AN: Happy New Year everyone! Hopefully you're ready for the next part of this story.
Chapter 22 - The Radnoran Disaster (27 BBY)
Obi-Wan wasn't too surprised to see Anakin awake and ready to go. He'd been out late the previous night, again, scavenging for droid parts. Normally, Obi-Wan would have come down harder on his Padawan, but unlike his many previous transgressions, last night, he'd had an accomplice by the name of Tru Veld, one of his fellow Padawans.
That alone had stalled Obi-Wan's objections, simply because Anakin struggled to make friends, and Obi-Wan had been happy to see Anakin making a friend . . . even if it was through ignoring Jedi protocols. He was hoping working with Tru and getting a friend would help Anakin learn to suppress his own needs and desires in order to serve. His Padawan needed work with cooperation and as Master Qui-Gon used to say, 'When I can't teach, I let the mission or experience do it for me.'
So, instead of a punishment, he'd given a light scolding and warned him to be up for their early morning briefing.
Over the past eight months, Anakin and Obi-Wan had gone on quite a few missions, spending a fair amount of time away from the Temple, though he'd gone on several missions individually or with other Knights, in order to let Anakin and other Padawans continue their studies at the Temple.
Thankfully though, many of his stays at the Temple had coincided with Siri's stays or breaks in missions for some of his other friends like Taria, Bant, Adi, and even Reeft and Garen. Kastor and Rhys had returned to the Temple after the rescue on Ruusan in order to conduct some research with Bant and Vokara, while working with Plo, Tera Sinube, and other Shadows or Jedi who had contacts in the underworld, like Taria, Quinlan, Tholme, Arligan Zey, and An'ya Kuro, to help them try and get a beat on Magus, though so far, the bounty hunter had disappeared from the galaxy. After a few months, they'd returned to undercover work and now returned to the Temple sparingly, once again, but Obi-Wan and Anakin had seen them a few times in those sparing returns.
Obi-Wan always considered it a gift from the Force when his stays at the Temple allowed him to see his friends.
Anakin was waiting outside his door in a fresh tunic, his face bright with eagerness in the dim light. The glow rods were kept low at this hour to keep a meditative hush in the Temple halls. Most Jedi were asleep or meditating. He grinned at his Master, knowing that Obi-Wan was alway lamenting not having the energy that Anakin always seemed to have.
Obi-Wan gestured for him to follow and his Padawan fell into step with him as they made their way to the Council room door. Upon entering, they saw that the full Council had yet to assemble. Only Mace and Yoda were present, and both were speaking quietly by the window.
Obi-Wan was a bit surprised to see two other Jedi Knights in the room with their Padawans as well as one lone Padawan. He hadn't realized the mission they were being assigned to was a big one. He gave short bows to Ry-Gaul and Soara Antana. Ry-Gaul's Padawan was Tru Veld, Anakin's compatriot from the night before, and the tall elegant Master towered over his Padawan.
Obi-Wan honestly did not know Ry-Gaul very well, though his reputation spoke for him. He was known for being a grave, silent Jedi who didn't speak much, but was widely respected for his depth of knowledge of the galaxy. Soara Antana, Obi-Wan was a bit more familiar with. She was legendary for her lightsaber skills, despite her young age, having only recently been Knighted like Obi-Wan, and was often asked to teach saber classes to the initiates, alongside Kastor, Yoda, and of course Cin Drallig, the battlemaster. Soara's Padawan, Darra Thel-Tanis, was a slender girl with lively eyes, and was the same age as Anakin.
The last Padawan, Obi-Wan certainly knew, and he figured it wouldn't be long before his master showed up.
Obi-Wan waited patiently as the rest of the Council members filed in and took their places, including Mace and Yoda moving to their seats from the window. After they were all seated however, they still didn't start the proceedings, and Obi-Wan was starting to wonder what they were waiting for when the doors hissed open again.
Obi-Wan hid a smile as Siri strode in, and he filed away to tease her on her tardiness later. It still always made him laugh how the once strict, rule-abiding Siri Tachi, was more lax, less restless, and far less inclined to listen wholeheartedly to the Council . . . though he knew that in one instance, she'd never listened wholeheartedly to the Council. He had always been her exception.
Compared to the rest of the Jedi in the room, Siri also looked the part of a rebel, taking after Kastor in more ways than she probably would like to admit. Her blonde hair was cropped short, and she wore a close-fitting unisuit made of leather instead of a tunic and cloak.
She nodded at him, and he felt a playful rebuke through their bond that he should focus back on the Council before she took her place next to her Padawan, Ferus.
Mace's stern gaze swept over them all. "Thank you all for your punctuality," he said, giving Siri a pointed look that only caused her chin to lift and her lips to quirk in a small, apologetic smile, and Obi-Wan felt his amusement rise, which was easily matched by hers through their bond. "We have an emergency mission that requires the service of four Jedi teams. You are to travel to Radnor, a planet overcome by a toxic disaster. Radnor is a small planet known for its research and development of high-tech weapons systems. A toxic cloud has been accidentally released by one of their weapons laboratories and is quickly spreading. Many have died; many more have become ill. So far, the damage has been confined to one area."
"Two main city-states there are on Radnor," Yoda said. "Twin cities, they are called. Tacto and Aubendo. Small cities, they are, each with their own governing ministers. Prevailing winds they have on Radnor. The winds sent the toxic cloud directly to Aubendo. Confined there the toxin has been. Yet no one knows exactly how it has spread."
"Since it is a new agent, there are many unknowns. It could be ingested into the lungs or through the skin," Mace continued. "The agent is not a gas, but an organic substance carried by the air. It could possibly be spread from one being to another – we don't know this, either. The second city of Tacto has been spared as of yet."
"Change, the prevailing wind will," Yoda said. "Then, bring the toxin, it will to the second city."
"At first Radnor dealt admirably with the disaster," Mace went on. "The officials mobilized quickly to meet the catastrophe. The afflicted city of Aubendo and the surrounding area was cordoned off and is now called the Isolation Sector. Tacto is known as the Clear Sector, and there have been no cases so far. But as Tacto saw how severely afflicted Aubendo became, as they saw the numbers of deaths increase so that not one being was spared, they began to panic. The governing ministers of Tacto fled the planet. Anyone who could afford to, joined them. There are now no more transports left on the planet to take those who could go. Anarchy and panic have taken over. So, the Senate is stepping in. Evacuation vessels capable of transporting the remaining Tacto population are headed to Radnor and will arrive in three days."
