CHAPTER THREE
It had taken some effort, but Jaden had finally managed to land his starfighter at a Nyriaan settlement called Arumed. Disembarking from the Far Wanderer with R6, Jaden had the astromech droid begin scanning for life signals while he scanned with the Force for the thief.
As they entered Arumed, Jaden found very little population. A few humans were out and about here and there, oblivious to visitors, and an elderly Pa'lowick beggar staggered about with a Kowakian monkey-lizard, the latter who put on a little dance whenever someone walked by. As he passed the long-snouted alien, Jaden handed him seven credits before moving on.
After nearly an hour had passed, with little progress, Jaden sighed and said, "I think we've lost him. He could be anywhere on this planet and it's too dangerous to trek out into the wilderness."
R6 whirred, inquiring him on what they were to do next.
"I don't know," Jaden admitted. "We might need to go to the Alliance for help and conduct a survey of the planet. In the meantime, let's-"
He froze suddenly. A tingling sense prodded the back of his head, prompting him to turn around. A silver lightsaber was instantly aimed at his face; at its end was a young, dark-skinned human female, dressed in smuggler attire.
"State your name and business," she ordered sternly.
Jaden hesitated before speaking. "I am Jaden Korr, Jedi Knight. I am here pursing a thief who stole a Sith amulet."
"You'll have to do better than that," she said coldly. "What does the name Darth Glovoc mean to you."
Jaden blinked. "Darth what now?"
"Darth Glovoc. A Sith Lord of Revan's Empire."
"How would I know of him?"
"Have you at least heard of his name before?"
Jaden shook his head.
She sighed, deactivating her lightsaber and hooking it back onto her belt. Still staring coldly at him, she said, "You speak the truth... for now. Where is this thief that you are pursuing?"
"Isn't that the million-credit question," Jaden said dryly. "Are you a Jedi? Why are you on Nyriaan?"
She smirked. "Time to interrogate me now, huh? My name is Serra Kardi, and yes, I am a Jedi. The High Council tasked me with protecting the comatose form of Darth Glovoc, ensuring that no wrongdoers try to awaken him."
"Strange that I've never heard the very name of Darth Glovoc at the Jedi Temple."
"Not everything is made for you to hear," Serra said.
Jaden still couldn't help but feel skeptical. "Shouldn't they have sent a Master instead? Or are you a Master?"
"Sorry," she said, raising a hand. "You have exceeded your question quota. You and your trash-can can go about your business now."
Ignoring R6's protests at Serra's derogatory remark, Jaden said, "Aren't you the least bit concerned about the thief I'm chasing? If he stole a Sith amulet, then maybe he's come here to find Glovoc-"
The silver lightsaber blade reappeared while cold fury danced in Serra's eyes.
"Nice try," she muttered. "If you think you can get me to lead you to Glovoc's tomb that way, then-"
"What's going on, Serra?"
Both she and Jaden turned to see a hunched-over man walking up to them, using a walking stick to support him. A long, dark gray beard swayed from the chin of his aged face.
"Master Nomante," Serra breathed, not lowering her lightsaber. "This 'Jedi' is searching for the tomb."
"Do you know that for a fact?" the man asked, his bushy eyebrows raised. "And do please turn off your lightsaber. You're not going to make things easier like that."
Reluctantly, Serra did as told and deactivated her lightsaber, but did not reattach it to her belt.
Master Nomante then turned to Jaden and grinned. "I apologize for my great-niece. She can be a bit... saber-happy at times. Is that even a phrase?"
"I wouldn't know," Jaden said, smiling. "It's an honor to meet you, Master Nomante. Master Raun's spoken highly of you."
Nomante snorted. "I'm surprised to hear he's still around. The way he handles a lightsaber, I was always afraid he'd chop his own head off."
"I'm surprised you're still alive," Serra said pointedly. "You're pushing a hundred."
"Yup," Nomante nodded proudly. "By midnight, I will officially be a century old. Some of the people I knew back then can't say the same...."
"Right," Jaden murmured. "Anyway, this thief...."
"Yes, yes," the old Jedi Master said. "I heard your story and I believe it. It is more than likely that this thief is after Darth Glovoc. Come; Serra and I shall lead you to the tomb."
Serra frowned disapprovingly. "Are you certain that's wise, Master?"
Nomante grunted. "I've had a hundred years to live, at least ninety of them being spent as a Jedi. That's enough time to figure out what's wise and not."
* * *
"This the place?"
Varon Krul could barely hear his Veknoid partner over the sound of erupting geysers as they moved through the Steamfields of Nyriaan. Far ahead was a stone altar which Varon knew was somehow connected to Darth Glovoc. However, he was in no way certain; he had gotten this far by merely following his intuition.
As he cut down the hostile plants native to Nyriaan, Varon sensed the presence of beings skilled in the Force. Just as he lifted his gaze to the altar, a howl of fury echoed through the air. Emerging from the stone structure were deformed humanoid beings armed with spears and primitive blades.
Sao snarled as he raised the staff-like pike he carried. "Them in our way to place."
"Indeed they are," Varon murmured, readying his long-handled lightsaber. "Let them try to defeat us. They will only fail."
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