Holocron Heist

Year: 21 BBY

Location: Jedi Archives, Coruscant

Caleb is in the Archives again. Master Baas is busy right now, so Caleb has taken the time to read about the most important planets in the galaxy. After this, he will move on to the less important ones and go through them from the Core, to the Mid Rim and then finally to the Outer Rim. The Unknown Regions are also something he will read about, but that's not a priority for him. He is interested in learning about the planets that are strong in the Force and then about the others that are considered important for different reasons. 

Anakin brings his Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, to the Jedi Archives. She has messed up during a mission on Felucia when she refused to retreat. Now she is being punished with guard duty in the Jedi Archives. 

"I'm sorry I let you down," Ahsoka tells her Master. 

"I know. I was a Padawan as well, not that long ago," Anakin responds.

They walk forward to the Master Archivist of the Jedi Order. 

"Madame Jocasta Nu, this is Ahsoka Tano. She is to be your new security officer," Anakin says. 

"Hello, Madame."

"So good to meet you. Now the Archives are getting lively, with another young one present," Jocasta Nu says. 

Anakin Skywalker leaves them to it and makes his way out of the Archives to go back to the war. 

"Another young one? Is another Padawan being punished?" Ahsoka asks. 

"Not quite. Let me show you around," she says. 

The two start their way through the Archives, which is enormous. 

"There is more knowledge here than anywhere else in the galaxy," Jocasta says as Ahsoka marvels at the endless hallways and electronic texts. 

"Master Kenobi says there are even texts here that are forbidden to read."

Jocasta chuckles. 

"The Archives hold a great many secrets, 'tis true. Beyond this door lies the holocron vault. The holocrons contain the most closely guarded secrets of the Jedi Order," she explains. 

"Can we go inside?" Ahsoka asks. 

"Oh, I'm afraid not, my dear. I haven't been inside myself for years. Only members of the Jedi Council are allowed access. Guarding the holocrons is one of the most important duties a Jedi can be given, Ahsoka. Do you think you're up to the task?"

"Definitely."

They make it to another area after Jocasta has shown Ahsoka everything there is to her job. Caleb is busy reading with several holograms around him. Seeing him, Ahsoka calls out excitedly, thinking that the punishment she was given might not be so bad after all. 

"Caleb!"

"Hm? Oh, Ahsoka. What are you doing here?" Caleb asks. 

"I was put on guard duty and am helping out Madame Jocasta. She just showed me around. What are you doing here?"

"Reading mostly. Hehe, don't tell me, did you get punished? What did you do?" Caleb asks. 

"I made a mistake and didn't listen to a command I was given," Ahsoka sighs. 

"I will take my leave now, you two. Show Ahsoka anything, alright Caleb?" Jocasta says as she walks away. 

"Sure, Master Nu."

After the Master Archivist leaves, he looks at Ahsoka, who has taken the seat next to him. 

"It's good to see you, Ahsoka. So tell me what happened."

"My Master, Anakin Skywalker, Master Kenobi and I were on Felucia to evacuate the planet. The Separatists created a blockade around the planet, so we and our troops had to be evacuated ourselves. We were outnumbered, with droids closing in on Master Skywalker's and Master Kenobi's positions. I was somewhere else at that time. Master Kenobi explained to me via comlink that the group of droids I was chasing had been regrouping with the main force and ordered me to retreat."

"But you didn't?"

"I couldn't believe it. He was telling me to run! I insisted on continuing, but before I could, Master Skywalker set his gunship in front of me and my men and ordered us to get on. The next thing I know, I'm standing in front of the Jedi Council and am reprimanded, forced to do guard duty here for a while."

"Yeah, I know what you're talking about. I was in front of the Council not that long ago," Caleb reveals. 

"You were? Why?"

"Shortly after you left, Master Yoda approached me and asked whether I wanted to accompany him on a mission..."

Caleb goes on to tell the story of how he went on a mission, only to turn it into a solo mission, and then change the operation, securing a devastating victory for the Republic. Ahsoka is flabbergasted and can't believe what she's hearing. She doesn't believe Caleb for a while, but he assures her that he was also punished and wasn't allowed to attend lightsaber training for several moon rotations. 

As they talk, Ahsoka sees a Master approach and stands up, walking forward. 

