Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 1 – The Mission

 

Long has the Nexus been in the galaxy,

Long has it been seen,

Long has it been forgotten,

Scholars dream of it,

Jedi search for it,

Sith lust after it,

The Apostle keeps it safe,

And the Voice of the Nexus,

Is to be feared above all else.

 

Raavik had been the Apostle of the Nexus for the past ten years. He had made a few friends within the Library, and his apprentice, Keely, had been with him for around nine years. This marked an unusual time in an Apostle’s time at the Nexus. Ten years meant that the Voice of the Nexus would begin to seek expansion for its own walls. The Voice was rarely heard by anyone other than the Apostle, but its demands were often sought after by the Apostle and his trusted ones. 

The whisper noise of the Voice was heard within the meditation chamber of Raavik Yaan. 

“It is time once again to expand the Nexus.”

“Do you not have enough students?”

“It is not people that I need, it is room. The Nexus needs to expand, to grow, to get bigger. It is your duty as my Apostle to interact with the physical world and do my wishes.”

“I guess that I could use some outside air. Very well. Bring the Nexus to the outer rim, as close as you deem necessary to Tatooine. It’s time to visit some junk dealers. We will need some rather unique droids to get this project off of the ground.”

Raavik gathered himself up and moved from the meditation chamber back to his apartment. In the kitchen he saw a rather sweaty Keely making herself a sandwich and a drink. It was at this time that Raavik felt his hunger catch up with him, for he had been in meditation for many days now.

“Raavik,” Keely grabbed his attention and she looked concerned. “Are you okay? You’ve been in there for almost a week. The Voice told me not to worry, but that only caused me to worry more.” 

“If you wouldn’t mind, can I have that meal?” 

Keely thought about this for a moment. For balance was everything in the Nexus, one good deed could only be countered by an evil one and vice versa. There were exceptions to this rule and she was waiting for him to offer the exceptions. His hand was held out and he was waiting.

“I am waiting for your exception.” She said.

“Fine, you have it. For another blasted month.” He grinned as he graciously accepted the plate of food and the drink. 

Keely smiled as she made another sandwich and sat next to Raavik and the two sat quietly next to each other and ate a meal just as they had done for the past few years.

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 1 – Marketplace

 

Keely had become accepted among the ranks of the Nexus. Though she followed Raavik Yaan on supply runs, she felt that she was nowhere nearly as important as some of the others. She did not work the gardens, although she did visit them on occasion and the gardeners always treat her like the others that live in the Nexus. The mechanical areas were maintained by a team of engineers and way obsolete droids that were just barely functioning. Everyone in the Library portion of the Nexus was self absorbed into their own research. 

She did manage to talk to one of the four Jedi sentinels. All four were sisters and they all maintained their battle finesse as sentinels. They truly became awake when the sanctity  of the Nexus was threatened. 

She didn’t quite understand what is meant by “fully awake”, for the sister that she talked to seemed to be more awake than any of the others that occupied the Library. There did seem to be a presence that seemed to silence most of the others; for when she tried to garner their attention they looked at her with pale eyes, before returning to what they were doing. She often found herself standing on a balcony that overlooked a majority of the Nexus. She could see a lot. The gardens, the top of engineering, as well as the vast wealth of knowledge and the tenders.

Keely had gotten used to life in the Nexus to say the least. Everyday was usually the same. Wake up. breakfast, morning workout, combat training, lunch, meditation, helping the gardeners, reading a new and different book, dinner, evening combat training, relaxation, sleeping. But ever so often, Raavik would whisk her away to another world. To collect more knowledge, to collect more scholars. Such was her payment to accompany him, the Apostle. 

After lunch, her routine was interrupted by such a request. However, she asked that before they go planetside, that he join her for an evening combat training.

Keely had been training with the Jedi sentinels. Her combat instincts were second to none. Her connection with the force was different from other Jedi, indeed, for she had spent more time in the Nexus and relied upon its power rather than the lightside of the force. Her force was dependent upon the mood of the Nexus and the Apostle.

Within her time in the Nexus, she had spent more time in meditation than any of her time with the Jedi. Within her meditation, she has heard the Voice of the Nexus. She had only once seen the Wraith of the Nexus, but the Voice has consoled her in loneliness.

For in a station full of people, most are lifeless, blind mutes.

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?

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 1: The Marketplace

 

“We are expanding our space station to an even more epic proportions.” Raavik said.

Rango looked a bit bewildered by the statement, then he grinned and laughed. “That is a good one. Look if you don’t want to tell me you don’t have to tell me.”

“Well I am glad I got you to laugh.” Raavik said with a smirk on his face. “Do you know where I might find the droids? I’ll give you a finder’s fee.”

“I happen to know where at least three of the droids are. For the other two you’ll be on your own. Go to the shipyards near Kuat. In their junk area there are many broken droids, but I know that there are three CM’s that just need some new parts to get them up and running again.” 

“I suppose that you have those parts?” Keely asked.

“Indeed I do, missy. I was the one to decommission those droids, I am the one that can reactivate them.” 

“So I suppose that you want to see some sort of an advance for the job?” Raavik sighed.

“Advance? No, nothing as simple as money. I want to see what you are building.” Rango stated.

The Voice of the Nexus made a whisper. “The Nexus attracts all sorts at just the mere curiosity of what it is.”

Raavik took a moment to consider what to do. He and Keely shared a look. She nodded as they had both had the same thought. 

“You can move onto our station if you would like. I wasn’t joking about needing the droids. If you would like to see the reason for them, meet us at Father’s Yacht docking area. Bring everything you want and need. You probably won’t be back for a while.” Raavik said.

“Or at all.” Keely said under her breath.

“This is going to be amazing! I get to see the galaxy finally, and with two Jedi no less.” Morgan the Twilek said.

“What are you talking about Morgan? I am selling you. You’re staying here.” Rango said.

Keely spoke up, fearing for the safety of the child. “If that is the case, may I buy her from you?” 

Rango stared at both of the girls. “Fine with me. Three-hundred credits.”

