Disclaimer- I own nothing you recognize. I'm merely playing with them and enjoying myself far too much.
Nearly 4,000 years before the fall of the Old Republic, the First Jedi Purge left the Order in pieces. One Jedi exile helped rebuild the Order in the Republic, but what of another?
Prologue
Roh DoQua sat meditating in the darkened cave that served as their hiding place. His companion, Master Gemvoi, had left the cave, which blocked most transmissions, in hopes of contacting any other surviving Jedi. It was a near daily ritual for the aging man. Despite Gemvoi and Roh not seeing eye to eye, they had both felt their continued survival was due to their working together. The Jedi were being hunted and exterminated, that much had become clear. The aftermath of the Sith Civil War had left the Order in shambles, publicly disbanded, while it's surviving members tried to do just that... survive.
The previous night he had a disturbing dream of a great struggle. He saw glimpses of Jedi robes but nothing more as he heard screams and war cries and felt the singe of lightsabers whizzing past his ears. Perhaps his dream was nothing more than a memory. The battles he had seen had begun to blend into a blur of painful recollections, with visions of fallen friends and foes, even his former Master, Yuu Vaad, assaulting him every so often as if the Force demanded him to not forget. Its will was sometimes hard to bare.
Forget was the last thing he intended to do, yet hiding forever in the hopes of joining up with other exiled Jedi was beginning to feel like little of an existence at all. Even out there on the rocky, scarcely populated planet hanging on the edge of the Outer Rim, rumors spilled into the small dusty cantinas and marketplaces they relied on for supplies. Numerous times there were rumblings of activities in the Unknown Regions, and though Gemvoi easily dismissed them, Roh didn't. The journey would be difficult, but one he had now long planned to make. He sensed the need to go, like he was being drawn there, and through months of meditation, had come to believe it was the will of the Force that he go. To what purpose, he had yet to learn, but learn it he had no doubt he would.
He needed to clear his mind before he left that day, he had far to travel and Gemvoi had already refused to join him. Weeks had been spent in debate but to no avail. Roh would journey into the Unknown Regions alone. Unfortunately, meditation was not coming easily to him that morning.
Suddenly, Gemvoi entered the cave and sat on a rock across from him, his hands coming to rest on his knees as he looked over at the Jedi Knight. "I received a message from Master Atris. There's to be a conclave on Katarr, joining what forces we have left to weed out the Sith."
His dream came to the forefront of his mind again and it worried him. Could the two be linked? Roh shook his head. His feelings told him everything about this was wrong. He hated telling the man what he knew he didn't want to hear, but there was no one else to give him another opinion. "The Order is no more; we're scattered to the winds. Right now, survival is paramount. Being spread out is protecting us, imagine how convenient it would be for us to be found gathered once more. My feelings tell me this conclave will be folly."
"Is the Living Force telling you this or are you continuing to blind yourself with surrendered hope?" he shot back coolly. Gemvoi always felt Roh had a dark outlook on their situation, a stark contrast to his own.
Sighing, Roh stood and shook the dust from his dark blue-gray trousers. "Yes, Gemvoi, the Living Force is telling me this is not a wise move. Whether or not you will take stock in it, is up to you." Since the end of the Great Sith War some forty-four years earlier, the Jedi had placed their focus more and more on the Unifying Force, an earnest caution of which Yuu Vaad instilled in him. As he said, "The present effects the future. Do not blind yourself to the moment for a future that may not be."
Gemvoi clasped his hands and Roh could tell he was taking a moment to calm himself. He heard the Master's temper was short as a Padawan but had learned to control it, but living in exile, hiding to survive and with a Jedi Knight as contradictory to his nature as possible had seemed to wear him down. Gemvoi himself said he needed to meditate more.
"Yuu Vaad was the greatest proponent against the revision of the code, of banning marriage, and he was a great Jedi." Gemvoi paused a moment then continued. "Though I honor his memory, I must question his teachings that you so ardently hold on to. Can you truly not see how our focus on the Living Force blinded us to this outcome, how we failed to see to our continued survival as an Order as our Padawans dwindled and our younglings became scarce?"