"Surprised you look, Obi-Wan," Yoda observed.
"Merely that the Senate has acted so quickly," Obi-Wan said. Mired in bureaucracy, the Senate sometimes took months to debate a simple issue.
"Dire, the situation is," Yoda said, nodding. "Bail Organa was responsible for this quick action."
That made sense. Bail Organa seemed to be a good man, who truly wanted to help people, though Obi-Wan didn't know the man personally, and you never could tell with politicians. However, Alderaan as a planet was like Naboo, which cared deeply for life and knowledge, and had a history for humanitarian aid.
"There will be room for the sick as well as for those who haven't been exposed," Mace went on, "but on the planet's surface there is panic among the healthy population, for they are afraid that there will not be enough room. Corrupt lower officials are taking bribes, so it is also feared that the sick will never make it off the planet at all."
"Chaos begun cannot be ordered so easily," Yoda said.
"You must go in and ensure that the evacuations take place in a peaceful and orderly manner," Mace said. "There are still those who survive in Aubendo, and their places on the evacuation ships must be assured. There is looting and unrest in Tacto, so the Jedi must keep the peace as well. It is a volatile situation that means life or death for many, so we have decided that four teams are needed."
"Transport you must medications to the sick on the planet," Yoda added, "and leave you must this morning."
"Master Shan has recently returned from his mission on Glee Anselm, and has agreed to transport you all," Mace concluded, and Obi-Wan exchanged a surprised glance with Siri, who shot him back a happy feeling through their bond. "May the Force be with you."
The eight Jedi all echoed the response and then made their way out of the Council chambers. It was a relatively quiet walk down to the Temple Hangar, where they found Rhys on the outside awaiting them, and he smiled as he saw them approach.
"Welcome, Master Jedi," Rhys said with a formal bow, something he saved for when he interacted with Jedi he wasn't familiar with. "Master Shan has prepped the ship for takeoff, so if you all would board and find a seat, we'll be off momentarily."
Soara, Ry-Gaul, Tru Veld, and Darra all nodded boarding the ship, though Obi-Wan grinned slightly seeing the rather awed looks on Tru's and Darra's faces. Kastor and his ship tended to do that to the younger Jedi who had little or no interaction with him or his historic vessel.
"How was the mission to Glee Anselm?" Siri asked Rhys as he joined them in the back of the pack.
"Easy," Rhys said with a warm smile. "We were just checking in on a future Jedi youngling, a young Nautolan."
Siri and Obi-Wan both nodded, having done those types of periodic check ups on future younglings before. They entered the ship to see the various Jedi teams finding seats and strapping in for takeoff in the main hold. Anakin glanced at Obi-Wan who sighed and nodded, and the energetic menace moved off towards the cockpit to sit in one of the seats behind the pilot and co-pilot's chairs.
Obi-Wan was therefore a bit surprised when Anakin stopped for a moment, and then approached Tru, spoke with him a moment, which received a nod from Ry-Gaul, and then Tru and Anakin both went up to the cockpit.
Ferus glanced at Siri before he walked over and sat next to Darra, who smiled at him and immediately started to engage him in conversation.
"Well, I guess that means I have two excitable Padawans up front with me for takeoff," Rhys said with a sigh, and Obi-Wan and Siri smiled at him, with no hint of sympathy, and he just mock glared at them before walking off towards the cockpit, leaving them laughing lightly.
"Let's go sit in the communications room," Obi-Wan said, and Siri nodded, and they made their way to the room near the cockpit, where they'd be able to sit and talk in relative peace until they had entered hyperspace.
**The Will of the Force**
It was a peaceful journey. As soon as they'd gotten into hyperspace, Kastor and Rhys had come out and given the other two teams a tour of the ship and gotten properly introduced, though Kastor was familiar with Soara from saber classes. After that, they had talked a bit about the mission to come before spreading out and doing what people did on long trips, such as playing dejarac, meditating, reading, or even managing some dueling practice in the cargo hold. Obi-Wan, however, moved to the garage with Siri for a holocron lesson.
"Ah, my two favorite students," Revan remarked easily as he and Elena Shan were activated.
"I believe we're your only students," Obi-Wan replied dryly, and Revan smiled.
Obi-Wan had learned over the years that Revan really enjoyed dry wit and sarcastic remarks . . . which fit with Obi-Wan's style of humor, so they got along famously.
"Still his favorites," Siri said. "We have to make sure to let Kas know that we're his favorites."
Elena and Revan both chuckled.
"My poor beloved," Elena said, with a smirk. "No matter what era he is in, he gets abused by those he cares for most."
"He really brings it on himself," Siri pointed out, and both holocrons nodded in agreement.
"It's in his blood," Revan said, with a hint of mirth, "but I don't think you pulled out myself and my dear descendant in law for a pleasant chat . . . though of course we are both always happy to be used for that function."
"We have some time," Obi-Wan agreed, "and we figured a joint lesson would be nice. It's been some time since we did one."
"They are always enjoyable," Elena agreed with a fond smile. "However, I think we have just about reached the time where I have nothing left to teach you, Siri, my dear, and Revan has little to nothing that he can teach to you, Obi-Wan."
"Especially since you have no desire to learn about Force lightning and its variants," Revan agreed.
It was true, and both Obi-Wan and Siri knew it. It was about time for them to finally trade holocrons as Kastor had suggested almost seven years ago. Obi-Wan had learned a lot from the ancient Jedi and former Sith Lord. One of the most recent things was mastering the use of telepathy. He'd always been able to do minor bits of telepathy with those he had force bonds with, like Qui-Gon, Siri, and Anakin, but under Revan's tutelage, Obi-Wan was capable of talking with nearly anyone, and had even learned how to pull a language out of another's mind in order to learn it. It was a skill that many of the Council Members had mastered and used, and thus he had chosen to master it as well.
From Revan, he'd also learned Force Deflection, which he knew could eventually lead to Force Absorption. It was something that Revan had never learned, but he knew Elena could teach him. Lastly, since Obi-Wan had no real interest in Force lightning, Revan had taught him how to do a Force Stasis Field, had improved Obi-Wan's abilities in self-Force healing, and then had dramatically improved Obi-Wan's abilities with a lightsaber.
