The man in the tan sport coat aproached the bank and slowly looked around to both sides. He seemed to be acting a little causious while making his away towards the small one story building. In his hand was a metallic briefcase that the man seemed to be holding a little tight. Even though everything was slightly blurry a small insignia could be made out on the briefcases top. It was a diamond like shape with a large letter S in the middle and an E in the middle of that, as if in the background, behind the S.

When this person in the tan coat entered the building, a large group of men ran in after him. They were followed soon after by bright flashes that could be seen through the windows of the building on this dark night. The moment these flashes ceased, the whole image blinked out of existance and a new one appeared.

This time it was off two figures drapped in cloaks introducting themselves. The names Tom Henry and Jesmin Ragabag came to mind, but their words were not heard even as their mouths seemed to move. Everything was a little blurry and confusing after this as once more the image began to jump, but this time faster. It was almost like looking at pictures. Different angles of that same building began to appear and even flashes of what was happing inside. People, shaking and scared could be seen. The others that had rushed in could be seen carrying weapons and waving them at a mother with a small child as she held onto him tightly. The figures inside seemed to be infront watching the main enterance and the images showed others at the back of the building filling bags with something.

Suddenly everything went dark and only some voices could be heard. Shadows began to appear, three of them, they were argueing about something, but it could not be heard about what. There was momentary pause and then a flash of light in the darkness. In this moment all three could be seen. Two were foreign, but third was the man in the tan sport coat. He fall back and his hand pressed against the wound in his chest as he slumped down the wall behind them to the ground.

It was this vision replaying inside Ben's mind as they entered the vast city of Theed. The capital of the planet Naboo was one of the more beautiful sights that Ben had every seen. The buildings were all a soothing color and the rounded bluish roofs were just a sight to look at. In his travels Ben had never seen a city like this.

The whole planet was beautiful, however, Ben thought. It stood to reason the capital city itself would be too. Ben remembered the walk from the Temple and the path they took. Both Darami and him had admired the natural beauty of the planet as flowers and trees lined the whole route towards the city. It reminded them of the gardens where they had used to trained not so long ago. This in turn, though, made them remember the Temple and how they were now not allowed back inside.

Ben missed his new home already, but knew he could not go back. He had to go through with this journey and tried to talk to Darami about anything other than the Jedi Order. Over the many hours of walking, they both learned a lot of one another. Their histories were releaved for the most part and they seemed to become closer friends in just those hours alone. Ben knew over their trip together they would get along well and become like brothers to one another.

He could remember how it had gotten dark quickly and they both had decided to rest and sleep in the nearby woods for the night. Ben had reached inside his bag and pulled out some food for both of them and was glad to have taked some from the mess hall before leaving. After their late dinner Darami had went to sleep, but Ben had stayed up a little longer. He wanted to get some practice in during this moment of peace and so had proceeded to lift some stones and branchs and move them around.

It made him happy to know that every time he tried now, it became faster and easier to do. The force would lend itself to Ben quickly and without so much as a request. It was there and always waiting to help out. Always corsing through everything around and pulsating with the energy of life. It was so calm in the forest that it made everything easy and simple. All his worries seemed to wash away and he was content in this moment in time.

This was also the night in which his new vision came to him while sleeping. As always, Ben didn't know what it ment or wheather it was real or not. Maybe it was just a dream or perhaps it was going to happen like his other visions. Was he supposed to stop this from happening? Was he really going to met those new people? What would have do to prevent something like that from happening? What if he couldn't stop the murder? Could be live with himself?

All these endless questions moved through his mind as Darami and him walked down the streets of Theed towads the downtown part of the city. As they passed through these middle class suberban parts of the city, Ben was too lost in though to notice all the people looking at them as they passed by. It was getting dark outside now, but there was still a good amount of populous out and about.

Darami on the other hand did notice and looked back at them, watching their expressions. They seemed to have heard something about Jedi moving back into the city, but most of these people had never really seen them before. Being dressed differently, Ben and Darami really stood out and everyone could tell them were outsiders. By their long brownish and tan robes, they were text book examples of Jedi.

Suddenly Ben paused as the street sloped down somewhat. In front and a little below them, Ben could see a building of the same design as the one in his vision. It looked identical to the last detail and was surrounded by light emmiting posts. The glowing sign at the front of this build read: National Bank of Naboo.

With its walkways lit, Ben could see a man moving down with a briefcase in hand and a tan sport coat. This man, whoever he was, looking right and left causiouly and pulled his coat around him some more. He quickly moved into the bank. Everything was happening as it had in his dream.

