Yesterday, the only fear Zayne Carrick had was that he would not ascend to the rank of knight with his fellow padawans. Today, he fears for his life.
After discovering his friends dead at the feet of their own Masters, Zayne flees. Only aided by Gryph, a low-level Snivvian con artist. But where can they go? The masters are the law on Taris—and they have told the world that Zayne killed the padawans.
His only hope is off-planet. Retracing the steps of his training to find out what he and his friends had seen to be marked for death. But Taris's escape first takes him to the miserable Lower City — a fate that the Jedi masters had already foreseen.
The narration begins
Years ago, in an asteroid field, the comrades of the now fugitive padawan could be seen, all dressed in pressurized space suits alongside Master Lucien in a transport.
- Zayne, wake up! We're almost there! He asked, shouting something to his brown-haired comrade upon seeing his closed eyes.
- I'm not asleep. I'm just trying not to look. Carrick clarified, somewhat worried about today's test.
- Yes, I think I couldn't sleep with all this racket around us. It seems that Master Feln is trying to clear the asteroid belt the hard way! Joked Shad, knowing where they were headed, aware of the risk.
- We are in position, padawans. This is your final challenge as apprentices, you know the mission. Trust in the Force to guide you. Put on your helmets! He exposed and ordered the apprentices while they did what he said.
- Fear is your enemy. Don't give it space to grow. Be strong, be jedis. He explained and once again ordered Draay to the young ones who were ready to head into space.
The padawans went thru the airlock and emerged into the asteroid field.
Back in the present in the lower city of Taris, the home of the underprivileged classes of this world. This was particularly true for the non-human residents who, due to the prevailing anti-alien sentiment, governed by criminal gangs, mercenaries, bounty hunters, smugglers, and traffickers, inhabited by the poor and marginalized, in the upper and lower levels, slums abounded with streets full of dirt and garbage.
Zayne was sleeping in a garbage cart pulled by a large quadrupedal reptile, with a couple of Wookiees as riders. The Jedi was on a street illuminated by store lights, lamps, and other sources of light, somewhat crowded with many non-human aliens of all kinds. Something tried to interrupt the young Jedi's rest, and that was the words of his smuggler comrade.
- Internal Jedi, wake up. I shouted, Marn, as I threw a small bag of food to see if he would wake up, and it worked when I saw him open his eyes, who saw Gryph sitting in the trash like him.
- Eat something! I ordered jokingly, the Snivvian, while waving his hands to get his friend's attention.
- Where are we? Carrick asked, observing the surroundings of where he was, seeing the decaying metropolis as he grabbed the little bag and began to eat what his comrade had given him.
- We're still in the lower city. Can't you smell it? Today, a bit more entertaining than usual, a bit lively. I notified the one in purple clothes with a bit of humor while spotting so many people around him.
- Have we been here for a long time? Asked the brown-haired one about how much time had passed while he was sleeping.
- A long time? I'll have to sit in a Kolto tank when this is over! "I assure you with my typical mocking tone," said the smuggler while looking at his friend with a smile.
- GRYYARGH! One of the wookiee riders interrupted, announcing that they had already arrived at their destination.
(The Wookiees, a species of imposing and hairy beings, sensitive humanoid bodies, bipedal, with a head, torso, and four limbs, were tall, their upper limbs ending in hands with four fingers)
- This is our stop. Go around the side, big spot— And be discreet, many attacking gangs gather around here. Hierogryph informed his ally as the latter was getting off the cart.
- Alright, but I would like you to. But the young Jedi didn't finish declaring what he wanted to say to his comrade because he was interrupted while watching Marn get out of the vehicle.
Zayne was intercepted by some thugs, one of them spoke to him.
- And where do you think you're going? Asked Wargo, a Drovian (Drovian were bipedal, intelligent, with a corpulent and heavy physique. They weighed twice as much as a human and averaged two meters in height. Their torso had two thick legs, similar to tree trunks, and each limb of their body, whether arms or legs, was like extremely strong tentacles ending in three articulated and sharp pincers) dressed in light armor as the Jedi was cornered by a red Zabrak known as Frazznik, who grabbed the Jedi and threatened him with a dagger (Zabraks were almost human, as they had a series of physical characteristics that set them apart, the most striking of which was a series of horns crowning the heads of both sexes. The horns grew in varied patterns depending on the subspecies. The various subspecies of Zabraks could also be identified by the patterns in which their horns grew).
