Star Wars: Episode VIII: The New Threat

[Quiet_Cool]

Caiben Raille

The Super Star Destroyer was growing smaller as we flew away from it. Had we really succeeded?
The vessel had stopped sending out vessels already, and the power was already failing before we'd even left the ship's bridge. The vessel floated toward the others in its fleet, slowly, but fast enough to make a reaction by the other vessels in Anderson's fleet difficult.
"Change the ship's heading."
That had been Balle's request of the vessels leaders. Then, we'd waited. Once the power began to fail, we'd headed back into the corridor, facing even more guards and soldiers and making the same short work of them that we'd made of thier friends, whose bodies still littered the halls.
There simply weren't enough of them, not with so many men missing from the vessel, all involved in some way in the attack.
Now, we moved quickly toward the space station that D'Rack commanded, watching as the vessel moved toward its allies at a steady pace.
Once it reached those vessels, the self-destruct sequence should be running down. Things would get interesting then, I was certain.
I grinned to myself.
"Master Fran'tok," Balle was saying into the intercomm. "Your request should be complete in mere minutes. Request permission to land, and mihgt I suggest you draw our fighters away from the enemy fleet?"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

The Mached System

"Captain," the Rodian said.
"Yes, Gimora?"
"They've stopped on Deck three," Gimora replied. As head of the Captain's personal guard, Gimora was doing well to keep tabs on the Jedi, but stopping the Jedi was provig a much more difficult task.
"Why are they here?" The Captain asked.
"Most likely in response to our taking of Republic shipments," Gimora returned.
Neega Nuim, the Pleebo, turned his head, looking away. As "Trade Advisor", he knew far too much about those shipments. It had seemed safe enough, with the Republic's hands so full with the Sith, but apparently...
"Might I suggest we send our own men, in place of the droids?" Gimora stated.
The Captain nodded, "But not you, or anyone of importance. And I don't want them attacked this time, but apprehended. Send that fool of yours...what's his name?"
Captain Honisse Nurell was not the most honest man in the galaxy, not by a long shot, but stupid he was not. Why send those who would be missed to face such an obstacle?
"I know just who you mean," Gimora replied.

 

[Paendragon]

Luke

Luke shook his head. "Nothing I'm sure of. Just a possibility I've met her before..."

He smiled. "Thank you, Master." He bowed, and left quickly.

He had lied. Lied to a Jedi Master. He was, indeed, getting a feeling... intuition...from the Force. And if he was right, than he would want to speak with this armored woman.

He began to run once he left the chamber, using the Force to enhance his speed so that he would appear as no more than a blur to anyone who saw him. It took him only moments to reach the hangar. He stopped and reached out with the Force, searching for that familiar presence he had known so long ago. Moments passed while he searched each and every lifeform in the hangar.

He gasped when he felt it, and ran again. He came to rest in front of a ship, and unhooked his lightsaber. He read off the name, pulled out a transmitter, and keyed planetary security with orders to not let the ship leave the planet unles cleared by either him, or the Jedi Council. He slipped the transmitter back insde of his robe.

"Natassia," he called out, using the Force to enhance his voice so that she would hear it no matter where she was in the ship, as if it came from right nearby, possibly over her shoulder. "It's Luke. Do you remember me? I have some questions for you, bounty hunter..."

He ignited his lightsaber, the green blade reflected faintly in his hard eyes, and moved toward the ship.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Nastasia Vish

