Unexpected Cargo (Jedi)

[Valcor]

Space was a strange place, especially for the force sensitive.  For one so in tuned with the life around them like a trained Jedi or Sith, space held a strange emptiness to it.  On any planet, even one as dead and devoid of life like a desert planet, life still teemed from every nook and cranny, still flowed with energy and existence.  Yet in space, there was nothing.  It was like walking from a crowded party to a cell silent and dead.

For Maris, it held a certain peacefulness.  There was no pain here to feel from others, save for her small detachment of Sith troopers stationed with her.  Mostly their pain was physical however, a stubbed foot here, a healing blast wound there, but nothing that sunk Maris back to that dark place she so adamantly avoided.  When Maris meditated, she opened herself up, she let the world in and let herself pour out, and it made her incredibly vulnerable, so to be this alone gave her a certain peace.  At least for the moment.

When the eldest initiate the Sith sported had first received her first mission to protect a rather off the trail hyper space route, she initially held it with disdain.  The idea of being sent into nowhere space with a bunch of nose-bleed troopers made Maris feel more like an exile than a trainee.  Yet once the freedom to meditate as she pleased for as long as she pleased became apparent, Maris could not have been happier.  For the troopers working along side her, the feeling of absolute sorrow and hopelessness was constant, but it was a welcome price to pay for their charge who had never had the opportunity to let these feelings flow.

It was the first real peace Maris had enjoyed in recent memory, and she dreaded returning to the temple, dreaded returning to a place filled with such anger and hate, a place she could no longer open herself up.  A place she could not truly meditate.  A place where time dragged it's feet.  In Maris' new quarters, time now seemed to slip away, day and night held little meaning.  Only the flow of the force, whipping and swirling about her comparably minuscule craft held her focus.  It was so peaceful, an inexplicable and intangible, yet magnificent and terrifying creature all at once.  That was... until there was a ripple.

Felt before comprehended, the ever so slight pocket of pull began occupying more and more of Maris' mind.  Like a fish caught in  the wake of a mighty beast, the change in flow sent Maris' mind crashing back to reality.  Flashing her eyes open as if lurching awake from death itself, Maris sucked air down with a gasp.  She'd felt this before...  Collapsing to one side, only barely catching herself on her arms, Maris panted and heaved.

Sweat poured from her forehead, matting her already unkempt hair to her head, her arms trembled to support her weight as energy slowly came back to her.  Just moments later one of the faceless men burdened with Maris' presence burst through the door, "Ma'am, sensors have-... Ma'am?" He stopped noticing her slumped and distressed state.  

Flashing him a glance over her shoulder, Maris croaked, "Prepare to intercept...  This is a Republic craft."  The trooper hesitated for a moment, as if struggling to comprehend just how she was aware of such things before the scanners themselves, but then the underling just shrugged, assuming it had something to do with Sith magic before taking his leave, not wanting to spend longer in the odd woman's space than he had to.  

Standing shakily to her feet, Maris gripped her blade with trembling white knuckles, the sweats and fatigued fading with each passing moment since wrenching out of meditation.  There were few that could elicit this level of emotion from Maris, even fewer who still drew breath.  Glaring at the wall of her craft from which the twinge of familiarity shot, Maris furrowed her brow.  "Blast it." She grumbled under her breath before turning and marching out of her space towards the cockpit.  Without a doubt, her troops would need her before the hour closed, and it would no doubt reflect poorly on her if she returned without them...  'It had to be Chias...' Maris groaned withing her head, cursing the force silently.

[jedi334]

“Younglings?” Chias Nero said over the ever present hum of the Hyperspace engines, standing at the door way entrance of the cabin of the small transport vessel as it shot through the Deep Core system. Sitting in the six rows of two seats was her class of younglings, at the far back in a longer row sat her fellow instructor Saru and two Republic troopers who tagged along after Chias had offered them a ride to Tython after missing a public transport back on Courscant, they were both human and held the ranks of private.

The male carried the standard pulse of rifle of the troopers while his female companion sported dual pistols, she could sense the nervousness in both of them when they boarded. It was quite understandable when considering both had graduated from basic training, but considering that the out post was on the Jedi home world, a planet that was both guarded by both the Order and the Republic she doubted they would be in many fire fights.

They even offered to accompany her class for extra protection but Chias politely declined. While some wild life on Tython could be formidable, Chias knew the paths to avoid them and if by some chance they were attacked it was nothing Saru and she could not handle.

The trip was bittersweet for the young Echani, it was the culmination of the lectures, tests and discussions that they done concerning the very basics of Jedi histories, on Tython the young ones would see where the first Jedi walked, trained and made their first connections to the Force and realize they were apart of that great legacy. However it also signaled the end of their time together.

After they returned to the capital the children would move on to their advanced classes with new instructors, leaving Chias to prepare for the next group while missing the ones she had bonded with over the last teaching cycle. Four years it had been this way and with each trip it became easier…it made her proud that she helped with the first steps of these potential Knights however small.

The children perked up at her words as she felt the transport come out of Hyperspace. “We will be arriving at the spaceport shortly.” She said “You are to stay with your assigned partner for the week we are here and you are not to leave our sight.”

The male Zabbrak child raised his hand “Where are we going exactly Master Nero?” he asked

“Originally we were going to a youngling mediation shrine to the West.” She said glancing back at Saru suppressing a smile “But since you all did so well on your last exam, we’ve decided an expedition to the original Jedi Temple would prove far more interesting.”

An excited murmur went through the cabin.

“The Temple!?!?”

“WOW!”

She held up a hand gently to quiet them “The journey will take only few hours and we will be staying there for three days. We will be touring the main halls and Eastern tower.” A girl of 7 glanced back at the troopers. “What about Privates Bail & Poe…” she asked “Are they coming with us?”

