The Rebel Faction

Silonik was grateful he wasn’t going to get in trouble for this and happily bounded away toward the courtyard the ship was in. Once he reached the courtyard though, his pace slowed, his lilac eyes scanning his surroundings for any sign of his friend. The yard was clear for the most part, save for a couple of gawkers that hadn’t yet moved on from the scene, but no Mortor.

Did he go inside the ship? Silonik thought with a frown, noting the hatch to the ship was still open. He didn’t want to push his luck by going inside the ship, instead he sat down and closed his eyes, bringing up the mist vision in his minds eye. To his dismay, he saw no white blob in the ship, or anywhere near it for that matter, that could have been Mortor.

“He’s not here.” Silonik said, his frown deepening. “No white speck in mist vision on ship. Where could he have gone?”

Meanwhile outside the infirmary, Mortor had started firing questions about their odd visitor at the poor man guarding the door.

“Who is he? Where did he come from? Why he crash? How’d he get hurt? Is he a Jedi like us? Is it true you’re clumsy? What’s the air speed velocity of a laden shallow? Was there a lot of blood? I heard he was missing all his limbs. Is he gonna die? If so, who gets his ship? Can I have it? You’re not gonna make us fix the lawn are you?”


(ooc: *whistles innocently*)

Tobal nodded. "Yes, we went to Ruusan." He emphasized the word, feeling that the Jedi before him felt somehow ... offended by the thought of a Shadow Jedi being on the planet. Why would he be? The Valley of the Jedi had been all but destroyed during Jiren's last confrontation with Thrawn; only small portions were intact enough for even the most desperate of archeologists to justify unearthing.

But perhaps this Jedi did not know this. Tobal winced in pain as he tried to shift his position. His side was beginning to throb, as was his head. Shavit he thought. The doctor had probably managed to get Bacta on his person.

"It, its name was Xireon. Jiren said it was a created being." Tobal briefly outlined the appearance and capabilities of the now deceased Sith creature, as well as what it had done to Mat. He avoided mentioning that Jiren had said Xireon was, in fact, a clone of Jiren himself. There was no use in belittling a dead hero.

He sighed, and winced again. This side wound was definitely going to require some healing time.

"After the battle I made my way to my craft. I do not remember much after that. I must have slept for many hours. I awoke only when the hyperdrive alarm began to sound."

He stopped and looked around, indicating that the Jedi knew the rest.

The scene of the crash was slowly returning to peaceful serenity now that the excitement was over. Silus couldn't help but notice the two Jedi apprentices standing there gawking at the ship. While Silonik searched the ship with his 'mist vision', Silus decided to see what these apprentices were up to.

They both jumped and nearly screamed when Silus tapped them on the shoulder.

"Excuse me," he said, "but don't you two have better things to do?"

"We finished our tasks moments ago," one replied nervously.

"And we wanted to see the ship," the other finished for him.

"I see. So you two have finished your tasks for the day?"

"Yes, sir, like I said."

"Good. Then I have a new task for you," Silus took each by the shoulder and led them to the ship. "I trust you both have your lightsabers?"

"Only our training sabers, sir, and we should return those-"

"Doesn't matter what type they are. Put them in an obvious place; your belt, anywhere. Just make sure they are seen. Now I want you two to stand here, and if anyone comes snooping around, tell them this ship is under Jedi investigation. If they won't leave, lie. Tell them it's hazardous or something like that."

Both the apprentices glanced nervously at each other.

"Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir..."

"And stand tall. Act like you've just been knighted and have the whole galaxy in front of you, hmm?"

With that, Silus left the two nervous but able apprentices and began investigating the ship. He couldn't detect any life signs aboard through the Force. From the look on the young trandoshan's face, he wasn't have much luck either.

Satisfied that there was no one on board, Silus closed the hatchway. So, if the little Jedi wasn't aboard the ship, where was he?

“He’s not here. No white speck in mist vision on ship. Where could he have gone?”

"Yes, where could he have gone?" Silus scratched his chin in thought. "I'm going to guess he's interested in the crash, and if he's not around the site itself, it must mean..."

Silus sighed, "... that he's going to try to see the next best thing. Come on, I have an idea on where we can find him."

Silus and Silonik left the exercise yard and headed toward the fountain room. With any luck, Vodo had closed the room off and left a guard at the door.

"I..." said Tobal contemplatively.

They sat silently for a while as he pondered the question. There was an instinctive reaction to say, "I am a Shadow Jedi", but at the same time, there was a hesitation. Was he really a Shadow Jedi? There was so much doubt. The experiences of the last few months weighed heavy on Tobal's shoulders; so much had happened that he did not understand.

Finally, he answered. "I am a Jedi."

He didn't elaborate, and the two continued to sit. The water rippled and burbled about them, and Tobal was beginning to grow sleepy. He could feel hintings of a crowd gathering outside the room, and that made him stop mid-thought. He had never been able to feel much beyond an alarm for incoming danger. The passive force, or rather his inability to feel it at all had been his achilles heel.

He looked at the Jedi across from him. Cowled and silent, it was impossible to tell whether or not the creature felt what he did too.

Finally, Tobal came to a decision.

"If permitted, I would like to stay here for a time. I am... searching for something. I could aid in the repairs of the damage I caused, and perhaps learn something from your people."

He stood haltingly, and almost collapsed. Regaining his balance, he gritted his teeth against the growing pain in his side.

"And, if I might," he hissed, "could we retire?"

Irtar jumped out of the way of the fumbling and wrestling Trandoshan children as quickly as he could. Attempting to not trip or step on them as they tossled about briefly. Irtar scratched his slightly as he got back and turned about nearly stepping into Silus.

"AH!" Irtar said in surprise as he stopped just short of him and put his hand to his chest. "Uhm, sorry Master Silus. Children fighting and all the excitement I guess I'm just a little more absent minded than normal. Heh heh...."

Irtar's face had taken a slight shade of red and was preparing himself to either get a talking to about calling him Master Silus or nearly running into him or both when he heard his comlink fire up and an order from Master Baas. One of the children seemed to have the other disabled as of the moment, and thus Irtar had no problem hearing the old master.

A moment later, the doors opened and Master Baas came out with the stranger shortly behind him. Irtar was tempted as to ask his Master something but he seemed in thought of something, likely of this stranger. Irtar turned to the stranger and forced up a feeble smile.

"Uhm, hi. I guess I'm supposed to show you a room." Irtar said motioning down the hall for him to follow him. "The last I heard we had a couple openings on the second level. And I'm sure after all the stuff today you'd like a good nights rest!"

Irtar cast a glance at the Trandoshan children in hopes they'd catch it and not open the barrage of questioning that was likely about to escape them.