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Force Abduction.
Chapter 1
The Endurance, a Correlian Action VI bulk freighter knifed through starry space toward the brown planet Ruusan. While Gendale flew the Endurance over the surface he pondered, not for the first time, how the once wooded landscape had changed into this ash-covered ground where life could not exist. Gendale knew that 1000 years ago this planet had been the battle area between the Jedi and the Sith. This bloody war had been won by the Jedi and signalled the end of the Sith.
In the distance Gendale could see the valley where he had started an archaeological dig site. From the outside it looked like a regular dig site for old cultures, but it was in fact a digging for the remains of the Jedi and Sith. So far the diggings where quite successful.
A month ago Gendale had found, as well as the many lightsabers, a blueprint of a machine which could help him achieve his objective. He immediately instructed the building of this machine although the most important part, an old Sith artefact had not been found yet.
Now, a month later, the machine should be finished Gendale thought, while he was setting in for touchdown. After landing the ship in the hangar he walked down the ramp in the direction of his office.
At his office he pushed a button and the door slid open. When he entered the room the first thing he saw was his loyal right hand Falems. Like every Ssither, Falems has a black and orange scaled humaniod torso with two arms, but the rest of the body and the head resembles a snake.
"How is your arm doing Falems?" Gendale asked while pointing at the big scar that Falems has on his left elbow.
"Its healing well," Falems answered "I am glad you rescued me."
"So am I." Gendale said.
It had been three months now since his search for workers on Jatee. Immediately after leaving the ship he saw two Ssithers fighting. One of them was carrying a vibroaxe and was about to chop the head off the badly wounded Ssither lying for dead on the ground. Gendale could not let that happen and shot the attacker dead in the back. Gendale took the badly wounded Ssither to the Endurance where he treated the wounds. After a bacta treatment the Ssither introduced himself as Falems and then decided to keep a scar at the left elbow as a sign of the new life debt he now owed to Gendale.
"Was your mission at Myrkr a success?" asked Falems.
"The mission was a success Falems, I have brought with me what I was searching for." Gendale said, "But what is the current state of affairs here? Has that Sith artefact been found yet?"
"Yes, we have found it," Falems answered "I have put it into the trophy room."
"You have done well Falems." Gendale said while he sat down at his desk. After entering a code the desk started to move. On the spot where the desk stood was now a big hole revealing a stairway that led to a room downstairs. "Show me the artefact." Gendale said and they descended the stairway.
The trophy room was a small room where Gendale kept the important findings of the digs. But the most important finding was standing on a pedestal in the middle of the room.
"Is that?" Gendale started to say while holding the piramidshaped crystal in his hands. But he was so caught up that he did not hear the question that Falems was asking.
"Gendale, I asked if those are Sith markings at the side and bottom."
"Those are Sith markings indeed and when deciphered they will tell us how to adjust the machine and why the crystal is such a important part. Now we are talking about it, how far is the progress of building the machine?"
"The machine has been completed, except for the adjusting that you wanted to do yourself."
"Good, then it is now time to start phase two of my plan. Make sure that your people put the cargo from Myrkr so that the whole building is protected by it."
"Yes and what are we going to do?" Falems asked.
"Now Falems" Gendale said "we leave for Coruscant to abduct a Jedi."
Chapter 2
Signs of decay characterizes Coco town, the business district of Coruscant. The buildings which are standing are old and ruinous. The streets are dirty and crashed speeders, even if stripped for parts, were lying everywhere. The speeders who were still working had big ugly stains caused by laser fire stains and were so old that they should not be allowed to fly.
In the middle of this mess was a little building called Dex's Diner. Dex's Diner is a small, but cosy diner where the hardworking labourers liked to come. The owner, Dexter Jettster was an Besalisk and because of his great knowledge that he gained during all his various jobs he had before, he became an reliable source for many. In those years Dex has made a lot of friends including some Jedi. One of those Jedi is Reandes.
"I hope that my Padawan learns something of that lightsaber training where he now wents too, Dex" Reandes said in his soft Mon Calamari voice.
