"Jeroc...It has been almost 6 months since I last saw you.",she said through his thoughts.

"I love you...we will have to get to know each other agian tonite.",he winked at her," but right now we need to go start getting some of the students training..."

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Nothin ever seems enough in these days?

"Jeroc it is a honor to see you agian. How did your expeditions go in the Unknown Regions?" Luhruhk asked.

"It is an honor to see you agian too...the expeditions went fine until I came upon some chiss. Apperently they don't take to well to outsiders. I did find some places that they had not found yet. I may go back to one planet I found...it was beutiful...you wouldn't beleive how great it was. I'm so happy to be back though. I missed you and Cordea the most though. Will you help me run the temple while Master Skywalker is gone??"

"I would once agian be honored."

The two friends went down the hall together out to the landing feild just as a ship was arriving.

"And how do you wish to become a Jedi Master if you don't know the first thing about the Force?"

"Well...

"What makes you think you'll be running this place? Oh and how well can you do TK?", Jeroc inquired.

Logan lifted his head high and looked directly at Jeroc as if challenging him.

"I'm sure I could beat you old man...I've been working on using it. I got it down pat.",Logan said as if he was proud of himself.

"Would you mind showing me how well you can use TK?",asked Jeroc.

"Sure...I'm always willing to share my expertise."

"Students gather around...our new student Logan has told me here that he is a expert at TK.", Jeroc said amplifying his voice with the Force so everyone around could hear him.

Students ran around to see if this kid could truly be an expert at TK. They gathered around him in a circle. They gathered around him as tight as they could while giving him enough space to perform his feat...

Luhruhk, Jeroc, and Logan set off to show Logan his room. Jeroc and Luhruhk just looked at each other and shook their heads. They could tell that Logan would need to learn a lot of things. Jeroc still didn't think that he had learned his lesson. He may not challenge someone the rank of Jedi Knight or Master but he did not doubt that he would try to challenge another student. They were approaching Logan's new quarters quickly so he walked ahead and opened the doors. Logan went in the room without a word. It was apparent that he was feeling embarrased and a little humiliated.

"Well Logan take time to put your things in your rooms and if you want take time to get to know other students. It would be good to make friends here. You have come at quite a late age these students can teach you much."

Akinnai broke into Cella's reverie. "Did you see what happened with the new student today?" Cella shook her head, and Akinnai launched into the tale of the arrogant young pilot who'd landed on Yavin IV that morning, demanding to be trained. Logan, for that was the man's name, had claimed to have TK, and Knight Jeroc Mahoy had challenged him. "And when he reached to move the chair," warbled Akinnai, "he couldn't do it! So much for his boasts!"

Cella laughed aloud, but her expression turned serious. "Of course he shouldn't have bragged so, but it must have been terrible for him. Think of how humiliated you would have been, Akinnai, had you failed in front of the entire Academy." The younger Mon Calamari hung her head, chastened.

Then a dark haired man--no, boy--with completely black eyes walked into the mess hall, amid murmurs from the other students. Akinnai whispered in Cella's ear, "That's him now."

Suddenly, the teenaged boy turned in Cella's direction and shot her a brief smile. Cella shook her head. He is going to be difficult, I can sense that. Force be with whoever decides to undertake his training.

She took the hand Logan offered and shook it firmly. "I'm Cella Poliani, Jedi Knight."

Logan shot her that grin again. Now that he was a bit closer, Cella was finally able to put her finger on what it was that was different about it. His teeth were actually pointy. Well, I'm Coruscant-bred. I've seen it all and more.

Logan took a seat across from Cella and Akinnai. Since Akinnai seemed to be momentarily paralyzed by shyness, Cella decided to stir the soup. "I hear you have come to train at the temple," she said politely, making no mention of the morning's incident.

Logan nodded. "That's right." Cella tried to further the conversation, but Logan was very closemouthed about his origins. Cella was about to give up and leave the mess hall when Logan asked, "I haven't seen many Jedi here at the Temple, just students. Why is that?"

Cella sighed. "Most of them are off on missions, liasing with New Republic personnel and such."

Logan gave her a probing look. "So why are you still here?"

Cella looked away. She didn't want to tell this cocky young man about her failures with the lightsaber and her all-too-recent promotion. She had a feeling he wouldn't understand, and besides, she barely knew him. "Long story." She spotted Jeroc Mahoy coming into the mess hall, and, glad of a change in the conversation, stood to greet him. "Master Jeroc, how good to see you."

He looked around the room to see if any new students were showing up. They had been receiving more students daily at the temple. They would need them more with the Vong on the rampage.