"Good afternoon, Master Enisence," she greets him.

"Good afternoon, young one," he says, walking by. 

"May I be of assistance?" Ahsoka asks. 

"No. Uh, no, thank you, my dear. I don't want to bother you," Master Enisence says. 

"Oh, it wouldn't be a bother at all, Master. Things are slow right now. I'm just talking with my friend over there and am not doing anything. So I could use something to do."

"Then don't worry, spend some time with-... Thank you, I'll be fine on my own."

"...Okay..." 

Ahsoka looks after the man and sighs. She makes her way back to Caleb, who has continued reading, and sits down. Caleb looks at her amused. 

"What is it?" he asks.

"I have nothing to do. We can't even practice lightsaber combat, since I'm not allowed to leave here," Ahsoka groans. 

"Then how about some reading?" Caleb asks. "I am currently going through some of the most important planets in the galaxy. Want to check some of them out together?"

"I suppose. I have nothing better to do. So, which one are you reading about now?"

"Well, I read this small document. It's an academic paper from the High Republic Era. It describes a planet called Dagobah, which is supposed to be strong in the Force. But that's all I found on it so far. There are more of them."

"Yeah, what else?"

"Well, the most interesting one I found so far is called Tython," Caleb says, taking a few holopads into his hand. 

"Tython? I think I heard about it once. But I'm not sure," Ahsoka says. 

"That makes sense. Here, listen to this: Tython is a verdant, uninhabited, terrestrial planet located in the Tython system in the galaxy's Deep Core, positioned at the coordinates L-10 on the Standard Galactic Grid. It is orbited by two moons, with the primary being known as Ashla, and is incredibly rich in the Force. Areas on its surface include the Meridional Ice Cap and a more temperate region. Tython is home to several native fauna, including beasts, birds, butterflies, and small mammals. Tython was covered in forests, grasslands, and mountains. In ancient times, the Jedi built the Martyrium of Frozen Tears in the Meridional Ice Cap. Tython was eventually abandoned when the ever-changing hyperlanes in the region drifted away from the planet."

"Whoa, interesting," Ahsoka says. 

"Indeed. Listen to this: Shrouded in myth, some Jedi scholars made the case that Tython was the location of the Jedi Order's first temple, although in reality, it was located on the planet ####-##. The fabled planet was thought to have troves of holocrons and datacards filled with Jedi wisdom from throughout the ages, and if one were to discover it, they could gain access to unmatched power."

"What planet is that? ####-##?"

"That's literally what it says."

"How mysterious. What else do you-"

*Beep Beep*

Ahsoka's comlink chirps, and a second later, the voice of Master Yoda is heard. 

[Padawan, alert you must be. Sense deception, I do. Posing as a Jedi, the intruder is. Find Master Jocasta, you must.]

"A Jedi?"

"Let's go," Caleb says, and they run off, looking for the Master Archivist. 

They turn into a hall and hear the voice of Jocasta. 

"Bane, the two Jedi have turned around and are making their way towards you," Jocasta says. 

Caleb signals to Ahsoka, who nods. They move forward and find someone posing as Jocasta Nu, sitting in a chair and speaking to someone on a comlink. 

"Who are you, and what have you done to Madame Jocasta?" Ahsoka asks. 

Caleb kneels next to the Master Archivist, who is lying on the ground unconscious. She was knocked out, which is surprising, considering that she is supposed to be a Jedi. Caleb finds no excuse for such a thing. She is now officially too old for such an important position, in his eyes. The fake, Jocasta Nu, stands up from her chair. 

"The same thing, I'm going to do to you two," she answers Ahsoka. 

*VROOOOOM*

She ignites Master Nu's lightsaber and slashes it towards Ahsoka. Ahsoka blocks the attack and attacks as well. The fake Jocasta jumps over the fallen chair and runs off. But she is stopped by Caleb, who holds his lightsaber ready and uses Force Push. The fake turns around and attacks the incoming Ahsoka, and then blocks an attack coming from Caleb. But she is not prepared for this at all. 

She is somewhat agile, but doesn't possess a Jedi's skilled precognition. Caleb's attacks come in with precision, and he presses forward. Ahsoka attacks as well. Caleb blocks an attack, and Ahsoka kicks the fake, pushing her back. The two might not be used to fighting with one another, but Caleb feels the perfect way to solve this issue and therefore knows what he must do to work together with Ahsoka. 

