Hunted [Archive] - The Galactic Senate

Master_Kinnon

04-07-2007, 03:41 PM

ARKANIA

It was dusk on Arkania, and Jedi Apprentice Maliki Madoura looked out over the tundra that stretched around the outpost as far as the horizon. The sun was setting far to the east, casting an orange glow over the purple mosses that mingled with green lichen; the effect was stunning, and Maliki had been standing for more than an hour watching the slow progression of the sun across the evening sky.

Hands clasped behind his back, he stood at the edge of the tundra, where the moss stopped and the outpost began. The sound of birds calling to one another added to the peace of the evening, and he closed his eyes and let his senses wander. Opening himself to the Force, he let the life in the area wash over him; the families of small predators that settled into pits dug from the ground; the plantlife as it flourished and reproduced; the birds that soared on the thermals far above him.

A breeze whipped around him, carrying the alpine scent of the planet into his lungs, invigorating him as each moment passed. Every day passed like that, with calm and serenity; it never seemed to rain on Arkania, or at least it hadn’t the eight weeks he had been there, just a gently lolling sun in the sky that mingled with the breeze.

Behind him, life carried on despite the calm that surrounded him, and he could hear the whining of speeder engines and laughter of native Arkanians. The smells of engine oil mixed with the smell of evening meals being cooked, and the latter made his stomach grumble loudly. Salivating profusely, he opened his eyes and exhaled a deep breath he had been holding in. With a smile, he turned and walked back towards his digs.

Four Arkanian children played not far from him, throwing a ball around with incredible reflexes and chanting as they did so. After several moments, a small boy, perhaps four years of age, dropped the ball, and the chants turned into scorned laughter. With a sullen silence he launched the ball at an older girl and ran into a nearby building. As if he had never been there, the other turned back to their game.

“You seem pensive, Apprentice Madoura,” a sombre voice called to him. He turned and saw a female Arkanian with long, bone white hair walking towards him, swinging a basket filled with fruit.

“Pensive?” he asked with a raised eye brow, “not at all, merely calm and serene, Jael, nothing more.”

“You Jedi and your flowery words, always so tricky.” She was wearing a green, sleeveless dress that trailed behind her, and contrasted sharply with her hair. Like all Arkanians, Jael had the starched, white hair and milky eyes that marked their race apart.

“Sorry, force of habit,” he laughed. They were of a similar age, twenty, and seemed to run into one another several times a day. “Another good day in the orchards?”

“This season’s fruit is bountiful, and we praise higher powers for that,” she answered.

“The Force provides for those with need,” Maliki intoned. The words were not his own, repeated from a speech he had heard years before from an older Master.

“Ah yes, the Force,” taking his arm, she fell into step beside him, “do you ever doubt that it exists?”

Instead of answering he held out a hand, palm up and with barely a thought, floated a star-shaped fruit out of Jael’s basket. He let it dance around their heads and bounce on her shoulder, before plucking it from the air and biting into it. The sweet juice trickled down his throat like honey dew.

They walked down the duracrete concourse, and came to stop at a junction. The quarters the Jedi had been assigned branched to the left, while Jael’s dwellings with her family were on the opposite side of the outpost. Maliki stopped walking, and tugged on Jael’s arm. She turned and looked at his, and could sense her eyes focussing on him. It was still odd for him to look into the eyes of an Arkanian, though he no longer felt uncomfortable.

“No,” he said between mouthfuls, “I have never doubted that the Force exists. I can fell how it flows around things; through living creatures and plants; how it touches every part of life.”

“And how it gives you Jedi your abilities.” She spoke with neutrality, but Maliki could sense the jealousy that bubbled underneath the surface.

“Of course.” Changing the subject, he spoke again. “Is your father pleased with the progress that has been made?”

“Indeed,” she answered, puzzled but his change of direction, “last night he even smiled.”

“High praise from Councillor Jerrissom!”

“He does not give praise lightly,” she said haughtily. “However, the systems you Jedi came here to put in place are proving effective already. Our partnership is already paying dividends, and so everyone is happy. I trust that your Master is suitably pleased?”