"Natassia, it's Luke. Do you remember me? I have some questions for you, bounty hunter..."
She turned her head to either side, fairly certain he couldn't have been on board, but needing to make sure. He'd sounded so close.
Luke...
She did remember the boy, all too well. He body was still scarred in a few places where the Force lightning had penetrated her armor, singed the skin beneath.
She hadn't want a confrontation, but if that was how this would have to go...
Afew a fe moments, the entrance ramp lowered and she stepped out, looking down it at the boy who stood at the bottom, now nearly a man. His lightsaber was already ignited, and he looked prepared, but for what she wasn't quite certain.
"Hello, Luke, old friend."
Friend she'd called him, but there was no fondness in her tone.
"What is it you wish to ask me?"
She didn't move aggressively toward him, nor did she show any signs of advancing, but her right hand was carefully tucked behind her back. He would see this, no doubt. No small trick such as that would fool a Jedi, padawan or not, but the mere presence of it might add just enough caution to his next choice...
With a slow, deliberate movement, she reached up with her left hand and drew the helmet from her head, letting her hair, greasy and dirty, fall to her shoulders around her pale face.
"I haven't much time to chit-chat," she explained. "My presence is not exactly wanted here."

 

[Paendragon]

Tynan

"We'll be appreciative of any Intel you can provide," Admiral Thandor's voice came thorugh the holo.

"All the data that can be gleaned from the sensors on the escaping ships willl be sent to you as soon as we have it Admiral," Tynan answered. As for the freed hostages, that may take more time. Many of them will no doubt be in a state of shock.

Admiral Thandor's hologram wavered, slightly. "Is it possible you could use other means, if the situation is as dire as you say?"

Tynan frowned. His gift with the Force was strongest where the mind was involved. So much so, in fact, that a weak mind was not necessarily needed for him to implant an idea or a thought in someone's head. And it was even easier to glean information out of someone. The problem was, of all the Jedi skills, the tricks used on the mind broached closest to the Dark Side. And that was one place he would never go again.

"It's possible, but it will not be done."

Admiral Thandor merely nodded in response. "I'll be waiting for your Intel, then, and will be informing the Senate and the Chief of State. Thandor out."

Tynan bowed, and turned from the holopad. He knew the Admiral had a great deal of responsibility, and would, no doubt, be the senior officer in charge of fighting this new threat. Which is why he would not hold the Admiral accountaable for the suggestion he put forth.

He walked toward the other Masters, his face grim. "The report has been sent."

Master Duu'Raan nodded. "If you will all excuse me, I will meditate on this newest occurance." He bowed, and walked slowly away.

Tynan watched him go, his face troubled. Old. Suddenly, he seems so old...

 

[Paendragon]

Luke

His hands tightened on the lightsaber. He watched her walk down the ramp toward him.

"Hello, Luke, old friend." Her voice was hard. There was no fear there.

He watched every move she made, noticed her hand behind her back, and fought the impulse to give into the anger that bubbled near his soul.

She reached up, slowly, and removed the helmet, showing her face. It was older, but the same.

"I haven't much time to chit-chat. My presence is not exactly wanted here."

"Why," he asked, his voice hard. He tried to hide the pain of one of the earliest, and most painful, betrayals he had ever known. But he wasn't sure if he had managed to succeed. He pointed the tip of his lightsaber at her. "Why...how could you do it? I was just a boy. I trusted you..." His voice came out as a growl toward the end.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Raine DuVall

I watched as the old Master exited the room, then turned to Tynan, whom I'd seen both too much and too little of lately. He'd been there, at enough of the Council meetings, and I'd seen him around Yavin and on a few missions, but talk had grown scarce between us, and I guessed that, deep down, I was at fault for that.
I could see what he was thinking, and yes, it seemed this recent news was wearing on Master Duu'Raan.
"Stress is a sign of the times, Tynan," I said softly, knowing the others could hear me if they wished. Mostly, that's why I had spoken as loud as I did. There could be no secrets here, no hidden truths. We had to share our thoughts with the other Masters and trust them with our opinions on any matter, or else trust would diminish and the Council would fail.
Failure was not an option. It hadn't been for some time, and surely wasn't now.
"How...uh. How are you, Tynan?"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Nastasia Vish