He blocks another attack, forcing the fake to flee. But he doesn't allow that and uses the Force to pull her leg back. She falls to the ground. With another flick, the lightsaber flies through the air and into Caleb's hand. Ahsoka holds the fake at lightsaber length, gloating as she does so. 

"You may have Madame Jocasta's shape, but not her skills."

The fake transforms again, revealing his true face. 

"A changeling. No wonder she got in here this easily," Caleb says.

"Who are you? And what are you doing here? Who is with you?" Ahsoka asks. 

"They're in the holocron vault," the changeling says. 

Ahsoka calls her Master to inform them of what happened. 

"Master Skywalker. I've captured the impostor disguised as a Jedi. She says the intruder is in the holocron vault."

"Tell us, changeling, what could your partner want with a holocron? He would need a Force-user to open it," Caleb asks. 

"Really? So you think the one who hired them was a Jedi?"

"Not necessarily. You only need to be a user of the Force and not a Jedi to open a holocron. So, the one who hired them is either a Force user themselves or was hired by a Force user. Either way, someone with the ability to use the Force hired these individuals. And I would like to know who," Caleb says. 

"I don't know who hired us. My partner didn't tell me," she says. 

"Now, we both know, that's a lie," Caleb says. 

He moves closer to the changeling and holds out his hand, as if performing a Jedi Mind Trick. 

"Maybe your mind will tell me what you will not," Caleb says threateningly. 

The changeling's eyes widen in fear. She has heard of the Jedi and their 'magic' and what it could do. However, revealing who their employer is, is something she can't do. 

"I-I can't tell you-"

*BOOOOM*

An explosion stops Caleb from seriously trying to get the information forcefully. Ahsoka and he look to the side. She takes out a pair of handcuffs and puts them on the changeling. They lead the woman forward and meet Jocasta Nu, who has woken up. She holds her head in pain. 

"Madame librarian, are you alright?" Ahsoka asks. 

"I, uh, think I'm alright. Come, you two, we must call security," she says. 

Ahsoka, holding on to the changeling, and Jocasta Nu walk towards the holocron vault, where Yoda, Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker have arrived and see that one is missing. What none of them see is that a hooded figure is walking out of the Jedi Archives, hiding his features and holding something in his hands. 

A sudden pulling force affects the small blue cube the figure holds in his hand and causes it to fly through the air. The man tries to reach for it, but is too slow and lands in Caleb's outstretched hand. 

"I thought it strange that you think you could walk out of here, with this in your possession. Or at least, that's what I would like to say. But you almost succeeded," Caleb says. 

"Almost?" 

Cad Bane drops the pretence and pulls out a blaster with immense speed, firing it at Caleb, going for the kill. But the blaster shot is reflected by Caleb, who knew the attack was coming, having been warned through his senses beforehand. 

"ARGH!" Bane shouts in pain as the reflected blaster shot hits him in his right shoulder. 

Caleb walks forward, holding his lightsaber ready for a surprise attack. At that moment, Master Kenobi, Windu, and Skywalker come running around the corner, having heard the blaster shot. They stop, seeing the scene. 

"What is going on here?" Mace Windu asks. 

"This one tried to steal the Jedi holocron, Masters. I think you might want to ask him who hired him," Caleb says, handing the holocron to Kenobi. 

"Well done, Youngling. Prevented greater tragedy, you did, hmm."

"Thank you, Master. I hope I will not be punished for using the lightsaber in the library," Caleb says. 

"I don't think that will be necessary."

Everyone looks surprised to hear Mace Windu be the one to say that. It seems that Caleb has just risen in Master Windu's eyes ever so slightly. Caleb bows slightly, showing his respect, and then leaves, returning to his holobooks to continue reading. 

Caleb thought it weird that he didn't see a way to complete his task fully. He saw the way to win against the changeling as he fought, but there was something else about the situation that bothered him. After using his head, he realised what it was. So he positioned himself at the entrance and waited for the intruder to arrive. And he was right. However, there was something else bothering him. Something wasn't right, as if a darkness hung over the event, something he couldn't see yet, but which would affect him in the future.