Naboo: Aramis Rakai, Son of Quay (Wei)

[Aramis Rakai]

Dreams, almost living dreams pulled me towards the planet of Naboo. It started shortly after my birthday, I began to dream of my mother...Quay'Na Rakai. There was so little I knew about her, she died giving birth to me and then I was sent away to live with strangers. But, these strangers were family and they did their best to take care of me, although I felt a strange reluctance to really fit in with them. So, after I graduated from school it was time for me to go out on my own, and that was what I did. I was very good with animals since I was very young and it was as if I held a vast awareness of communication with them and was told by my foster parents that was a trait from my mother.

Then it happened, two days before my birthday I was called home and informed that my foster mother found a sealed box with my name on it. I took it to my room and opened it in privacy.

My breath was taken away as I picked up an old datapad and turned it on. It was a letter from Quay'Na Rakai, my mother:

My Son, by the time you receive this...I shall be one with the Force. I knew just weeks before your birth that I would not be parenting you as I hoped I would. There were so many hopes and dreams I had for you. Just know that I am always with you. In the bottom of this box are two gifts, my lightsabre and the deed to the mansion on Naboo. These are the only two gifts that I can give you...just know that I love you dearly and always have. There is only one more gift I can give you, you are a Jedi by blood, my blood and you should have the chance to learn the way of the Jedi, so I'm going to give you the name of my last mentor...his name is Wei Wu Wei. Find him and tell him who you are, he can help you. I love you, Aramis!! Your Mum

I sat literally stunned, then dug through the box and found the two items she left me, but how would I find this mentor? I sighed deeply and shook my head, the Jedi arts were to hard to learn with the Empire lurking around.

That was how I ended up at Naboo, between the deed and the dreams...I was here. I dropped my bags on the ground as I was let off at the iron gated fence that surrounded the mansion. It was a mess, overgrown ivy and weeds, shutters falling off. The brick was in pretty good shape, but the wood on the front porch was in need of attention...as was the door that nearly fell off the hinges as I opened it. I bit my lip and carefully entered, hoping that I would no fall through the filthy floor. It creaked and moaned as I walked through the front entrance way to the living area. The furniture was all covered with dusty grey sheets, that I believed was once white. I set my bag down on the dirt covered sofa and coughed, this place needed help and I guess I was going to be the one to do it. What a Birthday gift!

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei woke up from the dusty basement sober.

Not hungover. Sober.

"Ugh," he muttered to himself. He patted the dirt off his clothes and out of his hair. "Where am I?"

He took a look around. A dusty, cobweb filled room surrounded him. Wei snapped on his lightsaber and made some basic use of the Force to enhance his senses.

The humming of the lightsaber filled his ears as he took in his surroundings. He wasn't shaking yet. It was good. Usually when he was sober he could only keep his hands still for a few hours before he started having the shakes. Maybe he hadn't been sober long.

He fumbled about the basement trying to figure out why he was there and what was up above.

There were footsteps up the stairs and Wei worried it might be Stormtroopers set out to find him and bring him in.

Maybe there was a bottle or two of something worth drinking in the basement. He should have had the fortune to pass out in the wine cellar at least.

Wei decided to stay still for the moment and see if anyone came into the basement area. Until then he'd wait and listen to the lightsaber.

[Aramis Rakai]

I didn't even know where to start, it was such a disaster! I grimaced as I looked around. With another sigh, I decided to make a list of things that would need my attention first. Grabbing a datapad from my bag, I began making my list as I carefully began walking from room to room.

My nose itched and I sneezed from all the dust as I entered the kitchen and saw three different doors leading out. One obviously going to the back yard, another to the pantry and one that led downstairs to the cellar. I peered down into the darkness, I didn't like basements.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei tucked in under the basement steps as the person above him walked towards his location. He snapped off his lightsaber and held his breath.

He didn't think the mansion had power, so it was very likely the person would have to use some kind of flashlight. If Wei could manage it, he could sneak up the stairs and out of the mansion before the guy even noticed he was there.

[Aramis Rakai]

Being a mechanic and knowing my electrical boxes, I flipped the switch for the light...nothing. Sithspit! I reached into my back pocket and brought out my personal penlight that I always kept on me and started down the steps. I took notice to the familiar creaking and hoped they held until I could get the lights on.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei listened to the feet creak down the steps. The steps soon started creaking and sounded solid on the floor of the basement. A penlight shone around the room.

The former Jedi kept low, waiting for his chance to get out. The penlight headed towards the other end of the room and Wei made his break. As quickly and silently as he could he slunk out from under the stairs and made his way up them.

THe stairs were slow going since they creaked. Wei made his best attempt to find the place where the stairs wouldn't give him up so fast and carefully shifted his weight from one step to the next.

The Force was weak in his mind though he tried to allow it to guide his feet.

[Aramis Rakai]

I think the upstairs was no better than the basement as I went looking for the electrical box. Being part Inleshat, my hidden pointed ears perked. A strange feeling suddenly overcame me... I was not alone. I nearly jumped out of my skin as I saw a figure going up the stairs.

"Hey!" I yelled and took off after it.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei jumped the rest of the stairs with a Force boosted Jump and out into the main floor of the mansion.

"Where the hell did I pass out last night?" He muttered to himself.

The sunlight was gentle enough on him, but it also exposed him. No doubt whoever was poking around would be able to get a good look at him. Wei kept his lightsaber up his sleeve just in case.

Form III for stormtroopers, passed through the back of his head. Elbows in, short movements. Leave no gaps.

[Aramis Rakai]

My mind was buzzing as I watched the figure jump like a deer right up the stairs. As I ran up the stairwell, I saw a man. Dark hair...the same style in which I'd seen! In my dreams along side my mother!

"Wait!" I called as I made it up the stairwell. "Stop! Please! I'm not here to harm you! I have no weapon!" I held my hands up as I took a last step up into the kitchen and stared at this man.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei raised an eyebrow. "What?"

He didn't know what to think. "Can I help you?"

The young man's tone suggested he really needed something. If it wasn't for the urgency in his voice, Wei might not have stopped.

[Aramis Rakai]

"I may be way off base on this, but I think you helped someone very dear to me. Quay'Na Rakai...my mother."

I stood there awaiting his reaction, with a hopeful look in my eyes. Could this man truly be the mentor my mother spoke of?

[Wei Wu Wei]

Quay'Na Rakai. "Yeah. I took her as a Padawan three days before the Jedi were purged."

He was surprised at how quickly that came to him. He had hardly begun training her in the Jedi arts when Order 66 was given and Anakin Skywalker came tearing through the Temple.

Wei knew she was in one of the meditation rooms waiting for him to teach her. He had managed to distract the guards away from her, but never could get back to the temple to see if his Padawan had made it out alive. One of his many failings.

"Well, she survived long enough to have a child, so I reckon she did make it out alive."

Wei turned. "And?"

[Aramis Rakai]

"She spoke highly of you, Master Wei...and I know who you are because I saw you with her in dream. That was how I recognized you. She left me a note on an old datapad, I have it in my bag. She told me to find you and that you could help me in the Jedi Arts."

[Wei Wu Wei]

"Pal, I'm no Jedi."

Wei stopped and thought back on all that had happened to him. "I forgot how to be."

The former Jedi's hands twitched. "Whatever. I'm sorry about what happened to your mom. But that information is old hat."

[Aramis Rakai]

I stopped for a moment and just watched him.

"She...believed in you." I said, knowing that what I was saying would probably not help.

"Call me crazy, but I know what I've seen in my dreams...if that is even what they are. You came to her in the gardens one day and she was surrounded by animals...communicating with them...just as I can. And you were astounded, tell me I'm wrong."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei shrugged. "Sure. Back then, even though the Force was everywhere and people did miraculous things by its power, that was something rarely seen."

