Star Wars: Voss, A Last Stand

Chapter 6: Jedi Roots

Quanos sat there in his observation room, desperately trying not to think about the days before Thraak and the Empire. Alas, he couldn't hold them in any longer, and flashbacks began to play in his mind.
Quanos Vivkiv was a native from Tatooine, lived in Mos Eisley before the Clone Wars. He and his parents lived in poverty, Quanos and his father ran a droid clinic outside their house for minor problems in all sorts of droids, astromechs and protocols. It was a hard lifestyle, but they made do. Quanos had only 3 interests, droids, pod-racing and jedis. Quanos would give anything to be a jedi. But he accepted his fate as a droid mechanic and tried not to think about his passions. He regularly went to see pod-races with his father, Tobol. Quanos was less of a Sebulba fan as his father was, but more of a "whoever won" fan. And on one fateful day, he went to see a race where he became a fan of young podracer Anakin Skywalker. He admired the fact that another human, a human boy for that matter, could even be a podracer. And though he would like to have given it a shot, Tobol strictly forbid him to engage in such a sport. He didn't see Anakin for a while after that, rumors said he had left Tatooine with a few Jedi Knights. "Jedi Knights on Tatooine?" Tobol asked Quanos. "Impossible. This is the outer rim, Jedi have no business here, so don't get your hopes up, they most likely aren't coming back." This discouraged Quanos, but he wouldn't give up. Soon enough, Quanos proved his father wrong. A lost man was stumbling through Mos Eisley, and looked rather fatigued. Tobol had his trust issues, but couldn't shut his door to someone in need. Tobol wasn't strikingly unique, wearing dusty robes and black boots to compliment his utility belt. His mother, Palma, was the same, wearing a brown work dress and sandals. But this stranger held no judgement, only gratitude. He introduced himself as Plo Koon, a Jedi Master looking for youngling recruits. He explained how unusual it was for Jedi to go look for younglings, rather the younglings go to the Jedi. But he said that they had found a young boy with much potential for the use of the Force in Mos Eisley, and were determined to find another. He noticed Quanos, and asked if Tobol would be comfortable performing the test for mitochlorines suitable for using the Force on Quanos.
"Why are we doing this again?" Quanos asked Plo Koon. "We are doing this to see if you have the potential to use the force, and therefore be a Jedi." Plo Koon responded patiently. "If your tests read good, I'd like to take you to Coresaunt to see the Jedi council. You may be able to be trained." This got Quanos unbelievably excited. Plo Koon finished the test and looked at the results. "Why, you do have a high mitochlorine count. Almost as high as master Kit Fisto. I believe you should be trained." Plo Koon told Quanos, both sharing mutual excitement. Plo Koon then talked to Tobol and Palma to discuss about Quanos' fate. After a long discussion and reassurance, Tobol and Palma decided to let Quanos go to be trained. "Make sure you come back one day and check on the droid clinic!" Tobol yelled with joy in his voice. Quanos could see the tears in his father's eyes. They were genuine. This gave Quanos all the more reason to hug his father goodbye. Quanos then went to see Palma, who was already crying. "Quanos, promise me, wherever you go, make sure of two things. Never forget where you came from, and every life has value." "I will, mother. I love you." Quanos said one last time to Palma. As Quanos went with master Koon to his ship, he couldn't help but feel bad for his parents. It would be harder without the extra hands at the droid clinic, and his mother relied on him to fetch fresh ingredients for cooking. But these worries melted away as soon as they broke the atmosphere.
"Have you ever been off of Tatooine?" Plo asked Quanos, who was mesmerized by all the stars and planets. "I guess not." Plo chuckled in response to no response.
"Brought upon us a potential youngling, have you master Koon?" Yoda asked Plo while in session with the council. "Makes you think he has potential, what does hmm?" He asked. "He has a good soul that cares for all life, and high mitochlorine levels." Plo answered Yoda. "That's been two potential younglings off of Tatooine in the past month." Mace Windu commented. "If his levels are as high as you speak, and as righteous his soul, then I would think It would be unwise to not consider him." Ki-Adi-Mundi added. "I believe he should be trained. And who else but under master Koon?" He stated. "I second that motion." Kit Fisto said. "I do as well." Shaak Ti added. "Ok. The council majority votes in favor of young Quanos Vivkiv to be trained under master Plo Koon. Master Koon, do you accept this condition?" Mace Windu asked. "I whole-heartedly accept this condition. Quanos Vivkiv will be my Padawan." Plo said with excitement in his voice. "Then it is settled. Council dismissed." Mace Windu said as the masters left the council room.