"Is Lerandoo still so bad with his lightsaber?" Dex asked.
"Yes, sadly. It has been a while since he has made some progress. I do not get it Dex. Is it because of me, because I am not such a good swordsman myself?"
"Don't be so negative about yourself, you are not that bad with a lightsaber for an Mon Calamari." Dex said encouraging. "But Lerandoo is an Rodian right?"
"Yes, that's correct," Reandes said "why?"
"Because I find it odd that Lerandoo is from a race that is known for great fighters and hunters."
"Yes, I know. It seems that he is one of the few exceptions." Dex could hear the sadness in the voice of Reandes.
"But I know for sure that someday Lerandoo will be skilled with a lightsaber. By the way who are the teachers in the training of today, Reandes?"
"Exar Xan and Ariana" Reandes started to say, but before he could finish his sentence he was interrupted by Dex.
"Ah, the Jedi couple. Good fighters, both of them, Lerandoo sure can learn a lot from them."
"Wait a minute Dex, how do you know that they are a couple?" Reandes spoked "Only Jedi can know that. Outsiders should not know this. Who told you this?"
"Calm down my old friend, you are not the only Jedi that I know or visits this place. And for your information Exar Xan is one of those Jedi who come and visit me whenever he can, but I think that's also because I have discovered him on Taanab.
It was normal in the Republic that children with the Force were identified soon after birth and were taken to the Jedi-Temple to start their training, but there are always exceptions. Exar Xan was one of those. Almost nineteen years ago Xan's parents had been brutally murdered during an pirate raid at Taanab. Xan, who was just six months old, was saved out of the burning house by Dex. It was not long after that had happend that Dex noticed that the baby had special powers and he took the child to the Jedi-Temple. Dex suspicions where soon confirmed when it became obvious that Xan was strong in the Force.
"Xan was here lately with Ariana," Dex began to tell "completely happy because the Council approved their love for each other."
"That is right, that did happen lately, but there was always something in it. From the time those two met almost nineteen years ago. Both were just six months old but they sensed each other with the Force and created an bond with that. Since then they are inseparable and complete each other. It was nice talking to you again Dex, but its time to go already."
They stood up and walked to the door, but instead of opening the door Reandes stood still.
"What is it Reandes? You look so astonished suddenly."
"That is because something seems wrong with the Force Dex. I do not know what it is exactly, but it looks like its pushed away for somewhere else not to exist. This is something the Council must know immediately."
"Reandes, I know you are a Jedi, but you better watch yourself, ok. I have a bad feeling about this."
"I will do that." Reandes said and he opened the door. With his hand near his lightsaber he walked outside.
Reandes was not feeling comfortable. The Force was something for him that was always be there for him, something that ca not disappear suddenly. It was hard for him that that seemed to be the case here now. He reached outside with the Force and sensed the blind spot immediately. The spot started to change in shape and size, Reandes noticed. He looked around him and saw nothing different from normal and walked towards his speeders that was parked further on.
Suddenly the blind spot split in multiple smaller blind spots that were going into all different directions including towards him. In the distance Reandes spotted some humans with some kind of weird animal on their backs and he realized that this was a trap for him. Reandes started to concentrate on the blind spots in front of him when he suddenly sensed danger in the Force. As quickly as a cat he turned around and grapped his lightsaber.
But the blue stunbolt hit him before he could activate his saber to deflect it. He hit the ground with a smash and the lightsaber dropped from his hands. Everything went black for his eyes and Reandes lost consciousness, hoping that his sign for help through the Force would be picked up by his Padawan.
Chapter 3
The humming sound of lightsabers filled the small training room somewhere in the middle of the Jedi-Temple.
There were several Jedi who were skilled at fighting with two lightsabers, but Exar Xan is one of the best. In this demonstration he is one with the Force, his surroundings and his girlfriend Ariana Abl.
Ariana, with her long red hair tied in a tail, fought fast and managed not only to defend herself from all the attacks of Xan's lightsabers but also to attack him with her blue lightsaber.