He chuckled. "I can't help you with that. I'm just a mean old drunk who can't seem to forget how to use a lightsaber."

Wei clenched his hand. "So if you want to learn to hold your liqueur, you can sit with me at a barstool. But if the government discovers that you have Force sensitivity, they'll kill you where you stand."

[Aramis Rakai]

Maybe he felt lost since the purge, but I was not willing to give up on him that easily. I nodded and chuckled slightly on the mention of holding my liquor. I was part Inleshat and it was nearly impossible for us to get drunk, I would vomit before that just because my stomach would not be able to hold anymore.

"I've held my own so far, Sir." I shrugged. "But, I'd be more than happy to hang around, besides you could use a place to stay and I hold the deed to this...mansion. You are more than welcome to stay here."

I ran my hand against the dirty counter. "Needs a bit of work, but its better than the basement." I offered.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei waved the kid off. "Whatever. I'm a vagrant, so I won't be around for very long. I'm here for something and once I find it, I'm leaving."

The former Jedi Knight walked over to the door. He stopped with his hand on the doorknob and frowned. "I appreciate what you're trying to do. But I will never have another home. I'm not dead of booze because I do wander. If had to stay in one place for very long, I'd be dead by now."

Wei turned to the kid. "I am sorry about your mother, and I understand wanting to follow in her footsteps, but it's dangerous and I'm broken. So tidy up this mansion and take good care of it. Do something worthwhile with it. Just don't draw the Imps in or you'll regret it."

And Wei Wu Wei left the kid in the large foyer of his inherited home.

[Aramis Rakai]

He left me behind in the dust and debris of this old mansion. Perhaps my mother was wrong about him, but then I could not imagine the pain and anguish he must have gone through with the purge. The same pain and anguish my mother went through and died.

I shook my head slightly and quickly went outside. I could feel the nature alive all around me and took a deep breath. //Friends//

An array of animals and birds suddenly began to errupt from the foliage and fawna. //Follow him, I must know where he goes. I'll be along shortly.//

A hawk flew by my head and took off in the direction of Master Wei as I ran back into the mansion and gathered a few items to take with me. He helped my mother, and now I would help him.

I ran down the pathway that the birds and smaller critters chattered from. I would find him.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei strode with purpose out into the middle of the Theed square.

Still beautiful as it was during the days of the Old Republic, it certainly didn't feel very nice. Stormtroopers patrolled the city like ants in a nest.

Theed had been largely known for its insurrections and rebellions during the Empire's early days. Now the Empire kept Stormtroopers there always. Wei knew of the dangers involved just being there in the square. Fortunately enough he was by now known very well to all shifts as that strange drunk.

Wei smiled congenially and kept a close notice on his sleeve where the lightsaber hid.

One of the stormtroopers watched him enter the pub and chuckled at the sight.

Wei entered and got drink from the bartender. She was adorable, not at all lascivious or sensually bold as the night one was. She made him something and invited him to the patio.

The former Jedi sat outside and took careful consideration of Theed Palace.
Stormtroopers swarmed the place.

Form III entered his head.

He needed to find the place of Qui-Gon Jinn's death. The Jedi Master's remains had been cremated somewhere on the palace grounds. The ashes were spread all over.

Wei needed to be there. In that place the Force would brew strongly and with luck the thing he looked for would be revealed to him. Obi-wan had one too. As did Yoda. As did one of the Skywalkers.

It was not yet clear to him which of those four pieces his father had left him already, but he needed to see them all. All the places where they could possibly be kept.

The former Jedi frowned at his drink. It was not nearly as stiff as he would have liked it. He could hardly taste the alcohol.

Wei swilled the whole thing down in one long pull. His trembles eased and disappeared. It was time.

He had to get to the palace, and probably the very lowest level where Qui-Gon met his end at the hands of Darth Maul.

"Form III."

[Aramis Rakai]

I entered Theed very cautiously. I'd seen Imperials before in my day and just went on with my business. Deep in my mind, I heard my new hawk friend advise that the man I was trailing went into the pub, so I made my way there.

"State your name and business." I was stopped abruptly by two Imperials.

I did not seem bothered by them and kept my cool. "Elijah Rakai..." I then sneezed and cleared my throat. "Merely getting a drink in this pub to ease this cold I've caught. Is there a problem gentlemen?" I sneezed again.

"Just a routine check, you may go." They told me.

They nodded and I continued towards the pub, thinking Sucker!

I had nothing to hide, I wasn't really a Jedi by any means, my mother was...but so what. She was dead and it was because of the purge.

I entered the pub and looked around, I did not see Master Wei right away until I made my way towards the back of the pub. I spied him out on the patio, having his drink and obviously deep in thought.

I stayed at my table watching him for a few minutes until a waitress came up and asked me what I wanted. I ordered a Margarita on the Rocks, no salt. It came to me a short time later and I took a sip, it was perfect. Something was telling me deep inside to help this man on his quest, but our first meeting hadn't gone so well. How could our second meeting go any better? He was not interested in what I had to say, but something kept nagging me to go back and try again.

With a deep sigh, I stood and took my glass to the entrance of the terrace and stood there for a moment, before I stepped out.

"I take it, you must feel better?" I asked gently. "Alcohol can calm just about anything."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei ignored the comment about the booze. The alcohol did nothing for him except put him out night after night.

"What I have to do," he said with severity, "will likely get me killed."

Wei looked Aramis right in the face. "If you want to follow me and learn from me like your mom was supposed to, then you better be quick to think and catch on. Won't be any meditating under a tree in a lush garden. Won't be no friendly sparring matches or training dummies."

The former Jedi got out of his seat. "If you follow me, I will not be looking behind me to see if you're still there. And if you go down in front of me, I will step over you and continue on my way."

The man started fixing his clothes. The lightsaber returned to its usual place at his belt under his shirt tail. He tightened up his shoes and adjusted his clothes. "The Force is not something to be grasped easily. Harder still is it to find the Light in it. If you don't fall down dead, you might fall to the Darkside."

He leaned on the rail separating the patio from the street. "Are you willing to take that chance?"

[Aramis Rakai]

Times were tough for the Jedi and my lack of knowledge and training might get me killed, but if I did die whilst under this man then I would die knowing that I had done my best. I would have to depend on myself and not on him from the beginning.

If you fall in front of me, I will step over you...

Perhaps that was what he did to my mother...left her to fall, left her to die. The thought was a bit concerning. "Fine." I said as I crossed my arms in front of my chest. "But, if I go down and I'm still alive, kill me."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei shrugged. "Depends on if it gets me killed."

The boy was not happy with him. Not unexpected. It was probably better that way. At least the boy offered himself no illusions about who and what Wei was.

"Well, there's no time like the present."

Wei hopped the rail and started walking with purpose towards the gates of Theed palace. Maybe he could mind-trick the guards, but they would probably shoot first.

Of course, he could probably find a way to sneak in. Patrolling the outer wall of the palace would probably grant him more suspicion than simply walking up and saying "hi."

Wei pondered in his head how it would go if he simply stormed the front gate. It would be hectic and totally out of control.

Perhaps the mind trick would work. If it didn't, there'd be a whole lot of dead stormtroopers.

[Aramis Rakai]

I stood there for a split second while he jumped the fence. This was it, once I crossed the fence there was no going back. I downed the rest of my drink and threw the glass aside.

This is for you, Mum! And I jumped the fence.

May I remain alive after this day or die it will not be in vain. I will be where I am supposed to be. I hugged my leather jacket tighter and felt a bit more at ease as the blaster within the inside pocket brushed my stomach. It was the only weapon I knew how to use. Although, my mother's lightsabre was in the small backpack on my back, and there was no way that I would even attempt to use that!

I followed Wei towards the palace, wondering just what was going on in that head of his...it did not sound very promising.

