The Rebel Faction

(OOC: I'm going to assume this is set a few weeks after Silent Night - my duel with Silus.)


<i>"Jedi wisdom is a gift, Silus."

"You know, you are rather violent for some Jedi."...

"What's this? The mighty Jedi is angry? Oh no, this will surely lead him to the dark-side!" Silus said....</i>



***



When Vodo came to, the medical droid in front of his stepped back carefully as it reacted to his sudden movement.

"I'm sorry if I startled you sir..." It started to apologize.

"No. It's okay." Vodo said, forcing a smile.

"I've finished with the bacta treatment. Your abdomen area is almost completely repaired." The medical droid said.

"Thank you." Vodo said, sliding off the treatment bed and onto his feet. The droid handed him his walking stick and Vodo exited the infirmary, into the bright sunlight of Naboo.

Theed was a beautiful place, Vodo thought. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of years old, the spires of the city were the subject of thousands of canvas paintings, and he was proud to note that he had seen quite a few. Artists, it was said, would come from the other side of the galaxy just to get a glimpse of the majestic buildings, each and every one of which were works of art themselves.

However war was no stranger to Naboo, with the now-infamous Trade Federation blockade and the Clone Wars ravaging the city. However - years later it still held it's pristine beauty.

The Jedi Apprentice walked slowly through the city, walking stick in hand, toward the docks. He liked sitting beside the water. It was the perfect place to meditate.

He had recently returned from Coruscant, where he had been tracking a mercenary who had been conducting his business near the Naboo trade lanes. Derk Simman was reknown through this area, and Vodo had departed, determined to stop him. He succeeded, but was forced to defend himself from a Sith Apprentice - Silus - who had been hunting <i>him</i>. The duel was a draw... more or less... with both combatants suffering injuries but neither gaining the upper hand. Vodo had suffered a grevious stab wound to his abdomen, while Silus had multiple lashes from his stick and a broken rib.

He had been in medical treatment ever since his return, and after each session he retreated to the water where he could meditate and heal in peace.

Pretending to rely heavily on his stick for balance, Vodo reached the docks and found a secluded place behind some discarded, empty crates where he could rest.


Closing his eyes, he retreated within himself, calling upon the Force to speed the healing process the 2-1B droid had begun...

There is a technique that the Jedi use to maintain direct control over their immeidiate surrounding enviroment through the Force. It was called the 'Sphere of Responsibility', as Vodo's masters had taught him. He practiced the technique tirelessly, whenever he had free time. He could sense anything and everything within it, and he was always trying to push it to be bigger. Lately he had been able to expand it to within one square mile, which contained the entire dock area.

He instantly noticed the new presence as it entered his gradually expanding sphere. He tried to focus on it, but found he couldn't.

<i>Odd.</i>

He focused harder, but couldn't get a direct lock. His training was still inadequate in some areas, he knew. He would have to work on his technique more. But for now, he wanted to meet this new presence.

Standing up and pretending to lean on his stick like he always did, he slowly hobbled toward the presence, still within his sphere. He rounded the corner of a large wharehouse, and the presence came in sight. Strangely enough, it was a large Wookie, who seemed to be in a great hurry. Perhaps Vodo could help...

"Hello sir," He spoke in his grave, scratchy voice, "Are you looking for something?"

Vodo inclined his insect-like head as the Wookie let loose a long growl. Vodo obviously didn't understand <i>shyriiwook</i> (the native language of the Wookie race), but perhaps there was another way...

Vodo had noticed when he first began to toy with the Force to get a feel for it, that when people speak, their meaning is implied in the Force. It was the same as sensing the different feelings of other being. He couldn't understand the Wookie word for word, but he did understand the meaning behind them, at least roughly.

He got the sense that the Wookie was looking for something... something very important.

But what?

Vodo touched the Force and allowed it to flow freely through him. The Wookie, getting impatient, spoke again, and Vodo noticed it was the same thing as before. <i>I'm looking...</i>

Vodo pushed harder, using the Force to discover the meaning behind the words. And thats when he understood.

<i>Jedi.</i>

"You're looking for the Jedi?" Vodo asked, knowing the answer, "Yes of course, I will take you there."

Vodo guestured for the Wookie to follow him as he headed toward the Jedi Temple.

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Vodo went slowly, using small steps to give off the impression of being weak and slow. His robe went all the way to the ground, the bottom of it dragging slightly, covering his entire form. If the robe were removed, one would see a very strong and powerful physique. But with the robe, he didn't look very formidible, which he excelled at. He had heard that other Jedi had done the same thing in the past, always being underestimated.

So he continued to hobble along, using his staff to "help" him walk. Vodo could feel in the Force that his companion was getting impatient, so he quickened his pace slightly.

They neared the Jedi Temple, which was located a little past the Palace. Vodo had never been in the palace before, and not many other Jedi were allowed inside. After the blockade, and Darth Maul's death in the adjacent power generator area, the area north of the palace always felt... strange to Vodo. Dark, like an empty space.

He could feel it even now but he pushed the thought to the back of his mind as they reached the main entrance to the Temple. As they entered, Vodo sent a surge through the Force, alerting Master Solo to their arrival.

"This way." He said to Azakhaban, taking a side corridor to a turbolift.
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Vodo stopped as Leia stode up to them in the small corridor leading to her office.

He bowed respectfully to Leia, giving the Wookie his first hint as to who Vodo really was, "Master."

He placed his walking stick in front of him, leaning on it slightly as he gave Leia a half-smile, "I found him wondering around the dock area as I began my morning meditation." Vodo inclined his head to glance up at Azakhaban, "He told me he was looking for the Jedi. And he seemed to be in quite a hurry."

Vodo knew that Leia could understand <i>shyriiwook</i>, which was one of the reasons he brough the Wookie to her, "I had hoped you could help him." Vodo said in his grave, scratchy voice.