While Xan parried Ariana's lightsaber with his green saber he raised his blue one for another attack. But before Xan could attack he heard a scream. Xan and Ariana switched off their lightsabers immediately and looked in the direction of the scream.
They saw a young Rodian lying on the floor who was about to turn crazy. The Rodian keep repeating the word 'master'.
"What is it with your master then?" Xan asked while Ariana used the Force to calm the Rodian down.
"I heard him screaming out for help and then his presence in the Force disappeared. That is only possible when he dies right?"
"No, that does not have to be the only explanation. There could be a lot of other reasons for this. Like..."
"Unconsciousness," Ariana backed up Xan "or he could have gone into a trance and closed himself off from the Force. Then you appear dead to others."
"I am sure its nothing bad." Xan said also seeking with it for the Rodians name.
"My name is Lerandoo and my master Reandes has been abducted. I know it for sure. I want to go to the Council."
"Lerandoo." Xan started. "There is little chance that the Council would listen to such a vague story." a mechanical voice finished the sentence behind Xan who was startled by it.
"Did I startled you Xan? I thought you were good at feeling approaching beings through the Force." the voice said. Xan and Ariana noticed immediately, because of the sarcastic undertone, that it was ID-4J, Xan's black and white R4 droid.
Xan was an exception for owning a droid, it was unusual that a Jedi owned a droid. ID-4J was one of the few things that Xan inherited when his parents died. To be able to understand the droid Xan had installed a vocabulator.
"Yes of course I was startled ID," Xan said irritated "That is normal when somebody sneaks up from behind and then talks loud."
"What is the reason you have came ID?" Ariana asked.
"Because a message just came in from a person called Dexter Jettster. He wanted to speak with Xan, something about a Jedi being abducted right in front of him or something like that."
Astonished, Xan turned to Lerandoo. "Lerandoo, can this be about master Reandes?"
"Yes, he wanted to go to Dex while I was visiting this demonstration. What are we going to do now, are we going to save him?" the Rodian asked excited.
"Excitement, adventure, a Jedi craves not these things. ID said in an exaggerated mimic of Yoda's voice.
"What we are doing now depends on the Council's decision. Lerandoo, we two are going to it now while Xan goes to talk with Dex." Ariana said while they stood up. The Jedi looked around and saw that the other students had left the room already.
"Great little apprentices." ID said when he rolled out of the room.
"At least they are not as curious as you are ID." Xan said smartly, and followed ID to the elevator leading to Xan and Ariana's apartment.
"Are they always like this?" Lerandoo asked Ariana.
"They bicker a lot yes, but they get along nicely." Ariana told Lerandoo and then they left for the tower where the Jedi-Council is.
Meanwhile Xan and ID got to the apartment of the two Jedi. After Xan pressed the code eleven three eight, the door slid open and they could enter the apartment .
The living room was small, but cozy because the different paintings showing images of Alderaan and Taanab, the home worlds of Ariana and Xan. Little else stood in the room except a couch, some chairs and a table. Another door in the wall led to the bedroom. Xan sat down on the couch and pressed a button on the table to call Dex back. A few seconds later Dex's head was projected above the table.
"Hello Dex, I understood from ID that you have called me?" the Jedi-knight asked.
"Yes, I did call you. A Jedi master named Reandes has been abducted not long ago in front of my Diner."
"Then Lerandoo was right." Xan said more to himself then to Dex.
"You have spoken with his Padawan already?" Dex asked "How can he know this so quickly?"
"Through the Force Dex. He told me that he received a cry for help from his master. But I sense that you are not telling me everything Dex. What important things didn't you told me yet?"
"I would rather say that in person Xan. You never know if this connection is safe or not."
"Dex, you are been called from the Jedi-Temple. A more secure line is not possible."
"Yes, perhaps. In short Reandes felt something weird happening with the Force. I shall tell you the rest when you arrive here, ok?"
"That is fine Dex. Ariana is waiting with Lerandoo for me now at the Council, so I am going there now, immediately after that I will come back to you." Xan said and he disconnected. ID went from his data/recharge station to the door.
"You look worried Xan, did somebody die?"
"No, just abducted ID. But there are two things that Dex said that concern me."