Revan had an incredible grasp of lightsaber forms. Not for nothing, he'd been one of the most feared warriors of his time. Obviously, the first thing he'd had Revan help him with was Form III, but from there it had spread to Form VI, improved mastery of Form IV, and Revan had even shown him Form VII, though Obi-Wan had only studied it to best know how to counter it, something Revan approved of greatly. Someday, Obi-Wan thought he might even manage to master all forms of lightsaber combat.
From Elena, Siri had learned more Force related abilities, in particular abilities related to stealth, confusion, and undercover work. She'd learned to conceal herself as well as any Force wielder could, masking her smell, Force presence, and image, as well as altering her image and the environment. She'd learned to read people better, using the Force to better interpret and read emotions, and she'd learned to eavesdrop with the Force, and learned to heal herself and others with the Force, even if she wasn't nearly at the level of a Jedi healer. More offensively, Siri had learned the Force wave that Kastor had hit them with so long ago, as well as a stasis field, and lastly she'd learned how to suppress Force abilities in others. As lightsaber forms went, the only one Elena had ever mastered was Form II, with her focus being on defeating Sith warriors in lightsaber combat, and she had passed on all she knew about it to Siri.
"Well, then how about you evaluate our combat abilities once again?" Obi-Wan asked. "I certainly always enjoy showing Siri how much she needs to learn."
Revan and Elena both showed signs of amusement as Siri's eyes narrowed, and he felt the competitive side of her leap to the forefront of her emotions. Obi-Wan grinned, and moved to a good distance from her, pulling his lightsaber off of his belt, while Siri mirrored him. The two holocrons were excellent in pointing out their flaws during skirmishes like this, helping them to break bad habits, and think more creatively.
"Begin," Revan said, and Siri and Obi-Wan moved towards each other swiftly, their blades igniting on the lower power settings, and Obi-Wan parried Siri's initial slash, keeping strict control of his movements, effortlessly defending against her Form IV onslaught, but then she flipped over him, and her style switched.
Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile, which was matched by Siri, as they continued to clash with each other, periodically with Revan and Elena offering up advice. Their bond flowed free, making it harder for either of them to beat each other, but making their efforts far more precise, which truly was showcasing how good they hoped to be without their bond's assist.
Finally though, it ended as it usually did, with a victory to Obi-Wan, but both of them breathing hard and having enjoyed being pushed the entire duel.
"Well done, you two," Kastor said, walking into the hangar as Siri and Obi-Wan both turned off their blades. "You've both become incredible warriors."
"We have to give you some of that credit," Obi-Wan said humbly, and Siri nodded, but Kastor shook his head.
"While I've helped, it is your own efforts that have yielded such impressive results," Kastor said.
Obi-Wan and Siri both rolled their eyes, and Kastor laughed.
"Still nothing?" Obi-Wan finally asked, curious about Kastor's most recent movements.
"Every now and then, Magus shows himself for a mission or bounty, but I always learn about his location too late to do anything, and I haven't been able to track wherever he goes to disappear," Kastor agreed grimly.
"No other Shadows or Jedi have any leads either?" Siri asked, and Kastor shook his head.
"No, he's being extremely cautious, though if he did meet the Sith Lord, I suspect that's more to do with his fear of who hired him rather than his fear of us," Kastor said.
"At least the genetic material they took from you is useless in regards to why they wanted it," Obi-Wan said, and Kastor grimaced.
"As far as we know," Kastor said darkly.
He had done extensive research with Bant, Vokara, and other healers like Rig Nema to try and see if Kastor's genetic material held any secrets to trying to live longer . . . if they showed any signs of the Force having influenced them to survive, but as far as any of them could tell, there was nothing to gain on that front. That didn't mean that there was nothing to gain though, and they all knew it.
"I didn't come back here to talk about my failures," Kastor said finally, with a shake of his head and a wan smile. "We'll be reaching Radnor very soon."
"Understood, Master," Obi-Wan and Siri both said.
Soon enough, Obi-Wan was in the main hold with the rest of his fellow Jedi while Kastor and Rhys started their descent.
From space, Radnor was blue-green, which made sense since much of it was covered with vast seas. The Padawans hadn't spoken much since they started their descent, but they had talked briefly about the mission, and Darra had mentioned to Tru and Anakin that this was her first mission, so she was "depending on them to make her look good," in a cheerful tone.
Obi-Wan glanced around, noticing Anakin staring at Ferus a bit, and Obi-Wan could sense a bit of dislike or maybe jealousy in his Padawan's mind, though that wasn't uncommon for Padawans. Many young Jedi had rivals. Force, he and Siri had once been rivals, so as long as it didn't get out of hand, Obi-Wan figured missions like these would help the two boys move on.
He could understand Anakin's viewpoints as well. Ferus was quite gifted, a brilliant and steady Padawan, and popular among his peers. He was a year older than Anakin, and Obi-Wan had heard that many of the instructors still talked about him. It was known the Council expected great things from him, which Obi-Wan figured was a bit of salt in a wound, since it greatly contrasted to Anakin who felt, and reasonably so, that the Council did not fully trust him. In addition, Anakin was brilliant and gifted, but whereas Ferus was admired for his skill, Anakin was often resented, especially since he'd come into the Temple with a Master already. Anakin was not popular, though Obi-Wan could see that it was as much Anakin's fault as anyone else's. His Padawan was not always the most sociable person, sometimes seeming much more shy in the Temple than Obi-Wan knew he actually was.
Obi-Wan felt the Ebon Hawk zoom down to the surface quickly before Kastor whipped it around and landed it with a whisper-light touch, something he knew his Padawan would appreciate. Siri too.
Rhys and Kastor came back into the hold while everyone else gathered what they needed for the mission. "This is where we part ways, for now," Kastor said. "May the Force be with you all, and reach out if you need assistance."
Siri decided to show even more of how she was an unorthodox Jedi by giving both Rhys and Kastor a hug instead of the parting greeting and maybe a handshake or grasp like the others offered up.
They filed down onto the surface of the planet. Ry-Gaul was carrying the case holding the needed medications that they'd brought. Once he stepped foot on the surface, Obi-Wan could sense the dark feeling that permeated the Force on this planet. Fear had gripped the populations of both cities, and with that fear came desperation, anger, and chaos.
