Goodwood

((OOC: Xae-Lin, if you're still interested in continuing the RP once you come back, PM me.)) The young woman before him seemed oblivious to the Jedi Knight's inquiry. Though she had not responded to him, Ben'a could sense that she was still alive, somehow, but catatonic in some way. He wanted to help her, but it seemed that what she needed was time alone. After looking around the campsite, Ben'a could see that she would not suffer for want of supplies, but nonetheless, he unloaded a couple of crates worth from the Millennium Skyray's hold, and left them by the girl's side along with a note. "Seek me out on Borleias..." With a last nodding gesture to the young woman as she sat, Ben'a Solo reentered his starship, making his way solemnly to the cockpit. Somehow, he could sense that he was needed elsewhere, but he still had things to discover on Ossus, and he needed to finish them before anything else was attended to. After powering up the repulsorlifts and ion engines, the Jedi Knight once again skimmed along the surface of this world at high speed, this time searching for what looked like an ancient and gnarled tree...that was where he needed to be. --two hours later-- The thing was enormous. There was no way the lifeform before Ben'a could be a normal tree -- it was as if some sentient thing had sprouted thich, wooden tendrils, calculated to both conceal and prodect -- but what could this mamouth thing be protecting? With his senses fully receptive to whatever clues the Force may provide, Ben'a exited the Skyray and began to examine the tree...it was positivly brimming with Force-energy, far, far more then any natural tree should. When he touched one of the roots, Ben'a let out an audible gasp, it had moved slightly to the left, just enough for him to poke his head and shoulders through. And inside -- "Lightsabers? But why...?" The pile of weapons gathered under the roots wasn't the only thing he could see. Through the twisted and tangled roots, Ben'a could make out the distinct outline of a door, the hidden entrance to some sort of underground complex, or rather, a complex that had been buried by some sort of horrible cataclysm. Backing out for a moment, Ben'a began to look for a way past the roots...but they were already parting, seeming to sense his curiosity. Or rather, sensing his intentions. In the end, Ben'a decided that it didn't matter; he took the invitation and clambered through the new opening in the roots. The hatch or door came up easily, and putting his feelings aside, Ben'a lowered himself through....

Firmly intent on finding what he sought, Ben'a continued to pour over the controls of his vessel, still flying through the atmosphere of Ossus. As he drew further off of his original landing point, a new stimulus began to attract his attention. Nom Anorus and his Padawans were not the only Force-sensitive on this world. As he continued to fly low along the surface, his sensors began to beep, and Ben'a looked at the readouts briefly. "So, someone else is here..." he muttered as the signature of the modified Lambda-class shuttle appeared on the readout. That wasn't the only thing out there, though; the shuttle had been landed, and a campsite had been set up around it. As the Jedi Knight approached the camp, he extended his Force-sense out, trying to get an idea of who this was he had come across. What he was feeling made him wonder; this young woman was clearly Force-intuative, but it was also apparent that she had had considerable training in how to use her gift. And yet...there was something else about her... In the end, Ben'a chose to investigate for himself who this mysterious young person, with the potential for Jedi Knighthood, was. Still flying low and slow, he approached the campsite cautiously, finally landing next to the Lambda-class shuttle. "Greetings, my friend," he said to the girl ((Xae-Lin Ardel)), who had been startled to see the sudden appearance of the Millennium Skyray. "My name is Ben'a Solo, Jedi Knight. May I ask why a person like you is out here in the middle of nowhere?"