“Fine. You shall receive your payment upon return to the Nexus. Bring her along.” The Twilek had such a look of joy that she almost started to weep.

The pair of apostles left the shop and continued their walk down the marketplace row. Raavik stopped at a food vendor and picked up two sticks of meat and handed one to Keely. She accepted it without hesitation. 

“I was pleasantly surprised that we were able to find three, I wasn’t expecting that. At most I was hoping for the location of a damaged one, but to find three, Very unexpected.” Raavik said as he tore off a chunk of meat.

“We may see when we get there. Do you think Rango is telling the truth?” Keely said as she bit off a small piece. 

“Probably not. But Kuat would be the proper spot to find such an item. So I figure why not? Besides it’s not like the Nexus doesn’t believe in balancing the books.” Raavik said and he chewed off another piece.

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 2: Kuat Shipyards

 

Kuat was a planet unique among planets, for it had a docking ring that encircled the entire planet. The artificial ring could be seen as part of the planet. Space traffic could be seen all around the planet, coming and going. Kuat was a trading hub in Republic space for the wealthy and powerful. Capital ships, fighter crafts, shuttles, transports, all were being built and mass produced at the shipyards of Kuat. 

But these magnificent yards were not where Father’s Yacht was heading. The Apostles of the Nexus were going to the junkyard on the farside of the system. A place that was filled with broken hulls and mislaid parts. The junk dealers planet side did not have the inventory of these outer space junk yards. Each one had a hundred times the inventory of an entire planet. 

Of course the dealers out here had no protection than what they could provide for themselves. So mercenary groups such as The Independents, Crimson Brigade, or Mesh Norm provided protection. They contracted out of cantinas or from the Hutt or other such reputable gangsters. Their weapons and equipment were as top of the line as could be provided, but even still the junkyard had blind spots and ships could hide if they were sneaky enough.

“Kuat probably had the droids new, Raavik. We probably could have obtained them planetside, and not be at such a risk.” Keely said as she maneuvered the ship with some difficulty through the broken hulls and empty shells.

“Yeah, we still might. But Rango seems pretty certain of his findings here. Besides it might be something of balance if we can cleanly steal these droids. The Nexus has moved itself into position on the other side of the system, extraction should be fairly quick.”

Raavik moved the cargo area and asked for Rango’s coordinates for the droids.

“Find the cruiser that is issuing radiation, the droids are near the danger zone in three Onacolona orange shipping containers. Ya know, I look around at your ship and you don’t appear to have much room for the pick up.” 

“We are just going to take each container and leave the area. This vessel was originally meant for hyperspace jumping and finding new routes and planets. Thus the three hyperdrives that you see around you. The Yacht was meant to be stressed. Don’t you worry about it.”

Father’s Yacht was nimbler than it appeared; it jive and juked throughout the yard with little difficulty. The bigger ships were all clustered together, barely a foot apart in some areas.

“Raavik, there is a large cruiser giving off massive amounts of radiation near the outside of the field. I’ll start an active scan for orange colored crates.”

“Be careful with those scans, we can feel life forms in and around the junk.” Raavik said with a twinge of the Nexus in his voice. 

Keely always felt more aware of the Force when Raavik and the Nexus mixed. It was a mix of fear and elation. Dangerous, he was like this, more unpredictable. 

After a few scans, three orange crates were found, huddled together in the shadow of a prowling mercenary corvette. The small ship was a hunter/killer for thieving crews like the Apostles. Their port lights lit up the bow of Father’s Yacht. 

“Foodo!” Rango said from behind Raavik. “Let’s get out of here!”

“Don’t be foolish. We need to grab at least one of the crates before we tuck tail and run.” Raavik Nexus said. Rango took several steps back as Raavik threw open his cloak and in that instant he unleashed the power of the Nexus and grabbed the corvette through the Force. Rango was gasping for air as he had not been prepared for what the Nexus had to offer. Keely had to take a few seconds to regain her bearings as she had also not been prepared; not in the least for half the power of the Nexus flowing through Raavik. “Keely, go pick up one of the containers and let us get out of here.”

Keely had regained her senses. and maneuvered the Yacht to pick up the shadowed containers. She attached to one and pulled out. The corvette was not just going to allow its charge to get away. It powered up it’s two turbo lasers and rotated them around to face the Yacht. 

With a mighty push, Raavik tossed the corvette into a nearby empty hulk. When he did this it seemed that his arm withered ten years in an instant. 

“Get us out of here, quickly.” Raavik said as he clutched his arm in a barely contained pain.

Keely nodded and left the junkyard.

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 2 – Kuat Shipyards

 

In the Nexus on the farside of the Kuat system.

 

Raavik had reentered the meditation chamber aboard the Nexus upon arrival. He left Keely with the responsibility of getting the droid out and to work. For he had an urgent need to speak with the Nexus, the power that he had expended had taken a dreadful cost and it needed explaining. Whenever he had merged before with the Nexus never had the cost been so much. For he had aged rapidly and felt the Nexus used him more and more. 

“What is happening to me?” Is the question that his mind meditated on. The question plagued his mind. In the quiet stillness of the room, he was shouting in his mind.

“Everytime you depend on my power a cost is waged. A balance must be struck.” The Nexus answered after a time.

“Then why even bother with me? One who cannot feel the Force. Why ot give the prestige of the title of Apostle to Keely, or to another Force wielder?”

“Because their balance can be easily swayed. Their will power is nothing compared to yours. It is because of their training in the Force that such rs are unbalanced. Why do you think that there have been so few Apostles in the past? The holocrons on the wall are the past lives of the past Apostles. None of them lasted more than their life span. But with you something different has occurred. Something that not even I have seen. Your life has been drained for my cause. Whereas other Apostles have died for me on far away worlds, you are the only one that has aged for me. You are becoming more of a focal point of my will and it is a new experience for me.”

“You mean that the others never had this problem?” 

“It is not a problem, it is a conundrum. It is a challenge. This is a new experience for me, for the Nexus in general. An actual focal point. An Apostle that is so in tuned with us that our power is reflected when our power is used. Doubt that many Force wielders actually get this attuned to their source of power.”