"How could I?" She asked. "You trusted me? So how could I?"
She looked the man-boy over, knowing he had grown in skill just by the way he stood, more confident even than the Jedi Master she'd just dealt with in her recent escape. Fear wasn't an issue here, however, and she guessed it wouldn't be for some time. She'd been lucky to escape the Dracuurians with her life, and now, she felt, she was on borrowed time. Once you face death, view it as a certian possibility, if not a certainty altogether, it lost much of its mystery, much of its power of you. She had been prepared to die as she ran for the supply shed, the Jedi nearby, the Twi'lek even there, though she'd hoped the head-tailed woman would perish. What worse fate could this Jedi provide?
"That's is how, Luke. Because you trusted me," she explained. "If you'd been more careful, seen past what your young mind had told you, you might have seen the truth beyond."
She crouched, setting the armored helmet at her feet and standing to her full height. She guesstimated the boy might be taller than her already. How much time had gone by?
"You see, Luke," she continued. "From me, you could hve learned lessons the Jedi will never teach you. I could have taught you the Galaxy in its very nature, that nature which the Jedi will never understand. It is not the Republic ruled civilization it once was, before both our times. Now its free, and wild, and untethered. Trust is an old and useless tool here. It was all just business really. I was paid to bring you to Cloud City, and I did exactly that. It's that easy. You did as you were asked, and aren't you alright now? Aren't you alive and well. Hel, you're on your way to becoming a Jedi. It was business. You shouldn't take it so personal."

 

[Orlanth]

Jedi Master D'Rack Fran'tok

"Call back all our forces at once commander! Have the remai8ning Star Destroyers, and the Death Star fire only to defend themselves." D'Rack was a li9ttle calm now, that the battle was coming to the end.

"Send word to Yavin IV, informing them of what has taken place here. And that I believe the main Imperial threat is now no more then a few highly demaged battle ships." D'Rack still looked out towards the enamy fleet, which now looked small. "I, I'll be in my quaters."

 

[Paendragon]

Tynan

"Stress is a sign of the times, Tynan."

It was Raine's voice, and he nodded in response as he watched the old Master leave.

"How...uh. How are you, Tynan?"

His head turned toward his oldest friend, surprise on his face. She was asking him how he was?

It wasn't that Raine didn't care, he knew that wasn't the case at all, it was just that, well, she wasn't the most open about her emotions. He had known her as far back as he could remember. She had, after all, been the grim-faced little girl who had caught him after wandering the jungles of Yavin for years. He hadn't minded that she wouldn't so much as smile at him, even after they had become friends early in his training, and even admired her control in some ways - it served a Jedi well to be on guard with their emotions, after all.

But this was.... different. He was pleased with the change, and slighlty concerned.

He smiled. "Concerned. The Sith are still out there. Strong. And now this new race? The Jedi are split, when they should be whole. And I don't only mean between Yavin and Coruscant. I mean here." He gestured toward a padawan who stood silently, nearby. "The Padawan's are uncertain of their futures as it is. I worry over what will happen when they find out the Sith are no longer the worst of our problems."

He looked at her again. His eyes searching. "And I'm concerned about you, old friend. You had been gone a long time, with no contact." He smiled. "Only to come back and make the grand entrance you always seem to."

The smile slipped from his face. "The question is, how are you?"

 

[Paendragon]

Luke

He shook his head, and watched her. Listened to her words.

"I'm alive and well because of Mogo, and Orin," he answered.

He used a Jedi calming technique, and felt his anger slowly bleed away from him. He thumbed off his lightsaber, but kept it handy, and kept his finger near the switch. She wouldn't be able to fire before he could have it on, and blocking whatever she shot.

"When I was a child, I loved you for your kindness. More than any kindness any being had ever shown me." And he did. She smiled at him, talked to him, and most importantly, listened to him. To a boy who had grown up if fear, it had been something he had never thought possible. "Then you showed me it was all bantha fodder. You betrayed that for money. That's the only real lesson you taught me. The lesson of greed."

Only Mogo had salvaged what trust he had, by coming back for him. An escape she still had tried to prevent.