"And what are those?" ID asked while he closed the door of the apartment behind him.
"That something weird with the Force seemed to happen and that Dex did not trusted the connection."
"Then he is getting really paranoid Xan. There isn't a safer place in the galaxy than the Jedi-Temple, how could there be something wrong with the connection?"
"That's what I told him too. It's probably nothing." Xan said and they continued to the Jedi-Council. What they did not noticed was that a man in a black robe stepped out from the shadows. "Do not be so sure about your safety Jedi. That weird thing with the Force did not happen because of me and it will be something I shall inspect further." the man spoke softly and he disappeared into the shadows again.
Xan and ID walked through the halls until they saw Ariana and Lerandoo waiting in front of the Jedi-Council room. Xan wanted to walk inside immediately but was so absorbed in his thoughts that he did not seem to notice that they could not enter. Ariana stopped him in time.
"Xan what did Dex tell you?" she asked.
"He did not wanted to say much. He only told me that something weird happened with the Force when Reandes was abducted. I can not think of anything that the weird thing can be."
"That does not sound good at all. I am anxious to hear what the council thinks of this."
"So am I." Xan said and the doors in front of him opened. A man with long brown hair and a beard came outside followed by a boy with blonde hair about fourteen or fifteen years old.
"Hello masters Xan and Ariana." the man spoke.
"Hello master Kenobi and Anakin. How are you both doing?" Xan and Ariana asked.
"We are doing fine, we just returned from a mission." Obi Wan said while Anakin just silently nodded his head.
"We are about to start one." Xan started to say and he turned to Anakin "Anakin, most likely we need my ship the Hunting Hawk, but something is wrong with it. Can you take a look at it later? I am far from technically skilled like you are."
The padawan's face brightened at hearing this. "Of course I will come by later to check it for you master Xan. Would be more then happy to."
"That is fine Anakin, see you later at the hangar then." ID said, clearly irritated by it, and he rolled down to enter the Council room.
"ID, you wait outside, and you could not found out what was wrong with the Hawk before so you must not complain that I let Anakin take a look at it now." Xan said and entered then after his girlfriend and Lerandoo into the Council room.
Lerandoo looked around the council room when he entered the room, it was only his second time that he had been there. The Council consists of twelve chairs placed in a circle where the members of the Council sit.
While Lerandoo stood in the middle of this circle, with Ariana and Xan behind him, he noticed that the Council was not complete today. Behind them sat Jedi-masters Eeth Koth, at his right Depa Billaba, a female Chalactan from Coruscant. To the left of the Zabrak were a few empty seats followed by Oppo Rancisis in his chair and then another few empty chairs.
In front of Xan, Ariana and Lerandoo were the senior members of the Council Yoda and Mace Windu. Next to Mace Windu sat the Kel Dor Plo Koon and next to Yoda sat Ki-Adi Mundi and Saesee Tiin.
As usual Yoda started to speak. "What brings you here, Exar Xan and Ariana?"
"Master Yoda, we are here because we noticed that a Jedi-master named Reandes has been abducted." Xan started to explain.
"It happened at the start of our demonstration," Ariana took over "when Lerandoo, the padawan of Reandes, felt a call for help trough the Force of Reandes."
"A call for help you say?"
"Tell us about this Lerandoo."
"There is not much I can tell about it master Windu. I felt him in danger for a few seconds and him reaching out to me for help. After that his presence in the Force disappeared."
"It happens sometimes that a Jedi closes himself from the Force" but before Ki-Adi Mundi could continue he was interrupted by Xan.
"That is exactly what I told him too, but right after this I received a message from a trusted source that master Reandes has been abducted and that he felt something wrong happening to the Force right before he was abducted. My source told me that he had more information when I came over."
Yoda looked questioning at Ki-Adi Mundi, Mace and Plo Koon and after the Jedi nodded he started to speak again.
"Go to this source you and Ariana must, find out what has happened. Bring the padawan with you, field experience he always can use."
After a nod of understanding, the three left the room and ID came to them immediately.
"And what has been decided, do we have a mission now?"
