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Alderaan – Entering the Atmosphere
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The Royal Harpy dropped out of hyperspace with a smooth transition, the golden hues of Alderaan's sun illuminating the vast emerald landscape below. Even from orbit, the planet was a paradise—mountain ranges that stretched endlessly, forests dense and vibrant, and rivers weaving like silver veins through the land. It was hard to imagine that, in another time, the Sith Empire would have turned it all into dust if not by Satele Shan and the Republic forces.
Merah Asli, her hands steady on the controls, let out a low whistle. "You Jedi sure get sent to the nicest places."
Ahsoka leaned against the cockpit's threshold, arms crossed. "Not always. But I won't complain about this one."
Shaak Ti was standing beside me, her expression unreadable as she gazed down at the planet. "Alderaan has always been a sanctuary. But even the most peaceful places have their shadows."
I exhaled slowly, gripping the hilt of Exar Kun's saber, which rested against my belt. "Let's hope we're not walking into another storm."
The ship descended, cutting through clouds before coming to a hover over a vast woodland region, untouched by civilization. This wasn't near any of Alderaan's cities or noble estates—this was deep in the wildlands, where few dared to venture.
According to my vision, this was where we would find him.
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The ship settled gently on a clearing near the forest's edge, the soft hum of its engines dissipating into the stillness of the trees. We disembarked cautiously, the air cool and fresh, filled with the scent of damp earth and pine.
Ahsoka rolled her shoulders. "So, what's the plan? We wander around the forest and hope we run into him?"
Merah checked her blaster pistol, securing it in her holster. "I'd rather not get eaten by some Alderaanian predator while we wait."
Shaak Ti, ever composed, closed her eyes and reached out with the Force. "He is near. He is… wary. Watching us."
I followed her lead, stretching my senses outward. There was something—a presence, faint but alive with awareness. Not like the careful mind of a trained Jedi, nor the seething hatred of the Sith, but something untamed, something that moved with the rhythm of the world around it.
"He's not far," I confirmed. "But he won't come to us. We have to go to him."
Without another word, we entered the forest.
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The deeper we moved into the woods, the stronger the feeling became. The trees whispered, the underbrush shifted, and every step forward felt as if we were being drawn along a path unseen but intended.
Then I saw it—a flash of movement, barely more than a shadow against the foliage. A boy, perhaps sixteen or seventeen, slipping between the trees with the grace of a wild animal. He was fast, moving effortlessly over fallen logs and weaving through dense growth without making a sound.
"There!" Ahsoka called, sprinting forward.
The boy reacted instantly, his head snapping toward us, his green eyes flashing before he vanished into the trees.
We ran.
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The pursuit led us deeper into the wilderness, our surroundings turning more primal with every step. Massive roots coiled like serpents, the air growing thicker with mist as the sunlight barely pierced through the canopy above.
The boy was fast, impossibly so for someone untrained in the Force—except he was trained, in his own way. He leapt over obstacles, using his environment as an extension of himself, his movements instinctive, natural.
I pushed forward, matching his speed, feeling the Force guide my footing as I closed the gap. But just as I reached the clearing ahead—
He was gone.
Ahsoka came up beside me, panting slightly. "Where in the stars did he go?"
Shaak Ti arrived last, her breathing measured. "He is hiding. He's waiting to see what we do next."
I scanned the area. The silence here was different, more deliberate. He hadn't simply run—he had chosen this place for a reason.
And then, I heard it—a whisper, not of words, but of something deeper. A presence woven into the very essence of the land, watching us through unseen eyes.
Then, from the branches above, a voice spoke.
"You don't belong here."
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We turned sharply, and there he was—perched atop a thick tree limb, his boots gripping the bark like a predator ready to pounce. His clothes were ragged, stitched together from various fabrics, showing signs of years surviving alone. His brown hair was unkempt, and his piercing green eyes carried the weight of someone who had lived a life of solitude.
He wasn't scared. He was studying us.
Ahsoka slowly lowered her sabers. "You're fast. Most people wouldn't be able to outrun a Jedi."
The boy didn't respond. He simply watched.
Shaak Ti took a step forward, her tone calm and measured. "You are different from the others here. You see the world in a way they do not. The Force guides you, even if you do not know its name."
The boy's eyes narrowed slightly. "I know what the Force is. I know what you are."
I stepped forward, unclipping Exar Kun's saber from my belt and holding it in my hands—not as a weapon, but as a symbol.
"We came looking for you, Qel-Droma."
His body tensed, and for the first time, I saw shock cross his face.
Then, just as quickly, it was gone. Replaced by something guarded, unreadable.
"That's not my name."
Ahsoka exchanged a glance with me. "We don't know your first name, but your bloodline carries weight. And it's brought us to you."
The boy exhaled sharply, shifting his weight. "I don't care about my bloodline. I don't care about the Jedi."
Shaak Ti's voice was gentle. "Then why do you run?"
He hesitated.
Then—
A deep, guttural roar erupted from the depths of the forest.
The boy's eyes snapped to the side, his body going rigid. "You need to leave. Now."
Merah's voice crackled through our comms. "Uh, guys? We've got a problem. Something big is coming your way."
Ahsoka ignited her sabers. "Guess we just found out what he's been surviving against."
I turned back to the boy. "If we help you, will you at least listen to what we have to say?"
His expression wavered—just for a moment.
Then, finally, he nodded. "Fine. But you better fight like you mean it."
I grinned. "Oh, we do."
The ground trembled, the shadows moving as something massive came into view.
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