Looking behind this man, Ben instantly saw the large group of men moved towards the very same building. Looking more carefully, he noticed the light glimmering off something in their hands. They were definatly holding something, but Ben didn't know what. Darami, beside him, thought they were weapons, probably blasters. While they were both not very experianced, Ben and Darami knew they had to do something to help. They were Jedi and Jedi couldn't just stand by and do nothing. Before they could even start, however, the gang of men pushed their way insdie the Bank and as in the vision, flashes of light quickly appeared out of the windows. Unlike the dream, though, these flashes were in time with the sound of blasters of firing off.

Ben and Darami quickly started run to get closer, but witnessed the two cloaked figures walking towards them from the side. They paused and turned just as the two figures came upto them. Ben looked at the Mon Calamari female as she spoke and nodded. She was the same one from his vision as was the man beside her. This man, Tom, was somewhat familiar to Ben. He had seem that face around the Jedi Temple a few times.

"It's nice to meet you both. I wish it was on better circumstances, thought. I'm Ben and this is Darami, we just arrived into the city from the Temple." Ben paused for a moment as Jasim asked him what to do.

Ben was young and not experianced in many things. Now this person wanted him to take lead. It was a great responsability to put into. What if things went wrong? He tried to calm himself, knowing they didn't have much time and had to do something. His dreams held the key, however, he knew they did.

"Alright, don't ask me how I know this, but the side door to the Bank should be unguarded. I think we can sneek in through there and get inside. From there I'm not sure what to do. We are just learning the ways of the force. I can't tell you there should be some men guarding the front and probably around three in the back. The rest are among the customers inside. Do you think we can take them?"

Ben stood, wondering about the question himself. He reached into his bag's side pocket and pulling out the practice saber he had been given.

[font=Verdana]Jesmin could tell that Ben seemed a little put off in her asking if he had any ideas on how to handle the bank robbery. She began to think of a plan that was better than Tom’s plan of “Rush in there in a headlong attack”, when Ben spoke up.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>[/font]

[font=Verdana]"Alright, don't ask me how I know this, but the side door to the Bank should be unguarded. I think we can sneak in through there and get inside. From there I'm not sure what to do. We are just learning the ways of the force. I can't tell you there should be some men guarding the front and probably around three in the back. The rest are among the customers inside. Do you think we can take them?"<o:p></o:p>[/font]

[font=Verdana]“With a little bit of planning, I’m sure we can manage it. Not to be boastful, but I was a Colonel in the Mon Calamari Republic’s Army and now have the rank of Master General in the Galactic Coalition’s Army, though I’m on an extended leave of absence. The first thing to do is to get to this side door. While we are going there I’m going to put in a call to the police force, tell them about the break in. If this group is at least a little bit smart, as they seem to be, they will have somehow stopped the automatic alarm system. Once I’m done that we should discuss how far all of us have progressed in our training so we know each other abilities and know what each other are capable of so we don’t get in over our heads,” said Jesmin, before the group began to stealthily walk around to the side of the bank in search of this side entrance. She had just finished calling the police and reporting the bank robbery in progress when they reached the side door. It was a rather plain door, made out of durasteel and which looked to be extremely thick. A small “Employees Only” sign graced the front of it. There was no means of opening the door on the door itself, but there was a combination lock on the wall beside the door. She saw Tom reaching for his lightsaber and then held up her hand to stop him.<o:p></o:p>[/font]

[font=Verdana]“Wait. This is a bank. Even though the thugs have turned off the alarm system from contacting the police (her suspicion that they would have proved to be correct as she had found out when she had called the police), they probably only disabled part of the security system. Simply cutting our way in could set off an alarm inside and war them of our presence. Remember, there are 20 of them. We probably can’t deal with 20 of them in a straight up fight. Does anyone have any technical skills that they think they could get through this lock?”<o:p></o:p>[/font]