Poe chuckled lightly “Sorry kid, we’re stuck on base.” He said giving her a wink “But you can scout the ruins for us…make sure their safe for us grunts.”

The girl smiled as Chias watched Bail give a nudge to her comrade with a smirk as she began to speak “Once we arrive we will set up our base camp.” She said “Then I will hand out your—“

Her words caught in her throat as she felt a ripple in the Force, making her leg buckle ever so slightly grasping onto the door frame her free hand cover her eyes.

It hit her slowly moving over her mind like a thick ever moving smoke. At first she could not place but as she focused a recognizable cold came over her…a cold she thought she would not feel again as her eyes widened in fear.

“By the Force…Maris.” she thought “It has to be Maris…but how?!?!”

Saru saw her distress and moved quickly to her side “Chias.” He said “What is wrong?”

She looked into his grey eyes, unsure of what to say. When Chias had found Maris in a cave in one of Courscants parks she stayed with the fallen Jedi and kept from dying of alcohol poisoning, the following morning Saru had questioned her of her whereabouts. Not knowing a lot about of Maris, she lied to the Iktotchi saying she was helping a friend over a break up. After the encounter with Maris she thought of telling him everything that had happened but could never find the right time or words.

“Saru…” she said, her words coming slowly “I need to---“

“Master Nero.” A male voice said over the PA speaker “Could you come to the cockpit please?” She glanced to the speaker and then to Saru, taking a deep breath and collecting herself. “Stay with the younglings.” She said “Keep them calm.”

He gave her a slow uneasy nod before exiting the cabin walking down the small passage and emerging into the cockpit. It was cramped being it was meant for two instead of three. The captain, a man with graying temples glanced back as she entered; his co pilot a female Twi’lek with a pink skin tone was work buttons and knobs.

“Yes captain?” Chias said kneel on one knee to met his eye level

“We picked up a craft when coming out of Hyperspace.” He said motioning to the radar which showed a single red blip moving from the outer rim to the center. “It moved to intercept the second we appeared.”

Chias gave a puzzled look “Send our identity codes.” She said “Let them know we pose no threat."

The copilot glanced over to her, a look of worry clearly evident. “I doubt that would work Master Jedi.” She said “Scans indicate it’s a Sith vessel.” She said

She bit her bit her bottom for a moment “I see…” she said, her tone calm.

“We’re just a transport ma’am.” Said the captain “That is a troop carrier, armed with cannons and torpedoes with a standard platoon of soldiers.”

“I don’t understand.” Chias said “How could a Sith vessel come into the Deep Core system without the Republic knowing?”

“With the war raging the Fleet has been stretched thin.” The captain said “Small transports can easily sneak past patrols if they have the right pilots who know the routes.”

Chias listened as she felt the cold growing stronger as the Sith ship drew closer “Your orders ma’am?” the captain asked.

She glanced out to the starry expanse outside seeing Tython small and blue in distance. She sighed deeply “We cannot risk being boarded.” She said “And we can not dock at the spaceport…for I sense a Sith warrior on the ship as well.”

Both pilots pilot gave each other uneasy looks as Chias put a pale hand on the man’s shoulder “Be calm captain.” She said “We are close to the planet and can out run them… once we breakthrough the atmosphere go East toward the Old Jedi Temple…get me as close to the ground as possible as then moved South to the youngling mediation shrine.”

“You’re trying to split their forces…” The co pilot said “Keep them in two places at once.”

“And away from the main settlement.” Chias said “Losing Tython to the Sith would be a hard blow for both the Order and Republic and we must stop them before they can send reinforcements. Once you have found a safe location Master Saru shall contact the Jedi enclave and security forces…if your homing beacon stays active they should be able to find you.”

“What about you?” the captain said

“I shall lead the Sith and soldiers away from you.” She said rising “Keep them occupied until you can bring help.”

“Not much of a plan Master Jedi.” He said

“I realize this captain.” She said turning to leave “But its only plan we have.”

__________________________________________________________________________________


She came back to the cabin explained the situation to Saru and the two young privates, telling them her plan with Saru shaking his head.

“I should go with you.” He said “It is foolish to face this Sith alone.”

“Look at the younglings Saru!” she said looking over at the children. “You can sense their fear and confusion…you can not fight with me protect them at the same time. Stay with them and keep them safe with our soldiers until help arrives.”

“Master Nero.” The captain said over the PA “We’ve cleared the atmosphere and are nearing the drop point.” She sighed as she felt the ship begins to move down sharply, looking to the younglings and putting her bravest face on.

“Master Saru is in charge now.” She said “Listen to him… he along with Privates Bail and Poe will protect you…I shall join you later.” The children were silent… their young faces bewildered and frightened as the female Wookie gave a roar as Chias rose to leave.

“Chias!” Saru said, moving to close to her and his voice quieting “I sensed the tremor not long after you…this presence is nothing like I’ve felt. But the way you act, the fear I feel from you…this is not the first time you’ve encountered it.”

Chias stood frozen….unable to move or speak as her friend put his large hand on her shoulder, a look of deep concern on his face “This Sith…” he said “You know who it is…don’t you?”

She blinked back tears as reached and cupped his rough cheek in her palm. “Keep them safe Saru.” She said her voice breaking a little. “May the Force be with you.”

And she was gone before he could respond, moving to the exit as the door slid open as the wind blasted inward nearly knocking offer her feet as she peered out seeing the clearing in the dense forest as she leapt down…focusing the Force around her take the brunt of the impact as she fell the forty feet landing in a crouch, glancing up as she saw the transport fly off to the South.

She quickly undid the leather wrapping on her feet wanting to mask her movement as much as possible as she began to move toward the Temple…sensing the soldiers tracking her and coldness that was Maris growing ever stronger.