Destiny Eclipse

Xander Vos · Last edited by Xander Vos on Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:43 pm; edited 4 times in total

DRAMATIS PERSONAE (In order of appearence)

Korto Vos (Human Male) (Moisture Farmer) (Son of Jedi Master, Quinlan Vos)

Lysa Sornfree (Human female) (Moisture Farmer) (Mother of Xander Vos)

Xander Vos (Human male) (Son of Korto Vos, furture Jedi)

Jysek Talore (Human male) (Son of prominent ship repairer George Talore of Mos Hurga)

Darth Minious (Xargressian Male) (Sith Lord)

Vikro (Human Male) (Jedi Master) (Council Member)

Koras Aldamar (Togruta Male) (Jedi Master) (Council Member)

Abba (Human Female) (Jedi Grand Master) (Council Leader)

Rive Caedo (Human Male) (Jedi Master) (Council Member)

Urwen - Avic (Human Male) (Converted Jedi/Sith Spy)

Asil Leikane - Shatterpoint (Human Female) (Jedi Master) (Council Member)

Empress Dell (Kroprulan Female) (Sith Empress)

Darth Crusher (Human Male) (Sith Supreme General) (Sith Lord)

Darth Astra (Zabrak Male) (Sith Grand Admiral) (Sith Lord)

Lyn Korak (Juman Male) (Jedi Knight)

Wes Odo (Kel Dor Male) (Jedi Apprentice)

Addon Shin'se (sp.) (Human Male) (Jedi Apprentice)

Eriaté Sulla (Human Female) (Force Sensitive)

Darth Acrimonus (Human Male) (Supreme Commander and Grand Admiral of Sith Military)

Kadrian Kolar (Zabrak Male) (Sith Apprentice)

Darth Vexen (Human Male) (Grand General of Sith Military)

_________________

Time to start again.

Xander Vos · Last edited by Xander Vos on Sun Mar 25, 2007 5:42 am; edited 2 times in total

PART ONE

I was but a boy, younger then you are now, when I began my journey...
-Xander Vos to his Apprentice, Wes Odo

Chapter One

** 4 ABY – 1 Month after Endor **

Tatooine – Vos Homestead

Heat, nothing but heat, the harsh rays of the twin suns, beat down upon the fragile dwelling below. The dwelling was a rare sight out amidst the sand dunes and valleys on Tatooine. The intricately carved surface helped to keep the heat off, allowing the residents inside to remain at least partially cool in the sun.

Korto Vos, a moisture farmer, toiled steadily upon the stubborn earth and sand that he lay claim to, trying hard to dig away a patch to plant a new moisture vaporator. The family’s last one had exploded in a puff of highly charged steam last night, the heat finally having taken its toll on it.

Korto Vos did not look any different to the other farmers in his area. He had shoulder length black hair, the touches of grey – a symptom of living on Tatooine, greys before your time – hair beginning to set in, leathery, tanned skin, and wrinkling skin. He wore a short brimmed cap over his head, the brim tugged down low, as to conceal his face. This was partly to keep his face out of the sun, and partly because he still felt the need to hide, the need to run, and stay as far away from the evil might that was the Empire.

For Korto, despite his appearance, was not a normal farmer, not even having been born on Tatooine, but on far away Nar Shaada, a planet in stark contrast to the world he had chosen to spend the rest of his life on. The bleak conditions of Tatooine were in severe contrast to the noisy crowdedness of Nar Shaada, as much as a womp rat was from a Hutt. Korto was not a farmer. He was the son of a Jedi Master.

Quinlan Vos, famed Jedi Master, and assumed dead as of the Battle of Kashyyyk, had, in fact lived on, witnessing the birth of his son, and then relocating them to the beautiful world of Naboo. Korto still had faint memories through the Force of Nar Shaada, even though he had left before he was even a year old, indicating his power in the Force.

The Force. The concept, even now, was laughable. The Empire had all but destroyed the Jedi, though every year there was yet another report of Jedi who had survived the Jedi Purge, with most proving to be nothing more then over-dramatised holo-net reports. They ranged from people having been witnessed at casinos with long winning streaks, to people who actually possessed a lightsaber. Even when proved unable to use the Force, these individuals were put to death for fraud, and for treachery to the Galactic Empire.

Korto suppressed the Force every time he felt a vision oncoming. Recently, his visions had been getting worse, showing, what he assumed, a Temple on a remote world, Jedi milling around, and a Council, strong and proud. He knew this was impossible, the Empire would have tracked them down long ago, and so knew that it was from the past. Yet still... he felt something in the vision, as if his son, his only son, belonged there.

After having grown up into a striking young man on Naboo, under the name of Xander Antilles, Korto had met a beautiful young woman. He had been shocked to learn, under the strictest of confidences, that she herself had once been a Jedi Knight, serving on the Outer Rim world of Maridun.

The two had been unable to deny their feelings for each other, that had grown stronger every day, and the two had wed in a lovely location, far from the prying eyes of the Imperial garrison posted on the Emperor’s home world. Then, terror had struck.

Even now, thinking back to that moment, Korto’s eyes still clenched shut in pain, the horrible image upon arriving back at his house had been too painful to ever die away.

Returning from their brief honeymoon to the Gallo Mountains, the largest mountain chain on the planet, Xander, who had not yet assumed his true identity, and his newly wedded wife, had discovered Xander’s hovel smashed and destroyed, raided by Imperial Stormtroopers. His mother, by now a feeble old lady, lay dying in the wreckage, unable to see or to attempt to call for help. Rushing to her side, Xander had received her loyal blaster as he cradled her in his arms, watching her die.

According to later reports, a Jedi Master’s family had been discovered and executed for crimes against the Galactic Empire, hiding on Naboo, of all places. Xander, assuming his original identity, Korto Vos, and his wife, travelled through the Galaxy, barely staying in one place long enough to settle down.

Before long, his wife fell pregnant, with their one and only child. They soon realised that they couldn’t keep running from the Empire when they now had a child to be fearful for. Scouting the Outer Rim, Korto finally decided on Tatooine as the last planet he would ever see, vowing never to leave, for fear of bringing Imperials down upon him and his family, as his father had done just by allowing his mother to relocate to Naboo.

They had decided to name their child after the man Korto’s wife had fallen in love with, Xander, and giving him back the surname Xander’s grandfather had worn with pride, Vos.

By now, the twin suns were beginning to set in the sky above Korto, who paused in his work to watch them cast a rosy glow across the land, the one time of day Tatooine looked even remotely desirable.

Shaking off the emotion welling in his gut, Korto returned to his work, knowing he would never see any other.

Tatooine – Mos Hurga

“Wowee! You’ve got an astromech! Your so lucky,” Xander Vos gushed, watching as the rusty R4 droid spun in its own tracks, digging into the loose sand, and spinning it up into the air.

“That’s not all I’ve got,” Xander’s friend and confident Jysek Talore said smugly, “I’ve got a speeder bike. My papa gave it to me as soon as he knew I was old enough to ride it.”

Xander sighed in disappointment. He longed for a speeder of his own, but knew his father thought it was dangerous, despite his abilities that Korto had begged him not to mention. Even at the age of ten, Xander felt like he was a small baby, presided over by his over-protective parents, who would never allow him to do anything on his own.

Jysek was four years his senior, already a teenager, and allowed to go out at night with only a Defence Droid to halter any unfriendly contact he could run into in Mos Horga. He was a friendly boy, a head taller than Xander, though always quick to Xander’s defence if ever trouble arose in his father’s centre.

Jysek was born from a rich family, which Xander was jealous of, having always known that poverty was a constant in his life, and that it would never change. Jysek’s father owned a large shuttle business, allowing people transport wherever they desired with no questions asked, though there was a hefty sum of money involved, Xander was sure of that.

“A speeder bike? Woah, your so lucky Jysek, can I take a ride?” Xander asked, hopefully, as he looked up into the hazelnut eyes of his friend, searching for an answer buried in them.

“Sure,” Jysek said, after a moment of consideration, “In a month or two, I wanna make sure its at optimum safety levels first, don’t want to have to explain to your Papa that I caused your death, now would I?” He asked, nudging Xander in the ribs, a grin splayed across his face.

Xander grinned ruefully, “Ah, ok. I guess I can wait,” he said, secretly disappointed that the only speeder bike he would ride would be the one he rode in his dreams, “But how awesome would it be to have your own star cruiser?” He said, changing the subject.

“Yeah,” Jysek said, smiling, pretending he didn’t notice the abrupt change in tempo, “My Papa says he’s set aside two. One for you and one for me.”

Xander’s eyes lit up, his heart lifting, “Really? My very own star cruiser?”

“Well, not exactly,” Jysek admitted, “Its a one man ship, a salvaged X-Wing fighter, from one of the battles the Rebels had against the Imperials.”

They both paused for a moment, their dreams of joining the Rebel Alliance soaring through their minds, as fast as the X-Wings they both imagined they were flying. Luke Skywalker, a now famous Rebel Pilot, had left Tatooine only a few years ago, and Jysek claimed to have met him once or twice, though Xander discounted that as hopeful wishing.

“Wow,” Xander murmured, “My very own ship.” Immediately, his heart sank, “But my Papa! He might not let me! After all, he doesn’t want me ever leaving here, because of the Imperials. He thinks I might get hurt,” Xander said, rolling his eyes. He still didn’t understand what the Imperials could want with him that they wouldn’t want with someone like Jysek, who had a rich family.

“I’m sure my Papa can talk to your Papa, and sort the whole thing out,” Jysek said, gently. He looked glum, realising that mentioning the ships, that his father had only just begun working on, may have sparked false hope inside Xander, and he instantly regretted it.

“Well, I gotta get home, or my Papa will get mad,” Xander said, glancing out at the setting sun, and the patiently waiting protocol droid.

“Oh, ok, nice seeing you again Xander, talk to you tomorrow,” Jysek said.

“Yeah, see you Jys!” Xander said, using his friend’s nickname, as he backed away, towards the waiting speeder, piloted by the Protocol droid that his father called his protector, but Xander saw through it. The Protocol droid was his nanny.

“Greetings Master Vos,” the droid said, bowing dutifully to his master, as the young boy clambered into the speeder.

“Yeah, yeah, thanks Ty,” Xander muttered to D-40, as he gazed up at the shining stars far above his head. As the speeder sped along, back to his hovel of a home, Xander wished that one day he would be able to fly amongst them.

Kroprulu – Sith Commander Minious’ Private Office

Commander Minious toiled dutifully in his office, working hard to compensate for recent losses in battles with blasted space pirates. Three Star Destroyers had been damaged, their aft engines had been forced to shut down for fear of starting a chain reaction and blowing the craft out of space.

The Empire’s ship yards on Felucia, usually only used if Rhen Var’s were over taken by an invader, were working over time, producing resources to accommodate for the growing fleets. Recently an extra fleet had been put under construction, as well as the need to put more TIE squadrons in the Star Destroyers.

As such, the battle against the pirates had been taxing in more ways then one; several Golan stations over Dargon had lost power, and so also needed repairs. Darth Minious’ rarely used office had seen a lot more frequency in the last few days as he calculated what they could use to make up for the materials needed.

The Super Star Destroyer orbiting Rhen Var was nearing completion, with half its compliment of Star Destroyers already complete. The other half was nearing completion, for many only needing the shield generators added, others requiring engines installed and others needed small systems installed.

Once they were complete, the three Star Destroyers in his fleet would be repaired, and he could once again return his fleet to maximum capacity.

Rubbing his eyes as they struggled to remain open, Darth Minious sighed, staring out the grand window in his office, glancing up at the shining stars, longing to be amongst them again.
_________________

Time to start again.

Xander Vos

Chapter Two

** 4 ABY - 1 Month after Endor **

Tatooine – Vos Homestead

The creaking of their old speeder indicated her son’s return from his daily visits to his friend Jysek. Lysa Sornfree sighed, watching as the speeder came to a rumbling halt, her son dutifully hopping off as the droid returned it to its hangar, before exiting the craft itself, returning to shadow Xander and make sure he remained out of harm’s way whilst Lysa made the family’s dinner.

As a Jedi Knight, she had served in the Clone Wars on Maridun, seeing the deaths of her friends, feeling the gut wrenching betrayal as she had witnessed from afar the Clones turning upon their allies, cutting them down with cold precision. She had been lucky they had not found her, and to this day, no one knew she had served on that planet, had become the one branded the “Maridun Mystery” by the Empire’s officials as they searched for her. Not even her husband or son.

The cold bleakness here on Tatooine was a harsh reality she forced herself through. Her husband, twenty years her junior, though age mattered not to the pair, more in love then anything, and unable to deny their feelings for one another, slaved away all day. He returned to the hovel at night for a meal before curling up in their bed next to his betrothed, before awakening early the next morning and returning to set up the moisture vaporator.

He continued to promise her that before long he would be able to hire droid hands to do the work for him. He promised he that that would mean that he would be able to spend all day and all night with her, the two would finally be able to live out their dream. But then there was Xander. It was obvious to Lysa that her son didn’t belong on Tatooine, that the rest of his life belonged elsewhere, not here, slaving his heart away just to put a few scraps on the table.

Having a friend like Jysek didn’t help matters, the rich boy befriending Xander under innocent conditions, the two being true friends. He was slowly, unintentionally putting dreams and longings in Xander’s head, of flying away from this barren world, of fighting in the Rebellion, of becoming a Jedi.

That last thought caused a stone of dread to drop in Lysa’s stomach. Since Xander had been born, it had been clear that the descendant from the two famed Jedi was powerful in the Force, more attuned to it than she had ever been.

Since he had been four, he had begun finding lost things by levitating them, and revealing them. Desperate for him to have a normal life, she had begun scolding him and punishing him when she caught him using these powers.

Slowly, over time, he had stopped using them, genuinely believing them to be bad for him and his family, seeing it just as he saw being toilet trained, as a necessity for young children, assuming all children had gone through the stage he had.

When news had filtered through of the Emperor’s death at Endor several days ago, Korto and Lysa had seriously begun discussing allowing him to venture out into the Galaxy, and find his destiny, for it was clear he belonged amongst the Jedi, or at the very least the Rebellion. Korto still refused to think of ever letting his only son leave them forever, and venture out to find the Jedi, even though Lysa knew that at heart he knew it was inevitable. He knew that when Xander was old enough and began hearing about the Jedi of old, he would understand that his parents had lied to him and leave regardless.

Lysa snapped out of her reverie, as the tone on the cooker went off, and she rushed to pull the food from the cooker as Korto walked in, talking and laughing with Xander, who looked especially excited. He had obviously not told Korto the news, though, as he was basically ignoring Korto, as if wishing to get a word in to tell his news.

The smell of the settling food reached Lysa’s nose, as Korto and Xander sat at the table, awaiting her and her delicious home recipe. She quietly sat down as a droid put the finishing touches on it and brought it to the table on a hover-trolley.

“So, I got some great news from Jysek today,” Xander chimed in, his eyes shining brightly, as his father’s eyes snapped to cover Xander’s face, his attention riveted to the boy.

“What is it son? He got some new toy from his father? That man spoils his son in my opinion,” Korto said, sniffing haughtily, showing his distaste for the family he so regularly called snobs.

“Korto,” Lysa said, placing a placating hand on her husband’s arm, reminding him that, while the fathers didn’t get along, the sons certainly did, and that meant that Korto should try, at least when Xander was around.

Korto sighed, in resignation as much as in defeat, “I’m sorry, go on son,” he said, trying to sound genuinely curious, though failing by Lysa’s mark. Xander continued oblivious.

“Jysek said his Papa found two rusted X-Wing fighters in the desert, that hes gonna try and fix them, and give me and Jysek one each,” Xander said, “Can you believe it? My very own ship!”

Korto’s head snapped around to Lysa, a glare evident on his face, “Let me get my hands on that George,” he muttered, hands wringing the flimso-napkin in his lap, as if demonstrating what he would do to Jysek’s father. “Putting false hope in my son’s heart, and encouraging him to leave the planet, even though he knows where I stand on it.”

“Korto, the man can do what he chooses. It was Jysek who told Xander, not George, so taking your anger out on him would be pointless,” Lysa said, a small smile creeping onto her face. Even though the news saddened her, it also gave her delight, that finally Xander may have a way to escape this wretched world, and make a name for himself in the Rebellion, or in a new Jedi Order, if ever one would re-appear.

Xander glanced between his two parents, confused by their emotions. His father looked as if he wanted something to hit, to vent his anger at what Xander thought would make them happy. His mother looked as delighted as he had hoped his father would be.

“That’s wonderful,” Lysa said to Xander, a smile beaming across her face, “I’m sure your father will teach you how to fly it, won’t you Korto?” She said, giving him a small kick under the table.

