Chapter 2
Jacen woke up with his head feeling fuzzy.
Rubbing his eyes, he turned toward the window with the sun beginning to show over the buildings.
With a stretch, he leaped out of bed and went to the kitchen area to prepare some coffee.
He rubbed his eyes and then looked at the calendar on the wall with the dates marked with Xs.
"A week already?" He asked himself.
During that week, he reviewed the necessary lectures and courses Ozpin compiled into his droid.
Now he could finally identify the several varieties of Grimm and what their defenses were.
He still couldn't find anything about a Grimm called Salem, though.
The list mainly consisted of Beowolves, Ursa, Death Stalkers, Nevermores, Beringels, and Griffons, with other esoteric variations scattered throughout Remnant.
As to their biology, nothing could be said, as Jacen had already surmised from how the bodies of the Grimm evaporated after they died, leaving only whatever bone-like protrusions they possessed before death.
As he'd already learned, they could also adapt and learn from past experiences, thus enabling them to execute hunts more efficiently.
The memory of how it seemed the Beowolves in the forest were feeding off his despair was explained in the additional lectures, as the Grimm were drawn toward strong negative emotions.
Belatedly, he noticed that some Grimm could go from being the size of a wamp rat to being the size of Rancors or something even more massive.
Yet, while that part had been relatively simple to grasp, the topic of aura proved to be different.
He'd gone through the lectures on aura several times, but he still hadn't noticed any results.
Irritated by the seeming inability to produce a result, he looked through another lecture that specified what races lived in Remnant.
Humans were widely spread, with several nations rising with their own cultures after the Great War had ended.
Additionally, another group that shared Remnant with humanity were near-human beings known as Faunus.
From what Jacen understood, the Faunus had an overall humanoid appearance, but they had a wide variety of traits that indicated a type of animal.
Some Faunus had tails, ears, retractable claws, scales, insectoid appendages, and several other traits that made them unique.
Unfortunately, through experience or insight, Jacen could already tell that the Faunus weren't seen as equals to humanity.
Despite the Faunus's help during the Great War, some humans still treat them as a lower class of beings, often attributing to verbal slurs like fur-licker, lizard brain, or something else unpleasant.
Jacen winced inwardly; he'd seen too many instances of people looking down on others leading to animosity and hatred.
He noticed that more as the Empire was beginning to extend its borders.
Anyone who wasn't human was arrested under suspicion of being in league with any surviving separatist cells that sympathized with the Confederacy of Independent Systems, or they were sold into slavery to work in penal colonies to support the Empire's growth.
"Stop it!" He shouted, shaking his head.
He was as far from the Empire's territory as any sentient life form could be, and he was essentially starting a new life.
Though it didn't matter whether it was the Empire or someone else, there were still whole planets with people that couldn't understand each other, let alone consider themselves equal.
Evidently, the Faunus had been pushed over a line in recent years as a large group known as the White Fang, which represented the Faunus as a way to create unity between them and humanity, had gone from an advocacy group to a borderline terrorist organization.
Jacen felt his blood run cold with that information.
The sound of Skipper whistling roused him from his thoughts.
"It's still a lot to take in," he said as he made his way to the counter for his coffee.
He remembered grabbing a hot cup of kaf when he was still Daro Kilaeon's padawan; he hadn't exactly liked it, even when it wasn't scolding hot.
He braced himself as he took his first sip, and to his amazement, he found it enjoyable.
"Well, guess I found something else new," he mused.
After finishing his coffee, he showered, then changed into his usual clothes, almost considering whether to find new clothing later.
Part of his outfit, specifically where he put on his old Jedi tunic, which he'd modified to have a hood, had sentimental value.
Adjusting his jacket, he checked to see that he had everything and pulled out the new scroll he had gotten a few days earlier.
It didn't take him long to figure out how to use it, and he pulled up a list of things to do.
Most of it was simple wandering, but the one necessary item was to look up Yang in Patch.
He grimaced, "I did say I'd try looking her up."
He'd been busy with his studies and had even suggested that he meet up with her to help him better understand aura.