“So you mean that as your reflection I will get older the more I use your power? What a bum deal.”

“It may seem that way right now, but with some research and maybe a younger audience to conduct it, mayhaps we will figure something out on how to reverse it. For now it seems that you may only use the Force while in the Nexus without repercussions.”

“And what about the aging that has taken place?”

“Permanent, until we can find a way to reverse it. With so much wisdom and knowledge attained, it is surprising that such a power has not been found.”

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 2 – Kuat Shipyards

 

Keely wondered why Raavik had brushed by her so quickly. The Nexus had failed to respond to her queries and it seemed that the majority of the Library was in a group meditation. Something was wrong. In all her years aboard the Nexus, she had never before seen the whole Nexus meditate on one problem. Usually only a few hundred were needed when Raavik went into the meditation chamber, but this took all of it. Hundreds of thousands meditating on a single problem.

Rango and Morgan had joined Keely in the Apostle’s apartment. Rango would join the ranks of the engineering corps and start the expansion of the Nexus. Morgan was going to be trained to be a Force wielder under the Nexus’ Apostles. Keely had a feeling that Raavik may be stuck in the Nexus for a while longer after that show of power.

That was a feat that even some Jedi masters were unable to do. To move an object that large and allow enough time to execute an escape. It was a bit unnerving, but then there was the cost of such a move. It seemed that Raavik had rapidly aged for the feat. Maybe that was the problem that the Nexus had had and why the mass meditation was in order. 

Regardless of the new problems that the Nexus faced, Keely had a responsibility to the new crew while the Library debated. Keely brought them into the apartment and ushered them to take seats and offered them some light refreshments.

“It may be a far cry from what you are used to on Tatooine, but it is all that I can offer at the moment. I pledge.” Keely said as she set some hot drinks and soft cookies out for Rango and Morgan.

“This is more than expected,” Rango said as he picked up the drink. “But what was wrong with Raavik? He seemed older to my eyes after he disembarked.” 

“Well you might not be wrong. He did let off a massive amount of power so that we could get away.” Keely said as she blew the steam away from her own cup. 

“Wouldn’t that kind of thing be called reckless in the Jedi circles? Yet he seems to be the master and you to be his younger. Now even more so.”

Morgan happily snacked away on a cookie as the discussion went on.

“You seem to know a lot about Jedi and their practices for a junk merchant.” Keely said as she arched an eyebrow at him.

“Some of us disagreed with Jedi ways and parted ways, as I am sure that you are aware. But even still I keep my wits sharp.”

Keely mulled this over in her mind for a few moments in silence. “Would you like to see the Library? What the CM droid is going to be used for?” 

“I have seen many libraries in my time, I doubt that this one would be much different. I will indulge you though and we can see what this colony has to offer.”

“Oh yes, before I forget.” Keely said as she reached into her pocket. “Here are the three hundred credits for Morgan. Now release her from servitude.” 

Rango took the credits and released Morgan into the care of Keely. “Be good to her. Now, where in this place you would like me to be.”

“Easy enough, you’ll be down in the engineering quarters of the Nexus. Morgan, please stay in the apartment while I get mister Rango settled.” Keely said. Morgan nodded and sat back down with a mouth full of cookies and a mug full of tea.

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 2: Kuat Shipyards

 

    In a docking bay, in the shipyards of Kuat, a lone mercenary sits on a cantina pub stool and drinks his drink. This was his fourth drink and he was starting to lose some of the feeling in his fingers and some of his senses. 

    Jackson Rango had been out hunting the dune sea when he heard word that his father had left off world with a pair of Jedi. Rather unexpectedly. He had sold off his store to a competitor and took his slave with him. He had decided to search out his father and find out what those Jedi wanted with him

    Jackson drained his fourth and continued to listen to the mercenaries that frequented this pub. 

    “Nah, I am telling you that girl is nothing more than a passing fling.”

    “You don’t get it, the A-34 is vastly superb to the A-37. Faster reloads and a higher temperature allow for more damage output faster.”

    “I bet you can’t match me shot for shot.”

    The usual droll that one would hear among the rabble. Jackson placed money on the counter for his fifth drink, then he heard something interesting come from Mesh Norm mercs.

    “I am telling you, mate, one of the Crimison’s corvettes got taken by surprise and got blasted right out of the void by a transport. Those posers probably got what they deserved.” Laughs from that group filled the cantina.

    Jackson left his drink on the bar and stood up. His other four drinks rush to his head. He wobbled for a moment and sauntered to the group. 

    “You say that the Crimson Brigade lost a corvette?” Jackson burped under his breath. “Could you tell me where their recruitment office is? I might like to join.” 

    The Mesh leader laughed in his face. “Sure, drunkie, go down to docking area thirty-four, their office is down there.”

    Jackson tossed five credits on their table as thanks for the information and walked out of the cantina. 

“Maybe the Crimson will be better with another drunk in their ranks!” The leader shouted as Jackson left.

As he stood in the busy hallway just to the side of the bar, he straightened himself up, chewed a bit off a protein bar and made his way down to docking area thirty-four. The food helped him sober up a little, but it would still be some time before he could walk a straight line properly. Dock thirty four was almost on the other side of the ring, he would have to ride a tram to get there in a feasible amount of time. 

After only three hours, a full protein bar, and a vast amount of drinking water Jackson had sobered up and found the Crimson Brigade’s recruitment office. He waltzed up to the mostly empty desk and started to inquire about any open positions.

“And what are your qualifications for joining the Crimson, sir?” The recruiter asked handing a datapad with a pen attached to Jackson.

“Well I have hunted the Dune Sea out on Tatooine for the past few years and I am seeking something less stressful than that.” 

“You understand that by signing up that you are agreeing to a five year contract?”

Jackson signed the datapad and handed it back to the officer. “It’s not like I got anyone waiting for me at home.”