"Yes that is correct ID, we must try and find Reandes." Ariana answered.
"Great, then I can finally do something different then walk through the Temple and help those droids in the Jedi Archives. Oh yeah Xan, did you asked Eeth Koth about that delivery of Mynock Juice?"
"No, why should I ID? I have nothing to do with that delivery anymore." Xan said pissed at ID while they walked to one of the exits of the Jedi-Temple and to an airtaxi to bring them to Dex.
Chapter 4
Darkness surrounded Reandes as he awoke, instinctively he reached out with the Force to ease the pain. Although he had done this many times before, he now failed. There was no Force around him. With much pain and effort he opened his big, round eyes and looked around. He found himself in a small area onboard a spaceship. He felt the ship shake and he knew they had just jumped back out of hyperspace. The Mon Calamari was laying on the ground, in front of him was a door and next to the door was a big window. Behind the window Reandes saw a collection of pipes with slender, gray-furred creatures attached to them. These were the same weird creatures who engaged in the attack on him.
"He is awake." a voice sounded through a speaker, a moment later the door opened. A human male with black hair entered, he seemed somewhat familiar, followed by somebody from a species that Reandes did not recognize.
"So, how are we feeling, Jedi?" Gendale spoke with clear contempt at the word, 'Jedi'. "Should not be that good now since you cannot trust on that Force of yours to heal your wounds."
Reandes looked from Falems to Gendale and from Gendale to the creatures behind the window.
"I see that you are showing some interest for my Ysalamiri." Gendale started to tell. "As you no doubt guessed, it is because of them that you can not use the Force.
You see, they come from a world were they are hunted by creatures, Vornskrs, that can sense the Force in them. Because of those Vornskrs they developed a defense mechanism that allowed them to create bubbles in the Force were they cannot be sensed. The Force isn't there."
"Why did you abduct me?" Reandes asked softly and with much effort as if every word he said was painful.
"I believe he hit the ground too hard a few times, Falems." Gendale said as he stepped closer to the Jedi.
"I have chosen you because you are a Mon Calamari. The Mon Calamari are weak, even their Jedi. Look at yourself, you are nothing without the Force." Gendale turned around and walked to the door.
"That is what you think." the Jedi said and he suddenly jumped in the direction of Gendale. They both hit the floor, but before Reandes could knock Gendale out he was hit again by a stunbolt from Falems blaster.
"That caught me by surprise Falems." It sounded as if he had trouble breathing.
"It did not surprise me. Pretending that you are weaker is an old trick to surprise your enemy." Falems spoke. Shoving the stunned body of the Jedi away, then helping Gendale to his feet. Both Falems and Gendale walked out of the cell and to the cockpit. The landing was commencing.
Twilight was upon Coruscant and it was busy in Dex's Diner, in spite of that Dex only paid attention to the Jedi in front of him. Hermione Bagwa, the waitress, refilled the glasses of the Jedi with Jawa Juice and Stimcaf for Lerandoo. Dex had just finished explaining what happened and from the kitchen he could hear a heated discussion between WA-7, ID and the dishwashing machine.
"Correct me if I am wrong Dex," said Ariana, "but master Reandes came here, chatted with you and left again. The moment he stepped outside a group of humans and an outlander of an unknown race came at him. They stunned master Reandes and took him with them." Ariana summarized.
"You could have told me all those things when I contacted you Dex. What was that thing that you could not tell me?" asked Xan.
"It was something he said before he walked out of the door." Dex started to say. "He told me that it seemed that the Force was being pushed away somewhere else. Ceasing to exist there. When he was abducted I saw that the abductors had some weird creatures on their backs."
"Those creatures must have been responsible for pushing away the Force. And because my master was not able to use the Force he could easily have be surprised from behind by that stunbolt." Lerandoo said out loud as the other Jedi had come to the same conclusion.
"That is correct Lerandoo. Biology was never my strongest subject in the Temple, but this is the first time that I have ever heard about creatures that can push away the Force." Xan said returning to Dex. "Thanks for your help Dex, we will try to find out where they have gone."