As soon as they were off, the landing ramp for the Ebon Hawk rose back up, and almost immediately, the Ebon Hawk took to the skies. Obi-Wan hadn't heard Kastor say anything about a mission, but that didn't mean he and Rhys didn't have somewhere they needed to be.
Radnorans were a humanoid species, short in stature and sturdy in appearance. Several uniformed security officers waited at the transport desk. A Radnoran dressed in a white unicoat hurried forward.
"Welcome, Jedi. We are relieved to see you. The city of Tacto is under great stress." He passed a hand over his head full of curly brown hair. "The people don't believe that there will be enough room on the ships."
"Who are you?" Soara Antana asked bluntly. She was known for her no-nonsense approach. Her powerful hands rested lightly on her belt.
"Excuse me. I should explain. I am Galen, the coordinator of the rescue effort. The officials have abandoned the planet, so I suppose I'm now in charge. Only a small security force remains. I inherited this job – I'm normally a scientist. Most of my colleagues have left. I volunteered to help with the evacuation. My sister Curi has gone to the Isolation Sector to help there."
"Let me take you to the emergency command post," Galen said.
Galen started across the landing pad, taking quick steps with his short, muscular legs. "Rumors come and go daily. The ships are late. The ships are not coming. There will not be enough room. We try to keep information flowing, but it's difficult. So many have left, and those who remain are frightened."
"How are things in the Isolation Sector?" Soara Antana asked.
"Worse," Galen said curtly. "Communication is erratic. The toxic cloud has apparently interfered with our comm systems. We are doing what we can, but it isn't enough."
"We can assure your people that the ships are on their way and there is room for all. What is your biggest problem at the moment?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I have too many problems to single out one," Galen said. "The government is practically nonexistent. The security officers – the ones who remain – are in danger of disbanding. You can see that loyalty has evaporated on Radnor."
They exited onto a boulevard and found themselves in the city center. The streets were eerily empty. Occasionally a Radnoran would pass, walking quickly. They saw a family go by, their bundles held tightly against their chests darting glances testifying to their panic.
They passed lotted stores and houses. Doors were broken down and windows were smashed. Anyone they passed had at least one blaster prominently displayed on a hip or strapped across a chest.
They walked by a small space cruiser, its interior bombed out and its engine looted.
"Most of the transports that have remained have been fought over and destroyed," Galen explained. "There have been frenzied crowds desperate to get off-planet."
"Tell us about the looters," Soara said. "Do you have any clues as to who they are and where they are based?"
"No," Galen said. "I don't have time to find out. At any rate, we don't have a security force to control them. I can tell you that the raiders have somehow stolen a small army of prototype Battle Droids from a research laboratory. They use the droid to control the situation while they steal the goods."
Galen's commlink signaled, and he answered it. After exchanging a few words, he turned to the Jedi. "It is my sister, Curi. I'd like you to see this."
A miniature hologram appeared of a small Radnoran female. They could just glimpse curly dark hair like Galen's beneath the white bio-isolation suit she wore. Every inch of her body was covered, with the material stretching over her boots. A transparent mask fitted over her face and head. The hologram flickered, and some of the words were unclear.
" . . . three deaths today of med personnel. There aren't enough of us to take care of . . . We need the new medications as soon as possible. Please tell the Jedi . . . "
The hologram sputtered and died.
The message might have been garbled, but the controlled panic in her voice was clear.
"We should head there immediately," Soara said.
"I can take you as far as the energy gate that divides the sectors," Galen told them. "It's not far. I can also supply you with bio-isolation suits."
They came to a store guarded by several Radnorans with blasters. A sign in the window announced: BIO-ISO SUITS: 5,000 KARSEMS.
"Five thousand karsems is a full year's salary," Galen remarked. "We are lucky to have suits for you. They are hidden. I don't keep them at the command center, because it's already been attacked by looters looking for suits."
Suddenly, they heard the sound of screams coming from the street ahead.
Galen looked nervous. "What now?"
Neither Obi-Wan or any of his fellow Jedi paused to wonder. They all charged ahead, running toward the source of the sound. Rounding the corner, they saw a large prosperous-looking house, its windows covered with durasteel panels, and the door nailed shut with thick durasteel slabs crisscrossing it. The fortifications had been fruitless, since the door had been kicked in, the windows torn away, and raiders were throwing goods out of the windows.
Twenty battle droids, unlike any Obi-Wan was familiar with, were wheeling in formation, with repulsorlift systems that gave them astonishing speed. Radnorans were loading the looted goods onto gravsleds, while a huddled group was being guarded. One male Radnoran lay on the ground in a pool of blood, while a female crouched over him and children cried while another older woman attempted to herd them to safety.
The raiders noticed them, and soon fifteen of the droids were heading towards the Jedi while the rest shielded the raiders.
"Padawans, protection!" Siri ordered crisply. Her words floated behind her; Siri was already Force jumping toward the front line of droids.
Obi-Wan leaped as well, keeping to Siri's left so they could surround the droids, who were deftly moving over the ground, and easily melding their bond fully. With one sweep of her lightsaber, Siri sliced a droid neatly in half. Simultaneously, Obi-Wan did the same to the second. On his back swing, he took out a third.
Soara moved with her much vaunted agility, cutting through three droids in the same amount of time. Obi-Wan noticed Ry-Gaul handed the medication case to Tru for safeguarding before joining Soara.
Darra, Tru, and Ferus raced to surround the Radnoran family, Ferus taking out one droid on his way with a quick detour. Obi-Wan wanted to frown as Anakin took a large detour on his way to follow Siri's order, moving over to where Soara and Ry-Gaul were and taking out two droids with two quick thrusts.
While detouring wasn't necessarily bad, since the other three Padawans were in position, it wasn't really necessary since Soara was gracefully slashing through one droid after the next with incredible efficiency, her lightsaber a blur. Perhaps his Padawan realized it because he then quickly backflipped over to the rest of the Padawans and took up his position.
Obi-Wan refocused on his own battle as the raiders quickly fled, seeing the Jedi easily reducing their squad of droids. Obi-Wan deflected several bolts back into one droid, destroying it, before he flipped over one droid, destroying one behind it with a quick slash, and then spinning and destroying the one he'd jumped over. Siri zoomed forward and destroyed another droid of her own.
Four droids peeled off and launched a frontal assault at him and Siri, but Siri executed a reversal to create some distance, which Obi-Wan capitalized on by front flipping over the four droids, putting them between him and Siri, which allowed them to both surge forward and crush all four droids, half of whom had tried to turn to confront Obi-Wan.