"You believe what you wish, as will I. We have debated this enough." Roh stepped further into the cave, grabbing a canvas sack and began stuffing a few items he had managed to scavenge inside. Emotion, yet peace. The old code Yuu taught him to keep. Arguing would not do either of them any good. It was well time that he left.
"Still planning on leaving then?" Gemvoi questioned.
He didn't look up as he answered, "Yes. I already double-checked the ship I repaired in the ravine and it's ready. Keep our ship... use it to join the conclave if you wish."
"That I will," Gemvoi replied with a sigh. A silence fell over them, save for the sound of Roh's sack. "Roh," he called, and waited for his companion to look at him, "despite our differences, I've always respected you. I will always respect you. You're as great Jedi as Yuu, perhaps even greater."
A faint smile crossed Roh's face as he came to stand before Gemvoi, who rose as he reached him. "Thank you. You know I have had nothing but the greatest respect for you as well."
Gemvoi nodded, placing a hand on Roh's shoulder. "May the Force be with you."
Roh nodded. "And with you." Then he stepped out of the cave and out of sight.
Book I
The Toss
I- Missions
In step with Hyn Maiier, her Master, Calei walked into her father's office and lowered the dark muted green hood of her wool cloak. Doing the same with his matching Paladin cloak, Hyn stopped before her father and bowed his head, his hands one on top of the other with palms down before his chest as he did so. The silver sash attached to the right shoulder of her pale green gown, marking her a Paladine Study, peeked out from under the edge of the cloak as Calei echoed the traditional Aaetinian greeting.
"Calei! Cousin Hyn!" her father, Senator Kyless Denall, cried as he swiftly made his way around his desk in order to hug his daughter and clasp forearms with her Master. "I'm sorry to interrupt your plans to return to Aaeton, but I'm afraid I need your help with a delicate matter." He gestured to the couches on the right side of the room and the three sat, Hyn and Calei facing her father.
"You know of the disappearance of the Gaulizon Revitalization funds a few months ago?"
"The Paladin are still investigating it, yes," her Master replied.
"We believe Lor Pytalln may be connected to the disappearance."
"The Governor of the Western Quarter?" Hyn questioned in surprise. "The Pytalln's are an ancient ducal house that has been known for their loyalty and character. Why would Lor be implicated?"
Kyless sighed and leaned back into the cushions, adjusting the waist of his violet velvet tunic as he did. "One of Lor's servants, Rel Bonis, came forward a few weeks ago after learning about a reward for information. He said he had overheard Lor on several occasions speaking with a man only addressed as Xeng. Though he couldn't distinguish many details, he did hear them mention the funds and on one occasion, they're planning a trade of some sort. Only days after receiving the reward, he disappeared."
"We've heard nothing of this," Calei said, shocked. Though they served in the ducal regimen, for Ducal House Denall, it wasn't unusual for the Royal Paladin, who had clearly taken over the investigation of House Pytalln, to recruit their help. It seemed the suspicious disappearance of this man should have warranted such help.
Hyn turned to her. Listen, young Padawan. Don't comment.
She dropped her gaze before settling it back on her father. Yes, Master.
"It has been necessary to keep this as quiet as possible," her father addressed her, crossing his legs and propping his head on his chin as his elbow rested on the arm of the couch, his gaze drawn towards the window. "Aaeton has been known for over a millennia as a peaceful planet, eager to negotiate with and for other worlds, a haven of relatively quiet people who have no need for military presence beside our ancient Paladin." He dropped his hand and locked eyes with her. "All of which could easily crumble should this scandal go public. It has the reputation of our world balanced on a knife's blade."
As she nodded in understanding, Hyn said, "Please continue."