“What? Oh, yes, of course I will teach you son. Did I ever tell you that tale about the time I flew a YT-2400 craft from Mos Horga to Mos Eisley? I flew half way around Tatooine followed by a group of pirates...” Korto droned on, Xander burying his face in his hands, as he’d heard this, seemingly, only exciting tale his father had to tell countless times.

Lysa saw the look on her son’s face and, noticing he had finished, took his plate and put it on the tray, “Perhaps you would like to go to bed, son? Its been a big day.”

Glad for an excuse to leave the table, Xander nodded enthusiastically, hopping down, and running to his room, probably intent on playing another game of Speeder Chase, though Lysa had no doubt that if she walked in, he would be speaking of arming the Torpedos, and linking lasers.

She turned to her husband, “Korto? When are you going to let him go? When are you going to let him live his life?”

Korto turned to her, in surprise, “Lysa, hes ten years old. Hes barely begun at the local school, so why should we even be discussing this? Other boys his age have no desire to leave home yet, they just want to get on with work, and perhaps start noticing girls, or boys, depending on who they are,” Korto said, in a gruff voice indicating he didn’t want to pursue the topic.

Lysa pressed him anyway, “But you know as well as I that Xander is no ordinary boy, that his abilities far surpass even your own.”

Korto glanced around, as if Imperial spies could burst from the adjoining rooms, stun cuffs at the ready, “Hush! Don’t you remember that we agreed never to speak of that?”

“Oh come on Korto, the Emperor is dead, the Empire weakened beyond repair. Perhaps the Jedi Order is on the mend. I have heard rumours that Luke Skywalker was the one to defeat Darth Vader, that he may be the son of Anakin Skywalker. That means he may have the Force running through his blood, that the Jedi could return.”

“Nevertheless, I don’t want my son making a target of himself for some Imperial hotshot assassin. If that Academy I saw in my visions was a current one...” Korto voice faltered, realising he had said to much already.

Lysa perked up, her attention riveted upon her husband’s face, “Academy? You mean a Jedi Academy? Where? Korto Vos, if you refuse to tell me...”

“I don’t no where,” Korto snapped, with uncharacteristic tension in his voice, “But yes, it had a Council, upon which the Force was strong, several initiates who practised lightsaber skills, what else could it be? I feel that the vision may not have been present, but it was not far in the past, and only perhaps one or two years in the future. It exists as a possible Academy for our son, but I fear that if he develops his skills, he will never see us again, that he will thrust himself into danger again and again, merely to prove himself to us, to his peers and Apprentices. He would do it as easily as you to your Master, like I did to my father,” at that point, Korto choked on his words, emotion welling up, as it did every time he mentioned his father. He had never known his father, the man having left him when he was very young, either to try his luck against the Empire, or find Jedi on the Holonews and warn them into hiding.

“You can’t see yourself as your father. Your son loves you, and would never think that you pushed him out into the galaxy, all alone. We should at least ask him if he wishes to go. George won’t have finished repairing the craft for a month or two tops, so we would have plenty of time to farewell him if he did choose to go, and so much the better for you if he chose to remain here by your side.”

Korto nodded, finally accepting the choice that he had denied to choose for years, “Very well, I will tell him in the morning. Until then, lets just be a family, not Jedi, merely people, enjoying the ones they love, and rejoicing in the time we have with each other.”

Lysa smiled gently, rubbing his arm, “I know it will be hard for you, my love, but it is his time, as it was for all Jedi children. His time has come later then most, but remember, the Chosen One was brought into the Order at the age of nine, and died heroically trying to save it at the Temple against Darth Vader. Our son is merely one year older, and not from the emotional scarring that Skywalker was from. He will achieve great things, that one.”

Bakura – Jedi Academy

Chaos reigned at the usually calm Academy. Ever since the Emperor’s death, loud rejoicing had torn through the facilities in the remote regions of the mountains of Bakura.

Jedi Council Members Vikro, and Koras had been frantic, trying to boost security measures around the area, worried that the Imperial outpost that had been stationed on Bakura for the last ten years may have heard these thunderous celebrations, and may attempt to investigate.

More problems had ensued in recent days with the Ssi-Ruuk invasion of the world, and the grand amount of attention the world was receiving throughout the Galaxy. The lizard-like race had burnt away large portions of the forest around the Academy, destroying, pillaging, and stealing all they could find.

The shield-generator and cloaking device surrounding the Academy had been strong enough, and the Ssi-Ruuk had moved on. Finally, the Rebellion had arrived, beating back the monsters, and Koras just hoped that all would return to usual soon.

He stood on a mountain peak near the Academy, surveying the capital city of the region, and the smoke billowing from it. He shook his head silently, his ears grace fully moving in the light wind, the pain in his heart immense, as he sensed each death come as a crippling blow to him.

“How are you, my friend?” Vikro said, from behind the Togrutan, a small, sad smile appearing on his face as he saw the small tear sliding down Koras’ orange cheek.

“Oh, hello Vikro, I apologise, I didn’t sense you. The chaos is causing me so much pain, I’m afraid I have put a barrier up, trying to block the Force’s impressions on me, each death is too crippling for me to bear for much longer.”

“Don’t apologise, Koras, I’ve done much the same,” Vikro said, moving to stand next to Koras and stare out into the sea of green forest in direct contrast to the orange and black flames billowing throughout the city.

“Have you had any more visions following yesterday’s one? Koras asked, not taking his eyes from the devastation.

“Only one,” Vikro answered, “The boy from the first was boarding an X-Wing, leaving his sandy home, and searching. Searching for what, I don’t know,” Vikro said frowning, his forehead wrinkling in confusion, “We must keep watch, for its possible his destination was here. He is a powerful being in the Force after all. I could feel that from here.”

Koras nodded, his voice seeming distant, “But is he destined to bring about greatness for our order, or leave in shadows?”

“I wonder that with every powerful recruit,” Vikro said, thoughtfully, “We must trust that the Force will guide us down the correct path, and not lead us astray. For without the Force, what do we have?”
_________________

Time to start again.

Xander Vos

Chapter 3

** 4 ABY - 2 Months after Endor **

Tatooine – Mos Hurga

A month had passed since Xander had been told he would be allowed to leave Tatooine on completion of the craft Jysek’s father was making him, every day since having been one full of joy and happiness, nothing able to bring his mood down, or upset him. Even Jysek’s ignorant bragging did not upset him, only gave him cause to be happy for his friend’s good fortune, knowing that to him, he preferred the opportunity given to him, than to have a father who owned everything upon Tatooine.

The morning his father had told him the truth, had been the happiest day in his short life. The truth had stung, that his parents had lied to him hurt over everything else, but that they were giving the opportunity to leave Tatooine left that pain in a forgotten realm of his heart.

The following days had been a whirlwind of excitement, as Xander had told Jysek the excellent news, and inquiring how much longer his father would need to complete the repairs on the two craft. Jysek had said it would take nearly a month, and Xander had awaited the day that Jysek announced their completions anxiously.

“Xander? Xander? Xander Vos, can you hear me?” Jysek said, waving his slender hand in front of the ten-year-old’s face.

“Huh? What?” Xander said, waking from his daze of happiness.

“I said that my father has almost completed the craft. Do you want to go down as he finishes up? You can say your fare wells for your parents, then we can head down. Ok?” Jysek said, full of energy as he bounced around, anxious to see his very own space craft, and test it out.

“He’s ready? Why didn’t you say so?” Xander said, scrambling to his feet and racing to the door, glancing around, expecting the craft to be sitting right there, in the middle of Jysek’s father’s work shop.

“I have said it before, over and over, but you seemed spaced out, and wouldn’t stop smiling. You looked like a nerf herder,” Jysek said, with a teasing smile on his face, “Come on, I’ll race you there.” He said, racing off around the corner.

Xander complied, though they both knew it was an unfair challenge; Jysek knew where the craft were, and Xander didn’t, so Xander’s only chance to take over would be at the very end, giving Jysek more then enough time to win.

Extremely agile for his age, always having been one for agility, Xander quickly caught up to the unfit Jysek, who had already begun to pant and slow.

“Tired already?” Xander said, grinning as he too slowed. Jysek soon came to a halt, gazing up at something in front of him. Xander was still looking at him, “What? A thousand credit bill falling from the sky?” He taunted, glancing around to see what had caught Jysek’s attention.

The breath left his lungs as he stared up in amazement at the sleek, shiny T-65 Incom X-Wings standing on their landing struts in front of him, a thin layer of dust from the sandy floor having already begun to coat them, only adding to their mysticism.

George Talore, Jysek’s father, wiping an oily rag over one of the X-Wing’s wing’s, laughed as he saw the two wide eyed boys staring up at their very own craft.

“Thought you’d like it Xander, you can guess which is yours,” he added with a twinkle in his eyes, turning to gaze at his handy work, having turned two, rusty and incomplete X-Wings into these two works of art.

Xander nodded excitedly. One of the X-Wing’s painted instead of the customary orange and white, was almost purely green; strips of yellow running along the wings and cris-crossing over the cockpit. Xander had always preferred the colour green to any other, unable to explain it, though perhaps it had something to do with the fact that when he slept at night, some nights he saw glints of green, laser swords flashing from side-to-side. These laser swords, he had recently learnt were light sabers, the weapons of the Jedi, and the weapon of his Kiffu grand father, Quinlan Vos.

He looked questioningly at George, who nodded approvingly, and Xander quickly scrambled aboard the craft, running his hand softly over the controls, which were already blinking, flashing, and throbbing. He couldn't believe it was all his, and he owed nothing to George.

He leaned out of the open cockpit, and shouted above the noise of Jysek starting his craft, the noise crashing around the room. “Are you sure I don’t owe you anything George?” He asked.

George smiled, and spread his hands placatingly, “I’m sure. Seeing the smile on your face, and knowing this will let you achieve your dreams is payment enough,” he said, as he turned, “Just remember, allow Jysek to teach you how to fly it before trying on your own, I don’t want your dreams to lay amongst the dust.”

“I will sir, I promise.” Xander said, powering up his own craft as Jysek quickly ran over the basics via the comm unit in his craft. His craft. Xander felt a shiver of excitement run down his spine. This wasn’t a fantasy he was about to wake up from, this wasn’t someone else’s craft, this was real. This was his.

He goosed the throttle, and nudged his yoke down, letting the craft slip up into the air, and out through the recently opened roof by George, and out into the blue, cloudy sky. The sky was so free. There were no boundaries in the sky, no mother to call you in when you went to far, no father to punish you for not telling him where you were going. The sky was his.

Tatooine – Vos Homestead

Korto had finished packing Xander’s bags, an ordeal he had thought would reduce him and Lysa to tears, but both of them remained dry eyed, as dry as Tatooine was hot.

His possessions rested at the door, to be sent ahead of him to wherever he wanted to go, as they were to many to fit with him in his snub fighter. Fighter. Korto hated the fact that Xander would be flying a craft suited for war. He hoped George had not repaired the proton tubes and lasers and refilled them, but had decommissioned them and added more to the cockpit.

Even though his father and his wife had been Jedi, fighting viciously in a war manipulated from the start, Korto couldn’t stand the thought of fighting. He knew in his heart that if he had become a Jedi, he would have been one of the Healers Lysa used to talk about when in a mood good enough to disclose a bare amount of information about the Jedi, and how they used to live.

Lysa moved over to stand by her husband, slipping her small hand in his large, callused one, her tender skin rubbing against his hard skin. “He’ll be alright, you know,” she murmured, “Last night, I had a vision, not one from a changeable future, but one I knew in my heart would take place. It was our son, a grown man and wielding a lightsaber, padawan by his side, fighting in a bitter conflict, that takes place decades from now, on a far off world.”

Korto nodded, uneasy that Lysa had confirmed her son’s survival, only to fight in a war he may not come away alive from, “Then we must hope the Force guides him to victory in battle, and allow him to die at peace with himself and the Force.”

“As it should always be,” Lysa said, ending their phrase. Ever since Xander had been little, he had been unable to understand the deaths of his small pets. Once, when Xander had caught a wild Ibian, rare to their parts, he had fallen in love with it, nurturing it as it grew. When it had died, he had been distraught, but Lysa, allowing one of her rare mentions of the Force told him the creature had been at peace with itself and the Force, as it always should be. Xander had understood, and had rejoiced that his pet had moved on into a greater place.

Lysa knew her son would become a powerful, and wise man. He had had an understanding about life and the Force from such a young age, and would never fear the bitter selfishness that came often with attachment if he understood what happened to life after death.

A roar in the distance from powerful engines signalled the fast approaching vehicles of Jysek and Xander, and Korto squinted in the distance, watching as the small black specks slowly grew into round orbs, then split into the X that gave the craft its name.

Soon the craft touched down outside the small hovel, and Xander hopped from his craft, racing towards his parents, already almost as tall as his father, and still growing at a rapid rate.

“Dad! Mum! Did you see me? I raced Jysek all the way here from the Jundland Wastes! That’s almost four klicks away!” Xander said, his eyes wide with excitement as he reached up to hug his parents, kissing his mother on the cheek.

“Yes, we saw you,” Lysa said, trying to suppress the grin that was spreading, try as she might, around her face, tears of joy at seeing her son so happy finally entering her eyes, “You, my son, are quite a pilot, and only a beginner at that.”

“Aww, your just saying that mum,” Xander said, turning to his dad, as his grin began to falter, “Well, I guess this is good bye, dad,” he said, a tear glistening in his eye.

“I told you,” Korto said sternly, almost angrily, “Call me papa.”

Xander, who had begun to stiffen, relaxed, and grinned, grabbing his father in a bear hug, holding him for what seemed like hours, as if he would never hold him again. He turned again to his mother.

“See you mum, I’ll try to visit if I ever become a Jedi,” Xander said, hugging her to his body again, kissing her on the cheek as he tasted the salt from her tears as they ran freely down her cheeks now.

“Good bye son,” she said, proudly, ruffling his hair as she stepped back, glancing at Korto again as Xander picked up his things, depositing them in a nearby transport, and giving it his hyper-comm code.

“Xander,” Korto said, drawing him back to his father. “My mother gave this to me, and she told me the tale of how she used it to help save my father’s life,” Korto said, producing a sleek DH-17 Blaster Pistol.

Xander’s eyes bulged. The fact that his father was giving him a weapon, much less one so valuable to him was unprecedented, but he looked back up as he realised his father hadn’t finished.

Korto turned, and picked up a pair of scaly boots from the side of the home stead, “These I made from the hulk of a Krayt Dragon’s hide. They are powerful, and will last through pretty much anything, even a direct blaster shot. I made them specially for you,” Korto said, looking at his only son, emotion welling in his eyes, “They are adaptable as well, and should fit you for almost your entire life.”

“Thank you papa,” Xander said, his voice barely a whisper as emotion welled in his throat, turning his voice husky, as he hugged his father fiercely again, unwilling to let go of the man he saw as the only role model in his life.

Jysek stood patiently by his craft, shuffling uncomfortably, clearly awkward in such a scene of emotion, unsure whether he should turn away, or if that would just make it more awkward.

Xander walked over to him, grinning, and taking one last look at his home. Shocked at the scene before him, one of flames, pain, and death. Blinking rapidly, the vision fell away, his parents and his intact home replacing it. Feeling dazed, he waved his parents off, climbing into his craft, as Jysek climbed into his.

Checking all pre-flight systems were alright, he set off, watching as Jysek, much less clumsy then Xander, also set off, doing a few spins and dives to show off as usual.

As Xander reached the outer atmosphere, he turned to watch Jysek’s craft. “Well, this is it Jysek,” he said, for some reason more emotional to say good bye to Jysek than to his parents.

“See you Xander, have a good life. Might see you again some day,” Jysek said, wiggling his wings in respect for his friend.

“Well, don’t want to start crying now,” Xander joked, “See you.” He pulled back the lever that he had pre-set with co-ordinates, and watched for the first time as the stars elongated and turned into blue swirls, as he made the jump into Hyperspace that he had always wanted.

Tatooine – Outer Atmosphere

Jysek watched Xander go, knowing where he was going, having calculated the jump for Xander before transmitting it to his nav-computer. His hand rested on the Hyperspace lever, battling with inner demons.

If he left to follow his friend, he left his family behind. If he stayed with his family, he let his long time friend, and almost brother, in a sense, go out and explore the galaxy on his own.

Jysek sighed, his brown eyes searching amongst the stars, as if looking for an answer amongst them. Finally, making up his mind, he pulled back the lever, making the jump to Hyperspace.