The last three droids rushed at the Radnoran family, and Obi-Wan and Siri both turned towards the Padawans to assist, which was good since Ferus and Anakin ended up nearly tripping on each other as they both went to take the forward defensive position and didn't anticipate each other.
Thankfully, Darra stepped forward and bought them time for Anakin to get back in and destroy one of the droids, and then Ferus picked back up on the defensive. With Ferus and Anakin both back in the fight, Darra moved forward with an athletic grace reminiscent of Soara's style and sliced through one of the droids. Ferus then moved forward in a burst of speed and sliced through the remaining droid, ending the battle.
The Jedi simultaneously deactivated their lightsabers. Obi-Wan ran to the Radnoran family, Siri right behind him.
"Is anyone badly hurt?" he asked.
"My husband," the Radnoran female said, her eyes wide with panic. "He needs help."
"We'll get him to a medic," Tru assured her, but Siri was already bending down over the man, putting her hand near his wound.
Obi-Wan watched as the man's bleeding stopped, and his wound closed up slightly. Siri got up, slightly shakily, so Obi-Wan put his arm on her to support her and she gave him a thankful nod.
Ry-Gaul bent over the Radnoran to gently examine the now partially healed wound. "He will be all right. He should probably still have a bacta bath." It was rare for Ry-Gaul to say so much at once.
"My sister took a blow to the head," the wife said, pointing at the older Radnoran female.
"And you," Tru said gently. He touched her shoulder. "You have taken a blow yourself; I think."
"To the leg. It was nothing," the wife said, kneeling by her husband.
"They all need care," Tru said, receiving nods of agreement all around.
"Yes," Obi-Wan said. He scanned the streets. "There are no speeder transports. No emergency med vehicles."
As if he'd heard them, suddenly Galen appeared, piloting a large speeder. "I thought you might need this here."
"Yes. We must transport the wounded," Soara said, "and then we must go to the Isolation Sector."
"I can take the wounded first, then return for you," Galen said. "By the way, I only have four bio-isolation suits. You will have to choose who will go."
The four Masters exchanged glances. They did not have to confer. It would be better to leave the Padawans here temporarily and not expose them to the deadly toxin. The Masters were sure to be back in time to monitor the evacuations.
"The Padawans will stay here and make sure the wounded get care," Soara said, speaking for all the Masters. "We shall bring the medications to the Isolation Sector."
"Your instructions are to patrol the area and keep the people as calm as possible," Obi-Wan told the Padawans. "Do not conceal your lightsabers. The Radnorans must know that the Jedi will protect them."
"Check in with Galen periodically," Siri said. "He'll keep up with the progress of the evacuation ships."
"We will not fail you," Ferus said.
Obi-Wan felt a flash of irritation from his Padawan and turned his attention to him, drawing him aside.
"You fought well, my young Padawan," he told him.
"Thank you, Master."
"But you fought for yourself," Obi-Wan continued. "First of all, you did not obey Siri's order at once, and when Ferus stepped forward to engage the droids, he did so in the expectation that the two of you would work together. Instead, you fought as though you were fighting alone. You will never be a great Jedi warrior if you do not practice teamwork and dedicate yourself to the greater Jedi goal."
He could tell that Anakin was a bit irritated with Obi-Wan's rebuke, but Obi-Wan knew it needed to be said.
"Yes, Master," he said.
Obi-Wan wanted to end it there, but Kastor had been on him to add a little more reassurance every now and then, having pointed out that Anakin was not Obi-Wan, and Obi-Wan was not Qui-Gon, and that Anakin did need some reassurance every now and then.
"I understand your frustrations, and cooperation goes two ways, but it is not my place to correct Ferus, Padawan," Obi-Wan said, "and cooperation and dedication to a greater goal is something you do lack."
Anakin nodded, looking away, and then looking back with a burning face. "Yes, Master."
"I'll return for you," Galen said to the Jedi Masters before taking off.
**The Will of the Force**
Galen picked up the Jedi Masters and brought them to the boundary line of the Clear Sector. An energy gate was ahead.
"I'll enter the code, and you'll be able to pass through," Galen said. "I'm sorry I can't give you the transport, but no vehicle can pass through the energy gate. You'll have to put on your bio-iso suits. I've managed to get a message through to Curi, so you should be met on the other side for transport to Aubendo."
"Thank you for all your help," Obi-Wan said. He gave a last look back at Tacto. Obi-Wan didn't second-guess decisions, but he suddenly wished Anakin were with him.
The Jedi donned the bio-iso suits. The energy gate blinked green, and they walked through. They stood on a vast plain. There was only a smudge of gray on the horizon, an indication of the city ahead.
After a few moments they saw a transport approaching. They recognized Galen's sister as the Radnoran female who was piloting the craft.
She halted the craft near them, the repulsorlift engines keeping it slightly aloft. "You've brought the medication?"
Ry-Gaul indicated the case at his side. "Here."
"Thank the stars. Oh, I'm so sorry. What a way to greet you. I am Curi. I extend so many thanks to the Jedi for coming. Please board the craft."
The Jedi swung themselves into the airspeeder. As Curi took off, they introduced themselves.
"I'm in charge of the rescue operation here, such as it is," Curi said. "We are fighting a battle we cannot win."
"You have many fatalities?"
Curi gave him a bleak look, full of exhaustion and suffering. "Everyone in this sector is dead or dying. Only those who came in from the Clear Sector with bio-iso suits are healthy."
The gray towers of the city rose before them. "We're almost there," Curi said. "We are passing over the underground canyons now."
Below them, the ground was fissured with deep cracks that Obi-Wan could see led to a maze of canyons.
"Radnorans are city dwellers," Curi explained. "We do not like open spaces. Perhaps some of us could have escaped the toxin if we weren't all in the same place."
They reached the outskirts of the city. Curi slowed down as they went down a wide boulevard. It was deserted. Abandoned air taxis littered the street in haphazard groups. Cafes and businesses were shuttered and empty.
The streets were empty. It was as though the Radnorans of this city had vanished. There weren't even the signs of panic that Obi-Wan had expected to see, no looted or destroyed buildings. Instead, everything was dead, including the vegetation, and all was eerily silent.