"Why are you here, Natassia? Another bounty? You have to know I would die before letting you leave with another child, and would hunt you to the edge of the galaxy if you managed it. Worse, so would Master Tynan."

His Master had been a bounty hunter as well, he knew, and had been quite good at it.

"You could have gone whereever you wanted after your escape from the Dracuurians. Why here?"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jedi Master Raine DuVall

"Grand entrance," I muttered, not mocking him, but surprised at his choice of words, and frankly, disagreeing with them. "I bring back news of what might become the Galaxy's final destruction, and the entrance is acredited to me as grand."
And I'm concerned about you, old friend. You had been gone a long time, with no contact. The question is, how are you? He'd said those words, and they hadn't gone unheard or ignored, but his question would go unanswered.
Just hearing them made me want to take a quick step back. Discomfort moved steadily through me, a not unfamiliar feeling.
"And as for the Jedi being split, well, it seems that the Yavin and Coruscant Councils aren't the only problems we've got. The Jedi are scattered now, as they've never been. Many spend only a few years or so in service to either council, then defect into the Galaxy, some never heard from again. Neither Council is all that strong in its loyalties, and the Jedi who are scattered...? They have no loyalties, and little experience to go with thier training, and who can blame them? when there are no strong leaders holding everything together? We are in dire need of unity, and very soon, if what I saw recently is any indication of what lies ahead. These Dracuurians are not to be underestimated, not in the least."
I had said my piece, for the second or third time since arriving on Yavin, and had managed to avoid answering Tynan's question of whether or not I was okay. How could I answer him anyway? I had hardly slept in days, and when I had...

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Nastasia Vish

"Luke, still a child," she muttered. "Why would I not come here? The Jedi would not harm me, not when I helped to save two Jedi Masters and the reigning Queen of a dead civilization. They have too much honor, and they don't seem to recall too much about who I am. Truth is, Luke, they have no idea who I am. And neither do you..."
She paused there, wanting to give the boy the chance to take in her words.
"What you don't know, Luke is that everyone you see around you is different than they seem. Some nice people are actually mean, some seem smart but aren't intelligent at all. How you project yourself tells it all, at least all that you wish to tell. People are merely collections of false impressions, and nothing more. People will see what you show them, and that's all they can see."
She glanced around the hangar real quick, making sure the boy hadn't brought any back-up. She saw no one, but that didn't mean they weren't there. She knew that better than anyone. How many times had she seen that glance from others before collecting thier fingers or heads or whatever else might be requested?
"Let's take your Master Tynan, for instance. Jedi Master to you, yes, probably a god in fact, in your eyes. But do you know who he is the many in this galaxy? A myth. A jedi who turned bounty hunter? Hardly seen save when he wanted to be? Not the most believable of stories, take my word. I believe because I know of him, and because my lineage tells me never to be surprised at the actions of the jedi. But that's not all, Luke. He's also said to still be a Bounty Hunter, to be working within the Jedi Council in attempts to take the head of another Master. Would you know of your master better than to believe that?"
Another pause, this one helped along with perfect, unbroken eye-contact.
"You see, Luke, Tynan is many things to many people, but no one knows exactly who he is. And no one save he will ever have a real insight to it. He sells himself as what he needs to be to get by. Once a ruthless killer, now a lover of peace? I know killers, Luke, I am one of the best. Am we don't lose our touch, or our way. We never change."
She waited, not wanting to say too much. Too many words left too many chances to make mistakes. But she felt one more thing needed to be said.
"Truth be told, Luke," she said, sighing slightly, "You were possibly my biggest regret. I didn't want you to be harmed, but we were dealing with Sith, and my options...well, they were limited to say the least. Given any other choice, I would not have placed you in harm's way."
She eyed the boy, waiting for his response, wondering what effect the words would have on him.

 

[Orlanth]

Jedi Master D'Rack Fran'tok

D'Rack stood silently in his quarters, looking out of his veiwport at Coruscant. From how the ship was in possition, the Imperial fleet was out of veiw, as was the lone Star Destroyer that was zooming towards the Death Star.

