rudely"Were probably trying getting throught checkpoint and didnt see explosives in the ceiling, causing explosion and killing four unfortunate guards who were simply doing their job.".

Maru ignored man,they wanted to throw everything on master sotth. Instead he knelt down and closed his eyes, concentrating. He reached out with the Force, sensing past the rock and dust. Then he felt it a faint but distinct signature, not far away.

Maru's eyes opened. "There is someonethin beyond this rockfall, no more than two meters ahead."

Keth gasped. "You think it's Master Sotth and Lira?"

He shook his head "No its not something living but its calling to me"

Maru rose and turned to Keth and Gren "Move back i will try to move the Rocks"

Gren hesitated. "I'll need to get clearance"

But Maru didnt respond instead stared using the Force to move some of the larger stones aside. After shifting a few boulders, he spotted something - a familiar glowing hilt, partially crushed but still calling out to him in the Force.

Maru reached down and retrieved half of alightsaber, the crystal within still intact.

Gren began to speak. "Clearly the Jedi were behind "

Maru cut him off. "Keth, come. We must contact the Jedi Council with this news." He swept past Gren without a glance.

They made their way to the lift, Gren still insisting the Jedi were behind the explosion. After several attempts to ignore him, Maru finally snaped, "The Jedi Council will be in touch with Gogron's office." Gren fell silent as the lift ascended. When the doors opened, Maru and Keth quickly made their way across the complex towards their ship. At Spaceport they made their way inside the ship, Maru retreated to his make a call with Jedi Council .

After several minutes, a hologram flickered to life, showing Council member Master Tasiel Rel. She greeted him respectfully. Maru began explaining what had transpired so far. "Master Sotth and his Padawan Lira were propably investigating temple, . There was an explosion in one of Gogron's mines. We found pieces of lighsaber, they were propably killed in explosion."Sadness evident on his face.

Master Tasiel appeared taken back by the news. "Master Sotth would not operate outside of the Council's wishes."

Surprisingly, Keth voice came through the intercom from elsewhere on the ship. "Perhaps Master Sotth and Lira were following someone who broke into the mines, and that person led them into a trap."

Master Tasiel hologram raised eyebrow. " Its that padawan Joral?"

"Yes i allowed him to listen to conversation"said Maru evidently angry at his padawan.

Master Tasiel's hologramic image nodded solemnly. "We are all grieved by the loss of Master Sotth and padawan Lira. But we must have faith that they now serve the Force in another way. Council will dispatch team to Aridax to investigate explosion, meanwhile you should return to your original mission"said Tasiel.

"Of course, we will head to Regulos prime and investigate whats happening with republic shipments of tibanna gas"Said maru still saddened by news about Master Sotth and Lira.

Tasiel nodded. " For now, focus your mind on the mission at hand, may the Force be with you, Master Maru." Her hologramic image slowly fading.

And with you, Master Tasiel " said Maru. After her hologram faded away he said to empty room

"Keth, i know you are still listening, plan a course for a Regulos prime"

Keth voice crackled in intercom "Already set in navicomputer Master, can i take off from planet?"

"No i want to get there in one piece"he said humor back in his voice and made his way in to cockpit.