Disclaimers: See Part 1
The Fallen Beginning
by
AJ Marks
Chapter 4
Tillis and Ri-Jun walked to the spaceport with a disguised Petra and Wedge. Wedge was describing his family even though they had been given pictures of his wife and daughter. His daughter was only three years old and Ri-Jun really wanted to make sure that the little girl celebrated her fourth birthday in a couple of weeks. His wife was blonde and short, about five feet high, unlike Wedge who was a little over six feet and Ri-Jun wondered what brought them together.
"There were at the royal resort on Alderaan so that's where you might try first." Petra said to the two to try and give the men a starting point. "Give the man in charge this," Petra said handing Ri-Jun a necklace, "and they will coo operate with you anyway they can."
"Thanks, but I think we should go to Ossus first." Ri-Jun said as Tillis gave him a strange look. "I think that the prophets can help us in our quest, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if they did not know we were coming already."
"Okay, Ossus first." Tillis said and went out to find a ship headed that way.
"Why are you not going to Alderaan first?" Wedge asked a bit concerned by the news.
"Whoever took you family could already be halfway across the galaxy, and I believe that they are mind readers, so I should try and track them down, but by myself it would be an almost impossible task, with help I should be able to locate them quicker." Ri-Jun explained to the man explaining everything so he would worry too much.
"Okay, but I have a feeling that I'll hear from the attackers before you find them." Wedge said.
"In that case, I'll contact the investigators on Alderaan and you can receive information from them." Petra said noticing that Tillis was returning.
"Well, I found one, it will cost us about two grand for passage." Tillis said.
"This should cover any expenses that you have." Petra said handing over some credit sticks. "They are linked to an independent bank and are virtually untraceable except for those who know the account, which you're looking at the only one who know about it."
"Thanks, we'll try to keep expenses down." Tillis said.
"I don't care, spend what you have to, just get my family back." Wedge said.
"We'll be in touch Wedge, Petra take good care of him." Ri-Jun said.
"And take good care of Jessica as well, and tell her that I am sorry." Tillis said as they walked away to their transport.
Wedge and Petra had not be through the door even a second before a security guard came running up with a piece of paper.
"Your majesty, this came for you while you were gone." The guard said handing the paper to Wedge.
Wedge read the paper and even though he had a good idea what it would say, seeing the words there on the paper did not help him. Petra had figured that who ever had kidnapped Wedge's family wanted him to coo operate with their scheme in the meetings. It was exactly what they had thought, and that he was to tell no one, or else his entire family would die. He had not expected it to be put so bluntly.
"Its what we thought." Wedge said handing the paper to Petra.
"Hmm." Petra said looking over the paper now really glad that they had sent Ri-Jun and Tillis without any help, as it would have attracted attention to the effort. He would have to contact Alderaan and let them know that they had to keep a low profile in their efforts to find the kidnappers. That would really hamper the efforts of the investigators and that they would not like it, but it needed to be done. "For now, we play their game, a little." Petra told Wedge. "We need to buy some time for our agents."
"I hope that they nailed this bastard." Wedge said hoping that this entire situation was already over.
"I've got a good feeling about those two." Petra said. "I have a feeling that they will succeed in not only finding you family, but that you'll have gained a family friend by the time all of this is over."
"I hope your right Petra." Wedge said turning to look out the window again. There was not much to look at except several buildings that were under construction.
"Do you really think that the prophets can help you Ri-Jun?" Tillis asked as he sat back down in his seat in the converted freighter.
"They have training on their side, and I won't be surprised if they don't already know that we are coming." Ri-Jun replied thinking that something was guiding him to this course of action. "Did you find out how much longer till we get to Ossus?"
"We'll be there in a half an hour, then I can show you were I came from, but I have been away for a while." Tillis answered.
Ri-Jun again thought about the task at hand, finding two people in the universe would be difficult, and perhaps it was impossible as many thought it was. If they had any hope then he needed more training, and the only ones he could think of to help him were the prophets of Ossus. He shook off the thoughts of failure and concentrated on succeeding their mission. This would require more of his abilities than anything had ever done before.
That train of thought led him to knowing that he would most definitely be shot at again, and that he was not looking forward to. He would have to think about that some more as the announcement that they were touching down came over the intercom and passengers buckled their belts and secured any loose items without being told. It only took one landing for someone who was not used to it to not leave anything loose again. The bumping around, while not serious allowed items to fly around.
They felt the familiar bumping and tossing as the ship landed in the spaceport. It took a few more minutes before the doors opened and the passengers were allowed out. Ri-Jun and Tillis waited just a bit before heading out the door and onto the spaceport.