The Jedi were silent as they viewed the eerie sight. Obi-Wan had seen civil war and environmental disaster, but this felt worse. Even in his bio-iso suit, he imagined he could smell death in the air he breathed. He could feel Siri's sorrow matching his own.
Ahead they saw the large med center. Here, at least, there were signs of activity. They could see medics in bio-iso suits inside the courtyard.
Curi pulled up the speeder, and they got out. The sound of his footsteps was unsettling to Obi-Wan. Encased in the white suit, his audio perception was muffled, making everything seem not quite real.
Curi hurried over to a medic and handed over the medications. "We don't know if these will help," she said to the Jedi. "We are trying anything. Thank you for bringing them."
She leaned against the wall, exhaustion showing in every line of her body.
"You need rest," Soara said. Beneath her usual bluntness, Obi-Wan sensed real concern. He could see why. Curi looked ready to collapse.
Yet somehow Curi reached down and called up a reserve of strength. She straightened and shook her head. "There can be no rest for me. Don't you know that? Not when I'm responsible for this." She looked over the city again. "For all of this horror," she whispered.
"What do you mean? Siri asked.
"Didn't Galen tell you?" Curi sighed. "We own a research laboratory here. I run the financial side. Galen is the scientist. The toxic emission came from our lab. We still don't understand how it happened, though that doesn't make us any less responsible. Galen has been working day and night on the evacuation effort. He could have left long ago."
"And you?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I was in the Clear Sector, as was Galen, when we heard. I came here. I was trained as a medic originally. Here is where I was most needed."
"It was brave of you to come," Soara said.
Curi pressed her lips together. "It was the least I could do."
"Have you investigated the leak at your lab?" Siri asked.
Curi shook her head.
"I didn't have time to review safety procedures, so I just ordered it shut down. It was clear very quickly that we were dealing with something that moved very fast. I came back when I knew we were running out of time to help the sick. We didn't realize that the sick would turn into the dying. We had no idea what to expect. Galen was involved in weapons development, you see. He was experimenting with the toxin for a future bioweapon. He had no idea what he had."
"What do you know about the toxin?"
"We know more about what it isn't than what it is," Curi admitted. "We know it isn't a virus. It isn't a gas, but it has been carried through the air. Somehow it is absorbed into the system, but we aren't sure how. It could be through the skin. The particles are so microscopic that even a bacta bath would not clear it all away."
"It doesn't seem that you have the same problems here that the Clear Sector does," Obi-Wan observed. "There's no sign of panic or rioting."
Curi nodded tiredly. "There was no time for panic. The dying cannot riot. Those who couldn't make it here to the med center are dying in their homes. I make the rounds and do what I can, but that is very little."
"What other kind of help can we give you?" Siri asked.
"You have brought the medicine. That was a great help. Perhaps you could patrol the city and find out how many still need help. I haven't been able to get to every dwelling. You can help us organize. People will listen to you. Once the ships arrive, they will have more advanced med care. We might be able to save a few. You have to give them hope, at least." Curi's voice faltered.
Obi-Wan nodded, then turned to the others. "We should split into two teams. We can call two of the Padawans here, and two Masters can return to the Clear Sector."
Ry-Gaul nodded.
"We might be able to move another team back after we accomplish something here," Soara said as Siri nodded in agreement.
Curi looked from one Jedi to the other. "But you can't return."
"What?" Soara asked.
"Didn't Galen tell you? Once you cross over to the Isolation Sector, no one is allowed to return. It is forbidden. Until we know that you're not carrying the toxin back on your skin or clothes, we can't risk it."
"We're wearing bio-isolation suits," Siri said.
"Yes, but you can't wear them back to the Clear Sector," Curi explained. "The toxin may now be on your suit. Even if you remove it, some residue on the suit may touch your skin. Until we know how much of the toxin is needed to cause the epidemic, we can't let you return." She looked at them helplessly. "I'm sorry. I thought you knew. When the evacuation ships arrive, you will be able to undergo bio-cleansing aboard ship. Then I imagine there will be a quarantine period. We don't have the facilities here."
Obi-Wan looked at the other Jedi Masters. Curi's news was exasperating, but Jedi did not waste time on such emotions. He knew that, like him, they were all thinking of what to do next.
"We should contact our Padawans with more detailed instructions," Soara spoke crisply.
"They will have to handle any problems in Tacto," Siri said. "Perhaps we should contact the Jedi Council and ask for an additional Jedi team, or maybe two."
"I doubt another team from the Council will get here in time to be of use before the evacuation ships get here, but maybe Kastor and Rhys can turn around and return?" Obi-Wan offered up. "For now though, the Padawans will have to handle things on their own."
He could see that none of them liked this prospect. He knew that many of the Masters had not had their Padawans very long. Even though he and Anakin had been a team for a while, he was still uneasy to think of Anakin in an unstable situation without him, but there was no other solution.
Obi-Wan activated his commlink. He was relieved when he heard Anakin's voice. He knew communication between the two sectors could be difficult. That would be another problem.
"We have a problem here," he told Anakin. "We are unable to return to the Clear Sector. You and the rest of the Padawans will have to manage that aspect of the mission."
"I see," Anakin said neutrally.
"The safety of the population is your first priority," Obi-Wan said. "Establish safety patrols to keep the peace. Try to keep misinformation from spreading. Coordinate with Galen as to the evacuation schedule. Avoid using violence and take no lives. We're going to try and contact Kastor and Rhys to return and assist you, but you should also try and contact him if you can."
"Yes, Master."
"Now, as for the details," Obi-Wan began, but suddenly, the communication was cut off. When he tried to contact Anakin again, he could not reach him. Obi-Wan hid his frustrations as he tucked his commlink back in his belt.
"They'll be fine," Siri said. "I trust Ferus. He's been on many missions."
"And I trust Anakin," Obi-Wan agreed. Still a small voice inside him hoped that Anakin would be able to work well with the other Padawans without his watchful eye. Siri glanced at him, and he knew that his slight nervousness had transferred to her through their bond.
"We'll try again later," Soara said. "In the meantime, we should split into teams."
Obi-Wan glanced at Siri, and she nodded, and he felt her slight happiness through their bond. It was rare that they got to work together, and this was as close as they could get to their hope that someday they could openly be a couple and be sent on missions together.
"Obi-Wan and I will begin to search the city for more of the sick," Siri said.
"We'll take the north sector," Obi-Wan said. "We need to compile lists so that we can assure there is space for everyone. We must make sure all the sick are evacuated. We'll check in when we can."