The world of Ossus, seemingly resistant to all attempts by the will of Man to destroy the secrets which she kept, loomed like a violet gem as the Millennium Skyray reverted into realspace in a shimmer of light and pseudo-motion. It was here that he had been instructed to journey, and so he had, finally, after several long detours. There was something that the Jedi Knight needed to do here, far apart from what he had told his companions that were, presumably, still on Borleias. After running a sensor sweep of the system, Ben'a was slightly surprised to see that someone had arrived already, and more important, it was someone familiar. With a contemplative sigh, the Jedi eased his ship into the atmosphere, finally setting down alongside the Requiem after orbiting once the world below. With a loud hisssss, the boarding ramp opened, and Ben'a, dressed in his black Jedi robes but with a cloned nerf duster over them, descended to the surface. There were not many trees in this area, and the ones that Ben'a could see were small and scraggly, but his Force-sense was telling him that there were other Jedi close about in the mountains. No, I'll not bother them. Doing an about-face, Ben'a quickly reboarded his ship, and once again took off to find a better place. His task was not here, that much he knew, and as he flew on away from where the other Jedi had made their camp, he reached out with his own powerful connection to the Force. It was drawing him steadily further away from the camp, over forests, rivers, the ruins of former cities, the beginnings of new ones, but mostly over vast tracts of wastelands. Unsure what it was that he was supposed to be looking for, Ben'a flew on for several hours, not daring to go very fast in case he missed where it was that he needed to be...

With inclusion for random hyperspatial jumps to lose any tails, the journey to Ossus would be a long one, but this would give Ben'a time. It was time that the Jedi Knight needed right now; time to distance himself from the death and destruction he had wrought at the Battle of Sanity's End. There was no doubt in his mind that he had entered the fight for the right reasons, and he knew that their enemy was a powerful one that needed to be crippled. But nearly thirty million beings had died that day, and though the final word on their end had been uttered by Governor Geki -- a being he had once slain in single combat -- the fact remained that he had initiated the course of events that led to their demise. Even the most powerful Jedi Master would have to meditate on such an action. And so Ben'a Solo meditated. For three whole days, while the Millennium Skyray continued to ride the hyperspace lanes bound for Ossus, he sat, entranced in his own introspection. When he finally came out of it, Ben'a felt that he had, at long last, gotten himself free of the burden. Geki had fired the weapon, not him. And when he awoke, Ben'a began to stuff himself with food, as he had not eaten for the entire three days he had meditated. The food was very good; he would have to compliment the Alliance commissary department when he got back.

The Rebel Alliance leader seemed to be a nice-enough person when Ben'a went in to meet him about the Millennium Skyray. When he gazed upon Admiral Black, however, the Jedi Knight could feel the crackling of a Force-sensitive -- but it was clear that this man had preferred to command ships and troops then to command the Force, and so Ben'a held his tongue in this regard. And he also nodded appreciatively as the Admiral thanked him for his assistance." "You are most welcome, Admiral, and I in turn thank you for seeing to my own 'baby', such as it is. It was a pleasure to be of assistance in the battle at Sanity's End as well; though the moon was destroyed, I must admit that I do not miss that place." He paused for a moment, in reflection, as if finally purging his mind of what he had gone through at the now-destroyed moon base that had served as SEED headquarters. "And I am glad that, in future, no one else will have to suffer there. May the Force be with you, Admiral." With a firm handshake, Ben'a bid his farewells to the Admiral, fully intending to return whenever needed to assist the Rebellion for whatever they may need. It was a long walk, and another tram ride before the Jedi finally found Docking Bay 435. Admiral Black had not disappointed; the ship looked as though she had never left the factory, and had been rearmed, recharged, and re-provisioned. After thanking the repair crews personally, he boarded the sleek, manta ray-shaped craft, closing the boarding ramp with a soft hydraulic hissing. Walking slowly, Ben'a put his mind at ease as he strode up the small passenger quarters on his way to the cockpit. As he did so, he began to notice that something was distinctly missing -- something that had been gone for a while -- but he had not had tome to notice it. Ayevit was still lost, wandering aimlessly around the Bowels of Coruscant. But Ben'a could not go back there for him at this time. His ship had been picked up by the Empire the last time he had been there, and that alone had ended up getting him captured after a heated engagement with the SEED governor Jidai Geki. No, the risks were too great, and Ayevit knew how to take care of himself. Instead, Ben'a did the only thing he could do right then. He sent a Force-message to Master Gantoris. "Master Gantoris, I have recovered from my wounds, and I stand ready to take on any duties for the Order that you may have, including taking on an apprentice. In the meantime, I must go to Ossus." Finally, having chosen his next course of action, Ben'a Solo powered up the repulsorlifts, retracted the landing legs, and began to slide the Millennium Skyray gracefully out of the docking bay aboard the massive Star Defender that was the Galan's Pride. With a quick warmup, the ion engines came on line, and the ship blasted away from the hubbub that surrounded Borleias, obtaining clearance to pass through the Rebel minefield before setting a hyperspace course and engaging the hyperdrive. Soon, he would return.