A comm-system on D'Rack'sdesk beeped, with a "Incoming transmission". D'Rack turned and pressed a button on the desk, as a small hologram of Sara Nosh appeared.

With a bow, she started. "You called for me master?

"Yes, indeed I have." Sitting down to rest his legs from hours and hours of standing. "Icalled you back from your mission so soon because of what has, and still is happening here."

"We have lost over two thirds of our fleet. I am not sure hoow or why. But I am sensing there is alot more to this then it looks." D'Rack crossed his arms in front of him. "Therefore, I am going to Yavin. Maybe they know something. I sense we may need to reunit the orders."

"But Master, reuniting the orders? We'll lose everything we have here. Yavin surly will not change to inbrace our ways."

"And what is it that we have left here? After the last battle we now have such a small fleet and deffance, and that makes us such an easy target." D'Rack valued Sara's views, and her loyalties to the Coruscant order, and to him. "Coruscant is too much of a value to any one out there. This was the capitian of the old republic and the empire. This, I believe should belong to the new republic."
"I ask one last thing of you before I leave," D'Rack had uncrossed his arms and was sitting them on the desk. "Come with me."

 

[Paendragon]

Luke

Luke listened. He listened long and hard, despite himself. The problem was, that what she said was so close to what his Master had told him when he had first become his apprentice. He could still hear the words.

"Falsehoods. Lies. Deceit. Those are the weapons the majority of those you'll encounter would use, boy. I've used them myself in the past."

"Like Natassia," Luke had said.

Tynan had nodded. "Like Natassia." His Master had turned to look at him. "Remember that day, Luke. Remember it, and use it."

"I'll never trust, again."

Tynan had smiled. "You will, eventually. And you should. Trust is an ally, not an enemy. What you will learn is how to feel someones deceit. How to detect it sooner."

Luke had looked up at him. "You'll show me."

Tynan had nodded in answer.

The problem was, he had not learned. Not really. He had still, to this day, felt that general mistrust toward people. He still expected many to betray him. And he knew that was because of her.

Then she spoke of his Master. Again, most of which was true. His Master himself had smiled when he would hear the smugglers rumors that 'Tynan the Hunter,' or some other such ridiculous name, was still out there, waiting to collect the next big bounty. Tynan, who had once brought in the head of a Sith. What had made his Master smile, however, was the equally loud laughter that followed such statements. Most, in those places, did believe him a myth. Or a demon.

But he would not believe that Tynan was still out hunting. He couldn't be, could he?

Much to his anger, he felt the seed of doubt take root in his soul. And he hated himself for it. His own mistrust sickened him. Perhaps he was closer to the Emperor than he had thought.

"Truth be told, Luke," she said, sighing slightly, "You were possibly my biggest regret. I didn't want you to be harmed, but we were dealing with Sith, and my options...well, they were limited to say the least. Given any other choice, I would not have placed you in harm's way."

"There's always a choice to be made, Natassia. My Master taught me that a long time ago, after my rescue. Mogo made it. Orin made it. So did Tynan and Marius when they came for me. And so did you."

He frowned and eyed her, meeting her gaze with a hard one of his own. "You may stay as long as you wish. But know this... I will be watching you, Bounty Hunter."

With that, he turned his back to her, and walked away, his dark brown cloak billowing out behind him.

It was a sign of his troubled mind, and his fury, that he didn't even keep his senses attuned to her to guard against attack.

 

[Orlanth]

Jedi Padwan Tra Shin

Tra was on the command deck of the Death Star, looking out at the destent Star Destreoyers, and the one that was closing in.

"Consinstraight all fire power on the bridge deflecter sheild. We must not let that get closer!" Tra gave the order.