"Yes, well..." Her father turned his gaze back to her Master. "As they continued the investigation, they discovered a discrepancy in the Pytalln Foundry's reports. Somehow, ten tons of Dallorian alloy has gone unaccounted for."
"A valuable thing to trade," Hyn commented.
Kyless nodded. "Exactly what they thought. Then yesterday, a freighter loaded with a shipment of Dallorian was intercepted outside of Gaulizon; its coordinates set for Abregado-rae. The shipment wasn't recorded in the port's logs or the Foundry's."
Her Master had begun to rub his chin with his hand. "Abregado-rae, a good place to make a silent trade. And they believe this Xeng may be there awaiting it?"
"Indeed," her father replied. "In order to keep from alerting Lor to the discovery they replaced the crew, who are now in custody, and sent the ship here. You're to accompany the shipment to Abregado-rae, find this Xeng, determine the terms of the trade, and whether it has anything to do with the missing funds. I leave it to your best judgment whether or not to release the Dallorian based on your findings."
He handed a datapad to Hyn from the table beside his couch. "Under interrogation, they learned that this was the fifth shipment being sent and that this was to be their contact upon arrival, as per the client's instructions."
Looking it over quickly, Hyn thanked him and slipped it into a pocket on the inside of his outer tunic. "I understand." Hyn stood and Calei followed. "Is the ship ready? I'd like to leave immediately. Abregado-Rae is a ways off and if the shipment is delayed too long it may draw attention."
"Yes," Kyless stood, walking them towards the door. "I have a speeder awaiting you outside. Bogden, as usual. He will take you to the platform. Have you need of anything?"
"No, we are fine." Hyn stopped as they reached the door, he and Calei lifting their hoods. When his features were shadowed, he said, "Remember."
"As always," her father replied with a solemn nod.
Before any missions where they spoke with her father before departing, her Master said the same phrase and her father gave the same reply. As always. Calei often wanted to ask Hyn what it was her father was to remember, but once when she tried to broach the subject, he made it very clear that should he feel it was necessary for her to know, he would tell her. In the mean time, she must trust his judgment. A Padawan was not to question the decision of their Master, so she didn't.
She could still wonder though.
The course blue shirt under his gray jacket made his back itch uncomfortably, but at least he could keep his own trousers on. Qui-Gon had explained the need to remove their Jedi tunics and robes, that their contact wished no possible connection between him and the Jedi, but Obi-Wan still hated wearing the damned thing. The sooner they completed this mission, the better.
"Having trouble, Padawan?"
He looked over at Qui-Gon who stood grinning as Obi-Wan reached around and scratched at his back. Somehow, the simple rust colored shirt and red jacket his Master wore made him appear even taller than he already was. Unlike him, Qui-Gon seemed at ease in his new apparel.
"Could you have chosen a more agreeable material?" he asked, resisting the urge to scratch yet again.
The grin broadened on Qui-Gon's face. "I didn't think to choose by fabric. I simply thought the colors suited you."
The humor in his Master's eyes only made him grimace more.
"Come, we have much to do," Qui-Gon said, leading him away from the ship as it prepared to leave the spaceport of Abregado-rae.
"Ma'Ma," she said from behind the blindfold, "can I go pick wilkberries when we're done?"
A pale, blonde haired woman sat on a rock a few feet away, her dark blue gown covering most of its surface as she laughed, her golden eyes reflecting the sun as brilliantly as her hair. "Yes, but first you must focus on your lessons."
The seven-year-old sighed and raised her lightsaber. "Yes, Ma'Ma."
The sleeves of her outer dress hung from her elbows, the paler blue underdress hugging her forearms as the glow of the silver blade seemed to almost match the skyward color. Over an hour of this lesson with the training remote and little Calei was ready for a break. Several minutes later her mother told her to stop.
"Hand me your blindfold and you may go pick wilkberries."
The girl jumped with joy, tossing her mother the blindfold.
"Don't forget to keep your lightsaber concealed and don't go off too far. Be mindful of that malia den three kilometers east."
