Revan Returns (Ch 30) (Patreon)

I take a deep breath once I step off the Ebon Hawk’s loading ramp, basking in the life force of the planet. It’s darker than I remember. Though I can’t tell whether that’s from the node of dark side energy permeating the planet more thoroughly, or an increase in the darker nature of the inhabitants over the millenia.

Either way, having so much life force interacting with the Force on the planet is relaxing. Next to me, Padawan Secura loses a tenseness she’s been carrying on her shoulders since we met. She might not be at the level of the Jedi of the past, but she can still feel the comfort of so much energy permeating the planet.

I nod to her. “How’s it feel coming home after saving a planet’s worth of civilization?”

She rolls her eyes.  “I’m hardly the one who saved them. All I did was learn from you!”

I raise a finger. “Ah, but that was enough. Few people are willing to admit that someone else knows better than them. Now, being a Padawan reverses that, since you’re in the learning period of being a Jedi. However, learning from someone in your organization is far different than learning from someone outside of it. Many are unable to admit that the place they belong doesn’t hold the answers they seek, and push away those who might.”

At some point when I was talking, Padawan Secura took out the notebook she had on Naboo and started writing my words down. I can’t help but be a little proud at her studiousness, as well as a bit exasperated at how often she feels the need to write down what I say.

We move out of the way, letting the others depart the ship. Normally I’d have at least a few crewmembers stay on board, to dissuade any ship thieves. But I think the souvenirs we picked up on Naboo will be able to handle the usual riff-raff. Plus T3 is connected to the alarms, so if anyone gets close, we’ll know.

We each have things we want to do, so we’ll be separating for the most part while we’re here. Though I've ensured that they know to be back at the ship in three days time.

Carth wants to learn about the current Republic, and if possible, reenlist. He never intended to travel the galaxy with us for as long as he did anyways. It was simply the most beneficial thing he could do for the Republic.

Canderous and HK want to dive into the underworld, looking for a good fight. Canderous also has the secondary objective of searching for any mandalorians that he can question about the current state of Mandalore. HK just wants to kill things.

Jolee plans to check out the Jedi Temple with Shmi. She wants to see her son, and Jolee wants to see how the Temple has changed since the last time he saw it. After a few millennia, its had to have changed a great deal. Right?

T3…well, I don’t know what T3 wants to do. He said something about seeing the sights, but I’m a bit worried that someone will try to claim him as a rogue droid. Not worried that he’ll get taken of course, but the little guy is dangerous. I’m worried that he’ll kill someone and we’ll have to do something illegal to get him out of trouble.

Then Juhani and Zaalbar will be following me as we look for Mission and Bastila. Zaalbar wants to make sure Mission is ok, while Juhani wants to plan a date with Bastila.

Though judging by the flow of the Force… “Well Jolee, it looks like we’ll be accompanying you to the Temple. The Force is telling me that it’s there that we’ll find Bastila and Mission.”

Jolee and Shmi nod in acceptance, while Padawan Secura looks happy to be traveling with me a little longer.

Seeing a sign and a button at the front of the platform, I approach. “Push for taxi,” I read. Shrugging, I push it, and we wait for a taxi to appear. Then I press it three more times to make sure that everyone has one.

While I’m busy with that, T3 has somehow managed to wander off. As time passes, I can tell that the others are getting impatient. Especially HK. At some point he pulled out a blade and some kind of rock, then took seat as he sharpened it.

Rather than sharpening the blade to pass the time, I think he’s trying to freak out Padawan Secura and Shmi, since he’s alternating looking between the two.

*Stare*

Shing.

*Stare*

Shing.

Stare.

Padawan Secura manages to ignore him, but Shmi has started hiding in front of me, occasionally peeking around to see if he’s still staring at her.

I let it go on since I can see what I presume are the taxis coming towards us.Though I will need to talk with him about harassing the new girl. She’s not used to his sense of humor yet.

The bright yellow hover cars slowly lower themselves onto our platform, their doors opening as they do. A quick look inside shows that they each sit four people, so my party splits up in order to take two of the cars to the temple. Juhani, Padawan Secura, and Shmi sit with me, while Zaalbar sits with Jolee. I think it’s a good fit. Afterall, they’re both big softies wrapped up in a tough exterior. Relatively, in Jolee’s case.

While we’re getting our seating arrangements figured out,  Canderous and HK have already gotten into their car and left. It shot into the air and zoomed off, presumably to one of the most crime ridden areas in the city. Wherever that will be.

Meanwhile, Carth seems to be wondering about the best place to go. He could go to a recruitment center, but then he’d lack information on the Republic’s current state. He’ll probably decide to look for a library before he makes any kind of real decision.

As our own cars take off, having already set the coordinates for the Temple, I can’t help but wonder what T3 is going to get up to. As well as why there wasn’t some kind of dock manager who bothered us to collect our landing fees.

𝌡𝌡𝌡

“So this is the payment for that ship there?”

“Beep.”

“Ok, that’s the ship covered for the next three days, as well as the platinum card holder.

“Dweet-dee-deet?”

“The platinum card provides a variety of benefits. You get priority on this landing spot for one, as well as free reign to deal with thieves and such as you like, without the security forces coming along and throwing you in prison. And finally, platinum card holders have permission to use one of the on-sight warehouses to store the things they have too many of. We also provide mercantile transactions for things one wishes to sell.”

“Dweet-beep- de-deet.”

“Of course! We are an honest business, we pride ourselves on the fact that we are one of the few big businesses that are not governed by corrupt individuals.

““Bweee-dee-dee-dee-deet.”

“A pleasure working with you as well. I hope to see more of you and your master more in the coming days.”

And so, T3 leaves to go on his own adventure, now lacking a car that would allow him to quickly traverse the landscape. But he has the advantage of not needing to sleep, which makes up a great deal of travel time.

Each of us will have adventures while on this planet, that’s a guarantee. The only thing that’s uncertain, is how we will deal with the challenges we are bound to face when we do.