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[Ryloth, 6 ATC 6] A Long Year Amongst the Twi'Leks

Week 5, Day 1, Midday

Using an incense stick, Lo carefully lit the Rycrit fat candles. One by one the candles cast a comfortable glow where the crystals couldn't reach. It drew a smile from her as she snuffed out the stick's tip with a simple shake. The smoke danced around her as it tried to entrance her attention.

She ignored it in favor of a seat. Her hand hooked underneath the wooden three-legged stool. She dragged it closer to Dominik then plopped into the hard surface, stinging her tail bone on impact. Lo made a note to sit a little less carelessly. Adjusting her bottom, she focused on checking Master Rothul's vitals. She pressed her fingers to his neck. Silently measuring the strengthening pulse and steady rhythm, positive results brought a smile. Next she changed the bloodied bandages and replaced them with freshly made ones. Ensuring she applied the herbal paste to prevent infections.

With her check list done, Lo stared at her master. All the strength his aura produced had dimmed in his coma.

"I miss you Master Rothul." The words started off uncomfortable and hesitant, but soon became fluid.

"I found your holocron on the ship and each day, I'm still trying to figure out the keyword you set for it. For now, I've been working on deflector practice. Sar and the others have been improving their aim too. Solves two issues at once."

She reached for a clay bowl and took a sip. Ro'Sara had ensured to leave two every day since the twi'lek girl discovered Lo's visits. The Bothan appreciated it.

"Sar wasn't happy with the idea, but I assured him we could set it to stun. Still hurts though."

Her eyes looked away.

"I don't know what to do... not while you're like this. Some Twi'leks are unsure of my abilities. They say I'm too young to do this on my own. And I fear they are right."

Despite the coma that held his body down, the Jedi Master was still there for his Padawan. Through the Force he could listen, focus on her words, comprehend them. Thought his body would not let him speak, not yet. Not enough strength had returned, thus he couldn't even wake if he tried. Tired mind listening to her words and her voice, they soothed his exhausted soul.

His lungs took in a long, deep breath for a moment before exhaling, his body coming to rest and laying still once more.

The first time Master Rothul took a breath, Lo nearly jumped out of her seat. Now it had become common place. She could sense he could feel her emotions, thoughts and listened to her words. She hoped one day he would speak to her.

"I'm learning diplomacy isn't easy. Some Twi'lek have accepted slavery as a better option and I can understand why. Just the other day, a gathering group was attacked by Gutkurr. We lost three hunters and several returned wounded. I don't even feel like a proper healer since I couldn't force heal them all. I could barely heal the most critical one."

Her hand reached out and gripped his, squeezing it softly.

"I never did ask you... why did you choose me? I don’t expect an answer. I don’t even know for sure if you can hear me or not."

Dominik's body remained still for a few long moments after Lo finished. His chest slowly rose and fell, but the rest of his body was unmoving.

After what seemed like minutes later, after feeling her hand in his, the man's fingers moved slowly. For a moment they held Lo's in a loose and weak grip before his grip let go completely, his fingers returning to how they rested before. Muscles on his face twitched slightly, his brow furrowing for just a quick moment before everything went still again, the man's mind moving back into the deep slumber that continued to hold him prisoner.

Lo smiled. Her hand lingered a moment longer then released, her body coming to a stand. As much as she hated it, her time with her master had run out. The Twi’leks still needed her.

“Thank you, Master. Get better quickly because I don’t think the Sith are done and I can’t do this alone.”

[Ryloth, 6 ATC 6] A Long Year Amongst the Twi'Leks

Jedi Master Dominik Rothul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwa0BPlr9_Q
Character song.

OoC

🔷As a player, what is your preferred writing level?
🔸Several paragraphs
🔸Long stories with heavy collaboration

🔷Is grammar and depth of writing important to you?
🔸Extremely. I always look forward to reading about how other characters feel in the moment, and what they're thinking. Depth of writing is something I love, and something I'm working on myself.

🔷Are there any writing subjects you particularly enjoy exploring?
🔸Siblings bonds are my favorite, but in the case of the Star Wars PG, I love to explore the bonds between other characters. Writing about those bonds is one of my favorite things to do.

🔷Is there anything you really dislike and want to avoid like the plague?
🔸Romance. Something I've never enjoyed, nor tried at all. Willing to, but only if it's natural between characters.

🔷Is there something you are uncomfortable with happening to your character?
🔸Romance... Just not feelin' it unless it's natural, even then it'll take some time for me to get used to.

🔷Do you have any short-term or long-term goals with this character?
🔸Short Term: Dominik growing closer back into the Order, becoming less of a wanderer; missions with other Jedi. Just more character growth in general, perhaps he'll take in another Padawan?
🔸Long Term: Possible promotion to the Council, more intel gathering/teaching/training? Wouldn't mind a heroic death out of all of it, but only if it fits 🤷‍♀️

Jedi Temple Public Records

🔷Name:
🔸Dominik Rothul
🔷Species:
🔸Human
🔷Age:
🔸60 (Born in 3707.)
🔷Homeworld:
🔸Alderaan
🔷Gender:
🔸Male
🔷Rank:
🔸Jedi Master
🔷Master:
🔸N/A
🔷Former master(s):
🔸Jedi Knight Elveyor Ki
🔷Trials Completed:
🔸Initiate Trials completed at age 13.
🔸Knight Trials completed at age 20.
🔷Known Skills:

Known Lighstaber Forms

🔸Mastery Shii-Cho
🔸Advanced Ataru
🔸Advanced Niman

🔷Known Force Techniques:
🔸Mastered Talent Force Cloak
🔸Advanced Training Basic Force Uses
🔸Intermediate Training Force Stealth
🔸Intermediate Training Crucitorn
🔸Intermediate Training Tutaminis

🔷Known associates:
🔸 Jedi Grandmaster Satele Shan
🔸🔹One of the few he'd ever call a close friend. He met Satele when they were both Padawans, and they've kept in touch throughout both of their lives. She's someone Dominik trusts with his life, and one of the few he knows he can fight alongside with.
🔸 Jedi Padawan Xid Terrik (Location Unknown)
🔸🔹A Padawan Dominik had taught many times. The kid was shy, unsure of himself, but very very intelligent and showed a knack for playing with tech. The last time Dominik saw Xid was during the Sacking of Coruscant when the older Jedi was escorting Younglings to safety. Dominik presumes the boy died in the fighting, like his Padawan.
🔸 Jedi Padawan Evin Raethen (Deceased)
🔸🔹The single Padawan Dom took on so far as a Jedi. He and the kid got along well as they shared many similarities in their personality and interests. Evin died fighting next to Dom during the Sacking of Coruscant.
🔸️Jedi Knight Airus Vel Aath
🔸️🔹️Dom first met Airus when the man was a simple Initiate. He had attended many of Dom's teachings. Dominik remembers him as a bright and attentive learner. Dominik also knew Airus after he was chosen to be a Padawan to Sar Dan'ii.
🔸️Jedi Master Sar Dan'ii (Deceased)
🔸️🔹️A good friend that Dom met after he passed his Knight Trials. Sar was someone who's company he enjoyed, even if she was a little scatterbrained at times. Losing her connection as a friend through the Force also influenced Dom's change after the Sacking.

🔷Favored Equipment and clothes:
🔸Temple/Diplomatic Robes

[+]

🔸Casual/Combat Robes

[+]

🔷Personality traits:
🔸 Charismatic
🔸 Observant
🔸 Scholarly, Wise
🔸 Selfless

Jedi Temple Internal Records

_{🔷Detailed appearance. Imagery insufficient.}

Handsoom Guy

🔸Scars adorn his chest and back from his time spent in captivity. A long, ragged scar runs from the back of his head, down the left side of his neck and across his chest.
🔸Sometimes he can be seen walking with a slight limp, favoring his right leg as he moves. In more casual settings, he'll carry a waist high walking stick to aid with his geriatric tendencies. Healers have deduced that the limp was caused by a combination of his experiences in wartime coupled with the simple fact of old age. It is an injury that hasn't responded to any forms of healing.

_{🔷Simplified report on natural ability with the Force.}

🔸Dominik chose to focus on his connection with the Force over his skill with the lightsaber. Due to the innate talent of Force Cloak that was discovered when he was a boy, Dominik was thrown headfirst into meditation, holocrons, and a Force-based training regimen. Dominik prefers to use the Force while he fights, as it is a part of his identity as a Jedi. The man is well known for his past of being behind enemy lines and gathering intel, and surviving for a year as a captive after the siege of Alderaan.

_{🔷List of all known ownerships, including vessels, (non-standard) equipment, and locations.}

🔸Corellian Defender-class Light Corevette - Mirage

_{🔷Quick report on political influence, associates and rivals.}

🔸Dominik has a fair share of both political rivals and friendly associates. After pulling away from his main duty gathering intel, Dominik fell into diplomacy rather easily. He made frequent visits to Alderaan a couple years after it's siege, in an attempt to calm the people Alderaan and quell the division amongst them between the pacifists and those that began to advocate aggressive military operations against the Empire

_{🔷Psychological evaluation of Jedi Order member.}

🔸To his friends and associates, Dominik Rothul is kind-hearted man who loves to joke around and discuss anything about the galaxy. To those who do not know him, Dominik is often seen as callous, unapproachable, and very independent. Due to the isolation Dominik put himself in throughout his years as a Master, he only has a small circle of those he would call friends and acquaintances. He is dedicated to the Jedi Order and the safety of its members, be they Master or Youngling. He shows a fierceness and determination to protect those which he cares about, and is not often caught unprepared nor underskilled.

_{🔷List and description of known and suspected flaws. To be put into restricted database.}

🔸Callous
🔸🔹To those who do not know Dominik well, or to those Dominik does not know at all, he can seem quite hardened to emotions. He rarely shows any forms of expressions if he's amongst those he does not know, trust, or like. He is often described as cold to other Jedi who haven't work with him much.
🔸Fierce
🔸🔹Though Dominik shies away from heavy and physical combat, he is often described as violent and intense should the outcome of a fight influence the lives of those he cares about. Due to his experiences in captivity, Dominik often reflects upon the fights beforehand that lead to his capture, and refuses to let anyone else meet that fate, or worse.
🔸Independent
🔸🔹Due to being on his own for most of his Knight years and as a Jedi Master, Dominik finds it hard to trust those he does not know well. He is quite independent and often makes his own decisions if he feels he cannot get a good opinion from those around him.

_{🔷Major achievements on record.}

🔸Successfully constructed his first lightsaber.
🔸Completed Initiate Trials.
🔸Completed Knight Trials.
🔸Was captured and interrogated by independent forces, but managed to escape.
🔸Successfully gathered intel that was proven to be vital to the Jedi Order in thwarting ambushes, coups, and invasions by unfriendly forces throughout the galaxy.
🔸Appointed to the rank of Jedi Master by the Council at the age of 52.
🔸Survived the Sacking of Coruscant.

_{🔷Major failures on record. Confidential.}

🔸Was captured and interrogated by independent forces, but managed to escape.
🔸Was captured and interrogated by Sith during the siege of Alderaan.
🔸Lost a Padawan during a fight with multiple Sith during the Sacking of Coruscant.

🔸🔹Dominik Rothul, Timeline of Important Events:
drive.google.com/file/d/1Ow2IW1sYNHaE…

Interview

_{🔷Personal biography, as detailed by the candidate for use in Jedi archives. Acquired shortly after last achievement of note.}

🔸 Mic on. You may begin.
🔸🔹"Ahem- I am Jedi Master Dominik Rothul. I was born on Alderaan, in the capital city of Aldera, in the year 3707. I lived as a commoner for the first years of my life before, at the age of ten, I discovered that I was connected to the Force. I learned quickly that I was to be trained to become a Jedi. It was- two days past when a Jedi came to my home and explained to me that I was to leave my home immediately to begin training at a Jedi Temple. I was scared, as any young boy would be, to leave my family and my life behind for something completely different and strange to me.
I said my goodbyes to my mother and father, and next thing I knew I was dressed in robes and held a lightsaber in my hand. I dove into my studies- found some interest in information gathering, forms of stealth, and in my connection with the Force. I was directed to begin training in Shii-Cho and Niman, and quickly discovered that I had an innate talent for a skill which the Masters called Force Cloak. It seemed that ninety-percent of my focus went into lightsaber training, learning to use my talent, and becoming one with the Force.
My padawan years seemed to be just as chaotic. I was quickly paired with Jedi Knight Elveyor Ki. Master Elveyor and I didn't see eye to eye on many things. He was more combat oriented whereas I liked to observe my surroundings and make a plan. We fought often, but we still watched each others backs. We both had our close calls, and there were a couple times in which we had to look back on the decisions we made and what we'd change, but all in all he taught me well. I stuck by his side as we jumped from mission to mission. It didn't seem like there was any downtime at all, which I was fine with. Life finally seemed to slow down as I was preparing for my trials. He taught me a lot, which helped in the success I had in my trials.
After I became a Jedi Knight, I was constantly on the move. This time I had only myself, and Jedi Holocrons to gain knowledge from. As a Padawan I followed my Master almost endlessly, my focus was merely to train and gain knowledge, and to hone my skills if the situation allowed. On my own though, I started to focus more on my skills in the Force, and oftentimes I found myself sent off to gather intel- Dark Jedi and deviants were still a priority. I found myself using my skills in conjunction with one another so that I could slip past defenses others couldn't, and to avoid being detected by those I was following."

White noise fills a few moments of static.