Bakura – Jedi Academy

Vikro sat in quiet contemplation. Weeks ago, the Ssi-Ruuk had been beaten back by the combined Rebel Alliance and Imperial remnants. Now their world had returned to peace. He breathed in deeply, as if soaking in the harmonious feelings.

He heard footsteps behind him, and glanced up to watch Grand Master Abba sit down besides him, her eyes closed in meditation.

“What news of the boy?” She asked simply, not opening her eyes, or falling out of meditation.

“He has left, his destiny brings him here,” Vikro said, his forehead knotting in confusion, “And, somehow, I feel a connection with him, as if his destiny and mine are intertwined, like twine on a ball.”

“You must be careful with that one,” Abba said, turning to her friend and opening her eyes, “I sense much darkness in his heart, whether that be now, or from events in the near future. If he is to come to the Temple, he will need a wise and just Master, to help him turn that darkness into light.”

“I know, Abba,” Vikro said, “And that’s what I’m afraid of.”
_________________

Time to start again.

Xander Vos

Chapter Four

** 4 ABY - 2 Months after Endor **

Hyperspace – Near Naboo

The klaxons awoke Xander in a jolt from his doze. They signalled that he was nearing the gravity mass of Naboo, and that he needed to exit Hyperspace soon. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he blinked, quickly becoming alert. Pulling back the lever slowly, the engines began to slow, reducing their speed by hundreds of kilometres a second, next to nothing compared to how fast they were going.

Soon they reached the cut-off point, and as they slowed further, the blue spiral of Hyperspace sucked into the distance, as if it had encountered vacuum, turning the stars back into the familiar pinpoints of light, and surrounding Xander with darkness, as well as a lush, quiet world in front of him.

He ran his hands lovingly over the controls of his ship that had brought him to this world, the world he had heard of in tales from his parents. The world where his father had married his mother. The world where his grand mother had been hunted down by the Empire and killed. Naboo.

Swiftly cutting his thrust, he spun gracefully in toward the planet, Jysek’s quick and brief lessons coming in handy as he quickly began to learn more and more about his craft.

As his craft entered the upper atmosphere, his comm unit crackled like a Worrt suffocating from its own tongue, and Xander jumped, “Yes? Who is it?” He demanded, his voice high-pitch with fright, thinking of who it could be: Space Pirates, Smugglers, Thieves, Rogues, or worse.

“This is Theed-Space Docking Bay immigration control,” a drawling voice said, “Please state your name, and be sure to disembark at one of our several Docking Bays, and check into our Immigration Centre for your City pass, thank you.”

Xander chuckled embarrassingly, unable to believe he had over reacted, “My name is Xander Vos. I’ll only be staying in Theed for a short time. I’m on a sort of trip down memory lane. I need to learn more about my past.”

There was a pause over the comm, then something that sounded like a chocked gasp, “Xander Vos? As in The Vos? Quinlan Vos’ descendant? You aren’t welcome here,” the voice said, loosing its drawl and becoming tough.

“I only want to set down for a while,” Xander said, confused as to why Vos was such a bad surname to have, and what his parents and grand parents could have possibly done.

After what seemed an eternity to the mind of the ten year old, the Controller came back on, “Fine, you may land, Vos, but only for forty-eight hours, no more. We will search all baggage you carry with you, and any that may arrive addressed for you. Count yourself lucky we’re even allowing you to land at all.”

“Oh, I am,” Xander said graciously, switching off the comm, and turning into a descent softly, towards the capital city, Theed, which was only a few hundred klicks from Keren, the important city his parents had lived in.

His craft cruised to a stop in Docking Bay 2781, where he switched the engines off, listening in wonder as they crackled, the heat leaving the metal casing readily into the atmosphere. He still couldn’t get over the fact that this craft was his own.

Walking briskly over to the customs control office located near the Docking Bays, Xander surrendered the pass-code to the X-Wing, with the information the code would change in three hours, so they should hurry their search.

Changing the pass code on craft was common after a customs inspection and check of a person’s luggage, otherwise a pilot ran the risk of allowing a corrupt officer to make off with their craft and never return.

Xander gazed off impatiently, as he awaited the confirmation his craft was clean, and the all clear from the customs for him to fly around Naboo, in the form of an ID tag he would attach to the end of his craft’s unique tag.

As he gazed through the sky, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, because, as he watched, a familiar X-Wing set down in a Docking Bay near his.

Bakura – Jedi Academy

The Council flowed into the room like a smooth river gliding into the ocean, as they spread out, taking their seats and nodding at each other in respect, as was customary at the start of every Council Meeting.

“First order,” The Grand Master of the Order, Abba said, speaking forth, “The recent invasion of Bakura by the Ssi-Ruuk is over, but the damage is still being fixed. We need to send a Jedi team to help them, usual procedure applies of course.”

As the Jedi Academy on Bakura was secret, any contact the Order had with the rest of Bakura was as a group of devout monks, of a religion so dull that so far no one from the main cities or towns had investigated their “monastery”. If Jedi were sent to mediate an argument, or defend them, they always appeared in brown robes, using the Force to convince locals they were with the local armed forces.

If anything more serious arose, their were recorded instances in the Order’s history where the Jedi had taken an active role in the planet’s defence, even going so far as to use their lightsabers in public. Afterwards, they were forced to wipe the short term memory of any witnesses, in order to preserve the Order.

This had become a much more serious reality in the recent years with the Jedi Purge initiated by Emperor Palpatine, and carried out by Darth Vader, a Sith, and legions of Clones. Several prominent Jedi in the Order had been killed whilst out on field missions, and more had been tracked to Bakura, where they had had to make sure all Inquisitors were dead, and could not relay the reports to Darth Vader or the Emperor himself.

“I agree,” Vikro said, his mind still focussed on the peculiar boy from his visions, “Perhaps Padawan Urwen Udeseesie and his Master Jorkath Hant should be sent. I know Urwen is nearing Knighthood, with only a few years to go, and it would serve to remind him how cruel and unforgiving the world outside these walls can be like.”

Rive Caedo, sitting next to Vikro, was a Senior Council Member, and the one rumoured to have been next in line to be Grand Master before Abba was brought onto the Council. When Abba had been put on the Council, the unanimous vote for the next Grand Master was in her favour. He nodded his head, “Interesting idea, Vikro,” he said, with his customary grin on his face, “Urwen has been a tad arrogant, and it will do him good.”

After the customary vote and predictable unanimous decision, they moved onto the next, and only other issue, a much more serious one.

“Kinyen, home to the peaceful Grans, a planet in Bakura’s vicinity, has been witnessing untold acts of horror in the past few months,” Abba said. “We need to send one of the Council to mediate the situation and bring the ring-leaders of this terrorist group calling themselves Black Haven into custody.”

“I will go,” Vikro said, speaking up again, “I am without a Padawan, and so would be perfect for this mission without disrupting the flow of life around the Temple. When would I leave?”

“In a month or two,” Abba replied, “I am still fixing the agreement with the Kinyenian Government, and they seem hesitant to get us involved.”

Although they remained secret on Bakura, the Order was known throughout the Galaxy as the “Peace Bringers” a group of fanatic individuals trying to bring peace to the Galaxy, and to heal wounds left by the Empire. All communication to the Galaxy was through triangular signals, so as to never be able to trace them back to their Temple on Bakura.

In generations past, when the Coruscanti, Corellian, and Dantooine Orders had been strong, they had been another Jedi Order, known as the “Phantom Order” their location a secret. In the lead up to the Clone Wars, the Order had retreated, and the Purge had further confirmed that the “Phantoms” had disappeared.

“Very well,” Vikro said, “I will be ready to leave as soon as possible.”

Naboo – Theed Docking Bays

Xander rushed to the craft, his heart in his mouth as he watched the canopy slowly hiss open, steam expelling as it rejoined its natural environment. The pilot glanced around before swinging over and onto a ladder that had moved over to magnetically attach to the side of the craft.

As he reached the bottom rung, he reached up and took his helmet off, allowing his long locks of golden hair to swing free, revealing the face Xander had dreaded to see: Jysek’s.

“What are you doing here?” He demanded, rushing forward to shake Jysek roughly by the forearm.

“Woah, steady on, I thought you’d be glad to see me,” Jysek said, frowning slightly, unsure as he faced his friend’s steely face, “My Dad doesn’t need me as much as you do. You’re so young, and haven’t ever been off-world alone before. You need someone to help you. If,” he started, as he saw Xander open his mouth to protest and say he didn’t need help, “you don’t need help, then at least you have a friend by your side when things get tough,” he said, his eyes twinkling merrily.

Xander’s tough face studied Jysek for a few seconds, before a reluctant grin breaking across it, “Alright, you can come,” he said, turning to leave the Docking Bay. What was left unsaid was Xander’s immediate assumption of leader, despite Jysek being his senior by three years in age.

“So, ah, where are we going?” Jysek said, jogging to catch up. He glanced around nervously at the shadowy figures lurking in slimy walkways and shadowing corners of the space port.

“To Keren, a city a few hundred klicks north of Theed,” Xander said, “But first I need to get my ID tag for my craft. They’re searching it, so I guess we just wait in the main office,” Xander said, heading back to where he had been upon seeing Jysek’s X-Wing touch down. “You’ll need one as well,” Xander remarked, “My X-Wing won’t hold you as well.”

“Yeah, ok,” Jysek said, obviously not fussed about having his new craft searched roughly by customs, “So what do you want to do in Keren?”

“That’s where my grand parents lived, and my parents for a while,” Xander said softly, having not spoken of this subject yet with Jysek.

“Oh yeah?” Jysek said, “Do you know what your Grand Parents names were?”

“My Grand Father was Quinlan Vos, a Jedi Master of the Old Republic, my Grand Mother was Khaleen Hentz. My mother was also a Jedi, back in the day,” Xander said, not slowing to catch the slight bulge of surprise in Jysek’s eyes.

“Your relatives were Jedi? That means you-”

“Yes,” Xander said, cutting him off, “I can use the Force. I was planning on trying to find some sort of Academy where I could hone my abilities. You’d be welcome there, I doubt anyone who uses the Force for good would turn a good pilot away,” he said with a wink.

“But isn’t,” Jysek said glancing around, before lowering his voice, “Isn’t the Empire still in control, sort of? I mean, look what happened to the Jedi at the end of the Clone Wars. Their arrogance got ahead of them, and the Empire vowed to slaughter them all.”

Xander didn’t bother correcting him with the details he had learnt from his mother, because he knew Jysek didn’t believe what he had just said anymore then Xander did. Jysek had always romanticised of being a Jedi Knight and travelling the Galaxy, doing good deeds, though he knew he never could, with the oppressive presence of the Empire.

Jysek’s father had been a pilot working on Coruscant, occasionally running supply lines for the Jedi, and had always been soft for them, sharing plenty of stories with a young Jysek, against Jysek’s mothers recommendations.

Naboo – Theed Custom’s Control Office

A few hours later, Jysek’s craft also cleared for lift-off, Xander and Jysek were ready to leave Theed, Jysek not anxious to hang around after several lumbering drunks had sworn at him, telling him he was the “son of a liver-bellied nerf-herder,” and that he had no purpose in life.

Splitting up again, Xander watched as Jysek’s craft glided into the air, and he rose as well, following Jysek. Although Jysek personally didn’t know where Keren was, he probably knew how to operate the nav-computer a lot better then Xander, and so was going to lead the two of them to the city.

Xander dutifully followed Jysek, soon tiring of what he had once thought would never tire him, flying his very won craft, and he set it on auto-pilot. Instead, he took the time to soak in the luscious views of Naboo’s landscape, with the cliffs and waterfalls found commonly around Naboo. Although they were a common occurrence, no one ever took them for granted, always amazed by their dazzling beauty.

Drifting off to sleep for the first time in over twenty-four hours, Xander awoke to Jysek’s voice over the comm.

“Xander? Xander?”

“Huh? What?” Xander said sleepily, pushing in the button to activate the comm.

“What were you doing?” Jysek said, almost exploding in anxiety, sounding a lot like Xander’s mother.

“I was sleeping. Relax Jysek,” Xander said.

“Relax? How am I supposed to relax? You could have been dead, for all I know! I’ve been trying to talk to you for over ten minutes! Do you know how worried I was?”

A quick comment about how he sounded like Lysa, and Jysek shut up with an embarrassed grunt, and a change of topic.

“Anyway, we’re almost there, so get ready,” he said, “You’ll need to press the blinking orange button to turn off your auto-pilot, then pull back on the green-striped lever to revert to human control.”

“Alright,” Xander said, complying instantly with Jysek, eager to get down to Keren, and find the rumoured cave in which his Grand-Mother was buried, Korto having buried her minutes before escaping the world with Lysa.
_________________

Time to start again.

Xander Vos

Chapter Five

** 4 ABY - 2 and a half months after Endor **

Naboo – Keren

After touching down side-by-side, the two boys had asked for directions, and had purchased hiking gear. Xander knew the cave was somewhere in the mountainous regions, and was intent on finding it.

After several hours of marching, and un-ending complaining from Jysek, Xander stopped, also beginning to become short of breath, and took a small break, gazing in wonder at a spectacular waterfall. It always amazed him, coming from the arid planet Tatooine, how much water was taken for granted, but was guilty of the same crime, having slipped into the routine of expecting water, and not caring if he wasted a small bit on cooling the back of his neck.

The mountains were steamy, the humid air sending rolls of sweat down Xander’s neck, and the lack of oxygen in the air made it hard for him to breathe, his breaths coming in short, shallow gasps. The path was a perilous one, with small bits of shale falling away from where they placed their feet, and sometimes causing Jysek or Xander to stumble, perilously close to tipping over the edge and into oblivion.

The summit of the mountain, a few hundred meters above them, was pitted with a cave, and Xander knew in his heart that that was where his grand mother lay, eternally at peace with the world around her, here in this beautiful place of nature.

Pushing forward with the last reserves of his energy, despite Jysek’s protests, Xander clawed his way up towards the summit, finally making it, before rolling over and panting for breath. What had begun as a small break had deteriorated as the sun beat on, and now as he lay at the summit, he could feel the heat washed over him, and despite his resistance to it from growing up on Tatooine, he was still exhausted from it.

The cave felt like a yawning pit, drawing Xander in to find the truth, and to put his grand mother to rest properly. He shakily managed to find his feet as Jysek flopped onto his belly at the summit twitching as he lay there, his life of little exercise finally proving to be his downfall.

The cave was like an energy source, drawing Xander closer, as he peered in, blinking a few times to adjust his eyes to the dim light. Inside, a small headstone sat at the far end of the cave, rustic in its appearance, but the most powerful symbol Xander had ever seen; the small, quiet area and the humble headstone resonating a large amount of emotion in the young boy.

Kneeling by the head stone, his head dipped in respect, Xander removed material from his bag that he had brought, adorning the small tomb with flowers and a small plaque he had written, paying his own respects to his Grand Mother.

Jysek stood at the entry way, subtly clearing his throat as if to suggest they should leave soon. After all, Xander had less then six hours to leave Naboo under the terms dictated to him by the Space Control officer.

Sighing in disappointment that he didn’t have more time to spend with his grand mother, Xander slowly got to his feet, walking slowly back towards the entrance of the cave, and back to his adventure.

Kroprulu – Military Headquarters

The darkness was encroaching, and Darth Minious stood atop his Order’s bulb in the Sith Temple, allowing the soft wind to blow wisps of his hair out of his strictly tight arrangement as he soaked in the calmness of the evening.

He turned, as he sensed a young presence behind him, in the form of his Apprentice, Ackin, who was approaching her trials at which she would be named Darth Actir.

“My Lord, the Council requests an update on the repairs to your fleet,” She said, dutifully bowing before her age-old Master.

“Tell them my Super Star Destroyer has been repaired, and that I plan to leave in my personal craft for a while. It could be a month, it could be a year, it could be ten years, but continuously here I have felt alone, as if I have not a single friend in the world.”

Ackin shifted uncomfortably, knowing that as his Apprentice, she was his confidant, but still feeling unworthy of carrying such information, “But my Lord, the Empire loves you, the Council respects you greatly, the Empress is always happy to confide in you.”

Darth Minious turned to her in sadness, “But those are titles, you have mentioned, the Empire, the Council, the Empress, not people. I have been a part of this Empire for almost four thousand years, and have never felt the touch of a woman as a husband does of his wife. I have never felt joy in having a friend who is one not because of my position or my legend, but because of who I am. For that reason, I need to be alone, contemplate how I seem to be to the rest of the Empire, if I am doing my duty correctly. You must understand.”

Ackin nodded, her heart full of sympathy for her Master, “Of course I do. But what about my training?”