"So, what are we doing?" I finally asked quietly as I strode up beside him.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"We are going to walk up to these stormtroopers and I am going to use that old Jedi Mind-trick people are always over-hyping. Here's a bit of information about the Force. It touches every being and every mind. Of course, you know that. Minds can touch other minds through the Force. You knew that too."

Wei grinned a bit as he saw the troopers on guard outside the gates. "But people minds, unlike most of the animal minds you're probably familiar with can resist. They can reason and argue. They fight back. But we're going to see if these are the good stormtroopers. The kind that follow orders and don't much think about what their doing or why."

The pair met the stormtroopers, who closed up in front of the gateway to stop them. "State your business."

Wei brushed his hand through the air and put on a feeling of high-brow indifference. "None of yours."

The two stormtroopers looked at each other. Doubtless they were confused by the man's statement. "Sir, you are an unranked individual. We need some papers or some identification."

Wei nodded. "And Imperial Intelligence will see your rank and identification on their desks if you do not let me in." The hand wave was smaller, less noticeable.

"I see. Welcome back, sir."

Wei waved to Aramis. Once they were out of earshot of guards he said, "The force is like water to the mind which is the clay. It softens up the mind and makes it malleable. But be careful about how much you bend a mind. You can cause some serious damage."

The troopers inside the palace walls paid them no mind. If they were inside, then they were supposed to be inside. No doubt some of the custodial workers looked more shabby than they did.

"The Force calls to us. Talks to us. And it will call to us today to help us find our goal. If we are so lucky as to hear that call, then we will be most fortunate."

[Aramis Rakai]

I listened carefully to his every word. "And what is our goal?" I asked quietly. "What exactly am I looking for?"

[Wei Wu Wei]

"I don't know. But it's underneath the palace. Somewhere around the place where Qui-Gon Jinn died."

Wei watched the guards patrolling as he and Aramis made their way into the palace itself. He watched intently for any sign of a lift or stairway that could take him down into the basement levels of the palace.

Perhaps if he was nonchalant enough, he could find some way to get someone official looking to divulge the information he was looking for. None of the stormtroopers would know. The officers would probably know. Of course, the officers would probably not be willing to speak with him. They all seemed to him to be very snobbish and rude.

"Ok, I think this would be a good time for us to take a pause and just breathe. Something should find us if we just take our time and let the Force guide us."

It was a canned line. Wei wasn't sure if he actually believed it, but he had no other choice. Without any floorplans or information about Theed palace, he was forced to walk by faith.

[Aramis Rakai]

I knew a little about the Force from reading what Vader could do and my own abilities with animals. I knew it was not just something I could do, there was a reason I could do it, but I had also kept it very quiet from everyone.

I knew how it felt to have the Force swirl around me, though I never called it that, it was just a feeling I got while in the forests of my home world. Where it was safe and I could learn from the nature that surrounded me.

I remained silent as we stopped. "Well, whatever it is, I hope it happens fairly soon." I remarked as I bit my lip, trying to look as nonchalant as possible. "And by the way, I'm Aramis." I added quickly, just so he knew.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"Good to know. Now just stand quiet for a minute."

Wei knew that he had chosen the most inconvenient entrance. If he remembered what he had heard, then the starfighter hangars were down a level towards the rear of the palace where there was a cliffside.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had chased the Sith through the hangars and down into the deepest reaches of the palace, or so the story went. He just needed to get to the hangars.

No doubt the Naboo fighters were all replaced with TIE fighters by now. If only he could find someone dressed like a pilot.

With nothing left to do, Wei started walking forward. "Come on, Aramis."

[Aramis Rakai]

I followed along and could feel my heart pounding in my chest. This was far beyond anything I had ever done and I did not even know what we were looking for and that had to be the worst of it. What if we walked right by it or over it?

I had once had a normal life and just in the account of a few days, that normal life I knew had been thrown out the window. There was nothing normal about this, but I held a strange trust in this guy who would walk away if I got hurt...I would just make sure I did not get hurt.

The part of leaving me to die, haunted my thoughts. What if he got hurt? Was I to do the same? Could I? That was a question I hoped I would not have to answer, because I knew deep down I probably would not be able to...

I kept to myself as we walked along. He probably would not care what I thought about things anyway...so why put myself out on a limb? I decided I would remain quiet and do as he said, but had to wonder if this is what my mother would have done. So, then my thoughts went to her, wondering what she would do in this type of situation, who she was...was she like this guy? I shuddered to think so and kept walking.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei strode with purpose, keeping his eyes fixed ahead and not making a sound. No one seemed to mind him as he continued his course. Ahead was a turbolift surrounded by stormtroopers.

Wei walked up and stood around with them.

"What's this? Buddy, where do you think you're going?" One of the troopers asked him.

Wei only glanced at the white helmet. "Hangar. I have orders to perform pest control. Apparently someone's getting sloppy and rodents are taking up residence there. If they get into the palace food stores, we're going to have a lot of disease on our hands."

The stormtrooper scoffed, a strange sound coming out of the helmet speaker. "Is that a fact? You going to use bait?"

Wei shook his head. "Only traps. If we bait them and they die in the palace, that's not much better. Best to trap them so they can be easy to find when they're dead."

The trooper paused to think about that. "I see what you mean. Do you know where you're going?"

Wei shook his head. "They said something about floor B-something."

The trooper nodded. The motion was exaggerated by the helmet. "This lift won't get you there. You need to go down the hall as far as it will go, then make a left. The lift only opens to authorized personnel, but the stairs are open. No one has fixed the lock on the door yet, so you should be able to get in without an escort."

Wei clapped the man on his armored shoulder. "Thanks much. Happy hunting."

The trooper waved. "You too."

Wei nodded to Aramis. "Well, let's go. We're here until it's done and we don't get overtime."

The two of them resumed their brisk walk down the hallway. "For the record, your mother was a kind and gentle soul. She would have shaped up into an impressive Jedi Knight."

Wei decided to let the kid stew on that. Wei was not much for using the Force for telepathy or anything other than boosting his physical traits. But it was evident that the kid was thinking about his mother. Aramis could make up his mind if Wei was a mind-reader of if he was simply trying to offer some kind of comfort or closure.

[Aramis Rakai]

I stood beside Wei while he took the lead and got us through the mess of stormtroopers. I merely acted as such and was very glad to be on our way. Wei's next statement surprised me to say the least.

I felt a genuine smile come across my face for the first time since I'd been here. It was so good to know that I was so much like her. It made me proud for a few moments.

"Thank you, Sir. You have eased my mind." I continued on right behind him, waiting for the next hurdle that could be anywhere...perhaps, even around the next corner.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei looked over his shoulder. "Whatever kid."

About that time a passing Imperial officer bumped into him. Neither man was hurt, but Wei's lightsaber came unclipped from his belt and dropped to the floor.

"What is that?" The officer said.

Wei kicked it up and into his hand. "Flashlight," Wei said with a flourish and a hurried attempt at a mind-trick.

The officer was unperturbed. "I haven't seen one like that before."

Wei shrugged. "It's for killing borrats."

The officer raised an eyebrow. "Borrats?"

Wei nodded. "They're nasty rodents. About the size of a small dog or a cat. Armored little buggers too. Can claw and chew through duracrete, and that's no joke. You shine the light on them to stun them and then before they recover, you whack them on the head with the back end."

The officer's eyebrow stayed where it was. "Do you have a contractor's identification for this pest control service you're performing?"

This time it was Wei's turn to raise an eyebrow. "My what?"

The officer drew his sidearm on Wei. "You're under arrest and will be coming with me."

Wei ignited the lightsaber in his hand and with a fluid motion cut the sidearm in two.

"Kid, run. Head to that back hallway and don't you stop running cause I'm right behind you!"

Wei shoved the kid down the hallway and smashed the officer into the wall. The stormtroopers, who were still waiting at the elevator saw the ruckus and leveled their rifles at him.

"Man, I wish that turbolift had been faster."