He was trying not to let his master down. He mustn't, he can't, he won't., D'Rack had taken' him in as aa Jedi apprantice; that only happens to the select few.
D'Rack, even though he was human, was still like a father to Tra, and he wanted D'Rack to be proud of him. He was not far away from the trials, and becaming a Jedi Knight.

"My lord, there is a message for you from Master D'Rack. He says it's only for you. You may acces it in your quarters.

"Thank you, commander." Trasaid as he walked off.

***

"Tra, I and Sara are leaving for the Yavin system soon.I am handing you control of the Coruscant fleet. I know you won't let me down, as I trrust in your abilties as a Jedi. Youwill here from me again if and when anything comes up. My the force be with you."

D'Rack's message ended as Tra stood still, surprised, but a strong feeling of pride was flushing over him. Command of the Coruscant fleet, one of the highest honurs you could get.

 

[Paendragon]

Tynan

"Grand entrance," Raine muttered. "I bring back news of what might become the Galaxy's final destruction, and the entrance is acredited to me as grand."

Tynan's grin widened, and he nearly laughed aloud. His sense of humor was of the blacker sort, he knew, and as such, Raine rarely acknowledged it. Usually, he thought, because it never occurred to her that someone would joke about such a subject. She was probably correct in this instance, he noted, and his smile slipped slightly.

"And as for the Jedi being split, well, it seems that the Yavin and Coruscant Councils aren't the only problems we've got. The Jedi are scattered now, as they've never been. Many spend only a few years or so in service to either council, then defect into the Galaxy, some never heard from again. Neither Council is all that strong in its loyalties, and the Jedi who are scattered...? They have no loyalties, and little experience to go with their training, and who can blame them? When there are no strong leaders holding everything together? We are in dire need of unity, and very soon, if what I saw recently is any indication of what lies ahead. These Dracuurians are not to be underestimated, not in the least."

He nodded. "Like me? I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to come back. I understand your unease regarding those who haven't. We have no knowledge of their whereabouts, or what they may be doing, or to whom. That in itself makes me uneasy."

He looked around the council chamber. "I used to lament the loss of Master Skywalker as his Padawan. Now, I lament his loss for so much more."

He looked at her, his face grim. "Perhaps that is our problem. We keep waiting for the next leader to step forward. The fact is, we are the ones the others look to. The Jedi Council. It's no secret I opposed myself joining it. I think I feared the leadership qualities that were necessary. As a bounty hunter, I had no one to concern myself with, but myself. As a Jedi, I had Luke added to the mix. But on the Council..." He gestured vaguely, at the temple surrounding them. "...as a member of the Council, the responsibility encompasses us all."

A vision of his came back to him. Received on Mached V, when his fate had turned toward its present course. A vision sent by his old Master.

"The Jedi Order stands on the edge of a blade. And a Dark Time is at hand. Now, more than ever, they must be strong, or the galaxy will crumble under the boot of oppression...

He had always assumed the threat he spoke of was the Sith. But now...

He looked at the other Jedi still present. "Even the legendary Master Yoda did not speak for the Jedi Council alone. They all took responsibility. They all spoke for the Jedi, and they all kept them whole. Master Duu'Raan cannot be expected to carry us any further, alone. Master DuVall speaks the truth. We've all let this occurr... this loss of the Jedi... this splitting of the Order. Now, I think it's time we do something about it. The Padawan, and the Jedi, look to us."

He had kidded Raine about her disappearance, but it was something they were all guilty of. They all felt they were needed elsewhere, for whatever reasons. But the reality of it was, they were needed here.

"And now, it seems, a war is upon us..."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Nastasia Vish

When he turned to walk away, she eyed him, seeing his guard drop, then slowly pulled the weapon, a small handblaster, from behind her back and leveled it at the young padawan's back.
As he moved away, she jerked the weapon backward slightly, like a child pretending to shoot a toy blaster pistol, then lowered it again.
Already she'd outstayed her welcome. She should have expected as much. The Jedi would never trust her, but they were bound by their word. She would be free to go. Which brought about the question: Where would she go? Who would have need of her services?
In a sense, no one. The galaxy was on the brink of another war, not just the Sith and the Jedi, but now these Dracuurians who no doubt would wage war on everyone. Money would be spent on either hiding from them, or on fighting them. With them as the enemy, her services might be totally unnecessary for some time.
She went back into her vessel, picking up her helmet as she went, and sat in the pilot's chair on the bridge.
Now what?