“It is taken care of,” Darth Minious said, turning once again to watch the sunset, as the three moons orbiting the wonderful world began to appear in the darkness, “I have suggested your trials be commenced, and Lord Tontie will be partaking them for you. I see you becoming a powerful Sith Lady, with far more respect from the individuals of the Empire then i ever could. Because you see what is truly important. It isn’t how much power you hold, or how much you try and help others, but your compassion for the individuals, your sympathy for their problems. With the Empire as your loyal friends, it is much easier to lead them into battle, then those who respect what you represent.”

“Thank you my Master,” Ackin said, her eyes almost spilling forth the tears that they concealed, “You have been wise to me, and I will always remember you, whether or not you return.”

Darth Minious nodded, “Thank you Ackin. And may the Dark Side be with you.”

Naboo – Keren Starport

Xander approached his craft again with loving care, as he examined it for scratches or any small signs of damage from the journey here from Theed. Jysek, at his own craft, was doing the same.

It was still hard for Xander to accept that he had once been just a small farmer boy. Now he felt like he had the biggest opportunity in the Galaxy. Nearly eighty percent of the Galaxy’s population were born and died never owning their own star ship, and Xander had been given one in the first ten years of his life.

The space controllers had given him permission to leave the world on his own accord, a little to eagerly for Xander to feel as if he had ever been wanted on the usually accepting world.

Jysek, his loyal friend, had been with him since he had been four, and Jysek eight, a young, street-smart kid, with a strong desire to show off for the young boy. Xander had first met him when Korto had taken him to the Talore workshop to show him how they repaired moisture vapourators, but Xander had gotten bored almost immediately, and had wondered off.

There he had been beholden to the most wondrous sight: a young boy programming his own translator, and checking every few seconds to see what words it could translate. The boy’s carefree attitude and disregard for his father, as Xander assumed George Talore to be, and what was going on around him.

The two had been friends ever since, with Xander gazing on in amazement as Jysek moved on from the translator to a small laser gun that fired harmless beams for a short distance, and from the gun to the astromech droid he had received a few months ago.

Xander couldn’t remember a time that he hadn’t had such a good friend and confident, someone he could be himself with, and at ease with the world around him. He couldn’t imagine the horrible life beholden to someone without a friend such as Jysek.

The craft checked out, and Xander clambered eagerly into the cock pit, willing to leave the world behind, though always wondering if he could somehow procure a fake I.D and return for a longer amount of time to see his Grand-Mother.

Naboo- Outer Atmosphere

Darth Minious’ craft, the Torturer, had made the journey quicker then he had expected. Leaving only hours after speaking with his Apprentice, Darth Minious had arrived at Naboo, hoping to find solitude in the mountainous regions, away from civilisation and the judging gazes of the people that accompanied it.

As his craft flew into the atmosphere, he watched in amusement as two X-Wings left the atmosphere from Keren, their jerky steering testament to the fact that Darth Minious could sense young boys in the cockpits of each.

“Amateurs,” he sneered under his breath, as he guided his craft gently and artistically into Keren, where the boys had just left, discarding them from his mind almost immediately as he thought of the excuse he could come up this time for the Sith Council as to why he killed the Customs Control Officers.
_________________

Time to start again.

Xander Vos

Chapter Six

** 5 ABY **

Kinyen – Outer Space

Months had flowed together like water after Xander had left Naboo. His adventures had led him as far in as Corellia, where he had researched the age old myths of the Xargressia, a species that could live for untold millennia, but which had never been proven to have existed, except in folk lore.

More recently, Xander and Jysek had moved back out into the Outer Rim, hoping to learn from the once highly advanced Gran race on Kinyen. The three eyed aliens held much respect from Xander, as he knew the burden they carried. During the Galactic Civil War they had been branded traitors to the Empire, and a large amount of the population enslaved, because they had produced several Jedi Knights, a noticeable one amongst them being Maks Leem.

The planet had also remained loyal to the Republic, and so a large Imperial task force had been placed in orbit. In recent years, that task force had been defeated by local insurgents combined with the Rebellion to restore the planet to how it was before the Clone Wars.

Now though, those insurgents had turned rebel, rebelling against even the government they had helped put in place. One such group, the main group that supposedly the rest fell in order to, was the Black Haven, a vicious group led by a human from Corellia. Xander had hoped to aide the government in putting down the rebellion, and had carefully prepared his blaster his father had given him, the one his grand mother had used to save Quinlan Vos’ life. It was as shiny as if it were recently bought, the power pack, and three back ups fully charged.

Jysek sat in his craft, near Xander’s, his own weapon, an S-5 Blaster Pistol he had managed to buy on the black market near Ord Mantell. The two knew that whilst they were only children, Xander, now eleven, and Jysek, now fifteen, were well on their way into adulthood, with the usual muscle additions of puberty giving them both an edge over the lax and lazy gang.

Xander hoped, most of all, that as he was only eleven, he would be over looked, and could easily over power some of the insurgent group.

The crackle on his comm broke him out of his vicious thought process, as he depressed the button to answer, “Yes?” He answered, with new confidence he had gained over the months of space travel.

“You may set down in minutes, sir,” came the reply from one of the control towers on Kinyen, the nasal sound of the Gran on the other end of the comm apparent in the communication.

“Thank you, I will be down presently,” Xander said, “As will my companion.”

Kinyen – Surface

The majority of the lush world was covered in forests and grasslands, though there were several main cities. Xander and Jysek had landed in the capital city, which reminded Xander somewhat of his recent visit to Corellia.

The city was full of smog and confusion, the buildings stretching high into the sky, as if yearning for the icy grip only space could hold them in. The main mode of transport was speeder, although some preferred walking, as the city was only a couple of kilometres in diameter.

Xander wondered the streets with awe, occasionally stopping to ask a passer-by for questions about Black Haven, the only response being a bead of sweat moving down a man’s forehead here before he ran off, or a darting of the eyes of an Ithorian there.

Jysek had suggested they try to act as bait for the gang, and Xander had agreed, and soon enough, looks of childish fear on their faces to compliment the act they were putting on, they headed into a dead-end alleyway, where they made sufficient noises of despair and panic.

“Alright kiddies, hand over yer valuables,” a heavily accented voice forced out in Basic. As Xander and Jysek whirled around in mock panic, they saw a shady Devaronian step out of the shadows, holding a Repeating Rifle.

Xander quickly made a whimper of fear, before nodding his head quickly, as if in compliance, as he reached slowly down to, as it would appear to the thug, pull his wallet out. As he grasped into his pocket, he felt the familiar grip of his blaster. Glancing over at Jysek, he gave his friend a microscopic nod.

“Well come on mateys, we don’t have all day, and I’m sure you don’t want a face full of blaster bolts,” the thug gestured impatiently.

“Very well, if you don’t wish to wait for your death,” Xander said, whipping the blaster out, firing a snap shot into the Devaronian’s arm and Jysek, who had been slowly edging towards the thug dived on him, pinning him down. The screech of pain the thug let out was quickly silenced by a strong arm clamped across his mouth.

“Tell me where your leader is,” Xander said, standing over him, as Jysek let go of the thug’s mouth, but keeping it hovering close, in case the thug had delusions of grandeur and wished to chance his luck at another scream for help.

“I don’t know what your talking about, I work on my own,” the thug said, his eyes darting nervously.

Xander took a deep breath and centred himself, trying to sink into the Force as best he could. Over the months, he had been practising Force Persuasion on Jysek with his permission, and had a small mastery over it.

“You will tell me where your leader is, now,” he said, knowing full well this man was a member of Black Haven, the Devaronian must have thought them more idiots than he if he expected them to not have noticed the emblazoned insignia on the right shoulder of the light armour the man wore.

“I will tell you where my leader is. He is in the lower levels of the fourth district from the space port, please don’t hurt me,” the Devaronian managed to whisper out before Jysek again clamped his hand over the thug’s face.

“Which level?” Xander demanded, glancing around to make sure no reinforcements had arrived to aide their fallen comrade.

“Level 2B,” the thug managed to choke out, “But you need a pass-code, its ‘Safe House’.”

“Thank you,” Xander said, rising again from his stooped position, and glancing away as Jysek released the thug, “You’ve been very helpful. Now, go home, buy some good clothes,” he said as he eyed the thug’s pore clothes, the clash a horrible greeny-brown, “And get a proper job.”

“Yes, yes, proper job,” the Devaronian said eagerly, straightening his jacket, and stretching to remove the cramps that had begun to build up.

“Very well, get out of here,” Xander said, twitching his head in the direction of the entrance to the alley. The thug scampered out without need of further encouragement. Xander glanced at Jysek, who had scooped up the man’s blaster and checked the ammo count.

“Empty, as expected,” Jysek said, tossing the spent weapon to the side, “You’d think Black Haven would have enough credits to at least supply its minions with ammo for their weapons, I mean, sometimes people must resist the mugging’s.”

“The people here live in fear, they would rather give up their credits than their lives.” Xander murmured, “Now come on, I have little doubt the thug will turn over a new leaf, and we should get out of here before he returns with a group of his friends who actually do have ammo.”

Bakura – Jedi Academy

The transport hummed, alive with static electricity as it both prepared for the coming journey, and discharged the build up of static into the ground. The engines gave a few test ignites as the pilot checked that everything was in working order.

Vikro stood a short distance away, gazing at the craft, deep in thought after another restless night of visions of the young boy, reminding him of an old friend he could not identify, but also seeming to be a fresh new face he could never have met before.

“So your leaving, then?” A smooth voice said from over his shoulder, the voice belonging to Jedi Master Asil Leikane, also known as Shatterpoint by her close friends.

“The shuttle is ready, and nothing else remains to be done,” Vikro said, choosing not to answer her question directly.

A faint smile hovered on Shatterpoint’s lips as she too picked up on this, “Well, I have come to give you my farewell, although I know within the week you will be back within our arms. It still saddens me to have to farewell fellow Council Members to missions, as there is always that shade of doubt deep at the back of my mind that, try as I might, I cannot remove. It feeds on me, telling me the chances that this mission could fail, that you could be killed in a gang ambush.”

“Now you’re making me nervous,” Vikro said jokingly with a grin on his face. As Shatterpoint opened her mouth to speak again, he interjected “But don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

“Master Jedi?” The pilot said, standing at the base of the ramp, looking entirely too awkward as he interrupted the two powerful Jedi from looked like an intimate farewell.

“Well, I must go,” Vikro said, smiling sadly, “Farewell Asil, do not fear, I will be back within the month. Give my closest regards to Koras. May the Force be with you.”

“May the Force be with you,” Shatterpoint said, nodding her head as she returned the customary farewell.

Turning, Vikro walked slowly over to the shuttle, boarding the craft. As he settled, he heard the whine, as the door slammed shut, knowing when they next opened, he would be on Kinyen.

Kinyen – Black Haven Base

The turbo lift hummed with electricity as it plunged further below the surface of the lush world. Jysek stood, brimming with energy and impatience, as Xander sat, calmly, centering himself, and calling the Force to himself. He breathed heavily in annoyance. Pulling the Force to him was like attempting to hold water in his hands. The harder he tried, the more it slipped through his fingers.

Finally, to Jysek what seemed like centuries, but to Xander, and in reality, what was only a few minutes, the turbo lift shuddered to a halt, the doors creaking open loudly. Jysek glanced out nervously, unsure if they had triggered some sort of silent alarm, or if even now a hidden turret was trained on them, counting down the time they had left to enter the pass-code before it opened fire on them.

After several minutes of waiting, and finally realising they were clear to go on, Jysek and Xander stepped out of the lift, the doors slamming shut behind them, as they raised and checked the clips left in their blasters.

Approaching a door shrouded in shadows, Jysek glanced at Xander, who strained, and nodded his head. Jysek rushed over, typing in the pass-code, before dodging over to the side, standing concealed as the door slid open, smooth and quiet, compared to the turbo-lift. Whirling around, Jysek covered the entrance with his blaster as Xander slipped through the door, as quiet as a ghost. Xander halted in front of the inner door, covering it as Jysek slipped in behind him, closing the exterior door silently behind him.

As the interior door slid open, Xander tensed as he heard the click of a blaster cell clicking into place in its barrel. He spun, covering the room, but not quickly enough, as a stun bolt flew out of an adjoining room, slamming into his chest, knocking the breath out of him, as he stumbled and fell to the ground, and into darkness.

Jysek whirled into the room, and cut down the distant figure with a spray of ruby bolts. He rolled to Xander, checking his pulse, before glancing around to check for further enemies. The far door opened, and he fired, killing the first through it, but the second and third got marginally further before he killed them, and the fourth, fifth and sixth made it all the way into the room, converging on him, and firing him full of stun bolts, knocking him, as well, out cold.
_________________

Time to start again.

Xander Vos

Chapter Seven

** 5 ABY - 6 Months after Xander’s Capture **

Kinyen – Black Haven Base

For months now, Xander had done nothing but kill people, organise clients, and make sure spice operations had gone through correctly for Black Haven. After awaking from his injury, he had been forced into service, with the knowledge that their craft had been tracked down and sold for parts.

Jysek had been coping a lot better than Xander. With his added muscle, that Xander, now approaching thirteen, was only now getting, Jysek had been put to work as a bouncer for the base after the security alert that had been Xander and Jysek’s intrusion.

Xander sat in his meagre quarters, quivering, the frightened gaze of the woman he had just killed under the watchful gaze of Torga Rand, the Black Haven’s lieutenant, would haunt him to his death day. She had pleaded and cajoled him, but he had been forced to kill her for not paying her protection fee.

“Are you ok?” Jysek said quietly, walking into the room, and placing a comforting arm around his friend, trying to stop him shaking so.

“I... I killed her,” Xander said, trying hard to hold back the tears of shame he could feel were welling behind his eyes. He reached out a hand to push his friend away, and was shocked to see how much it was shaking.

“We need to get out of here,” Jysek said, glancing around. “Just yesterday I managed to grab a Disrupter Rifle off one of the other guards before they noticed anything. If they have personal shields, they’ll stand no chance against the weapon. I’ll try and pinch you one tomorrow, but until then hang tight. If anything, I need you to find launch codes for a craft, and a flight chart.”

Xander nodded aimlessly, having taken in every word Jysek had said, but unable to respond, knowing as soon as he spoke, the tears would come, his throat already choked up with emotion. Jysek gave him one last pat before standing and moving to his own quarters before they attracted unwanted attention from the other guards.

Kinyen – Surface

Vikro moved like a shadow, darting between buildings, his lightsaber deftly concealed in his robe. Even the slightest hint that he was a Jedi would have Black Haven swarming on him, overwhelming him, and he would be dead before he knew it.

Walking quietly down an alley, he heard a muted sobbing, and on closer inspection, discovered a Devaronian, reduced to a quivering mass, in the shadows of the alley.

“Are you alright, friend?” The Jedi Master asked, softly, examining the man for any sign of physical injury. He was shocked to discover that this Devaronian was a member of Black Haven, the group he was trying to find.

The Devaronian muttered quickly in an incomprehensible tongue that wasn’t Devaronian or Basic, to Vikro’s best knowledge. He caught some words, like “boy” and “Jedi” and knew, with a shiver down his spine, that he had found his first physical link to the boy he had been seeing in his visions for years.

“Which way did he go?” Vikro inquired, his hazel eyes emphatically searching the quivering Devaronian’s face. Whatever this boy had done, whether wittingly or not, had reduced the Devaronian to the mind of a child, a powerful Dark Side ability.

Another string of garble, in which Vikro was able to catch, barely, the words “2B” “Lower Levels” “Fourth District” “Safe House”, before the Devaronian collapsed, the strain on his mind to great, as he fell into unconsciousness. Vikro propped him up, and covered him in his cloak, before slowly standing.

“By the Force boy, you need to be stopped before you do any more damage,” he muttered, as he walked swiftly to the Fourth District, taking a creaking turbo lift to level 2B.

As the doors creaked open, he saw several guards snap to attention, bringing their rifles up. Vikro chuckled and walked jauntily towards them, acting to the guards as if he were an arrogant upper class merchant.

“State your business here stranger,” one of them, a young man said. Vikro could sense through the Force, strangely, that the boy was afraid of him, and wanted to be anywhere but there.

“I wish to speak with your leader,” Vikro said, gently, knowing full well that this boy had gotten into something over his head, and that he didn’t deserve to face the crimes that the rest of the gang inevitably would.

“Name?” The other guard said, walking over to glare down at Vikro.

“Vikro,” Vikro answered honestly, “Now, I wish to speak with your leader.” He said, waving his arm smoothly to subtly influence the man through the Force, pressing gently on the man’s brain.

“Of course,” the man said stiffly, turning abruptly to unlock the door, as the second guard, the young boy, turned, and sprinted in ahead of Vikro in a move that looked completely unprofessional.