Wei raised his lightsaber and took a deep breath. The hum from the lightsaber filled his ears. The stormtroopers opened fire and Wei backpedaled down the hallway, moving as the nothing told him to. Elbows in, small circular motions.

[Aramis Rakai]

As the lightsabre hit the floor, my heart nearly stopped. But, Wei recovered very well, until asked about our license, I had a bad feeling creep into my mind at that point and I was right. Everything happened so fast and before I knew it, I was shoved and told to run and run I did!

I began to hear blaster bolts behind me as I skidded around the corner and nearly slid on my bum in doing so. Stupid wax! I didn't look back, because I collided with two more stormtroopers, knocking them flat...as well as myself.

"What the..." I heard one of them say as they both struggled with their weapons after hearing all the commotion.

I had my blaster a second later and shot several times, taking them both as I struggled to my feet and looked on down the opposite hallway.

I groaned inwardly as I saw more stormtroopers coming our way, rifles ready. I shook my head and began firing, I didn't know what else to do.

[Wei Wu Wei]

The blasterbolts went wild as Wei stopped them one after another. One slipped by and grazed his shoulder, charring his shirt.

"Balls."

Wei picked up the pace and jumped over the stormtroopers that had met their end at Aramis' blaster.

"Kid, grab one of those weapons and let's go."

Wei bolted for the stairway, kicking it down with a Force-boosted flying kick. "Down the stairs! Go!"

Wei stood in the stairway, blocking out more laserbolts. Some returned to their targets, but the rest just splashed back without any real direction. Still, it was enough for the stormtroopers to stop following him and ease their fire.

Once he had an opening, he followed Aramis down.

"When we get to the hangar, expect them to be very mad at us and wanting to shoot us all down."

[Aramis Rakai]

I grabbed a rifle and and made for the stairwell. My feet hammered against the steps as I ran. I had never felt this much exhilaration or adrenaline at one time, but I used it wisely.

I hit the door was a loud thud!! It was locked!

"We need your lightsaber! Doors locked!" I yelled up at him. My mother's lightsabre was jammed in my backpack and I was sure he could use his much faster than I could get to mine.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei jumped down the stairs, kicking off the walls at the switchbacks to make it that much faster. When he got to the bottom he sliced the door into pieces and emerged into the hangar in time to deflect several blasterbolts.

"Help me look, kid. "We're looking for a large door that is industrial in nature. Probably marked to indicate what it's for. It won't be small like the stair doors, but it won't be huge like the fighter entrance. When you find it, let me know. We got to get there fast."

[Aramis Rakai]

An industrial door...I feverishly began to search as the blaster bolts flew.

Drop!

I hit the floor as a series of bolts flew right where my head had been. As I did, I spied the industrial door as Wei had said...across the hanger...about a hundred feet across the hanger.

"Found it!" I called, "to your left about a hundred feet!"

I quickly got to my feet and saw something rather large scurry from beneath a work bench in all the commotion. It was pretty darn big...a borrat!

It was running in fear, and it only took me a moment to connect to its mind and several others...

I moved my forearm in a swish towards the attacking stormtroopers and smiled as my new Borrat heathens, jumped into action. About twenty of these creatures began dropping from the rafters onto the unsuspecting Stormtroopers. I smiled as I quickly began making my way towards the industrial door, shooting bolts as I did to help make some cover for Wei, who was still busy doing his own thing.

[Wei Wu Wei]

The stormtrooper fire halted as the borrats came down on them.

"Man, they do need some help with that."

Wei dashed over to the door and looked around for the pad that let them in.

There was a numbered pad there. Gaining entry requred the right code.

"Oh, this is not happening!"

Wei put his lightsaber away. "Aramis, cover me. I have to concentrate to do what I'm going to attempt."

Telekinesis was not at all Wei's strong point. In fact, it was the one thing he couldn't do. Moving rocks bigger than his head was the most he could ever manage.

Master Yoda constantly reminded him that the difference between moving rocks and anything else was none.

What Wei thought was a single door was actually two that closed together on each other. Wei had to force them apart. He took a deep stance and placed his hands together. Then he took a deep breath.

He shut his eyes. In his mind he imagined fitting his fingers in between the doors and prying them apart. He breathed out and moved his hands as though he were forcing the doors open. They resisted him. Wei put more of his will behind it and he could see in his mind that the doors were magnetically sealed.

He took another breath and released it slowly. His hands moved apart, and so did the door. Until he could move the magnets out of range of each other this would be a hard thing to do.

[Aramis Rakai]

I turned and looked how the Borrats were doing, several had been shot and lay lifeless, but several had also gotten the Stormtroopers to their knees in their own vicious attack. I noted quickly that one of the hangar doors were open and that was all I needed.

I continued shooting as I began to call through my mind any living creature to come hither. The nature outside had to be teaming with life, so I called upon it to help me.

More Stormtroopers were beginning to enter as I continued my call to the wild. Sweat began to bead up on my forehead as I began to connect with the nature outdoors.

About that time, a wild wave of animals came bursting through the open hangar door, every type of bird and bat you could imagine and bigger things. The room was swarming with flying creatures as they attacked the Stormtroopers.

I held my stance with my back towards Wei as the Stormtroopers fought against my attack from nature and they weren't winning. All I could do was smile as I watched. Everything was under control for the moment.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Either Wei's head was going to explode or he was going to soil his pants. The effort it took him to open the door was enormous, but it was giving away inch by inch. At last the magnets' fields did not touch and the doors slammed open.

"Come on, let's go."

Wei entered the area. "I don't remember exactly which level it was in this place where they were."

The big chamber was dark except for the energy pulsing up from the cavernous area below. The walkways were myriad and went up and down in all directions. Somewhere across the way should be the area where the Sith who slayed Qui-Gon Jinn made his last stand. It would be there.

[Aramis Rakai]

I was impressed as he got the door open and followed him into the darkness.
As he spoke it echoed.

"Who are 'they'?" I asked quietly.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"Qui-Gon and the Sith. There was a dead end area blocked off from this one by a series of force fields. If Qui-Gon were to abandon his treasure, it would have been there. This place is out of the way and I expect not too many people come down here that don't have to."

Wei could hear heavy steps from the stormtroopers coming down into the area.

"It's dark and cavernous enough that I expect most people feel dwarfed here. They would tend to do their jobs and get out as fast as they could. Meaning they wouldn't have stumbled upon it. I also don't think the Jedi Masters would have let it burn on the pyre with Qui-Gon and in keeping with Jedi tradition, Qui-Gon was burned along with all he had with him. It has to be down here."

A blasterbolt flew past his right ear. "Ok, here it is. We need to use the Force and jump up to that next level. If we get up there and go along to the left, we should start to weave our way closer to the place. Just imagine that the Force flows through your body like water through a series of pipes. The idea is to focus so that the Force flows down and gathers into whatever muscle groups you need to use."

Wei crouched and leapt to the next area. "Come on, you can make this work. It's real basic."

[Aramis Rakai]

Basic? Was he crazy? A sick feeling ripped right through me as I sized up the jump, it had to have been at least five or more meters high! I was no Jedi! I wasn't...I wasn't anything! Truth hurts when you're looking death in the face.

A moment later, a blaster bolt whizzed past my thigh and that was all it took. I imagined all my strength mustering in my legs and crouched as Master Wei had...and jumped.

I was not exactly sure how, but I flew through the air in an upward motion and was completely shocked about it. Problem was, my jump did not clear where it needed to and my right hand grabbed the edge of the next level, where my left could not. I dangled precariously over the edge as I felt my fingers ache.

Those haunting words of Wei came to mind and I knew I was dead.

If you follow me, I won't be looking back to see if you are still there...if you go down in front of me, I will step over you and be on my way...

I closed my eyes and prayed right then and there that the fall would kill me instantly as my grip finally let go...this was it.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei swept his lightsaber behind Aramis, batting away to laserbolts aimed at his back.

