“Hey. I’m talking to you, human”

  Jedi Knight Devon Yule stopped midstep. He reached out to the Force trying to gauge the level of danger. The threat was minimal, which meant it was likely common thugs and not security, or something worse.

  Turning he saw four individuals of questionable virtue stalking towards him. A human and two gamorreans being led by a large green klatooinian, ill intent radiating from them.

  Weighing the risks to his mission he decided on a plan.

  “Kriff off” he barked, then turning he resumed his unhurried progress along the street. Through the Force he monitored the group behind him, waiting for the next step in this dance. On cue, the large klatooinian marched forward intent on ending Yules casual stride.

  Here, in Hutt Space, he would not risk exposing himself as a Jedi. That took his lightsaber and obvious Force use off the table. Those however were not the only options available to him. He had opted not to wear his armor, hoping to remain unnoticed as he visited the dead drop, but being visibly unarmed in such a cesspit would only invite trouble.

  So when the klatooinian reached out to grab the Jedi’s shoulder, Yule was prepared.

  His right hand grasped the hilt of the vibroblade clipped to his thigh and He spun, guiding the blade upwards, severing hand from wrist. Before the shock could register he stepped into the thugs right, avoiding the green spray of blood and positioning himself for his next move.

  Shifting his weight, he moved his right leg past his opponent then hooked it back, striking the back of the knee. At the same time he punched the brute center mass with his right hand, the vibroblade still held within and reached out with his left, grasping the hilt of a blaster on the goons waist.

  While the thug was falling, Devon spun the blaster mid air, reorientating the weapon so it was no longer upside down. He then pointed it at the other three, who had awkwardly frozen in place.

  The klatooinian bounced slightly when he struck the ground. stepping forward, Devon pinned the left arm with his foot, then crouched slightly to position his vibroblade between his eyes. The blade might not have the impact of a lightsaber but it would be sufficient for this task.

  “Toss your blasters” he barked at the other three who still stood frozen.

  The gamorreans and human looked to each other then to the alleyways, Devon could almost hear the thoughts of escape running through their brains. With a blaster leveled at them however, they made the right choice, tossing their weapons to the ground.

  Three precise shots destroyed each but he was not finished. Pointing the blaster down he fired repeatedly into the ground, pushing the safety parameters of the weapon to their utmost limits. Moving quickly he jammed the now dangerously overheated barrel against the stub of the klatooinians wrist, cauterising the wound.

  Meeting eyes with the leader, with as much menace as he could impart to the performance, he growled out, “Do not follow me”.

  Turning once more he walked away, tossing the blaster in the first trash receptacle he passed, having no desire to keep the filthy thing, the reek of burnt flesh and blood now saturating the weapon.

  A brief consultation with the Force confirmed what his own senses were telling him, no one was following him. In the clear, he made his way to his ship, ready to get off this planet.

  Keldooine was yet another dust bowl Hutt planet, filled with the same vice and misery common in them all. What set it apart was its location, it was positioned at the edge of Hutt space and conveniently on the path of a major hyperlane. This made it the perfect location for smugglers of all ilk, as well as the perfect location for a Bothan Jedi to arrange a dead drop.

  Crossing the threshold of his landing bay, he signaled the transport ship Master Teek had arranged for him. The boarding ramp lowered and he entered, heading directly for the fresher. Despite his efforts he had not gone unmarred by the earlier blood, green stains now soiled his simple travelers garb.

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  ‘Next time, I wear my armor’ thought Yule as the turboshower erased the blood and grime.

  Clean and feeling fully sapient once more he entered the cockpit, ready to leave Hutt space behind. The beeping of an astromech droid informed him that clearance had been both requested and granted, they were free to takeoff.

  Taking the pilot seat Yule ignited the engines, the ships repulsors and thrusters combining to start their climb out to space. He increased their speed til a slight vibration could be felt throughout the ship, then pulled back, waiting for the planets atmosphere to thin.

  The stars soon became visible through the viewport, prompting Yule to begin plotting a course to leave the planets gravitational influence. The navigation droid was occupied with hyperspace mathematics so he punched the calculations into the navicomp manually, then engaged the ion drive for a quick burst of acceleration. Momentum would carry them the rest of the way across the invisible boundary, where hyperspace travel would become possible once more.

  Part way there the R2 unit began beeping again. Its calculations finished, it updated the ships navigation computer, then began informing Devon about a missed call.

