STAR WARS JEDI: THE DARK TIMES

Chapter 3. The Lost

   After several hours pass...Clodd, Cann, and R3 manage to travel deep into the deserted land, leaving their broken up vehicle behind them. To compensate for the heated environment, Clodd has jettisoned his jedi cloak in favor of a white athletic tank shirt. Feeling pretty tired, the lad exclaims "Ahh man. No disrespect, Uncle. I feel like we've been travelling for hours at this point. I'm telling you, this place is bone dry for scraps. Nothing worth scavenging out here. No parts."

   "It matters not how long we travel for, young man, so long as we locate the materials we need in order to build a new comm beacon, or better still...find an intact beacon. Anything that works we use it to our advantage. We need to do whatever it takes in order to get off this planet. Nothing else matters right now."

   In a resigned tone, Clodd concedes. "Okay...fine. We'll keep going. Gonna get worse the longer we stay out here though."

   "So it will, but this is not unlike anything I've seen up until now."

   "You been through this before?"

   Master Cann nods. "Indeed. My very first padawan and I were stranded in a desert just like this once. In the boiling heat, I was nearly at my limit when the lad took it upon himself to carry me on his shoulder until he himself succumbed to the elements. He gave his own life to save mine. I will never forget it."

   This story leaves a sad look on Clodd's face. "Ohh...well that's...Forgive me, Master. I was unaware of this." Within siting distance, an individual carrying a longblaster appears to be watching Clodd and Cann. Before too long, Master Cann stops walking to look at the surrounding area. Clodd asks him "Is there something wrong, Uncle?"

   "I sense eyes upon us," says Cann. "We are being followed." R3 beeps cautiously in response.

   It only takes a moment for Clodd to sense what his uncle is sensing. "You're right, Uncle. Someone's watching us."

   "Keep your guard up, Nephew," says Cann as he pulls out and ignites his blue lightsaber.

   Clodd pulls out his own lightsaber and ignites it too, revealing the blade itself to be yellow in color. Suddenly, a male voice calls out "Woah! Hey! Take it easy you two! Our group wasn't expecting visitors!" A human male with a bandana steps out of the shadows. "Especially two jedi such as yourselves!"

   As the two jedi put away their lightsabers, Clodd tells the stranger "Not the best idea sneaking up on people you don't know."

   "Sorry about that. Just couldn't take the risk with all the thieves and vandals roamin about. Monsters too."

   Master Cann is surprised. "Monsters? Here?"

   "Yeah that's right," says the stranger. "Been harassing us ever since we got here."

   Clodd scoffs and says "Well that's just great. Guess we have more to worry about than just overbearing heat."

   Master Cann then asks the stranger "You said you were part of a 'group'. Correct? Me and my apprentice are in need of assistance. If you could take us to your group, we would appreciate it."

   "Yeah sure. We could use some additional hands too if you wanna return the favor."

   "Hold on," says Clodd. "What type of assistance do your people need exactly?"

   "I'll explain a bit more along the way," says the stranger. "...but it mostly involves scavenging. A lot of it. Name is Merv by the way."

   "Very well," says Master Cann. "You may take us there." R3 beeps in agreement.

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Sometime Later...

   As Clodd and the others are still travelling, the boy asks Merv "How much further now?"

   "Not much further," says Merv. "Just over that hill there. There's an oasis over on the other side. It's where we set up camp."

   Clodd lets out a sigh of relief while briefly checking his posture. "Finally."

   "A fine choice for a campsite I think," says Cann.

   Merv then proceeds to ask "So...uh...I'm guessing that the Chancellor sent you over here. Right? Got knocked out of the sky and everything?"

   Clodd and his uncle are surprised to hear this. "Yes," says Cann. "How do you know of this?"

   "Saw that vehicle go crashin down earlier from a far distance. It was easy to spot. That and the same thing happened to me and most of my group before. It's why we're here. Some have been stuck here for weeks. Months even."

   Clodd is completely stunned and in shock. "What? N-No...No. You're kidding!"

   Merv shrugs his shoulders. "Sorry kid. I wish I was honestly."

   "A most disturbing development," says Master Cann who is also shaken. "How many of the Chancellor's enemies have been sent over here I wonder."

   "Too many to count I guess, but that's not all though," says Merv while putting his hand out. "Those thieves I was talkin about...they were the same ones who knocked us out of orbit."

   "I see. Then the same thieves would've done the same to us as well."

   "But...I-I don't understand," says Clodd. "How do a bunch of space thugs get their hands on guns that powerful?"

   "It is not beyond the realm of possibility, child," says Cann. "Pirates make a living from stealing cargo and warships. Even as powerful as the ones we faced before. Having the Chancellor on their side would increase their chances even further still." Cann takes a deep breath. "This is very troubling. Palpatine's corruption goes much further than anticipated."

   "Then we need to stop him, Master! We have to!"

   "The boy isn't lacking in dedication," says Merv. "Soon as we start talkin serious, he gets serious too from what I'm seein here."

   "Indeed," says Cann. "This is how the boy was raised. But more on that later. Let us get to camp."

   "Right."