"Good try." Wei grabbed the kid and hauled him up like he was nothing. "Come on, let's go. Do it again, but get to the end of the walkway as fast as you can."

It was a straight shot several meters ahead. At the far end of the place they could see where several red barriers opened and closed behind each other

"There's our place. We need to get there fast."

Wei tore off towards the distant place faster than a speederbike.

[Aramis Rakai]

I wasn't dead...he helped me. I didn't have time to think about anything and did as he said, I ran like mad. He ran faster.

I centered my thoughts on my legs again and felt a strange boost that I'd never experienced.

I could hear the clanging footsteps of the Stormtroopers somewhere in the darkness behind me, but kept moving.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei continued the pace. "Come on. We took the short cut, they're going to have to go around. Still, it's only going to give us but a few minutes to find what we're after and try to get out again."

Wei skidded to a halt as the force fields closed up. "And of course, we have to deal with this."

He scowled. "What we're looking for is between the back half of these, or in that end chamber itself."

Wei saw the doors open again and darted through them even before they came entirely away to the end of the hall and into the room.

Once in that room he held his lightsaber in front of him and listened to it hum. "Come to me, what I most desire."

[Aramis Rakai]

I, too was halted a couple of doors back. I hated force fields! I stood there waiting and watching. Hoping that whatever Master Wei was searching for could be found, so we could get out of here.

The force fields opened again and I ran further in...and was stopped at the one before Master Wei. This was maddening, what was the reason for these?!?

All I could do was wait and watch...

[Wei Wu Wei]

"You see anything over there? Qui-Gon and the Sith apparently spent a minute or two just like you did. Check and see if Qui-Gon didn't toss it to the side over there."

Wei breathed in and out again, using the lightsaber to focus his mind and meet the Force. He needed to find Qui-Gon. Or at least his memory. The darkside lingered a little, but there was an inescapable feeling of the light.

Without his awareness of it he suddenly saw the battle replayed before his eyes. Qui-Gon, meditating in the hallway as the Sith stalked abck and forth before him.

The battle raging in the room wher ehe stood. Qui-Gon wearing down, the Sith getting hotter and more fiery. Qui-Gon fell. Obi-Wan dove in to pick up the fight. Qui-Gon, on his back, lashed his arms out, dropping his lightsaber and tossing something small to the side.

Wei opened his eyes and walked along the edge of the wall, looking behind the pipes and things that were close around it.

There, tucked between two pipes, was a small rectangular prism. Two if it's faces were square. The sides of the prism were smaller so it was not a cube. Wei lifted it to him with telekinesis and tucked it into his belt.

"I have what we came for, let's get going!"

The doors opened again and Aramis joined him. Wei looked down the hall. Just as the fields re-engaged, a battalion of stormtroopers filled the walkway and stretched back as far as the eye could see.

"Well, that's quite a few people they have," Wei said.

Then he looked at the hole in the middle of the room.

"Aramis, we're going down the hole."

[Aramis Rakai]

I bit my lip and peered over the edge. I could only see a short ways down due to the darkness.

"Great...sounds like fun, who's going first?" I asked as I looked at the battalion of Stormtroopers.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei saw the fields disengage. "We're both going."

Wei shoved Aramis in and followed behind, keeping himself against the wall. The former Jedi held on to a fistful of Aramis' shirt so the kid wouldn't get away from him. His feet were starting to feel hot through his shoes as they skidded along the wall.

"I don't know how far down this goes, but I have a good feeling that we won't wind up in any machine parts. A chasm this deep has to have somewhere along it utility ladders that we can use. Something along this tunnel must be worth checking from time to time."

Wei reversed the lightsaber in his grip and drove it into the wall.

The beam did little more than cut a super heated scar in the side of the chute as they fell. But if Wei remembered rightly, even the thickest metals could not be sliced open as easily as a knife cut through butter. Sooner or later the material and the saber would have to cause some kind of odd friction and slow them down. It would just be very very slow.

It hadn't been long since they had jumped in and Wei could already see that he couldn't see the top of the hole anymore.

"Kid, you got to trust me on this," Wei said. "It's going to test your Force boosting abilities like you shouldn't have to be tested."

Wei tried to force the kid closer to the wall. "When I tell you too, you're going to use the Force to kick off this wall ot the other side of the chasm. Then you're going to kick yourself back over here again. It's going to be fast and ugly. I guarantee you this will make you think you will never walk again. But if we jump back and forth, then eventually we should be able to control our fall and jump from side to side at a pace we care for. Understood?"

[Aramis Rakai]

This was crazy, this went beyond all the normal teaching I had ever endured.

"Whatever you say, Master!" I called back and grimaced as I felt the bottoms of my feet burn.

I took a deep breath and tried to concentrate, by my mind was whirling.

I jumped and hit the other wall with a smack, my arms automatically flailing about to grasp anything. I kicked against the wall again and flung myself the other way and realized, I was not falling as hard as I had been. But, still the force of hitting the walls with my body over and over again, made my head spin and my muscles ache.

But...I was doing it or at least kind of doing it.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"Get your feet under you!" Wei called.

He kicked off the wall and let his feet brace against the wall. He was falling at least a hundred feet at a time, but as the seconds turned into minutes, that hundred became eighty, then seventy, until he was hopping down at a rate more to his liking.

If Aramis survives, it will truly be the will of the Force.

Exhausted but at the bottom at last, Wei and Aramis hopped down into a channel of water. The water was very warm. Almost like a bath or a hot spring.

"We're in the aqueduct that takes the water used to cool the generators. Be wary of waterfalls ahead. If we can get out far enough, it's possible we can find ourselves in the wilderness. Otherwise, we're just going to end up in a reservior for recycling water back into the system. Could be dangerous."

[Aramis Rakai]

At last I was able to get my jumping under control and when I hit the water, I was back in my element. I could feel my gills open up on my back and my neck. I felt the fins on my forearms and calves open to give me more strength in my swimming ability. Had I been a full-blooded Inleshat, I would have had larger fins and my feet and hands would have been webbed, but one can't ask for everything.

My body hurt from the constant bouncing around in that tube, but I was beginning to feel better as I came up and heard Master Wei. I nodded and then added. "Water is my element, Master Wei. I'm part Inleshat."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei said nothing at first. He just swam in the big cavernous tunnel.

"If any section along the way requires us to dive underwater, I will need you to scout ahead. Think you can swim in strong currents? Did you inherit the gills from your Inleshat parent?"

[Aramis Rakai]

"Yes, Sir." I nodded, finally feeling a bit useful. "I can stay under as long as I need." I removed my jacket and put it in my pack, so that I had better use of my forearm fins.

I dove under to see what was under us and quickly came back up.

"There's a flushing system beneath us, Master Wei." I told him quickly, wondering when it would be flushing next.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"Flushing system?" Wei asked.

A flushing system meant that they had reached the end of the line. He couldn't quite see far enough in any direction to know of any escape routes or service ladders.

There was the sound of clanging metal and a whirring noise as the flushing system opened the drain. Wei looked at Aramis. "Let the Force guide you through it. Don't resist. Just go with the flow. With any luck we'll come out of this alive."

The water started to drain out of the area, pulling Wei and Aramis down into the drainage pipe. Wei held his breath, shut his eyes, and let go. He still knew enough about the Force to use it to slow down his body's oxygen processing so he could hold his breath longer.

[Aramis Rakai]

I panicked for just a moment as I heard the flushing system turn on. I bit my lip and nodded as I allowed my body to sink into the now swirling waters.

I was glad I had gills at this point and began kicking so I could somewhat aid in my decent down the drain, but in the meantime, I could feel the water burning the insides of my gills. It was not serious, but rather annoying to say the least.