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 2 – Kuat Shipyards

 

Monocle in his eye. What a tool. Self righteous to the point of psychotic. Captain Trigger Thyme was in charge of the corvette Brickwall. Jackson was assigned to the corvette after one of its gunners was killed during a theft. Brickwall had a complement of thirty mercenaries, six on gunner stations, one navigator, one on communications, one for the heavy weapons station, one captain, and twenty for a forced boarding party if needed. 

Jackson seemed to get lucky and gained a spot that was not part of a forced boarding. The security around their assigned junkyard had been increased. There were now, six corvettes and twelve fighter crafts all around the junkyard, apparently the Crimson Brigade had been made into a laughing stock after someone had stolen some rather valuable cargo that was hidden in the junk.

“New guy.” Captain Thyme said, gaining Jackson’s attention. “Be sure to have an active scan going at all times so that we don’t miss anything that isn’t one of ours.”

“Yes, sir.” Jackson responded. He flipped a switch next to his console and the active scanner began pinging across his screen. 

The patrol went through the active motions for about twelve hours, nothing was going on. Then while nothing was going on, near a radiation leaking hulk, two orange containers started to move.

“Captain Thyme, sir.” Jackson said while motioning to his screen. “There’s something strange going on over here.”

“What have you got for me, son.” Thyme said placing his hand on the back of Jackson’s stooping down to view the screen. 

“Those cargo containers are moving without any assistance. There has been no activity on or within the perimeter. Is there a course of action that we should take?”

Thyme mulled over this for a few seconds. He was watching the containers slowly move from their hiding place and over and around obstacles with the grace of a river moving around rocks. 

“Let’s follow those containers and see where they go.”

“You don’t want to stop them?”

“No, communicate to the other ships what is going on and ask that four of them follow us. I have a feeling that those crates are going to join the one that was stolen.”

The Brickwall broke off from its patrol pattern and began to follow the oddly agile, orange boxes. As they moved out of the field, the other corvettes as well as all of the fighters followed them. A conga line of attack craft following the orange containers to an unknown destination.

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 3 – Nexus Under Fire

 

After seven days of meditation, Raavik Yaan emerged from the chamber. He felt older. Far older than when he entered. His hands shook and his breathing was more labored. He went to the washroom to rinse his face and hands. As reached for the water he saw spots that covered the back of his hands. His first cupped was immediately drunk and downed, for he was parched. In fact, it wasn’t until his fourth handful of water, that he noticed that he had grown a long silver beard.

He looked up into the mirror and saw an old man looking back, weathered and worn. He rubbed his eyes. He looked again. He sighed in exasperation. He rubbed his eyes again, this time with his thumb and forefinger.

“Voice!” He yelled out with his raspy voice.

The wraith of the Nexus appeared before his old eyes. It wasn’t all the time that the wraith appeared, but using his own power and he was able to summon the mysterious being. The power that connects all the beings in the Nexus.

“I am here.” It answered in a quiet whisper. It appeared next to Raavik in the washroom.

“Why, pray tell, am I twenty years older than when I went into the chamber? My life span will wear out faster before the expansion can take place at this rate.”

“It was necessary to retrieve the other two containers. As long as you stay in the Nexus, you shall stay alive.”

“So you can just extend my life indefinitely? That’s pretty convenient.”

“As long as you stay here, then yes.” The wraith vanished as it felt that the questions had been answered.

Raavik looked in the mirror once more as he left the washroom, he had to get used to his new appearance. He sighed again and exited to the kitchen. He was hungry, like always every time he left the meditation chamber. 

Food and water was a calming process and much needed. Something that could remind him of being normal. 

Keely came in, in a rather impatience manner. She sat down across the table from him, and without looking at him, laid her head down on the table and sighed.

“Something wrong?” Raavik asked, he noticed that his voice had a certain gruffness to it.

“No… Well, yes,,, I don’t know. It is to be expected I guess.”

“What is to be expected?” 

“This place has a terrifying secret.” She shuddered and looked up at Raavik, and was taken aback by his appearance. 

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 3 – Nexus Under Fire

 

Morgan was a curious little girl. She had been left alone for a time. She ate all the cookies, drank her tea and took a small nap. She woke up after a while and, for some inexplicable reason, she felt compelled to wander around and leave the apartment

Keely returned to the apartment after she dropped Rango off at the Engineering level. She was hoping to get to the little T’wilek a little more. However, the little girl had disappeared from the apartment. So she sat down and meditated. She was hoping that the Voice was not too preoccupied with Raavik Yaan to lend her a hand.

She had a small vision through the eyes of the small girl. She got bored and started to wander the labyrinth of corridors that ran throughout the library. Twisting and turning, sometimes going in circles, sometimes going up ramps and down stairs. All around an outstandingly confusing journey. 

Keely came out of the vision and started to retrace Morgan’s steps. She was as confused as her vision and felt that she may have had a misstep or two. Gotten turned around once or twice but she found her way again.

When she finally did catch up to Morgan, the poor girl was somewhat delirious and sputtering incoherently. Keely cradled her to comfort. The child pointed to a once forgotten door. The metallic door was encrusted with rust. A strange sensation passed through her mind when she looked away from the door, She had completely forgotten it. She looked toward Morgan again, she was still pointing at the door as if she was afraid to lose sight of it.

Keely looked back to the door, set Morgan aside and approached the door. The door would not open upon approach. 

Locked.

“There has to be a way in.” Keely said aloud to herself. She saw the seam, and with a twitch of her wrist, her lightsaber vambrace switched on, and she cut open the door. With some struggle of using the Force, she opened the door. Using the Force was a struggle, as whatever the Nexus was hiding made using its Force impossible.

Inside of the door was a singular room that was coated in dust. Twelve obsidian pillars with bizzare writing upon them lead up to an altar in the midst of darkness. Upon the altar sat three Jedi holocrons, one blue, one green, and one yellow. Their voices seemed to be drowned out by a single red one that was hoisted high above and gave the chamber its color. 

Keely did not take but a few steps in before she was terrified at what she saw. She retreated back to the hall, picked up Morgan and left that evil chamber alone.

In her terror and haste to leave, she did not shut the door. An evil aura began to make its way back out into the Nexus once again.