"I expected that you would say that so I sent somebody ahead to follow the abductors for you. Rybu is now at spaceport 3278485, that's where she saw them leaving in their ship. You can reach her there."
"Great, Dex, this makes our investigation a lot easier." Ariana said.
"By the way, Lerandoo, I have something for you." Dex said as he handed the Rodian the lightsaber. "It is your master's, the abductors left it behind so I picked it up for you."
"Thank you, Dex. Although I have my own lightsaber I will use his to free him now." Lerandoo said and the Jedi stood up and walked to the door. Xan opened the door for his girlfriend and took her hand.
"I see that the two of you are still happy with each other." Dex said while he started to smile.
Xan looked Ariana deep into her eyes. "How could I not be happy with somebody like Ariana, she is everything I need in a woman." He bent forward and kissed her. "I never want to lose her."
"And for as long as I live that will never happen Xan." Ariana said softly and embraced Xan, just as she was about to kiss him ID came out of the kitchen and said something inaudible in a grumpy tone.
"Are we finally going? I have had it here." ID said, clearly irritated by something.
"What is wrong ID? Could you not win the discussion this time?" Xan asked curiously.
"No, it is something else. Ah, that damn trashcan that calls himself a dishwasher. And Dex, if I were you I would have put an other behavior module in that waitress droid of yours." ID said and he went outside.
The Jedi and Dex looked puzzled at each other. "It almost seems as if he had been rejected or something." Xan said amazed but he was immediately contradicted by Dex who said that droids could not fall in love.
"Maybe you are right Dex, but since I've known Xan and ID they both still amaze me. So I would not be surprised if this was the case." Ariana said. The Jedi walked out of the Diner in the direction of their speeder. They were going back to the Jedi-Temple.
Gendale thought about a lot of different things when he walked to the machine. Although the machine consisted of the newest parts and were kept in check by the newest computers it all still appeared to be small and simple to Gendale.
The machine consisted of a pair of monitoring beds that were attached to the computers and the computers, in turn, were attached to the crystal. "At least that is how it should be after I have deciphered the markings on the crystal and installed it" Gendale thought as he turned the computers on. With a hum they came to life and he saw that everything that he could check was good, although he could not check for much with the crystal missing. He disconnected the computers and walked out of the big room. Through a few long halls and a staircase he came in his office where he began translating the markings on the crystal.
Back at the Jedi-Temple the Jedi and ID walked to Xan and Ariana's apartment and called from there spaceport 3278485. A female wearing a uniform of the Coruscant police force on answered, judging from her insignia she was an officer.
"Are you the Jedi conducting the investigation of the abducted Mon Calamari?" Rybu asked.
"We are indeed that. You are Rybu, I assume." Xan said. "What do you have for us?"
"The ship just got clearance for take off and I was just too late to hold them down."
"Just our luck, a Jedi has been abducted and the authorities let the ship fly away." ID spoke just inside the reach of the transmitter so that Rybu could hear the remark.
"Listen you piece of junk, I have done what I could to stop the ship and I do have the name of the ship and the pilot."
"I am sorry for our droid Rybu, it seems like he is having a bad day." Xan said. "We would like to get those names so that we still can find out where he possible could have went too."
"The ship was a Corellian Action VI bulk freighter named the Endurance with as pilot a so called Gendale. This is all the information I have for you and it is most likely false so do not expect much from it. If you do not have any questions then I will go now. I am very busy."
"Thanks for all the information Rybu." Xan said, but Rybu had already disconnected. The Jedi and ID walked out of the apartment and went to the Jedi-Archives.
Chapter 5
The Jedi Archives was the largest room in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. This was the place where all the Jedi went to when they needed information and some say that there wasn't anything that could not be found there. All this information was stored in lighted computer panels that stretched so far out that the long lines of bluish dots seem to converge when viewed from the entrance. Throughout the room were groups of sculpted bronze busts created by many of the finest artisans of Coruscant.
Xan, Ariana and Lerandoo sat down at a table while ID began searching trough the files in the Archives database. It did not took long before Jocasta Nu came by to ask if she could help, but before the Jedi could answer ID said that he had found something.