- "Visiting the city, are you? Came down to visit the scum?" The zabrak asked with irony while still holding the fugitive and his weapon.
- Wait. You are the little guy who appears in the commercials! The Drovian declared as he extended his hands with the intention of capturing Carrick.
- You are about to make my month, little one. Thank you for coming straight into our hands. Frazznik joked with a slight smile while continuing to hold his prey.
- The snivvian, too! He has a reward! Exclaimed the other Drovian excitedly while holding Hierogryph with a big cheerful smile.
- "Our stop" Heh? The brown-haired one joked sarcastically to his companion with a bitter smile while watching him.
- Sorry for the Wookiee grammar. I speak "idiot" better! Let me handle this! The trafficker mocked as always while thinking about how to get out of this situation.
- One moment. Friend. I see who you are – you are with the Vulkans, the guys from Benno perhaps? Marn asked while noticing the typical attire of that gang.
- What if we are an appetizer? I asked, pointing my knife, the red zabrak to his captive smuggler.
- Benno hates waiting. The sheriff's bounty means bureaucracy, authorizations, delay. And they can make you go to the high city to testify. Just imagine it, Benno, to the high city! The Snivvian explained the situation in which their captors found themselves if they wanted payment for both fugitives.
- Hrrmm, Benno doesn't like wearing city clothes. I doubt worriedly, Frazznik thinking about how complicated and difficult the situation was becoming because of the reward.
- And that will be every week! And all he could think about were the guys who brought him there. Marn continued explaining to his captors about the procedures they must follow for the capture of both.
- The boss doesn't like that idea. The zabrak assured while hesitating over his decision, seeing everything he would have to do to get his payment for the pair of fugitives.
- Fine. They can prevent that from happening. There is an easier way to do your big business all year round, if you listen to me clearly. The Snivvian assured as he was about to make a proposition to his captors.
Zayne managed to separate himself a bit from the bullies and his friend, who spoke without the brown-haired boy hearing anything but murmurs.
From one moment to the next, the Wookiee cart was attacked by the bullies.
- Run, kid! Marn shouted, ordering his comrade to get out of there.
- What did you tell them? I inquired, Zayne doubtful of what his companion had discussed with their adversaries while continuing to move.
"I told you the Wookiees had hidden spice among their things!" The Snivvian replied without any shame while continuing to run.
- Why did you do that? They helped us! Doubtful, indignant, and somewhat angry, the young Jedi kept moving.
– And we are helping them get some nice vehicles once they finish off those guys. Gryph assured with a bit of irony while being followed by the padawan.
- Let's go. The place we're going to is on the other side of this junkyard. I point to the one in purple clothes while continuing to move.
- Wait. I thot you said we were under the city! I doubt the chestnut's words about his fugitive companion.
- Get your hair out of your ears. I said we were going to go underground. No, that we were inside. Not with the plague and the rakghouls down there. The smuggler specified, clearing his comrade's doubts.
- While you were having your beauty sleep, I jumped out to get some credits and leave a trail straight to the entrance. Gryph explained with his classic mocking tone as he continued on his way.
- So we go straight to the past. Affirmed the one in purple clothes, confident in the words of the young fugitive.
- When were you going to tell me this? Carrick asked with some doubts in his mind.
- When we achieve it, we'll surely avoid a good chase. The sheriff is too clever to send someone down there, however, I imagine your teachers are even cleverer, right? Hierogryph speculated on what his adversaries would do in their pursuit.
Meanwhile, on the lowest level of the lower city, the four masters, Lucien Draay, Q'Anilia, Raana Tey, and Feln, were fighting against the Rakghouls (the Rakghouls were mutants of a virus from the Muur talisman, with a muscular, humanoid appearance, possessing two to three eyes, and thick claws on their hands and feet) that were charging at them in droves while the Jedi, with their lightsabers raised, were taking them down.
- Q'anilia, I need you to get closer! The former teacher of Zayne demanded of his comrade while he fought the infected.
- You said you saw them under the city! The blonde exclaimed angrily to his friend Miraluka while they both continued fighting with swords raised high.
- But it wasn't the future we saw, Lucien. It was a glimpse we caught from Zayne and something the Snivvian said. Q'Anilia explained, confused by her failure in her Force vision.
- Destiny has been clouded ever since he got involved. This Gryph could be the breaking point. I assure the Miraluka while continuing to fight against the abominations.
- And you can't read it. Wonderful. The blonde mocked with irony, watching as his comrade made a mistake while a rakghoul lunged at him, but he thrust his saber at a 90-degree angle, slicing the creature in half.
