The Jedi's Second Chance

Chapter 1

Iris looks out her window, watching as countless stormtroopers run past. She closes her blinds just as the back door opens. She quickly grabs her gun and points it towards the person who came through the door.

The lady puts her hands up in surrender. "I don't mean any harm. I just need a quick patch job."

Iris lowers her gun. "You can never be too careful these days."

"I agree." The lady reaches out her hand. "I'm Cere."

"Iris," she says, taking Cere's hand. "Let me see."

Cere pulls up her sleeve to reveal a large cut along her forearm.

"That's going to need more than just a quick patch job." Iris starts grabbing things to take care of the cut. "What were you doing that gave you a cut like that?"

"The Empire..." Cere starts.

"If you got that fighting the Empire, I'd hate to see what you do... but I also get the feeling that you need an onboard doctor. I can sense that you don't have the proper medical equipment on your ship."

"What do you mean you can sense it?"

Iris hesitates before using the force to pull a lightsaber to her.

"You're a Jedi? How did you survive the purge?" Cere inquires.

"It's kind of a long story," Iris says, tying the saber to her belt and then grabbing her gun. "But we should probably get out of here. At this time of night the streets are crawling with troopers."

"I've noticed." Cere pauses. "Why did you trust me?"

"I could sense the force stirring in you. It was distant and slow, but it was still there."

* * *

As the Mantis flies near a planet, Iris puts a hand to her head, as if she has a headache.

"What is it, Iris?" Cere asks.

"There's a Jedi down there. And inquisitors have found them," Iris replies.

"So we go to Bracca," Cere commands.
"Bracca? That place is a dump," the Latero captain, Greez complains.

"But a second Jedi could be our chance to stop the Empire," Iris points out.

"Alright, alright," Greez complies, taking the ship to the surface.

"Where's the Jedi?" Cere inquires.

Iris closes her eyes, using the force to reach out. "He's on one of the trains. I'm sure it won't be too hard to figure out which one." A TIE shoots one of the trains. "Told you."

"That you did," Cere says.

Cere heads to the door and opens it. "We're here to help!"

"Who are you?" the Jedi asks.

"No time to explain! Keep going. We'll pick you up when we can."

The Mantis keeps flying and soon they have an opening to pick up the Jedi.

"Jump now!" Cere says.

The Jedi jumps and grabs onto the ramp with his fingers.

Iris senses a TIE fighter. "Greez, look out!"

The Mantis gets shot at, causing the Jedi to fall.

"Well, he's dead," Greez comments.

"He is not. I can still sense him. If he was dead I wouldn't be able to," Iris scolds.

They get down to where the Jedi is fighting the inquisitor. Iris uses the ship's blaster to separate the two of them and get the Jedi onboard. Cere shoots at the inquisitor, who easily dodges them.

"Greez, get us out of here!" Iris shouts, closing the door.

Greez flies the Mantis away from the inquisitor. The inquisitor uses the force to steer the Mantis off course. Iris grabs the controls, causing Trilla to fly off the ship.

"You can put your lightsaber away. We won't hurt you. If you wanted to sell you for a bounty, you'd be tied up by now," Iris says.

"Fair enough." The Jedi turns off his lightsaber. "Who are you guys?"

Iris gestures to Greez, who is still in the pilot seat. "The grumpy Latero is Greez, our captain..." Iris gestures to Cere. "This is Cere, and I'm Iris. Iris Flores."

"Iris is our onboard doctor and chef," Cere comments.

"And weapons specialist," Iris adds.

"And our much needed co-pilot," Cere mutters.

"Hey, I heard that," Greez calls from the cockpit.

The Jedi chuckles. "I'm Cal. Cal Kestis."

"Nice to meet you, Cal Kestis," Iris says.

"How did you know I needed help?"

"When you see a bunch of TIE's, you know that someone's in trouble," Iris points out.

"Fair enough." Cal touches his shoulder and then quickly pulls his hand away.

"There's a bed made up in the back if you want to rest," Iris says. "I can show you to it."

Cal nods and Iris leads him to a room at the back of the ship. Cal lays down in bed, half hoping he wouldn't fall asleep.