First theme: "The Temple of the King"by Rainbow (00:00-1:23)

Galactic Standard Date: 546 ABY

Ordinal date: 1963-289

A little more than a decade had passed since Kazu had been taken from Arten Starskimmer's home on Sorgan to the Jedi Temple on Corstris. Now 13-years-old, he had learned the basics of the Jedi way but when he was not training with the masters, Kazu could either be found in the temple library archives or with a trio he had gotten to know: a half-human, half-Kiffar by the name of Tycho Vazerat and a pair of Neti who had grown from the same seed named Sa'na and So'lia Seeko. The youngest of the three, Kazu had seen them all pass the Initiate Trials and chosen to shadow a knight or master as apprentices, with the seedlings apprenticing together. But every now and then, they'd return to the temple on Corstris.

One afternoon, Sa'na and So'lia had walked into the archives to find Kazu sitting at his usual spot, staring at a holovid and walked up to him.

"Figured we'd find you here," Sa'na said, leaning on his shoulder. "We landed and So turned to me and said 'you think Koz'll be hanging out in the archives again satiating his weird fascination with the galaxy's history?' and I said 'let's go find out' and what a surprise… So was right."

Kazu closed the vid and turned to So'lia.

"You used that many words at one time?"

"No."

"Didn't think you would," he said with a chuckle.

"Sa embellishes."

"Ain't that the truth," Kazu replied hopping off the seat and walking toward the archive door.

"I do not!" Sa'na said with a smile. "I just fill in the words you don't use," she continued, pointing at So'lia.

She grunted a response and gave her sister a look.

"So… if you're still going through Skyriver's history, where are you now?"

"Just got to where the Third Republic turned into the Second Federation," Kazu said, putting his hands behind his head.

"You've gone through three hundred years in two months?" Sa'na asked. "You'll be hitting when our garden was found pretty soon!"

"Voracious."

"What can I say?" Kazu responded. "History is interesting, the things that happened are fascinating, the people that make it up intrigue me."

"I suppose but… Koz, you've already studied plenty of history with the Initiate curriculum. The fact that you're spending so much time in here is… well… to put it plainly…"

"Concerning," So'lia said, cutting Sa'na off. "Explain."

"Eh," Kazu started. "I'm…" he trailed off in thought, as if he was wondering if he should tell them the truth but eventually returned. "The next Initiate Trials are coming up, this is my last chance to pass and shadow someone. I feel confident in my knowledge of the Code and how to construct a lightsaber but… I guess reading about the history of the galaxy helps me not be nervous when I'm seeing that my part in this galaxy is so small in the grand scheme of things."

"Such a human way of looking at things," Sa'na replied. "But… I can see where you're coming from."

"I'm glad a long-lived sentient plant can understand the petty thoughts of a tiny human," Kazu smirked.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it."

"Sure," Kazu with a laugh. "How long are you two here for?"

"A few more hours at least, the rest of the day at most."

"Can we meet up in about an hour and talk more? I've got somewhere I need to be."

"Yeah," Sa'na said.

"Great," he said, walking toward the temple's living quarters.

"You sense anything?" Sa'na asked So'lia after he was out of sight.

"Lies."

"Yeah, me too. Something's bothering him more than he's letting on. You picking up anything else?"

"Desire. Longing. Discouragement."

"Hmm… I get the feeling he's been looking for something this whole time. You think he's starting to lose hope he won't find it?"

"Possible."

"Kazu…" Sa'na said, looking up. "What aren't you telling us?"

# # #

A female human faced the council within the group's meeting chamber.

"The problem on Morak is more dire than we thought," she said. "Early reports that indicated a rogue initiate had fled to the planet were true. However, more scouting indicated that the initiate was Xinnaa Gat."

"The one that suffered a nervous breakdown and vanished two years ago?" asked a master. "You're sure."

"There's no doubt," the woman replied. "But it gets worse. Dark power is growing in the area, becoming more of a stronghold for the Dark Side than it already was. I fear it may be consuming Xinnaa.

"How much of a threat do you see this becoming?" a second master inquired.

"Right now, it doesn't seem like she's very powerful, more like very impressionable. However, if left unchecked, it will attract someone who would push her further into darkness and train her in those ways. If I'm remembering the potential she had before the breakdown, she would be a formidable enemy."

"You speak like there's a chance at redeeming her," voiced the grand master in the middle. "I see two options then. We could send some Knights to retrieve her," he said, holding one finger up. "On the other hand," he continued, raising another finger. "Dealing with her could be the final stage of an initiate's trial."

"I assume you have somebody in mind?" the woman asked.

The grand master smiled.

"A name or two did cross my mind, yes."

# # #

Sa'na and So'lia sat at a table in the temple's cafeteria when Tycho walked up to them.

"You two are lucky I happened to be on-planet," he said, sitting down. "What's up?"

"Luck? Or Force?" So'lia asked.

"Whatever," Tycho replied, pressing a number on a tablet on the edge of the table and ordering a drink. "You said you wanted to talk about Kazu."

"His behavior is getting more and more troubling," Saa'na explained. "More time by himself in the archives, he says he's studying history and trying to calm himself before his trial but we think it's more than that."

"Kid's always made it clear he didn't and never wanted to be here," Tycho shrugged before accepting his drink from a server. "Makes sense he'd try to live vicariously through the stories of those who came before."

"We get the feeling it's something else, entirely."

"Like what?" he asked, taking a drink.

"Searching," So'lia responded.

"You think he's been combing the history of the galaxy trying to find evidence of something happening?"

"Or… someone…" Sa'na said.

"He started at the beginning of the galaxy," Tycho said. "Skyriver's billions of years old, the Zhell didn't start fighting the Taungs until about 250,000 years ago, your species nearly died out five thousand years ago. Nobody lives that long. Not a Pau'an, not whatever Master Yoda was, even you guys have to die sometime," he continued, looking into his glass. "Who could he possibly be searching for?"

# # #

Days later, Corstris' sun was high in the noonday sky and the council chamber was fully illuminated by its bright light. Kazu kneeled in the middle surrounded by all but one of the council's masters in their seats. The remaining, Grand Master Kianmar Tailfack paced and circled around the initiate.

"Your knowledge of the Code is excellent," he said. "As is your method for lightsaber construction. However there is one final task you must face in order to complete your Initiate Trials."

"Yes, Master," Kazu replied. "I am ready."

Tailfack stopped behind Kazu and straightened, reaching out through the Force to sense his emotions which were hidden behind a determined face. He stood still for a few moments before continuing his circling."

"There is a former initiate who fled a couple years ago after suffering a nervous breakdown. Her name is Xinnaa Gat and we have finally found her current whereabouts. She is on a planet known as Morak. I'm sure with your scouring of the archives, you've come across this planet before?"

"Lush rainforests… home to humans and Shydopps… exports Rhydonium… once housed a refinery during the First Galactic Civil War."

"Yes…. There are reports of a growing darkness on the planet and left unchecked, Gat could lose herself to the Dark Side. Your trial is to find her and stop her from losing herself to it."

"Understood," Kazu replied. "I will leave as soon as I am able."

"You are dismissed."

Kazu rose and quickly left the council chamber. As soon as the door closed, a master spoke up.

"What do you think?"

"More fear than confidence," Tailfack said. "But… more determination than doubt."