The sticky bacta fluid hadn't been completely removed by the time Ben'a Solo regained consciousness inside the temporary Rebel medical bay that had been set up outside of the Jedi Dojo. But this wasn't the aftermath of a cloning, it was the result of a near-fatal injury that the Jedi Knight had suffered at the Battle of Sanity's End -- and the irony of the name was not lost on him. The moon was gone, that much he knew, and the fact that he had been nearly killed was actually a blessing; he had been spared having to witness the deaths of millions of people whose only crime had been to swear alligence to a depraved madman. And though he was indirectly responsible for them, to Ben'a, that in and of itself did not merit death; in fact, nothing truly did, though he had killed many times before. The feeling wasn't something easily dismissed, but he, like most all Jedi, put the past aside out of necessity. Allowing too much doubt to enter the mind without just cause was a surefire way to become ensnared by the Dark Side. He would remain strong, no matter what. As he was wiping off the last of the goo from the bacta tank, a doctor entered the small room where Ben'a sat, and handed him back his black robes and lightsaber. "Ah, I see our Jedi patient is awake," he said in a friendly banter. "Indeed," Ben'a replied as he began to get dressed. "That was a closer shave then I'd prefer to ever have." The doctor chuckled. "What of my ship, though, has it been taken care of?" From the look on his face, it was obvious that the doctor didn't know. "It was lucky that you slipped into that trance of yours when you did, my friend; that cut would have killed any ordinary being within a minute. But as for your ship, I don't really know. We had to evacuate the Shatterpoint; perhaps one of the transports managed to tractor your vessel away. You'll have to talk to one of the Commanders," he finished with a remorseful sigh. "I thank you, then, for your work on me." And Ben'a left, shaking hands firmly with the medical officer, nodding as he went out. The sky was bright overhead, with scudding white clouds drifting lazily overhead in the afternoon sun. In the time the fleet had been gone, and continuing after their return from the crippling fight against SEED, much of the Dojo had been rebuilt. Rebel Alliance personnel of all stripes and species were swarming about, fixing this and unloading or loading that, trying to restore some semblence of normalcy to the once-ravaged facility. In space, he knew, equally massive efforts were being put into repairing and restoring the ships of the Alliance fleet; somewhere out there, someone must surely have done the same for his own ship. A passing yeoman caught the Jedi's attention, and he asked her where the Admiral could be found. "He's aboard the Galan's Pride, Master Jedi." After thanking her with a bow and handshake, Ben'a boarded a nearby shuttle that was taking other Alliance personnel, a platoon of repair crews whose shift was now over, back to the massive Star Defender. The journey was a short one, and the craft landed aboard the flagship without incident. Ben'a waited for the rest of the men and women aboard (with the exception of the flight crew -- who were going back for another run) to leave before he set out, using the Force to help him find Admiral Black. After a long tram ride and about a half-hour of walking, the still-young Jedi Knight found where the officer was stationed. With a polite nod, he asked the guards at the door if he could see him. "It's about my ship," he said plainly.

The Millennium Skyray, graceful in her element, flies through hyperspace with Jedi Knight Ben'a Solo at the controls, follows closely behind Master Gantoris's vessel. The Force-message put out by the the Wookiee is picked up loud and clear inside his head.... "Master Gantoris, I've got your back..."