It was a small port that the ship had landing in and that was fine with the two men, it also meant that they would have to do less walking than if they landed in one of the large cities.
Ri-Jun looked around at the surrounding areas, it was a forested area and was a welcome contrast to the urban areas of Coruscant and where he had been living earlier. The people had combined the surrounding vegetation with their designs to make something that was pleasing to the eye, yet very functional.
Tillis noticed that there was a taxi that was looking at them while declining offers from potential costumers. Tillis thought that it was a bit odd, usually they were hustling to get as many customers as possible, and this one did not look like he was on break either.
"Hey Ri, this way." Tillis said to his friend walking over to the taxi driver.
"You are here to see the prophets, yes." The man stated even though it was a question all three of them knew that it was not.
"Yes, can you take us there?" Ri-Jun asked.
"Of course, that's why Syeris is here." The man said. "Prophets tell me to pick up two men, coming today. I no question prophets, they pay very well. We go." He told them allowing the two men to get into the taxi then got into the drivers seat and took off.
Ri-Jun and Tillis exchanged a look with each other as they got in that back. Tillis just shook his head, as Ri-Jun's look was one of 'I told you so'.
The taxi quickly sped off toward the outskirts of town with the driver keeping up a steady stream of chatting. Ri-Jun learned all about what the man thought of the prophets, the man's family and what he thought of the current events. He was really into a universal governing body if everything was equal. He also went on to say that he liked the person from Alderaan, and that if someone like him was in charge, then he would feel comfortable in their decisions. He said that in today's debate however the ambassador had been silent and had not challenged a thing that was proposed.
That got Ri-Jun's attention, it probably meant that there was something had changed since they had left. He would have to contact the people at Alderaan quickly.
"We here." The man told them as they pulled in front of a large estate where there was a robed person waiting for them.
Tillis and Ri-Jun got out of the taxi and approached the robed man who handing Syeris some money for his work and watched as the taxi took off down the road.
"Welcome." The man said bowing towards Ri-Jun. "We've been expecting you, please follow me." He straightened up and walked into the compound with the two men behind him.
Tillis could still be amazed at the power that the prophets had, knowing that they would be arriving, perhaps they did know where the royal family had been taken already.
The Undarian made his way down the street to where he had first met the mysterious Lord Dugous in person, even though he had not seen the man he felt the powerful presence that the man had. Lord Dugous had called for the ambassador to meet him as soon as possible. Again the door opened when he approached and the room was dark like it had been the previous meeting.
"You have done well ambassador, I hope that you are pleased." The voice of Lord Dugous said.
"Thank you, things have been much easier now that the ambassador from Alderaan has stopped voicing his concerns." The ambassador said.
"I'm sure that you will find him much more cooperative in the future." The voice replied.
Ri-Jun walked into the small room that would be his while he stayed on the compound. He had not met anyone yet as the first thing that he was told to do was rest after his journey. Tillis had taken a room next to his and he had decided to go back into town to call Alderaan to see what had happened.
Ri-Jun laid back on the small bed that was provided in the room and thought about what was going on. He wondered what would happen next, and how would they find two people out of billions in the galaxy.
The room was small with just the one bed that he was currently laying on, and a small table and a couple of chairs on the other side of the room. The room had one window that faced out into the courtyard, but there was nothing going on out there except a few people tending the crops.
He had not met many of the people that lived inside the compound, but he knew that each of them had a least some sort of different awareness like he had. That felt a bit strange and comforting at the same time. It felt strange in that everyone was learning about their abilities from others who were masters, and that was also intimidating. The place also felt comforting in the fact that everyone around him was like he was and he did not have to fear for his life here.
A knock on the door and a young boy entered bringing with them a tray of food.
"I'm to tell you that the council will be meeting with you in an hour." The boy said.
"The council?" Ri-Jun asked with some curiosity.
"It is our ruling body, it is made up of the wisest and most powerful of us all. They make the decisions and rules that we follow." The boy replied.
"Of course, that makes perfect sense." Ri-Jun replied thinking that it was a very wise of the group. There was not one person making a hasty decision that they would regret later, or so the theory went.
"Someone will be back to tell you when the council is ready." The boy said and exited the room.
Tillis was able to catch a ride into the city and was able to find a communications center without to much hassle. It took a few minutes for the communication to connect and that's when he began his search for information. He had decided not to try and contact the Alderaan security forces just yet, what he needed was information about what was going on with the meetings on Coruscant.
The information was not hard to hind as it was plastered all over the news groups and sites. He spent a few more minutes finding a detailed site that would tell him all that he needed to know.
