Vilyam let out a loud yell of excitement as Deon pressed down on the acceleration pedal, the lush farmlands whizzing past him in a blur.
As the procession sped swiftly across the land, the farmers and children lining the route waved enthusiastically and cheered with great excitement, respectively; the city that had previously appeared as a distant, hazy silhouette gradually became fully visible and vibrant as they drew nearer.
Woah look at all the spaceships... So many people... I've never left the farm... This... Is incredible!
Vilyam's thoughts were completely scattered, his sapphire blue eyes reflecting the growing expanse of the city as it came into view.
He observed the various spaceships maneuvering around, noting the significant differences in their sizes and designs.
This included cargo freighters, Corvettes, Starfighters, and a particularly massive Capital ship that remained locked in high orbit.
Observing his son's expression, which seemed to constantly change, Deon spoke thoughtfully, "One day, I'm absolutely certain that you'll be able to command a ship of your own, capable of traversing the vast ocean of stars."
He paused before looking at Vilyam's eyes directly.
"However, it's crucial to remember that space is inherently dangerous, and anything could happen at any given moment."
Vilyam nodded fervently like a chicken that found food on the ground, causing Deon to laugh internally as he refocused on the road.
Such a good boy shouldn't be trapped in a place like this!
As the imposing gates of Ossus City began to appear on the horizon, Deon slowed his landspeeder considerably, carefully observing the guards stationed at the entrance.
Each vehicle was meticulously scanned before it was permitted to enter, while a line of five other landspeeders of various sizes waited patiently for their turn to pass through.
Eventually it was their turn at the gates and the two guards on either side of the gate began approaching with some kind of wand which they waved around the car.
"Dad, what are they doing?" Vilyam asked, slight confusion etched on his face.
Deon nodded at the guard on his side of the landspeeder before looking back towards Vilyam.
"They're checking for contraband, explosives, and illegal weapons; there have been issues in the past!"
As the scanning wands swept across the landspeeder, they emitted a series of high-pitched, whining noises.
However, after a brief moment, the guards completed their examination and waved them through.
Deon found themselves progressing at what felt like a snail's pace compared to the speed at which they had traveled through the farmlands outside of the city.
As they navigated the urban landscape, Vilyam could be seen staring in wonder at the vast array of alien life that populated and thrived within the city itself.
Alongside the diverse array of beings like Twi'leks, Zabrakis, Ugnaughts, and Mirialans who were also present, there was also a solitary Hutt who was accompanied by a substantial group of Aqualish guards.
These guards formed a protective formation around the Hutt as it proceeded with a noticeably sluggish gait through the bustling city.
The landspeeder came to a stop directly in front of a store.
What was immediately noticeable was the display of various large pieces of farm equipment positioned prominently in the front of the building.
This arrangement served as an obvious advertisement, effectively communicating the type of products they specialized in without requiring any signs written in a specific language.
Deon stepped out of the landspeeder along with Vilyam, the two walking towards the entrance of the store side by side.
However across the street, neither were aware of a robed figure staring at them from the shadows between the buildings.
The peculiar figure turned abruptly around, and in the blink of an eye, he burst forth with a speed that was utterly beyond the capabilities of any ordinary mortal.
He then disappeared completely, heading directly towards the direction of a large, yet remarkably humble temple.
As Vilyam entered the store, navigating between the various aisles stocked with handheld farm equipment, he observed Deon engaged in conversation with the clerk.
This particular clerk was a half-human, half-Zabrak man, distinguished by facial features that appeared noticeably softer and more refined compared to the typical Zabraki male.
He possessed fewer horns and the tribal tattoos were less pronounced than what was usually seen amongst his purer kin.
Vilyam quickly picked up a peculiar farm tool; it looked remarkably like a high-tech shovel.
He then pressed a button located on the handle, causing the blade of the shovel to vibrate at such an incredible speed that it appeared as a blur.
This rapid movement also produced a distinct, high-pitched whine as the blade displaced the air around it.
Elsewhere in the center of Ossus City a humble but large temple blended in with the surrounding buildings.
Within the temple's interior, a robed figure walked along a central path.
The areas flanking this path were designated as training and sparring grounds for force-sensitive children, serving as a crucial preparatory step before they were eventually sent off to the Tython Academy for more specialized instruction under the tutelage of the most prominent Jedi masters.
The robed figure moved with an air of confidence, yet maintained a humble and respectful gait as he approached the inner area of the temple.
He eventually arrived at a set of thick, imposing wooden doors, which he pushed open with surprising ease, as if they were weightless.
The hooded man's robe flapped gently in the resulting airflow, briefly revealing a cylindrical device resting at his waist.
He stepped inside and bowed before a cat-like humanoid with respect and reverence.
"Master Adega, I have news of a force sensitive child who has just entered the city!"
The Cathar master floated effortlessly, cradling a glowing blue holocron in his hands as he was deep in meditation.
He slowly opened his eyes, revealing a set of piercing green eyes characterized by vertical slits, and fixed his gaze upon the hooded man who remained respectfully bowed.
"Tell me about this child!"
The Cathar Master's voice resonated with such depth that it seemed to physically vibrate the stagnant air within the temple's confines.
He extended a hand, and the glowing blue holocron responded by closing and then floating smoothly towards a wall, emitting a distinct, clicking sound as it settled into its designated position.