Ry-Gaul nodded.
"May the Force be with you," Soara said.
"May the Force be with you," Obi-Wan and Siri repeated. Then they turned toward the eerie emptiness of the city and began their walk toward death.
**The Will of the Force**
The Padawans had just left the med center when Obi-Wan contacted Anakin. They had remained to make sure that the Radnoran father would be alright. They had questioned the family, but no one knew the raiders. They had arrived out of nowhere. Other families in the neighborhood had been hit, too, so they'd been worried that they would be attacked, but there was no way to defend themselves against the prototype droids.
The four Padawans paused outside of the med center. Suddenly, they felt very alone.
"I spend half my time impatient to be a Jedi Knight," Darra said finally. "Now all I want is to be a Padawan. I wish Soara were here." She reached into the pocket of Tru's tunic and withdrew the bag of candy he kept there. She popped a piece of figda in her mouth and chewed furiously.
"We'll do fine," Anakin said confidently.
"No stress," Ferus agreed. The expression in his dark eyes was serene. "Among all of us, we've been on enough missions to handle this."
"How should we start?" Tru asked. "Did they want all of us to go on safety patrols? Or should one team coordinate with Galen on the evacuation?"
"Obi-Wan didn't say," Anakin answered, "but if you ask me, safety patrols won't accomplish much if we don't flush out the raiders."
"Hold it," Ferus said. "That would be overstepping our instructions. Besides, the first thing we should do is contact Master Shan and Ranger Dallows."
"We've received no clear directions," Anakin pointed out. "The communication cut out. Obi-Wan only said we should try to contact Kastor and Rhys, but he said they were going to try to on their end, so I say our first priority is the safety of the citizens, and we can't possibly accomplish that with safety patrols alone."
"You don't know that for sure," Ferus said. "Besides, he said we should try and get a hold of them on our end too. That should be a priority while most of us patrol the city."
Darra looked from Anakin to Ferus. "Excuse me. I don't want to interrupt, but I just wanted to point out that there are two other Padawans here. Do we get a vote?"
"Sure, you get a vote," Anakin said. "As long as you agree with me." He smiled to let her know he was kidding.
"What do you have in mind?" Tru asked Anakin. "Let's discuss the plan first, then vote on it."
"It would be much more fun to stand here arguing," Darra said.
"I saw we split into teams," Anakin said. "One team can conduct safety patrols. The other can work on finding the headquarters of the raiders. We can just comm back to Galen and ask him to get in contact with Kastor," Anakins said, knowing that he and Tru would not be the team conducting safety patrols. He and Tru would go after the raiders.
"How?" Ferus asked. "We don't have the resources to comb the whole city. If Ranger Dallows and Master Shan were here, we'd be in a better position to accomplish your goal. Besides, shouldn't we verify whether or not we can get into contact with them? There's no telling when Galen actually gets ahold of them or whether he talks to us whether he does or not."
"We don't have to comb the city, and we won't need Kastor and Rhys, and I'm just trusting that Kastor and Rhys will be notified. I have an idea," Anakin declared. "Even a prototype droid would have a homing device. All we have to do is take one of the droids we deactivated and tap into it."
"Do you know how to do that?" Darra asked.
"Sure," Anakin replied.
"It can't be that easy," Darra said.
Anakin grinned. "I didn't say it was easy. I said I could do it."
"Hold on a second," Tru said. "These are Battle Droids. Most likely they undergo an automatic memory wipe if they are captured or deactivated."
"There isn't a memory wipe that I can't get around," Anakin said confidently. "The homing device is coded into the main sensor suite. I can find it. If we revive a droid, it will lead us straight to the headquarters."
Darra shrugged. "It's worth a try."
Tru nodded. "All right. I say we go after the headquarters."
"Then it's decided," Ferus said. "Though I don't think we should split into teams. If Anakin is successful and we do find the headquarters, no doubt there will be more of those prototype droids. Too many for one team to handle."
Privately, Anakin thought that he and Tru could handle the droids, but he nodded. "All right."
Obi-Wan had given him a warning that he must cooperate, respecting Jedi values. Anakin took that seriously.
They quickly sent a message back to Galen and asked him to get in contact with Kastor and Rhys, and then they returned to the Radnoran family home. The fallen droids still littered the grounds. Anakin found one that was mostly intact. It had lost its arms and its artillery control panel had fused, but the main sensor suite wasn't too badly damaged.
Anakin removed his utility kit from his belt and went to work. He opened the sensor suite panel. Tru bent over to look.
"Standard, except for these circuits," he said, pointing. "I remember seeing a manual regarding the OOM-9 Battle Droid. This looks similar."
Anakin was grateful for Tru's photographic memory. Some of the circuitry was new to him. He pointed to a tightly packed array of multicolored wires by the sensory input cable. "Do you remember which wire goes with what?"
"The green are for locomotion. The white connects to artillery devices. See how they fused and shorted? The blue are for passive mode sensors, and I think these cables here are part of the signal receiver assembly."
"I bet the homing device is connected somehow," Anakin murmured.
"It's a good place to start," Tru agreed.
Darra seemed interested in their progress, but Anakin could feel Ferus's impatience behind him. He tried to screen it out as he worked.
"I've got it!" Anakin said at last. "I reconnected the homing device to the locomotion sensor through the sensory plug-in. If I turn it on, the droid should head back to its origin point."
"Let's give it a try," Tru said.
"Remind me to get you guys the next time my commlink malfunctions," Darra said. "You'd probably rebuild it into a cargo lifter."
"We'll have to move fast to keep the droid in sight," Ferus said. "Is everyone ready?"
When he saw everyone nod, Anakin switched on the droid. They stepped back as it beeped and checked circuits. Then suddenly it wheeled around and fired its repulsorlift engines, taking off down the boulevard.
The four Padawans had to race to keep it in sight. They flew down the streets of the city, occasionally Force-jumping past obstacles. They quickly passed through the neighborhood of fine homes, raced through a commercial district, and then found themselves outside a small warehouse. The droid hovered outside for a moment, its head rotating. The Padawans dived behind a wall.
They watched as the droid accessed a control panel hidden behind what appeared to be a shear wall. A door slid open, and the droid disappeared inside.