"In my time gathering intel, I was caught twice. The first happened when I was only a year into my Knighthood. I stepped too far into independent enemy territory and my only decision was to fight my way out. Needless to say I was overwhelmed. I spent a month as a captive until I decided to fight back. I still don't know how long I had been there but my absence was noticed when I returned to Coruscant. After being debriefed I was instructed to go into recovery, which I did for a short time to reflect and meditate on what happened and to prepare myself to go back into the field.
The second time I was apprehended was on Alderaan in 3667. Aldera, my home, was under siege by the Sith. I was not there, however, as I had a mission to gather intel on this threat from points of Alderaan that had shown... extremism. My area of operation was exposed by people whom I trusted. Locals, mostly, those who hadn't shown extremism or preached about the glory of the Sith, and some other agents who were thought loyal to the Republic. I was exposed, captured, and taken off planet to Korriban. I spent nearly a year under their hand. I can't recall much of the experience except that Crucitorn was my only saving grace. I was able to withstand many of their sessions without giving away any vital information that would endanger the Jedi Order.
I was rescued by a small task force of Jedi led by Grandmaster Satele Shan.
Afterwards, I returned to a praxeum to heal and reflect on my experience, as it wasn't apparent at first how much it had affected me and my connection to the Force. With the guidance from friends, colleagues, and Masters, I was able to find myself again and I returned to my duties after a few months of healing.
I quickly found out that I had a knack for diplomacy, so I started to pursue that as part of my Master studies. Many times I found myself on Coruscant teaching at the Temple. Not long after I was made Master, I took on a Padawan. He was a younger boy, unsure of himself, shy, but strong with the Force and a little bullheaded at times. I often found I was comparing him to my younger self after I had left Alderaan for my training. I found it comforting, to have someone at my side while I travelled."

Sounds of the mic being put down, shuffling in the background. Intervewee returns to the mic, taking a deep breath before continuing.

"I went into teaching for a short time in the Temple- but after the Sacking of Coruscant, after losing my Padawan among many others, I found myself buried under immense guilt. I felt as though I could've helped prevent the ambush on Coruscant, if I had been in a different field, focusing on my old ways; finding intel, watching POI's. I grew more distant from the Order and decided to focus on my studies, and returning to my old field of gathering intel. Now I find myself reflecting again on my past, digging up leads to some very frightening plots, and reuniting with old friends."

[Ryloth, 6 ATC 6] A Long Year Amongst the Twi'Leks

Chapter 6

Sacrifices

---

6 ATC, 8

Week 5, Day 4, Midday

To Dominik Rothul, two months on Ryloth seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, yet he could remember almost every single moment when he looked back. Perhaps it was his young, good-spirited padawan who had made every moment memorable, or perhaps it was the new friendships they had both made with the Twi’lek people, or the experiences of living off the land and fighting off an enemy that always seemed one step ahead.

The Twi’leks had made their own improvements though, despite all of the hardship the relief effort was putting them through. From discovering a large tunnel system underneath the village and refining it, making it into a home to making the largest cavern they could find into a village suited for the people. Large crystals hanging off the cavern walls provided light during the day as they absorbed the energy from the sun which hit the planet’s surface. At night, the crystals would dim and provide enough ambient light for the villagers to continue working and going about their duties. Materials to build their homes and stockpile supplies they needed were provided on a monthly basis with the second supply drop from the Jedi just being received. In these drops were bundles of medical supplies, old tech that could be repurposed, and weapons and ammunition needed to fight against the Zygerrians.

Master Rothul was able to get through to the Jedi council twice since their arrival on Ryloth. He relayed their location and gave a brief update on the situation; winning this conflict would be difficult, but the Twi’leks were hopeful.

With their main base of operations moved underground, the village above the cavern, on the surface, provided a very reassuring decoy to anyone who wished to spy upon their efforts. So far though, hourly scouts and perimeter checks had thwarted many Zygerrian spies who wished to get the upper hand on the relief operation. Despite the efforts they’ve made as a village and the progress that can be seen, Sar’s clan, New’Talik, had received criticism from other clan leaders and their people, stating it would be easier to lay down their arms and accept slavery as a way of life, versus to fight it and die to a cause that they most certainly believed to be useless.

Dominik had made Lo’s training a priority during all of this. He provided help to the Twi’leks when necessary, otherwise the two Jedi were rarely seen if there was free time to be had. The younger Jedi had both learned and taught much to the Twi’leks about the art of healing and medical care and had helped in building their knowledge and respect for the Jedi as a whole. Dominik noticed her growth every day; from the way she held and swung her lightsaber to the way her hands worked while helping an injured Twi’lek, she was constantly learning and growing.

He often found himself reflecting upon their recent time in Ryloth. He took a few hours each night to himself to meditate and think about all they had done and all they had yet to do. There was still much to teach her. He finally felt the grief from his time as Jedi and as a previous teacher to a deceased Padawan start to release from his heart, allowing the man to find peace with what was now, in the present.

Even now, as he and Lo were joined by Sar and a couple other Twi’lek as they scouted the perimeter, Dominik found himself reflecting on their time there and felt a sense of obscurity and uncertainty about the future of Ryloth and the friends they have made.

“Our scouts saw a small group of Zygerrians just past the next bend in the canyon.” Sar explained, snapping Dominik out of his thoughts. “They spotted them early this morning, as the sun started to rise.” he continued, glancing over to Dom as the group walked down the canyon.

“How long were they around for?” Dominik asked, his old eyes glancing up at the top of the canyon, keeping an eye out for movement, and keeping his senses pushed out, preparing for anything.

“Not long. My men think the slavers noticed they were being followed, so they bolted.”

"Did anyone track their direction and follow them or investigate the area?" Lo asked, worried a trap might've been placed there for one of the younger children or adults.

"For a little while, yes. But the men stopped before they got too far, just in case. They didn't want to get ambushed if they were too far out." Sar explained, glancing back at the younger Jedi next to Dom.

Lo looked to Dominik. “Should we check it out first?”

Dominik nodded to his Padawan, words seeming to escape him as his focus was suddenly directed elsewhere. His eyes closed as they walked, his feet stopping just a few moments after as something pulled at his senses. Eyes opened slowly as he looked to Sar, then to Lo, and then to the other two Twi'lek behind them.

"How long ago did you say they were spotted?" The Master Jedi asked, his head turning to look at either side of the canyon before he glanced behind them.

"Just this morning. A few hours ago."

Lo’s brown eyes lingered on her master. The fur on the back of her neck rose up, but she knew from his expression he could sense the Force’s disturbance. Her arms stood at her side while she absorbed the information their strengthening bond had begun to feed her.

“Master?” She didn’t say much more than a single word, unsure how much her master wanted to share out loud. Her head tilted and right eyebrow raised. A subtle hint to clue him into the fact she knew something was up.

A deep rumble could be heard and even felt through one’s feet should they be paying attention. “Get to the caverns, everyone, now!” the man shouted as a high-pitched whistling could be heard above them. Mortars, a weapon Dominik hadn’t fought against in years, impacted into the ground just fifty feet from them and immediately exploded in a symphony of fire and destruction. The man’s hand grabbed Sar and pushed him back in the direction of the caverns as another one went off further down the canyon.

Lo had already been moving the moment Dominik yelled for the caverns. Distracted by trying to understand the feelings of concern and unease, she hadn’t noticed the incoming threat until then. Her figure bolted toward the alerted Twi’lek with her arms waving a warning.

“MOVE!” She screamed when the first mortar hit the ground.

A panic spread through the villagers. Many dropped whatever they had and bolted toward the tunnels as the mortars continued to rain down. Lo stopped just outside the entrance and sought sight of her master, pushing those slower in before her.

“Get inside! Don’t stop!” Dominik yelled, ushering anyone inside that he could and helping the smaller children and older Twi’leks move. The concussions caused a lot of the younger Twi’leks to lose their footing, or stop and cover their ears at the overwhelming sound. Dominik had two younger Twi’leks in his arms by the time he made it to the tunnels, passing them off to adults who ran by before he continued.

“Lo! Don’t stop, get in there!” He yelled to his Padawan as he came running towards her. Sar had also stopped a little further in the tunnels, helping his people move and waiting for Lo and Dominik, ensuring they made it inside safely. Not many Twi’leks had passed into the tunnel, but he knew there were other entrances nearby that many of them could use to get to the cavern.

Dominik caught up with his Padawan and ushered her on, looking behind him just as a mortar exploded near the entrance of the tunnel, throwing dirt and rocks in every direction.

Lo flinched at the explosion. Her feet paused and steadied her to prevent loss balance. Her eyes glanced behind her to note Dominik coming in hot on her heels. Ushering the last Twi’lek in, she pushed in behind and traveled deeper into the tunnel. Despite haste being critical, her fears and worries about her master held her back. She made sure to be remained among the last that entered.

Ears ringing, Dominik’s eyes watched as Lo ran just ahead of him. He could feel the explosions on the surface, threatening the integrity of the tunnel’s structure, barreling down upon the decoy village they had created, turning it to ash and dust. The tunnels that led to the cavern didn’t wind through the ground too much, they were fairly straight with a few bends and turns here and there. Many of the Twi’leks had pushed ahead while Dominik had initially stopped to make sure everyone had made it inside. The older Jedi’s mind had little time to think about the fact that the weapons they were firing down upon them had seemingly appeared on the enemy’s side in days. A recon into their ranks hadn’t revealed any plans for equipment or ammunition such as this. He thought about the Zygerrian’s capabilities; the allies they might have that could supply them with such firepower. The Sith, sure… but what about the Treaty?

Lo’s eyes kept drifting back. The tunnels were tight and narrow, creating a claustrophobic sensation all around her. Even with the anxiety building, her worry kept returning to her master. The exit of their underground tunnel drew nearer with each step now as she spotted Sar’s figure at the mouth.

“We’re almost there.” She panted, feeling exhaustion settle in her bones.

Dominik too saw the light from the large cavern up ahead. His eyes took in the light, his lungs took deep breaths as he pushed his body towards safety. It was his ears that made the man think. He heard Lo’s panting, heard their footsteps on the hard ground; but from behind them, Dominik heard the explosions growing again, and felt the heat slowly grow on his back before he turned to look.

The crystals that lined the cave were filled with a form of gas. This gas allowed the crystalline structure to illuminate when there was sun and heat on the surface during the day. The gas was also encased in crystals, making it relatively safe to be near. But with the combined force of the explosions and heat the mortars created, should one land too close to the outer walls of the tunnel, near the entrance, it would set off a chain reaction. And a chain reaction it caused.

With each crystal that burst open, exploding outwards, came more gas and more fuel for the raging wall of fire and combustion that could only go two ways. Back out towards the canyon, or in towards the cavern they called home; the same cavern that was filled with these crystals.

The Master Jedi saw the speed at which the wall of fire and death was gaining on them, and the distance they still had to go before reaching the cavern. There would be no time to block the tunnel entrance when they got there, it would be too late. It was only about fifty feet from the cavern, but Dominik had made his choice. The Jedi Master used the Force and pushed forward, towards his Padawan. The push sent her the last few feet she had and into the cavern. Sar was there in an instant, kneeling down to Lo and moving to help her stand.

The Jedi Master stopped suddenly, his feet digging in to their position as his body turned to face the raging inferno that raced towards him. Arms stretched out and wide, palms open as he focused the Force, Dominik pushed forward, meeting the wall of fire with a strong resistance as he fought to keep it away from the cavern. If he could hold it long enough, the combustion would die down and he could retreat to the cavern. He could feel the heat on his face as he held the wall of flame at bay just twenty feet from him. Eyes closed as he focused on the Force, feeling it flow through his body and push to fight the natural forces that threatened to overtake him.

Lo pushed herself upright with Sar’s help. Her hand reached to touch her head and shook the daze from her focus. Quickly, the blurry shapes becoming sharp again. A dread filled her mind as she glanced back. It and adrenaline buzzed at the back of Lo's skull before it shot through her system. Everything appeared to crawl now as she absorbed the scene playing out before her.

Her eyes widened at the surreal scene. Impulsively her body moved to reach him, but met resistance from Sar. The Twi'lek's arms gripped her shoulders and held her back.

"No, NO. Sar, please. I have to get to him! He needs help!" The desperate scream ripped from her throat into the air.

Fire light barely illuminated her youthful face. Terror from the possibility entered her thoughts. Her struggle against the older Twi'lek increased as the reality grew. Sar's eyes couldn't meet hers, even when he continued to hold her back.

"NO! Please, let me help him!"

"No Lo, it's too dangerous! You need to stay back!" The Twi'lek argued, holding the young Jedi tight as she struggled against him.

A sinking feeling dropped her heart into her stomach.

"This can’t be happening. NO! Please..."

Tears began to form at the corners of her eyes, blurring her vision and feeding her determination.

Sar just held her tighter. Helplessness haunted her while she watched her worst fears come to life. Memories of her mother flashed in her head, fleeting emotions of love and loss weighed her down. Her knees crumbled underneath her.

"No... Not again."

As Sar held Lo back, the Twi’lek desperately watched Dominik, hoping to see the Master Jedi making a move towards them, doing something that indicated he was coming, that he would be alright. His arms tightened around Lo and held the young Bothan close, steeling himself against her desperate outcries as she tried to get to her friend.

Dominik could feel the emotions flooding from Lo. His heart hurt for his Padawan because with each passing moment, as the inferno refused to die down and instead wanted to push towards him, to push towards those he cared about, he knew he had to stop this himself.

Dominik Rothul had lived sixty years, learning to use to Force, learning to trust it and to let it flow through him, so he could become one with it. He had seen things most couldn’t stand, had endured hardships that many couldn’t bear. He had failed his first Padawan, Evin, during the attack on the Coruscant temple. As he stood there, losing a battle against the natural forces that gas and fire created, he hoped that in doing this he wasn’t failing Lo too. He could only hope. Keeping one hand towards the wall of fire, the Jedi shot the other one back behind him, turning his body slightly so that he could see the mouth of the tunnel.