With more beating feet, Ben'a did an about-face and sprinted off to the hanger deck. Boarding his vessel quickly, he powered it up with all the speed he posessed, and took off, gliding out of the hanger without his usual grace. Following the perscribed course set by the fleet, he sent the ship into hyperspace... ((OOC: My apologies for starting this mix-up.))

At Master Gantoris' announcement, Ben'a made his way hurridly back to the wardroom, hoping to find the Jedi Master, as well as the Alliance's Admiral Black, quickly. His suspicions had been right, and they must be alerted. All around him, klaxons were blaring and personnel were running about the corridors of the massive Viscount-class Star Defender. This was it, they were heading out to do battle at long last. Again calling upon the Force to boost his speed, the Jedi Knight raced along, deftly skirting Rebel troopers and technicians on his way to where the Master of the Order stood. When he arrived back at the wardroom, he blurted out what he had to say... "That man, Berlioz...[pant, pant]...was Faust! He's on board!"

Isolder's words had given the Jedi Knight a new dose of resolve; he was right, the fact of the matter was that Ben'a Solo was here, and he would fight. It mattered not what he had missed, but what he would soon participate in. With a grim nod, he muttered his thanks to the Blademaster. Whlie this Berlioz character had made his speeches, lecturing about this and that, waxing philosophically about what dastardly things the Empire or SEED would have in store for the Jedi, Ben'a kept his mind's eye fixed firmly on him. He knew nothing of these "null-force" soldiers of which the masked man spoke, but the Jedi sensed nothing out of the ordinary, considering the physiological state of the man. Quite the contrary -- he got the distinct impression that Berlioz was hiding something -- something big. After the man had left, beating feet quickly for the nearest restroom after indulging too much of whatever it was he had been drinking, Ben'a rose and strode over to the door. With a series of button presses on the input console, he sealed the door to the wardroom. But as he begins to go back to the wardroom table, he notices Berlioz's bag lying there....in a sudden flash, he knows what to do... "GET THAT BAG OUT OF HERE!" In a flash, he unseals the door, grabs the duffel (which is surprisingly heavy), and runs towards the nearest airlock, aided by the Force. Gritting his teeth furiously, he works the mechanism, shoving the bag into the chamber roughly, sealing it, and ejecting the thing into space. It begins to spin towards the planet. With a sigh, he heads to the nearest intercom, and senda a message throughout the ship. "All personnel, be on the lookout for Vladimir Faust! He may be in disguise!" ((OOC Your cover's blown, Johonnes Berlioz...))

As Ben'a waited for Isolder to respond to his query, he cast an interested eye upon Admiral Black. The three Mandalorian bodyguards that had surrounded him were bolting toward the door, and almost dragged in an unfamiliar-looking man clad entirely in a life-support suit. As the two conversed in hushed tones, the Jedi Knight surreptitiously extended his Force-sense, touching the minds of the men at the far end of the wardroom. And he didn't like what he felt there. The Admiral was feeling agitated about something, something that had happened very recently. Intent on finding out what this could be, Ben'a delved deeper, and came across the fleeting image of a helmeted man, many armor-clad troopers, and the horrifying results of yet another battle. After taking in this information, the Jedi turned his focus onto the newcomer; this man seemed distinctly perturbed, like he had been deliberately left out of the loop. He also got a sense of this man's eager lust for battle, and for the bottle, something that he would have to watch out for if this man was to accompany Ben'a into combat. But there was something else, as well... But what he felt from the three guards was the most disturbing of all -- they were not so much guarding, as they were buying time. Someone had to be told of this, because if what he was thinking would happen, the Rebellion, and by extension the Jedi, would be that much worse off...