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Raine DuVall

"Even the legendary Master Yoda did not speak for the Jedi Council alone. They all took responsibility. They all spoke for the Jedi, and they all kept them whole. Master Duu'Raan cannot be expected to carry us any further, alone. Master DuVall speaks the truth. We've all let this occurr... this loss of the Jedi... this splitting of the Order. Now, I think it's time we do something about it. The Padawan, and the Jedi, look to us. And now, it seems, a war is upon us..."
I stood silently as Tynan spoke, knowing his words to be true and at the same time dreading the truth behind them. We had just stood by and allowed things to happen. We should have stepped up and taken charge of the Jedi order, done whatever we could to bring Master Fran'tok and his Jedi back to Yavin, or at least all the Masters to one Order. Worse still, I doubted I had what it took to do what needed done, not when my own world was slowly disintegrating.
Marlik was gone (Gone? Gone to the darkside, yes, but truly gone?). Master Basaal was dead. And I'd grown distant to those closest to me. Marius and Tynan. I hardly knew young Raven Bosch. And Luke...? He probably knew me more by name than by face. I hadn't even taken on a padawan after Marius had passed the trials, something I should have done with haste, given the importance they have to the galaxy, and the one person I had the most contact with, had been dead for ten years.
Colme Harringer.
I'd mentioned my doubt to him on Alda, and what had he said?
"You speak out of fear, Raine. And honestly, is failure really so terrible? Must you succeed at everything? As a Jedi, it is your duty to attempt, whether you fail or not is not an issue."
And even then, he'd been telling me about Master Skywalker and unity in the Jedi council, all things that Tynan had just said.
I nodded my agreeance. The Jedi Order had to be strong now, or the galaxy would crumble. But more had to be done than just fighting. Decisions had to be made, the Jedi had to be tracked down and brought back to either Coruscant or Yavin, and as many as possible had to be convinced that we can lead them, hold them together and keep the New Republic strong.
"Might I suggest we send out search parties for these Jeid who have gone astray? If we can bring about an alliance with Master Fran'tok's Jedi order, create at least the cooperation of the two councils, if not uniting them again into one, we may stand a chance at regaining the strength we are so quickly losing."
But even as I stood there, I remembered the visions I'd been having, the old woman in the circle of fire, reaching out to me. They weren't finished I knew, and who knew what other terrifying sights they had in store for me.

 

[Paendragon]

Tynan

He nodded at Raine's suggestions, and listened quietly while the other councilmembers spoke their mind. He felt slightly odd at the way they all looked to him after his speech. It was then that he knew his hypocrosy was boundless. He didn't want to lead the Council any more than the others. But the choice was no longer theirs to make.

He was happy when Raine had spoken. She was the one who should take the lead here. She was the one who had earned the right. She was the most noble person he knew, even though, latley, she seemed distracted. Unfocused even.

The Council agreed with Raine's suggestions as to the search parties. They would be small parties, a Jedi and Padawan, and experienced pair, with a small contingient of guards. That had been his suggestion. The smaller, the more chance they might not not be noticed. And the farther they could be spread.

"What about Coruscant? Who will contact the other Order?"

He frowned as he said it. There should only ever be one Jedi Order. United and strong.

 

[Paendragon]

Luke

He rounded the corner, and leaned into the wall when he was out of her sight.

He was angry, and confused. All the old pain had come back to the surface on seeing the woman. All the old doubt. It had taken him years to trust Tynan again, after his kidnapping. He was, after all, a bounty hunter, and as such, couldn't be trusted, right?

