In a time of turmoil for the galaxy. Almost four thousand years before the birth of Luke Skywalker. The Mandalorian Wars have drained the resources of the Old Republic to the breaking point.
With so many Republic forces on the front lines, the systems on the Outer Rim are teetering on the brink of chaos: even the megacity of Taris, which was once a prosperous trading hub. Here, as in other places, the Republic increasingly relies on the Jedi Knights and their students to help maintain order.
For some knights, frustrated by the handling of the wars, they advocate for a more active role of the Jedi, turning to others for support. Even from those Jedi—and their inexperienced students—who strive to maintain order at home…
In the Outer Rim Territories/Ojoster Sector/Taris System/on the planet Taris, a world with a massive planetary city and an ocean that covered much of the planet's surface, this ocean was once used to provide sustenance of algae to the inhabitants, but it was poisoned by Taris's own industry. The tall and artisanal towers, almost artistic in this world, had a unique appearance, but beneath the surface city lay anarchy and a lack of rights for the poor.
(The narration begins)
On this occasion, amidst the buildings, on a large platform that connected with them, it was very crowded with people walking or running back and forth. In the nearby or distant surroundings, many large and small sliders could be seen, as well as ships flying, landing, or taking off. Among all that, on the platform, a masked being with a breathing mask, an orange-red tunic, and metallic gloves could be seen sitting on a floating throne, talking to a Snivvian in purple robes named Marn Hierogryph (Snivvians are humanoid mammals with thick skin, their skulls had snouts with protruding jaws and short fangs, they had a porcine appearance but were shorter than a Gamorrean). Both were conversing.
- You must be Gryph. Did you have any trouble finding this place? Consult the masked one to find out if your clandestine dealer had any complications.
- I can always find a good deal. He replied in an optimistic tone, Marn, while looking at his partner with a slight smile.
The hooded figure handed over a bag containing what he intended to trade with the Snivvian, who took the bag and looked inside. He could see what he wanted, so he was going to give the masked man the credits as payment.
- And this is a good deal. Without a doubt, it's worth a trip to the upper city! Are these energy cells from Republic blasters? I rummage thru the merchandise I saw in the bag, then close it and hold it with one hand, while using the other to take out the payment.
- They were destined for the troops led by Captain Karath! I got a full shipment, it fell off the ramp. If you know what I mean. Clarify the one in the tunic by explaining the origin of his merchandise.
- Are you in the business, or are you some kind of patriot? He asked the masked man, wanting to know Gryph's alignment of principles and affiliations.
- Marn Hierogryph is strictly apolitical, my friend. I clarify to the one in purple clothes with a slight smile of assurance.
- But the Republic and the Mandalorians have been stuck in this sector for so long that there shouldn't be any difference. Beside, if the heads of the cube ever come around here. They'll have to negotiate with the swoop bike gangs! The Snivvian explained the situation to his comrade with a slight smile.
- As I see it, by putting these on the street, I'm actually just doing my part for planetary defense. The smuggler expressed his point of view as he was about to leave with the loot.
But all of a sudden, before he could leave, the hooded man grabbed him by the wrist.
- Me too. The masked man replied to his partner as he removed the mask.
-Huh? What are you? Doubtful, Hierogryph was left speechless, unable to finish speaking, because he saw the face of his contact with whom he was negotiating; he was already known but not at all friendly with his business.
The revealed face without a mask was a young human with fair skin and medium-length light brown hair.
- Ah, it's you. The novice Jedi. Concluded the clandestine dealer, seeing the face of the one he thot was his partner.
- He's a padawan, for you. He corrected the brown-haired one while getting off the chair.
- Whatever, man. I'm very disappointed, kid. The one in purple clothes complained with a disgusted face.
- Seriously? I doubt the human because of the annoyance of the subject he wanted to capture.
- Of course, you've made me waste the whole day coming here, just for another one of your little games. I am a BUSINESSMAN. I'm under a lot of pressure! I exclaimed angrily, Marn, about the waste of time caused by the Jedi.
- And now, you are under arrest. Your shareholders can find you at the sheriff's office. The brown-haired man joked as he turned his gaze toward the chair.
- Well then. Where are those handcuffs..? He asked himself, the padawan, searching with his eyes for the object he needed.
- Damn it!, they've fallen inside the... Wait a minute. My robe got caught... He cursed and complained, the Jedi said as he rummaged thru his chair.
The Snivvian, taking advantage of his captor's distraction, noticed the lever on the chair that had a button and pressed it, causing the chair's thrusters to activate at full speed, making the human lose his balance and fall headfirst into the chair, taking the captive with him and freeing himself from him, while the chair headed toward the end of the platform that ended in an abyss. Quickly, Marn got up and ran to where his captor had fallen, giving him a farewell gesture. while saying
- Goodbye, Jedi Novice! Try not to land on any of my friends! He joked and sadistically said goodbye as the smuggler walked away.
While the padawan was plummeting into the void between the buildings, still attached to his chair, the master activated his yellow lightsaber with which he cut his tunic to detach himself from the heavy object.
While he continued in free fall until someone surprisingly jumped from their speeder motorcycle to catch the padawan from certain death, thanks to that the padawan fell safely onto a rooftop of a building. That someone who saved him was Alek, a Jedi with dark hair, fair skin, pants, a scarlet tunic, and a leather belt full of small pockets. Both Jedi stood up from where they had fallen.