"I'm afraid to say that it may seem I'm not very brave," Ben'a replied, a somber note creeping into his voice. "During the attack, I was off training and picking up family heirlooms, and that was only after escaping from Sanity's End through some sort of miracle..." He showed Isolder the lightsaber he had brought up from the depths of Kashyyyk, and explained briefly what significance the weapon bore. Ben'a felt as though he could relate fairly well to this man; he was unafraid of battle, to be sure, yet he was also perfectly sociable. Ben'a could also sense Isolder's isolation...it was a pity that many in the Order were too focused on their own issues. "I would like to know more about you, and the Blademasters, if that is allright," Ben'a asked. Hopefully, they would have some time to get acquainted before the meeting started...

After greeting the Rebel Alliance Admiral, Ben'a had watched from a corner of the wardroom as the Jedi Master Kirlocca, who he knew by sight from the temples he'd been in, and Prince Vegeta, whom he neither knew from sight nor anything else relating to him, entered the room. The only reason he knew that this man was who he was, was because the Jedi Knight had heard Master Gantoris mention him. He decided that now was as good a time as any to get introduced... "Greetings, sir," he began formally, taking a seat next to the Blademaster. "My name is Ben'a Solo, I don't believe we have met." There was one thing that he could tell about this man, though...Ben'a could see that he was quite as strong in the Force as any Jedi he had yet met. It pleased him to know that there were others outside of the Order that believed in the same principles. Hopefully, this Vegeta Isolder would prove to be a good friend as well...

Nodding to the Jedi Master, Ben'a followed his orders. The walk back to his vessel was a quick one once he knew where he was going, and he was soon aboard and getting ready to lift off again, bound for Admiral Black's ship. Unfortunately for his companions, it looked like that he should do this alone, so he politely encouraged them to remain behind. Once airborne, Ben'a eased the Millennium Skyray into space. The Rebel Alliance flagship was easy enough to spot; it was the largest warship -- or ship period -- that he had ever seen. Tapping an inquiry into the computer yeilded the specifics of this vessel: a Viscount-class Star Defender, named the Galan's Pride. The Jedi Knight approached the massive ship carefully, all the while broadcasting his intentions. The Rebel controllers acknowledged him without question, and within five minutes, the medium-sized starship was nestled safely inside the extensive hanger bay. There was little doubt where Master Gantoris would be holding his meeting, and with the help of an Alliance yeoman, he was able to find the Admiral's wardroom. And he was not alone as he strode in...

The space above the planet of Borleias contained copious amounts of space garbage; the aftermath of a pitched battle between bitter antagonists. As the Millennium Skyray reverted into realspace above the now placid world and entered its atmosphere, Ben'a Solo extended his Force-sense well beyond himself, to get a measure of what had happened. The dojo, a place of learning that he had yet to visit, was a shambles, but many of the Jedi and students had managed to survive. It seemed a pity that the Jedi Knight's first visit here had to be now, but he would help rebuild this place, if he could. After alerting the Rebel Alliance personnel of his identity, Ben'a took his vessel into a circular pattern above the complex, looking for a place to land as he tried to find the Force-presence of Master Gantoris. The Jedi Master wasn't very hard to find, though, and as he set the ship down softly, he chose his course of action. "We've arrived," Ben'a called back to his passengers unnecessarily. "Do what you feel is necessary while you're here. I get the feeling we may be leaving again soon..." He sighed to himself as he shut down the ship's systems, fingering the newly acquired lightsaber just before getting up and heading into the back of the ship and down the boarding ramp. The sun shone brightly this day, and the native plants that had survived were wafting their sweet smells over the countryside; the day was a very plesent one as Ben'a set off to find Master Gantoris. After finding the Wookiee Jedi Master hovering over some reports, Ben'a presented himself. "Master, we must talk..."