But Tynan had since earned his trust, time and time again.

Although, if that were true, than how could he doubt him, even now?

He shook his head, and took a deep breath. He was being stupid.

Or was he? His Master hadn't agreed to teach him Vaapad, yet, insisting that Luke wasn't ready to learn the deadly phase 7 lightsaber form.

"Vaapad takes you to the edge of the Dark Side, Luke," Tynan had said the last time he had asked. You either master it, or it masters you. You are not ready."

But Luke was ready. He could feel it. He was ready to choose his own discipline. Yet Tynan wouldn't teach him. Maybe because Tynan...?

No. His Master was no traitor, and was no killer. And Luke would prove it.

Luke turned toward the Jedi Temple, and walked toward it.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Raine

Once it was agreed, I bowed to the other members, deciding Master Duu'Raan had been right. Rest would be necessary. I hadn't really slept in some time, and whil ethe possibility of more visions made me uneasy (or was afraid the best word to describe what I was feeling?), the need for rest was becoming unbearable.
I bowed to Tynan.
"I need some rest, Tynan," I stated. "Perhaps rest of the Counicl might best chooe the teams to be sent in search of those missing Jedi. I must resign to my chambers."
I turned and headed to my room, dreading what sights sleep might bring.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Balle Lister

"Calm yourself, Caiben," I said, calmly, not looking at the padawan just yet. He would argue that I hadn't noticed anything. That I must have imagined something.
"What do you mean, Master? I am calm."
I glanced to himn, expecting further argument.
Instead, he glanced at the floor and replied. "I'm trying."
"Why so nervous?"
As if I didn't know. But play dumb. If I let on that I knew, he would get defensive. SOme secrets are better left kept, and when they are no longer kept, the illusion of such is often helpful.
"I...haven't seen the master in some time... Master Fran'tok i mean."
I nodded, looking forward again. "Yes, the Master of the Coruscant order, if there was one, that is."
He nodded.
"Is that all?"
He hesitated. For a moment, I thought I might recieve a confession, then he replied. "Yes, Master. That's all."
A moment later, the turbolift reached the top, and the doors opened.
Behind them, Master Fran'tok waited, the lovely Sara Nosh, the Twi'lek, standing next to him.
We walked into the room, having already turned Respito over to those who would listen to him, who could make the most sense out of what he was saying.
I believed there was something to his rambling, but until we check things out...
"Greetings, Master Fran'tok," I said, bowing before him. Caiben followed my lead, humbly even, something I couldn't often think and never dared say.
"Respito is being questioned as we speak. Hopefully he will be useful in some manner."

 

[Orlanth]

Jedi Master D'Rack Fran'tok

"Greeting,"D'Rack said as he stood to return the bow. "Good to hear we have Respito. Things may come clear now."

D'Rack had walked around his desk, so he was standing in front of the 2 Jedi. "My thanks, and meany others for the work you two did on the Super Star Destroyer. That had helped to turn the tide of battle well..." D'Rack looked over at Sara. "Still, I wonder why they attacked?"

"Maybe the Yavin order may know something, so I am leaving for Yavin soon. To see if they know anything,while I am away, Tra is in charge. He is still in a face off with the last of the Imperial fleet. Both our and their fleets have lost a large amount of lives, but stiill the battle continues." D'Rack looked at the two. "I only ask that you help where needed. Here on the planet it's been in some what of a ruit since the battle had been underway; if it gets out of hand, I would like you two to help return order."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Caiben Raille

I nodded and bowed, in accordance with my master's movements, but my eyes never left her. She didn't seem to notice me much, only glancing toward me now and then, her attention more focused on the words her own master was speaking. When those few glances found me, I glanced away, a little too self-conscious for my own good.
I wondered if master D'Rack could sense my unease here, and hoped he couldn't sense the source behind them.
"We will do as we can, Master Fran'tok," Balle returned. "How long will you be gone?"