Kinyen – Black Haven Base

“Quick, Xander, wake up!” Hissed Jysek, roughly pushing the younger boy awake, as he glanced around nervously.

“What is it?” Xander said sleepily, as he slowly sat up in his bed, rubbing the small crusty sleep from his eyes, as he quickly became wide awake.

“A man just arrived, and he looked like trouble. Now’s our chance to escape! Torga has a personal craft ready and primed just a few levels above us for a quick escape in case of trouble. If we can make it to it, we could get out of here. Lets go!” Jysek said, pulling Xander to his feet as he raised the Disruptor Rifle, checking it was properly loaded and charged.

“Alright,” Xander said, nodding fiercely as he pulled his boots on, and slid his blaster pistol out of the hidden compartment in the sole, as Jysek looked on in amazement.

“You never told me you had that! We could have left earlier!”

“I didn’t feel the time was right before,” Xander said, as he primed the blaster, before creeping over to the wall.

Jysek crouched and jogged over to join him. He turned to Xander, and held up three fingers. He closed one, then the other, then clenched his fist closed, and the two darted out, spraying fire into the two nearest guards, before barrel rolling over a desk, and into a private turbo lift, slamming the door shut as return fire slammed into it.

Jysek rapidly punched commands into the control pad, and the lift began to rise, creaking slowly from the strain it had been put under from the laser bolts slamming into its casing. He stood there, staring into the closed door, breathing hard, as it ascended. He turned slightly, to face Xander, and double taked as he saw Xander’s burnt, scorched hands.

Xander stared dumbly at his scarred, disfigured hands, still in shock at how he had, unthinkingly, raised his hands and projected some barrier which blocked the twenty or so blasts that had been fired at them before the lift doors had closed. He had stopped them harming Jysek or himself, but at the cost of his hands. They would be write in a few weeks, but at that moment, they burnt as if he had been plunged into all seven Corellian Hells simultaneously.

“Are you ok?” Jysek breathed, as the lift hurtled up, drawing close to their destination.

“Yeah, fine,” Xander said nodding, breathing in deeply and centering himself as the lift slammed to a stop, and the doors opened to reveal a luxurious YT vessel. Glancing both ways to check for guards, Jysek and Xander sprinted for the craft, ripping off the manual control plate, and slicing into the system to lower the ramp manually, before scampering aboard as it closed behind them moments later.

Jysek rushed to the cockpit, settling himself down heavily, as his fingers flew across the system controls. He breathed a sigh of relief, “We’re lucky, my dad was repairing one of these a few years ago, and he took me into the cockpit and told me how it worked, and how to fix parts when they went haywire. I could probably fly this thing with my eyes closed.”

“Lets not test that theory,” Xander said, as he buckled himself into the co-pilot seat, gripping the armrests tightly as Jysek brought the ship into the air, sending sharp shudders throughout the craft.

“Relax Xander, everything will be fine now,” Jysek said reassuringly.

Suddenly, shield read-outs began flashing, and a loud, warbling siren began rising up and down through the frequency range an average human ear could hear.

“Somehow I don’t believe you,” Xander said, “They’ve got multiple missile locks on us, and several turbo-laser turrets are powering up in the cities west. I’ll take the top turret if you don’t mind.”

“Sure, I’ll try and loose them,” Jysek said, nodding, as he twisted the yoke right, left, and down as he tried to shake the locks. “Missiles launched!” He yelled, “Try to pick them off!”

“Easier said than done,” Xander muttered, from the top turret casing as he spun around, trying to spot the missiles both on the radar and visually. He first spotted them only seconds before the first hit. He managed a snap shot and melted the second and third out of the sky, but the first, a concussion missile, slammed into the Hyperdrive casing, smashing the shield, and damaging the Hyperdrive itself.

“Are you doing anything up there?!” Jysek called out as he fought the controls, spinning the craft as he watched in satisfaction as the fourth and fifth missiles smashed into each other whilst attempting to follow him through the manoeuvre.

“Relax, we’ll make it, only two more left!” Xander called back, as he lined up his sights, sending fiery bolts through one of the two, but watched in despair as his bolts missed the second. He tracked it across the sky, anticipating a sudden drop it made, and finally caught it. “I did it!” he exclaimed, joyfully letting out a cheer.

“We’re not out of this yet, turbo lasers are still ready just out of range, right where we need to go,” Jysek said grimly, as he tried to gain as much altitude as he could, hopefully to remain out of range of the turrets. Almost as soon as he was able to see the turrets visually, he felt smashes against the vehicle, as it shuddered in the air. “Obviously not,” he muttered to himself.

Xander took a deep breath, spinning the turret casing around, and firing three rapid fire shots at the centre turret, and watched in satisfaction as it blossomed a beautiful orange in the setting sun as his shots found their mark.

“Nice shooting for someone who’s only ever practiced in an X-Wing before,” Jysek said, not allowing anything into his voice other than relief that they now had a free shot into space. He had practiced for years, and he was nowhere nearly as good as Xander, who had practiced for only a few weeks.

He flipped a switch by the yoke, and examined a read-out, a frown creasing his forehead as his eyes darted over the figures. “This doesn’t look good,” he said over the comm to Xander.

“Why? What’s wrong?” Xander asked, as he began unbuckling his seat belt in the gunner turret.

“The Hyperdrive has been pretty badly damaged, it’ll take us a few months at least to get even as far as Lorta, and that’s the closest planet with any form of fuelling station. We can’t go back to Kinyen, so its our only choice.”

“Lorta it is then.”

Kinyen – Local Security Forces Headquarters

“Shut up you filthy crim,” an officer said, shoving the last of the Black Haven criminals into their cell, before slamming the door shut and activating the force-field surrounding the eight dangerous men and women who had only hours ago been running a highly successful and illegal base of operations.

“Thanks again,” the man said, turning to Vikro, who stood at the other side of the room, his arms crossed, and barely breathing irregularly after half an hour straight of fighting the leaders of Black Haven. “What did you say your name was?”

“I didn’t. I represent the Phantoms.” Vikro said, turning to leave, as the man gave an audible gasp, “We’re back.”

Personal Craft of Jedi Council Member Vikro

Vikro breathed out, watching as his breath fogged up the transparisteel in his passenger seat. The operation had been successful, but something still puzzled him. The boy he had seen leave his post and race inside had been found no where inside, and there had been filtered reports of Kinyen Security attempting to apprehend to criminals who had stolen a personal freighter craft

In his mind’s eye he raced over the events of the last two days. The Devaronian, distraught and babbling, and a sure sense that the boy had been there. The Black Haven criminals, grumbling about cowardly allies. The boy abandoning his post, and then disappearing. The stolen craft. The sense of familiarity in one of the dormitories in the base.

Suddenly Vikro sat bolt upright. The boy had been in the base. He wasn’t sure if the boy at the post was him or not, but the reports had said two people had stolen the craft, so it may well have been a companion of his.

The boy who had plagued his visions and dreams with darkness. The boy he had desperately been trying to find for the last two years. He had missed him by mere minutes. Vikro breathed out frustratingly, as his pilot pulled out of the atmosphere, lining up to return them to Bakura.

He would find the boy, and bring him to justice for what he had done. He would either be forced to kill the boy as he had his brother, sister-in-law and nephew all those years ago, or bring him to the Temple for training in the Jedi ways, and hope to the Force that none of those incidents ever repeated themselves. Vikro remained deep in thought as his shuttles made the jump to lightspeed, leaving Kinyen far behind.
_________________

Time to start again.

Xander Vos

Chapter Eight

** 6 ABY **

Xander awoke from a deep sleep to hear the long awaited pinging that indicated they were leaving Hyperspace after four long months of hopping from uninhabited system to uninhabited system. They had lived mostly off supplies in the craft, but occasionally there had been a small out-post, no fuelling or repair stations, in one of the systems recorded as having no planet to sustain life.

As Xander glanced out of his bunk-room, he watched with mild humour as Jysek, only half dressed and desperately pulling on his shirt bolted down the hall, racing for the cockpit. It was well known by all spacers that you never had to pull the lever, and that the safety override pulled a craft out of Hyperspace as soon as it got close enough to a large gravity-mass. It was safer, however, when merely pleasure cruising, to manually cut out of Hyperspace.

As Xander felt the smooth bump that indicated they had pulled out of Hyperspace and into the Lortan system, he made his way at a calm pace into the cockpit to greet Jysek. He watched in feigned seriousness as Jysek bounced around the cockpit, checking read-outs and dials, flipping switches, pushing buttons rapidly, and pulling levers.

“So we’re finally here,” Xander said, yawning and scratching his scalp in contentedness.

“Yeah, and we’ll be lucky if those folks back at Kinyen Security didn’t figure out where we were headed, make the journey in half an hour, and wait in ambush for us. Hopefully they’ll be to preoccupied by the crims that Jedi brought in when we left.”

From the way Jysek immediately shut up, Xander could tell he had said something he hadn’t meant to. “A Jedi? On Kinyen? And you didn’t tell me? Jysek, you know how much I want to become a Jedi like my Grand-Father, why didn’t you tell me?”

Jysek opened his mouth as if to speak, but closed it just as quickly. He turned away from Xander, as if in shame, “Because I know I’ll never be a Jedi, and that as soon as you reach their hide out, you’ll dump me for your Master, then your Apprentice, then another Apprentice, and so on.”

Xander walked over to stand by Jysek, and placed a reassuring hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Jysek, I’ve known you nearly all my life. I would never dismiss you or leave you behind you should know that. Besides, I heard the Jedi Temple employs non-Force Sensitives to work as mechanics and such, so we could still spend plenty of time together.”

Jysek’s face brightened almost immediately, “Really? That would be awesome! Now, the only trouble is finding their Temple. Maybe some locals here will have heard of them.”

“Only one way to see,” Xander said, grinning.

Kroprulu – Military Debriefing Room

“We will launch the attack in little under an hour. It will take possibly twenty galactic standard minutes to reach our target,” Empress Dell said, using a laser pointer on the Galactic map. “Supreme General Crusher shall lead the assault on the planet’s surface, and Grand Admiral Astra’s forces shall attack from space. Lords Astra and Crusher personally, however, shall fight through the streets on the ground. Lord Zero and his Hands are already in place, and shall provide assistance if necessary.”

Crusher and Astra nodded, glancing at each other and grinning like young boys, not the hardened warriors they were. Although Astra was primarily a naval officer, he had asked to help lead the assault on the ground to touch up on his hand-to-hand combat skills that he had let go in the years past.

“Very well my Empress, we are ready to leave as soon as you see fit.” Astra said, bowing before the wise Empress of the Empire. Astra was eager to teach the men serving under him, including a young boy of only thirteen, Lanik.

“Very well, men. Set your course for Lorta.”

Bakura – Jedi Temple

Shatterpoint flowed smoothly over the grass in the outer Temple grounds, taking in the tranquillity of the life surrounding her, and soaking in the radiant warmth of the midday sun.

Suddenly, an invisible cloud seemed to pass over her inner consciousness, and she took a sharp breath.

“What is it?” Her secret husband, Jedi Master Koras said, concern written over his face, as he placed a hand over hers.

“I feel a great disturbance in the Force. Something terrible is going to happen on Lorta. I must leave, immediately.”

“But wait, you can’t go alone, I’ll accompany you. I’m sure we can bring in some aerial support to aide you if this becomes dangerous,” Koras said, turning and speaking rapidly into his comlink, before putting it away again

“It is settled. Four Blockade Runners and eight Corvettes are being diverted to help you. If it is as dangerous as you say and I feel, that may be not enough,” Koras said, his eyes darting over his wife’s concerned features.

“Just having you there for me is more than enough,” Shatterpoint said, smiling gratefully. “Thank you,” she said, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.

“We must leave at once,” Koras said, rising to his feet immediately, as Shatterpoint rose to follow him.

Lorta – Surface

Two hours later, Xander and Jysek were on the surface, their craft, dubbed the Escapee after their exploits, was being repaired, as they wandered through the city. To replace their lost weapons at Kinyen, Xander and Jysek had each bought a vibroblade and vibrosword, which could reputedly stop even a lightsaber if angled right.

Xander and Jysek had had a few practicing jousts, and were pretty confident that they had mastered the swords as well as could be expected after owning them for less than an hour.

As they sat in a tapcafe, Xander felt a nudge through his slowly developing Force senses that something was wrong. He couldn’t place it, but it felt like a horrible vibration at the back of his teeth, and it felt bad.

He caught a glimpse of three men wondering the other side of the street, their cloaks done up tight, concealing their faces, but Xander caught a sense that they were involved in something bad and big.

He whirled, drawing his vibrosword just as the first explosion went off two blocks away, and the three men drew ruby lightsabers.

As Xander and Jysek raced towards them, Xander realised that one of them was hardly a man, not even as old as Jysek, but that the other two were powerful in the Force, their presences dominating his mind, making him feel minute and worthless.

As they spun towards him, he slashed fiercely, surprised that he heard one of the men grunt and fall back in pain.

“Defeat them Crusher. Show Lanik the true powers of the Dark Side,” he said, as he deactivated his lightsaber, tending to his gaping wound in his side. It would have killed an ordinary man, and the man must have been poorly trained or over confident to have allowed such a costly first strike.

“Lanik, eliminate this fiery youth, I’ll take the older one,” snapped the man Xander assumed must have been Crusher. He gulped as he glanced at the young boy, marching fiercely forward, brandishing his fiery blade.

Lunging forward, Xander pivoted on his right foot, aiming to the boys left, before quickly feinting to the left before placing a strike at the boy’s face. It was like he had known only one of the strikes would ever have hit, and he anticipated the strike precisely, raising his blade, and sending the Vibrosword glancing away, and sending pins and needles shooting through Xander’s wrist.

He stumbled back, momentarily, and leaped forward again, smashing his blade into his opponent’s hoping to defeat him with raw strength, pushing the boy’s blade back, and forcing him back a pace, before disengaging, and striking again, this time to the left.

The boy spun on his feet, blocking the blow, although Xander could see that this deflection wasn’t as easy as the first. He felt a sinking in his stomach as he saw the boy smirk, lift one hand from his lightsaber, and send blue tendrils of agony shooting through Xander’s body.

Xander struggled to remain conscious, gazing coldly into the boy’s face, pushing with his mind, as if will power alone would prevent the attack from draining him of all his energy.

“You have much potential,” Lanik murmured, “Join me. Join the Sith, and we can rule the Galaxy!”

“Never,” Xander said, breathing heavily, as he pushed his vibro-sword back up, watching in satisfaction as the lightning conducted upon its surface, instead of his body, running along it instead.

“Very well, you leave me with no choice,” the boy said, raising his hand. Xander felt the air leave his lungs as he was flung backwards by an invisible force, unable to prevent it.

Xander couldn’t even feel his back smash into the wall as he slid to the ground. Lanik stood over him, gloating. “Now, you will feel the agony of loosing your arms, then legs, and finally your life,” he snarled, slicing down hard with his blade, severing Xander’s left arm. Biting his lip to stifle the scream, Xander felt tears roll down his face, as he heard the boy laugh sadistically above him, and finally the scream tore through his lips, echoing through the streets, as everywhere men, women and children fell to Sith Soldiers.

Near him, he watched foggily as Jysek fought on viciously, pushing Darth Crusher back. With a surge of panic Xander realised the man was toying with Jysek, and, as Jysek parried a blow, watched Crusher disarm him, and hold his lightsaber to Jysek’s throat, speaking words Xander couldn’t hear. As unconsciousness gripped him, Xander heard the haunting sound of another lightsaber igniting, and a flash of purple, and then he heard and felt nothing else.
_________________

Time to start again.

Xander Vos

Chapter Nine

** 6 ABY **

Lorta – Medical Centre

As Xander opened his eyes shakily, all he could make out were foggy shapes, and what looked like a woman leaning over him, a concerned expression on her face.

“Mum?” He asked groggily as he tried to sit up and look around.

“He’s still in shock,” the woman said, pushing him back down, and turning away to address someone else, “He thinks I’m his mother. Did the prosthetic surgery go as planned?”

That caught Xander’s attention. His eyes snapped open, able to see fine as he sat up again. “Prosthetic? Me? What happened?”

The woman turned back, “The Sith invaded Lorta, the Force knows why, and you and your friend were caught up in it. I managed to save you before one of them killed you, but your entire left arm was lost.”

“Jysek? What happened to him?” Xander asked, glancing around, hoping to catch Jysek napping in another bed, ready to leap up and go on another adventure. With shock he remembered his last memories, Jysek’s disarmament, the ease with which a mere boy had defeated him, and the power Jysek had faced.