"Today," he said before motioning for Skipper to follow him.
Outside, Vale began its morning routine with full shops opening for business.
He smiled inwardly to see how many people went about their daily lives.
The first day was incredibly uncomfortable; no one in Vale had ever seen an astromech droid, and Skipper was attracting much attention.
He'd heard someone suggest that it was a new line of robotics being developed in Atlas.
Given that Atlas seemed to be the hub of technological advancement and the primary location for the Schnee Dust Company, who mined and refined the essential ore which seemed to power everything.
Inwardly, he wondered, if they had advanced technology enough to build airships and robotics, why hadn't they attempted interstellar travel?
Then again, it was probably for the best that didn't happen while the Empire was out there.
Now, everyone in Vale didn't glance at Skipper like he'd become as regular as the rising sun.
Skipper beeped a series of tones, "You'd think they've never seen a droid before."
Jacen gave a short laugh, "What did you expect? You see any other astromech droids around here?"
Yet even as they continued onward, something tugged at the back of his mind.
The Force seemed to give him a brief impression that something would happen and he'd have an essential encounter with someone else.
At first, he thought Yang might be in town today, but he immediately dismissed the thought.
He stopped beside a large bookstore and then turned toward the sign, Tukson's Book Trade.
As if on cue, the Force issued a warning, making Jacen turn at the door just in time to see a ratty scoundrel burst out with an arm full of books.
"Stop, thief!" Tukson's voice shouted from outside the door.
Jacen's hands tightened, "Oh no, you don't," he whispered.
He let the perpetrator get within a few feet of a pair of trash cans, then discreetly used the Force to cause them to fall over, making the man fall to the ground.
Before the man could get back up, Jacen had already closed the distance, picking up the stolen books before looking at the man scornfully.
"You've got a lot of nerve," he said.
The man looked indignant and unstable, "Listen here, you brat," the man said, drawing a not too discreet knife.
"Unless you wanna die, you'll hand over those books now."
Jacen supposed the man expected him to back off, but it wasn't likely that he knew he was attempting to threaten a Jedi.
Casually, Jacen adjusted his hair before assuming a fighting stance.
"Over my dead body," he said, not even sounding nervous.
He was deep into the Force, sensing the rapid beating of the man's heart as he got more agitated.
Before the man could even lunge at him, Jacen delivered a flourish of punches and kicks, but to the average eye, it seemed as though he'd only punched and kicked once, then the man flew backward unconscious, just as a pair of police came by and arrested the man.
For a moment, everything was quiet til the sound of clapping hands drew his attention.
He looked back to see Tukson looking rather curious.
"That was very impressive," he said with evident gratitude.
Jacen immediately handed the books back to him.
"I apologize if it caused you any trouble, Tukson, I presume?" He asked.
Tukson nodded as he led Jacen into his shop, "Welcome to Tukson's Book Trade, home to every book under the sun."
Jacen marveled at the traditional array of books lining the shelves.
However, as he entered the shop, the Force suddenly showed him a brief glimpse of something that had yet to be or might be a possibility.
He saw Tukson coming in from the back, welcoming sudden newcomers.
He turned to see who it would be, but the image of the two people seemed hazy, as though a child had smeared something sticky across a lense.
He could make out the vague outlines as male and female, but there was an underlying current of deceit mixed with ill intent.
Before he could fully grasp the situation, the vision faded.
He was told that the future was always in flux, but his vision just now was too distinct to be a flux merely.
He kept track of it if and when the event occurred.
It took him a second to realize that Tukson seemed worried.
"Are you alright?" He inquired.
Jacen gave a short nod, "I tend to get overly thoughtful whenever I get deep into my studies," he said, trying to seem high-spirited with just a note of exhaustion.
"I've been preparing to attend Beacon in the next two months."
Tukson took this in stride, "Ah, you're preparing to become a huntsman; that explains your skills when you took that thief down."
Jacen shrugged, "It would have been discourteous if I didn't stop him."
After placing the books back onto their proper shelves, Tukson turned, indicating the collection of books, "Please feel free to look for what you need."
