Destiny Eclipse/Chapter X

--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 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.”