Jurha's bored statement threw Ben'a for a loop as he looked out of the Skyray's cockpit, still in his meditative repose. She was right, of course, they needed to get going, but she also needed to learn patience, and badly. But that was not his place; she was Aryian's Padawan, and he needed to mind her. And yet, all of them were his responsibility, in a way. "As a matter of fact," he began with a chuckle, "no, no one has ever told me that." Everyone was ready in their chosen seats, and since there was no more purpose for him to stay here, he brought the ship up, and into the night sky. The forest world fell away as if in a dream as the ship rose higher and higher, leaving a distinct impression on the Knight as he tore himself away from the world's green and blue visage. With a pull of the hyperspace lever, the ship and its passengers made the jump into deep space, heading for home.

Through the vast ether of Force-bound space, united on a level beyond mere physical matter, or lack thereof, a ripple, beautifully supple, and hidden from all but its intended target, spread to the world of Borleias. This ripple contained a message of the utmost importance for many, but only one being would have the power and the wisdom to use its contents properly. That being was none other then the Wookiee Gantoris, Master of the Jedi Order.

((OOC: Just so you know, you're not really sure why I'm here, since I never confided in you the nature of my visions. And Zeb -- how old is your character?)) The descent into what was once the most wild and dangerous parts of Kashyyyk was a long one, and Ben'a spent it in contemplative silence. He needed the time to himself, in order to get reacquainted with his Force-sense; the two Wookiees that had accompanied him seemed to understand, as they too were keeping silent and still. After about an hour of riding in the steadily lowering basket, the trio touched lightly down upon the moss and grass-covered ground. Though it was still daytime in this part of the forest world, the five kilometer-high trees had so darkened the sky, that is seemed like twilight. It wa a world of wonders for Ben'a; stretching out with his Force-sense, he was able to see for nearly a mile in front of him, with near-perfect clarity. It would not, as some would think, be a case of searching for a needle in a haystack, because the Jedi Knight knew that the item he sought would glow like a hot iron ingot to his senses. With his new friends following close, he began the trek. Here and there, they came upon scattered evidence of the tragedy that had befallen this world. Though the Terra-Titans had done an admirable job of revitalizing the forest and habitat, no one was perfect; scorch spots and the burnt ruins of old wroshyr trees that had been centuries old at the time of their deaths could still be glimpsed at the bottom of the world. Neither had the famous Shadowlands predators recovered yet; twice, Ben'a came upon a handful of kinwraiths, and once a pack of katarns. But despite the keenness of the Wookiees that accompanied him to take on the challanges that presented themselves, he forbade them to do battle with the creatures. "Leave them," he had said in Shyriiwook, "they are not yet numerous enough to hunt." The elder Wookiee seemed to come to his senses, then; signalling his appreciation with a low grunt-and-mew. Ben'a knew that the Wookiees venorated the cycle of life, and knew enough about population control to see that killing the denzians of the Shadowlands now could put all of Kashyyyk in danger. But the search continued, until finally, the Jedi spotted what he was looking for; it was a bit of a climb before he reached it, though. The lightsaber was, remarkably, still wedged into the surface of a fallen wroshyr-wood platform. Though the wood was heavily charred and splintered on the surface, the weapon still seemed to be stuck in -- both Wookiees took it in turn to try and heave it out, but to no avail. Nodding thankfully to them for their valiant efforts, Ben'a sent them back to the ground, and tried himself. The silver instrument was indeed stuck fast, but he could see the ignition buton just barely above the wood -- the Wookiees, with their oversized hands, might not have been able to activate it. However, it was no mean feet for Ben'a, either, but finally, he managed it. The beam activated with a muffled pop-hiss, and as soon as the Jedi began to pull, the violently violet blade eased out smoothly. It projected a marvelous light, illuminating the forest floor for at least a hundred yards in any direction. Holding the lightsaber in his hands, Ben'a began to feel the power of the Force roar through him, accentuating his senses even further. Mearly holding this weapon, held by many heroes before, in their own day, increased the Jedi Knight's resolve to stay true to his calling tenfold. He would intensify his training for the battle that surely loomed ahead, intensely dark like the shadows that hid from this saber's light. For now, Ben'a Solo had finished his work on Kashyyyk, and, deactivating the weapon after about a half-hour off introspection, followed his Wookiee companions as they guided him, silently and swiftly, back to the world above. It was nearing the end of the real sky's twilight by the time he had arrived back at the Millennium Skyray's landing platform. He was very pleased to see that both Jurha and Zeb were enjoying their reconnecting to the Force; they were both peering out, into the forest, but they weren't using their eyes... "I have done what I came here to do," he announced without preamble. "We must leave soon." And, entering the ship, he beckoned for his companions to follow. Once inside, he began the startup sequence for the repulsors and main engines, but didn't take off immediately. Instead, he sat in the pilot's chair, his uncle's lightsaber still in hand, and began to fall into deep meditation. His target was easily found within the Force, and once contact was established, he sent the man his message, unreadable to anyone else.