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 3 – Nexus Under Fire

 

The perimeter alarms were triggered and the Nexus started to wake up once again. The horde of crowds once again moved to their defensive positions within the Nexus. The sentinel sisters took their posts at the great door that was the physical barrier between the ship docks and the library. 

Raavik Yaan approached the great door, his gray matched well with his gray beard. Keely was right behind him, readjusting her vambraces. 

“Uninvited guests at the Nexus, what next?” Keely muttered.

“Relax.” Raavik said. “It probably has something to do with the needs of the Nexus itself. It is a foreseen outcome.”

“You have become more at one with the Force of the Nexus I see.”

“The rapid aging might have something to do with that. Anyway let us greet our guests.” Raavik, with a flick of his wrists opened the great door to the docking area.

With a creak and a crack the doors swung open once again. Out above the docks sat five Crimson Brigade corvettes and twelve small fighters moved around, encircling the Nexus. 

Raavik, with his guard, walked out onto the dock and motioned for the lead ship to parley with him. The corvette set down at the nearest available spot. Raavik went out to greet them. The ship opened its bay doors and twenty men came out armed for battle. Their leader came forward and met with Raavik.

“Greetings to you commander. Why do you come to our humble library so armed?” Raavik asked as peacefully as possible.

Captain Thyme came forward and greeted Raavik very cautiously. “Hello, I am Captain Thyme of the Crimson Brigade, captain of the Brickwall. My crews here were tracking some shipping crates that have become separated from the rest of its group. We are here to reclaim it.”

“Reclaim what? We have nothing. This station is a simple library full of knowledge.”

Thyme took a step closer and towered over Raavik. “Look here, bud, we followed those crates from the otherside of the system to this station. I see that you are more than scholars . From the look of your guard I would say that you have some Jedi hidden in there. Now what would their masters say if I reported this place to them?”

“They would ask for the coordinates so that they could come and join us. I do not deny, captain, that there are Jedi in our halls, but there are also a great many others that seek knowledge. What use do we have for your missing freight?”

“Perhaps you are seeking the droids that are located within the crates? Droids like those could certainly be an improvement upon the station’s super structure.” 

“Surely, You are not suggesting that we, learned beings, are capable of stealing, like you are suggesting? I am offended. I am afraid that I  am going to have to ask you to leave.” And with that Raavik turned and started to walk away. 

Thyme clamped his hand onto the cloaked shoulder of Raavik Yaan and in what was supposed to be an easy way to turn him around and garner his attention. Instead of clamping down on his shoulder he accidently clasped his cloak and pulled it right off. With that the full Force of the Nexus was unleashed in a powerful Force Wave that expanded in all directions. It knocked back the parked ships, the ships that were encircling the Nexus, Captain Thyme and all of his troops, and Keely and the sentinels. All were blown away.

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 3 – Nexus Under Fire

 

Keely saw Thyme reach to grab Raavik’s cloak, but there was little that she could have done before the accident took place. His cloak was more than that of a simple covering, it was like a lid on a jar. Raavik had become the focal point of the Force that the Nexus produced. Taking that, the full power of the Nexus was revealed, and feared.

The Force Wave never relented. The only one that was completely unaffected by the wave was Raavik himself. He looked around for a moment, found his cloak, causally picked it up and placed it back on his shoulders. 

All of the affected shuddered in anticipation of the power that could come back. 

“What the heck was that?” Thyme asked as he recovered his bearings. “I would swear that you were a Jedi, if not for the look of your library.”

“What do you mean?” Keely asked, coming up beside Raavik. He gave her a sideways glance as she did.

Thyme took a step back and really observed the towering structure set above the docks. The twin set of rings that encircled the superstructure gave the place an eerie feel. It seemed to him that a red tinge was emanating from on top of the tall spire.

“This whole place seems wrong.” Thyme said as he took a few more steps back toward his ship. “You know what, you can keep the crates. We need to leave. Men get back to the ship. I’ll pay our employer for the loss, nothing good can come from this place.” 

Thyme and his men boarded their ship, and Jackson met him at the door. 

“Sir, where are you going? Did you retrieve the crates?”

“No, we’re leaving. There is something terribly wrong about this place. I have never felt so scared in my life as now.”

“I need to stay, captain, I think that my father is here.”

“I can’t stop you from staying, but I feel that you need to be warned there is evil in this place.”

“That may be, sir, but I need to find my father.” Jackson disembarked and waved farewell. Though he did not know it that was the last time he saw Captain Thyme.

 

Thyme pulled the corvette away from the Nexus. He pulled out a ways before his communications officer spoke up. 

“Are we really leaving, sir?”

“No son, we are not. Take us out to maximum distance then we will open fire on that place.”

 

Jackson watched the Crimson Brigade leave and then turned and approached Raavik Yaan’s small group.

“I am here searching for my father.” He said to Keely, who had taken a defensive position in front of Raavik. 

“And who is your father?” Raavik asked as he placed his hand on Keely’s shoulder to get her to calm down.

“My name is Jackson Rango. My father was taken from Tatoonie a few days ago while I was in the Dune Sea. I have come to take him back.”

Raavik just kind of stared at him for a while, and finally smirked. “The Nexus attracts all kinds, sometimes they don’t even realize it.” He said under his smile. “Keely, welcome our new guest.”

The small group lined up behind Raavik and headed back into the Nexus. The Nexus, itself, had begun to accumulate a sort of darkness all round itself, as an ancient evil began to truly awaken.

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 4 – Revival Catastrophe 

 

    The forgotten room deep within the heart of the Nexus Labyrinth, sits a large Sith holocron that desires to engulf the galaxy. The holocron belonged to the once forgotten Visnar Kolpo, a Sith that once held the knowledge of eternal youth. The irony of his death was extreme old age when his power was exhausted after turning his Jedi opponents into babies. An odd sort of balancing act of the Force seeking justice for Visnar’s own perversion of the power. Now, many years after his death, his memory still seeks to regain youth that once was.