"Well Logan have you had enough to eat? If not I'm always up for a meal."

"Here we are Logan we will start with your training of the Force right here. Ok your first lesson will be sensing what is around you and touching other life forms. I want you to concentrate and spread your senses but don't forget about the moment. You must always be alert and not have your focus on just one thing entirely. Now just spread your senses and let yourself sense the Force around you..."

Cella tried to cover her surprise. She bowed to the Jedi Master and nodded to Logan. "Jeroc, Logan, a pleasant morning to you."

Jeroc returned her bow with a nod of his head and Logan grinned at her. "I hope I haven't disturbed you," Cella said politely. Have they been out here all night? I don't recall them coming back to the temple...

Jeroc smiled kindly at Cella. "In fact, we have. Yavin's night is full of wonders, and I could think of no better time to teach Logan to reach out with his senses and touch the Force." Cella was embarrassed at having let her thoughts broadcast so loudly, and she dampened her surprise.

Logan looked pointedly at Cella, then at the towel in her hand. "Where were you headed to, Cella?"

Jeroc gave Logan a warning look, but Cella decided to tell. "I was just going for my morning walk."

"What, walking your pet towel?" Logan laughed, and Jeroc resolved to have a serious talk with the young man about respecting people's privacy.

Cella blushed. "No, actually, I was headed to a cold spring a few miles north of here to bathe." She felt suddenly friendly, and offered, "Would you like to come with me?" After all, Jeroc was one of her best friends, and Logan didn't seem so bad.

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Well, as long as you're not bathing in the nude."

"Logan!" Jeroc reprimanded, but Cella laughed. "Don't worry, Jeroc, you will have plenty of time to teach your student Jedi dignity. Come on, let's go. Perhaps the student and teacher will find an object lesson in the beauty of the spring and its waterfall." And she led the two farther into the jungle.

Finally, they reached the spring. Cella ducked discreetly behind a bush to remove her outer garments and put on her bathing suit. She could still hear Logan and Jeroc talking, and sense Logan's wonder at the marvel of the waterfall.

For a few minutes, Logan just stood on the banks of the clear pool and watched the waterfall tumble over the jagged gray mass of stone. He'd seen many things, but few things as beautiful and tranquil as this. He was surprised to find that it made him think of Alexis, and wondered idly where she was. I hope I'll see her again, he thought, and blushed.

As Jeroc removed his Master's robes and stripped down to his shorts, he saw his student's blush and smiled. "We will have a lesson soon," he said, "but now, we can just go for a swim. It'll certainly be refreshing after that hike," Jeroc said slyly, and Logan gave him a dirty look.

Before either of them could say anything, they suddenly spotted Cella at the top of the rock pile. She grinned cockily, and, without a word, dived smoothly into the deepest part of the pool, splashing both Jeroc and Logan soundly. She came up and looked at the two wet men. "Gotcha," she drawled smoothly, and Jeroc jumped into the pool, shouting, "You little ingrate! How dare you splash a master!"

As the two Jedi engaged in a furious but fun water fight, Logan watched a little uneasily. He'd never seen adults play like this, and he never would have expected it from Jedi. He pondered whether or not to go in. He didn't really want to drop his tough-guy act yet. He hadn't had much of a childhood, and he wasn't sure he knew how to let go and have fun. Just then, Cella winked at him, and Logan watched in fascination as she used the Force to gather water into a sphere and float it over Jeroc's head. Instead of bursting it on Jeroc, though, she floated it over to Logan and burst it on him! Logan laughed and decided to join in. After all, he was hot from the long hike. He jumped right into the pool.

The repulsorlifts from the ship hissed as the landing gear crept from it's bays and put down. Ramps extended from the two shuttle transports, the Phase II Dark Troopers piling out in Imperial Grace, the squad of Noghri doing so also. And as the cockpit to the modified ship broke it's seal, air scurried in and out, as it lifted open. The three noghri darting out, standing afront Squad 7. Then a blue orb, with Lord Wicked inside floated from the ship, out roughly 5 meters from the ship Lord Wickeds feet kicking to the ground, his robes dropping around him, barely missing the ground.

"Squad 3... make haste to the Temple. Lay low, kill no one unless confronted and gather information for now." The squad saluted then turned on heel and charged towards the Temple. Lord Wicked turning to the squad of Noghri, smirking; "Squad 7. You are the best of the best. Scour the area, split up and let no one make it up or off this rock."

Turning on heel, Nikk shot to his side, with Leeve and S'ckil close behind. "You three... find them, do not act, I will see with your eyes though I will take a different route. They will not leave before I speak to them."