"What did you find then ID?" Xan asked while he saw from the corner of his eye that Jocasta Nu was walking away to keep track of some Padawans. Like she has to keep track of everybody Xan thought. Regardless if you are a Padawan or a Jedi Master and he turned his attention back to ID.
"Many newsreports from ten years ago. According to these messages Gendale was involved in a failed attack on the Temple." ID said while he switched the message to a viewscreen so that the Jedi could read along with him. The Jedi read trough the reports on the attack and read how the leader of this attack, Gendale, knew to escape by trowing a thermal detonator to a group of Jedi. The thermal detonator went off and seriously wounded the group of Jedi.
ID started the videofile made by a Jedi named Laeïda Ylena on the scene and the others watched as Lerandoo pointed to the screen. Was that Reandes standing inbetween the group of Jedi? ID zoomed in on Reandes face to confirm there thoughts - it was him. The feed of the elektrobinoculars went black by the explosion and the file stopped playing.
"It seems like my master has been abducted as an act of revenge."
"I do not believe so Lerandoo. Gendale was too busy with escaping that he did not have the time to worry that his attack was foiled by a large group of Jedi, including master Reandes." Xan said.
"I am more wondering on why Gendale attacked the Temple." Ariana questioned out loud and ID started to search for information but stopped when they heared a deep voice behind them.
"I think I can better answer that question." the Jedi turned around and saw Mace Windu standing behind them. "About twenty years ago an orphaned boy named Gendale came to the Temple. He said he was strong in the Force and so he was brought before the Council. There Yoda told him that with the age of 15 he was to old to begin training. They tested Gendale nonetheless and it was discovered that the Force was fairly strong in Gendale, but still not strong enough for him to become a Jedi. The boy became exasperated after hearing this from Yoda. He started blaming the Jedi for everything that went wrong in his life and that the Jedi did not gave him a chance for a better life by giving him the training he thought he deserved. For over a year he was quite quiet with only a few threats and badmouthing the Jedi by the press. That bombing attack on the Temple was the last thing we heard from him and he disappeared without a trace since then. I am surprised by his overcoinfidence by using his real name at the spaceport."
"So in short we are dealing now with an overconfident madman who holds a serious grudge against the Jedi." ID said scornful and everybody became quiet. Mace continued his walk trough the Archives and Ariana started to search with ID trough the files.
"Come Lerandoo, we better go now and prepare the Hunting Hawk for take off so that we can leave immediately when Ariana and ID have found some locations where we can perhaps find Gendale and your master." Xan said while they stood up and left for the hangar of Xan in the Temple.
They were just outside the Archive halls when they bumped into Xan's and Ariana's old master named Bodo. Bodo was an old Sullustan who already trained Jedi before he found Ariana on Alderaan and brought her to the Temple. During the trainings of his Padawans he travelled around a lot, something he kept doing after he finished training Xan and Ariana, his last 2 students.
"Xan, my boy it is so good to see you again, but since when did you follow my lead by training a padawan yourself?" Bodo said while he glansed at Lerandoo. "I really should stay more often at Coruscant, I miss hearing from you."
"I still give lightsabertraining at the Temple here master. Lerandoo here is not my padawan, but the one of master Reandes. The Force brought us temporarily together because we are busy with a mission together."
"What a pity. I find it strange that you and Ariana, my last two students, are also the only two whom never trained a padawan to Jedi." Bodo spoke sadly.
“You know we do want to train padawans and that chance is there now since Ariana and I are allowed to have a relation by Correllian tradition." Xan said and he looked at Lerandoo who looked puzzled at him back. But before Xan could explain it to him Bodo began to explain it too Lerandoo.
"Look, it is like this: From the day those two got a relation they had something like if we want to train padawans it better will be our own children. So now the Council finally sanctioned their relation they hope for that to happen. But you are busy with a mission now so I am holding you up and I was just seeing if you had some time to talk. Besides I was just outside the hangar of the Hawk and I saw a young padawan waiting for you. So can you pass on my greetings to Ariana and ID and perhaps visit me after the mission? Then we can catch up."