Grateful, Jacen proceeded to browse the considerable collection of volumes Tukson had in his bookstore.
Some titles he knew from references in his lectures that Ozpin had given him.
He unwittingly picked up a book titled "Ninjas of Love."
He managed, with monumental effort, to skim through most of its contents before returning it to its shelf with his face flushed red.
"I thought Twi'leks had incredible flexibility," he said inwardly.
Shaking his head and calling forth soothing energies through the Force, he continued his search until he found a book that caught his interest, titled "Third Crusade."
He didn't know why, but he felt that this particular book was significant, though it wasn't so much for what the story portrayed; it was more like this specific book was pivotal in whatever might happen here in the brief glimpse of the future he saw.
He'd just finished his reading when the sound of Skipper beeping at him, then let out a squeal when a pile of books fell on him.
"Once again, Skipper, you had to get yourself curious," he said admonishingly.
As he was picking the books back up, he suddenly became curious.
"What was it?" He said to himself.
At first glance, the book in his hand and others like it were just simple books.
Belatedly, he noticed that these books were copies of the books the lunatic had attempted to steal.
Before he could dig further, Tukson's voice spoke from behind him.
"Those books are for specific customers only," he said as he helped Jacen finish getting them off Skipper and moving them into the back area.
At that instant, Jacen noticed Tukson's rather feline-like traits, not anything too noticeable at first, but the way Tukson's eyes seemed to adjust to slits whenever he was in a particular light, and the tips of his fingers sported what Jacen suspected were retractable claws.
A Faunus, he thought to himself just as Tukson returned, wiping the dust off his hands.
For a moment, Tukson looked at Skipper, "What exactly is that thing? Some new Atleasian robot?"
Jacen looked from Tukson to his droid, who seemed to bristle at the remark, "Skipper is a special case, though I can certainly understand how he'd be considered one."
Jacen lifted an eyebrow, "Forgive me for asking, but you are a Faunus, correct?"
He'd inwardly hoped he hadn't just offended Tukson with his question, as he knew the term "Faunus" was believed to be as derogatory as fur-licker, lizard brain, or something else.
Surprisingly, Tukson seemed to humor his question, not showing any evident signs that he was offended.
"I am," he admitted, though Jacen couldn't help but sense a brief but definite undercurrent he'd come to associate with someone hiding something important.
His mind flashed to the memory of his findings on the White Fang. At the same time, it was true not every race, whether here or out in the galaxy, was aligned with a specific group, sect, organization, or worker's guild, as it was likely some people in Remnant believed every Faunus was part of the now radical version of the White Fang.
Jacen nodded in intrigue, "Then I suppose if you have anything on the Faunus, I'd be interested."
Tukson seemed intrigued by Jacen's curiosity, "I'll see what I have in the back," he said, disappearing into the back room.
There was more going on with this seemingly ordinary bookstore.
He looked at the spot where the other books had been, then at the shelf with the books Tukson had placed after Jacen helped return them.
What was missing from this, and what made these books different?
For the moment, he had only parts of the puzzle, Tukson being a Faunus, leaned into a wild supposition at best, and the books.
He paused; somehow, it wasn't much about what was written in the books but how they were used.
Reaching into the Force, he seemed to be drawn toward the area which served as the back room.
He was accustomed to gathering information covertly, assisting his master with several intelligence-gathering missions during the war.
However, there was a difference between breaking into a Separatist bunker or ship and going through someone's personal belongings with only mere speculation.
Still, he trusted the Force would explain in some way.
The back room opened into a large storage area with many additional books lined up in an organized way.
So far, nothing seemed unusual until his eye caught a glimpse of a large trunk with a lock.
Thankfully, it wasn't a complicated mechanism, and through the Force, he waved his hand, and the lock came undone.
There wasn't much inside except a folded light blue cloth which he'd initially thought was a sheet or tablecloth.
However, when he gently opened it up, his eyes widened; it was a flag with an unmistakable design for the symbol of the White Fang.
Horror took over, though only momentarily, as he examined the emblem.
His initial reaction changed to intrigue as he realized it wasn't the symbol the White Fang currently used.