- But we got one thing right. You were right, he will leave Zayne for us. The miraluka affirmed to his comrade Draay with confidence.
Suddenly, Lucien's communicator beeped.
- I don't have to be a seer of the circle to know that. He joked again with his companion while holding the communicator, which he answered and was able to see Master Xamar.
- Xamar! What's the news? The Jedi in the white robe consults while observing the hologram of his companion.
- They've called again from Coruscant, Lucien! They want to know. I notify the Khil with his typical accent to the human.
It doesn't matter! The republic! What's going on with the republic! The blond demanded, somewhat nervously and wanting to know more than what they had informed Xamar.
- All of Taris' security is now on the hunt. The sheriff has reported new sightings in the lower city, outside the shelters of the machine village. Khil explained while reporting on the situation of the law enforcement forces.
- That's it! They're over there! I assure you, the lookout is realizing the location of the fugitives.
- Tell the sheriff! Close the Xamar fence. Let's go there! Draay ordered his companion thru the hologram as he headed to where he needed to go.
While the fugitives elsewhere reached an area where they could see the outside, which the padawan noticed.
- What is this place? I can almost see the sky from here! I notice the chestnut tree observing part of the roofless exterior.
- Nice, isn't it? There was a group of tall towers here, someone demolished them to make room for something else. But they forgot to put it up. Now it's just an intersection. I explain the context of the place, the one with purple clothes while looking just like his comrade.
- It's dirty! I watch Zayne looking at the waste around him.
- Where do you think your trash goes? To orbit? The high city isn't that much! Not yet! Gryph joked sarcastically while pulling out a small knife.
- But speaking of throwing things. Take off the braid. The Snivvian demanded as he approached him.
- I don't think so. You can sell it whenever you want, but it's too soon, Gryph! The padawan doubted his comrade's proposal, thinking it was for an economic reason.
- It's not for that. Although, thanks for thinking of me. I don't want to put the hood on you every time it falls off! The trafficker insisted mockingly, giving his reasons for what he wanted to do,
- But I'm still a padawan! Whatever happened to my friends, we have to fix it! I need this. I question Zayne, hesitating whether to cut her braid as he took the knife and watched her.
- Very well. But your hair will grow back, but you won't grow another head. The one in purple clothes argued, giving reasons why the braid should be cut.
The padawan finally agreed and cut his braid.
- Don't you feel better now without it? Hierogryph asked his companion somewhat mockingly, but he couldn't finish speaking because Carrick interrupted him.
- Shut up. Just show me where we're going. I conclude somewhat angrily, the fugitive Jedi curtly what he just did.
Both fugitives went to a pair of metal waste towers where Marn positioned himself between them and was able to see that they were in the place near where they wanted to go.
- We are here. In fact, "the last resort" is right around here. Literally the home of someone who has been useful to me before, let's see if he is here. But he couldn't finish saying what he wanted because the towers started to collapse and the padawan screamed.
- Watch out, Gryph! Carrick warned as he pulled his friend away from the collapse, saving him from the rain of debris.
Somewhat dazed, they ended up safe, but in the distance, a figure was approaching with a weapon in hand.
- What? This trap shouldn't be set! The smuggler questioned the strange situation he was in.
- And by whom was it placed? He wondered with doubts about who could have done it and why.
- By me! "I'll do it!" exclaimed a girl with skin as white as snow, long white hair, dressed in a white dress, armed with a stun baton. The female was a hybrid of Sephi and Arkanian (The Sephi were a species similar in appearance to humans but different due to their long, pointed ears. They had genders like male and female; the latter was distinguished by more prominent breasts and a different hairline. It was common for them to be tall and healthy-looking, as well as some shorter and overweight. Although many had pale skin and violet tones, others had skin tones like humans. Their long, straight hair could be black, blonde, gray, or white.) The Arkanian could see in the infrared spectrum and their eyes were sensitive to extreme heat sources. Which was useful in their dark and icy home world, when they traveled to systems with younger and hotter suns they had to use goggles) the rival in question struck Carrick with her weapon, leaving him on the ground.
The padawan ignited his lightsaber and attempted to clash his weapon against his adversary's, but she dodged it and activated the stunning function on one end of her weapon, which lit up with a bright blue that she used against the fugitive's shoulder, partially tearing his attire and leaving him disoriented for a moment, causing him to drop his Jedi weapon. She then proceeded to strike him with the other end of her weapon.