   

    Raavik Yaan escorted Jackson to the engineering level of the Nexus. Once there, father and son were reunited. They shared some words, exchanged some blows and laughed it off. Raavik left them to be for a while.

    Raavik mingled with the others in the library. The mindless horde continued their quest for knowledge, old and new they sought that which could never be attained. He picked up a book and flipped through some of the pages. It was a book on how to properly cook rancor meat and serve it. None of it looked appeasing. 

    It was at this time that he felt something was wrong in the Nexus. It was more disturbing than usual. He may have been older in body, but his connection to the Nexus had never been stronger. He started to reject the very notion of ideals that the Nexus was trying to force upon him. 

    “Voice!” Raavik yelled, he started to sweat and panic. “What is wrong with you? The balance that you had is gone, I can feel the change. It’s wrong.” He wrenched over in pain.

    The Wraith appeared. “Raavik, go outside and destroy those that seek to harm me. Those mercenaries that you let go, have turned around and are coming back with hostile intent. After you deal with them, come back here and deal with the true threat. We can’t hold on much longer. We will get Keely and the Rangos to meet you outside. I will get the pain to subside for now, but you must return to the Library as soon as possible.”

    The pain disappeared enough that he could move again. He picked himself up and moved out to the great doors. The four sentinels were already there ready to escort him out. He led them out and ordered them to guard the door from any sort of invader, in or out.

    As he made his way to the shipyards, he saw that Keely, Rango, and Jackson were already there. 

    “I didn’t know that you had gotten slow with your age.” Keely joked.

“And I now know why my parents are crotchety when dealing with me.” Raavik commented.

“Are your parents still alive?” Jackson asked, unaware of the physical alterations that had taken place.

“I am sure that they are enjoying their retirement on Taris. Now, I need you three to man any of these ships and go and chase away those mercenaries. I need to stay here and deal with the insurgent force that lies within the Nexus.”

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 4 – Revival Catastrophe

 

Keely had barely gotten around to retrieving Rango and Jackson, before the Voice had contacted her and asked her to go to the shipyards with the father and son. Rango had not spent enough time on the Nexus to get indoctrinated and Jackson was a new arrival. They must get there in a hurry.

Keely felt that something was off about the Voice. She had maintained a steady connection to the Force of the Nexus as well as the Living Force. Her connection with the Nexus had felt disturbed ever since she opened the forgotten room. She felt that it was odd, darker than the normal balanced feeling.

When the trio got out onto the ship docks, they were waiting for a time for Raavik to appear and give orders. Keely had no idea about why they had gathered, but it wasn’t long before Raavik showed up and told them. The mercenaries that had brought Jackson must have had a change of heart. They had turned around and started some attack runs.

As soon as their ships left the protection of the Nexus, perhaps the strangest thing that could have happened, happened. The Nexus disappeared into hyperspace. 

Keely could only feel shocked at what she saw and felt. In the instant that the space was cleared of the Nexus, she felt that her connection to her home was severed. She, once again, could only feel The connection to the Living Force. The Nexus had vanished.

“Was that supposed to happen?” Jackson asked over the radio intercoms.

“No son, that was not supposed to happen.” Rango answered. “Cancel the attack runs. Let’s see if the mercs will allow us to be escorted back to Kuat. It seems that our home has been left without us.”

“But why did it leave?” Jackson asked.

“Perhaps there was something wrong with the Nexus. I don’t know for sure. Keely, you should have something to say, that was your home more than ours.”

“I don’t know. I feel like that my connection has been lost. I used to be able to feel both the Nexus’ Force on top of the Living Force. Now, I cannot feel the Nexus at all. I have lost it completely.”

“Harsh.” Jackson said.

“Don’t worry too much about it, time will heal any wound. And we still got each other. Now, come on, Kuat awaits. We might be able to sell these ships and get a newer one and go back to my junk yard.” Rango said.

“Dad, you sold that remember? That’s why I came looking for you.” Jackson said.

“Son, you should know that I always have a back up plan. I sold the yard to a friend who is watching it for me. Something told me that the Nexus would not be permanent.”

The trio headed back to Kuat with the escort of the Crimson Br. 

 

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 4 – Revival Catastrophe

 

Out in the dark of space, beyond the reach of any scans, the Nexus has come to a rest. Raavik Yaan conspired in secret with the wraith of the Nexus to leave Keely and the others behind near Kuat so that they could work in peace to save the Nexus. 

Raavik was out in the shipyard. He walked back to the great door where the four sentinels waited clustered around the wraith. The door was closed and one could almost feel the evil permeating from it. For it glowed red with anger and desire. 

Raavik pulled out the Saber of the Apostle and once again readied himself for what he knew had to be done.

“Raavik,” The wraith’s shadowy voice was that of a whisper in the cold of night. “You must go to the heart of the Nexus deep within the labyrinth and seal the door once again. This must be a race to try and save as many as we can before I am over run and your life fades away. For the power of the Nexus is intertwined with your life, and if I pass into the dark side you will cease to be. The sentinels will run with you as far as the entrance, and they will protect it so that none follow you in.”

“Wraith,” Raavik said, “I know that you are growing weaker by the minute, but know that it has been my privilege to serve you. Open the doors so that I may continue my service to you.”

The wraith nodded in reply, and the great hinges creaked and groaned. The door opened and already a battle raged on. Blaster fire and light sabers lit the usually dim hall. The battle was disorganized and totally confused. The beings of dark, light and gray were all fighting, all unaware of who they were fighting. The labyrinth was on the other side of the library through the maze of bookcases. 

The small group alighted upon the top of the book cases and they made their way across, as straight as they could. It seemed that the darkness was ever  growing the further in they went. The crowds really began to turn on them as the evil grew more concentrated. The sentinels had turned on their lightsabers and defended Raavik as they rushed toward the maze. 

At the entrance of the labyrinth of the Apostle, there was a large group of dark Jedi that barred the entrance. Four yellow tornados whirled down off the bookcases and cleared a path for the Apostle to make his way down into the tunnels. There the sentinels made their stand and held back the hordes for as long as they could.