As opposed to the horridly vivid image of a fearsome aspect with bloody claw markings, there was something tranquil with this design.
Suddenly, everything started to make sense.
Tukson might have been part of the White Fang, but when its ideology began to turn violent, he quietly removed himself from it.
The memory of the books flashed into his mind.
"Ciphers," he said aloud.
Tukson and whatever network he had set up had made efforts to help the Faunus who wanted to get out of the White Fang in secrecy.
He nodded as understanding took hold; the books go to Tukson's connections, telling them where to meet their contacts to relocate them quietly.
The sound of Skipper squealing with something approaching panic broke his train of thought, and a noise from behind made him stiffen.
"Dank farrik," he had just enough time to say before an arm belonging to Tukson grabbed him by the neck in a nearly unbreakable grip then Jacen blacked out.
When he awoke, he found himself in a chair with his hands tied behind his back, and he also noticed that his lightsaber was missing, missing though it was, he could sense it was nearby.
"I think you owe me an explanation," Tukson said, his voice a mixture of regret and suspicion.
Behind Jacen was a pair of Faunus who stood as sentries and made it abundantly clear what would happen if he tried to escape.
One of those guards, a female with rabbit ears, dust brown hair tied in a braid, wearing attire that was more suited for a safari than in an urban area, complete with a hat with holes cut to accommodate her ears.
She was clearly a fighter from the hard look in her eye, suggesting the makings of a former soldier or mercenary, the faint but visible signs of a scar over her left eye that when beneath her chin, and she made her contempt for Jacen known instantly.
He knew he was treading on thin ice, and he wanted to make it clear that he wasn't a threat to their operation.
Taking a deep breath, he refocused, "As difficult as it is to believe," he started.
"I didn't know anything about what you and your group have been doing."
The sound of a contemptuous snort from behind him made him wince.
"Tell is one we haven't heard before, mate," the rabbit Faunus said, her voice heavily accented but dripping with apparent disbelief.
Tukson raised a hand to calm her, then looked back at Jacen, his hand holding his lightsaber.
"I've seen plenty of weapons in my lifetime, most of them used by the White Fang," he narrowed his eyes at Jacen and tapped his retracted claws on his left hand on the table.
Jacen already knew about Tukson's connection to the White Fang when he saw the banner, so it was pointless to hide it.
"However, I haven't seen one like this," he said, giving it another look.
The rabbit Faunus mockingly laughed, "Some weapon, that is, Mate," she started.
"Whatcha gonna do with that? Smack someone with it?"
Jacen tried not to show his frustration, but the rabbit Faunus was testing his limits.
Inwardly, he hoped Tukson wouldn't accidentally hit the ignition switch on the lightsaber, especially with the emitter aimed at his head.
Reluctantly, he said, "It's called a lightsaber."
Tukson raised a curious eyebrow, "I see, and how exactly do you use this as a weapon?"
Ultimately, Jacen knew the only way to establish trust was to reveal something as profound as Tukson's underground network.
When Jacen spoke, he wasn't nervous; the Force was giving him guidance on how to handle this situation without the need for unnecessary loss of life.
"My name is Jacen Horne; I am a Jedi Knight," he began, his voice steady and with the weight of formality mixed with a bit of pride.
"Formerly a commander that served alongside Jedi Master Daro Kilaeon in the Grand Army of the Republic during the harrowing period known as the Clone Wars."
Everyone in the room suddenly looked at Jacen with amazement and awe; well, almost everyone.
Jacen could sense that the rabbit Faunus wasn't overly amused.
Tukson, at least, was intrigued, "A Jedi Knight and a former commander, you say?"
"I've never heard of such a thing."
"Believe it or not, people nowadays would kill to have that information," Jacen said.
"Just as I assume people would kill to know how your network operates," he added pointedly.
Tukson seemed to agree with the statement, "They do; that man you stopped was sent to bring back the original books I use to write the ciphers."
Jacen gave a wry chuckle, wondering who would be stupid enough to have someone so unhinged come to steal something that valuable.