- Jarael, there's no need to fight! He is with me! I am Marn Hierogryph, do you remember me? The Snivvian consults, somewhat worried by the aggressive attitude of his old acquaintance.
- I know who you are and I know who he is! You are in trouble and you are escaping! I point at the Arkanian with her weapon held high between both hands, somewhat distrustful.
- What did you do to me!? I can't feel my arm! I doubt something indignantly, the brown-haired man said while still holding his shoulder, puzzled by the weapon's effect on him.
- A neural spike, the sensitivity will return in an hour. You'll be somewhere else by then! I explain and joke, the hybrid still somewhat serious, looking with displeasure at her pair of guests, who are not pleasant for her at all.
- You win, Jarael. Hide the fangs. We will leave immediately after we see the camper. Marn asked, confessing her intentions to her old acquaintance.
- You won't see anyone, leave now! She demanded, shouting, the sephi somewhat more irritated as if still angry with her weapon raised high.
- Great plan, Gryph. It would have been better to go to one of the buildings that are on fire! I joked sarcastically, Carrick seeming like a better option than what he had said in a mocking tone.
- Why not? To begin with, you are the reason they are on fire! Jarael scoffed, shouting angrily at what she believed the padawan present had caused.
- Don't play dumb! Haven't you seen the holonet today? The Arkanian asked to see if the young accused knew about the current news.
- No, since last nite. It was as if I were looking in a mirror. Zayne complained without knowing what the news was saying about him.
- Funny. It wasn't so funny when the merchants found out you had killed an entire class of future Jedi and were coming here! She assured, vociferating with sarcasm, the albino informing about the situation caused by Zayne.
"I didn't kill anyone!" The brown-haired man protested while grumbling about the accusations from his new acquaintance.
- I'm not worried. They are very dead. And so is Taris! The Lhosan Industries have just announced that they are relocating all their operations to another world, to a safer place. You have simply ruined half of the decent people in the lower city! The mestiza notified and informed, shouting everything the padawan caused and his supposed actions, while she pointed with her hand at the patrols in the distance, moving thru the skies with their lights, illuminating the ground and buildings in search of the fugitive.
- So all of this? Doubt the padawan observing the many patrols that were searching for him.
- You did it. And how little security we all have here with them chasing you, so leave before you hand us over. Jarael demanded while declaring the situation in which his people found themselves, which Zayne had provoked.
"Hey, the guy you were looking for has arrived!" Marn assured, visualizing an elderly Arkanian with gray hair, mustache, and beard, dressed in a patched and worn trench coat, wearing a leather cap on his head and with binoculars hanging from his chest. His name was Gorman Vandrayk, but his nickname was Campfire.
The old man pushed a sliding shopping cart full of droids and used devices while being accompanied by small functional droids.
- Redirect the voltage around the main bus... I don't know why they make me raise the voltage... Then lower it, they say... I don't know... Why this is my job... My job is to keep the crystal cathode active... I don't know why that's my job... The Arkanian rambled, complaining as he continued moving his cart near the fugitives and Jarael.
- Campmaster, I am El Gryph! I need you to prepare one of your special shipments for two! I kindly request the Arkani to provide a means of escape from this world for the one in purple clothes.
- It doesn't seem like he can prepare a snack! Exclaimed Zayne, mocking the old man a little, noticing that his mental state was not very sane or coherent.
- They always look for me to activate the system... Not keeping the system active, they won't need to change it, not as long as there's energy for... The old man continued rambling grumpily as he went on his way.
- Come on, camper, you worked on Mendu's compartment for me, remember? Argument Marn Trying to remind the Arkanian of the task the smuggler had him do.
- Mendu? Zovius Mendu? Master Feln tried to catch him last month. He disappeared, or something like that. The padawan doubted, thinking about what exactly happened to that fugitive without knowing their whereabouts.
- Or something like that? I was the one who sent him to Corellia like a basket of dried fish, Dreeka! Hierogryph boasted with his classic mocking tone, explaining what happened to the scoundrel who disappeared.
- The camper outfits old escape pods in shipping containers. You would never know what's inside. Gryph explains the work of the elder present here and why they needed him.
- Repair, but I... I... I keep rambling, the Arkanian, while continuing to walk.
- Perero, I'm Jarael, you need to look inside. Leave that. She couldn't finish her dialog, the young Arkanian, because the old man managed to return to the real world, coming out of his thoughts.
- Gryph? Marn Hierogryph? "Disappear!" declared the elder, somewhat annoyed, as if angry with his unwelcome guest due to past matters, while climbing a ramp to his home.