The lady bit her lip, looking saddened by the question. “I managed to beat off the Sith and force them to retreat, and Koras destroyed a large portion of their fleet. They won’t bother Lorta for a while.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” Xander said, with a sinking feeling, knowing all too well now what had happened, but needing to hear it.

“Son – what’s your name?”

“Xander.”

“Xander, you survived the attack with vicious wounds, after fighting a Sith Apprentice. Your friend fought a Sith Lord, specially trained in combat fighting. He had no chance. I’m sorry, I did all I could, but he died of grievous injuries in my hands,” she said, turning away as Xander’s bottom lip trembled, as if to give him the dignity of shedding tears with no one to witness the lapse.

“Life goes on. He’s now at peace with himself and the Force,” Xander said softly, repeating the saying his mother had taught him from an early age.

The woman stiffened visibly in the chair, and Xander could feel, even without any use of the Force, her sudden curiosity. “That’s a Jedi saying. How do you know it?”

“My mother was a Jedi. Before I left home, she revealed it to my father and me. I haven’t seem them in a year,” Xander said, letting his head droop.

“My name is Asil Leikane, I am a Jedi Master at a Jedi Academy. If you come with me, I could train you to be a Jedi,” Asil said, under her breath, even though they were alone in the room. “Tell me, what was your mother’s full name? And your father’s?”

“Lysa Sornfree and Korto Vos. Why?” Xander said, feeling a confusion of emotions: immense sadness at his friend’s death, coupled with grief, but also a sense of excitement at the prospect of being a Jedi.

“Sornfree? Vos? They were two of the most famous Jedi of the Old Republic. Sornfree perhaps only amongst the Jedi survivors as a common Jedi who had gone missing to the Clones, but Vos, Quinlan Vos, he was a Jedi Master, a powerful Kiffar Jedi. I assume Korto is his son?”

“Yes, Quinlan was my Grand Father. Are you really a Jedi? Could you train me?” Xander asked, holding his breath in anticipation of the bitter disappointment, that he was almost sure was to come.

“Yes, there is a secret Order on Bakura. I will need to be sure you are Force Sensitive, and then you will need to understand how secretive our Order is. But, of course, we will explain all our laws when you arrive.”

Asil closed her eyes, reaching out in the Force to probe Xander’s presence, “Now,” she said, her eyes closed, “Try to use the Force and expand your presence as much as you can. Basically tense all your muscles and make yourself as big as possible physically, and it should be repeated mentally. Over time you will be able to do it with no physical movements, but only after training.”

“Alright, I’ll try,” Xander said, nodding. He closed his eyes, and followed the instructions Asil had said.

Suddenly Asil gasped, her eyes flying open, “Such power... I had expected much from the son of two powerful Jedi, but this. This rivals many of the Jedi Knights in our Order, and this is unbridled, no training. You will get stronger in time, and that would make you a powerful ally, or a bitter enemy. Let me take you to the temple, give you training, and help you grow in the Force.”

“I would like nothing more than that,” Xander said, “Thank you Asil, this means the world to me, following in the footsteps of my Grand Father and mother.”

“Your perfectly welcome,” Asil said, smiling, “Call me Shatterpoint, everyone does.”

“Ok,” Xander said, struggling to smile, knowing it would be a while before he would ever be able to feel happiness again, “Thank you Shatterpoint.”

“I’ll let you say your fare wells to your friend, and then you can meet me at my ship in Docking Bay 347, he’s in the room downstairs, ask at the desk. The doctors have declared that you’re perfectly fine, so we can leave as soon as you’re ready,” Shatterpoint said, rising and placing a comforting hand on Xander’s shoulder before leaving him.

Xander stared at the wall for a few minutes, finally letting the tears flow. Jysek had been his friend for more than half his life. They had been here merely on a repair objective. Everything had happened so fast, and now he was gone. Gone forever. At least, as his mother had always said, he was now at peace in the Force, and Xander was thankful of that.

He rose, pulling on a shirt hanging on the rack, and a pair of pants, and his boots that rested by the foot of the bed. He holstered the blaster that his father had given to him, and he had used at Black Haven’s main base.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of his room, and on to face his destiny.

Lorta – Docking Bay 347

Shatterpoint sat in her ship, meditating on the startling discovery she had made almost by accident. Xander Vos was powerful in the Force, that was for sure, but it was raw talent, and that could prove fatal in his training as it had for so many padawans in the distant past.

He was the son of a Jedi Knight, and the grand son of a Jedi Master, and his power was greater than even Quinlan Vos’ that was for certain, but something was not right in him, and Shatterpoint was worried about it.

Perhaps it was just that his friend had died so suddenly and cruelly, yet another name added to the list of victims to Sith atrocities. Shatterpoint shook her head sadly. The Sith had for long been dormant on their throne world of Kroprulu, but recently they had become much more aggressive and violent. They had to be stopped.

Xander didn’t have the taint of the Dark Side, which she had initially feared because of his battle with the Sith and the death of his friend, but he wasn’t steeped in the light either. He had the feel of one who had joined the Grey Order, although she knew that was impossible. However, he did have some Force techniques, and had demonstrated the ability to expose himself to the Force, so Shatterpoint did wonder.

She moved to push the button that would extend the ramp, as she felt Xander’s presence enter the docking bay, before standing and moving into the pilot’s chair. A few minutes later, she heard Xander behind her, enter the cockpit as well, and sit down heavily in the co-pilot’s chair.

“Where is the Order again?” Xander said, clearly having forgotten, or not having absorbed it after the news of his friend’s death.

“Bakura, so its not far away,” Shatterpoint answered, keying in a request for lift off.

“Bakura...” Xander said thoughtfully, “It’s almost as if the Force wanted me to go there.”

“Why do you say that?” Shatterpoint asked, lifting off as the light on the console blinked green.

“Jysek-“ Xander stopped, swallowing hard, “Jysek and I were trying to take out Black Haven, which took us to Kinyen, and then from there to Lorta, which, if you take into account our starting on Tatooine, has moved us closer and closer to Bakura.”

“What did you say? You took on Black Haven?”

“Yeah,” Xander said, smiling ruefully, “It didn’t turn out too well, they captured us and forced us to work for them. We only just escaped before someone managed to defeat them for us.”

“Vikro...” Shatterpoint murmured, deep in thought.

“What did you say?” Xander asked curiously.

“Nothing, never mind,” Shatterpoint said, moving the ship into position, before easing the Hyperspace lever back, sending them hurtling into Hyperspace. “Get some rest, you’ve had a rough journey.”
_________________

Time to start again.

Xander Vos

Chapter Ten

**6 ABY**

Bakura – Outer Atmosphere

Xander yawned and stretched as he rubbed his eyes blearily, staring down at Bakura, hanging in space as if suspended by the gods. Only minutes ago Shatterpoint had awoken him from his slumber, telling him they were almost there. She was speaking quietly into the comm unit, doubtlessly clearing their passage with the Bakuran government.

Moments later, the ship cruised down, cutting through the clouds, and cruising down towards one of the main cities on Bakura. From there the craft glided towards the outskirts of the city, and then up into a densely forested area.

“How do you make sure you don’t crash?” Xander asked, gripping his seat as Shatterpoint flew them through the trees, her eyes half closed, not hitting a single branch.

“The Force guides me. It’s one of the preliminary tests. If a pilot can’t even navigate the forest, they shouldn’t deserve to find our Temple,” Shatterpoint said. “Now, watch out, we’re almost there.”

Xander leaned forward in his seat, gazing excitedly out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Temple. As they reached a large clearing, Xander saw it. The Temple rose majestically above the tree-line, the curving arches shone brilliantly in the rising sun. The Temple itself was large, covering hundreds of square meters. The clearing was obviously artificially made, and a Docking Bay sat off to the side.

As the craft came to rest on auto-pilot, Shatterpoint went to her private room to fetch her lightsaber and cloak, while Xander gathered his meagre possessions, now one greater with the addition of Jysek’s vibroblade. As he walked down the ramp, and out towards the Temple, Xander reflected for a moment, upon his journey. He and Jysek had been through so much together, and now he was alone. The only companion he had who he could trust was Shatterpoint, but he didn’t know her very well.

He had heard rumours through the years that the Jedi Knights of old were stuck up and snobbish. He hoped they weren’t true. He hoped to make many friends here, and that he would be welcomed. He took a deep breath, and stepped into the Temple, a step behind Shatterpoint.

Jedi Temple – Council Chambers

“Xander Vos is the grand son of Quinlan Vos, and the son of Jedi Knight Lysa Sornfree,” Shatterpoint said.

“Where is he now?” Abba said, intrigued by this new arrival.

“He is wondering the Temple, aquatinting himself with the other Padawans and Initiates here,” Shatterpoint said.

“We will need to interview him soon, if he is to become an Apprentice here,” Vikro said, feeling something strange about this boy. He hadn’t seen him yet, but he knew there was something... different about him, something familiar.

“The Force has brought him here, that much is certain,” Shatterpoint said, “But I feel a darkness about him. If not trained properly, he could be a deadly enemy. I suggest a Council Member train him, not a normal Master.”

“Agreed,” Rive said, “When we interview him, we can decide then who will train him in the ways of the Force.”

“I wish to speak to him privately, first,” Vikro said, thoughtfully.

“No problem. Why is that, if I may ask?” Abba said.

“I sense something familiar about the boy. It may be nothing. It may be something as simple as the fact we were both born on Tatooine, or it may be something more.”

“It seems a lot of us were born on Tatooine,” Abba joked, but turned sombre, “Yes, I understand what you mean. That shouldn’t be a problem. As Shatterpoint said, he will most probably be in the Padawan Quarters, or in the Training Facility, so look for him there.”

“I will,” Vikro said, standing to leave, “I will return with him.”

“Very well, may the Force be with you,” Rive said, saying the customary farewell rite.

“And with you,” Vikro said, returning the message, before turning and leaving.

Jedi Temple – Padawan Quarters

Xander held his breath in awe as he trode softly through the corridors of lavish living quarters. He had never seen such lavish sleeping areas in his life, though he could tell many would consider this plain. After growing up on a planet where it was always dusty and sandy, and your bed was made of an itchy wool, this place looked like heaven.

“What are you doing here?” A sharp, suspicious voice said.

Xander whirled around, startled. Before him stood a boy, who looked to be only about four or five, maybe six years older than him. He had dirty blonde hair, with the front spiked up. His eyes were light brown, with tinges of yellow in them, and he was just barely taller than Xander himself.

“Who are you?” Xander blurted out.

“I am Lyn Korak. This is my home. I asked you a question, what are you doing here?” The boy, nearly a man, said, his eyes piercing through Xander, as if he could see into his soul.

“I’m Xander Vos, I’m to be a trained as a Jedi, if the Council lets me. This is all yours?”

The sharp look in Lyn’s eyes vanished, and the pursed lips smoothed into a grin. “No, this is where all the Apprentices sleep. If you’re to be a Jedi, you can sleep in my room, I’ve got a spare bunk ever since Urwen became a Knight.”

“Thanks, that’d be great,” Xander said gratefully, glad he had already made a friend. “So maybe you could show me around?”

“Sure,” said Lyn, “I just finished a training session with my Master, Kavar, so I guess I’ve got a bit of free time.”

“Padawan Korak,” came a sharp voice from behind them. Lyn turned and gulped.

“Master Vikro, I didn’t see you sir,” Lyn said, bowing stiffly to the older man. Xander looked from man to boy, not sure what was going on. Then Vikro broke the silence with a chuckle. “I’ll never get over your bow, it looks so awkward and unnatural. I need to have a word with Xander alone, if you don’t mind. Kavar wants to discuss your next mission, so run along.”

“Of course Vikro,” Lyn said grinning, and jogging off, his robe flapping behind him.

“Xander,” Vikro said, then stopped, his eyes widening. He took a step back, as if afraid of the boy in front of him.

“Master Vikro?” Xander said, assuming that was this man’s name, taking a step forward, “Are you alright?”

“You – its you,” Vikro said, shakily.

“Me?” Xander said, confused.

“The boy from my visions, the boy who rendered the Devaronian on Kinyen dumb, the boy I have been searching for, for so long. Here, now, walked into my arms,” Vikro said, clearly heavily surprised.

“Your visions? What are you talking about?” Xander said, putting a reassuring hand on Vikro’s arm, and feeling him tense up.

“For years now I have had visions of you, a boy with a white aura,” seeing Xander’s confused expression, he hastened to explain, “Normally in visions that means you are neither tainted with evil or soaked in the purity of light. You are neutral, as if you could go either way at the slightest suggestion. I have been trying to find you to train you as a Jedi, so as not to allow the former occur, I just missed you on Kinyen, though I believe your friend saw me.”

“My friend, is...” Xander gulped, “He died, on Lorta. The Sith invasion, Shatterpoint and someone called Koras stopped them.”

“I am sorry to hear that. Koras is another Council Member, and I am grateful to hear you survived such a vicious and unexpected attack. We must thank the Force that Shatterpoint had the vision that she did.”

“That was something I was meaning to ask,” Xander said.

“Oh?”

“The Force seems to have guided me here from my birthplace on Tatooine. I feel as if the Force wants me to become a Jedi. That’s why it warned Shatterpoint of my danger, and that’s why you never found me before now. I needed to go through those struggles, to let go of all my attachments, and to come here free and pure.”

Vikro faltered for a moment, astounded at the boy’s maturity for someone who seemed to only be about twelve. “The Council wishes to speak with you,” he said softly, “I think we should heed to their request.”

“Of course, Master,” Xander said, “Lead the way.”

Jedi Temple – Council Chambers

“Xander Vos, what brings you to our Temple?” Rive said, looking at the boy standing in the middle of the ornate room.

“The Force, sir,” Xander said, truthfully.

“Oh?”

“I was born on Tatooine, to my father, Korto Vos, and my mother Lysa Sornfree. You may have heard of them. From there, my friend, Jysek, and I travelled through what we thought was a seemingly random set of planets, but now knowing the coordinates of this Temple, I know it was nothing but the Force that led us to each of those worlds, drawing us closer and closer to what I believe to be my destiny.”

Seemingly at a loss for words, Rive turned to glance at Abba, who cleared her throat.

“We believe it was the Force as well, young one. We have felt your potential, and feel it wise that you be trained in the Force.”

Xander breathed in, in excitement, but held his tongue, waiting for her to finish.

“We believe you deserve a strong master, and shall deliberate further on who he or she is to be. Thank you Xander, that is all.”

Xander bowed before the Council before turning and leaving, all in silence, so as to prove further to them his discipline and want to become a Jedi Knight.

As the door slid shut behind him, Vikro waited a moment, to make sure he was out of ear shot, and then spoke. “I believe I should train the boy,” he said.

“Why is that, Vikro?” Koras said, speaking for the first time.

“He is strong in the Force, and needs a powerful Master, as we have agreed upon,” Vikro said.

“That is not what I asked, and you know it,” Koras said, a gentle smile playing across his graceful features.

“He is the boy from my visions,” Vikro said.

“Are you sure?” Rive said, curiosity getting the better of manners.

“As sure as I could be.”

“Very well then. Given the extenuating circumstances, I call for a vote for Jedi Master Vikro to take Jedi Initiate Xander Vos as his Padawan Learner until he, and only he deems Xander Vos ready to take the Trials of the Jedi,” said Rive, “All those who approve.”

At that the room filled with assorted “Ayes”.

“All those who disapprove.”

The room was silent.

“Very well, Vikro’s Apprentice, Xander Vos shall be, after his preliminary training under a Jedi Historian, and may the Force be with them both.”
_________________

Time to start again.

Xander Vos

Chapter Eleven

**6 ABY – One month after Xander is accepted into the Jedi Order**

Jedi Temple – Jedi Archive Classrooms

Xander typed notes into his datapad furiously as his mentor, Jedi Historian Obi-Tyler, poured out information on the Coruscanti Order from the time of its birth to its death at the hands of Darth Vader.

“The Jedi Order once numbered over ten thousand individuals, ranging from Devaronians to Trandoshans, though all were accepted without fail. The Jedi Order strived to maintain peace and prosperity in the Republic, and were known as the Guardians of the Republic for over a thousand generations. Then, in the waning weeks of the Clone Wars, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine deemed the Jedi to be traitors of the Republic, after an apparent foiled assassination attempt. The Clone Troopers who had served loyally under the Jedi Knights and Masters turned on them. None survived. The Jedi Temple-”

“Excuse me sir,” Xander said, raising his hand to staunch the flow of information.

“Yes, Xander?”

“Some did survive. One that I know of at least,” he said, almost embarrassed to have stopped the fascinating lecture.

