Star Wars: Expanding Nexus

Part 1: Marketplace

Keely and Raavik stood on the practice arena fifty feet apart. Raavik threw his cloak off and the Force of the Nexus emanated from his body with such greatness that the Jedi sentinels, who once again stood at the corners of the arena, were forced to kneel as the overpressured wave passed over them. Keely, however, was mostly unaffected.

She adjusted her new vambraces. These new wrist guards were new lightsabers that Keely had them specifically made to counter the overbearing weight of the Apostle’s Blade. 

“It seems that you are coming into your own as an Apostle as well Keely.” Raavik said, “I don’t think I saw you even waver. I don’t know why the Voice has taken a liking to you, are you ready to begin?”

Keely finished her adjustments and looked over at Raavik. “I barely noticed.” She turned on her arm bands and took a ready stance. 

The two stared at each other. Then quick as lightning, Keely shot forward and struck fast at Raavik. One blade from above another from the side. Just as quick, Raavik deflected both blows and jumped away. The Apostle’s Blade was heavy when turned on, so both deflected blows were done in a single swift motion. 

The Force was strong within Raavik inside the Nexus and it showed. The Force jump that was performed lifted Raavik high above Keely. With a simple flip, he turned his lightsaber back on and swung the blade hard downward onto Keel from above. She lifted her left vambrace as a means to completely deflect the coming blow and strike at Raavik with her right arm.

She never felt the weight of the blow on her left side, nor did her right arm come up to strike. Instead she heard and felt the heat of the Apostle’s Blade next to her left ear. It was being held steady at such a point that if he were to twitch in one direction it would harm her ear or her shoulder.

“I yield!”  Keely said before harm could be committed upon her. The lightsaber turned off and Keely thought that she had found her opportunity to strike while his killing blow was turned off. But that was her foolish mistake, Raavik felt her intent and used a Force push and sent her flying backwards.

“Don’t get too high on the power that an Apostle gets.” Raavik said as he grabbed his cloak and replaced it back on his shoulders. The weight of the Force lightened in the arena and the sentinels stood back up. 

Two of the sentinels helped Keely regain herself, while the other two attended to Raavik. 

“Is Father’s Yacht ready to depart?” Raavik asked another attendant that was hidden in the shadows.

“Yes, my lord Apostle. The ship is fueled up and ready to go. The Nexus is as close to Tatooine as the Voice deemed would be safe. We shall stay and you two will go. Is that sufficient for you?”

“Yes, that will be fine. We shouldn’t be gone for any longer than a month. The Nexus will survive well beyond us.” Raavik said. He motioned for Keely to follow him. And the two went to the Yacht and left the Nexus.

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 1: The Marketplace

Mos Eisley spaceport: You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. – Obi Wan Kenobi

Raavik Yaan and Keely simply blended into the crowd of the early morning marketplace. There were beings from every corner of the galaxy gathered in the dusty trading post. Bounty hunters checked their datapads near the cantina, traders checked their goods near the space ports, near the race track racers could be seen modifying their pods, the Hutts and their bodyguard were taking a cut for the protection fees. Raavik’s wallet was still limping from the fee for docking.

“I can’t believe it’s one hundred credits to park for a week.” Keely said as they walked toward a junk dealer. “Last time I came here with the Jedi it only cost ten.”

“That’s the difference that Jedi have over most of the galaxy,” Raavik responded, “If you make them mad they just slash you with a laser sword.”

The pair arrived at Rango and son Junk and Stuff. As they entered they saw a few dozen small repair and modify droids, consoles that had been ripped directly out from starships, various odds and ends that strewn across the area in a neat and messily organized manner. There was also a small Twilek that was dusting a fan blade. The Twilek saw the two enter, finished what they were doing, then greeted the two in basic. 

“Hello, and welcome to my master’s shop! My name is Morgan. Just let me know if there is anything specific that you are looking for.”

Raavik looked within the surface thoughts of the young alien. She had had a good breakfast and was treated kindly by her master. There were some slight thoughts of being treated like a slave, but they were quickly forgotten when Keely looked into her eyes at her level. Joy seemed to spring up and fill her with happiness. A perfectly balanced child.

“Thank you for the greeting, little one. We are searching for a rather unique item in question. A CM22 Construction Mechanical Droid, A World Builder, do you know where we might find one.” Raavik said.

The girl looked a bit perplexed at what he wanted. “CM22? Maybe my master would know better than I. I’ll go and get him, just wait here for a few moments.” She bowed, excused herself and took off to the back room.

A few moments passed. Keely had found some comfort in sitting in meditation. She could feel the living Force more easily outside of the Nexus. Feeling the flows of life and death, the movements within the planet and its moon, stars that were far beyond the scope of knowledge. Raavik, on the other hand, was content to catch a quick cat nap.

The master of the shop came in from the back. He was a big man who was rubbing his hands with a red grease cloth. His fair skin and blonde look to do him no favors on this harsh planet.

“Good day to you strangers. My name is Rango. I am the owner of this fair establishment. I understand that you are looking for a World builder droid.” 

“Not just one, but five.” Raavik said.

“Droids like that are hard enough to come by one,” Rango said as he faltered for a second. “What in the stars above would you need five for?