"Yes Master..."
The hooded Jedi went on to explain what he saw and more specifically what he had felt in the Force.
"It felt as though the Force itself was making his presence known, resonating like a powerful drumbeat echoing through reality. I can't find any other way to truly express the feeling, but it is absolutely imperative that we bring this child into the fold of the Jedi before those darker powers can discover him!"
Following his explanation, the hooded man proceeded to remove his hood, revealing a human being.
This individual had dirty blonde hair that was neatly cut, complemented by deep brown eyes and thick, dark eyebrows.
"Hmmm, I agree with your assessment, Knight Gnossian. Gather one more Knight as well as your Padawan's, and retrieve him. Don't forget to let his father know the situation; the last thing we need is another distraught parent trying to burst into the temple!"
The Cathar Master floated to the ground, his feet landing softly on the ground before turning and activating a brilliant green lightsaber, beginning to perform a set of basic yet profound movements that left Knight Gnossian in awe before he shook his head.
"Acknowledged, Master. I will ensure he is brought directly to the temple."
As he walked back outside the central chamber of the temple he could not help but think.
Watching Master Adega perform those intricate maneuvers always fills me with a profound sense of awe. I often find myself wondering if, someday, I might actually manage to achieve even a small fraction of the skill and mastery he possesses.
Minutes later four people each hooded and armed left the temple and headed towards the business sector of the city.
Returning to the store, Deon had purchased a vibro-hoe, as well as the shovel that Vilyam had activated just moments before. Together, the two left the store, carrying their new equipment.
They had only put the equipment in the back of the landspeeder when suddenly they were surrounded by men in hoods.
"Sir, we are going to need your child to come with us to the temple."
The leading hooded figure stepped forth
"We sense a deep and profound connection to the Force within the boy, and he will need to be trained, otherwise he could cause lives to be lost if the Sith Empire gets their hands on him!"
Deon was in fact reaching for a weapon that was tucked inside his jacket, but the mere mention of the Sith Empire made him hesitate and pause in his action.
His other hand was reaching for Vilyam, firmly placing the young boy behind him protectively.
"You cannot just take him, I won't allow it, I cannot allow it!"
The hooded figure, who had been the apparent leader, finally took off his hood, revealing his true identity as Knight Gnossian.
"Sir, this is not a request that you want to refuse. If the Sith Empire gets their hands on him, he will suffer in ways that you couldn't even fathom!"
Knight Gnossian's brow furrowed.
"They likely are already aware..."
The Knight's gaze drifted towards a specific direction, where he noticed a shadowy figure intently watching him through a single-lens scope.
As soon as the man realized he was the target of the Knight's scrutiny, he quickly ducked behind a nearby wall, seeking to conceal himself from the Knight's piercing gaze.
"Sir please come with us, the Master will explain everything!"
After a few moments of thoughtful consideration, the Knight Gnossian offered a courteous gesture in the general direction of the temple.
Deon promptly pulled William along with him, and as they began to move, the mysterious hooded figures quickly formed a protective triangle around them, ensuring their safety as the Knight Gnossian led the way.
Further in the distance, a shadowy figure cautiously peered over the top of the wall, a palpable apprehension evident in his posture.
He held the scope in his hand, and it shook notably before he finally regained his composure.
The man stepped out of the shadow he was hiding within revealing himself to be a skinny and gaunt faced human with a balding head and a goatee.
He moved toward the landspeeder with a series of swift, almost urgent steps.
Once he reached the vehicle, he quickly reached into a hidden pocket that was cleverly concealed.
Inside, he found a small, puck-like device.
Without hesitation, he carefully stuck this device to a discreet, inconspicuous area on the landspeeder.
As soon as it made contact, the device sprang to life, activating instantly due to its magnetic properties.
The man left the scene and returned to his perch before activated a wrist mounted communicator.
"The tracker is active, we will wait until they leave the city and make our move when they least expect it!"
The communication device let out a distinct chirp, and someone on the receiving end responded to it in a very brief and concise manner.
"Confirmed!"
The man continued his observation, all while carefully maintaining the appearance of being a low-class local.
While this occurred Deon and Vilyam stood at the main gate to the not-so-hidden Jedi temple, both staring up at it with awe for different reasons.
Deon found himself appreciating the minimalist architecture, finding it surprisingly mundane.
However, he also noticed that this simplicity somehow loops back to a sense of opulence.
Vilyam, however, had the distinct feeling that the very walls of the room were singing directly to him.
The sensation was strikingly similar to the way he remembered the Uneti tree where his birth mother was buried, but there was a key difference.
Unlike the tree's sound, which was a diffuse and somewhat chaotic resonance, this singing was focused and deliberately measured, almost like comparing a distant lone singer to the sound of a large, harmonious choir.
While both Deon and Vilyam were gazing at each other in awe, the massive gates suddenly swung inward, revealing a spacious courtyard brimming with lush greenery as well as perfectly placed boulders and trees.
Following this, Knight Gnossian politely gestured for both of them to step inside and continue their journey.
As Vilyam stepped inside, his gaze fell upon a diverse group of children engaged in various training activities.
Some were diligently practicing with training swords, while others seemingly focused intently on boulders, attempting to manipulate them into levitating.
This is incredible...
Vilyam thought as both he and Deon moved towards the central chamber.