He saw Sar, he saw Lo. His old eyes went to his Padawan, to the young Bothan whom he had known through her entire life. He wished he could’ve seen her sooner, could have started training her as she deserved. She deserved more, and Lo did not deserve this. Suddenly, the mouth of the tunnel started to crack and rumble. Cracks grew up into the cavern just after the tunnel exit. Large boulders started to dislodge from the wall and the sides of the tunnel. Dominik’s eyes met Lo’s. He held that gaze for as long as he could.

Suddenly he pulled that hand down, and down came large boulders and pieces of rock as they began to pile in the entryway of the tunnel. Dust and dirt flew, and by the time it settled, the tunnel entrance was completely blocked - with Dom on the other side.

There was little time as he turned back, holding back the wall of inferno for as long as he could. Dominik made sure the tunnel had been sealed, so that all others in the cavern would be safe. Including Lo. He felt the inferno building, threatening to overtake him as he fought against it with the Force. Too long had the explosive forces been held using the Force, too long had they been contained. Dominik suddenly felt his hold on the Force loosen as the forces he was trying to fight exploded violently outward. The Jedi master felt the gravitational force against his body as it rippled through him. He heard the sickening crack of bones, and the internal tearing of something more. His body was forcefully thrown back against the wall of rock he had created mere moments ago.

He hit the rock wall hard, losing the air in his lungs as his body succumbed to the forces of gravity. The man’s body sunk down over the rubble, sliding down closer to the tunnel floor as the flames he had been fighting danced along the tunnel ceiling above him. From within the cavern, the sound of the explosion could be heard, louder than ever. There was an eerie silence as explosions from mortars on the surface could be heard, their sound suddenly so much quieter compared to the one on the other side of the collapse Dominik had created.

Nothing can prepare the young for when their world crashes down around them. Yet against her will, Lo faced it. Any strength within her seemed to die when the cave-in happened. An emotional storm of his last moments raged inside her core and flooded it with regret. Lo trembled at the disassociation of her master's death before her eyes. She pressed her face into Sar's shoulder, hiding her agony and shock from view.

She fought not to openly weep while the mortars' muffled sounds began to lessen.

An emptiness gnawed at her. Where warmth seemed to give her hope, a dull ember struggled for the last of its life. A weak, faint...

Lo's head jerked up. Her eyes blinked away the salt stinging at her vision as she wiped the tears on her sleeve. Her confusion evaporated when an epiphany dawned on her. Without warning, she pushed the Twi'lek aside then rushed to the cave in. The Bothan's small heart pounded at the sheer, renewed hope rushing in.

Broken words gained new strength while she shouted. "He's alive. He's still alive! Help me, please. He needs help! Master Dominik is alive."

She raised an unsteady hand, but her mind struggled to focus. Fear and doubt pushed at her calm, driving it from her. Unwilling to give up, she began to scale to the top. She stumbled when a rock dislodged and cracked its way down, skinning her knee. Lo didn't feel or care. When she finally reached the top, her hands began rip away the rubble.

Lo could feel Sar’s concern burning into her back, but she didn’t care. Her mind fell to a single task: get to her master. New callouses began to build on her old ones causing a soreness to sink in. It didn’t stop her.

Seeing she relentless in her actions, Sar stared a few moments longer then shouted for others. He pointed and directed his fellow villagers to start digging. Needing little encouragement thanks to Lo's determination, the work began.

Locked in a single mental goal, Lo didn't register their existence. She just kept mumbling the same phrase under her breath.

“Please let him be alive…. Please let him be alive… please let him be alive.”

When Na'seca's hands touched her shoulders, her attention returned to the present. Lo blinked as she let the younger twi'lek guide her to the bottom of the heap.

"We need your help for the medical supplies." The younger boy urged as he continued to pull Lo away, allowing the other Twi'leks to work.

Hesitating, Lo looked back to the collapsed entrance. Many villagers started at the top and worked through thinnest parts first. Their display of loyalty filled her with reassurance they would get through. She inhaled, letting her frustration and fear settle, before she nodded in agreement. Strength from her was needed now.

"We'll need..." She stumbled in her thoughts until she forced herself to continue. Listening to the Force, she listed off the critical materials.

"Bacta, herbs, stims, bandages, and a surgery medical kit."

Na'seca nodded. "We'll see what we have available. Let's allow Sar and the others to work while we prepare. We won't have much time when they find him."

She nodded then allowed him to lead her away.

Time was lost to the group of Twi'leks as they worked tirelessly to get through the top of the collapse. Sar knew time was critical for his friend, who knows what happened to him after he had blocked himself off with the collapse. No one had been keeping track of time when they finally broke through to the inside of the tunnel. Pitch black and with a hazy feel, Sar and a couple other Twi'leks slid through the small opening and searched for the Master Jedi. It didn't take long to find him after they got through, and for that Sar was thankful. Gently moving larger rocks that had Dominik pinned into the collapse, not much could be seen for injuries in the darkness of the tunnel. It wasn't until he was pulled back to the other side that Sar started to realize time would be Dom's enemy.

The Master Jedi was unresponsive as they called his name, caressed his head and glancing over what injuries they could see. There were cuts and gashes that littered his forehead, face and neck. A trickle of blood ran from his nose and the corner of his mouth, indicating something internally was wrong. His breathing was slow, and inconsistent; chest heaving with each short breath he took, audibly they could hear he was struggling to breathe.

Laying him on a blanket and using that to carry him, the four corners were all lifted simultaneously as the Twi'leks ushered him off to one of the larger, empty adobe houses that had been constructed recently. Meanwhile, Ro'Sara ran as fast as her legs would take her to get Lo.

The place where most of the wounded were kept was an area covered by a canopy of blankets and cloth on the opposite end of the cavern as the tunnel Dom was pulled from. The Twi'leks eyes spotted Lo immediately, changing her course and shouting for the Bothan as she approached.

Lo's arms were elbows deep in a basin of water. Her hands scratch away the dried and wet blood, tainting it brighter blue. Her lips curled into a frown at the thoughts of all the wounded. As she sloshed them about, her ears caught Ro'Sara's words. Her head turned to face the older Twi’lek standing there.

"Lo! They found him! They took him to the new hut!" She called, pointing in the direction of it. It was the most recently constructed adobe house, built bigger so that it could house a small family, or in this case, a Master Jedi in need of much care.

Lo's fur fluffed out. She shook her arms dried and grabbed the nearest surgical kit beside her. In a quick dash, she rushed toward the mud dried structure. Realizing she forgot something, Lo abruptly stopped then hollered back. Ro'Sara stopped in her tracks at the mention of her name.

"Ro'Sara, grab the rest of the supplies and bring them to the hut. Quickly!"

After that statement, Lo took off.

On arrival, she ducked through the entrance. A hand pressed against the smoothed walls as she stepped down the stairs on to the main floor. In the corner, her eyes locked with her master. He rested on the clay bed covered with woven leaves and softer materials. Purple-blue crystals rested in a nearby mount. Their faint glow illuminated the darkness where the fire light failed to reach. A makeshift table had been set up nearby.

Lo hesitated. Her fear jumped up into her throat and began to suffocate her on the spot. Each breath felt like inhaling powdered glass as she tried to move.

Ro'Sara's hand touched the young Bothan. Lo jumped and looked over her shoulder. Fresh tears brimmed along the corners of her eyes from the conflict within.

The Twi'lek gently squeezed her shoulder with reassurance.

"We have to hurry Lo, if we're to save him." Proving her point, the older alien moved past and began to set up the tools.

For the second time that miserable day, Lo dried her sorrow from her face. She purged her suffering with an intake of air then drew closer. Hope. It drove her as she set the kit down and assessed the damages.

Her head leaned over his chest to hear the faint, rattling signs of life. Lo gestured for a knife which Ro'Sara passed her. With a skilled and practiced movement, she sliced along the robe sides. Extremely purple bruises maimed his white skin.

"We need to stop the internal bleeding before I can heal him with the Force. I need the vibro-scalpel and bacta bottle."

As Ro'Sara handed off the small device and bottle, Lo went to work. She silenced her worried thoughts while she sliced open her master. Memories of injured Jedi and Troopers on H'Ratth leaped into her mind, driving her skills. Time ticked by at an agonizing slow pace. After some cartelization and stitches, Lo sealed the ruptured veins. Finishing off with some bacta patches she turned to her assistant.

"Ro'Sara, get me a chair."

The demand in Lo's tone caught Ro'Sara off guard, but she didn't question her friend. The Twi'lek girl brought a chair as the padawan sat cross-legged in it. She once more rolled her sleeves as her expression hardened. Her hands rested on Dominik's patched abdomen lightly as she took a cleansing breath. With closed eyes, she quieted her thoughts into meditation.

She spread her connection with the Force to the planet itself. Her heart and soul touched it, asking for its help to heal him. Nearly an hour passed before a tingling edged from her center into her hands and finally into him.

Just when her Force healing took hold, a fearful thought surfaced. What if she couldn't bring him back? Lo shuddered as her fingers curled. The tingling ceased and the collected energy quavered. Threatening to fade.

Lo's eyes snapped open in pure shock. "No, please no...Why isn’t it working?"

She couldn't stop the trembling. It started off small then grew, engulfing her whole body. Paralyzing her connection with the Force. She wrapped her arms about her, trying to soothe herself.

A deep, gentle voice rattled through her mind. "Trust yourself and trust in the Force."

"Master. I'm not sure I can do th-" Her mutter quieted when she heard her master again.

“I told you to trust in the Force, to let it guide you. It is the will of the Force that you and I are together."

Lo nodded softly then closed her eyes again. She pushed her hands flat against his still body and meditated once more. Another long, endless hour passed. The longest one in her whole life. A faint tingling budded in her center. Gradually it trickled out into Dominik giving him renewed life and will to live.

"Please master, I'm not ready for you to leave me. There's still so much you have to teach me." Lo pleaded as the tingling grew stronger.

Dominik's pale body was still as Lo meditated beside him, her hands on his abdomen as she tried her hardest to focus. Nearly two hours went by as Lo started to find her inner peace, to collect herself, trust the Force, and to trust herself. During the second hour, as Lo's life energy helped to heal his body little by little, Dominik was pulled back from the brink. Color returned to his skin, indicating that blood was starting to flow properly again.

The difficulties that hampered his breathing were slowly pushed aside by Lo's life energy, allowing the older Jedi proper oxygen, his lungs able to expand fully as deliver the breath he so desperately needed.

Though he had been pulled from the brink, from knocking on death's doorstep, the man's body had undergone tremendous trauma and would need much time to heal properly. He did not wake, his mind hardly stirred as Lo's energy poured into him. If she had been looking close enough though, the younger Jedi could see a very small twitch of his fingers on the hand closest to her. Once, twice, a third time they moved before going still again.

Lo slacked in her posture. The boundless energy she usually held onto now carefully redirected into Dominik. Her chest slowly rose then fell, a steady but notably weaker pace. Though her common sense knew to stop, but her worry insisted on going on.

Heavy eyelids fluttered open then glanced toward her master's hand. Twitches of life caused her to smile as she removed her hands. Exhaustion weighed down her like a reminder of the burden her responsibilities carried.

"He's going to be all right..." Immediately her head lowered to her folded up arms, resting on the narrow space at his bed edge.

"I'm so tired now."

Standing just outside of the doorway so as to give Lo and Ro'Sara room to work, Sar watched the entire time. He did not move for two hours, for fear of not being there for Lo, should the worst happen. Upon seeing the young Bothan pull her hands from Dominik the second time, resting her head at his bedside, he walked in and up to her side. “You need to rest Lo… we’ll take it from here. I promise… he’ll be alright.” the Twi’lek man said, a gentle hand on her back as he kneeled down to her level. On the other side of the Master Jedi, Ro'Sara began to clean up what she could, and gathered the tools she had used so that they could be properly sterilized should they be needed again. Medical supplies were already running low, they had to take care of what they had left so their wounded could be properly cared for.

“I’ll stay here too, Lo. I’ll get him cleaned up, and find him some blankets. Everything will be alright.”

The young padawan shook her head. Her braid had become disheveled and spring stray hairs across its well-kept form. She rose upright, leaving her comfortable position.

"I can't rest. I need to assess the situation. That means checking the medical supplies, the wounded's condition, and-"

Lo's muzzle opened into a wide yawn, interrupting herself. Though she still had strength to stand upright and walk, weakness showed in her figure. The young padawan felt hundreds of years older in a few hours. Her balance tilted causing her arm to snap out and prevent her tumbling into the floor.

“We can do that Lo. Those of us who aren’t hurt. You don’t have to take on all of this responsibility alone. I’m here to help, just as I helped Dominik. We’re all in this fight together.” He said, one hand gripping Lo’s shoulder as she suddenly started to lean. “Pushing yourself will only make the situation worse.”

Lo put her fingers to her nose bridge. She tightly closed her eyes and breathed, steadying herself.

"You're right. I need to listen to my body and accept my limitations. Rest will do me some good. Will you bring me information over the state of the tunnels, the wounded, and see if we can send a message to the council? Ro'Sara." Lo turned to the twil'lek causing Ro'Sara to pause and pay attention.

"Can you run the small group of healers? Take stock of the medical supplies we have and monitor their usage?"

Ro'Sara nodded. "I also have to prepare burials for those we lost. Just go rest little Lo, you look terrible."

Lo nodded. "I feel worse..."

She began to move to the door then turned back to Sar, "I'm going to find an out-of-the-way place to rest. Please keep me in the loop over everything. I have a feeling my master won't wake for some time..."