Then again, if it was someone in the White Fang who wanted to know about the inner workings of Tukson's network, they weren't going to take the risk of being seen and recognized by Tukson.
Whoever was behind this already knew or at least suspected Tukson's hand in relocating White Fang deserters, but if they simply killed him, it wouldn't be long before someone else took up that torch.
They wanted to know everything about it and then probably make a horrifying example of them.
The rabbit Faunus seemed to be in a state of frustration as she slammed a huge knife into the table, making Jacen flinch slightly.
"Ya didn't answer his question, Jedi, mate, or whatever you are," she said with a withering glare.
"How the hell do ya use that bloody thing?"
Jacen attempted to stand, only for the rabbit Faunus to quickly snatch the knife off the table and aim it at his throat.
"Sit your carcass down, mate, or I'll gut you like a fish," she said, and from the look in her eye, Jacen knew it probably wasn't an exaggeration.
Slowly he sat back down and looked at Tukson.
"You see that switch your finger is close to?" He asked.
Tukson looked at the spot indicated by Jacen.
"If you push that switch, you'll understand why my weapon is extraordinary."
As an afterthought, Jacen added, "Make sure not to have the emitter aimed at you," indicating the top of the lightsaber.
Tukson held the lightsaber and pressed the switch, which ignited a meter-long bar of violet plasma that bathed the once barely lit room with violet light and filled it with the humming vibrations of the blade.
"The lightsaber is the weapon of a Jedi," Jacen said as he dredged up memories of his master and how he'd explained the symbiotic relationship between a Jedi and their lightsaber.
"It reflects the kind of Jedi who wields it, so no two designs are the same."
Tukson seemed mesmerized by the blade and the metal that made up the hilt until it met a leather grip where one could place their fingers.
Even the rabbit Faunus seemed lost for words at the sight of this new weapon.
"It takes a lot of hard work," Jacen said as he tried to quote the phrase Master Yoda had used when describing lightsabers.
"Know themselves a Jedi must before a unique lightsaber they can build."
He could still remember when he first arrived on Illum during the Gathering, his first meeting with the ancient Jedi master and his first step to becoming a Jedi himself.
He heard the sound of the blade being deactivated, and Tukson looked at him with renewed respect.
"I acted too rashly when I had you and your robot apprehended," he said, inclining his head slightly.
"I apologize."
The word robot suddenly hit him, "Where's Skipper?"
As if on cue, Skipper squealed and wheeled himself through the door just as a group of ragged Faunus children stopped at the door when the rabbit Faunus looked at them.
To Jacen's surprise, she sounded pleasant, almost playful, "Oi get outta here ya lil' ankle biters," she said, motioning with her hand, and the kids began to disperse.
As soon as the rabbit Faunus closed the door, she turned toward Jacen, her original hardened domineer now seeming to be back tenfold as she glared at Jacen.
"I say we kill'em now," she said, her hand closed on her knife.
"He alre'y knows too much, Tukson."
Jacen winced; it always came down to, "You know too much; time to die."
Tukson narrowed his eyes at the rabbit Faunus, "That line of thought is no different than how the White Fang operates."
She glared at Tukson, "This is different; it's about making sure those lil' ones and their families can get out from underneath the White Fang's thumb."
Jacen was stunned by her passion; he couldn't blame her; right now, there were probably several instances of underground networks getting refugees out from under the Empire's grasp.
Her focus was to ensure that their network continued providing its necessary service.
Tukson looked at Jacen, then motioned fir the other guard to remove Jacen's rope and let him stand.
"What assurances do I have that you will keep what you've discovered about us secret?" He asked Jacen pointedly.
He wasn't sure this had any weight, but Jacen decided to try anyway, "I swear by the Force, I will not utter a word about this."
Tukson seemed curious by Jacen's oath, "What is the Force?"
Inwardly, Jacen winced, he'd opened up an even bigger topic for discussion, but then again, he felt that Tukson was another person he could trust. However, he seriously doubted that Tukson would believe it.
"Somehow, I doubt you'd believe me even if I told you," Jacen admitted out loud.
Tukson raised an eyebrow, "I own a bookstore with entire novels detailing many strange things; try me."
