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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 4065836" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 566: SuspicionHorus was only slightly smaller than Loki. It was mainly due to the fact that he was rarely involved in the transport of anyone at all beyond his constant companion and pilot, Varis. Beyond the cockpit, there was a single quarters for Varis, a small mess area that doubled as a living quarters, and a cargo hold that wasn’t much bigger than Varis’ quarters. Everything else was left to internal organs and other vital systems, sealed off and safely protected.    Varis had provided some simple foods for Tobias and Master Ral as they sat at the small table in the mess. Of course, the food wasn’t the most wonderful tasting stuff, but it was better than starving. And it wasn’t rations, either. Just stored meats and vegetables that weren’t so much cooked as re-heated. The upside, though, was that they were all from Alraxia, and Tobias felt like he was back at home. Well, sort of. Home wasn’t so cramped.    Sitting across from Tobias was Master Ral, eating the food without commenting on it at all. Besides, Tobias was the one currently being interrogated, “I’m not sure what happened. I just...kind of...well, I don’t know. I reached out with the Force and kept reaching until I found something familiar.”    The Jedi Master nodded, accepting this without showing any question at all. Varis, though, glanced between the two of them before settling his gaze on Tobias, “That is all you did?”    Tobias’ face twisted into confusion as he turned to look at the other Alraxian. It was surprisingly easy to see a look of concern in Varis’ eyes, though the rest of his angular face showed none of it. Even the Force was calm around him. Very slowly, Tobias nodded and said quietly, “Um...yes.”    “Is something wrong?” Master Ral was able to somehow detect the same that Tobias did just by the tone of voice. Or maybe he sensed something. It sure as hell couldn’t have been from his eyes, as Master Ral was currently given a clear view of the back of Varis’ head.    Sitting back again and glancing to the Omwati at his other side, Varis said simply, “I was nearly three sectors away from here. The only reason I was able to arrive so quickly was due to a well-charter hyperspace route that led here.”    While Tobias was suddenly left with his mouth open, realizing what had just been said, Master Ral was not so openly surprised. His eyes shifted to his apprentice for a moment before looking back to Varis, “Where, exactly, were you?”    Then something odd happened.    The Knight did not immediately respond. Instead, he turned to Tobias. [Years ago, your father asked some of the Knights to assist him with his research into the ancient Jedi. I was searching for a planet mentioned in the archives that is on no charts but is mentioned several times in the records of the temples on Alraxia.]    The shock from before had suddenly faded at the serious tone that Tobias was presented with. As usual, he wasn’t actually asked a question. Rather, a situation was put before him, with a short background that would give just enough understanding, and then Tobias was stared at. He was expected to respond. But, like many similar situations he found himself in, this was something new. Tobias had known about Jyren’s interest in the Jedi Temples on Alraxia, but had no idea that there were actual Knights helping him. Knights actually going out into the rest of the galaxy following up leads to track down..something. Or nothing, maybe. That was another thing Tobias didn’t really understand. But that didn’t matter.    [You can trust him.] Tobias hoped he answered the right question.    With that, Varis gave the slightest of nods before turning back to Master Ral, “Horus and I were in orbit around Ossus.”    Though not unnerved by the silence that had been presented to him when Varis spoke with Tobias through the Network, Master Ral react to that. His eyes widened a moment and the Force around him nearly flared up with surprise. Both were quickly pushed away, though the Jedi Master’s voice retained his surprise at this new information, “Ossus is more than three sectors from Yavin. The fact that Tobias could find you so many lightyears away is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. In fact, that is something that I need to know to continue training this young man. Why, then, would you not tell me this immediately?”    This time, Varis bowed his head in a motion of apology, “You must forgive the deception. From what little I have seen, you are the perfect teacher for Tobias. His father would have been very proud of that. I would never do anything to hinder his training, but there are precautions I must take to protect myself and my people.”    Tobias couldn’t help but find himself slightly worried by the look that Master Ral turned his direction. But the Jedi Master continued to speak to the Knight, despite his attention on Tobias, “Forgive my suspicion, but you are doing nothing to alleviate it. You are part of a species of shapeshifters I have known nothing of before I met my apprentice. I know very well that you are very protective of your identities, and I have found no information at all with regard to where your people even come from. In fact, it seems to me that hiding that is of the upmost importance to your people. Now, I owe my life and the life of my apprentice to another of this mysterious species, but it comes with something else to arouse concern,” now, the blue-skinned Omwati turned to face Varis again, “Ossus is a dead world. It has been that way for thousands of years. There is nothing there but ruins and pain. I have seen it myself. In fact, the only people I have ever known that even know of that planet are other Jedi. And even then, they are Jedi that have spent a great deal of time learning about history. So do you understand why all of this information together would concern me?”    “While you do not understand why anyone else would have interest in that world, you connect pieces of information together and fear another invasion,” it was shocking how plainly Varis said that. But a moment later, he shook his head, “Our people value our secrecy because it is our only defense. If we were planning to act against your Republic, you and I would not be having this conversation and you would not be training the son of the Empress.”    It didn’t seem like Master Ral to have such an extreme concern, nor did it fit what Tobias knew for the Jedi Master to be so suspicious. But, taking a moment to think about it, it was hard to blame him. Tobias had said some things, yes, but he just naturally remained silent on as much as possible. It had just been ingrained in him to not talk about Alraxia while he was in the larger part of the galaxy.    But it seemed that Master Ral had returned to his normal self. His face was as calm as his voice, which returned to that sing-song-like quality that didn’t really mesh with how somber he always sounded, “I understand the desire for isolation. My own people still rarely leave Omwat for fear of how we will be treated. No, I do not believe your people wish any harm on the rest of the galaxy. In fact, I have only seen evidence to the contrary. I am still concerned, however, as to why you would be at Ossus.”    Again, Varis did not miss a beat and responded immediately, as if speaking to a superior officer, “There is a planet that should be near Ossus that has disappeared from every chart I have seen. This planet has been mentioned in several archives that were of importance to Tobias’ father. Horus and I were attempting to find this lost planet. Our interest in that world is nothing more than the desire for information.”    “You still hold back and keep the planet’s name to yourself,” a smile actually formed on Master Ral’s face, though, and he raised a hand to silence any response to that, “I do not wish it to appear I am not grateful for your assistance. You have said enough, and I thank you for it...but after all that we have been through, I believe it is time for some well-earned rest.”    “Of course,” Varis stood up to lead the way to the single quarters that was actually his, though he wasn’t about to sleep. Besides, he was more comfortable in the cockpit. As the other two stood up with him, both finally beginning to allow themselves to feel just how exhausted they were, Varis added with a glance to Tobias, “Despite what you may think, your father would be very proud of you. I am certain that he always wanted to see you follow this path and be a Jedi, even if he would never say it. You wear that weapon well.”</blockquote>

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