The Jedi with a device on his wrist, the savior of the Padawan, ordered his speeder bike to approach him while speaking to the boy.
- You are Zayne Carrick, right? Your master sent me to find you, but I think I've already found you. He told me he was following the trail of debris. I clarified the black hair, the reason why he was looking for the young Jedi.
- Yes... That's typical of him... The padawan replied with irony, knowing the master's personality.
Alek helped him get up and stand while the motorcycle parked near where they were.
- Thank you for saving me. Are you a Jedi? I didn't know there were other Jedi on Taris... beside the ones we have at the academy. Carrick claims he doesn't know about the existence of others outside his facility.
- Some of us are just passing through... On our way to the front. The boys call me Cross-eyed. Our teacher is a friend of your Master Lucien. Alek clarified to the young padawan why he was here.
- We were hoping to recruit some Jedi to come with us. He declared, hopeful, with his black hair, waiting for volunteers for his cause.
- To war? I'm afraid you're wasting your time. My master believes that the war against the Mandalorians is not a matter for the Jedi. I regret the brown-haired one for agreeing with his master's opinion and thinking that this war is not their concern.
- Mmm. Him and half of the Jedi Council. Alek clarified the other positions of the council members.
- And also the other teachers at our school. They say that the only concern of the Jedi is to be prepared for the rise of the Sith. Carrick clarified the positions of other Jedi on the war.
- The Sith again! Zayne, you and I could be Mandalorians with boots crushing the throats of your masters! But for them to realize, we would have to paint our heads and talk about the dark side! He joked and mocked the passive attitude of some teachers in their refusal to fight a potential enemy for them, but not confronting them because they are not from the dark side.
They both got on the motorcycle and headed toward the academy, Alek spoke to his companion while he drove.
- It's ridiculous, don't you see? The Sith threat ended how long ago, 30 years? The Mandalorians are the threat. The Mandalorians are here, more or less. We need every capable Jedi we can count on. He explained the situation to the young man with black hair and the enemies they are facing.
- Well, you've already seen how capable I am... And I'm not a Jedi. At least, not yet. My class has to face a challenge off-planet next week. It could be my last chance to become a knight. I express by saying that I didn't have the experience and clarifying his situation to his comrade.
"Don't you like challenges?" Doubtful Bizco asks the padawan as they head to the Jedi academy.
- My luck ranges from barely tolerable to catastrophic. Master Lucien says that I am the living proof that fate has a sense of humor! I joked with humor, the brown-haired one, with a smile, and how positive his life was.
The pair of Jedi managed to land on the academy's landing platform where they saw a transport, several Jedi, a Miraluka named Q'anilia dressed in a purple and pink tunic (Miralukas were almost human, the difference being that they had no eyes and possessed empty sockets, they could see thru the Force), a Togruta named Raana Tey wearing a sleeveless red tunic and a long-sleeved undershirt [Togrutas were humanoids with skin tones ranging from blue to red, and grayish lips, their heads had two montrals (which were like horns as well as two large bumps that protruded downwards)], a Feeorin named Feln dressed in white clothes with shoulder armor and a central breastplate. on his red torso (Feeorins were humanoids with horrible tendrils hanging from the back of their heads, some had them on their faces as well, but smaller, their skin could be mottled in various colors, some of them had noses and others did not) a Khil named Xamar wearing a blue tunic with a thick belt (Khil were warm-blooded humanoids, hairless, with grayish skin, their mouths instead of jaws, had many fleshy tendrils hanging from the lower part of their face and neck. Khil breathed thru them, communicating by breathing thru their tendrils of different lengths, thus producing various musical tones), a blonde human with fair skin named Lucien Draay dressed in a white ceremonial tunic with golden details, several droids could be seen doing their work, both got off the vehicle and observed the group on the platform.
- Well, we've arrived. It seems they are already saying goodbye. I suppose we will continue our journey to the front. I wish you could have met my master. The Jedi in red robes concluded, looking at the one with brown hair.
- Me too. I second the opinion of your companion Carrick.
"Look, Zayne, I don't know you very well, but you might become a more important piece in this game than you think, something tells me." Encourage Bizco to the young man that he can be much more than he thinks.
- The strength? The chestnut-haired man hesitated while his companion walked toward the transport.
- A heartache. Be ready to go wherever destiny takes you. That's what we'll do. We will go to the front... And beyond that, if it saves the galaxy. Sometimes you have to enter the darkness to save the light. He revealed the black hair, his point of view, and what he had to do to save the republic.
- That doesn't seem like a thot typical of a Jedi. I question the brunette, seeing that Bizco was straying from the principles of his order.
- In case you haven't noticed, this isn't always a very Jedi galaxy. The Jedi in red robes joked ironically as he headed toward the transport stairs.
- Well, the war is kept. See you, Zayne! Alek said goodbye as he entered the transport while the ramp was retracted and the door closed as the transport took off.
The padawan went to his room while the Miraluka Jedi swayed somewhat unsteadily for some reason.
- Q'anilia! Exclaimed the worried human Jedi, going to assist his companion.
- Q'anilia, it's Lucien. What's happening? The human asked his comrade Miraluka, worried about the situation.
- The lines have crossed. Something has changed. Something bad. Something close. Too many "some things"! She explained to the blind woman while feeling disturbances in her mind that wouldn't let her be at ease.
- Alright, we'll change our planes... and try to find out for sure when we know. This time, we will do something about it. The blonde Jedi concluded to his companion, trying to calm her down.
The end