- Oh, now, I didn't pay you? I've been wanting to meet you to do it when I saw it on my accounting droid, you can do this after that. I try to explain the situation to the Snivvian, but he was interrupted by the elder.
- I don't have time for you, smartass! I already got the equipment I need right here, yes, right here! The old man concluded as he entered his home, where a large and extensive table with pieces and devices of all kinds was visible. He placed part of the cart's contents on the table and examined them while the smuggler followed him.
- You are an offended man. I can fix that. We just want. Hierogryph kindly asked the Arkanian to explain his motivations, but he was interrupted by him.
- Do you want? I'll give you what you want. Afterward, I have to give them what they want. We all want! "Well, I want to finish redirecting this tri-relay while I still remember how!" The old man reflected as he manipulated the pieces in front of him, determined to finish his work.
While with the chestnut and the hybrid, the padawan was running out of patience.
- We're wasting time here! Gryph! The idea of this guy with a radiation shield is surely a good hat and an innocent smile! It doesn't surprise me that he needs Darth Sol here as a lookout! Carrick stated while mocking the old man's possible lack of sanity as he watched him ramble and his incoherent mind.
- Do you want me to put you to sleep with something else? You and your tiny friend are leaving here, now! Responded Jarael somewhat offended, sarcastically referring to her Arkanian comrade, the padawan.
- What's your problem? Don't you want the reward? Everyone else wants a piece of me! I declare, shouting, Zyane angrily at the girl for her situation as delicate as it was terrible in which she found herself.
- Do you think it's easy for us? Well, you're not the only one. She notified her situation, the hybrid while looking at the boy with furious eyes, but all of a sudden they could hear the sounds of aircraft near them and could see lights that were the headlights of the same.
Both turned and were able to see an elongated and thick flying vehicle with a rotor with propellers on each side of the ship at the stern, the ship opened its rectangular hatches revealing the Jedi Masters who were searching for the accused Padawan along with several police speeder bikes, a loudspeaker resonated on the cruiser.
- Zayne Carrick! This is the sheriff of Taris! Surrender or we will open fire! The figure of authority warned as the ship approached the fugitive's position.
- Zayne? I am Master Lucien. It doesn't have to be this way, Zayne, the sheriff has agreed that you return to the order with us! The blonde ordered kindly, trying to reason with his padawan, but the latter knew it wouldn't end well with Lucien.
The brown-haired and the mixed-race girl ran toward the ramp, Jarael placed his staff near the padawan's legs.
- What are you doing? I asked angrily, Zayne watching as I slightly blocked his path with my weapon.
- Get out or stay, but get out of my way! Sephi replied somewhat assertively as she continued up the ramp.
- The camper? He went up to that attic for some reason. Marn stated doubtfully while pointing with his finger in the direction the old man had gone.
- Perero, they've found us! The time has come! She shouted at her wandering comrade.
- By the way, this is not an attic. Claim Jarael was sitting at a console with a chair.
- The Last Resort is not a garbage dump, snouts. It's a garbage transport! The old man replied to the smuggler while he ignited and launched the ship, surprising both the Jedi Masters and the security guards alike.
The fugitives' ship took off, and Master Raana Tey managed to grab hold of it.
- What are you waiting for? After them! The blond master demanded, seeing that they weren't chasing the fugitives.
- Master Lucien, this cruiser is not fit for space! The officer clarified to the Jedi, watching as the fugitives left.
The Togruta unfortunately broke free and fell right where the security cruiser was.
- Return to your temple! Our orbital patrols will catch you! The law officer clarified, trying to reason with the teacher and making him feel that everything is under control.
- No, sheriff. This time he will follow our orders, this boy is a Jedi problem. He ordered and demanded authoritatively, giving the impression that he wanted to take matters into his own hands.
While the cruiser managed to take off and reached space
- Are you happy now? The patrol cruisers are on their way! The mestiza claims with sarcasm and concern for the situation they have gotten into.
- What is this thing? Where are the shields? And the navigation computer? The padawan, full of doubts about how the ship worked, asked.
- Press that red button. Now I remember the ones I took out to redirect them thru my new console over there. The old man kindly asked the young Jedi to make the systems work as they should.
But without warning, electrical sounds were heard and the spaceship shut down.
- Or maybe I sold them and I don't remember. Affirmed the confused old comrade of the mestiza while he thot about how to solve the blackout of his vehicle adrift in space.
- The end -