The three noghri made haste taking the same trail the three Jedi did. Lord wicked on the other hand, turned, the blue orb expanding around him once more. Floating upwards, he took to the sky and looked down, surrounding the area was Squad 7 of the Noghri... ahh yes, he would speak with Skywalker.

His form wavered, and then nothing but mist remained, which also disperesed quickly. With speed nearly that of a blaster bolt, he made his way towards the three, a smile adorning his unseen face. As soon as he reached the upper cliffside, his form became visible once more, floating just above the rocks with his eyes on the three below. A woman of beauty... strong in the Force... yet she goes untrained to her full potential... ignorant Jedi Masters failing to keep pressing her abilities to greater lengths. Another... a completely untapped Force wielder... unarmed... no saber no blaster. Magnificent... now Skywalker.

Turning his attention upon Jeroc... he shook his head, that was not Luke Skywalker! How could he mistake this man for Skywalker? That is it... he sensed through the Force whom was 'In Charge' of the Temple... not for Skywalker. A mistake that will never be made again.

This woman... she reminded him of someone close to his heart... closing his eyes he opened his mind to Squad 7, Squad 3, Nikk, Leeve, and S'ckil, "Do not harm the lady Jedi. She is to be left in one piece"

He looked back upon them, not hiding that transmission from their minds eye. As the blue orb dissappeared, he landed softly upon the rockes above, his black hair drifting behind him, his face calm, not a day over 27 standard years, handsome... his eyes shimmering a turquoise hue from the springs glaze, his robes lightly stirring under the breeze. "Where is Skywalker?"

-Darth Wicked

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And saith unto him; 'All these things will I give thee if you will fall down and worship me...'

"I'm sorry but Master Skywalker is gone. If you wish to speak to someone it will have to be me.",Jeroc said very calmly. He could sense fear coming from Logan. The boy was trying to convey his confidence to everyone around him. Even though he had none. Jeroc spread his mind across the area and felt that Logan was doing it too. Good the boy was learning. He felt some prescenes around. Many of them...if there were to be a confrontation the Jedi would not have a lot of a chance.

"Why do you wish to speak with Master Skywalker?"

Turning his attention towards the sky, a smirk spreading acrossed his lips; "Failure to cooperate will result in the bombardment of the planet, all the Jedi will be killed as well as any innocents on the planet."

Turning back towards them, his face stone cold, all intentions hidden, locked away within his mind, coated by every essence of the Dark Side. "The choice is yours..."

-Darth Wicked

------------------
And saith unto him; 'All these things will I give thee if you will fall down and worship me...'

Summoning up all her courage, she spoke directly to the dark man. "I will go with you. I trust that you are a man of your word. I ask only this. Let me have a few words with Jeroc."

The man nodded. "You are a girl of perception as well as beauty. I am indeed a man with honor. You may speak to this man briefly. Then we will depart." A chilling grin spread across his face as he withdrew to let the two Jedi have some privacy.

Immediately after the man stepped back, Jeroc spoke. "Cella, I cannot permit you to do this. You are putting yourself in immeasurable danger. Besides, what's to stop this man from carrying out his threat once you're in his hands?" Jeroc was trying hard to remain calm, but he was almost panicked with fear.

Cella cut him short. "Is it for me, or for yourself that you fear?" she said sharply. Jeroc was taken aback, and Cella could see his hurt. She reached over and took his hand. "Don't worry. Fear is of the dark side. Whatever happens to me is my Force-destined path." She smiled uneasily. "Skies, I'm sounding more fatalistic by the moment." She went on as Jeroc listened with characteristic patience. "This man will not hurt me, and he couldn't hurt me, not really. I sense that."

Jeroc was still uneasy. "Cella, I still don't think you should be doing this."

Cella smiled. "We have to say goodbye. Come, where is your masterly encouragement? You should be sending your student out into the world with a smile."

They hugged, and Jeroc thought, Out into the world does not mean into the hands of the dark side. He felt Cella's reassuring mind touch as she thought, The Force will keep me strong. Do not fear.
She broke off the embrace and the mental connection, and went to dress in her coverall and grab her lightsaber. Jeroc thought that he had never witnessed such courage of will, and he thought, If she isn't returned alive...

Logan watched the little drama, a helpless bystander. He felt weaker and more like a failure than ever. Shouldn't he be doing something, fighting this guy who was going to run off with his master's dearest friend? His mind knew he was doing the right thing, staying out of the way, but his heart screamed something else entirely. Silently, he vowed to dedicate himself to the Jedi path and make a warrior of himself. I will not be helpless all my life. I will become Jedi.