There was something in the water, a chemical of some sort that was irritating my aquatic system, hopefully it would wash itself out.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on a huge cushion all around me...and it helped as I was forced down the drain into the darkness.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei lost himself to time as the current dragged him along. After a few minutes he heard the sound of the water change. They were at the end of the pipe.

Wei and Aramis shot out of the pipe at an incredible speed. Wei noticed a small drop and then his feet hit a gravelly bed under some water.

The current was still fast, but the water was shallow. Wei stood up. The water came up to about his knees and rushed past him so fast it threatened to knock him down again.

"Aramis, we're outside."

Wei wiped the extra water from his eyes and took a look around. He was at the bottom of the cliffside below the palace.

He whistled. It was a miracle they were still alive.

"Ok, we need to get off the planet now, and fast. Did you say you had transport?"

[Aramis Rakai]

What a ride! I landed with a thump after we shot out of the pipe. I lay in the water for a few moments to get my bearings and then stood and slowly trudged behind Master Wei.

I nodded as I wrung some water from my long hair. "There is a ship at the mansion, hidden." I answered. "I think, it used to be my mothers. Do we take a chance on it, or go by some other means?"

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei shrugged. "Now that we're out of the palace, I think we're ok. I don't expect they've counted on us living so we shouldn't have much to worry about if we go back at nightfall.

Wei looked to the sky. Already it was starting to become orange at the fringes. "We can wait for an hour or two and then we'll just stroll right into town."

He climbed out of the river and sat down to pour the extra water out of his shoes. Then he checked his belt for his item. "Good, it's still with me."

[Aramis Rakai]

"There was some kind of chemical in that water...is it bothering you?" I asked as I cringed from the burning it was doing to my gills that were slowly melting back into their hidden pockets of my neck and back.

I coughed slightly as my throat burned. I tried to ignore it as I took a seat against a rock and laid my head back. It would be dark soon and I was ready.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei reached out and placed his hands on Aramis' throat and took a deep breath. He let that breath out slowly and allowed the Force to connect him with Aramis. The chemical needed to only be washed out. His body would clear it out and shunt it out to be disposed of, but it needed a push.

Wei focused his mind on the particles being removed and carried away.

[Aramis Rakai]

At first, he startled me, but I then realized what he was doing. The chemicals that were once burning my throat and gills had begun to calm.

It did not take long until I truly felt better. "Thank you, Master Wei." I nodded appreciatively. I knew it probably would not mean much, but I wanted to say it anyway.

There was much that I wanted to ask him, but I felt reluctant to do so. He had somewhat come out of his shell on a few instances and helped me, literally saving my life and yet...I was still afraid to say much.

I let out a deep sigh, once he let go and leaned against the rock. I was still amazed at some of the crazy stuff I had done tonight, it was like a strange dream or yet a nightmare...which, I did not know as I closed my eyes.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei nodded and watched the sky.

The sun started to set deeper into the horizon, purpling the evening sky. Wei noticed Aramis' eyes closed and figured the boy might be sleeping. He reached behind him and carefully pulled a second lightsaber--the one that used to belong to his master, Quinlan Vos.

He opened the casing for it and pulled out a small, blue thing like the one he found in the palace. Then he took the new one out of his belt and held them up in the evening light to compare them. He lined them up, placed them in the lightsaber where the color crystal would go, and turned it on. The blade rippled a faint blue. Wei pressed the tip of the lightsaber into the rock and held it a moment. When he withdrew the blade's tip, he waited for the rock to cool and scrutinized the pattern.

"It's not much more helpful. I reckon I'll have to see what the next piece can do for me."

Wei took out his regular lightsaber and destroyed the rock and the small image he branded into it. No one needed to see it. If the Imperials found out about it, they would be hot on his trail.

Once the rock was destroyed to his satisfaction, Wei rolled the pieces into the river and got Aramis' attention.

"Come on. We need to get to your ship."

[Aramis Rakai]

I opened my eyes and nodded. "Yes, Sir." I said as I slowly got up and grabbed up my pack, I was at least nearly dry now and put my pack on my back.

I yawned and looked around. "I think, I'll be ready to leave this place really soon, Master Wei." I admitted as we began our way back to mansion.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei nodded. "Indeed. We're going to Tatooine next. We'll need to find the location of Obi-Wan Kenobi's hermitage. It was a small hut out in the Jundland wastes. I don't think anyone has found it yet. The man lived so far out in the desert that not even the Sand people followed him."

They came upon the city and slipped inside. Wei used a mind-trick to distract the guards, then hurried back to Aramis' mansion.

"Ok, guy. I need you to find this shuttle or whatever and get us out of here. Otherwise, we're going to have to stow away on a ship in the port. And that won't be easy."

[Aramis Rakai]

"Okay, I'll find it." I answered as we entered the mansion. I quickly went to my other pack and pulled out a large envelope. "My mother left me a box with the deed, her personal datapad, her sabre, a map to the mansion and these..." I pulled out a set of starship keys.

"I read her data pad and she had a secret passage that led underground, beyond the basement. I studied the map on the way over here."

I opened the map and stuffed the keys into my pocket and grabbed my penlight. "The secret passage is on the opposite side of the basement."

I crossed the living room and headed towards the kitchen. "Let's go find ourselves a ship."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei nodded. Back into the basement where he fell asleep in a dusty heap.

Wei activated his lightsaber and used the glow to check the walls for any signs of cracks. He also tapped the walls for a change in sound, but allowed the tremors to reverberate into him and with the Force, find out if he was getting hot or cold.

It would make things go much quicker. "What sort of clues do we find for this passage? Is it in the walls or the floor? Is there a switch or panel, or does it simply swing open if you push it real hard?"

[Aramis Rakai]

"It's part of the wall and it should just push open to a spiral stone staircase." I told him as we began pressing against the wall. I couldn't find anything.

"I know its here." I said getting a bit irritated.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei stopped. "This might be beyond my ability, but I'll try."

He stepped out into the middle of the basement. He paused and slowed his breathing so he filled his lungs entirely and released it in a slow, smooth fashion. One breath. Two breaths. Three breaths.

On his fourth breath, he drew it out with his hands and swept it up into cyclone with the Force. He spun the whistling, whirling breath around himself and caught the air around him in to the tempest. The wind whirled round him faster and faster until at long last he took one large breath and released it forcefully, pushing out with his whole body.

The wind slammed against the four walls of the room and as the tumult died down they could hear stones grating against one another.

"Find it. It's going to be very slight, but I think the doorway just opened a little."

[Aramis Rakai]

I used my fingertips to begin searching along the wall, feeling for any kind of indention. I sighed deeply as my finger caught on. "Got it!" I said and gave the wall a push.

The wall swung open, leaving us in a dust cloud and looking down at a stone spiral staircase...just as I had hoped.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei allowed Aramis to go down first, and pushed the wall back as best he could.

"Not that it's going to matter, but I think for the sake of what your mother left you, you should keep this place as secret as possible."

"What kind of ship did she leave you?"

[Aramis Rakai]

I used the penlight to see going down the winding staircase as Master Wei spoke. A few steps down my hand brushed against something that resembled a light switch. I flicked it on.

A moment later, torches began to light up on the walls all the way the down to the bottom, which seemed like a kilometer downward.

"Now, that is some lights." It felt slightly eerie as we continued down. "I have not the slightest clue of what she left, I just hope it still works." I added as we finally made it to the bottom.

"Whoa..." I said as I saw the Naboo Star Skiff sitting in the middle of this huge cavern we walked into. It was a shiny silver and looked brand new.

"I can't believe she left this here."

[Gavrilo Krass]

There was something about atmospheric flight that appealed to Gavrilo. After 16 years of service in the Imperial Starfleet as an Ship-to-Ship Combat specialist he imagined he would have gotten used to the silence of space, But that never happened. The blank, emotionless veil of soundless void still somewhat un-nerved him, So when a position opened up on a planet called "Naboo" for a sector security officer Gavrilo took it with a measure of relief.