Raavik Yaan descended once again into the tunnels below and began his search for the heart of the Nexus.

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 4 – Revival Catastrophe

 

The Labyrinth seemed more complicated since the evil had flooded its tunnels. The twists and turns seem to be filled with illusions, secrets, and whispers. Raavik was unaffected at first but the whispers grew louder it seemed the closer he got to the heart of the labyrinth. 

It seemed that he toiled in this fashion for hours, searching for the hidden door. The words, at first were unintelligible; but the farther he got the more the words expressed doubt and fear.

“Discard your cloak and let us become one.” The wraith whispered clearly through the others. “Let us be protected from the unfriendly voices.”

Raavik thought this over for a moment only, for he knew the power that the Nexus could have provided. If he was to seek that power again then he would become the true Apostle once again. Instead of completely getting rid of the cloak he rather just tossed it back and revealed the gray nature of the Nexus and the halls became their dim light once again. The voices were silenced. 

Raavik Nexus found it much easier to transverse the labyrinth. Having the power of the Nexus being passed through him Raavik felt the power move him and push him along. He felt more conflicted with wanting to do evil, to hurt and maim, to intimidate and fear. He felt that the pressure was too much, the separation was not calm and gentle like it had been in the past. No, this separation was terrifying and painful. The two opposing forces could not exist within the same space. The wraith and the Apostle separated outside of the hidden door.

“It seems that my power has grown too dark for your body. You will have to face this evil without me in you. But you will still have command of the Force and your lightsaber. The door is there. Go in, bring it back to balance and seal the door once again.” The wraith was now separated but no less useful. Its aura was definitely darker and more dreaded.

Raavik entered the obsidian lined room. There in front of the altar sat three figures chanting. In their chanting they seemed to be counteracting the chanting of the Jedi holocrons that sat on the altar. The Sith holocron that sat above those leaked its foul energy out through the tunnels and into the library, thus infecting the rest of the hordes, and in essence the wraith of the Nexus.

Morgan, the young Twi’lek that Keely had brought from Tatooine, sat in the middle of the trio. A dark Jedi sat on either side of her. Their chants grew in power and the darkside became overwhelming. 

Raavik had his lightsaber in hand and approached the three. The two dark Jedi stood up and drew out their own lightsabers, they flashed on blood red. They almost seemed invisible in the glow of the red holocron. 

Raavik did not turn on his lightsaber, for he knew the weight that it bore. The weight of taking a life and throwing himself out of balance for a second that would be condemning in a duo duel. He instead raised his handle up in a defensive posture that showed that he was ready to fight. 

The two rushed forward and swung their blades down and through with little regard for what they hit. Slashing wildly for they were unsure of how the Apostle would fight.

Raavik had not been in many fights, indeed, he had always let Keely do the battling when they were off of the Nexus. But his battle style was almost unique in and of itself. For he fought with the Force of the Nexus as his truest ally. 

The red sabers swung wildly in the small room. The silver saber rarely made an appearance as Raavik dodged and moved and used Force powers to allow himself the minimum safe distance. The three men danced around each other, none of them really engaged in battle. He was on the defensive, always on the defensive. The blades were moving around too wildly for him to engage a killing blow. Opportunity rarely shows its head, but when it reared its head back the silver flashed and a body went limp. Almost as the sound of the body hit the ground, the silver flashed again and the battle was over.

Star Wars: The Expansion

Part 5: Retro Diebus

 

The child continued to chant. Even during the battle, she never stopped. 

“Morgan.” Raavik said her name as if it would pull her out of her trance. She did not. However, a different voice exited her mouth.

“This child was kind enough to allow me to speak once again.” The voice that came out of the young Twi’lek, it was gruff yet whispery. It hissed. The child’s eyes were rolled back and Raavik was certain that Morgan would be dead after this exchange. “My name is Visnar Kolpo. I am a Sith Lord that was once sought the galaxy over for my unique Force power to make youth return.

A shadow of a man appeared behind the young girl. He appeared to have once been a warrior mighty and strong. His age though was odd, for he appeared old in one moment and a young boy the next. As if he was conflicted about who he was.

“Many years that door has been sealed and I have waited, but it seems that my resting place has been disturbed. It has been infatuated with light. It seeks to be what it cannot. This was a Sith temple in the beginning, but I suppose that you knew that. Otherwise, why would you have come at all?”

“Your influence is causing the Nexus to crumble.” Raavik retorted. “I need you to stop whatever you are doing.”

“I think not. I will take back my Nexus and spread my influence throughout the galaxy once again. A suitable candidate must be found to pass on my teachings.” 

Force lightning began to emanate from around the holocron and begin to strike the surrounding area. Raavik sat down and began to meditate and commune with the Nexus like he had done many times before. He was brought into a blank canvas. He stood in the nothingness of the void. 

A darkness fell over the empty and Raavik felt the loneliness that encompassed and surrounded him. Visnar stood before him. The former Sith Lord wore a dark cloak and his age seemed to fluctuate between childhood and seniorhood, and everywhere in between. The red lightning glowed in the area and showed the Sith in an unwelcoming light. 

“This is better, isn’t?” Raavik said. “This way I am not talking to a cube of light.” 

Visnar looked at his hands and then toward Raavik. “You surprise me, gray one. You seek answers and not conflict. Perhaps you are worthy of my teachings.”

“Don’t strain your brain too much at this. You’ll find that I am full of surprises.”

Visnar chuckled at this. “Yes, I believe you are. Very well, I will be at a sort of peace if you will learn my secret.”

 

Some time passed. Whether it was hours or days, Raavik was unsure. But when he exited his meditation, he was in a scorched room that was blackened and destroyed. The Sith holocron was silent and it spoke no more.

Raavik checked on Morgan, for she was still. Her mind was gone, but her body still remained. Perhaps not the best way to find balance, but she was the reason that Visnar got out. There was only one thing that he could do to balance out the evil that she had committed. And this was his chance to test out his new power.