[font=Verdana]Ben replied that he did and he made for the lock. After looking at it for a few seconds he asked if anyone had something that they could use to pry the cover off the control panel. Jesmin quickly pulled out one of her vibro-blades and passed it to Ben and Tom volunteered his lightsaber for any cutting that needed to be done. While Ben worked Jesmin and Tom turned to Darami, who so far had been rather quiet. Through their talks with him Jesmin learned that they had both been given training lightsabers that day, but they hadn’t done any training with them yet. For their skills with the Force, both Ben and Darami were slightly farther along than Jesmin. Tom had his lightsaber that he had constructed himself, and had done some training with remotes, but he reluctantly admitted that if there were more than one, maybe two, enemies firing at him he’d have difficult stopping their bolts, and he wasn’t adept at aiming where the blocked bolts would go. So simply walking in there with lightsabers lit and blocking blaster bolts left and right was obviously not an option. And if there were only around 3 in the back that meant there would probably be at least 10 in the main room, along with numerous civilians. Jesmin knew that the four of them probably would not be able to stop injury or possibly even death to the civilians with the odds of at least 2 and a half to 1 without an excellent plan. But plans, especially excellent plans, were difficult to make without a lot of information on what you were facing and the site of the battle. They would have to find a way to get that information.[/font]
[font=Verdana][/font]
[font=Verdana]But first they had get into the bank. Jesmin looked back at Ben and saw him doing something that looked incredibly difficult and complex. But there was no doubt in her mind he knew what he was doing, otherwise she was sure that an alarm would have already go off. Ben had a look of extreme concentration on his face, but there was something else to it. Something that resembled a child’s delight, as if he truly enjoyed working with technology and making it work or not work. Also there was a bit of satisfaction written over his face, as if he was making a lot of headway and would soon be done. She mentally prepared herself for what was to come, and went over what everyone had said concerning their skills and training. Once the door was open, she was ready.<o:p></o:p>[/font]

Ben listened to Jesmin speak and felt some relief wash over him as she let it be known that she had vast military training. He was glad that one of them was at least some what training in handling situations close to the one they were now part of it. It was still a little disconcerting that this was Darami and his first day out of the Temple and they were already having to deal with such trouble. He had always hoped to become a jedi and prevent bad things from happening, but that was after all his training had been complete. Ben was still a novice in training and inside he wasn't too sure he could pull this off.

As they proceeded closer to the building, moving slowly in the shadows, Ben began to feel a little neverous inside. Every image and thought of what would possibly go wrong passed through his mind and scared him a little. This would be his first ever combat situation. Well at least one that he was going towards and not just running away from. From this point on everything was new to him and he was hoping that Jesmin would develop a well thought out plan for them to execute.

Once they reached the side door Ben looked around to see if anyone was watching them. It would be really easy to mistake them for criminals to any one passing by the group was sneaking around. He turned back towads the door and looked it over as did Jasmin. The security enterance was completely locked with only a key pad on the wall beside it to grand entry.

When Jesmin questioned wheather anyone knew how to get the door open, Ben thought for a moment and finally replied that he did. It was a skill he had learned many years ago while working at a small service and repair bay. That was also the time he had discovered his love for anything technical and mechanical. Fixing and putting broken ships or speeders or anything mechanical really was exciting and fun at the same time. It also alwayed him to help people out with their broken hardware and know that he actually accomplished something with his bare hands.

The old man that owned the place had really taken after Ben. He didn't know why, but the man actually treated him as a son and taught him everything he knew about working with electrical and mechanical systems. The man had seen a passion and desire to learn in Ben and had decided to help Ben develop these talents. It seemed Ben had been born with them as some people are just born to play beautiful music. Working with machines brought Ben joy and those few years at the old man's repair bay had been some of the best in his still young life.

With a slight Ben reached out and took the vibroblade in his hand. He made sure it was off and slowly slid it under the panel to pry it back out of the wall. Realising this was a bank Ben did the task slowly and carefully. It took more time, but it had been worth it once he discorved that, as suspected, there was a cover sensor. This would have set off the alarm the moment this outside panel had been pulled away. He moved in sideways and took a closer look inside, wishing he had more light.

Slowly he moved this sensor away, making sure to glide it along the metallic panel back and onto the inner covering of the inwall electical housing. This housing was metallic as well and once the sensor head was attached to this, Ben was able to pull the panel all the way off without much worring. He had fulled the sensor into thinking the panel was still on and in turn prevented it from going off.

After setting the code plate down on the ground, Ben looked back into the internal housing and studied it slowly. He could tell it was a newer model unit with many backup systems to prevent any attempt at tempering. Moving some of the wires away with the tip of the vibroblade Ben could see a small black square and smiled to himself. He had been hoping it would have one and this would made the operation a little simpler. The square was in fact a solid state memory chip. It stored within the last security coded used to unlock the door. This was done in case of a break in or anything along those lines that would require some sort of investigation. This chip would allow the police and bank company to know who was the person or code used to entered the bank.