Jacen thought very well, though perhaps he could use this to his advantage.
"Excuse me," he said and swept his hands to other sides of the room, using the Force to move the table and chair to far corners; then he sat on the floor with his legs crossed, adopting a posture that suggested focus or meditation.
Tukson, the rabbit Faunus, and the other guard stood perplexed.
"The Force," Jacen began, his voice emanating from the walls while his mouth never moved.
"Is comprised of all life forms in the universe; it's an energy that surrounds us and binds the galaxy together."
The rabbit Faunus snorted, "Enough a dis weird mystic trash," she said, stomping toward Jacen only to freeze in place, and her eyes widened.
Jacen's hand was aimed at her, but his eyes remained closed, and he didn't even look in her direction.
"Your mind is flooded with many thoughts; despite your hard exterior, you deeply feel that the cause you and Tukson are performing is the right thing to do," Jacen's voice resonated again.
The rabbit Faunus growled, "Let me go!"
As if on cue, the invisible force that froze her to the spot was gone, and she fell onto the floor, a look of surprise mixed with bitterness as she saw Jacen adopting his meditative jester.
"I think I get the idea Knight Horne," Tukson said, trying to wrap his mind around this new development.
Following that statement, Jacen opened his eyes, got to his feet, and used the Force to move the table and chair back into their original positions.
"I take it that satisfies any doubts?" Jacen asked.
Recomposing himself, Tukson nods, holding out Jacen's lightsaber, which he recalls to his hand and attaches to his belt.
"If you ever happen to be around, feel free to stop by the shop," he stopped as if a sudden thought returned.
"I almost forgot you were looking for books on the Faunus," he said, returning to his casual business self.
"I have them upstairs if you'll follow me."
Jacen prepared to go, only looking backward to see the door open and three Faunus children looking at him with wide-eyed fascination.
He gave them a warm smile and a playful wink earning a laugh from them.
He hoped the Force would give these children and their families peace in whatever new lives Tukson and his network made for them.
As he made his way to the upward passage, a curved weapon stopped his progress.
He turned to see the rabbit Faunus glaring at him balefully.
"Tukson might trust you, Jedi, but I sure as 'ell don't," she said, her tone cut with undercurrents of threat.
"I feel we got off on the wrong foot," Jacen said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"I didn't happen to catch your name."
"Dusky Jones," she cut in but let menace sink in.
"That's Dusk to you, mate, 'cause if you give me one reason to think you'll betray us, the dusk of that day will be the last you ever see."
With a flourish, she put the weapon back on a holster over her back, then aimed a thumb at the door before attempting to light a cigarette, only for her lighter not to work.
Skipper moved uncomfortably close to her, and she looked down at it curiously.
"Don't suppose you gotta light on ya, tinny?" She asked which Skipper deployed an apparatus that, at its high setting, could burn through durasteel, but it was set to a low enough setting for the necessary task.
With a satisfied puff of smoke, she gave Skipper a pat on the head, and after giving Jacen one final look, she left the room.
Once in the main shop, Jacen finally got his books on the Faunus.
Tukson seemed to have an unspoken question when he looked at Jacen.
Were there other Jedi like him elsewhere?
As if reading his thought, Jacen said, "As far as I know, the Jedi are virtually extinct."
Tukson seemed puzzled, "What happened toward the end? Did your Republic win this war?"
He stopped when Jacen gave him a haunted look, "Some things are better left unknown," Jacen said.
Choosing to let the matter drop, Tukson waited for Jacen to reach the door before he tossed a book in his direction.
Without looking back, Jacen caught the book and noticed the title, "Third Crusade."
"I didn't pay for this," Jacen said, finally turning toward Tukson, who simply grinned.
"That one is on the house," he said.
"Consider it an established trust from one displaced member to another."
Jacen then turned toward the door with Skipper following behind him when he felt another ripple in the Force.
This time it was the distinct voice of a girl, and the only thing asked was, "What about, Third Crusade?"
Inwardly, he hoped that he hadn't unwittingly become a catalyst that resulted in whatever future had yet to be.
END