Iris returned a holocron to a newly built shelf before turning toward the newly finished library. It had taken nearly a week to rectify the destruction the Empire caused, but the Jedi Temple was slowly becoming whole again. She glanced out the door and sighed, remembering that the council chambers were being redesigned for another classroom for the padawans. The Jedi Council had decided to move to Coruscant as the war ramped up. The padawans would continue to learn on Tython, but the Council decided to remove themselves to protect the younglings.
It was bittersweet, but Iris knew that this was the most logical step. It would be a lot harder to hurt the Council in the heart of the Republic. Plus, with the Senate Tower close by, there would be more security. She climbed down the ladder and compacted it before leaning it against a wall. Kira had finished her task an hour ago and had gone to see where she would be most helpful.
Iris nodded to the newly appointed jedi in charge of the library as she left the room. She would have introduced herself earlier, but the jedi didn't seem too interested in chatting. Instead, she left him to his work, and she kept to herself. Iris went down the stairwell, avoiding the cracks and repairs the best she could. A couple of padawans bowed and passed her on the way up, and Iris smiled back at them. It was calming to be back on Tython, even though it had been through so much. The comradery alone gave her hope that the war would end, and things would get better.
After adding an automatic holorecording to her communicator, she turned it off and started towards an isolated mountain. The Temple was nearing completion, and she could use the quiet before returning to duty. Iris took her speeder and went into the mountains. She passed through the forest and followed a path that led to a local peak. There was a small grass patch at the very top, and Iris dismounted from her speeder. She leaned it against a boulder and went to kneel in the clearing.
Iris listened to the wind in the trees and the far-off songs of the local birds. She felt the Force flow through her as she found her inner peace once again. As she started to relax, the conspiracy and Theron crept back into her mind. Worry and curiosity closely followed as she wondered what could possibly be going on. She thought about Darok and his part in the whole process. Was he at the center of the conspiracy? Or was he the decoy?
After a few hours of flitting between worry and peace, Iris finally stood and found that the sun had started to set. She bit the inside of her cheek, realizing that she hadn't informed anyone where she had gone, and she turned her communicator back on. Fortunately, there had been only two missed calls. Kira and Doc had separately called her, but neither was urgent. Both were informing her that they had finished their tasks and that they would be near the temple when she returned. Relief filled her, glad to have understanding people in her crew.
She started her speeder again and rode down the mountain, racing against the last light of the day. Iris had reached the courtyard just as the darkness started to set in. Iris climbed the steps of the temple and walked into the building. She could hear the faint music of the cantina, which was a strong word for what it was. It resembled more of a corporate break room rather than a bar, but it was better than nothing. She ignored the celebrations and started toward the hangar and her ship. Just as she had started up the ramp, her holo rang.
"Theron?" Iris answered as a small holo of the man appeared before her.
"Master Jedi," he replied.
"I didn't expect to hear from you so soon. How are things?"
"About as well as you would expect," Theron replied casually with a shrug. "I have something to discuss. I'm sending coordinates."
"I will gather the crew and be there as soon as we can," Iris answered before he nodded and ended the call.
The jedi walked into her room as her datapad went off. Theron's coordinates had come through, and Iris was surprised about the location. It was a planet called Manaan. She wasn't very familiar with the place, as she had never been there, but she did know that it was one of the few ocean planets and was the home for the selkaths. Other than that, she didn't know anything about it.
She went to the navicomputer and put in the coordinates, preparing the ship for when the crew returned. She sent out a message that they would be leaving in the morning to her crew and to the Grand Master. She didn't give Satele any specifics, but she mentioned that she was needed off world, but they would be back if they were needed on Tython again. Iris had a feeling that she wouldn't be needed for reconstruction as the Temple was nearly finished. Although, it wasn't unheard of for master jedi to teach younger padawans for specific lessons.
"There you are," Kira commented, startling Iris. "Glad you made it down the mountain okay. Have a good time?"
"I did," she smiled. "It was good to reconnect."
"I'm glad to hear it," her friend replied. "So, we're on the move again?"
"Our favorite spy gave us the coordinates a little bit ago."
"He works fast," Kira commented as she crossed her arms. "I would have thought we'd have another week or so."
"I thought so too," Iris whispered. "It must be important if he didn't feel comfortable taking about it over the holo. He only called to inform me that he was sending the coordinates."
"That does seem odd. What do you think he found?"
"I bet he found something explaining the incursions. I'm not sure about a conspiracy, but something doesn't add up," Iris reiterated with a sigh.
"Are you sure you want to wait until morning to leave?"
"I'm not sure where the other four are, and I would prefer everyone get a good sleep before we leave. I know I have a hard time sleeping on a moving ship."
