The Jedi From Earth: A Star Wars Story #Wattys2023

Part 125

April 13th,2016 Imperial Palace,Coruscant
Still keeping to their promise to fight each other Maarek and Jallar faced each other on a mat where they usually trained, Shawn sat on the side eating his dinner off to the side. Vess simply paced around them, "uh what're they doing?" Roganda asked walking in, Shawn swallowed then spoke "dunno Maarek was messing with a blaster pistol earlier and it went off that made Jal jump they argued then said something about solving it like Zygerrians" Shawn said his tone rising and falling, "and you're just sitting here eating?" She asked almost chuckling, "yep" Shawn replied, Roganda sighed rolling her eyes raising her hand at him "whatever". "Just get it over with" Vess said waving his hand,

Maarek charged and swung but Jallar dodged and punched him in the side but was elbowed in the face, the two stumbled away from each other "go Maarek kick his ass!" Lumiya yelled and Shawn almost laughed even Vess managed a faint smirk. Jallar swung again but Maarek caught his arm and hooked his foot around his ankle then tripped him shoving Jallar to the ground twisting his arm and pressing his knee into his back and held his other arm beneath his foot "looks like you lost" Maarek said and Jallar struggled then. Shawn finished his food setting the fork down in the tray which clattered a little as a small droid zipped over carrying it off, Jallar still struggled but Maarek was more muscled than him so it seemed meaningless. "You give up?" Maarek asked, Jallar sighed "yes", Maarek got off then helped Jallar up, Vess made a slow clap while approaching "you're good kid, Jal you did well too next time try not picking fights you can't win" Vess said. "I would've won if he wasn't so damned fast" Jallar commented grumpily moving his arm around while holding his shoulder, "or stronger" Maarek said. "Or just a good strategic move" a voice said from the large doorway,

Shawn stood up and saw Thrawn descending with his adjutant Captain Palleon, "Grand Admiral to what do we owe the pleasure?" Vess asked as everyone gathered around a little, "observing after all it's important to know the piece before placing it to the board" Thrawn explained in his deep authoritative yet calm tone. "And I've sent a probe droid which encountered an obstacle on a planet Mendes is familiar with I believe the one named Korra is from there no?" Thrawn asked, "yes sir" Shawn spoke up nodding "Stele you are familiar with the planet too?" Thrawn questioned "yes I am" Maarek replied, "good, the Emperor has ordered me to pay President Raiko a visit and Princess Leia is to bring an Earth politician with her I believe a powerful man" Thrawn said "regardless I want volunteers to accompany me",

"I'll go" Vess said, "I will" Shawn said "me too" Maarek said, "hey what about us?" Roganda asked gesturing to herself and Lumiya as Mara was on a mission to Malastare. "I cannot take all of you with me it'll become too public" Thrawn said and Roganda shrugged, "in that case we depart in an hour I will wait in the hanger for you three" Thrawn said in his low authoritative yet calm tone before turning around and walking away.

Afterward Shawn wandered around more, he often found himself very impulsive here at the palace its vastness just a constant yet in a manner of speaking fascinating like a scary story, Shawn was naturally curious of things that grasped his attention though if it were himself or the Force the answer never presented itself. He wandered around the upper levels where the halls were more colorful and not as bleak just adorned with same blood red rugs on the floor, up here Shawn felt a little more off...it felt as if he wasn't supposed to be up here and for a second thought he heard Vader's breathing echoing but it was his imagination. He passed in front of a doorway then stopped dead in his tracks,in here, a voice called out along with a faint whistle, Shawn was reluctant though but subconsciously began walking in the room the dim lights from the halls spilled in casting his long shadow across to the wall. The room was dark and creepy but Shawn looked to the right and saw it was a collection of novels on shelves, this was strange he'd never seen a book here in the greater Galaxy as paper was rarely used anywhere. The shelves themselves had holograms displayed just in front of the books showing the titles, Shawn got closer to the one he heard the whistle coming from and touched it,that was a mistake.