Trials: Book One/Chapter Two

As night fell on the jungle, the three Padawans stopped to make camp. Bask used pyrokinesis to start a small fire to buffet against the cold of the night (they had left their extra clothes at the shuttle). They reflected back on the events that had caused their crash.

''“You three have been chosen to go on a diplomatic mission to the Barabels on Barab I.” Master Skywalker had told them. “They have been in civil unrest for some time and need an outsider to help settle it. Padawan Tey’lya, you have been chosen because of your skills as diplomat. Padawan Enitp, you and Padawan Ty have been chosen because the Barabels participate in honor duels. The better the duelists we send, the better a chance we have of them listening.” Bask spoke up. “But why us, Master Skywalker? Why aren’t you sending a master more experienced in these things?” Skywalker brushed some of her red hair off her face. “We cannot spare any more masters than we already are. This war with the Dark Nest is dragging on without an end in sight. We need every available master in the field. You Padawans are the most skilled we could send.” Thrin and Kohl looked proud that they were being sent on such an important mission. Bask looked apprehensive. “Master Skywalker, what if we fail? What if we can’t bring peace?” “You will have tried your best. We can’t expect anything better from you.” With those parting words, the hologram disappeared. They made their preparations, then boarded Bask’s shuttle. Taking off from the Jedi Temple, they entered hyperspace just as scheduled. Everything was going as planned until a Killik-commanded interdictor cruiser wrenched them out of hyperspace. The shock of it threw many of the ship’s systems into turmoil. As the most experienced pilot, Thrin took the controls, but they were spinning far off course. After they left the interdiction field, they automatically resumed hyperspace. As they tumbled helplessly through the blue, warped tube, many pieces of the shuttle broke off. Entering a gravity shadow, they were again wrenched violently out of hyperspace. Accompanied by pieces of wreckage, the ship tumbled through the atmosphere until Kohl caught and landed it.''

“What are we going to do?” demanded Bask, jarring them out of their reverie. With his life and the lives of the other two Padawans depending on each other, he had gotten much bolder. “We don’t have any way of contacting anyone. If we don’t show up on Barab I in two days like scheduled, the Barabels will lose faith that the Republic even cares. With this war with the Killiks on one side, the Republic can’t afford a war with its own citizens.”

Thrin and Kohl looked at each other. They knew Bask was right, but didn’t know what to do.

“I could try searching for sentient minds, but with the possibility of collective sentience in the plants and animals, I don’t think it will do much good”, Thrin offered.

“I already tried that, but go ahead”, replied Bask.

Thrin closed his eyes and began searching. He found many minds all around, but they were small. He sensed insects, animals, even a few plants, but no sentients. He opened his eyes. “No luck. If there are any sentients, they’re either not around here, or hiding themselves very well.”

“Kohl, you’re being awfully quiet. What do you think of all-” began Bask before Kohl’s hand clamped over his mouth. Bask was about to pull it away, when he noted the concentration on Kohl’s face. His eyes were closed, and his facial muscles were tightened severely. Finally, he opened his eyes and pointed into the jungle.

“Over there. Man-sized and –shaped beings. I thought I sensed them a few times throughout the day with my montrals, but now I’m sure of it”, he grabbed and ignited his cyan-bladed lightsaber as he spoke. “Show yourselves!” he yelled into the forest. Bask’s white blade and Thrin’s purple blade joined it a second later. The sound of many feet rapidly retreating met their ears. They ran forward, Bask and Thrin feeling for minds while Kohl tried to get a fix on them with his echolocation powers. After ten minutes of following, the footsteps faded and they couldn’t pick up the trail. There weren’t even footprints. They made their way back to camp and discussed their plans for the next day. Kohl agreed to take first watch of the night, followed by Thrin and then Bask.