“Ah, of course. How clumsy of me to forgotten whilst lecturing her own sun. Lysa Sornfree, serving on Maridun for nearly the entire war, was one of the most widely known survivors. Darth Vader and the new Emperor Palpatine continued to assure worried individuals who were concerned she may attack them, that she was dead. However, claims of her survival came from many back water worlds, and Darth Vader dutifully followed up nearly every single one. However, she was never found, and rebels against the Empire’s tyranny began to call her case the Sornfree Myth.

“Now, where was I, ah, yes. The Jedi Temple, which had stood for over fifty thousand years, and still stands, was the main focal pointy of Jedi support on Coruscant, and very nearly the entire Core. Shortly after the Clone betrayal, Darth Vader marched on what many speculate was once his home, killing all Jedi who lay within. Only one is rumoured to have survived, Shaak Ti, a Togrutan Jedi Council Member, not unlike our own Koras. She was reported dead twice during what is now known as the Days of Death. Once at the hands of General Greivous, the Jedi slayer, and the other at Darth Vader’s hands. However, people who claim to have insider information claim that Darth Vader, whilst on the look out for your mother, was also interested in the location of Shaak Ti, for one so powerful could prove a dangerous rallying point for your enemies.”

Catching up to Obi-Tyler, Xander dared pause and ask a question, “If the Emperor hated the Jedi so much, and the Clone Army turned on them, then how did so many survive?”

“I wouldn’t call it many,” Obi-Tyler said, chuckling, “At most I would estimate perhaps twenty could have survived, give or take a few. Now, put that figure up against the ten thousand Jedi that were in the Order at the start of the war. That’s, by my calculations, only a fifth of a percent, and the Galaxy is a big place for twenty Jedi to hide. Some may have assumed new identities, some may even have begun working in the Empire, to topple it from the inside, I can only guess, but I believe my point is proven.

“Now, our Order has a much different history. Many amongst us debate whether the Jedi Order was created by Golte and Feleah on Bespin, in the years after Freedon Nadd’s death, or by Cion and Elitha on Bakura, around the time Naboo was colonised, where we now preside. Golte and Feleah created a Jedi Order separate from the main Order, much as others did on Corellia, and other worlds. However, during the Hyabb-Twith Campaigns, two Jedi, a husband and wife, were separated from the main group of Jedi, their ship damaged beyond control. Making it to Bespin, they begin what will become our Jedi Order. They were Feleah and Golte. Now, I’ll tell you a little secret,” Obi-Tyler said, leaning in, his eyes twinkling.

“What, Master?” Xander said, pausing in his typing.

“Do you know of the Kroprulan Sith? The ones who attacked you? They are ruled by the Zavian line, which started in Atalia Zaviar, who was born on Bespin, to Feleah and Golte.”

“So, our Orders are linked?” Xander said, almost speechless.

Obi-Tyler chuckled, “Yes, it’s a small world, isn’t it?” He said, grinning, “After their first child was born, they began to train her in the ways of the Jedi, until, ten years after her birth, the Order is attacked by unknown forces; possibly advance Sith, or pirates, we have never been able to trace the attack. Feleah and Golte tried to escape with their daughter in their craft, but fell into a coma, and their ship began to drift. There they remained for ten years, their craft supplying them with nutrients as soon as it detected the three of them as unconscious; one of the bonus features of craft then,” Obi-Tyler said, grinning, “They awoke ten years later, still in orbit around Bespin, and learnt of the Order’s destruction. They planned to return to Coruscant after exploring the Galaxy and showing it to their daughter, teaching her how to fly a craft. Obviously they didn’t know how to use it very well, as both they and their daughter crashed such craft only five years later; Feleah and Golte on Bakura, and Atalia on Kroprulu, where she founded her Empire.

“Feleah and Golte, who had stored all their knowledge in holocrons before they travelled to the Outer Rim, and Bakura, where they perished in one of the barren regions of the planet, already weakened from their coma and lack of good nourishment. Seventy-five years later, the barren region has slowly gained moisture, and is a sapling forest, and a colony has settled near it. Two Force Sensitive beings, Cion and Elitha came across the Holocrons, where they began to study the knowledge they contained. Slowly, over forty five years, they built a Jedi Temple based on the blue prints of the Bespin Temple. Cion and Elitha then married, and had a child, Athin, who was the first trainee of our order. The colony near the Holocron grew into one of the main cities of Bakura,” Obi-Tyler said.
“The Jedi implemented a Council, much like the main Jedi Temple on Coruscant once had. A great enemy of the Jedi Order, Trask, returned nearly thirty years ago, and killed the entire Council. It was a disastrous day for the Jedi. Only Grand Master Nalrix survived the attack. He trained his Apprentice Abba well in the Force and, on his deathbed, named her the new Grand Master. For a year Abba sat on the Council alone, until Masters Rive, Shatterpoint and Vikro joined the Council. From there, Jedi Master Koras joined a year later, to form the Council we now have.

“Now, get some rest. Tomorrow we will begin work on constructing your lightsaber. If you are to become Vikro’s Apprentice, you will need to be strong with such a weapon.”

“Thank you Master,” Xander said, dutifully, “I shall rest well tonight for tomorrow’s lesson.”

Jedi Temple – Construction Chambers

“The crystal, is the heart of the blade,” Obi-Tyler said, watching on as Xander began to construct what would become his lightsaber, “The heart, is the crystal of the Jedi. The Jedi is the crystal of the Force. The Force is the blade of the heart. All are intertwined. The crystal, the blade, the Jedi,”

Xander focussed on the lightsaber parts before him as Obi-Tyler recited the ancient mantra, drawing the parts together using the Force. Over the past month Obi-Tyler and he had been travelling here, constructing each part separately, and now Xander was ready to create the lightsaber itself. He drew the crystal into the air using the Force, bringing the focussing lenses around it, and sealing them shut. The body of the light saber, fitted with the correct parts already, split, and fit snug around the focussing lenses, and sealed shut. The two parts welded together instantly, the seam lost forever. His lightsaber was complete.

“You are one,” Obi-Tyler finished, “Now, your preliminary training is complete, Xander Vos. You are ready to become an Apprentice.”

“Thank you Master Obi-Tyler, you have taught me well,” Xander said, igniting his emerald blade in excitement. He was now truly a Jedi, and his parents would be proud.

Obi-Tyler smiled, and placed a hand on Xander’s shoulder, the real one, “No, thank you. You have been the first Jedi Initiate I have educated, and it has been a truly wonderful experience. I hope we can be friends on par, and not as a Master and a Knight, as I am sure you will become.”

“Thank you, that would be truly wonderful,” Xander said, smiling at the Jedi Historian.

“If I may ask,” Obi-Tyler put forward tentatively.

“Of course, Master, you may ask me anything,” Xander said.

“What Form do you seem to prefer? I mean, over all, which seems tailored to your desires the most?”

“Most probably either Makashi or Ataru,” Xander said, thinking hard, “Makashi would provide me with a grace I strive to perfect, but requires a precision that I lack. Ataru, on the other hand, is mainly athletic, which I am well prepared for, and contains little disadvantages for me and my style. Yes, I believe I will choose to learn Ataru, when the time comes, Master.”

“Thank you, Xander, may the Force be with you,” Obi-Tyler said.

“And with you, Obi-Tyler,” Xander said, smiling.

Jedi Temple – Council Chambers

“The Jedi Council will recognise the Apprenticeship of Xander Vos to Jedi Council Member Vikro, as of this moment until Jedi Apprentice Xander Vos’ trials,” announced Shatterpoint, standing at her seat, facing Vikro and Xander Vos who stood in the middle of the room.

For Vikro it felt odd to view the Council as the other Jedi did, and not from his now-vacant seat between Koras and Rive. But he felt reassured nonetheless to be standing by the side of the boy who would be his Apprentice for the next decade at least. He put a hand on Xander’s shoulder, the boy turning and glancing up at the older man, grinning.

“Thank you, Masters,” Xander said, “I promise to serve the Jedi Order well, to learn all that I can and more from Vikro, and most of all to remain loyal to this Order until all breath leaves my lungs.”

“Very well, congratulations Vikro, congratulations Xander Vos, your Apprenticeship to Vikro has begun. We shall have a mission for you as soon as one emerges,” Abba said, smiling at the two, pleased to see that all had gone to plan and that the boy knew the importance of the Order and its secrecy. Obi-Tyler had taught him their history well. She was pleased with Obi-Tyler, who was showing immense progress after his first two Padawans had fallen to the Dark Side, joining countless others at Empress Dell’s Empire. She glanced at the other Council Members, in case they had anything to add.

No one spoke for a moment, and then the silky tone of Koras filled the gap, spilling forth. “Xander Vos, ever since I first saw you, unconscious after the Sith attack on Loorta and your friend’s death, I knew there were great things in store for you. The power you have inherited should never be taken lightly, and that I must impress upon you with the utmost importance. No doubt Obi-Tyler has told you of the countless Jedi Padawans who have desired more power, traversing the thin line between darkness and light with arrogance. Vikro has told us of your actions on Kinyen, and how you felt about them, and I hope you keep that feeling in mind if ever you feel the seductive pull of the Dark Side.”

“I will, Master Koras,” Xander said solemnly, nodding his head in the Togruta’s direction, “Thank you, I will not forget that.”

“Then may the Force be with you all,” Vikro said, motioning for Xander to lead the way out of the room, and towards the Apprenticeship which would be known through the Temple for decades to come as one of the most famous of them all.
_________________

Time to start again.

Xander Vos

Chapter Twelve

**6 ABY – 3 Months After Xander is accepted into the Order**

Jedi Temple – Sparring Chambers

Xander concentrated on the glow of his lightsaber, the sweat on his face gleaming, as he struggled to remain upright. Vikro watched him from four paces away, his breathing still regular, and no sign that he had spent the last hour duelling Xander.

Xander stumbled momentarily, pressing his back against the wall to take a deep breath. Suddenly, without warning, Vikro dove towards him, lightsaber pointed at Xander’s heart, the blue blade cutting through the air viciously.

Xander ducked under the blade, weaving so that he ended up behind Vikro’s back, and swung hard at Vikro’s unprotected skull. Vikro whirled, disarming Xander in an instant, and tapping him gently on the neck with his blade to signify the end of the duel.

“Very impressive,” Vikro said, smiling, “For one who has just begun, you show great potential in the art of Ataru.”

“Thank you Master, I have been practising every night,” Xander said, smiling gratefully.

“Come, young one, I believe the Council has a mission for us,” Vikro said, motioning to the door to the sparring chambers. Xander summoned his lightsaber back to him, and clipped it to his belt, the lightsaber staying a moment longer than would be usual in Xander’s left arm, and Xander felt a twinge of sadness as he was again reminded of the disaster on Lorta, and what had led to his left arm being severed by a Sith.

All around the pair, other students parried with their Masters. Here and there, Nautolans trained with Kel Dors, Devaronians with Mon Calamari, the variation in species in the Temple brought about a sense of peace and tranquillity, everyone knowing that their place in the Jedi Temple was assured.

The doors to the Council chambers hissed open, and Abba stopped speaking. Xander had a sinking feeling they had been talking about him, and from the looks many of them were giving him, it didn’t seem to have been about anything good.

“Xander, we have watched your progress over the last two months, and are quite pleased with how you are adapting to this change in your environment. However, some grave concerns about your... family... have been brought before us that needs to be addressed,” Rive said.

“What do you mean?” Xander asked with confusion, “My Mother was a Jedi Knight, my Grand Father a Jedi Master, the Force-“

“Yes, that’s the problem,” Koras interjected smoothly, “You don’t know your family history very well, do you?”

“Well, no, not really,” Xander admitted, gazing at his shoes, partially embarrassed that they seemed to know more about his family than he did.

“Quinlan Vos was a great Jedi Master in the times of the Clone Wars. Early in the conflict, he was sent into Count Dooku’s forces as a Double Agent for the Jedi Council. However, to prove his loyalty, he had to commit terrible acts, and in dark moments the Coruscanti Council believed he had become a Triple Agent. Towards the end of the war, Quinlan seemed to embrace the dark all together, cutting off all ties with the Jedi, and siding with Dooku. Only at the very end, in the dying months of the war, did he assume his correct place on the Jedi side,” Abba said.

Xander opened his mouth, as if to speak, and then closed it again, unsure of what to say. He had never known that his Grand Father had, at one point been a... a... Dark Jedi. The Council had always reacted to the news that he was Quinlan Vos’ grandson with great surprise, yes, but excitement as well.

“What does this mean?” He ventured forth.

“We are sending you and Vikro on a mission. It seems a new General has taken command of the Sith Forces, a General Revenous. Recent reports have suggested he has attacked Naboo, and indeed our communications to the planet have been lost. We need you and Vikro to travel there and assuage the situation,” Shatterpoint said.

Vikro stepped forward, speaking for the first time, “What if the Sith forces are still on the planet? It could prove quite dangerous. It is Xander’s first mission, and to expose him to such danger could be quite... well... dangerous.”

“The Council has made its decision. Whilst reports indicate there was an attack on Naboo, no information suggests the Sith remained on planet. These are grave times,” Rive said, leaning forward in his chair, “The Sith have attacked several planets in the Outer and Inner Rims, and before long they could attack Bakura itself. The Dark Side clouds their ambitions. Tread carefully, and may the Force be with you.”

“And you,” Xander and Vikro said simultaneously, bowing, and turning, and leaving the room.

Jedi Temple - Padawan Quarters

“So its some kind of big mission, huh?” Lyn asked as he watched Xander hastily stuff belongings into his bag.

“That’s all they said. Naboo has been attacked by the Sith, and we have to check for survivors and help people get back on their feet. The Council doesn’t believe the Sith will still be there, but Vikro has his own opinion on the matter,” Xander said, pulling on his boots.

“I wish I could go with you,” Lyn sighed despondently, “The most fun Kavar and I have had is checking on some locals who had trouble with a speeder.”

Xander laughed, “Don’t worry, I’m sure your time will come. In fact, they probably only gave us this mission because of my status, if you know what I mean.”

Lyn nodded. Word had spread like wildfire around the Temple that the Grand-Son of Quinlan Vos was being trained by Vikro, who was somewhat of a hero amongst the Padawans. Rumours of his past adventures were whispered furtively over lunches, and, amongst the more far-fetched of them, people claimed he had died twice only to rise from the dead. Xander had quickly become initiated in Padawan customs, making many friends with Lyn’s help, ranging from Krasin Lyell, to Urwen, who he had much of from Lyn, who had bunked with him before his promotion.

“Well, anyway, I hope you make it back in one piece, I don’t want to feel like I’ve been here so long – having had to have gone through at least three room-mates,” Lyn said grinning.

“I’ll try and keep that in mind,” Xander said, rising and clapping Lyn on the back. Over the last couple of months, he had formed a bond of sorts with Lyn. Nothing that could ever replace what he and Jysek had shared, but still, something that he would enjoy getting used to. The two had talked quite a bit, and Lyn had helped Xander learn his way around the Temple, and to get to know everyone.

But now his childhood had ended, and Xander Vos would become a man.

Naboo – Keren Destroyed Starport

“The entire town has been destroyed, barely anyone survived,” Xander said, to Vikro, shaken at the sight. The two Jedi had landed in Keren to find a blazing trail of destruction. Men, women and children lay slaughtered, the typical lightsaber marks marking the work of Sith. “This used to be beautiful, the city stretching into the horizon, the sun would glisten as it struck the dewy grass on the plains, and the waterfall was a beautiful symphony of nature,” Xander said with sadness, gazing at the city now, chunks of the ground blown away by orbital bombardment, and much of the hills collapsed.

“You’ve been here before?” Vikro asked, surprised.

“Yes, Master I came here when I-“ Xander broke off, his eyes widening in realisation. “No!” He turned, and sprinted in the direction of the mountain range, putting on a burst of speed aided by the Force.

“Xander, wait!” Vikro roared, turning and chasing after him, but Xander already had a sizeable lead, and was much faster naturally than Vikro let alone with the Force.

Naboo – Keren Mountains

Xander stood in the entrance to his Grand-Mother’s grave, speechless to the atrocities he saw. The grave was all but destroyed, lightsaber carvings had sliced through the cave walls, collapsing the back of the cave. It stank of urine, and Xander reeled in disgust at other atrocities the Sith had committed that he would not name.

“No!” He shouted, furious at the Sith, and for what they had done. He drew his lightsaber, igniting it and swinging it madly into a tree on the outcrop of the mountain, just out side the cave. The tree gave way, tumbling over the edge and into the smoggy depths below.

“Xander?” Vikro asked, breathing heavily as he finally caught up to his Apprentice.