He placed his hand on her forehead and began to drain the rest of her life force out of Morgan. Any and all years that she was expected to live were attributed back to his body and life. He went from being an elder to a middle aged man. His white hair and wrinkles disappeared. He cracked his neck and he felt renewed. 

Raavik laid the small empty body of Morgan at the altar of Visnar Kolpo. He exited the room and resealed it. He made sure that the seam was invisible, he placed a memorium above the door. 

 

Visnar Kolpo: 

The Sith Lord that lived ages

 

With his business concluded, Raavik moved back through the labyrinth. The Wraith of the Nexus caught up with him and it looked even more haggard than he could have known. It looked like it was almost invisible.

“Wraith, you look awful.” Raavik said as the pair moved with each other. 

“My power has drained with the decline of unity of the Nexus. What was once a hub of knowledge, has now become a hub of the darkside. There are few left that seek knowledge. The army is down less than a hundred, and they are worn out. We are needed to combine, but I don’t have the strength to do it properly.”

    The pair entered into the library once again, fighting could still be heard in the distance. There was no immediate threat nearby. Raavik tossed away his cloak and pulled out his lightsaber. The power of the Nexus had diminished so much that not even paper books made a flutter when his cloak hit the ground.

    “Would it do us any good to even merge, Wraith?” Raavik asked as he was less than impressed with that result. 

    “At this time, I don’t think that it would. I feel so very weak. You must cull the darkside and save those that remain.” 

    “Very well, guide me to the survivors and let us save the Nexus for the rebuild that is to come.” Raavik moved down the aisle and toward the fighting.

Star Wars: The Expansion

Epilogue

 

Forty five years later

 

    Keely picked up the hydrospanner and got back to work on fixing the broken hyperdrive. Her old hands were not as nimble as what they once were. The desert environment didn’t help with her condition all that much.

    Keely had gone back to Tatooine with Rango and Jackson after the Nexus had left them in the Kuat system. In their travels Jackson had proposed that Keely come back to their home planet with them. Jackson and Keely had hit off quite well, and the two had enjoyed each other’s company so well that Jackson had proposed marriage.

    So there on Tatooine the two had lived and had many children and grandchildren. Many of their children and grandchildren were sensitive to the Force and Keely taught them as best as she could to use it properly and without too much fear. A good balance.

Their junk store had flourished and grown to encompass many different store fronts. They had many contacts throughout the galaxy. All the time through the years, she had sought an answer for what had happened to Raavik Yaan and the Nexus.

    Two of her grandchildren came into the shop, probably seeking a cool drink and a snack. They were laughing as they did so. But the two small girls were not the only ones that had come in, for another child had come in with them. A small boy of no more than seven years of age. He wore a grey poncho over his white clothes

    “Sarah and Linda, who is your friend that came in with you?” Keely said as she hugged each of them in turn. 

“He is a spacer that stopped into port with his nannies. He says that his name is Ryan.” Sarah said. Sarah was a kind girl that was nine years old. She was adventurous and reminded Keely of her own childhood as she grew up in the Jedi Temple. 

Linda was eight years old and simply followed her cousin around in silence. She didn’t say much concerning the boy that followed them. 

Keely cleared her throat and called Ryan over to her. “Come here, boy.” She said with a commanding tone. The small boy walked over and stood in front of her. “Now, tell me, what do you think of my shop?” 

The boy looked quizzically at her. “I don’t know how to answer that. I suppose that it is a nice place. I just needed to get away from my nannies for a bit. I ran into these girls in the street, and they played with me for a bit. Then we came into here for a promised snack.”

Keely looked at her granddaughters and they looked away without trying to look guilty. 

“Well who am I to deny a promise? Give me a second.” Keely got up and went behind the counter and got three treats and four sweet drinks. She handed the treats and the drinks out. “Here you go, children. Eat and drink and be happy.”

Sarah and Linda happily dug in and finished quickly and went back outside to resume playing. Ryan, however, stayed behind. He took his time and drank and ate and was at ease. Keely had to admit to herself that she enjoyed his company. But she thought it odd that his eyes had a far off look, and yet were focused on the here and now. 

“So, Ryan, tell me why are you here with nannies and not your parents?”

“My parents died some time ago. I was sad when it happened but I have coped with it. My nannies are simply here to make sure that I don’t cause trouble to the worlds that we visit. People see my nannies and automatically assume that I am a child of some rich family. They are sorely mistaken in the kidnapping attempts.”

“Do you get abducted often?” 

“My nannies keep a close watch on me, so not so often any more.”

“So why did you split off from them, aren’t they supposed to be protecting you?” 

“Yes, but I can’t do very much when they hover so close.”

A young woman appeared at the door. Her long black dress belied how truly dangerous she was. The Force encircled her with such strength. She simply stood at the door and waited.

“And that would be one of my nannies.” Ryan said with a sigh. “It has been a pleasure talking with you, but I am afraid that my time is up and that I must say farewell.” 

He stood up and waved his hand in parting. As his hand waved as a small portion of his poncho was lifted a bit higher revealing the white tunic benethe. A small bit of Force was released and pushed back Keely. When she looked back at where Ryan had been she saw that he was already gone.

She immediately got up and went out from the shop to look around in the harsh light to see if she could find them. The marketplace was abuzz with activity. all sorts of people were coming and going. She saw nothing of the boy or his nannies.

 

Keely closed up shop later that night and was making her way through town back to her house on the outskirts. As she was walking past the docking areas she had the thought that she would check with the dockmaster to see what ships had come and gone today.

The dockmaster was more than pleased to help her out and allowed her access to see who had come and gone. There was one name that she saw that was a complete and utter surprise to her, Father’s Yacht. That was the name of Raavik Yaan’s personal vessel.

“Who was on this ship?” She asked as she pointed to the name.

The dockmaster replied as he read the name. “Ahh…. That was an unusual one. Four young girls came out with a little boy and they made their way to the marketplace. It was odd because the boy seemed to be leading the troupe.”

Keely left the dock and returned to her home. She realized on her way home that Raavik Yaan had stopped by her work as the young boy. Just as he had grown older, he must’ve found a way to get younger.