"So are you going to be my master?" Quanos asked for the 10th time, but this didn't phase Plo, he was just excited. "Yes, young Quanos. You're my 3rd Padawan. I'm not sure if I'll have any others after you." Quanos was starting to calm down. He couldn't wait to start training.
"Master, you can't go. You'll die!" Quanos yelled as he ran after Plo as he went to his transport ship. "Quanos, for the last time, I have to help master Kenobi and his Padawan, Skywalker. Not to mention senator Amidala. They are going to die on Geonosis if I don't go to help the rescue effort." Plo responded very hurriedly. Plo had spent much of the time Quanos was his padawan teaching him to shed his cowardly instincts, since fear is the path of the dark side. It was working, he became more outgoing and courageous, yet still had doubts. As Plo boarded his transport, he could see Quanos standing there at the launching pad long after the ship had left.
When Plo returned, Quanos was as happy as he had been to hear he was going to be a jedi. "Master, they had said how many jedi were lost at Geonosis, I feared the worst." Quanos said with joy yet sadness in his voice, as he remembered those who didn't return. Everyone had taken this reflection, but as Plo studied his padawan, he realized he had much more than others. "It is alright, boy. No need for tears nor sadness. I have returned, and I'm afraid a war has begun." He was right.
The last memory Quanos has of master Koon was on their last mission to the world of Cato Neimoidia. Plo and Quanos had just wrapped up the conquest of the planet. "There isn't much here to do anymore. I want you to go back to the Jedi temple, master Yoda has news for you." Plo told him. Yoda had finally agreed that Quanos was ready to graduate and become a Jedi Knight, as he was the oldest padawan at the time. Quanos, following orders, boarded a transport to Corusaunt. As they took off, he watched Plo board his Starfighter and take flight with two other ARC fighters. This would be the last time he would see him, order 66 would be unleashed in 10 minutes. Just enough time for Quanos to safely arrive at the temple.
Quanos couldn't find Yoda anywhere, and was looking when it happened. 100's of Clones marched into the temple, killing all guards and Jedi in sight. That's when Quanos knew what was going on.
Quanos was running, faster than ever, trying to find a speeder or some way out. That's when he stumbled upon them. A group of younglings fleeing for their lives. "Quanos! Quanos! We can't fight them, please help us!" A small rodian youngling shouted. He couldn't leave them behind. But he also knew he could defend them. So he brought them with him, all silent as they sprinted through the halls. Then they all abruptly stopped. Someone was standing in front of them, lightsaber out. "Master Skywalker! Help us escape here!" The small rodian shouted again. Quanos knew this wasn't right. Then he looked into Anakin's eyes. Red and yellow with a pitch black pupil. Quanos knew. Instantly, they started dueling. Anakin was much more skilled than Quanos, having to be an actual Knight and on the Council. He was merciless, no sense of good in him. And as Quanos was about to give out, a Jedi flipped in front of him and started to clash with Anakin. "RUN! GO NOW!" The Jedi yelled at him. And he did. He didn't look back, not when he heard the boom as the Jedi fell to the floor, not when he heard the screams of the younglings. And to this day, Quanos regrets ever running.
As Quanos reached the hangar, he found no speeder to take him. He did find 9 clones all shooting at him. After finally taking each out with precise blocks, he heard what sounded like a whole legion of them coming. Having no choice, he makes a leap of faith into the flock of speeders, hoping to land on one. As he closed his eyes, he heard his mother. "Never forget where you came from." This hit him with a wave of comfort. Perfect for when he landed straight onto the hood of a speeder. With a terrified driver, Quanos yelled in the most panicked voice a man could make, "Take me to the Spaceport!" And the driver had no choice but to, being unarmed.
As Quanos reached the spaceport, he had to decide his next move. He was a fugitive Jedi, so no public transports. He couldn't go to a Republic stronghold planet either. So he took his time and bought a crudely black painted ARC fighter to take. "I'll have to settle in Voss, far from any activity and republic forces." He thought. So as he boarded in, reminiscing on everything that had happened in one day, he took off, hoping to settle at an abandoned CIS factory. Quanos was never seen again by the Republic, and assumed dead during the assault on the Jedi Temple.

(Seen above: Quanos' master, Plo Koon.)