Sar made sure to be next to Lo, just in case the young Bothan suddenly lost her ability to stand. The last thing they needed was the younger Jedi down too.

"We'll make sure all of that is done, Lo. I promise. Get some rest, we will be here when you're ready to continue." He said, helping the younger Jedi to the door.

Five hours after Lo's efforts to stabilize her Master, Sar had done all that Lo had asked. With two of their healers looking over Dom and cleaning him up with the help and guidance of Ro'Sara. No one bothered Lo while she rested, knowing good and well what she had gone through in a span of hours was enough for a person in a lifetime.

Sar sat in a huddle of Twi'leks who were seen as leaders, secondary to Sar. They were tallying up their supplies, talking about how they should move forward from here, and what they were going to do should no support come soon. There was no sugarcoating what had happened to Dominik, and there was no guessing when the older Jedi would wake. All they could do was support the Master Jedi and his Padawan for as long as possible. It was because of them that they as a people had made it this far.

Stepping away from Dominik's side, Ro'Sara was asked to find Lo and bring her to the small circle of leaders. It didn't take much searching to fond the young Bothan, passed out on an unused bed in a structure not far from the one Dominik was in.

"Lo?" Came Ro'Sara's gentle voice. She walked up to the sleeping Bothan, making sure to give her space before a gentle hand rested on the younger Jedi's arm.

Lo groaned and stretched, her tongue licking her chapped lips. Without warning, she flipped over away Ro'Sara and curled into a ball. She didn’t want to wake up.

The older Twi’lek couldn’t help the small, soft smile on her face at Lo’s antics. It wasn’t all sadness and grief with this little one. “Lo, come on. Time to get up. Sar gathered all of the information you wanted. He and the secondary leaders are all gathered in a meeting. He wanted you there.”

After a few moments, Lo begrudgingly sat upright. Her fists began to rub the reserves of sleep sand from her eyes as she took Ro'Sara in. Another yawn escaped from her lungs before she swept her legs over the edge then stood upright.

“I’m coming. Still drained from healing Master Dominik, but I can at least stand on my own. Lead the way, please.”

Ro'Sara's smile increased. She gestured with her hand and both girls walked out into the open streets. Silence swept over them during their path toward the gathering. Their shapes were easily disguised from the darkness thanks to the faint crystals. All huddled around the empty fire pit, talking in heavy conversation. Their words ceased when Lo walked into hearing range and all eyes fell on her.

She swallowed her nerves as she sat in an empty spot near Sar. Usually her master took his place there, but his condition prevented it. A sharp pain entered her chest as she ignored it. She couldn't fall apart here of all places.

"Ro'Sara you had the information I asked for, Sar?"

“I do.” He said, looking around to the other Twi’leks before he turned a little more to face Lo. “Out of the three tunnels we had, two are still usable. They’re dangerous, but we can try to fortify the parts that look bad so that we can safely walk through them.” he paused for a moment before continuing. “We have twenty two wounded, six of them critical. Ro’sara was trying to divide out the medical supplies, but we do not have enough to ensure all of our wounded can heal properly.” Sar kept Dominik’s name from the report on the medical supplies, but did count him as one of the critical. He wanted to keep Lo’s mind off of her Master, constantly reminding her of his condition would not help.

“We found your Master’s holo communicator, but it’s been badly damaged, and we couldn’t repair it enough to get it to work. I’m not sure how else we’ll get a message out for aid.”

Lo sat quietly. Her eyes found the dirt floor. She digested the details, thinking of the possible solutions. At least one came to her.

"The ship might have some spare supplies and a message can be sent there. It's best since there's no cave system to risk blocking the signal."

She took a breath then continued.

"We should also take the speeder bikes. It's likely the slavers will investigate the surrounding areas. Locking down the ship helps, but it makes getting anything out more difficult."

“We’re with you wherever you need to go, Lo. When do you want to leave?”

"Morning, we can prepare some gear for the trip. The ship is still a small trip away. A small group is best as it will attract less attention and quicker." Lo pointed out.

“Alright, just before sunrise, when there’s first light. We’ll be ready for you.” Sar said, giving Lo a reassuring smile as he looked to her. He couldn’t imagine what she was feeling inside, but knew it had to be similar to the way he felt about losing all of his people. This was a night she would never forget, but he hoped it was something she could work past, in time.

[Ryloth, 6 ATC 6] A Long Year Amongst the Twi'Leks

WIP

Temporary character - Sar Tarkona

Name: Sar Tarkona

Species: Twi'lek

Age: 37

Gender: Male

Appearance:

Sar Tarkona

Personality:
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Skills:
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Flaws:
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Equipment:
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Biography

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[Ryloth, 6 ATC 6] A Long Year Amongst the Twi'Leks

Chapter 4

All Alone

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Week 4, Day 3, Dawn

Lo stirred. Her figure pushed upright as she fought against a faint headache. The pain threatened to burst out the back of her skull, mental note to treat it using payne root. With the passing moments, the haze began to clear enough for her to recall the attack. Her hand jerked for her lightsaber only to find it gone. She looked at her waist and confirmed it, realizing it had to been taken so she didn’t cut her way out. A long annoyed sigh escaped her muzzle. She head panned the detention cell.

Barely furnished at all, she noted the cell only housed a bed and open water closet. The basic needs for indefinite stays as long as the meals were provided. Lo rubbed her chin side when her skin crawled and tingled a little. She inhaled again and began to rise from the bed, aiming to explore the cell more thoroughly.

Zygerrian slave keeper, Silus Linaki, stood in front of Dominik as the man was being suspended, held in a containment field along one wall of the main control room. There were windows across from Dominik, but all he could see was the horizon of the land, which only meant they must have been very high up. His thoughts were interrupted when another stream of electricity was forced through his body; his wrists held by metal cuffs that generated electricity, along with the blue energy field that seemed to flow around him like ribbon.

“Eyes on me, Master Jedi.” Silus said, a remote control in his hand letting the slaver activate the containment unit from afar. Silus walked over towards Dominik from a wall of screens and holovids, security cameras feeding a constant eye to the men in the room. “Why did the Republic send you here?” he demanded an answer, to which Dominik took his time to give. Silus activated the field a moment later in annoyance at Dominik's lack of response. The Jedi took deep breaths, attempting to reign in control over the shock the electric currents brough him.

“The Republic didn’t send us, the Council did.” He replied bluntly.

The Zygerrian keeper frowned in annoyance, “But why did they send you here?” Silus restated, to which Dominik raised his head to meet the Zygerrians as he stood directly in his front. “Because the Council does as they please.”

Silus face started to contort in anger at Dominik’s avoidance in answering his questions with something more than a blanket answer. One finger moved on the remote and Dominik was met with another vicious current of electricity, causing the man to hiss in pain.

“If you won’t talk, maybe your little Padawan will. Bring the other one here!” Silus demanded, turning to two guards in the room who quickly turns and left to retrieve what he wanted.

Back towards the containment cells, Zygerrian guards kept watch over all of the prisoners, many of them taking turns pacing up and down the hallways to ensure none were misbehaving.

“Keeper Silus is not very pleased.” One of the men said, glancing at the cells as he walked by them, another Zygerrian male at his side.

“Why? Because the Jedi are here?” the other asked.

“Not just that, but they disrupted the ambush last night, a lot of the men were injured.”

Lo’s ears pressed to the cell door when she heard muffled voices speak. Her hands braced herself against the metal and rapidly considered an idea. A half-planned, dangerous one, but worth a try.

She stepped back then loudly spoke to the slot in the door. “What type of injuries? How severe? Did you check for internal ones too? How many were hurt exactly? Did you use payne root in tea or create a balm from some of the local plants? Are their pupils large or can they follow a light pretty well?”

The two men stopped suddenly as the barrage of questions came from the Jedi’s cell. Both looked at each other, slightly confused, before turning to face the door as the questions just kept coming.

“And what do you know about any of that, Jedi?” one of them asked, walking closer to the door, his arms crossed.

Lo caught his steps getting closer. She leaned back and kept her head tilted upward, straining her neck to ensure her voice could be heard. Her voice took on a false strength to it as she spoke.

“I was raised in a temple that specializes in healing. If you don’t believe me, I can heal a small wound to prove it.”

The two Zygerrians looked at each other, both obviously asking the same question to themselves even if they didn't speak. Their comrades were hurt, and quick and easy aid wasn't an option on Ryloth.

"Fine," one of them said, his hands moving to the door, his blaster held at the ready, "but no funny business Jedi."

“I don’t have my lightsaber to block your blasters if you decide to shoot me…” Lo stated the obvious.

"You still have that freaky magic you call 'the Force'." The other said, mockingly.

“... Do you want me to heal your friends or not?” The Bothan puffed a bit, her arms crossed over her chest.

He held his blaster at the ready as his comrade opened the door, one of his clawed hands grabbing Lo's shoulder before they started to lead her down the hallway. The second Zygerrian made sure his blaster was trained directly on Lo as they led her through the hallways.

It took only a few minutes, but the two Zygerrians turned down another hallway and into a large room. It had rounded ceilings, the arch minimal as support beams led from the floor to the center of the room. There were large bay windows along one side that allowed the occupants to gaze out at Ryloth's horizon. It was midday, as the sun was centered and high over Ryloth.

Many beds lay in rows around the room, a good majority of them empty, but the rest filled with Zygerrians whose injuries ranged from simple cuts and bruises to broken bones and worse. It was obvious the Twi'lek people were putting up a fight, and not just in the fight Sar and Dom had tried to lead.

Lo paused when she entered the room, her connection with her master stirring her worry. Her head looked back toward the door as if to guess the cause.

"This way, girl." One of the men growled.

Lo jumped and nodded, understanding his orders. She was led over to beds near the back of the room, a few Zygerrian men and women hovering over the patient's that lay on them. Most had their wounds wrapped, on their arms, legs or head. One of the men struggled against the novice Zygerrian healers who were trying to wrap his broken arm. Lo’s lips puckered in disapproval as she rolled up her rode sleeves and stepped closer.

“You’re going to set it wrong then you will have to rebreak it and let mend again. Let me show you.” Her hand rose up and gently held the patient’s wounded arm in the air. As she did, her attention looked at the mangled mess of bandages and sighed. She gently lowered the limb onto the bed then handed the most tangled parts to the novices.

“Focus on untangling those and laying them out straight. I need the splints ready and try to find some payne root for the pain. It needs to be ground up and boiled into a tea, then he needs to drink. It will be bitter, but it helps.”

Her attention looked to the uncooperative patient next with a toothy, friendly grin. “Now, try to stay still. I don’t want to have to make you.”

The injured Zygerrian scowled at Lo, the idea of a Jedi healing him making the man hesitate at listening. The novices however were reluctantly following Lo's instructions. The injured man, seeing his comrades listen, said nothing to Lo but remained still to allow her to do what was needed.

“Thank you.” Lo’s expression softened from her meek attempt to be firm.

Lo's attention shifted briefly onto the wounded. She instructed and directed with a softer tone than before. Her eyes darted around the room in search for medical supplies or bandages. every time a novice began to help, she insisted she retrieve them herself or occupied them.

Despite her attention being scattered, she collected information over the room's layout. Only one exit and it through the two guards. With only one door, her options to escape were limited.

In the quiet peace that was Lo tending to the man, through the entrance came two more guards.

"There she is, the little runt." One of them growled while the other followed.

"How did she get here?" The second asked, looking to the two Zygerrians who had escorted Lo before.

"She said she could help us heal our wounded. Plus she's just a little Jedi, she can't do no harm!" One of them said in an attempt to justify their actions.

Lo's ears caught the argument starting causing her to glance in their direction. She had been wrapping a leg as she sensed the others attention drawn to the tension's source. Finishing half-way, she began to slink to the door in the disguise of obtaining more herbs. Already the fight began to escalate leaving the exit wide open. Lo inhaled then rushed for it.

One of the guards spotted her movements and raised his blaster, firing off a shot. It breezed by her as it landed into the table. The supplies toppled to the ground as everyone scrambled into action.

Lo just kept running. Her breath heavy and paced while she searched for another corridor to slip into. As she drew close to the next path, her senses caught incoming danger. With a burst of adrenaline, she ducked down the corridor narrowly missing three shots. She yelped in surprise as she kept going. Her peripheral caught them on her heels causing her to turn into another hallway.

A dead end caused her to abruptly skitter to a stop. She bit her lip then searched for a vent or another way out. Just several feet above her head, she spotted several horizontal pipes. An idea appeared in her head. She jumped from one wall to the other as her arm reached out, snagging the pipe above. With a little effort, she managed to cling onto the roof and held her breath.

"Are you sure she went this way?" One Zygerrian yelled as the group rounded the corner. They all stopped at seeing nothing at the end of the corridor.

"I know I saw the little brat go this way."

"Well she's definitely not there, you dimwitted fool."

After some more cursing, the group turned around and split off as they continued to look for the young Bothan.

Lo stayed up in her hiding spot as she watched them move underneath her. They couldn’t tell where she went and it gave her courage to shimmy across the pipes. When she neared the end, she gently lowered herself and dropped to the ground. Her landing failed to be silent. Her breath held in her chest while she flipped her head from direction to another, fearful that someone might’ve heard. Not sparing much time to find out, Lo rushed down the hallway she came from. The path looked familiar while she collected her bearings.

After several minutes of following the Force, Lo managed to finally find the command room. Her figure hunched low while she pressed tightly to the wall. Her ears flicked at the sounds of voices coming from one door way.

"You Jedi think you can just interfere in the natural order of things. The Zygerrian slave empire is thriving no thanks to you or the Republic. We prosper, our customers prosper, yet the Jedi think they're going to come in and wipe that all away!"