Calei sighed, "I know."
Her mother apparently chose to ignore the comment. "Do you have your comlink?"
"Always, Ma'Ma," she again sighed, bouncing on the balls of her feet, her excitement boiling over.
Galei Denall looked at the small chrono attached to a thin chain hanging from her waist. "You have one hour. I'll be at the falls."
"Yes, Ma'Ma!" she shouted behind her as she took off through the trees, tucking her lightsaber onto the clip hidden under her sleeveless blue-violet surcoat.
She loved their trips to Ragoon VI. They could train without worrying about privacy, she loved the natural wonders that covered the planet which was a wonderful change from the pristine marble of the capital, and it was the only time she was allowed to go off on her own without some Paladine following her. Calei knew the Jedi also used the planet for training missions, but in all the years she could remember coming there with her mother, she had never see one. Her mother was careful about sensing them through the Force and of giving any a wide berth.
For forty minutes she walked through the bushes that littered the forest floor, picking the delicate yellow wilkberries she found along the way, their sweet orange nectar occasionally dribbling out of the corner of her mouth as she ate them on her journey. In the distance she heard the falls her mother enjoyed meditating by and kept a mental note of their position in relation to hers. She would not be pleased if her daughter got lost.
Finally she reached a huge berry laden bush that towered over her, yet had an opening about her height in the middle of it, probably made by some animal foraging as she was. Ducking a little to get into the tunnel, her hanging sleeves tangling here and there on the branches of waxy green leaves, she sat on her knees, plucking ripe berries and plopping them into her mouth. As she picked the bush clean, she heard a rustling on the opposite side, just outside the tunnel but thought nothing of it as a breeze rustled the leaves above her. It was midday and malia would be sleeping in their den.
Finding it harder to reach berries now that those within easy reach were gone, she spotted a clump hanging on the edge of the entrance on the other side of the bush and she carefully made her way through and out the other end. Standing, she grabbed three berries at once and smiled before enjoying them. With her hands empty again, she reached up to pick a few just above her head.
"Over there! I saw a bush full of them earlier!"
The voice startled Calei and she turned just in time to see two boys, easily twice her age, burst through a bush several feet from her. All three stood silent for a moment, as Calei looked them over. They were tall, and wore simple tunics, leather boots, a belt loaded with various pouches and... lightsabers. Her eyes jumped to their heads where identical braids hung down from behind their right ears. Jedi Padawans.
Her heart began to race and her hand flew to hover over her concealed lightsaber, her frame trembling as she did. The reddish-brown haired boy held up a hand.
"It's alright, we won't harm you, we're Jedi."
She sensed his sincerity, yet her mother's warning about Jedi rang in her ears. Clumsily she nodded. "I know." Oh, if only she were any good at her Qey'Tek meditations. Her mother was always getting on her about practicing, even though it would be years before she could master it.
"She must be Aaetinian, no one else is allowed here," his dark haired companion said. He stood taller than the other boy did, and seemed older as well, yet she didn't find it as easy to sense his Living Force, not that she was that apt at it anyways.
Again she nodded as she took a small step backwards.
The first boy spoke again. "Are you alone?"
There was something comforting about him, much like her half brother, Seton. Somehow she knew she could trust this one, like the Force wished her too, but even she knew she didn't understand the Force enough to be sure. He might just look friendly.
Calei shook her head. "My mother is with me. I... I was picking wilkberries."
"Ah, well, we were planning to do the same. Mind if we join you?" He asked with a warm smile that was hard not to reciprocate.
Catching herself smiling back at the young Jedi, she quickly erased it and shook her head again. "I have to go."
The dark haired boy made to take a step closer and in her panic to separate herself from them she looked up, hands raised, and gave a branch above them a Force Push. A large laka nut fell on the boy's head, distracting the two as she ducked through the alcove and ran back towards the falls. She had hoped to bring the branch down between them to cut them off from following her easily, but she'd be thankful she managed to get the nut.