It had been a great, long while since the machines of KVC Enterprises had worked their wonders of technology on the devastated world of Kashyyyk. In the time since then, the survivors of the native Wookiee population had come to gradually reclaim the newly rebuilt forests of wroshyr trees and kashyy vines. The only difference, which was something that only a native of considerable longevity would be able to discern, was the somewhat tamed nature of what was known as the Shadowlands. In the holocaust that had befallen this lush world, certain features had been destroyed -- though these features no longer played a part in galactic affairs -- and their baleful influence had been shattered along with them. As a result, the dangers of old would slowly begin to grow meek. But the occupants of the manta ray-shaped craft then entering the atmosphere over the restored village of Rookworroo cared little of the planet-wide changes that had occurred. Well, almost all of them. For Ben'a Solo, owner and pilot of the Millennium Skyray, this village had once held a relic that he sought; a relic of his bloodline. As soon as he and his companions had left the unholy influence of the ysalamir-occupied world of Myrkr, he had regained the ability to enter the deep, meditative stance that allowed a Jedi to dwell on, and resolve problems much more effectively then normal people. After long hours of this, and of wading through extensive databases, he had deduced to whom that lightsaber had belonged -- his uncle, Anakin Solo. But the Wookiees in the village, though they understood and appreciated what Ben'a was seeking, regretted having to inform him that the tree that bore Chewbacca's and Anakin's monuments had been destroyed. Though there was little doubt that the lightsaber, that itself had gone through many hands, on many worlds, had survived the cataclysm, it was almost certain to lie somewhere in the Shadows. In exchange for some credits, and supplies, a pair of the natives agreed to accompany Ben'a in an attempt to recover the weapon. Leaving the ship in the trust of his good friend, Aryian Darkfire, the Jedi Knight embarked, flanked by his Wookiee companions, into the depths of the forest world of Kashyyyk. The Force flowed through him like a hurricane as he made the descent.

A medium-sized, vaguely ray-shaped craft makes its way rapidly through hyperspace.

((Okay guys, you're all in, your ships are heading back on auto, and we're leaving)) Ben'a would not tell her what he was dwelling upon. No, no matter what she said, she didn't need to know. The Jedi determinedly avoided looking at her as he confirmed that everyone was safely aboard, and that the Jedi starfighters were safely away from the planet, making the way home unnoticed by anyone. "Everyone get ready, we're heading off!" In a rather unnecessary display of his ship's power, he gunned the repulsorlifts, and in moments, the Millennium Skyray was hovering fifteen hundred feet above the forest clearing. After coming to his senses, Ben'a proceeded to take the powerful, yet graceful vessel out of the atmosphere in a rather more leisurely manner, leaving this bizarre world of life without the life-force behind. He was not at all fond of being here; this would be his last visit for a very, very long time... ((brief stopover on Kashyyyk))