All Ben had to do was figure out a way to reroute the chip so that it would send out this code into the internal security processor inside of just holding it within. He set to work splicing different wires together in order to create a feedback loop. It took some time to get it right, but finally he was really to try it and looked back towards the group as Jesmin was inquiring Darami about Ben's and his skills. Ben didn't have time to think about anything besides his work, however, and mentally crossed his fingers in the hope that what he was about to do would work. If it didn't, he knew it would set off the alarm and probably spook the people inside to hurry or at worst case start killing some of the hostages.

Ben closed his eyes and wished for luck as he took one of the sliped power feed cables and pushed it againsts the black memory chip. There was an instant spark and slight electrical surge through his body, but when he opened his eyes nothing happened. The door still stood as it was and remained for the time closed. His heart was pounding now, waiting for the alarms to go off. They never did, though, because after what seemed like forever, but was in actually only three seconds, the door softly and without a sound slide open.

It was at this moment that Ben realised he had been holding his breath the whole time. He let it out slowly and smiled in relieve as he looked up towards the group and stood up with the panel in his hand. He pushed it back against the wall and made sure it flush before speaking.

"So whats the plan now?" He smiled with pride and a little excitment, which surprised even himself.

Indeed the greatest asset these children possessed was the element of surprise. In fact, he was counting on it. If he could get the younglings to move and act as one entity in the span of the next few weeks then he would possess a formidable force. The element of surprise plus group cohesion would allow them to take on practically anything the city of Theed could throw at them. Two weeks, that was his goal. In two weeks, they would see how much they could accomplish.

It was true he had expected that a massive sending-out would happen soon. Ever since he had gotten back from his most recent bout of wunderlust, the Council had put him to work as an instructor to students of varying experience as well as in a variety of subjects. As his teaching stint wore on, he had begun to notice that there was a stale-ness that permeated throughout the lessons.

It wasn't that the students weren't diligent in their studies, in fact it may have been due to their over bookishness, but Kenshin couldn't help but feel there was a lack of imagination and ingenuity. Sensing this deficiency, he had revised his teaching methods to include a number of games that stressed improvisation and while they were able to remedy this problem to a certain degree, limits could only truly be tested in the face of true danger.

"If there is one thing being in an ivory tower can kill, it would be our sense of the basics. Most of the Padawans are well versed in theory but they lack practical experience. If the Masters are to attempt a true revival of the Jedi Order, then the Padawans need to have their limits tested." Kenshin said with a slight frown. "So in that sense, I do support Master Dolash's decision. However, I fail to see how kicking out the young would benefit anyone."

There was now a sense of urgency that hung in the atmosphere. Even the children inherently understood that they would have to make themselves useful and do so quite soon. There was a sudden need to grow up and grow up fast, a need that was rarely ever found in times of relatively prevailent peace. The Jedi Knight had once thought that it was only in times of war that there was such an urgency. He now found that he stood corrected.

Slaskia says:

The walk to the warehouse was thankfully uneventful and the children fell asleep quickly. Silonik and Mortor had fallen asleep curled together:

typical of Trandoshan youngsters from what he heard. However he also had heard that they start to grow out of this about their age, but considering the circumstances he didn’t blame them for continuing this. Like Katira though he felt it wrong that there wasn’t any suitable coverings for them and the rest of the children. He racked his brain trying to figure out where they could get blankets. Food and water will be another problem, but he was confident he could solve that problem by looking to nature. First things first though.

"Well, I doubt the blankets in the Temple will be used any time soon." He said almost sheepishly and low enough for Katira to hear without waking the others. "Granted it could be considered ‘stealing’ but I can’t think of any where else to get any without getting us in trouble with the authorities."

He fell into deep thought for a moment, his eyes studying the structure around them. It was stripped of almost everything of even minimal value yes, but the structure itself was still solid. An idea occurred to him then.

"That official said all the shelters in this city were closed correct?" He asked the Jedi and got a nod in return. "How about we fix that problem: we open one ourselves." He quickly explained. "This building is still in good condition, so I don’t see why we can’t keep using it. It will take a lot of work, but it will be something to help the kids keep their minds off the ‘eviction’."

Dolash tested the comm unit carefully, trying not to crush it in his huge hands. He input all the comm channels he could think of for his fellow Jedi, reading them off the datapad he'd laid out on the desk. With the channel established, Dolash turned back to the news feed on his little computer.

Already, stories were popping up - beast subdued in a rural district, Jedi seen handling a hostage situation, members of the Order found drifting and looking for work, and an unseemly number of street-crimes ending in Jedi-lead arrests.

