[Jedi Apprentice] - Special Edition - 02(2)

Though it had taken him a little while to get used to working with her, Jocasta Nu was beginning to grow on Qui-Gon. He generally did not like to use the usual channels for obtaining information. But he’d come to appreciate Jocasta’s straightforward manner. She never failed to provide Qui-Gon with the information he needed.

“Lately there has been increased activity at one of the higher learning institutions right here on Coruscant,” Jocasta said. “According to our sources, this is due to a professor named Murk Lundi.” She flashed an image of the Quermian professor onto a screen.

It was not the first time Qui-Gon had heard of Professor Lundi. An infamous galaxy historian, Lundi was popular with students and admired by his colleagues. Qui-Gon had even heard him called one of the finest historians of the era. But he did not understand what Lundi had to do with the dwelling found on Korriban.

“For the past several years Lundi has been narrowing his focus,” Jocasta explained. “Now all of his research and lectures revolve around the dark side of the Force. As his focus has narrowed, his student following has grown.”

Jocasta pushed several student texts toward Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. There were posters for Sith rallies and hand-drawn story strips showing Sith battles. “His classes are among the most popular on campus. His texts are so sought after they are difficult for students to obtain.” She paused for a moment. “But there were several of them among the items found on Korriban.”

So that’s it, Qui-Gon thought. The Council believes one of Dr. Lundi’s followers gathered the information that was found on Korriban.

Qui-Gon looked up to find Obi-Wan already gazing at him knowingly. Neither of the Jedi needed to say a word - their next move was clear.

It was time for a crash-course on the Sith.





CHAPTER 2


Obi-Wan pushed his way through the crowd of students and toward the back of the room without worrying about being spotted. It was not hard to lose himself in the throng.

The students on Coruscant were so varied that you would have had to be on fire to get even a second glance. Besides, Obi-Wan and his Master were the only ones not desperately pushing forward, trying to get a word with Professor Lundi before class started.

From his spot against the wall, Obi-Wan could just make out the Quermian teacher’s head swaying slightly on its long neck in the middle of the crowd. Apart from his advanced years and the small black apparatus covering one of his eyes, Murk Lundi looked a lot like the Jedi Master Yarael Poof. He was the same species, and had the same commanding presence. But there was something very different about Dr. Lundi, something chilling that Obi-Wan couldn’t put his finger on.

Across the room, Qui-Gon was also watching the professor, his eyes narrowed in steady focus. Had he noticed something else? In the din Obi-Wan considered contacting Qui-Gon on his comlink to hear his thoughts. But at that moment Dr. Lundi raised several of his arms, signaling that class was about to start.

More quickly than Obi-Wan could have imagined, the hoard of students found seats and the room fell silent. The course hall was enormous, yet every chair was taken. Every spot to stand or lean or sit was filled by a student, and at least a dozen hovercams recorded the professor’s every word for the students who could not fit inside the room.

Obi-Wan surveyed the crowd. Not only was the turnout impressive, but each student sat with rapt attention. After half an hour they remained riveted - there was no sign of drifting or feeling drowsy. Obi-Wan had hoped to spot a few students who seemed unusually drawn in or somehow conspicuous. As it turned out, he was the conspicuous one for looking around while the professor was speaking.

At the front of the room, Dr. Lundi paced in the narrow space not taken up by students. Taking small steps on his long legs, his body seemed to float as he spoke. Every now and then he paused, clearly enjoying his position and his ability to make the crowd hold its breath in anticipation of his every thought.

Murk Lundi was not at all like the teachers Obi-Wan had at the Temple. In the Temple, Obi-Wan’s instructors were like partners in learning, guides who wanted to help him discover things for himself and not just force their own opinions.

Obi-Wan did not appreciate the learning style he was seeing today. Yet the more he listened to Dr. Lundi, the more he wanted to hear. Soon he, too, was waiting for the professor’s next word.

“No being besides the Sith themselves has ever seen a Sith Holocron. There are rumors. Yes. There are also drawings and legends and myths. However, most historians believe that the Sith were so protective of their knowledge that they destroyed it themselves before letting it fall to the unworthy. After all, we are talking about beings who killed their Masters when they had learned all they could from them.” Lundi paused and looked at his students with a sly smile. “Should I be nervous about graduation day?” Then he went on.