Silus paced around the room as he spoke to Dominik, his hand holding the remote, fingers brushing along its surface as he contemplated making the Jedi suffer again.

"Slavery is cruel and disgusting. No lifeform should have command over the will of another." Dominik said, his head hanging in exhaustion from where he hung, suspended in the containment field. The man's eyes were closed, but he was not quitting. His thoughts raced as to what he could go from his position. And he tried to keep the man's attention, his complete attention, for he sensed a sneaky little Bothan not far from him, and he wanted to give the man no reason to take his attention away.

"Yet you Jedi peruse around the galaxy preaching peace and justice. And here you are trying to disrupt the way of life that Zygerria has lived under for thousands of years!" Silus retorted, his fingers pressing multiple buttons in a row as the field Dominik was held by began to activate.

The Master Jedi grit his teeth and tried to keep from yelling out as the voltage invaded his body.

Lo whimpered a bit too loudly when she saw Master Rothul suffer. Her hand jerked up and popped over her mouth, silencing her. She jerked back around the door to stay out of sight. Her eyes looked upward then to the sides, trying to find a way to hide.

Upon hearing the whimper, Silus suddenly turned, pulling a holdout blaster from his waist, and started firing at the direction of the doorway.

“You two!” He growled, looking to two guards that stood besides the containment field, “go grab that little runt!”

The Zygerrians didn’t hesitate, both pulling their blasters from their waist as they started towards the door.

Dominik couldn’t help the slight pang of panic that he felt in his chest, he looked towards the door way as the guards ran past it.

“Run Lo! Get away from here!”

Lo rushed for the corner, Dominik’s voice echoed in her head and drove her on. She gritted her teeth while she pushed her body harder. One blast slammed into the wall behind her as the next one clipped her shoulder. Lo screamed in pain, but managed to keep upright. Her left side smacked into the wall and righted her once more. Again she raced for the detention cell in hopes to find another place to hide.

After weaving the halls, she looked back and spotted no one. Her feet once more pushed against the ground and brought her to a full stop. Breathing heavily, her head twisted about to seek out a new escape. Her eyes landed on a grate cover on a vent. With the force she extended her hand and focused. The frame rattled then finally ripped off from its fixings. Despite exhaustion filling the void of her energy, Lo began to crawl into the vent and disappeared just when two guards rushed in.

“We’ll see how well you’ve trained your Padawan, Master Jedi.” Silus said looking back to Dominik who’s face attempted to reflect no emotion towards the situation, though anger was clearly present.

“We will deal with you and your little Padawan accordingly. Perhaps our Sith allies would like to know that there are Jedi helping the Twi’leks on Ryloth, hmm?” The Keeper said, turning back to one of the consoles and grabbing a handheld holocommunicator.

Dominik couldn’t hear what Silus was saying as the Zygerrian walked towards the opposite end of the room. The Jedi could see a figure in the holo communicator, but couldn’t make out who it was from his containment field prison.

Turning, Silus started back towards Dominik whilst still holding the communicator in his hand, conversing with the figure on the other end. “Yes Lord Daeden, we are holding him in the control room.” the Zygerrian said as he walked back up to Dominik. Holding the holo communicator up to the Jedi Master, the figure on the other end became a lot more clear. It was the same apprentice he had fought against with Xid, eight years ago on Balmorra.

“Jedi Master Dominik Rothul, what a pleasure it is to finally see you. It’s been so long.” The Sith teased, to which Dominik frowned.

“I wouldn’t call it a pleasure to look at your ugly mug again.” The Master challenged, to which the Sith just scoffed.

The man in the holovid turned where he was, effectively bringing his view back to Silus. “Hold him there, I must discuss with my local council on how we will deal with this treachery from the Jedi. I will send someone to retrieve him in two days time.”

With that, the holovid ended and Silus looked up towards Dominik, smirking before turning and leaving the Master to his thoughts.

Lo crawled deeper into the vents and ducts. Her small size helped her avoid becoming stuck within the cramped confines of her situation. Left… right… left...left… Her mind failed to keep track of her whereabouts as she continued to retrace her steps back to the command room. Every so often she glanced down and spied into the room below. Several Zygerrian scrambled to locate her, but failed each time. She inhaled then kept going.

Abruptly something rattled then gave out from underneath her. Gravity took hold and the young Bothan fell through the loose vent, tumbling into the ground. She shifted to attempt to land on her feet. Her reactions were too slow causing her to land on her ass instead. She scrunched her face as she rubbed her tailbone, feeling the tenderness flare.

“Ooowww.” Lo muttered, cursing the stupid vent above her. She glared at where she fell from, seeing the vent cover swinging open.

“Lo?”

A familiar voice came from the corner of the dimly lit room. Looking around the room, Lo quickly recognized Sar, along with four other Twi’lek warriors.

“Sar? Where’s everyone else?” She asked as she began to pull herself upright.

“They split us up amongst all the detention cells. Everyone from the village plus others they've taken from other villages." Sar explained, moving to the bars that separated Lo from he and the warriors.

"Where is your Master?"

Lo swallowed and began checked her surroundings. The room was bare save for the lower grade isolation cell.

She took a moment to examine it, noticing its larger size and door covered with an energy field instead of completely boxed in. Her upper teeth bit her lower lip.

“Did anyone see the combination, know how many digits, or anything?” She asked the Twi’lek, hoping it would be easy.

All of the Twi'leks shook their heads, including Sar. "We were all out when they brought us here." He explained, watching Lo. His thoughts went to the other Jedi, Dominik. If Lo was here alone then something must've happened to the older one.

Lo went through her options. She noticed some buttons held more wear than others, indicating being pressed often and likely used in the combination. However, without the actual number of digits or pattern made this information less than helpful.

“Sar, can you gain-” Lo tensed, her fur bristled and stood on edge. A dread filled her system without warning causing her to feel sick. Her hand back pressed to her muzzle, barring the sour taste from spewing into the floor and leaving evidence of her presence behind. She swallowed then repeated herself.

“Sar, can you and the other Twi’leks get someone’s attention and get them to come over here? I’m going to force shove them into the force cage to knock them out and take the blaster. From what I can tell, this cage is old enough that a blaster shot in the energy wall or panel might short it out.”

Sar watched the young Jedi for a few moments, worried for a second when Lo looked like she was going to be sick. She seemed to have pushed past it as she asked then to create a distraction. The Twi'lek man nodded before he looked back to his friends. Moments later they all started yelling, shouting names about Zygerrians and calling for the guards.

Lo hid around the cage side. She held her breath and hunched down, trying to make herself as small as possible. Her ears heard the guard’s boots stomp in followed by his muttering. Tentatively peering around the corner, she caught a young Zygerrian scratch his chin as he grumbled. His hand held a blaster at the ready then began to holler at the Twi’leks to shut up.

Lo’s worry and insecurities gnawed at her courage. She swallowed it as she thought about her master, realizing she had to save him.

When the slaver began to turn away, Lo pushed out of her hiding place. Her hand raised and yanked him to the side. The feline alien had enough time to cry out as his body slammed into the energy field, electrifying him into unconsciousness. Not having much time before others showed up, Lo worked fast. She tugged the blaster free then examined it to find the trigger.

“Stand as far back as you can, I’m going to try to blast the energy field. If that doesn’t work, I’m trying the panel.”

After Sar and the others collected against the far wall, Lo pulled the blaster up and aimed at the upper part of the field. Thankfully it was large enough to make it hard to miss. She pulled the trigger causing the bolt to strike at the energy field then deflect into a random direction. The little Bothan flinched when it landed near her foot, escaping damage at the last moment. Lo exhaled and settled her fear before she tried the panel next.

She held the tip nearly on top of it when she fired. Her eyes closed and braced for the impact, pulling the trigger again. The energy field immediately dissipated allowing the Twi’leks freedom. Lo shortly presented Sar with the blaster as she muttered, “It’s not my thing. I prefer my lightsaber.”

Her eyes looked to the fallen Zygerrian then back to Sar, “What do we do with him?”

Sar took the blaster from Lo with a nod in thanks. He looked to the Zygerrian as she asked what they should do.

"We could bring him with us and use him as leverage. Zygerrians are savages but they won't risk the life of one of their own." he explained as one of the warriors picked the man up and threw him over a shoulder.

"I heard some other guards talking about the rest of my people. We should find them first. The more of us there are, the harder it will be for the slavers to fight back." Sar explained, looking to the young Padawan to see what she thought.

Lo nodded, feeling her adrenaline wane. With its absence, her shoulder began to throb and ache again. Her head turned to her shoulder. The blaster left black streak, churring the fabric, fur and skin underneath. She gently began to peel away the damaged area. Fresh pain seared through her attention causing her to to hiss. Tears shamefully found their way into her eyes as she paused long enough to collect herself, wiping them away. A scratch compared to others after all.

“Sound logic. Also, I think we should keep an eye out for weapons and first aid. It will come in handy for the fight we’re about to start.” She decided to leave her wound alone for now until she could properly care for it.

“Do you know where they are being held?” Her voice calmer now.

"There's a larger bay just down the hall from here. Most of them should be there." He explained, to which many of the men behind him nodded in agreement.

“Doesn’t sound too far. Let’s hurry, I doubt your escape will go unnoticed for long and we still need to rescue Master Rothul. He’s being held in the command center. I feel...I think he’s being tortured.” Lo tried to keep the worry and fear from her voice.

"Don't worry Lo… we'll help my people and then hurry to Master Rothul's aid. Zygerrians are ruthless but I know he's stronger than anything they can throw at him." Sar said, trying to comfort the young Padawan before the group started towards the rest of the Twi'lek people.

[Hr]

Rounding the corner to an empty hallway, many of the Zygerrian guards attention had been taken by a small group of warriors that had split up from Sar and Lo. The Twi'lek leader didn't waste any time hurrying up to the control panel and pointing his blaster. He looked away to shield his face as he fired a blaster bolt into its circuits, trying the panel and causing the large energy field to dissipate. Many of the Twi'leks stood up in surprise at the sudden noise, and didn't hesitate to hurry towards the exit of their prison. It was a large group of about forty Twi'leks who had been kept in the bay, many of them men, but there were women and children as well. All stolen from their homes to be put into slavery.

Not one of them ran out the doorway, instead they all stopped and formed a horse shoe around Lo and Sar, many of them speaking in Twi'leki and vowing to help each other escape.

The sight warmed Lo’s heart before she focused on the matter at hand: saving Master Rothul. She inhaled then held up her hands, cutting the conversation short. Her eyes fixed on Sar.

“Sar, we need a few of your men to take the women and children to safety. They need to return to the village, collect whatever they can carry and head to a safe place. We can find them after we save Master Rothul.” She didn’t state the possibility of if they failed. It wouldn’t help morals or reassure them to leave with the warriors.

“Rest of us need to get into that command room.” Lo really wished she had her lightsaber, it would make things easier.

Sar didn't hesitate as Lo began to speak. She took her orders and translated them into Twi'leki so that some of the Twi'leks who only spoke their native language could understand. A few of the warriors immediately volunteered to lead the women and children to safety, while the rest stood confidently at Sar's side, ready for the fight that was to come.

"Lead the way, Lo." Sar said, smiling to the young Jedi.

“Before I do, how much do you know about this place?” Lo asked. She noticed how the men began to move women and children out of a door she never entered at, her curiosity drawn to understand.

"This is the control building of Ryloth's capital city, Lessu," Sar asked as he started down the hallway they had came, "though it seems they've done some construction since they overtook it months ago." He explained as he peeked around a corner, his blaster ready. "They've added a lot of technology we did not want, like the cells." Sar added, looking down at the small Jedi.

“Do you think they might’ve stashed weapons in the original room? We might be able to even the odds a bit.” Lo’s fur perked up showing how pleased she was of herself. It fell short of being smug though.

“Perhaps. The Zygerrians do like their weapons.” He replied shortly, keeping an eye out around the corner in case more came their way.

Lo nodded then looked to the other side, seeing no one approach. “Looks like it is all clear. Let’s head to the weapons stash first then the command room. Now it’s my turn to say ‘Lead the way’.”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, she managed to flash a cheeky smile.

Sar smiled back at the little Padawan before taking the lead. Many of the Twi’lek warriors followed closely behind Lo, along with the larger group aside from the women and children. Should any Zygerrians challenge them, the Twi’leks and Lo had numbers, and spirit.

It took just a few minutes before the group arrived at the weapons room. An energy field barred the doorway, but guarding it were just two Zygerrians.

“You must’ve stirred up quite a ruckus. If there are only two of them there, the rest must be guarding the command room.” Sar said quietly, peeking around the corner and watching the Zygerrians closely.

“When you’re ready, we’ll charge them.”

“All right, is there another path we can circle around while a group here distracts them?” Lo asked Sar, figuring it might limit casualties.

Sar nodded to Lo before glancing behind him. Two of the warriors from before didn’t hesitate before stepping out. “Over here, scumbag!” the younger one yelled, while the older one started around the corner. The younger one went the opposite direction at the “T” of the hallway, causing both Zygerrians to split up in order to catch the two that had ran.

“They’ll lead them away this way we can go straight in and save time.” Sar explained, looking down to Lo as the sounds of the chase started to die down. He knew the Zygerrians preferred to catch his people versus shoot to kill; they wanted to make sure they could supply as many Twi’leks for slave labor as possible. Even one less Twi’lek meant less profit.

“Let’s go.” She darted forward to the door, her hand pointed to the panel and Sar fired. Both turned their heads to avoid the flash as the panel hissed and the energy field powered down. Several Twi’lek rushed in to arm themselves.