Dolash was careful to note just who was supposedly in the "middle of action", and who was between jobs, and carefully qualified that those who were busy would recieve his message silenced to hear later. It would be the height of rudeness to send their comm-units ringing as they tried to sneak about unseen.

Satisfied that he was up-to-date on the status of the Jedi, he set up his comm for a wide-ranging transmission. Grasping the tiny instrument between his thumb and index finger, Dolash began to speak.

"My fellow Jedi, this is Master Dolash. By now, you have spent a day outside of the world of the temple, and back in the real world beyond. I'm glad to see that you have survived thus far, and have made some progress in reestablishing the Jedi Order on Naboo."

"I don't doubt, though, that a few of you have cursed my name in this last day. After all, it appears I've exiled you all from the temple without leadership or direction, to fend for yourself. You have met that challenge admirably, but I promise that I did not want to see you all lost in the wilderness or without recourse.

"That is why I have set up a simple hub at the Queen's Palace, wherin I have access to news and civil services, as well as a feed to every one of you. Should you be in a tight corner, then call me. Should you require the authorities to be despatched, I can assist. If you need information or want an update on the status of a compatriot, I can provide. Not only that, but if you are lost or purposless, I can direct.

"And yes, if you wish to voice your opinions on this new approach, then you may call me about them, and I can listen.

"Do not think I seek to command you as a general or rule you as a king - far from it, I sealed the temple to get us out from under it's suffocating shadow. Consider me instead as a lifeline. Call me as you need me, and I shall provide all that I can.

"May the Force be with you."



Fwar looked at the comm-unit that sat between him and Shillia. They were seated opposite in a cramped diner booth, one open all hours of the night. The two were frozen half-way through their meals, digesting both greasy food and this new information.

"Huh," said Shillia, biting into a burger. "I guess he had a plan after all."

"I wonder, how do you think he plans to coordinate everyone at once?"

"Oh, he's probably got more than one comm. He's already got two brains, hasn't he? What more does he need?"

Fwar reflected on that for a while as he munched on some fries. "Still, to attempt it without any other masters? It is ambitious."

"Yeah, well, at least we won't be bothering him," said Shillia, as she slurped down a cup of coffee. "We must have scared off every crook in a thousand mile radius. We haven't found anyone since that rooftop incident!"

"Hm..." Fwar suddenly seized upon the comm unit. "That means we can ask him for crimes taking place a thousand-and-one miles from here! Our problem is solved!"

Shillia instantly cringed. "Do we have to? I was just getting comfortable..." Her complaints fell on deaf ears, however, as Fwar was already phoning it in.



Ian pocketed the comm after listening to the message. "So the old nut had a plan all along, huh? That's a relief..."

"Wotsa all dat about?" asked the Gungan chief, who followed after Ian.

"Hm? Oh, nothing important." Ian dismissed the old Gungan with a wave. "Let's keep going."

The two continued through broken and scarred swamps and marshes, while in their wake followed columns of ragged Gungan refugees. They were a worn-out bunch, but a glimmer of curiosity and desperation was apparent in the once-joyous eyes of the Gungans. A people once lauded as comically unwise and simplistic, the signs of hunger and pain had dulled their senses and weakened their voices to the point of collapse, but they continued.

Ian momentarily wondered wether the other Jedi would have approved of his methodes to convince the Gungans to go along with him. He dismissed that worry, however - he was here, and they were there. Besides, using the Force to persuade the weak-minded might be a tool of manipulation, but not all manipulation was wrong.

Bursting through the tangle of trees into a clearing, Ian was the first to spot the city on the horizon, illuminated against the curtain of night. As the Gungans laid eyes on it, a sudden intake of breath and a sliver of hope shot amongst them. Without a doubt, Ian thought, he had made the right decision.



Katria listened to the old man's idea, feeling the slow stir of invention. "You know, you're right," she said, continuing the hushed tones used to let the young ones sleep. "The space in here is huge, we could easily convert this place into a shelter. There's still the problem of where we'd get the money or supplies, legal ownership of the building, and the gang problem, but... why couldn't we do it?"

Getting to her feet, she walked over to the entrance. "We're Jedi, aren't we?" She paused, and glanced at the stranger, realizing she wasn't sure just who or what he was. Katria weighed asking him, but decided she needed all the help she could get right now. "We'll let them sleep for now, but tomorrow morning we can see this place cleaned up and get to work."