Her mother wasn't going to be happy.
She was panting slightly when she awoke, the memory vivid as she sat up and drew on the Force to help her calm her breathing. She no longer got winded from running as she did as a child, yet dreaming that moment had caused her to relive everything from that time; the feel of the sun on her skin, the smooth blindfold, to the shortness of breath. It was odd, how she had now had that dream twice since leaving Aaeton a week ago.
Pulling the sides of her long, wavy auburn hair up she twisted them into a knot on the back of her head, then lifted her Padawan braid and threaded it through the knot. If anyone had ever wondered at the single braid in the complex coif, they never mentioned it, which was good. They mightn't abandon tradition, but they couldn't openly display it here within the Republic either.
Quickly, she grabbed her lightsaber, slipping it onto the clip hidden under her muted earth green surcoat and then hooked the thin Atahns onto her left hip. Donning her cloak, Calei stepped out of the stateroom and headed for the lounge where Hyn was most likely to be. Reaching it, she found him sitting at the table, a cup of warm tea before him.
"Are you rested now, young Padawan?" he asked with a warm smile before lifting the cup to his lips.
Calei took a seat across from him and helped herself to some juice from a decanter in front of her. "Yes. Though... I had that dream again."
Hyn lowered the cup, his gaze almost stony, though she knew it bore more warmth than others would expect. Still, the smile had faded. "The one of you and your mother on Ragoon VI?"
She nodded.
Hyn rarely spoke of her mother; they had been Padawans together on Sorii in the Unknown Regions until she had left suddenly after passing her trials. It wasn't until he was sent on his long term mission into the Republic and returned to his mother's homeworld of Aaeton that he ran into Galei Duun, now Lady Denall. It was then that he had decided to join the Paladin and remain on Aaeton as he completed his mission for the DoQua Jedi, eventually taking Calei as his Padawan five years ago.
Often she had wondered if her Master had felt more for her mother than friendship, but she knew better than to question him. It was hard enough to speak to him about her dream; he put little stock in them. Hers and his.
"Perhaps there is a reason for you to remember that moment, and perhaps there isn't. Either way, it is best not to dwell on it. Focus on here and now. If your dream has a purpose to serve, it will be revealed in due time." His words made their usual sense and ended the discussion all at once. A talent for which she often admired.
Nodding silently, Calei sat staring at her juice as her Master finished his tea and headed out of the lounge towards the cockpit.
The Capital City of Abregado-rae had one thing in common with Coruscant, neither slept. Looking out the window of their small room in a rather questionable hotel, Obi-Wan watched as small boats drifted past, their wakes glistening with the reflected light of the many buildings lining the canal. Laughter from a small group walking over a bridge just in front of the hotel echoed outside as he released the curtain and let it block out the view from outside.
"What makes the Council believe that this informant from the Nebula Front is to be trusted?" he asked, crossing the room to sit on the edge of his sleep couch as Qui-Gon occupied the only chair in the room.
Tinkering with his comlink, which seemed to have gone on the fritz since their arrival, Qui-Gon didn't look up as he answered, "They don't necessarily trust him. However, they share the same concerns." Another futile attempt to get the devise to respond. "For now, he is our only source of information."
Obi-Wan slid further back on the sleep couch and crossed his legs in front of him. "How do we know they aren't leading us into a trap?"
"We don't," Qui-Gon replied, setting his comlink down with a sigh. Turning his gaze to Obi-Wan, he added, "but it is all we have to go on for the time being. It would be unwise to ignore a possible lead."
Obi-Wan knew he was right. Even so, he often grew tiresome of following even the smallest clue. They sometimes led to more trouble than they were worth.
"Now hand me your comlink. Perhaps I'll have better luck with it."
Sighing, Obi-Wan fumbled in his pocket, digging it out then tossing it over to his Master. Pockets really were more bothersome than utility pouches. Pity Qui-Gon said they had to remove those too.
