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VERENA LIT UP her green lightsaber and addressed her padawan as another vibration shot through the Destroyer and shook everything violently around them. They were running out of time. . .

'Jaira, I'm going to try and slice through the debris. I think I can see a path without collapsing the air vent any further, but just in case: stay on your guard and use the Force if something falls down. I am counting on you.'

Jaira stared at her Master and slowly shrugged in a sort of agreement. 'Sure. No pressure, or anything.'

Verena ignored her and stabbed her lightsaber through the metal. The steel around the saber heated up and first turned into a fiery orange colour until it was white hot.

Slowly but steady, the metal started to melt and boil. It crept down to the floor like lava and hissed when it came in touch with it. However, since the heated metal was no longer in contact with the green energy, it also quickly cooled down and didn't burn through the floor.

Verena described a wide circle, big enough for her and Jaira to get through. When she reached the starting point again, she retracted her saber and used the Force to pull the metal circle out of the improvised opening.

It soared through the air and Jaira, who had been standing close behind Verena, suppressed a curse as she barely dodged it. It flew close by her head, causing her auburn hair to flutter in the process.

'A little warning next time, Master.'

'My apologies, Jaira,' Verena said while the metal landed with a clatter in the hallway behind them.

They stepped through the opening, into the darkness and crept through the air shaft until they reached the other side of the hall. Verena used the same technique to create another opening, but this time pushed the metal plate away from them.

Till both of their surprise, the hallway behind it was covered in a total darkness as well. Why was the power out? And where were the engineers? It was eerily silent when the ship itself didn't shook, and goose bumps appeared on their arms.

'Master, I have a bad feeling about this.'

Verena nodded and lit up her lightsaber once again. 'Stay vigilant.'

Carefully, they stepped out of the air shaft and into the dark and empty hall. The only sound was their breathing, and the green energy of their lightsabers were the only light sources as they were too deep into the ship. There were no windows here.

Their senses felt heightened but they wondered if it was because whether they were predator or prey.

Both startled when Obi-Wan's voice suddenly shot through the communicator.

'Verena, we have found what the manual override looks like.'

Verena took a deep breath to calm her nerves and bring down her heartbeat. She took the communicator out of her pocket and waited for him to continue.

'It is a handle behind a panel in the wall nearby the generators. Do you copy?'

'We copy, Obi-Wan. We are on our way but the lights are out. Something is definitely wrong.' The words faded away when farther up ahead, a blue lightsaber lit up. Its humming sound accompanied Jaira's and Verena's lightsabers, and the padawan frowned. Was there another Jedi down here?

But then, a second one: a green one lit up as well. And another blue saber, and lastly, a green fourth one.

A coughing laugh filled the air and heavy thuds boomed and echoed against the walls as the sabers came closer by.

'General Grievous,' Verena said between gritted teeth.

✧✧

JEDI KNIGHT ESTEL BARIYAAN SMIRKED, his hazel coloured eyes traveling Freia's body up and down as he waited for her to reach his speeder. The Jedi Temple towered high behind her, its many towers reaching to the clear blue sky whereas the gigantic statues of the Four Masters stood watch by the Eastern entrance. 

'Please don't look at me like that,' Freia said while she tried to hide her annoyance. She climbed into the seat next to him and crossed her arms over her chest.

'Are we going or what?' she asked when he didn't even apologize but smiled broader instead.

She could feel his body warmth and breathed in his body odor -- a mix of leather, gasoline and oranges -- when he leaned towards her and reached past her, grabbing the seat belt and fastening it for her. She slightly shook her head when she realised what she was doing, snapping out of it.

'Safety comes first, Freia,' Estel said, showing off his perfect white teeth while he pronounced her name as if it was the name of a goddess itself and rolling the r in a pleasant tone.

Freia kept her eyes focussed straight ahead as she huffed, covering up her embarrassment. 'Let's go. The Chancellor is waiting.'

Estel chuckled but started the engine of the speeder and with a roar, it came alive underneath them.

They set course for the Senate Building and Estel parked the speeder in the assigned spot by the Guards. He quickly jumped out of the speeder and ran around it to offer his hand to Freia.

However, Freia forcefully smacked his tanned hand away. 'I can do it myself.'

Estel shrugged, not at all taken aback by her hostility and looked around the courtyard in front of the building as Freia climbed down without his help.

'I didn't know Aramis and Astaldo were coming as well?'

Freia turned her head in the direction Estel was looking at. Two Senate Guards stood in front of them, lecturing them with a loud voice about respect when Chancellor Palpatine showed up behind them as well.

Freia walked towards the group and Estel followed close behind.

'Am I now?' they heard the Chancellor ask Aramis and Astaldo. 'I thought I had a meeting with Jedi Knights Freia and Estel.'

'You are,' Freia said, frowning when Aramis send a pleading look in her direction. What had he gotten himself into now?

Chancellor Palpatine turned to her, a smile lay upon his wrinkled face but it didn't quite reached his eyes. It never did.

'My dear Freia,' the Chancellor said, reaching for her hands. 'I was just on my way to my office, I had not expected you yet. Not until a few more minutes, at least.'

Freia crossed her arms, hiding her hands in the long sleeves of her brown cloak so that Palpatine couldn't take them in his own. He might be the Chancellor but she would choose the company of Estel over his any time.

A shadow crossed Palpatine's face but it was gone as soon as it came. 'These Jedi claim they have a meeting with me as well. Is that right?'

Freia glanced shortly at Aramis behind him.

'Please,' he said inaudible.

She nodded at the Chancellor. 'A last minute order from Master Windu,' she lied with a straight face. Aramis was going to owe her for this.

'Very well,' Chancellor Palpatine said. 'Follow me to my office then.'

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characters introduced this chapter:

Jedi Knight Estel Bariyaan by ShockerGuardian1731

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