As the rolling fields of emerald green grass flow beneath his lander he checks his rifle, more a force of habit then preparation. He didn't expect any action on a world such as this. However it was still his job to sweep the fields with his team, looking for any off-world smugglers or deviants. It was with this habitual movements that Gavrilo Krass and his men flew towards the mansion, idly bantering about the latest holo-net productions or gripeing to each other about going out here every month for no reason. When they landed it was buissnes as usual, spreading out in a half circle they entered the mansion, looking for any sign of intrusion or forced entry.

When the garrison troops go out on patrol they normally leave things at the checkpoints, some wine or other treat that they save for a later date. Gavrilo sauntered into the kitchen and reached into one of the cabinets. Smirking slightly as he reached for the bottle of schnaps he had left the previous week. His hand stretched towards the bottle and...It was gone.
With a puzzled look Gavrilo looks around, wondering if he really was getting that old and forgetting where he put things. But then he saw the footprints, anywhere else they would have been invisible, but the amount of dust present had left a clear impression on the floor, leaving a track from the kitchen and into the basement. Gavrilo called 2 of his men over and headed down. Switching a flashlight on Gavrilo sweeped the room and found something that wasn't there last week, A small stone door leading downward was open in one of the walls. Activating his comm bead and decided something may still be here. He told the crew to start the Lambda and get ready for takeoff. He then stalked down the stairs, rifle raised, boots crunching on the rough stone floor.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei heard something above them on the spiral stairs. He paused a moment and looked over his shoulder.

"Aramis," he whispered, "someone is here. I need you to get to that ship and set it up. And don't worry about getting in touch with me. Just direct a thought to me, and it'll reach me." I hope.

Wei drew his lightsaber again, but waited to ignite it. He backed down the stairs behind Aramis until he reached the bottom. He just needed a place for ambush. He considered his surroundings as best he could and decided to tuck up under the spiral staircase.

I don't know who this is, but it's awfully suspicious to find someone trolling by so soon. I hope we weren't followed.

[Aramis Rakai]

I nodded silently and made my way around to the other side where the ramp would disengage.

Hitting the release mechanism, I swallowed hard as second ticked by and the hatch released. I jumped up onto the opening hatch as soon as I could and ran towards the cockpit. As the hatch came in contact with the flooring outside it echoed loudly.

I would not have a lot of time to get this ship moving and time was the essence right now. I threw myself into the pilots seat and quickly did a sweep over the controls. The ship had been sitting here for over twenty years and I prayed that it would come to life as it was intended too.

I quickly put the keys into the ignition and flipped a few switches that should have started the ship up immediately. But, it did not...

"Blast!" I yelled as I shut the switches back down and looked for the problem. I found it momentarily, we had an electronic problem in the main power booster. I was pretty handy with mechanics, another trait from my mother, and quickly ran back towards the maintenance door to the engine room.

Along the way, I did as Wei had instructed.

Master Wei, we've got engine troubles! It will take me a few minutes to get it up and running!

All I could so was pray that he heard me as I took the ladder down to the engine room and began looking for the main power booster.

[Gavrilo Krass]

Gavrilo and his men came to the foot of the stairs, peering into the cavernous hanger they had entered. A J-type 327 Nubian royal starship sat in the hanger, It's entry ramp open and a dull light spilling from the interior.

Tapping the comm stud on my armor I send a message to the rest of the team.

"Heads up we got a starship down here, looks like were not alone. Beta head back to the ship and get ready for a quick dust off. Alpha get down here and give us some cover."

I motion for my men to follow me as we step into the hanger, laser sights and flashlights sweeping the room for any threats. We make our way towards the ship, 2 men on point and one behind watching the rear.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei watched the guards move past him. Once they were in the room, he ignited his saber and sliced the rear guard's weapon in two.

Wei held the saber up in a close guard, circling around the remaining people.

"Call off your ship. We're leaving soon."

[Aramis Rakai]

I released the cover to the main power booster and noticed that some of the wiring had been corroded. I quickly began rewiring, hoping that my new adjustments would work. I considered my techniques more of like art as I did them and they usually always worked. Usually.

I had never been under this kind of life threatening pressure, though.

I finished up and put the cover back on. My mind was a blur as I climbed back up the ladder and ran through the main corridor of the ship, which went right by the open hatchway.

[Gavrilo Krass]

The rear guard had only a second to react, These men were good. But against a trained Jedi with the element of surprise they didn't have a chance. The guard jumped back in surprise as his weapon was cleaved in two, The smoking pieces falling to the floor.

Hearing the commotion I spin around and see a man standing with a light saber raised. I quickly raised my Mandalorian assault rifle and take aim on the Jedi. With a quick motion I activate my comm bead and send a message to the waiting shuttle. "We got some trouble down here, call for an interceptor squad." once that is done I focus on the Jedi, "Listen, you're outnumbered as it is and there's a whole lot more of us coming. Be sensible and put that thing down."

[Wei Wu Wei]

TIE Interceptors. Standard Imperial overkill.

"I think you misunderstood. We're leaving. Do what you will, you cannot stop us."

He just needed to buy Aramis a little more time. The Interceptors were going to be a problem, but if they were like most TIE starfighters, they didn't do well in atmosphere. Provided the ship Aramis' mother left him was fast and very maneuverable, they could out-fly the Interceptors and get into space.

"You ought to know by now Jedi don't part from their lightsabers unless they're dead."

Wei leveled the tip of it at Gavrilo's nose. "I've got better things to do that slice you to ribbons. Leave now, and call off your reinforcements. Believe me, we Jedi aren't worth the paperwork."

Aramis! Please hurry. We have company coming soon.

[Gavrilo Krass]

I keep my rifle leveled at the Jedi. To say that I wasn't afraid was as big a lie as saying that the rebellion had a chance of defeating the empire. But despite my fear there was another feeling, a stronger feeling. These jedi were the last remains of the time before the order and harmony of the empire, They were an archaic group of warriors, Trained in the use of a perfect weapon, The lightsaber. It was this conviction that guided my actions. The ideals of a more perfect universe over-rode my own fear and filled me with strength and conviction. It was with these ideals that I tighten my grip on my rifle,

"You two, go check the ship and make sure it doesn't leave."

I stand before the Jedi, Two different societies, Two different worlds. If there was a fight coming it was sure to be an interesting one.

[Aramis Rakai]

I threw myself back into the pilots seat.

The lightsabre! Get the lightsabre! I squeezed my eyes shut as I heard this voice in my mind, right before I heard Wei's mental message.

I grabbed my pack and drew out my mother's lightsabre and put it on my lap, my blaster was still in its holster at my leg. If anything, I would not go down alone.

I flipped the startup switches and smiled as the engine drew power and the ship came to life.

We're in luck, Master! Hurry!

It was about that time, I heard a 'click' and a deep voice behind me. "Be wise, boy and turn those engines off."

I froze for a split second as I gripped the handle of the lightsabre. "And why would I want to do that?" I asked calmly and used Wei's techniques of earlier teachings. If I could do some of the feats I'd already just tried...maybe I could get out of this on my own. I centered my attentions on my legs and arms, for it would be them that would get me out of this mess.

"Because if you don't, I'm gonna blow your brains all over that viewport." I felt the nudge of a rifle in the back of my head.

As if in slow motion, I turned and cleaved the stock of the rifle in two and then pointed the end of the lightsabre at the guys face. "I don't think so." I said and smiled.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"The kid in there's Force capable too," Wei said nonchalantly.

Wei raised an eyebrow at the man. "I can tell you have a strong will," he said. "But eventually everyone gives way to the will of the Force."

It sounded like utter Bantha-fodder when he said the last line. It was clear that the man's will could not be swayed by a simple mind-trick.

We're in luck, Master! Hurry!