“You know she isn’t a Jedi Master, don’t you? She’s a Jedi Knight.” A tone of bitterness entered his voice, and Maliki was shocked to hear it come through so strongly.

“Jedi Staile is indeed wise and powerful,” Jael said quietly, “I have no doubt that it is only a matter of time before the Master’s Council progress her.”

“They’d be foolish not to. Master Staile has taught me so much…she is more than deserving of the title of Jedi Master.” Maliki was fiercely loyal to his Master; she had selected him more than four years ago, and he had flourished under her guidance. As other Jedi Knights had progressed to Master, he had never understood why she had not been considered.

“I agree,” she said, smiling, “and now I must leave you. My mother waits for this fruit to help with her cooking. Until the next time we meet Jedi Apprentice Madoura.” With a low flourish, Jael let go of his arm and turned away from him.

Maliki said nothing, but with a shake of his head, turned towards his own quarters, walking at a slower place. His Master was pleased with how things were going, and with good reason. The mutual partnership that was developing was proving beneficial to the Jedi, and he had no doubt it would continue for years to come.

Jael’s father, the esteemed Councillor Jerrissom, had contacted Grand Master Luke Skywalker to help his outpost six months beforehand. During the Yuuzhan Vong War, Jerrissom and his family had been instrumental in leading the guerrilla fighting against the invaders after Arkania had fallen.

From the hills and canyons to the tundra the Arkanians had fought and made the Yuuzhan Vong pay for every inch of their planet they took and defiled. When the New Republic helped to liberate the planet, and the Perave system, relations with the Galactic government improved, although Arkania still declared neutrality and did not join the universal community.

Five years after the war, the reconstruction of Arkania was well along its way, Jerrissom disappeared with his family into the tundra. Disheartened with planetary government, and favouring a return to working the land, he had set up his self sufficient outpost, welcoming anyone who wanted to join him. His closest friends had jumped at the chance, and more followed. Now, ten years after the end of the war, and five years since he had set up home, they numbered more than a thousand.

The natural resources in the area were abundant, and mineral deposits in nearby hills ensured that the citizens of the outpost rarely needed to enter any of Arkania’s city. Farms, orchards and fisheries provided food for all, while they utilised mineral deposits and quarries for raw materials to build with.

But, as the outpost had grown, systems put in place such as irrigation and crop rotation had become outdated. And as more children were born or joined with their families, the small school that was initially needed was overrun with pupils. Instead of turning to the Arkanian government, Jerrissom had turned to the Jedi.

His reasons where two-fold:

The Jedi were an impartial body who would not exploit his people and help them improve things for themselves, thereby keeping the ethos of self-sufficiency alive. The nobility and honour with which the Jedi held themselves was never in doubt: Jerrissom had fought alongside several Jedi Knights during the war. It was natural for him to seek assistance from them.

And, several children started to display sensitivity to the Force. It was an easy decision.

That was six months ago.

The first Jedi Knight had arrived at the colony a month later. Now, there were three Knights, and their apprentices working with the outpost, among them Maliki and his Master, Surrian Staile. Maliki had been tasked with identifying Force-sensitive individuals, and so far, three children had been identified. It was an unnaturally high number for such a small population, but good news all the same.

The families of the children had been delighted, and had consented almost straight away to their offspring being sent to the Jedi Academy on Ossus. Among those leaving was Jarrissom’s own son, Arcen. The boy was only four, but already showed a lot of promise. They would be leaving in three days time, under the supervision of Jedi Staile and Maliki. One member of each child’s family would be going with them, and accommodation and employment had already been found for them within the Academy itself or with the Ysanna.

Maliki would miss Arkania, but it was time to leave. The galaxy was calling, and after a brief stop off on Ossus, he and his Master would be reassigned. Such was the way of the Jedi.

In the distance he could see the circular, duracrete building that had been assigned to the six Jedi. It had been a good temporary home, but in truth, Maliki was looking forward to being back at the Academy. The beds were uncomfortable, the rooms were sparse and the planet wasn’t as beautiful as Arkania, but it was home.

He was still lost in thoughts of the Jedi Academy when he heard the first explosion.