“All right, next stop is the command center. It’s going to be a lot harder to get in there. Any ideas?” Lo looked to Sar since his people knew the place better than her.

As Lo asked for ideas, one of the Twi’leks from the group yelled to Sar. The Zygerrian from before had started to wake up, and now was in a headlock as the Twi’lek man held him. The Zygerrian was spewing curses at them, Sar knew they had to hurry before someone heard him.

“We’ll go in and offer an exchange.” Sar began, looking back at Lo before he glanced at the Zygerrian before.

“That Zygerrian is the son of the Slave Keeper, Silus. He’s the one who had your Master confined. We can offer a trade. His son, for your Master.” he suggested, glancing down the hallway to make sure no one approached them to investigate the Zygerrian son’s yelling.

“But we have to hurry.” Sar added quickly.

“Right.” Lo led the way to the command room since she could recall most of the way.

As they drew closer to the corner, two blaster shots scorched the wall as Lo jerked back. She smacked into Sar and muttered an apology.

Sar made sure Lo was unharmed as he backed into her, before ushering the young Bothan behind him. The Twi’lek warrior from before brought the struggling young Zygerrian to Sar, who took him in a not so gentle way and put the younger creature into another headlock. While holding a blaster to the Zygerrian’s head, Sar started to step out into the hallway.
“Hold your fire! We have the Keeper’s son out here!” Sar threatened, holding the younger being tightly as he walked into sight. All firing stopped just as quickly as it had started. The Zygerrian slave keeper, Silus, stepped slightly outside the door to confirm for himself what was said. He glared at his boy before that same glare looked to Sar. The man glanced sideways to his guards before backing into the room. “Let them in!” he hollered, to which the guards stood down, lowering their blasters as Sar started to inch towards the doorway.

“Stay behind me, Lo.” the Twi’lek man ordered as he started to inch towards the command room, keeping the young Zygerrian in front of him and held tightly. Many more of the Twi’lek warriors followed behind as Lo followed Sar’s lead.

As Sar, Lo, and a few more Twi’lek warriors filled the doorway, they saw Silus positioned in the center of the room. Silus stood, his body openly facing the small fighting group as they entered. He knew there were many more Twi’leks outside, anxiously waiting to see what was to happen with the exchange, all ready to spring into action should a fight erupt. Both Jedi’s lightsabers could be seen hanging off of the man’s belt, almost as trophies to his catch.

Silus held up the remote to the containment field, pointing it in the direction of the Jedi Master who hung within the field, motionless.

“Easy now… one push of the button and I could kill your Jedi friend right here and now.” Silus warned.

“And I could kill your son with the squeeze of a trigger.” Sar shot back.

Lo’s fur rose in fear, an instinct she hadn’t fully trained out of herself.

Silus smirked at Sar’s threat before his eyes moved to the young Jedi behind him. “You’ve bet your friend’s life and your escape on my son? Expecting me to hand over such a prize for someone who has failed me so many times?”

Silus growled, to which his son tensed at the statement. In the containment field, Dominik’s body hung motionless, eerily silent, as if his body had been pushed to its breaking point. Sar’s eyes moved from Dominik back to Silus, his hold on the Zygerrian son not lessening, and the blaster not moving from the side of his head.

“Don’t be a fool,” Sar yelled, watching Silus and the remote as the Zygerrian adjusted his stance. “Take your son and give us the Jedi, we will leave!” He demanded.

Suddenly, Silus free hand moved to his waist as the Zygerrian took hold of his blaster and raised it, firing a flurry of bolts towards Sar, Lo, and the Twi’leks behind them.

Lo’s force sense tingled causing her hand to raise and her eyes found her lightsaber. It zipped from Silus’ belt as she pushed past Sar, her posture fell into a defensive stance.

An eruption of fighting ensued as the Twi’leks behind Sar all dove sideways, some taking hold of the guard’s blasters and others starting to fight; throwing kicks and punches. From the side of the room, Dominik’s eyes opened slowly, just enough to allow the man a clear view as chaos ensued. They followed his Padawan and she deflected the blaster bolts away and back towards Silus.

When the blue blade hummed to life, Lo took stock of her targets. Silus’ arm and the containment unit. She adjusted her wrist as she batted away three of the four bolts fired at her. One shot to the prison while another shot back at Silus’s arm, grazing the remote on his arm. The last deflected one completely missed anyone. She turned too slow on the last one, he reflexes still green and unrefined. It hit her leg side bring a fresh heat to her pain.

She fell to one knee, crying out from the wound. Charred skin and fur filled her nostrils while she pushed herself upright.

One of the blaster bolts Lo deflected into the containment unit hit its base, shooting a hole through the machinery and frying wires and circuit boards, causing the prison to deactivate. The Jedi Master fell to the floor, but almost immediately, Dominik started to move. Whereas Silus thought Dominik’s motionless response after hours of torture reflected the Jedi’s beaten will, it was the opposite. Dominik had allowed himself to fall into a trance with Crucitorn, thus his body started to reserve its strength for the moment the Master Jedi could find an escape; Dom just hadn’t expected his Padawan to bring him that opportunity.

The Master stood slowly, pushing himself up off the floor with his hands and knees. It didn’t take him long as he stood, the expression on his face reflected the care he felt for his Padawan, and the ire he felt towards the Zygerrian who had threatened them. One hand reached out, as Lo took a blaster bolt to her leg, and pulled his saber from Silus’ belt. After it reached his hand, the man suddenly pushed both hands out.

As Silus raised his blaster, the aim trained on the young Bothan’s head who had been distracted by the bolt she took to her leg, he felt a sudden forceful push. The slave keeper flew across the room hitting the bay windows on the opposite side and crashing through them. By Dominik’s guess, they had been eight stories up, at least. His mind off the being he had just shoved out the window, Dom’s eyes moved to his Padawan and the chaos that continued in the room.

“Sar! Get your people back! We need to escape the city through the rear bridge… the front will be too heavily guarded!” He ordered. Dominik reached out with the Force to one of the consoles, pulling a lever towards him. The lever controlled the two bridges that connected the capital city of Lessu across a canyon and to the other side. Dominik pulled on the lever and then used the Force to bend it out of shape, rendering it unable to be pushed back should the Zygerrians try to deactivate the bridge.

Sar heard Dominik’s orders and did as he was told, dispatching the remaining Zygerrian guards in the room and pushing back to the hallways, yelling orders to his people in their native tongue.

Lo trembled a bit as she tried to remain on her wounded leg. Adrenaline hadn’t numbed the hurt like it did last time. Her eyes looked to her thigh where it centered and saw it went pretty deep. It burned through not just the surface, but the muscle underneath. Her thumb clicked her lightsaber off as she ripped her sleeve off to bind her leg quickly. Left open to the air risked infection setting in.

Dominik hurried over to his Padawan, positioning her on his right side putting one of her arms up and around his neck while his right arm hooked under hers, holding her securely. He was careful of her injured leg as he started to raise her off the ground.

"Hold on tight to me, Lo. We're leaving this place." He said. His lightsaber in his free hand, he quickly followed after Sar and his people as they led the way through the building and fought to get to the lower floors.

"Right." Lo tried not to whimper, any movement jarred her injuries and caused her to flinch. Her head leaned against him while she held tightly. Fear and worry battered at her control, threatening to overwhelm her. She swallowed as she focused on her breathing.

Master Rothul moved with intent, his actions showing no hesitation as he followed the Twi'leks through the structure. Many split into separate groups in order to easily take care of the Zygerrians who tried to stand in their way. Many times Dominik drew his saber and deflected incoming blaster bolts, protecting Sar as he moved alongside the Twi'lek, and making sure Lo was not in harm's way.

It wasn't long before the freed Twi'leks and the Jedi bursted from the ground floor of the structure, surprising many Zygerrians and enslaved Twi'leks who were just outside. Many of the Twi'leks moved to help their enslaved brethren, while others fought off the Zygerrians. Dominik kept Lo held close to his side, his lightsaber twisted this way and that in a show of experience and finesse as the slavers shot blaster bolts back at him. A large group if Zygerrians rushed Dominik, but were quickly knocked down as the Master Jedi held out his hand, Force pushing many of them out of the way.

The Twi-leks quickly made it to the rear bridge which was made up of a flat, bluish energy field that stretched across the canyon. No one hesitated as they charged across, many knowing the bridge's switch had been locked in place in the control tower behind them.

Seeing it would be useless to pursue, many Zygerrians stopped running after the group as soon as the last Twi'lek passed the bridge. By the time the escaped group reached the nearest treeline and disappeared from view, the total count of freed Twi'leks had reached almost ninety. Many others had been helped from cells on the inside, plus those that were performing hard labor at the base of the structure.

Sensing the danger had passed, and seeing many of the Twi'leks had stopped to rest and help each other while they hid amongst the trees, Dominik searched for Sar, his arm still easily supporting Lo. It didn't take long for him to find the Twi'lek man who was tending to a few wounded farther in the treeline. Many Twi'leks had gathered around as he gave orders to each.

"Sar! Are you alright my friend?" The Master asked, walking up to the kneeling Twi'lek who stood as soon as he saw Dominik.

"I am, and you? Your Padawan?" He asked, one hand moving up to rest on Lo's shoulder as he looked at the young Bothan. He was with her both times she was hit with a blaster bolt and frankly was surprised she was still looking awake and alert. "Set her down," Sar began, "Let me take a look at her leg."

When Dominik set her down, Lo adjusted her seat and presented her leg. She slowly began to untie to reveal the wound underneath. Outer edges had been burnt by the blast’s heat and left it sealed, but nasty looking. Her eyes skimmed her shoulder noting it looked better than her leg.

“It could be worse…” Lo chuckled trying to make light of her situation.

Sar smirked at Lo's attempt at lightening the mood. "We'll need to get somewhere more secure than the forest so I have time to look at it." Sar explained as he looked up to Dominik.

"We can't go back to the village. Not after today." Dominik said. Sar didn't respond, but the Twi'lek knew he was right. After the chaos they caused, the death of the Keeper, the Zygerrians would be out for revenge. "There will be Sith here, on Ryloth. In two days time." He said, and suddenly all of the Twi'leks around went silent.

Sar looked up at Dominik, before looking back to Lo. "It was only a matter of time before the Sith got involved."

There was silence amongst everyone before Sar stood again. He held out a hand towards Dominik to which the Master quickly embraced.

"We'll find somewhere new. We'll rebuild. Together, we'll free Ryloth." Sar said, to which Dominik smiled and nodded. "Everyone! Gather what you can, we've got a long journey ahead of us as we free Ryloth from the clutches of those who wish to control it!" Sar yelled, to which many Twi'leks held up their arms and cheered.

"We'll head East," he then said, looking to Master Rothul. "The forests growth thicker, and the land may serve us well in hiding where we settle. Are you ready, Master Jedi?"

Dominik looked down at Lo, thinking, eyes watching his Padawan as his heart searched his past. With a nod towards his Padawan and a smile, he looked to Sar, "We're ready. Lead the way."

“To be honest, I’m ready for anything. But I agree with my master. Lead the way.” Lo agreed, her muzzle smiling despite the anxiety for the future building inside her. She watched Sar walk away as he began to gather and check on his fellow villagers.

Dominik kneeled down in front of Lo, one hand moving to rest on her shoulder as he looked at her. His head bowed for a moment as the words he was searching for didn't come right away. It had been years since he had said anything similar to a Jedi Padawan, it had been years since he had taught a Padawan.

"I'm beyond proud of you, you know." He finally said, pulling his head back up, a soft smile on his face as he looked at Lo. "You showed courage in the face of defeat. When you were all alone you found a way and beat them." He said, moving to gently pick her up, holding her as he had been before, before moving to follow a group of Twi'leks as many started to move.

"And I can't take credit for any of it. All you did back there was because of what you learned on your own."

“I wouldn’t say I did it alone. Sar helped some and so did the other Twi’leks. I just stumbled about and landed on my ass a few times.” Lo shrugged as pride warmed in her heart, showing on her fur.

“I felt dread when you were being tortured. I didn’t know what to do and I felt scared.”

"But you didn't let it control you. You fought it, Lo, and came out on top." Dominik pointed out, glancing to his Padawan as the Twi'leks began to gather. "You didn't let your emotions decide your actions. Sar and I are both alive because you found a way to beat your emotions. You saved everyone here today, Lo."

“I don’t feel like I did. At least not much. I mostly hurt and feel exhausted. Part of me just wants to curl up into a batch of grass and sleep. Is this what it is it going to be like all the time?” Lo asked, her figure settling into Dominik’s arms.

"It'll get better with time. Your body will grow stronger and your mind will think faster. I think it's time I train you, as a Master should; as you deserve." Dominik said, smiling at Lo as he continued to walk. "Once you're healed, we'll get to work."