He was able to bring up a small file of some of the debate and he opened the file to see what had been happening. There was a delegate that was standing in the middle of the room and it picked up his talking.
"It is my opinion that we should start to build up an internal protection force that will protect what we are trying to build here today. This force will be directed by the president of the council and will go on missions for the council where it would seem inappropriate for members of the council to go. They would maintain peace and order for any who are part of the new government." He said to the members in attendance.
The news report after that said that the group would have unprecedented power and would be more likely to be corrupt than the government they were trying to form would be. This 'security force' could also use its powers to intimidate others into doing what they wanted and that this security group would be the real political power behind the government.
Tillis did not like this development at all. It sounded like some sort of secret police that could be controlled easily by one person.
Tillis did notice that there was already a group nominated for that position, and it was Lord Dugous' security company. Although people like Jessica were part of it and he trusted Jessica, he did not trust the leaders of the company.
What disturbed Tillis even more was the shot of Wedge Organa as he sat there listening and anyone looking at the picture could tell that he was not in favor of the proposed group. He then figured out that whoever was behind the kidnapping of Wedge's family had probably told him not to object to anything that was brought up in the meeting. This meant that he and Ri-Jun would have to work fast to free Wedge's family.
Ri-Jun sat meditating in the small room waiting for his meeting before the council. He had finished eating and knew that it was just a matter of time before he was summoned.
The door opened and the same boy who had brought him his food entered and asked Ri-Jun to follow him. They walked down several corridors and outside. They then headed to a large building that Ri-Jun had not been able to see from his window and he knew that it was where the council met. They walked inside and made their way to a door where the boy told him to go on through.
Ri-Jun walked into the room and was met with a circular room with twelve people sitting in chairs in a circular pattern. He was not sure who the leader of the council was by the arrangement and he decided to walk into the middle of the room and wait for the first one to talk.
"Welcome outsider." One of them said. "My name is Ga-Sat, you need our help."
"Yes." Ri-Jun said turning to face the one called Ga-Sat. "Can you help me, I'm looking for someone."
"Yes, a family has been kidnapped." Ga-Sat replied and Ri-Jun was beginning to wonder if they already knew the answer to his question. "We have seen a darkness creep from the shadows, they are the ones who took them."
"This darkness, how do I find them?" Ri-Jun asked.
"They are the one who lie, but beware for ones like us, this darkness can be used against us." Ga-Sat said. "We are all unique in that we all have special powers."
"Yes, I've been able to do many things that normal people cannot do." Ri-Jun replied.
"Yes, we see that. We could feel you like one feels a boat rock when waves rock it. The effect is the same for those who can feel it, I think you know what I'm talking about."
Ri-Jun was silent for a few minutes thinking about what Ga-Sat had just said and realized that he was right. He could feel it, he just did not know what it was. "I know, I've just never had anyone who understood."
"Its understandable, the Force works in mysterious ways." Ga-Sat replied.
"The Force?" Ri-Jun replied.
"It is what you feel." Another one in the council said. "At times when your mind is quiet a person can feel it flowing through them, it is what gives you the abilities you have. With training you can use it for other purposes, moving objects, jumping, and fooling the weak minded just to name a few."
"Haven't tried the mind trick yet, but I have done the other things." Ri-Jun said and noticed a look of shock on a couple of the members' faces.
"It usually takes years of training to be able to do that, and even then they must be very powerful in the Force." Another one said.
"Perhaps you are more powerful than we had first thought." Ga-Sat more to the other members of the council than to Ri-Jun himself. "I fear that you will need it later."
"Yes, I have seen one who can do the mind trick." Ri-Jun told the group.
"The darkness is stronger than we expected as well, this news is not good." Ga-Sat replied.
"The rift in the force has begun." Another one said.
"Rift?" Ri-Jun asked a bit confused.
"We have seen that there will come a time when stronger users of the Force will appear, and a darker side of the Force will appear as well. The dark side is alluring, and tempting, but it is very evil in nature." One next to Ga-Sat told him. "Once you start down the path to the dark side it will forever change your life."
"That still doesn't help me to much." Ri-Jun said not really knowing what was going on.
"I forget that you are still very unaware of what it is that you have control of." Ga-Sat said a bit sadly as he looked around the council. "Let me explain a bit to you. Come let us walk around the grounds."
"Sounds good to me." Ri-Jun said allowing Ga-Sat to pass him and lead him outside the building.
"This power that you have, we call it the Force. What it exactly is no one really knows, just that some are more sensitive to it than others. The Force allows us to sense parts of the future, and the ability to react quicker than others as you have probably noticed." Ga-Sat said and Ri-Jun nodded knowing what the older man was talking about. "We can sense that the Force is strong in you, perhaps even stronger than we think it is."