"Fair enough," Kira shrugged before she looked over Iris's shoulder. "Manaan?"
"Have you been there before?"
"Can't say I have. I'm not even sure I've heard of it."
"It's a remote planet in the mid rim, and it must be pretty out of the way for Theron to want to meet there," Iris theorized before she looked up the planet of the holonet. "I suppose the planet produces kolto and is the lead supplier for the Republic. That still doesn't quiet explain why we're meeting there."
"Do you think the kolto business is involved?"
"Could be. It might become a future stage of war if the Empire wants a slice of the action."
"I think they might sell to the Empire as well, though."
"Then I haven't a clue," Iris groaned as she put her datapad on the console. "I guess we'll find out when we get there."
"I'm sure Theron will debrief us thoroughly. In the meantime, I'm going to get some shut eye before we rejoin the war efforts."
"Good call. See you in the morning," Iris replied as she waved at Kira. After grabbing her datapad and confirming the coordinates, the jedi retreated into her room as well.
Iris quickly changed into her nightclothes and hung up her robe. She wondered if she would get much sleep after finding out that Theron had learned something. Her mind was still running at full speed even as her body was exhausted. Just as she was about to get under the covers, her stomach protested as Iris remembered that she had eaten since lunch. Knowing that Doc would scold her for skipping meals, she went into the kitchen to find something.
After finding a few snacks, Iris started back to her room to eat as Doc walked up the ramp with Teeseven. She noticed that both of them were a bit sluggish, meaning that it had been a long day. Doc smiled up at her as the droid beeped and went down to the engine room to power down.
"Long day?" she guessed as he shrugged.
"Longer than most. I went up to the Kalikori village to check up on the people there and I don't think those people have seen a doctor in decades."
"That doesn't surprise me. Did you see Ranna there?"
"The Matriarch? Yeah, she was helping me tend to the wounded and sick."
"Well, I'm glad that she's doing alright," Iris smiled before leaning against the hull wall.
"You knew her?"
"When I was a padawan, I was instructed to help the village in order to find a rogue jedi. We became close, but we didn't part on very good terms," Iris explained before going into more detail. She went over the betrayal and how her master almost died due to Ranna's actions. "I never had any ill will towards her, but it was hard to forget what she did."
"I'm surprised you were able to forgive her."
"It was a hard lesson, but if our roles were reversed, I couldn't say I wouldn't do the same. She was acting in what she thought was her village's best interests. I couldn't fault her for that," Iris shrugged before she started to eat.
"Fair point," Doc shrugged. "It's strange to think of you as a padawan. You were already a full-fledged Jedi when I met you."
"Really?" Iris chuckled. "I was quite a padawan. I did my best to listen to my master, but I couldn't always do what he said. My master had his hands full with me."
"You turned out fine, though."
"I grew up to be a Jedi Master, so I would say I did alright. I just wish that he was here to see it. I think he would have some powerful insight into what's going on now."
"He sounds like quite the teacher."
"He was the best I could've asked for," Iris smiled before shaking her head.
"So, we're leaving first thing in the morning?"
"Theron is meeting us on Manaan."
"Oh? Well, I'll make sure we stock up on kolto while we're there," he informed as Iris turned towards him.
"You've heard of the planet before?"
"Any doctor worth anything knows about Manaan. Like Quesh, it's a huge resource world, both for the Republic and the Empire. And since I heal the entire ship with kolto, it's important for me to know where it comes from and where to get it."
"I suppose that makes sense."
"Why is Theron on Manaan?"
"I'm not sure, and he wouldn't say over the holo. I'm not sure why we're going there but we'll find out when we get there," Iris shrugged, worry creeping in again. She bit her lip and Doc sat up again, sensing her distress.
"I'm sure he just wanted to chat on a remote world away from the cloak and dagger of the SIS. Besides, if Darok is doing something suspicious, then Theron will want to meet outside of his radar," Doc reasoned, hoping to calm her nerves. "Even if it's just to debrief, it'll be a good opportunity to check out some of their medical supplies."
"I thought you just stocked up on Carrick?"
"You'll never get a better deal than from the direct sellers."
"Is that so?" she chuckled. "I should get some sleep."
"Agreed, you have been working yourself too hard. I'll make sure that we head off in the morning if you aren't up in time."
"I haven't been working that hard."
"My point is that you don't rest enough, as while meditation is healthy, that isn't a good substitute for sleep," Doc insisted as he stood and walked towards the med bay. "And don't you dare set that alarm. It will take a while before we get to Manaan, so you have lots of time to sleep."
"Good night," Iris groaned before Doc turned the corner into his room.
