The Fault of Fate and Destiny - Book 1: (A Handmaiden and a Youngling) -

Chapter 4: The Jedi Master

The Jedi Order had intercepted a strange transmission from the Outer Rim, leading them to believe possible suspicious activity on one of the planets. The Council requested Plo Koon to investigate the transmission due to the location being close to his home planet.

He was now flying through hyperspace in his starfighter on his way back to Coruscant when the hyperdrive suddenly broke down. He found himself caught in an asteroid field. One of the twin ion engines was hit by a stray space rock in the field causing one of the engines to fail.

"R7-D4, bring all power to our breaking. We will have to make an emergency landing on the planet and make some repairs."

The shrill whirring of the astromech in response to the failing engines made Plo Koon anxious.

He steered the fighter into a crash landing position and smoothly skidded onto the ground. It slowed to a stop and the Jedi Master opened the top to climb out. R7 popped from the copilot seat and landed beside the Jedi.

It was not until Master Plo Koon observed his surroundings that he felt slightly wary of the desert environment. "Get me a scan of the surrounding areas. We must find civilization and repair our engine."

The astromech raises its scanner, twirling it to scan more of the geography.

The sun reflecting from the dry wilderness made the air hot and stifling. He had a two-day supply of food and water, but there was no getting off the planet without adequate repairs.

All of a sudden, he felt something spark inside him. A tremor in the Force crept up his back to his head. He sauntered in the direction of the trail, allowing the Force to guide him to whatever was causing it.

"R7, stay with the ship. Try to see if you can get the transmitter working. I am going to have a look around."

The astromech whirred in obedience before setting to work.

Half a day passed when the light of the sun began to set. Master Plo Koon stopped below the bottom of a plateau, analyzing it for a moment.

This was where the Force presence was originating. It had grown more potent as he neared closer to the bottom of the plateau. He smoothed the bottom scratch marks that caught his attention. They were done by a spear of sorts, indicating that there was an intelligent species or a local population inhabiting this planet. What he could not decipher was the type. He let the Force guide him, feeling the walls for some sort of entrance...he was not sure. Perhaps, the marks pointed a way for lost travelers.

His eyes opened the moment he felt the sharp point of a spear rest against his mid-back. Instinctively, he reached for his lightsaber, but paused upon sensing being surrounded. A group of men holding spears directed an aura of malice toward the Jedi. From their perspective, he was an unwelcome trespasser.

They were dressed in beige-colored clothes, covering their bodies and heads to protect them from the dust and sand. Their wrist guards and boots blended with the sand, camouflaging them from far eyes.

Master Plo Koon's hand lingered above his lightsaber, clipped to his belt. How many seconds would it take for him to grab it and slash them before one of them impaled him with a spear?

"I would not do that if I were you, Jedi." One of the men snarled with contempt.

Master Plo Koon resigned himself, lowering his stance. They took his lightsaber and bound his hands. Placing a dark blindfold over his eyes, they led him away. The Jedi Master counted his steps in the different directions they took, mentally mapping a way to where they were headed. He could feel the tremor in the Force getting stronger with every he took. He was getting closer to whoever emitted such a presence.