They stopped in front of an area that people were obviously training. They were in groups of two and it appeared that one person was instructing another.
"We have found if a person already trained takes an apprentice than it is much easier to train that person. If someone takes two, there is a decrease in learning." Ga-Sat said as they passed the area. "There they were learning to use their abilities to jump and move faster than others."
"That's something I've already had to do in order to survive lately." Ri-Jun said to the other man.
"Yes, we've heard reports that outsiders were hunting us down, but on Ossus we are relatively safe. The people here see us not as ones who are out to take over the world, but we help out where ever we can." Ga-Sat told him and Ri-Jun felt a bit safer now that he knew.
"What about your philosophies that you teach them, where have those come from?" Ri-Jun asked now that his curiosity got the better of him.
"That has been the result of over a thousand years of evolution. We have tried to find out what worked and what did not, and about what our abilities were." Ga-Sat replied. "We constantly strive to keep them up to date and not allow them to remain the same for too long, that invites outside influences to take over."
"Sounds like that has happened before." Ri-Jun stated.
"Yes it has, and each time we have suffered great losses, and it will happen again, you know what I'm talking about." Ga-Sat said and Ri-Jun knew what he was talking about.
"Is there anyway to help me find my friend's family?" Ri-Jun asked getting back to the real reason that he was here.
"The council is meditating on it right now. It may take a bit of time though." Ga-Sat said.
"That's okay, I needed to get some training in. Half the time I don't know what I'm doing." Ri-Jun said.
"You are that strong, yet you've kept your head about you and not fallen to the dark path that many of the others take."
"There are many like me, afraid to say anything to anyone else, because if we do they shut us out."
"It is a sad universe we live in." Ga-Sat said to Ri-Jun leading him over to the training area they had passed earlier in the day. "Come, let me show you our top trainer."
Tillis made his way back to the compound after eating and reading some more. Most of the news articles mentioned that Wedge Organa looked like that he was against the proposed measures he uncharacteristically remained silent, leading many rumors about what was really going on. Most thought that there was an agreement between the two ambassadors, H'Meoth and Wedge to allow something that Wedge wanted later in the council meeting.
Tillis had tried to listen to the conversations going on around him while he was at the diner, but there was nothing important other than people's opinions about the council meeting and the local sports events.
When he finally arrived back at the compound an older gentleman met him. He introduced himself as Ga-Sat and that he would take him to Ri-Jun.
Tillis walked up to the training area and was a bit surprised by the amount of people that were around it watching Ri-Jun and another man, as they seemed to be fighting with staffs.
"They are practicing, your friend has amazing abilities and is very strong in the Force." Ga-Sat said knowing that very few could stand their ground against their top trainer, but Ri-Jun seemed to equal to the task.
Tillis found that there were some areas that he could barely follow the moves that the two men were doing. The staffs seemed to blur as the fight intensified and the trainer put more effort into the fight. Tillis noticed that Ri-Jun was concentrating just as hard and a mental note come up in his mind that he knew he would have to ask his friend about later.
The fight ended with a nice sweep by the trainer that disarmed Ri-Jun and before he could get his staff back Ri-Jun found himself on his back. The trainer helped him up and congratulated Ri-Jun on the great fight.
Ri-Jun acknowledged the compliment and everyone knew that with a bit of training Ri-Jun would have defeated the trainer.
"Nice job Ri-Jun." Ga-Sat said clapping as he and Tillis approached the two men. "I've never seen anyone push Yehhas so hard. I noticed that you were using the force at the end to try and retrieve your weapon, nice move." Yehhas had to agree and asked Ri-Jun how much longer they would be staying because he would love the opportunity to practice against him again.
"I don't know Yehhas." Ri-Jun said shaking his opponents hand. "Depends on what Tillis and Ga-Sat have to say."
"Whoever kidnapped Wedge's family is using them as leverage to gain his silence in proposals in the council. Everyone can tell that something is wrong and that he doesn't agree with what is going on, but he doesn't want to risk his family." Tillis said. "I think out next stop should be Alderaan."
"I agree, the council believes that they have not left the planet." Ga-Sat said. "I have arrange for transport tomorrow for you two. Until then remain as our guest and relax."
"The council is not meeting over the weekend so that give us a bit of time." Tillis said knowing that Ri-Jun would want to leave as soon as possible.
"It would give you some time to train." Yehhas said.
"Well, I guess I've got a bit of time to allow you to teach me some of those moves." Ri-Jun said as they both reached for their staffs and went back to training.
End Chapter 4
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