"We shall drop by for sure after the mission, I missed hearing your travelstories. And you can pass on those greetings yourself, they are sitting right here in the Archives."
"Then I will go by them right now while you go and fix the Hawk." and Bodo shaked hands with Lerandoo. "Good luck on your training, now you are under the guidance of my best two students and I am sure you will learn a lot from them."
"Thank you master, it could have been worse indeed." Lerandoo said with honor and respect to the old Jedi-master.
"See you soon master, but how do you know that there is something wrong with the Hawk?"
"Because since you have that ship there is something wrong." Bodo teased and began to laugh while he walked into the Archives. Xan and Lerandoo followed their way to the hangar where the Hawk was docked.
When arriving there they saw Anakin waiting already and the three Jedi walked into the hangar. The Hunting Hawk was a SoroSuub PLY3000 personal luxury craft that Xan has been modified with the help of Anakin and Seasee Tiin into a craft that was more fitting for a Jedi. All the luxury chairs have been removed and the interior has been redesigned into rooms where they can spar and meditate. The ship also got a second lasercannon, a proton torpedolauncer, stronger shields and the limited hyperdrive has been replaced for a newer one without the limited capabilities.
It was not long before Anakin saw what was wrong so he and Xan sat between the wires and engines to repair it while Lerandoo was handing Anakin a hydrospanner with help of the Force. Xan noticed that something was bothering Anakin and asked him about it.
"I don't understand something that I had to learn right after I became a Padawan master Xan. It has to do with.." but Anakin didn't finished his sentence.
"You can tell me everything Anakin. You know that since you told me all about your droid C-3PO and his complaining. And you told me about how that Blood Carver was annoying you and about that slave trader named Krayn when you were just a few years a Padawan."
"That is correct," Anakin said and Xan could see the young man feeling more comfortable "It has to do with love and that a Jedi isn't allowed to commit. I have heard a story from master Obi-Wan that he learned from master Qui-Gon. The story was about two twin boys who were together far more powerful then separate and formed a strong Jedi duo until they both fell in love with the same girl. This girl fell in love with younger brother and the other was burning with jealousy. He tried to seduce the girl in disguise of his younger brother, but the scar that was the sole distinguish mark between the twins betrayed him. A huge fight erupted when the younger brother found out. When their master tried to intervene he was killed by accident. Blaming each other for the dead of their master they gave in to the Dark Side of the Force completely. The more they used the Dark Side the more the brothers, the girl and even the whole planet was been consumed in a huge fireball of Dark Side energy. The battle was a stalemate and legends tell that they are still fighting and that their anger is fuelling the fire of the star." Anakin told and he stopped to search for his words. "What I don't get is how master Ki-Adi Mundi, master Tracio Leem and even you are having relationships."
Xan started to smile and explained to Anakin that he and Ariana were a couple since he is a Corellian and according to Corellian tradition it is allowed. "Ki-Adi Mundi, is a Cerean and because to low birth rate of Cerean males he has a wife and several honor wives. You can't force a race into extinction after all. I don't know who Tracio Leem is so I cannot comment on her.
"But for you Anakin it is better to remember this sentence as a rule since you are not falling in any of the special categories: Attachment is forbidden. Possession is forbidden. But compassion, which you can define as unconditional love, is central to a Jedi's life. So you might say we are encouraged to love." Xan explained as best as he can and he saw Anakin nodding that he has understood it. In silence they worked further on the ship until they were done. They walked out of the ship and saw Ariana and ID approaching the ship.
As usual ID was complaining about Jocasta Nu who was meddling his searching trough the Archives a lot since she dropped by after any founded location of where Gendale could be possibly. This was countered by Ariana by saying that she only dropped by to say that they had a higher chance of finding Gendale on Tatooine and Nal Hutta because Gendale suppose to own there houses under a false name. The Jedi said goodbye to Anakin and went inside the Hunting Hawk and started her up. After leaving the Temple they flown trough the atmosphere of Coruscant till they reached space and jumped into hyperspace towards the first planet, Nal Hutta.
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