  “How long ago?”

  His question was answered with a fresh set of beeps and chirps.

  “No, I’ll wait till we jump to hyperspace.”

  That decided, Yule activated the hyperdrive field guide, readying the engine for the impending jump. When the transport exited Keldooines gravitational shadow, he aligned the ship with the Kwenn system and engaged the ion drive, gathering momentum before activating the horizontal booster, launching the ship into hyperspace.

  Glad to be out of Hutt space he turned to the astromech, “Okay make the call, and patch it through”.

  A holo of a small boy soon hovered over the console in front of him. “Desmond, you’re looking well”. He had grown since the last time Yule had laid eyes on him, he also seemed far more at ease. “My droid tells me you’ve remembered something?”

  “I have. It's not much but I can recall an image of my father. He’s holding a crystal, the same kind of crystal used in a lightsaber and there’s a sense of excitement”

  Interrupting Yule asked, “A Kyber crystal, are you certain?”

  “I am. Knight Hadrin allowed me to view the crystals from her lightsaber. They were the same, I’m sure of it”.

  “I believe you.” he replied, quickly considering the implications. "Was there anything more to the memory?”

  “No, that was it.” the initiate seemed to go through some internal struggle before asking,”Will it help? Will you tell me what happens?”

  “Yes, I believe it will help, and yes, I will tell you when those responsible for your parents' deaths are brought to justice”. His answer focused on the aspect he suspected Des cared most about.

  “In return, promise me you will do your best to release those feelings into the Force. Do not let bitterness into your heart Des, especially when it would be just to do so. That is when bitterness is most powerful”

  Yule had no desire to chastise the boy but the danger was real, he would do what he could to prevent the Darkside worming its way into the Initiates heart.

  “I will do so Knight Yule”.

  “Is there anything else?” the boy shook his head. “Then work hard in your studies Des and may the Force be with you”

  Ending the call he considered the new clue he had been given, it was the first real clue since Master Teek had been forced to kill that Sith Apprentice to save him. He had underestimated the danger the man had posed with his whip, the weapon not being a true lightwhip but something mundane, he had thought his victory assured. He had a scar now reminding him victory was never assured. Fortunately they had managed to recover the Siths ship but, There had been no success in cracking its data banks so far.

  The blue light of hyperspace washed over him as he contemplated. A particular chain of events stood out from the sea of possibilities. If he was right it left two questions unanswered, Where had Desmonds father acquired an Illum style crystal and why were the Sith faction he had been hunting interested. Sith had their own lightsaber foci they favoured, they had no need of such crystals.

  There was someone who could be helpful in confirming his theory, someone who was already aware of the danger he was seeking to avert. Someone he was currently doing a favour for. Yule initiated his second call.

  “Devon. Was there a problem with the dead drop?”

  “No Master Grey’los. Well, nothing I couldn't handle. This is about another matter”.

  Yule proceeded to detail his recent exchange with the Initiate he had pulled from a destroyed farm house on Dantooine.

  “Interesting. You remain certain the boy plays no part in the fate the Force showed you?”

  “I don’t believe so, no. The danger is from the faction of Sith that attacked his village, the Force was clear on that part”.

  “Zeer will be relieved to hear you say that, his plan for the boy is progressing remarkably well. It would be quite unfortunate if the child were the cause of your vision”.

  They were getting sidetracked. Seeking to turn the conversation back to the reason he contacted her, he said, “Master Jenks plan is ambitious but it will take time. Des is mature even for an Initiate but he is still a child. It will be years yet before he even makes Padawan. Right now I need your advice, and possibly some help.”

  “And how exactly can I be of aid, young Jedi Knight”.

  “If I’m right, I Need to track down a trader, one that would have been operating in the outer rim, near the Raiballo sector, some time within the last two years”.

  “Then you believe the father sold the Kyber crystal, then the Sith tracked it back to them. You realise the trader would likely have been disposed of in that scenario?”

  “Most likely yes, his ship and its data though, they might yet be recoverable”.

  “Very well, I will help, but in return bring the data card you recovered to me personally, you can check in on your young ward at the same time. I suspect he might have a surprise or two to offer you”

  A puzzled expression crossed Yules face but he agreed, Master Grey’los’s network would make the search far easier.

  “Then we can continue this discussion when you arrive. Until then Devin”.

  With that she ended the call, leaving Yule to wonder just what kind of surprise was in store for him.