Anakin leaped forward and shoved his lightsaber hilt between the closing door and its frame. The door stayed open a fraction. With Tru, Ferus, and Darra, he pushed it open the rest of the way. The Padawans slid inside.
It was a gloomy interior. At first they could see or hear little. Anakin concentrated. He detected the sound of voices. He motioned to the others. When their eyes had adjusted to the light a few moments later, they could see that the warehouse was full of items they could only assume were stolen. Rich tapestries and rugs were rolled and rested against the walls. Silver and intricate metalwork objects were stacked on shelves. Anakin saw gold peggats and aurodium ingots heaped in a corner. Durasteel bins were no doubt filled with more valuables. The voices were coming from around the corner. It was the raiders.
The Padawans crept closer. Now they could make out words.
"The block between Evermore and Acadi is first. Then from Acadi to Montwin. We can easily clear out the two blocks using what we have."
"Sure we can clear them, but where will we put our stash? We need more storage."
"That's one problem I'm happy to have."
The sound of soft laughter came to the Padawans.
"They'd better come through on their promise to move all this stuff –"
The voice broke off as an insistent beep began to sound. It played through several coded sequences.
Anakin heard the sound of chairs scraping. "It's the droid," someone said in a low tone. "That's the activation signal for tampering. Someone might be here." The voices fell silent. Anakin could just make out a whisper of movement, and then stillness.
"Activation signal for tampering?" Darra whispered.
Anakin and Tru exchanged a look. "I guess it's in case the coming device is activated by someone other than the programmer," Anakin explained.
"Easy, you said," Darra whispered. "What should we do now?"
"Defend ourselves!" Anakin exclaimed as the raiders suddenly raced around the corner, blasters in hand.
**The Will of the Force**
"Kas, Siri tried to contact us, but her message cut out before I even answered," Kastor heard Rhys call, as he scanned through various holodocuments in the main hold.
Kastor frowned, as Rhys came into view.
"I couldn't comm her back either," Rhys said, looking a bit concerned.
"I know she was going to head into the contaminated section of the planet, and they did say communications could be an issue there," Kastor said, closing his eyes, and feeling through the Force. "Something's not right though. Can you contact their contact in the Clear Section?"
Rhys shook his head in the negative.
"Try to get in contact with the Jedi Temple," Kastor said. "Maybe they can tell us if spotty communications had been a problem before. If they hadn't, then maybe we're missing something. Regardless, the Force is telling me that we should go back."
"Wait for the Council's guidance, or follow your intuition?" Rhys asked, with a grin, already knowing the answer.
Kastor responded with a smile. "Have Scrappy already start calculating where best to pull out of hyperspace and then calculating the coordinates to head back. We'll talk to the Council first, but regardless of their decision, we'll turn back and at least check in with the teams on the ground. Our possible lead on Magus might yield fruit, but being that two of the Jedi we left are Obi-Wan and Siri, we should assume they need help."
Rhys nodded with a smirk and immediately set off to follow Kastor's instructions. Kastor looked back at the files on the main console. The console had been secured by Master Toma Hi'Ilani, the foremost tech expert in the Order, and Master Alan Syk, the best security expert in the Order, and Kastor had full faith that few if any could access his secure files without him knowing, and without his approval. It's where he kept records of the accounts he'd made for the funds he was saving for a possible purge. It's where he kept a record of all droids and materials that he and Rhys had acquired, as well as where they were, the status of all their outposts, and a list of possible outpost locations.
It also contained detailed information on everything he'd seen in his visions and the actions he'd taken in attempting to thwart or prepare for those visions so that if he perished, the information could be found and hopefully passed on to those who could really use it. Rhys certainly was aware that should Kastor fall, he was to pass on all the information to Siri, Obi-Wan, Adi, Yoda, Mace, and Fay, though many of those people already knew he was taking actions and knew much of the visions even if they weren't always updated on the current statuses, but he wanted to sure those he felt could do the most good would be notified, though he left the rights to the accounts to Rhys, Obi-Wan, Siri, and Fay.
Mace, Adi, and Yoda deserved to know, but he wasn't sure he wanted to trust them to continue his work down the line, when they might decide to utilize his work before it was needed or simply disband it. Rhys, if he survived, would attach himself to one of the other three and then do his best to continue Kastor's and his work.
Outside of his most secure files on the console were also his files on various worlds, criminal organizations, known Jedi killers, large Sith cults, bounty hunters of note, thieves of note, known locations where Sith holocrons could possibly still be found, notes on where the Sith Lord might be hiding and everything he'd learned about the Banite Sith, as he was calling them, which admittedly was not much. Lasly were holodocs on everything he knew about the Force, combat, lightsaber creation, lightsaber forms, and battling against Sith. In short, it was the beginnings for what would likely eventually be a holocron of his own that he could pass on to future Jedi. These were certainly still secure, but less hidden, and if anything were another defense for his most secure files, since they would hopefully convince anyone who had breached them to not look any deeper.
Kastor re-secured the files and shut down the system, making his way to the Communications Room, where he saw Rhys having just made contact with the Council.
"Greetings, Masters," Kastor said, bowing, as Rhys then made his exit from the room.
"Master Shan, a report for us, you have?" Yoda asked, his ears twitching up in curiosity.
"Perhaps," Kastor said. "Knight Tachi attempted to contact us, but her communication cut out. We're unsure if they perhaps need assistance, and were unsure if communication issues occurred while the planet was initially contacting the Senate and the Order for assistance."
"We were warned that communications were problematic on the contaminated side, but there were no issues from the Clear Sector," Mace said with a frown. "It's possible that the toxin has already spread that far, and perhaps Knight Tachi was trying to alert you to the possibility it was too late to really help the planet."
"Perhaps," Kastor agreed, though he frowned.
"You think otherwise," Plo stated.
"Something is off in the Force, when I think about Radnor, but I don't think it's the toxin," Kastor said. "I'm having Rhys prepare to drop out of hyperspace, and we're going to turn around and check in with the Clear Sector."
Kastor watched Mace, Yoda, and the various other members of the council look around at each other, and he knew they were communicating via telepathy.
"You are approved," Mace said. "Tread carefully however. It might be too late to save your fellow Jedi."
Kastor nodded, though he knew, and he was sure the Council knew, that he wouldn't accept the last part of Mace's statement until he saw all of his fellow Jedi fallen bodies.
"May the Force be with you," Yoda said, and Kastor echoed, before Kastor cut the communication.