---

[Approved] Val'Ko Sate, Jedi Padawan

Approved by me as well! Welcome to the Order <3

[Approved] Jedi Knight Aren Bec

Jedi Temple Public Records

☁️ Name: Aren (Ah-ren) Bec
☁️ Species: Human (Hapes)
☁️ Age: 30
☁️ Gender: Female
☁️ Rank: Jedi Knight
☁️ Master: N/A
☁️ Padawan: Jedi Padawan Val'Ko Sate

Jedi Temple Internal Records

_{☁️Detailed appearance. Imagery insufficient.}

_{☁️Report on natural ability with the Force, as well as all known Force Techniques and the skill levels.}

⛅Psychometry || Expert Talent
⛅Telekinesis || Advanced Training
⛅Mind Trick || Intermediate Training
⛅Force Sense || Intermediate Training
⛅Telepathy || Intermediate Training
⛅Basic Force Uses || Advanced Training

_{☁️Report on known skills and combat experience, training and lightsaber training.}

⛅Niman || (with the addition of Jar'Kai) Advanced Training
⛅Shien || Intermediate Training
⛅Shii-Cho || Intermediate Training

_{☁️Names and pertinent details for all political and social associates. Including allies, enemies, rivals, underlings, apprentices and more.}

⛅Jedi Knight and Healer Cora Alcyon
⛅Jedi Master Dominik Rothul
⛅Jedi Master Kyla Vondin

_{☁️Personality analysis of candidate.}

⛅Aren is a quiet yet bold Jedi. She is often seen meditating or learning something new on her free time, and never allows herself to become bored. She enjoys constantly being on the move, which is one thing she shares with her Padawan. Aren is decisive and strong-willed, and does well in focusing that energy into training her Padawan and performing her duties as a Knight. She is very insightful and is able to see through dishonesty and disingenuous motives. She is selfless, decisive, and passionate. Anything and everything she does is for the betterment of the Jedi Order and her Padawan. She is always able to follow through on her word and will leave no stone unturned when the answer to an issue isn't present.

_{List and description of known and suspected flaws, obligations, vices and weaknesses.}

⛅ She is lacking in patience, something that must be built upon in working with her Padawan. It has grown better over the past two years they've been together, but sometimes Val's energy is something she needs to keep in check, which tests this patience.
⛅ She is slow to share her thoughts and feelings during a mission if she knows they are gruesome or dark in nature. This flaw was built upon by her Psychometry, for sometimes there are things even she did not want to see or know.
⛅ Aren can come off as callous to those who do not know her well. She is always willing to talk to others, especially her Padawan, but should she be in deep thought or focused, her callousness can come out.

_{☁️Owned equipment of note.}

⛅Her two sabers, one green single-handed and the other a more yellow-green Shoto saber.
⛅Defender-class light corvette, the Pathfinder.

Biographical Records

_{☁️Personal biography, as detailed by the candidate for use in Jedi archives. Acquired shortly after last achievement of note.}

⛅Aren does not remember much of her younger life. Most of what she knows is that she was born and raised on Hapes and had numerous fits and scares as a young child do to, what once was, her undiscovered talent in Psychometry. Once it was discovered that she was Force sensitive, Aren was taken to Arkania Praxeum to begin her Jedi training.

As she grew, Aren quickly caught on to the use of dual blades, a regular blade and a shoto were preferable to her style and form. Her Psychometry was a focus of her training as well, and she was taught about the visions she'd see, why it happened, and most importantly how to control it. The young Jedi passed her Initiate trials with ease at the age of eleven, and moved on to join a Jedi by the name of Reco Kalasar as she moved through her years as a Padawan. From her master she learned that her patience was always lacking, but that she had a good heart and mind behind it which was almost enough to balance it out. She was encouraged to share her ideas, her visions, anything she would see with her Master, especially when they came to her through her Psychometry. Many times Aren saw things she had preferred not, which only solidified her constant training regimen to learn to focus her Psychometry and control it.

Her life through the war and into the period of the treaty had been filled with trials and tribulations. Her hardest and final Knight trial had been fulfilled after she watched her Master cut down by Sith in front of her, to which she took her blades in hand and fought them back until support had arrived. She was Knighted only a few days later and spent much of her time afterwards taking a form of independence and training to improve areas of herself that she had felt lacking. She spent much time on Tython as she trained, in between the assignments she took and the travels she made. If she was not in the library reading, or in the sparring hall training, she was out on her own in Tython, taking in the feeling planet and all of the flora and fauna it held.

Now, at age thirty, she still has much to learn. She and her padawan, Val'Ko, have spent much of their first two years together constantly on the move, and constantly learning from their experiences and from each other. Training never stops for Aren or her padawan, but it is something she embraces and it is a part of who she is.

[Ryloth, 6 ATC 6] A Long Year Amongst the Twi'Leks

Chapter 2

Searching -cont.

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Ryloth, 6 ATC, 6

Week 3, Day 3, Dusk

The man’s name was Sar Tarkona, a thirty-two year old Twi’lek who had grown up in a time where his kind were often kidnapped for slavery and invaded by independents who wished to take the planet's resources for their own. It was a never ending battle for the Twi’lek people. As soon as one conflict was resolved, another would follow in its wake. There was never rest, never any true peace. The minds behind exploiting the Twi’lek people had been identified as the Hutts, a council who denied every involvement but refused to make any of their records public or to come before the Republic Senate to argue against the accusations thrown at them.

This is where the Twi’leks had requested help from the Republic, the Jedi, anyone. But after the Sacking of Coruscant, many relief efforts and security projects were called off, and all eyes turned from Ryloth yet again.

Sar led the Jedi through the canyon to a small underground cave system that remained close to the surface, but very hard to detect or notice.. Their speeders were brought along and stored near the entrance that was heavily guarded by very well hidden Twi’lek scouts. Inside the caves, natural light was brought in by grates that acted as windows to the surface, allowing in light when the sun was high. Torches and illuminating rocks were used to line the rest of the caves, and kept the area bright and welcoming despite the fact that it was a cave.

One Twi’lek helped Lo as the group followed Sar through the tunnels, ultimately coming into a large cavern that seemed to be the central space for all of the Twi’leks living in this clan. Tents provided sleeping areas for many while rooms carved into the side of the cavern supplies spaces for the rest. The middle of the cavern was wide open and flat, while further in the back was another, smaller cavern, seemingly used for gatherings and meetings. Rooms were also carved farther back into the smaller cavern, and it was into these rooms that Dominik and Lo were led.

A Twi’lek female tended to Lo’s injured ankle as they all were seated, discussing the current situation and trying to make sense of both sides views.

Lo tried not to squirm as the wrap was applied. Her energy began to flood inside her causing her to become restless. She leaned forward into the stool as her fingers dug into and released from the seat’s edge. Her other leg bounced on the foot while she watched the process closely.

“Our villages are being emptied because of slavers, our holds invaded by pirates and raiders. Yet no one has come to help us, Master Jedi.” Sar explained, a few other warriors sitting around him in the circle.

“The information that the Jedi Council received did not explain your situation fully. We did not know entire villages were being emptied, and we have no evidence as to who’s behind it. Have you seen any of these raids? The slavers taking your people, do you know what they look like?”

“No,” Sar began, clearly frustrated at his lack of an answer. “Only one of us here has ever walked away from an attack,” he continued, gesturing to the blue-skinned male beside him. “Farsa.”

The man nodded to the Jedi as his name was spoken, his body language speaking a lot to the Master Jedi.

“Farsa,” Dominik began, nodding in respect to the man, “Do you remember anything from the attack? What weapons they used, their armor? What language were they speaking? Anything.”

“I remember their armor,” the Twi’lek began, his voice quiet and raspy, “It was brown… leather I think. With gold inlaid into it. Their helmets were oddly shaped too, but I never saw their faces. It was dark when they attacked.”

“These villages,” Dominik began, looking to Sar, “Can you take us to more of them?”

The Twi’lek man nodded, his gaze then moving to the men besides him who stood and egan filing out of the carved room. “Tomorrow we’ll bring you.” He explained, standing from his perch upon the small rock ledge many of them had shared as a seat. “But for now you and your Padawan should rest. If you are hungry, we don’t have much to eat or drink, but it is our tradition to share what we do have with our guests.”

---

[Ryloth, 6 ATC 6] A Long Year Amongst the Twi'Leks

Chapter 2

Searching

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Tython, 6 ATC, 6
Week 3, Day 3

From Tython to Ryloth was not a quick journey. It had been a week, nearly two since they left Tyrhon. Dominik made sure to plot the most direct, but safest course they could take through hyperspace lanes so they they would arrive as quick as possible. He didn't blame Lo for the boredom she began to express as the trip dragged on. The Master Jedi supplied her with Holocrons to study with while they waited.

Take the time to relax and study peacefully, you may not be afforded that opportunity once we arrive. he would tell her. The mans body had fully healed since the skirmish on Corellia works ago, his hip being the only part that would still continue to bother him, as it had for years.

The ship pulled out of hyperspace, coming to a slow glide, Ryloth positioned in their front, allowing a full view of the colorful planet, earthy tones making up its surface. Scanners were quickly activated as soon as the ship pulled out of hyperspace, searching for enemy ships, distress signals, anything.

Minutes went by as Dominik allowed the ships scanners to complete a full sweep. The sector visuappy looked clear, but he was taking no chances. During their time en route, Dom had taken the time to teach Lo some of the more simple tasks of flying. During their stops to refuel, he began to let her take control as they landed, taking her with activating their landing gear, lowering the ramp, and slowing down the engine.

Reaching out through his communication systems, Dominik attempted to make contact with some form of antenna in the village they planned to land in. His information provided by the Council indicated they had crude but working communications systems amongst the rubble that was their villages.

Pressing and holding a switch on the dash, Dominik waited to receive a small signal, indicating they had made contact.
His hand remained there for several moments, the Master himself silent and focused.

"We're going to land on the surface Lo," he began, removing his hand from the toggle switch and increasing the thrusters, moving the ship forward. "Prepare the landing gear and shutdown procedures as I showed you, but keep the engine running." He instructed the Bothan. The man's tone was serious, almost urgent as he spoke. He sensed something was wrong, but decided not to speak of it until they had eyes on their destination.

"Right," Lo then flipped the switches. Each one clicked and turning from green to red, save one. She found her breathing began to slip into a steady pace and her early week anxieties became lost in her focus. The engine’s dull humming became her background noise indicating she left it on. After flipping the switches, she leaned back into the seat. A thought occurred to as she caught Dominik’s emotions.

“You’re worried… Why, Master?” The title rolled off her tongue easily causing her to pause. She blinked with surprise at the habit developing.

"Because our contact on the surface isn't connecting to our signal." Dominik replied, looking to Lo before his eyes returned to their front. Dominik carefully maneuvered the ship as it entered Tython's atmosphere, its scanners still not picking up anyone else's signal, be they friend or foe. As the Mirage neared the planet's surface, much more detail was revealed. A planet consisting of numerous scatters mesas and jungles, deserts and valleys that stretched and connected for as far as the eye could see. A dense fog lay on the horizon, hiding the terrain from view as it stretched as far as they could both see. Below, Dominik steered the ship towards a large clearing on a cliffside. The clearing was bordered on one side by the cliff, and on the other side by an arching treeline of a jungle. As the pair grew closer to the surface, Lo's keen eyes made out a small village, evident by dark wooden and rock structures that dotted the clearing.

Lo did as she was told, almost perfectly. The landing gear started to emerge from the bottom of the ship, the thrusters throwing up dirt and pebbles as the Mirage gently touched down on the planet's surface.

Taking a moment, Dominik ensured his ship's systems were prepared and operational should they need to board quickly and take off. The engine sat at a low idle, quieting down as the boarding ramp started to lower at the back. The Master Jedi turned towards his Padawan, his eyes still scanning their surroundings, watching, observing.

"Remember what I've told you. Stay alert, reach out with the Force, feel your surroundings, look at everything. If anything feels wrong, you tell me. Do you understand?"

Dominik's eyes finally moved to Lo as he finished talking, ready for any questions that may come his way but also showing that their time to be serious and understand each other was now.

“You’re expecting trouble.” A statement rather than a question as Lo looked hard at him, seeming to tune in on their bond. She frowned at how weak it still remained causing her to exhale in frustration.

“I can do that. Are you heading out first?” She expected she knew the answer, but her lips still asked. There was little reason to keep the ship on idle unless someone would remain behind and be ready to lift off.

"Expecting, yes. But I think the conflict has passed. When I reach out, Lo, I can sense there are no living beings in that village." He explained, gesturing to the group of houses just a couple hundred feet in front of them. "Yes, I will go out first. Keep your wrist comlink on," he said, gesturing to the same device that was on his wrist, "if I give you the all clear, seal up the ship and come join me. But prepared to take off if I tell you to, do you understand?"

“I do.” Lo bite back the unnecessary questions.

She had gotten better at it, especially when the timing was inappropriate. Her brown eyes stared a bit longer than she intended as fear and concern rosed at the back of her attention. As the wristcom was offered, she placed it onto her wrist and let it fasten there. It rubbed a bit, but she didn’t mind it.

Lo inhaled then exhaled, trying to push the emotions away.

“I think I’m ready when you are. Just… be careful.”

Dominik smiled softly at her concern as he stood. "Trust in yourself, trust in me." He said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder before he moved out of the ship.

“Harder than it sounds.” Lo forced a chuckle, trying to hide her insecurities. Her posture immediately relaxed when she noted his hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head and followed him until he vanished past the cockpit door.

Master Rothul stepped down the ramp after making his way through the ship. He tapped a small button on his comlink to ensure he had a connection with Lo's before stepping onto the surface of Ryloth. The man moved slowly, now without his walking stick to side him, unlike two weeks prior. The limp in his gait was minimal, but there. It didn't slow him down though. Dominik started towards the village farther into the clearing, looking behind him at the ship as he grew farther away.

It took the man about five minutes walking to reach the village. Nearing it, Dom felt nothing out of the norm. His lightsaber still hanging at his hip, the Master Jedi could sense it wouldn't be needed; the conflict had passed. Regardless, he started looking through the small houses, knowing Lo probably could hardly see him from where the ship was now. It was a good lesson in trust and patience.

Searching the houses, empty home after empty home. They were just, gone. Dominik had been given instructions by the Jedi Council that he was to make contact with one of the colony heads, Glie Tualin. Word had reached the Order that clans, whole villages even, had started to suddenly vanish. Buildings and objects were all that remained, but their people were just gone. There was never a trace of who or what was behind it, or where the Twi’Lek people would be going. That was why Dominik had been sent here with his Padawan. With a history of gathering intel, piecing together clues and tying up loose ends, along with his experience as a diplomat, Dominik was the man for the job.