Wei would have to fix the Master title. He was no teacher.

"Now then," Wei said as he returned his attention to Gavrilo. "I'm going to start moving towards my ship. I'm going to watch you to make sure you don't try anything foolish."

Despite the hurriedness of the situation, Wei felt like the room was incredibly silent. He also felt unnecessarily calm.

"I won't kill you if I can get away with it. Your two buddies inside the ship will either be ejected or dealt with when I get there."

Wei started backing towards the ship. The lightsaber hum filled his mind. He could feel it, in a wierd way. It spread his conscious mind out into the room and up into the ship. It helped to know that Aramis was making a good show of himself already.

He reached the foot of the boarding ramp and called up into the ship, "Aramis, let's go!"

[Gavrilo Krass]

Your choice then. With a snap of my thumb I toggle my rifle to "Full-Auto" and fire a burst of bullets at the jedi.

"Alpha we need your help down here!"

I move away from the jedi, firing once or twice as I look for some decent cover.

[Aramis Rakai]

"I think that was your call to leave." I said as I forced the lightsabre closer to his face. "My master is on his way, and if you think I'm bad...you don't want to mess with him."

They guys eyes got huge as he quickly turned and made a run for it, but not before I was able to jab him slightly in right buttock...making my mark for good measure.

He howled in pain and took off out of the cockpit. He would not be sitting comfortably for sometime. I laughed as I quickly shut down the weapon and turned back to the controls.

I was not exactly sure how to get out of this cavern.

The blue button on the left...

There was that voice again! I shook my head and saw the button and pressed it.

A moment later, a false ceiling opened at the top of the cavern. She had thought of everything!

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei's lightsaber flashed around him. Most of the laserbolts were deflected but one found its way past his defense. The Jedi Knight rolled and managed to come away with a graze, but his shoulder burned and begged for his attention.

He continued moving slowly towards the ship. For some reason he felt like he could take his time. The humming lightsaber focused his thoughts and gave the Force a small hold to guide him through the battle.

Wei was content to let Gavrilo back away and find cover. It was more important that Wei get to the ship than it was for him to take Gavrilo's life.

He reached the ramp and let the two soldiers run past him in fear.

"Ok, let's go."

[Gavrilo Krass]

I stand from my cover, taking aim once more not at the jedi but the fleeing ship. With a dull "chink" a small spider-like balls shot toward the ship and burrowed into the hull plating. Clicking on a small computer the tracker activated.

"Alpha and beta get to the ship and get ready to move, Inform the fighters that an atmospheric capable ship coming their way."

I reloaded my blaster and smiled as the roar of the shuttle floated towards my ears.

[Aramis Rakai]

My hands moved over the controls with ease, it was as if the ship were part of me as we rose through the deep cavern and into the vast darkness of night. I heard the hatch close as we cleared the treeline and we moved towards the vast heavens above.

We were out of danger for the moment, but something still seemed wrong as I flew through Naboo's atmosphere and we entered space.

I began to quickly program the hyperspace computer to go to the Tatooine system, our next stop.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei entered the cockpit and looked out the forward viewport.

"Where we headed?"

The former Jedi knew that fighters would be approaching, and probably from the palace. It was also likely that there would be other hangars of TIEs somewhere close by.

"Keep an eye open for fighters. It's going to be dangerous getting out of atmo, into space, and then clearing the gravity well. It leaves a long time for us to get blown up. Does this thing have shields?"

[Aramis Rakai]

I nodded. "Shield's are up, Sir. I've put in the coordinates for Tatooine, where you spoke of earlier."

I kept an eye on the viewport, just in case those fighters intercepted us before the computer finished its calculations.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"Good job."

Wei looked out at the darkening sky and saw the squadron of TIEs coming after them. Already he could see on the console a hail from the squad leader, commanding them to land the shuttle

"Does this thing have guns?"

[Aramis Rakai]

"It looks like she had a tail gunner installed and another set installed above us, take your pick." I said as I saw the TIE's coming in closer.

"Computers going slow, it may take a few more minutes. I'll try to out manuever them a bit, if you want some target practice." I said as my hands began working over the controls. "I'd get your restaints on pretty quick."

[Wei Wu Wei]

A squadron of TIE fighters--twelve machines with no shields, no missles, and a handicap in atmosphere.

Wei took the gunnery position closest to the cockpit and put on the headset to talk to Aramis. "Ok, bring up the shields if we have them. They're coming from behind, so put maximum shield strength there until they fly over us. Then even them out."

He was no starfighter. Most Jedi were decent fliers, but Wei had only endured one sortie during the Clone Wars as a fighter pilot. He swivelled the gun around to check it's responsiveness and area of attack.

"Watch out for them trying to come at us from below," Wei said.

The first two TIEs came screaming in like banshees. Wei hulled the first one. That was strange. They must be very new pilots.

"I guess the Force is with us," he said to Aramis. They've sent a rookie crew of pilots to bring us down. If you can improvise some decent evasive maneuvers we might just win this."

The other TIEs made their strafing runs and turned around for a head to head run on the ship.

[Aramis Rakai]

My hands flew over the controls as Wei disappeared up the gunner's shoot. I could hear him through the headset as I began to maneuver our ship in a defensive pattern.

I eased up the shields as Wei instructed and gunned the engines.

"Give me a few more minutes for the jump. Come on..." I said as I looked at the computer.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"I need evasive maneuvers, let the computer crunch the numbers. Roll, juke left, jink right, do what it takes to shake that fire. If they hit us enough the shields will come down."

Wei took aim at a fighter and let loose a blast on it. The TIE's solar wing array weathered the blast and rolled to starboard. Wei followed it and stitched its fuselage with laser bolts. Three down. The rest were learning.

After minutes of sustained fire from the top of the craft, the TIE pilots started coming in from below the ship. Wei couldn't switch from one laser cannon to the next: Aramis would have to maneuver so Wei could get to the ships and kill them.

[Aramis Rakai]

The first maneuver I managed was to go straight down...about 400 meters down.

[Wei Wu Wei]

The maneuver was unexpected and caught all parties by surprise. Wei was thrown back into the gunner's seat as the g-forces pressed him in. The TIEs veered off to avoid collision with the vehicle as they made opportunistic attacks on the ship's belly. Two of the TIE's swooped around Aramis' craft in a mirror movement and crashed into one another, lighting up the evening sky with a brilliant orange fireball.

The other seven dove after the ship. "Aramis, give me a corkscrew," The Jedi shouted. He waited a moment until the ship began its crazy spin.

Wei Wu Wei shot by faith, not by sight. The move was wild and dangerous for them. It gave Aramis an extra degree of difficulty when he finally decided to level out the flying machine. It also made them harder to hit. It was a trade Wei was willing to make. He fired in disciminately, as fast as the lasers would cycle, trusting the Force to help him sweep the targeting brackets across his foes. Two more exploded.

Hopefully Aramis knew what he was doing in the cockpit.

[Aramis Rakai]

I came out of the wicked spin feeling the power beneath me.

Bank right...now left...

That voice was back in my head and I followed what it was saying. There was something strangely familiar about it, but I had no time to think on it. I had a job to do.

Throw it in reverse and let them pass right over you...

I would have never thought about doing such a stunt, but did it anyway. I whooped as it worked and I watched two more TIE's explode into each other at the unexpected flight pattern.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Too green. These TIE pilots were babies. Wei used the element of surprise granted him by Aramis' maneuver and vaped the remaining enemy ships.

"Ok, Aramis, let's get out of here and get to our next stop."

Wei climbed out of the gunner's chair and sat in the co-pilot's seat. "You did a good job today."

[Aramis Rakai]

I grinned slightly and nodded shyly as I pushed the button for our jump into hyperspace. It was a beautiful sight, one I'd only see a couple times.

"We should be there in a couple of hours, Sir." I told him, not looking away from the sight before me.