The Jedi's Tales/Chapter 5

The planet was hot, and teeming with anger. All around her were the alarmed cries of large and otherwise dangerous beasts. Sweat poured from her. Her ordinarily loose robes hung to her like a suit of orbalisk armor. She’d been here long ago. The venerable Jedi felt a frightening presence. A presence she’d not felt since… “Master?” She jolted awake. A voice beckoned to her. She didn’t need to look far for the source of the voice. “Master, are you alright?”

“Yes, Shadra, I’m fine. What happened?”

“Nothing, it was just a dream.”

“Your ‘just a dream’ woke me up thanks to all the negative feelings. I tried using a calming technique, but it didn’t take. Incidentally, who or what is Colta?”

Startled by the fact that she had uses such a name, she responded, “Never mind. Just try to go back to sleep.”

“But, Mas-“

“I said ‘never mind.’” She repeated, firmly.

“Sorry, Master.”

“It’s alright.”

“Attention, this is the captain speaking,” called the voice over the loudspeaker. “We will be arriving on Coruscant in an hour’s time. ETA 2/3 pm.”

“Finally,” Shadra stated. The trip was from Ilum had been long and arduous. It had been almost a month before they found a neutral hyperspace route. Opening the shades, he gazed out at the electric blue-white streaks (that, he had no doubt, would soon become all too familiar with him) going past the porthole.

Before long, the blue became black and the streaks reduced to pinpoints. Now in the cockpit, the Jedi watched as the Metropolis loomed, vibrant and bustling, into view. “Welcome home.” Trass kindly stated as she gently placed her left hand around Jaye’s shoulders. Stroking his tchun with his right hand, the padawan couldn’t help but wonder about his friend.

Master Fuhlayne barely blocked the gran’s thermal detonator. With dazzling grace, she pushed him back into his Nikto counterpart. If only she had sensed the Toydarian aiming at the small of her back. Groaning, she got to her feet. The holograms vanished, and she was back in the Temple’s training room. “Having trouble, are you?”

“My mind has been elsewhere lately. I thought honing my ‘saber training would help, but…” She trailed off.

“Worries you, something does.” “It’s Colta, Master Yoda. I had a nightmare about him.”

“Not your fault was your padawan’s loss. A dangerous planet, Felucia is. Come. Convened, the council has.”

The meeting was short. They were briefed and sent on with the mission parameters. Once adjourned, Master Fuhlayne and her student wasted no time setting forth. The mission was not going to be easy. Broot had never gone out alone before. None of the initiates had. First things first: find help.

“This place looks promising.” Master Fuhlayne stated as they stopped in front of a seedy-looking bar. “Please tell me you have a sense of humor.” “Not that I know of.” She added dryly.

Author’s Note

 * 1) 1 Approx. 8:00
 * 2) 2 Tchun=left lekku