Xander whirled, lashing out at Vikro, unable to recognise him as an ally, only seeing red in his anger. Vikro countered, drawing his lightsaber and blocking Xander’s strike. In a swift move he disarmed his Apprentice, catching the deactivated lightsaber in his left hand, and putting both on his belt.

Xander launched himself at Vikro, battering the man’s chest with his fists, though doing no real damage. He begun to sob, his deep breaths racking his frame.

“Why?” he asked, sobbing into Vikro’s chest.

“Xander, you used the Dark Side, just as the Council believed you would, you must be careful. This is why the Old Republic took its Jedi Padawans at a young age, and didn’t allow attachments. You must learn to accept, and let go of your pain. Your Grand Mother died long ago, her bones are dust. All they have destroyed is material memories of her, when all that really matters is that you know that she has gone to the Force.”

Xander took a deep breath, and nodded, “You’re right Master. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do what I did, its just, I got so angry, and I needed to lash out, and there was this power, just waiting there, almost begging me to use it.”

“Never give in to that again,” Vikro said sharply, “That path leads to the Dark Side. It is quicker and easier than the path we traverse, but once you travel down it, you can never pull away.”
_________________

Time to start again.

Xander Vos · Last edited by Xander Vos on Thu Dec 21, 2006 3:34 pm; edited 1 time in total

Chapter Thirteen

**11 ABY**

Jedi Temple – Construction Chambers

Five years had passed. Five long, gruelling years had come and gone. Xander stood in the same spot he had five years ago, when he had been young, when he had been naive. He focussed intently on the assembled parts before him, that would become his final lightsaber.

The parts fit together perfectly, the lightsaber ending at a point which he could use as a blunt weapon if need be, his training with Black Haven having taught him more than enough on how to use such weapons. The black casing was accentuated by a golden spine and silver clasp, which ended in a magnetic clip, which he could clip to his belt more easily than his old, training lightsaber. Recently the Jedi Council had released to him a blue print of what they believed to be one of Quinlan Vos’ later lightsabers. This lightsaber had been modelled off his through grip and colour, although Xander’s was a much darker green than the traditional green.

Xander felt the connection flare between him and his blade as the final pieces slotted into place, the blade more an extension of his being now than a mere tool or weapon, as outsiders perceived it to be. He ignited his blade, feeling the light weight in his hand as the powerful blade hummed into existence. He swung it around experimentally, feeling the power of the blade, and smelling the burnt ozone in the air.

He deactivated the blade, clipping it to his waist, and turned, to face his Master, Vikro. “Care to test the blade in a duel, Master?” He asked, a grin hovering on his face.

“Of course,” Vikro said, “I’ll try hard not to let you lose so easily this time.”

Jedi Temple – Sparring Chambers

Xander paced restlessly around the ring, staring at his Master, daring him to make the first move. Both held their blades at the ready, Vikro’s a piercing blue, Xander’s a dark emerald, both casting eerie shadows in the near darkness, a setting Vikro had applied specifically for this duel. Both lightsabers were set to stun, the aim to strike the opponent gently in the head, to signify the end of the duel.

Vikro leapt forward, pressing a blow down hard towards Xander’s head. Xander leapt to the side, ducking and rolling to avoid the blow. Vikro steadied himself just before he hit the ground, turning and regrouping with not the slightest sign of the attack he had just performed.

Sinking into the form that he was slowly mastering, Xander bent his legs and pushed off from the ground, performing a series of flips and strikes aimed at multiple parts of Vikro’s body. Xander stopped after several minutes, also regrouping from his manoeuvres that Vikro had calmly blocked. He too showed no sign of the complex manoeuvres.

The two paused for a second, the second passing by like an eternity, and then the two rushed each other, their blades meeting in a ferocious roar as they both put their entire strength behind the blow. Neither used the Force as if by an unspoken agreement. The first few probing spars in the match were to be completely physical. Only then would they begin to use the Force in the form of pushes, pulls, and throws.

“You’ve grown strong in the Force Xander,” Vikro said, smiling with pride at his Apprentice, “I am proud of you.” He stepped into his customary Djem So stance, waiting for Xander. He held his lightsaber loosely in one hand, the other hanging by his side in a casual manner.

Xander launched himself again at Vikro, who raised his lightsaber and blocked Xander’s two-handed strike with only one hand, although he was forced back a step. Xander feinted to the left, before striking a blow to Vikro’s shoulder which paralysed it momentarily.

Vikro grasped his lightsaber with both hands, launching himself with the ferocity of a meteor shower, pushing back Xander with brute strength. The two battled on in this manner for what seemed to be hours, the sweat pouring from them in waves.

“You are a good Master Vikro, but all Master’s lose to their Apprentice’s at one point or another,” Xander said with a grin, not allowing Vikro to see how quickly the sweat now poured from him.

Vikro stopped, the initial stage of the duel had reached its climax. He raised his hand, pushing Xander back into the wall with all the strength of his unique Force Push, much stronger than the average Force Push. Xander, well used to this style of attack after having battled alongside Vikro for five years now, was still only able to deflect a partial amount of the energy, the rest sending him slamming into the wall.

He created a Force buffer just in time, as his back smashed in to what felt like a thick cloud, and not the millimetres of air between his back and the wall. He walked forward again, pulling Vikro’s lightsaber hard, catching the aged Jedi Master with surprise, and managed to pull it free, and into his waiting mechanical left hand.

Xander held both blades ignited, the blue and green splaying across his face, and creating an eerie glow. Vikro backed away, his back pushed to the wall, his face displaying uncertainty. Xander approached him slowly, but as he closed to within ten meters, broke into a sprint, lunging at his Master.

Vikro, discarding his mask of uncertainty, flipped over Xander’s head, using the inertia of Xander’s sprint and his own powerful Force Push, sent Xander smashing into the wall. As Xander hit, he spun, locking Vikro’s lightsaber on, and throwing it at his Master, pushing it with all his strength.

It flung hard and fast, and only a quick duck of his head saved Vikro from loosing the duel. As Vikro summoned his lightsaber back, the two stopped, panting for breath after the intensity of the last two minutes.

Almost sheepishly realising they were still duelling, the pair raised their lightsabers again in one final attack in a last ditch effort to defeat the other. Xander flipped over Vikro’s running attack, striking at his Master’s back. Vikro spun, smashing with all his strength up towards Xander’s head. Because of his lethargic strike, Xander’s lightsaber spun from his grasp, and he felt a buzz rattle his teeth as Vikro’s blade touched his chin, announcing his defeat.

“Very good Xander, perhaps next time we will have to call it a draw,” Vikro said, with a weak smile.

“Master?” Xander said.

“Yes?”

“Will you teach me how to perform your Force Push? It is extraordinarily strong, and it would be very useful to be able to use.”

“Of course, but you’ll understand if I say that I won’t be able to teach you it right now,” Vikro said laughing.

“Of course,” Xander said grinning as he raised a hand, his lightsaber thudding into it as the pair walked from the sparring chambers, intent on drinking the cafeteria dry.

Jedi Temple – Training Chamber

After three hours of drinking in the cafeteria, and two days recovery, Vikro stood with Xander in one of the spare Training Chambers, to fulfil his word and teach his Apprentice how to perform his legendary Force “Shove” as it had become known.

Xander stood at the ready, dressed only in a light robe, his lightsaber resting on his over-robe on his bed back in his dormitory. Today he would need nothing but his strength in the Force.

Vikro stood in front of him, his face the perfect picture of calm, his eyes closed in concentration. “Raise your hand,” he instructed, “Over time you will be able to perform this manoeuvre without such a gesture, but it will aid you when you are low on energy, or, as now, when you are just beginning to learn it.”

Xander raised his hand, automatically reaching inside him for the Force, conjuring it around his hand as an invisible force, ready to send it flying into the metallic target Vikro had constructed.

“No,” Vikro said sharply, “That is what would be done for a Force Push. Although a similar although stronger result is attained, this manoeuvre is almost completely different.”

Xander nodded, “I am sorry master,” he said, allowing the energy to dissipate.

“Very well,” Vikro said, continuing. “Feel inside you for the Force, and conjure it – not to your hand – but to the target itself. Surround it in the Force, yes, that’s it,” he said, feeling the target brim with the Force as Xander constantly pushed more and more of the Force from himself upon the target. He could feel Xander immersing it in the Force, with no strength behind it – for strength would actually affect the target, an end Xander was trying hard not to achieve.

“Now, summon a small amount of that energy back towards you in a sort of link,” Vikro commanded, “Then, stretch that link back as tight as it will go, and suddenly sever it, the end result should be a powerful shove, as the Padawans love to call it.”

Xander followed his instructions and was pleased to watch as the metallic monstrosity catapulted back into the wall with enough strength to dent it.

“Good, although I’m sure Rive won’t be too happy about the damage we’ve caused his wall,” Vikro said, a twinkle in his eye. “But over time you will be able to complete that manoeuvre more and more quickly, until it is no more difficult to achieve than an ordinary Force Push.”

“Thank you Master, I always imagined it to be similar to a Force Push, because of the similar result, but now that I see how complicated it is, I truly appreciate how powerful you are.”

“Oh Xander,” Vikro chided, “We are only as strong as the rules we set ourselves, by the constraints we put upon our own power. To use when necessary, yes, but never to cause pain or harm in one who has no intent to do so to us.”

Xander nodded, comprehension dawning on him. Over the years he had evolved from the rash young boy he had been to a civilised young man. He had arrived at the Temple thinking the Force was a tool with which to achieve his aims, to wave around as a badge of honour. Vikro’s powerful guidance had shown him just how wrong he was. The Force was no tool. It was an ally. A powerful ally at that.
_________________

Time to start again.

Xander Vos

Chapter Fourteen

**17 ABY**

Kroprulu – Entrance Hall

Commander Minious sat in his chair, staring lazily out the window to the endless bounds of space above their heads. He had always been bored with this part of the weekly ritual for the Council – approving who was to become Sith, and who were to be rejected and trained as Dark Jedi. He had been debating with the Council for weeks if not months to try and install a droid processing system, with those not chosen by a Master left to be Dark Jedi.

He stopped himself from yawning as the next initiate – a startlingly beautiful young woman, of about fourteen by the looks of her – entered the room. Lord Tontie begun the proceedings, asking her to list her name, gender, planet of origin, and other such tidbits of information that the Council would store in her file.

Tontie then examined a midichlorian sample that had been taken earlier, and nodded in approval.

“Tell me, how best do you think you shall serve the Empire?” He asked.

“I wish to serve in the navy, or as an instructor. I have spent much time learning from my father before his untimely death, and know much about Echani combat.”

“Very well. It just so happens we have a Dathomiri Witch awaiting her final stages of training in the arts of combat, and you may be able to assist,” Tontie said, referring to Darth Minious’ Apprentice Ackin who was nearing her trials.

Darth Minious stiffened, allowing an Initiate, especially one of such a young age assist in training of an Apprentice, no matter how skilled had never been heard of in all his time on the Council which stretched back to the Order’s founding’s. Tontie must have been impressed readily by her midichlorian levels.

“Tell me,” Darth Minious interceded, “You mention your father was an Imperial. Do you hold any biases towards alien species? As you may or may not have realised, our Council contains many near-humans, including myself, and to hold such a bias, no matter what your upbringing would be most unseemly.”

The young woman paused, thinking hard about her answer, “I hold no biases to those who hold none to me,” she said, finally.

Satisfied with her answer, Tontie spewed forth the answer most commonly heard, the answer that would mean she would be trained as a Sith. Judging from the historical significance she already held, Darth Minious knew he would watch Eriaté Sulla’s training and life in the Sith Order with much interest.

Dantooine – Caves

Xander pressed his back up against Vikro’s, the two fighting fiercely against the smugglers who had made their homes in these jewel caves. Thousands of years ago this set of caves had provided jewels for Jedi’s lightsabers when the academy on Dantooine had prospered. Now it was stripped bare by any pirates or smugglers who chose to make home in them.

Xander dodged a blaster bolt, blocking another on his blade. The sheer number of smugglers had overwhelmed Vikro and him, as they had originally been told there would only be a small number.

As five smugglers charged the pair brandishing vibro-blades, Xander was forced to roll to the side, away from Vikro. He sliced through the legs of two smugglers, killing a third with a clean strike through his chest. The smuggler fell away, his last breath gurgling in his lungs.

Xander tried to get up, but a smuggler pushed him back down, holding his gun to Xander’s chest, knocking Xander’s lightsaber away.

“Don’t move Jedi,” he snarled. Xander turned to call for Vikro, but a bright blue blade appeared through the man’s chest, signifying that Vikro had already found him. As the smuggler was pulled away by the force of gravity, his rifle went off, sending a bolt flying into Xander’s chest. Xander threw up his hand instinctively, summoning the Force as if it could aid him in this impossible task.

Moments later he felt intense heat in his palm, but nothing more. He opened his eyes, and glanced at his palm. Not even heat blisters told the tale of the blaster bolt that had hit it moments before. For the first time he noticed the quiet, and realised Vikro had defeated the rest of the smugglers.

Vikro stood above him, holding out Xander’s lightsaber for him, a curious expression resting on his face.

“That’s a rare ability Xander, not many Jedi can perform it. It isn’t one that can be learnt, but is inherited. Your mother’s family must have been blessed with it, as I never knew the Vos family had it in them.”

Xander gazed at his palm, “But what does it mean?”

“Whenever a lightsaber, or any energy for that matter, strikes your body, all you need to do is summon the Force to that area before it is hit, and that energy will be transformed from destructive to helpful. You can use it to empower your lightsaber, or replenish lost stamina.”

Xander breathed in wonder, unable to understand how he had been blessed with such an obviously rare ability. “How do you know so much about it? Can you perform it?”

Vikro chuckled, “By the Force no. I can perform the more common form of it, much as many people can perform the common form of Force Shove. I am able to block energy for a time and redirect it, but I cannot absorb it as you can.”

The two paused for a minute and then, realising where they were, stood and brushed off their clothes.

“Come,” Vikro said, “We should tell the locals that their smuggler problems are finished with.”

Bakuran Temple – Padawan Quarters

Lyn and Xander sat in their room staring at the wall in silence. Both had recently returned from fairly dangerous missions – Xander from Dantooine and Lyn from Mon Calamari. They had rarely spoken of it, but they both knew that soon Lyn was going to be promoted to Jedi Knight, within the next three or four years.

“Mon Calamari was chaos,” Lyn said, breaking the silence, in an effort to forge a conversation, “We spent most of the time under water, which meant we couldn’t use our lightsabers. Kavar did most of the talking, though the Quarren didn’t seem to want to listen. We were attacked a few times whilst in their city, so we were able to use our lightsabers, but when we were leaving we were pretty much defenceless. At one point a blaster bolt missed my head by a fraction of a centimetre.

“What’ll I do Xander?” He said, turning to Xander, his eyes full of worry.

“What do you mean?”

“When I become a Jedi Knight, I won’t have Master Kavar looking out for me, I’ll have to fight on my own. And even worse, when I get my own Apprentice I’ll have to look out for them! I could have died yesterday, and it was only by the Force that I didn’t. I can’t die Xander. I have so much I want to do. Don’t you?”

Xander’s thoughts turned to his parents, back home in Mos Hurga. His Grand-Mother’s grave, defiled, and needing to be rebuilt. So much of the Galaxy he hadn’t visited.

“You shall do everything you want to and more during your time as a Jedi,” he said, “Once you become a Knight you’ll have nothing holding you here for long periods, and I’m sure the Council will allow you to travel as far and wide as you want. And as for having no one to fight alongside, there’s always me,” Xander said with a grin.

“Thanks Xander,” Lyn said grinning, “You always know just what to say.”

“Maybe I’m just gifted,” Xander teased, but at his own remark, he fell silent, brooding.

“What’s wrong?” Lyn said.

“When I was on Dantooine with Vikro, I discovered another thing making me different from the rest of the Jedi,” Xander said, miserable, “I can use the ability Force Absorb, which Vikro says is really rare in a Jedi. I don’t want to be rare! I want to be normal! To fit in!”

“But you do fit in,” Lyn said, “Look around us next time you’re in the cafeteria, there are creatures of every species imaginable. I even heard they brought in an infant Barabel for training the other day. We are who we are, and that makes us unique. You have your abilities that make you unique, and I have mine.”

Xander pondered this as he gazed out into the milling hall, “You’re right Lyn,” he said, turning and grinning. “Thanks.”

“Any time, my friend,” Lyn said, clapping Xander on the shoulder, “Now, what do you say we go get something to eat?”

“I’m famished,” Xander said, agreeing, and hopping off his bed. The pair wandered down the hall, navigating between Jedi pupils, intent on hitting the cafeteria just in time for lunch.

_________________

Time to start again.