Meanwhile in the cockpit, Lo’s hands remained on the steering. Her eyes closed as her senses extended, trying to apply her training into effect. She focused on her breathing first. Calming her jittery and untamed emotions into still presence. With some struggle, she began to listen to the wildlife outside as her force sense extended beyond the boundaries of the ship. Her comlink’s light blinked indicating an incoming communication from her master.

Raising his wrist to his mouth, Dominik started to speak into the comlink. “We’re all clear Lo,” he began, making his way up an eroded stone staircase to get a better view of the ship over the houses. “Toggle switch three on the rear control panel, in the central access chamber.”

Lo’s head cocked in confusion. “Umm, all right. Why?”

Even as she asked the question, the Padawan began to toggle the switch on the control panel. Her ears caught the sound of something rumbling from the central access chamber. She frowned then jerked out of her seat. With building curiosity, she treaded lightly toward the source. Her fur puffed out in concern creating a furball effect. Secretly, she hated it, but her dislike faded when she spotted the elevating speeder bikes.

Her finger pressed the button to comment, her muzzle curled into an eager smirk. “You didn’t tell me you brought a pair of speeders.”

“Of course I didn’t,” came his voice over the comlink, “Where’s the fun in that?”

The old Jedi smirked as he felt the giddiness from his Padawan. Standing atop one of the houses, watching the ship for another few moments before turning to look farther out into the horizon, the Jedi pondered. The ship was decently hidden near the treeline for now, and they would not be far. Investigating needed to be done before they started announcing themselves to the surface of Ryloth. Somewhere, there were other clans, other leaders, other connections. If they were to receive periodic support from the Council and the Republic, connections needed to be established.

It was early morning, and the days stretched long, giving the pair of Jedi the light they’d need for their search. If they could find a clan or village, they could find a leader. Then, they could start assisting with relief, and try to find the missing colonists.

“The blue one is mine, by the way.” Came his voice again, teasing the Padawan for a moment before instructions followed. “On it, punch in these coordinates: Twenty-five North, at point three-five mark eight. Follow it to the village, I’ll be waiting for you here. And seal up the ship, we’re going to do a little scouting.”

“Favorite color?” Lo asked suddenly, pressing in the numbers.

As the engine began to warm up, she flipped a switch and the back doors began to lower. Her figure quickly shifted to her own and turned it on. Just seconds before hers warmed up, Dominik’s claimed speeder took off. She flinched when she heard the bike scrap against the door’s side in its take off. She silently regretted not waiting until the door was fully open before starting his bike.

Biting her lip, she leaned and made a jump start to catch up to his.

Dominik chuckled at her question, but didn’t let that through the coms. “Yes, it is.” He heard the rev of a speeder a few moments later, watching it kick up dust as it followed a path towards the inputted coordinates. “Now hurry out here, we’ve got some ground to cover and I want to make sure we use the daylight to our advantage.”

Dominik waited until he saw both speeders headed towards him before taking the old staircase back down to ground level. His senses pushed out, he still didn’t feel anything near them; both good, and bad. Moments later the blue speeder stopped in front of him, his eyes seeming to miss the scratches on the side as they looked to his Padawan. He waited for Lo to come to a stop before climbing onto his speeder and looking to her.

“Keep your senses sharp. If you feel anything, alert me with your comlink. I’ll see it.” The man wasn’t sure why, but he wanted to wait to explain exactly what was going on; the information from the Council, what he pieced together so far just by walking through the village. But in the back of his mind he also wanted to wait, to see what his young Padawan gathered about the situation simply by watching, and observing.

Relief flooded Lo when her Master didn’t mention the scratches. After thinking that, she chided herself for her stupidity and knew he cared more about the villagers than a speeder. She began to turn hers to an idle then wait for him to mount his. She nodded as she considered what to say next.

“Do we have coordinates for the nearest village? What happens if the next one we stop at has been hit too? Do we keep moving until we reach a village that isn’t empty?” Lo’s questions poured out, one after another.

Dominik couldn’t help the smile that came to his face at the young girl’s spew of questions. He didn’t blame her curiosity; how could he when he had kept her in the dark for most of the trip?

“We don’t have the coordinates, that’s why were going to take speeders. They’re lower profile and easier to hide. We’ll keep moving until we find one of the Twi’lek clans. We need to make a connection with one of their leaders, otherwise our mission will be for naught.”

Dominik took the handles to his speeder in his grip, revving the machine for a moment before looking back to his Padawan. “Follow me closely, keep your lightsaber close and your wits about you. And if I tell you to turn back to the ship, you turn back.”

Lo opened her mouth to protest, then shut it. She nodded her understanding. Her fingers wrapped about the handles of her speeder as she twisted it, the engine roaring back to life. She leaned into the seat ready to take off at the same time he did.

“Ready.”

Dominik pushed a foot down on the right pedal, speeding forward as Lo said she was ready. He followed a main path that kept pretty straight, following the village across the plains before the houses ended and a faint path continued. He had confidence in Lo’s ability to maneuver a speeder, otherwise this would have proven difficult. He planned on following a deep, dried up river bed that swept through the canyon next to the village. Someone needed to be found. They couldn’t waste days looking for the colonists, so Dominik would hit the search hard until clues were found.

Lo’s speeder kept hot on Dom’s tail. Her muzzle curled into her smirk as she moved through the entangled landscape. She lifted her hips then leaned down causing the front to press close to the ground, skidding underneath the large root bridge. She jerked to the side taking a hard left before realigning herself back onto her master’s wake.

---

It had been hours of an exhaustive search as Dominik’s mind moved to focusing on finding them a path back to the Mirage. Their search had turned up empty. Nothing but seemingly abandoned villages that left no trace of where its inhabitants had gone.

The Master Jedi’s speeder started to slow. He banked it to one side, giving Lo time to notice his speed change and adjust hers. Soon after, Dominik halted his speeder, pulling it to the side to that he was perpendicular with the path they had been travelling. As soon as Lo had come to a full stop, he dismounted his to approach her.

“We’re headed back to the Mirage. I need to contact the Council and let them know what we found. Then perhaps we can get better intel on where to look for more Twi’lek colonists.” He explained, watching the young Bothan to see how she took her information.

Lo had contemplating what had happened as they found more and more empty villages. Barely any signs of struggles and none that fit anything that could make a whole village vanish without a trace. Her figure leaned back in her seat while she put her speeder into idle. She looked into her master’s direction, listening to the information he gave.

“It makes sense, but eventually it will get dark. Maybe we should consider using the Mirage for a shelter when it does?” Lo asked, considering the future likelihood they would be staying here.

“Good thinking, Padawan.” Dominik said, smiling with a nod to Lo at her suggestion. He had planned on them taking shelter in the Mirage until they were able to make contact with a Twi’lek colony. He was glad to hear that she was thinking, preparing, ready should that need arise.

Lo’s fur stood on end as her eyes jerked to the side, her hand lingered near her lightsaber. She quickly dismounted fully to stand near her master, half listening to him.

“We’ll-”

Taking his lightsaber in hand, Dominik ignite the green blade, turning quickly to look back the way they had come. Dominik took a couple steps back towards that direction, holding his lightsaber out as his senses tugged at his mind. Suddenly, from around the bend of the canyon they were in, came a herd of Gutkurrs. Large, two-legged, insectoid carnivores whom the Twi’leks were known to hunt, and be hunted by. Six of them ran at the pair of Jedi from one direction, and when Dom turned towards his speeder, many many more were headed from the other bend of the canyon.

“Lo, get up on that ledge, now!” He ordered, pointing to a rock ledge that hung down from the cliff wall, about fifteen feet above to their side. Gutkurrs were fast, had very impressive endurance, and were relentless. In order to deal with the herd, he wanted to make sure Lo was at least safe, for now. The more that focused on him, the better.

Lo’s head turned to him, her thoughts hesitated at his orders. A split second too long. The herd advanced on the pair causing her to remember Dominik’s orders. She coiled her legs underneath and leapt too late. A Gutkurr screeched then slammed into her side. It sent her tumbling a few feet behind Dom, curled into a defensive ball. She shook her head to clear the ringing from the hit while she struggled to stand upright.

Seeing Lo get hit, Dominik stepped back to better defend his Padawan. He sent a strong Force push towards a pair of the creatures that charged at them, forcing them back and off balance as they crashed into each other. That same hand reached out then, Dom’s keen eyes spying Lo’s lightsaber fly from her side as she was knocked down. He took it with that free hand, holding it tight as he quickly rolled out of the way of a Gutkurr that had focused solely on him. He turned back, Force pushing another pair that would have trampled Lo had they kept going.

Lo whimpered as her ankle refused to accept her weight. She leaned on her right side to avoid pressure on her left ankle, her hand reached down to feel it. The joint felt swollen and hurt every time she touched it. It had to be sprained.

“Master Rothul, my ankle… I think I sprained it.” Lo meekly said through the pain.

Hearing his Padawan, Dominik doubled his efforts, stepping back to her as he pushed another creature away. Dominik picked Lo up in his arms, numerous more Gukurrs starting their charge towards the pair. The man knelt down, placing Lo’s lightsaber in her hands before he took hold of her fully, launching her up in a Force powered toss up to the ledge. When Lo left his arms, her body shrank into itself. Her eyes couldn’t help but close, her breath sucked into her lungs.

The Master Jedi couldn’t join her on the ledge, the creatures would only shift their focus and attempt to reach them. Gutkurrs would do anything to get to their prey.

He used the Force to guide Lo’s form safely onto the ledge, releasing his hold on her before he jumped high. The Jedi leapt up, his feat finding the constantly moving bodies of the Gutkurrs as their focus shifted as he moved. He moved nimbly across their tops, managing to gain some ground as found an open spot within the herd. He drew his lightsaber again, stabbing it through the head of one of them as it missed its charge. The Jedi moved, almost dancing as the creatures charged at him, ultimately crashing into each other as their target moved suddenly.

Lo twisted about to look over the ledge. Her lightsaber in her hand, but useless due to her condition. With each movement Master Rothul made, her heart thumped in her chest and seemed to bruise it. Unable to physically help, she reached out a hand toward a small chunk of rock near one of the Gutkurrs. As it snapped at Rothul’s foot, she shoved it upward. About the size of a melon fruit, it smacked hard into the creature’s jaw causing it to slam shut.

Dominik took advantage of Lo’s help, turning and stabbing his lightsaber into the head of the stunned Gutkurr. The Master Jedi felt it then, more lifeforms, headed quickly towards them. He turned quickly, feeling the ground shake as his eyes looked farther down the canyon. Charging towards the pair of Jedi and the Gutkuurs were a dozen Twi’lek riders mounted upon Blurrgs. They didn’t seem to stop as the Twi’leks spotted the herd, steering their mounts into the large group, unaware of the Jedi Master within them. The Gutkurrs, seeing pressure from further down the canyon, turned and started to challenge the herd of riders coming in.

The two groups hit hard, throwing up dust and dirt as they challenged each other. Master Rothul braced himself, focusing in on the groups and the creatures that ran amongst each other. He moved gracefully, hidden amongst the dust constantly being stirred up.

Only a few minutes went by, but to Lo and Dominik it may have felt longer. One of them waiting for her Master to emerge, and the other using all of his focus to be able to emerge once the chaos was over. Suddenly, the herds started to die down, the Gutkurrs either killed by the Twi’leks or having run off. Dominik stood his ground at the base of Lo’s ledge, lightsaber drawn and eyes on the Twi’leks, all focused in on him and Lo. Blasters held up as the dust settled, their mounts moving uneasily as the Twi’lek warriors stood up against the newcomer.

“Well well, Master Jedi, I really thought the Jedi Order had abandoned us.” One Twi’leks voice rose over the coming silence as the man urged his mount towards Dominik. An orange-skinned Twi’lek, his lekku striped with darker orange stripes down to the end of them.

“Master Rothul, can I come down now?” Lo’s timid voice broke out from on the ledge, peering down at the scene.

“No.” Dominik replied bluntly, his hardened gaze on the arc of wary Twi’lek warriors around them.

“Not abandoned, but dealing with things closer to home.” Dominik argued, holding his saber loosely at his side.

“Surely you’ve noticed what is happening to us? On our home planet? Our people disappearing, those that remained are starving. And what does the Republic send? A Jedi Master and his little Padawan?” the man yelled, hands thrown out above his head, causing Dominik’s grip on his saber to tighten.

“And you’re showing such distaste towards two, how would you feel if we brought fleets? Invaded your home?”

Dominik knew why only two had been sent. For one, Ryloth was on the outer edge of the Outer Rim, edged up against Sith territories and far from any major outpost. Secondly, the Jedi could not just send fleets of starships and fighters into the system. It would draw the attention of the Sith and effectively break the treaty. The Jedi did not have the full support of the Republic, and could have very little to no response from the Republic to send troops and ships.

“Is that a threat, Jedi?” the Twi’lek leader growled, edging his mount closer towards Dominik.

Dominik withdrew his saber, taking a deep breath as he returned his saber to his hip, “It is a promise if you force the wrong hand. Jedi and Republic aid would draw attention from the Sith Empire, and bring full on war to Ryloth.”

The Twi’lek male suddenly held out his hand to the warriors around him, and in return they began to lower their blasters. The man took a deep breath, eyes closing for a moment, thinking. His gaze then focused back on Dominik, “Come, Master Jedi. I think we have much to talk about.”

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[Approved] Kassiana Ordo

After some discussion in DMs and things clarified, that's an approval from me! Just need one more.