It was then that Katria noticed her comm buzzing. She lifted it out of her pocket and listened to Dolash's message. Frowning, she squeezed the comm unit, prepared to call in a tirade against Dolash's irresponsible and indifferent attitude, but stopped herself. She put the comm back in her pocket, and settled down against the wall.

"I'll keep an eye out for now, you go ahead and get some sleep. It's been a long day." She turned to glance at the various sleeping children, noting the tiny curled up Trandoshans as a particularly heartwarming pair. Smiling, she turned back to the outside city and kept a weather eye out for trouble.



"Well, you want the good news, or the bad news?" said the mechanic, as he examined the wrecked speeder.

"Oh, the bad news, definetly," said Proq with a frown. "I'm all about the bad news."

"Well, I don't have the parts to fix it here." The mechanic shook his head and gave it a tentative kick. "It's just entirely broke, simple as that. Smashed it up so bad it might as well be melted down fer scrap."

Proq sighed, as he crouched down next to the wreck. All around, local townspeople watched with a great deal of curiosity at the two Jedi examining their broken vehicle. "So what's the good news?"

The mechanic smiled. "Well, we're so thankful fer yer help here tonight, it'd just be indecent of us to send you on yer way without a ride, so we've talked it over, and, well, we've got somethin' fer ye."

Proq perked up and smiled back. "Really? A speeder?"

"Not quite, no." With that, the mechanic took a large saddle and harness from two assistants and passed it to Proq. "This's big enough fer the two o' yer, though."

Proq's brow furrowed as he looked at the saddle. "Big enough for what?"

Jubaz looked up from the saddle and pointed. Proq turned to where Jubaz was pointing, and looked shocked. "Oh you have got to be kidding me."

"Not at all," the mechanic said magnaminously. "The thing's as docile as a lamb since you pulled out that metal thing, jes git up there, and ye'll be fine."

Slaskia says:

Rane nodded and settled down next to the two Trandoshans, being careful not to disturb them. Sleep did not come easily to him though, thoughts of what needed to be done to proceed with this idea flying through his head.
First things first. He thought. We will need to find food and water for the little ones and ourselves. Suitable bedding material is another thing: I’m sure Master Dolash will understand if we take the blankets from the Temple for this. The other big immediate problem was the gangs in the area. It would be only a matter of time before they noticed them in the area and ‘take action’ against them. They would have to be ready for that when it comes. Hmmm, we ‘do’ need money. A sly grin formed on his lips. I hate to take a page out of Trazu’s book and not to mention it will likely be against the Jedi Code, but ‘they’ have money.

He opened one eye and looked at the Jedi guarding the door. No need to for her or anyone else to know, not now anyway. Besides, I may not need to actually kill the thugs at all…

Rane drifted off then and didn’t awake until it was his turn to take watch.

For a few moments he was paying more attention to whether or not the Jedi had fallen asleep yet. Once she had he used his natural talents to reshape his body. Clothing disappeared as his limbs thickened and hands and feet turned into paws adorned with strong claws. A spaded tail erupted from his backside and his head both flattened and elongated, two sharp tusks growing on his chin. Finally his ears repositioned themselves onto of his head, becoming pointed dishes.

His transformation into a tusk cat complete, he sat by the door, his tail twitching with a cat’s patience. If anyone dared to invade their sanctuary, they would get a nasty surprise….

[font=Times New Roman]“Now we have to do a quick, quiet recon. We need more information on where the enemy is, where the hostages are and what weapons the enemy has. Tom, you take point, block any shots that come at us. I’ll try to stun any of the thugs. Darami and Ben, could you try to use the Force to grab the weapons out of their hands? Hopefully we won’t meet any thugs, but if we do I want us to be ready.”[/font]

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[font=Times New Roman]With that the group quietly moved into the bank, looking out for any thugs, just in case Ben’s knowledge hadn’t been completely accurate or in case someone had moved their position. They moved as quickly as possible under the circumstances, checking out the various rooms they passed to see if the door was locked, and if there was someone in the room. Soon they came to a room marked ‘Security’.[/font]

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[font=Times New Roman]“Hold.”[/font]

<o:p>[font=Times New Roman] [/font]</o:p>

[font=Times New Roman]The group quickly stopped. With Tom and Darami acting as lookouts for any thugs coming up the hallway, Jesmin and Ben examined the door. It appeared to be locked, so Jesmin moved aside and let Ben get through this lock as well.[/font]

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[font=Times New Roman]“You know, technically we’re breaking and entering. I wonder if they will try to charge us...” mused Jesmin, drawing a snort from Tom at the ridiculousness of that suggestion.[/font]