He had become so absorbed in what he was doing with the Skyray's computer, that Jurha's question startled him. Trying, and failing, to quickly regain his composure, he offered her a wan smile. He didn't much feel like talking about what little he had seen of that horrible place, but he acknowledged that it was necessary. "I didn't see much of it, to be honest," he began, his voice sullen and serious. "Long corridors, chambers of every kind -- basically, its your standard prison instillation, with special amenities for special guests..." The joke was a weak one, and he knew it. "It seems that the only purpose of SEED is to torture, maim, and kill. But their Govenor Geki seems to posess a singular hatred for Jedi. While I was attempting to rescue the Death Strikers from Coruscant, I managed to cross their path; after killing Geki as he tried to kill me to get to them, his thugs captured me and dragged me off to Sanity's End." There was something else that he wanted to tell her, but it would do more harm then good. This was to be for a select pair of ears only. "We really must be going," Ben'a finished, ending the conversation as he began to run a systems check before closing up the Skyray and firing up the engines.

With a sideways glance at Jurha, Ben'a turned over in his mind what he had seen in the apprentice's datapad. He had been in the bowels of Sanity's End himself, and though he knew that the threat from SEED must be confronted and destroyed, he worried that his companions might not truly appreciate what they were saying. A Jedi did not do anything to "get back at" someone; violent action was to be a last resort. "Eventually, my friend, we will go to that place of unbridled evil," he said to Jurha, putting a hand on her shoulder to settle her down. "But we must not rush into battle without proper support." Ben'a then turned to face all three of his companions. "Indeed, Jurha is right, we must see Master Gantoris at once; I myself have things of grave importance to tell him. Get to your ships and send them back home with their autopilot functions. We'll all take the Skyray, its safer that way." Without another word, Ben'a exited the ship, and sprinted off to the Delta-7 that he had taken to Myrkr. With a warble of greetings, the R4 unit acknowledged the Jedi Knight's approach, but he ignored the droid in his haste to get the fighter airborne. After several deft entries into the snubfighter's navicom unit, and a few words to the astromech, he dismounted, and began to return to his own ship. Somewhat stiffly, the Delta-7 rose from the clearing, sweeping into the cloudy night sky and disappearing from view. As he waited for the others to send their own ships home, Ben'a sat down in the pilot's chair of the Millennium Skyray, and began entering commands into the vessel's computer.

The Jedi Knight listened intently to what Zeb was saying. It surprised Ben'a somewhat to hear that the young man before him had lead a swoop gang, but it was explained somewhat when he spoke fondly of his father. Ben'a knew all too well what it was like to bear a legacy; and he therefore grew more appreciative of the young Zabrak's situation, and how he felt. He chose to elaborate on the training experiance. "It was actually my Master, Keiran Valoria, who started the fight. He is a big supporter of 'hands-on training', and the lesson that followed was effective, to say the least." He paused again, to let this tidbit of information to sink in. "It isn't easy to let go of the past, my friend. Nor is it easy to express your emotions without hinderance; most are content to keep them hidden. Whatever sadness you are feeling now, will pass in time, and you will become stronger for it, and your father will live on in your heart and mind" -- He was interrupted by Jurha's shouting for Aryian. With a glance to Zeb that beckoned him to follow, he strode over to the Padawan. "What has happened," he asked simply.

Ben'a could relate to what Zeb was saying. With his keen eye and mind, he could sense the flicker of remorse coming over the young man, and Ben'a understood somewhat why. "Indeed, one can learn much in the bowels of Coruscant," Ben'a began. speaking this time as a mentor. "Some of my training was in the Lower City, in fact; I learned to deflect blaster bolts with a lightsaber while facing down a squad of swoop gang members, firing their weapons at me while riding their machines. I've been there, and I understand what a life in that environment can do to a person." Ben'a paused for a moment, looking about to see what the others were doing. Neither Aryian nor Jurha were visible, however, so he refocused his attention on Zeb. "You're no longer in the Lower City, though. You are capable of so much more. Life is more then a series of combats; you would do well to learn this."