A few moments passed and Obi-Wan stretched out on the sleep couch, staring up at the ceiling as Qui-Gon finally got a message.
"We meet with the informant tomorrow," he announced, tossing the comlink back to Obi-Wan. "Since we have nothing more to do until then, I suggest we get some rest."
Obi-Wan made to put the devise back in his pocket and thought better of it. With it on the small nightstand between their sleep couches, it was less likely to shift under his side during the night.
"Night, Master," he said, as Qui-Gon turned out the light.
"Good night, Obi-Wan."
Standing at the foot of the loading ramp, Hyn behind her speaking to one of the port managers, Calei looked about the spaceport from beneath the heavy hood of her cloak. In many ways it reminded her of the spaceport in Aaeta; people bustling about, the smell of ship fuel, and the ebb and flow of Basic and other languages battling with the ships' engines. What were quite different here, however, were the water canals that were used for transportation.
Hyn nodded to the port manager and turned to join her, she noted as she looked behind her to see the manager heading towards the ship, datapad in hand. Not far from them, cargo was being loaded onto another freighter. Reaching her side, he lowered his hood.
"So where are we off to?" she asked, taking a step closer to him to keep from being run down by a cargo container being poorly driven on a repulsorlift by a port hand.
Hyn smiled. "Where else on Abregado-rae? The Star of Chance," he said, heading towards the nearest canal.
Following closely behind her Master, she shook her head. "A casino. Lovely. Where else would someone possibly wrapped up in a credit scandal operate?"
From in front of her, Hyn held up a finger. "A cantina."
"I see I'm to be thoroughly corrupted on this mission, aren't I?"
"I won't tell if you won't."
Even from behind she knew he was grinning.
I have to go.
The image of the little girl was still on his mind as he followed Qui-Gon towards the casino. What had spurred the memory on was beyond him. Eleven years had passed, and never had he thought on that short encounter until now. When he had returned to the Temple, he had told his Master about it, who easily dismissed the girl's actions as having seen the nut before them and acted instinctually, blocking her face. Obi-Wan wanted to believe it, but there was something about her that made it difficult. She almost reminded him of Bant when she was younger, so small and soft-spoken. And there was something else...
As they entered, the noise brought him back from his thoughts.
"Was this the wisest of locations to have chosen, Master?" he asked, several minutes after walking through the gambling hall.
Qui-Gon gave him a stern look that made him wish he had kept his mouth shut. He knew his Master must have sensed his unease being in so crowded a place and without the comfort of his Jedi attire. It was hard to feel like a Jedi when everything was out of place, especially your lightsaber. Yet, he still didn't need to voice it.
"Patience, Obi-Wan. It is not yet time for the show to end. For now, focus on our surroundings. Outwardly, all seems to be in order, but Abregado-rae is known as a smuggler's haven for good reason, remember that young Padawan."
Standing several feet away from the five sets of doors leading into the theater, Obi-Wan looked away from Qui-Gon, saying, "Yes, Master," in a tone that rang of apology.
Around them the casino was a maze of faces, machines, scrolling holograms of odds, and cheering gamblers. A smoky haze drifted just above Qui-Gon's head throughout most of the vast space. Judging by his observation of the room it could have easily fit a small freighter inside.
As the five sets of doors opened, letting the theater patrons out, he stood straighter and began to scan the crowd leaving.
Obi-Wan.
Quickly he looked to Qui-Gon who nodded towards a figure about five feet away, a playbill in hand, as well as a travel brochure for Coruscant.
Slipping into the crowd and making their way towards the Bith, Obi-Wan thought he felt something, a faint ripple in the Force that seemed somehow familiar, but as soon as the feeling came it passed. And he felt... nothing. He looked towards his Master. If Qui-Gon had felt anything, he showed no sign of it. Shaking it off, he fell in step with his Master as they went to meet their informant.
It seemed his mind was playing tricks on him lately.