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[font=Times New Roman]“They would be fools to charge us. We are stopping their bank from being robbed, a robbery they didn’t even know was happening. As well we’re freeing their hostages. If they charged us they’d have a lot more trouble getting Jedi to help them in the future.”[/font]

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[font=Times New Roman]“That idea of Jedi being above the law isn’t a good one though,” responded Jesmin. “Anyway, we don’t have time for philosophical discussions, Ben will be done soon. Darami, I’m glad we met you and Ben, other wise would probably would have had a lot more trouble with getting into this place. Also there is no way Tom and I alone could easily handle the 20 or so thugs inside.”[/font]

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[font=Times New Roman]Jesmin then turned back to see if Ben was done breaking into the security headquarters for the bank. While doing this, she thought to herself that she would have to talk to the officers after the hostage situation and to Dolash about how Jedi could better integrate themselves into society.[/font]

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[font=Times New Roman]<i>We don’t want people to view us as dishing out vigilante justice and being above the law. We have to work with police forces on different worlds, we can’t just work around them. This will have to be an issue that Dolash addresses before he sends us out to “do good deeds” on other worlds. In fact its something he will probably have to address on Naboo soon. I’ll need to find a way to talk to him about this. Hopefully Tom, Ben or Darami will have an idea on how to contact him after this hostage situation is over. But first we have to make sure that the situation is over quickly and safely, with no hostages injured or wounded.</i>[/font]

As Ben knelt there quietly beside the Security office door, something inside him started to become different. The feelings he had before were changing slowly into ones of excitment and a true need to help those in need. Lifted were most of the worries that had bothered him as well as all the nervousness which had filled his thoughts earlier. Ben was truely beginning to enjoy this work and was glad he was there to help out his fellow Jedi.

Working on unlocking this door in front of him, he felt like one of those special forces soldiers he had been on the holovids. They had always done things like sneek into enemy territories and take out the bad guys. With these images now inside Ben's mind he smiled at himself and worked on the lock. He never before imagined he would even be one of those troopers, but now here he was.

This lock was much easier to crack than the one outside and within just a few moments Ben heard the slight click sound as he door mechanism unlocked and slide open. Ben stood up slowly and looked down the hallway, making sure no one was watching, before tapping Jesmin on the side. Once everyone was aware that the door had opened and moved inside, Ben did the same and closed the door behind them.

Without a word to the others he walked quietly towards the computer terminal and turned it on. Soon in front of them, on four different screens, images from all around the bank started to appear as dormant holo cams started to power up and transmit their images. A clear view of the main bank room could be seen with numberous people huddled together and thugs with weapons standing around around.

Some of these men were facing the front enterance while others were stood around in a circle to look in all different directions. One of the men seems to be in change and could be seen talking.. no, more like shouting at a woman with a small child in her arms. Ben recognized her quickly as the one from his dream/vision. The child seemed to have his eyes closed and was crying hard with the mom trying to her best to stop the crying. Suddenly the man raised his hand and in it was a blaster, pointing the weapon straight at her child in a threatening manner. In respond of the customers, the man with the briefcase, jumped in front of her and could be seen talking with the thug.

Inside himself, Ben's blood was starting to boil at witnessing the brutality of these people. He took a deep breath and calmed down slight while inputting commands to move the camera slowly so that the whole room could be seen. Ben made sure that Tom and Jesmin saw everything before switching the images to other rooms. Some were empty, while one was the vault in which some men were gathered, pulling out safety boxes and taking credit chips.

Ben turned back towards Jesmin, "Any ideas?"

OoC: Italics are optional reading, so those of you involved in an RP with me don't have to go through the gruesome post if you don't want to. Just trying to get out some much needed writing to help with my writer's block. Sorry if anyone was waiting for me - I didn't think I was needed in the exchange with Marak and Kenshin, so I didn't post, but since Marak hasn't done so yet, I'll just go ahead.

IC:
Young Tatane always loved those nights on which she would sit at Athir's feet as he rested in the warmth of his room on Naboo. On these dark and rainy nights, the two would exchange words that held pieces of their hearts - words that had long sought to escape their lips but rarely found the time. During these sometimes long and sometimes brief exchanges, the two would find some measure of peace in each other; they would find answers that would imprint themselves in their hearts and minds for years to come, so that when the time came that they would need these answers and, in succession, find them - they'd always know that it was because of their time together.

