Last Stand

With all that had happened in the last day it seemed a lifetime since he had sat meditating with Master Aola and Captain Apollo. Never a dull moment, hmm? He smiled thinking about what Master Sikso would have said about all of this.

Pulling the thermal cloak around him he let the Force draw him in the right direction. There were people in need, so the Master would be here, somewhere. Perhaps she could offer some insight into the mystery of the Mandalorian Knight?

The area was quickly becoming full of people. Republic and locals alike were pitching in to construct temporary shelters, first for the injured, and then for the simply cold.

Despite that, it was easy enough for Zephrin to sense Master Mobok's familiar aura. While she was not a doctor, she knew enough to perform some basic first aid, and the calm and reassuring words of a Jedi were a boon to the wounded and afraid.

Her head turned as Zephrin grew close enough for her own Force senses, and she smiled, inclining her head to her fellow Jedi.

"Master Aola, I thought I would find you here." He offered a warm smile that breached the cold. There were quite a few seeking aid. Frankly it was a miracle of engineering that they were mostly dealing with injuries rather than deaths.

"Perhaps I can be of assistance?" His own medpack appeared. "I have a bit of a mystery for you too, if you have a moment?"

Zrphrin could feel the pace of the activity going on all around them. Hope seemed to be rising. Warmth and shelter would help.

With a slow nod and a smile, Aola agreed. "That would be most helpful, Knight Hayn. I believe most of the serious injuries have been tended to, but there's many minor ones." Indeed, it was mostly cleaning and bandaging scrapes and bruises at this point.

A Republic soldier sat down. He'd been working too long without enough protection, and his hands had some minor frostbite. Aola began preparing some water.

As she worked, she glanced at Zephrin with a thoughtful frown. "A mystery? How interesting. Please, tell me more."

The peculiar Miralukan Force Sight let Zephrin perceive where the worst of the damage was concentrated. He opened the medkit and took out some tools and remedies.

"Yes, Flora assisted me earlier with my own injuries. I expect she was kept busy with the worst of the cases this morning." Thete was a nod for the soldier. "We should talk to the locals, see about some cold weather gear for repair work and construction."

Once his inspection was complete he reached for his belt and removed the unusual extra weight. The Mando's lightsaber was placed carefully next to the bowl.

"I expect she was." Aola smiled. "Fortunately, Flora is up to the task. And more."

She did not expand on this. Instead, she focused on the object Zephrin placed on the table. She frowned, the frown deepening as she studied it further. "This does not belong to any of those who came with us." Aola looked up at Zephrin, still frowning. "Where did it come from?"

He nodded at the praise for their fellow Jedi and then returned to focusing on her through the Force. As expected, she was concerned.

"A Mandalorian was wielding it during the attack on the Armoury. I did not have a chance to note if they were trained in a Form." The Mando Knight had been brought down first.

"I see." Aola considered, her eyes on the lightsaber. Then, she reached out, gently laying one hand on it, closing her eyes. After a few moments, she shook her head. "I cannot sense much about this weapon. Nor have I seen it before. Although there is something familiar..."

Opening her eyes, Aola shook her head. "The Force may be strong with a Mandalorian, although their culture does not encourage cultivating that strength. But the secrets to constructing a lightsaber could only come from a Jedi. It could have been found, but it does not feel like an older weapon either..." Aola pursed her lips as she considered various possibilities.

Zeph nodded, considering the possible explanations. "There was something else. Tomin noted a symbol that these Mandalorians wore. My Force Sight gave it this shape."

Holding up his right hand he sketched the symbol in the air. "Perhaps just a unit marking. It is not familiar to me at least."

"If this was old, I would say theft from a Jedi Temple. Since it is new, perhaps a former Jedi has been teaching force-sensitive Mandalorians?" It seemed plausible. In a way it would have been useful to see what training the Mando Knight had.

Aola looked at it, and then shook her head. "It is not familiar to me either."

Her serene expression became a bit more frowny at the suggestion. "That would be concerning. The Mandalorian warrior culture is at odds with Jedi teachings. To engage in violence is to be tempted by the Dark Side." Slowly, Aola sighed.

She looked at the lightsaber again. "It could be a former Jedi. I wish we had access to the Archives. But perhaps the materials we have on the ship would help us find something."

A solemn nod was offered in agreement. Dark Jedi would be a bigger problem.

"Then I shall ask the ship's computer. If the databank survived the crash perhaps it can tell us something about all of this." He took the hilt and clipped it back onto his belt.

"I think it can wait until this evening though. I will stay and help you here Master. There is much to be done to make this area more habitable before nightfall."

"Very good, Knight Zephrin." Aola agreed. "Let us work together then, first on this problem, than the other. As serious as this may be, these people need our help."

She turned her attention, at least most of it, to the next patient. But her forehead was still creased with concern as she worked.