It was from Athir Drumer that Tatane had gathered a sense of warmth and a general presence like few others. In her appearance there tended to be an approachability that was not brittled by strong confidence, maturity, or inherent wisdom. For in her aura of knowledge beyond years, of pain and loss that came too soon, or a deep sense of thoughtfullness almost overbearing for just a padawan, there was an unbridled youth in her eyes and demeanor that sought to break free of its earthly confines. She felt like a woman of ageless intelligence, dignified and loving, fraught with memories both grim and beautiful that sought to make her young again. She wanted to be human, to be inhuman, to know everything - to know nothing! She felt confused, and nostalgic, and alone, and lost.... And yet when she dug deep into herself she found that sense of belonging that told her there was nothing more, nothing else in the world that felt so right and so perfectly in place.

And so, in a sense, Tatane was trapped within herself, lost within the thing she called her heart. And with her, in this maze of thought and emotion, she found the face and voice of her late master, and the one that had been before him. What had made her, what had shaped her, what had created the foundations of what was now this fearful and yet strong-willed girl, were not just her building blocks, but an integrel part of her very soul. And she fought to keep them there, so that she would not fall apart or unravel, so that she could keep building and in turn build up the beginnings of another person that would also help make this world and its inhabitants for the better.

She felt that being trapped was more like being tangled - in string, in a web, perhaps even in the Force itself, twisted so intricately in its design that she found no hope for a way out.

She wanted to blame herself, for learning to rely so much on Athir's healing words. When they had sat beside each other on those cold and lonely nights, they had provided for each other a straight and meaningful path, so that they would not get too tangled in the web of life and in fact unravel that day's unkempt emotions to prevent any further tension. They would know the answers to what the other could not see, or seek to be a vessel for the other's emotions when they could not simply release them into nothingness or to no one. They needed each other as much as they needed the Force, for in one another they had found a bond that saved their very souls from falling prey to the burdens that a Jedi must be strong to fight against.

It was with this in mind that Tatane felt a strong need for Athir's old wisdom, for his loving hand, for the deep sense of understanding that he had once provided for a lost and grieving child. And again, she felt drawn to the wisdom of her most recent master, for his reserved yet meaningful answers that came from experience mingled with deep emotion. In both she had found a different sense of peace, yet a balance that weighed at her every thought and decision, a balance that had provided security and solace to a woman that still sought something in her tangled web of life.

Both were gone now. And so was the old home she had hoped to return to, the home that was now being stripped away from her so that her training would, once again, be put on hold - at least in a sense. A girl that had rarely had much of a social life, Tatane also found her few friends diverging in paths, while she was left to contemplate what exactly was happening in her life. She realized that perhaps she really was alone, but she realized that in her midst there was a new occurance that would better prepare her for the future, not a situation that should tear her apart or leave her broken inside.

She needed to learn how to be strong. She needed to learn to be ready.

"You all right?"

Tatane blinked, looking up at the one she had assisted with an apologetic look in her eyes. She gave a soft smile to the man as she tried to drift back into reality, and tightened her robes about her frame in attempt to feel something tangible. She glanced about herself, noting that things were almost ready, and made sure that the rest of her lot of boxes were gathered and loaded on to the ship. It wasn't much labor, nor did it take too much time, but she felt as if she was being useful for a change ever since she had entered the hangar bay. When things seemed to be completed on her end, she stood up straight and surveyed her word with a distant and weary expression.

She wondered if this was what she had been expecting when she had returned to Naboo.

Without answering her own question, Tatane turned on her heel and made her way back to Kenshin, not bothering to be brisk or quick about it. It seemed that he was still engaged in conversation with the new arrival, and she wasn't willing to be an intrusion. It felt odd to approach them but approach them she did, as quietly and inconspicuously as possible. She glanced over them each in turn with an almost expressionless face, though it was mingled with that sense of weariness that was not physical, but of another nature. Still, she remained amiable in appearance as she could, and was quiet for a moment as she stood at about a yard's distance.

She did not know the new arrival, though they had exchanged a brief glance not long before. He was drunk, obviously, but there carried with him a sense of understanding that she couldn't feel threatened by. She was no longer afraid of being exposed when standing in his presence.... There was something about him that put her at ease, though she still sought to remain wary in even the smallest amount.

When her master would look at her in her free time, she thought to nod and offer a brief smile of assurance. "I believe I've helped take care of the more difficult tasks, so all that's left are simple things, Master Katarn." She paused, glancing at them both again, hoping that she hadn't intruded upon something important. "Do you need me for anything?" she finished then, now offering her free time to either of them, had they any job left to complete.