[Junior Jedi Knights] -05(25)

Tionne brought the Lore Seeker down on the landing field, where Luke Skywalker was waiting for them. As soon as she opened the exit hatch, Anakin and Tahiri tumbled out of the ship, anxious to greet Luke and share their news with him.

“We’ve got some surprises for you, Uncle Luke,” Anakin said.

“Just wait until you see what we’ve found,” Tahiri said. “You’ll never believe it.” Her green eyes danced with excitement. “We’ll have to let Tionne tell you the biggest news, though.”

Tionne came out of the Lore Seeker then, followed by ArtooDetoo, who burbled a happy greeting.

“It’s good to have you back, Artoo,” Luke said. “From all the excitement, I take it you found the lightsaber.”

“And more,” Tionne answered, holding out the Holocron for him to see. “Master Ikrit has the lightsaber with him.”

“But where are Uldir and Ikrit?” Luke asked, looking at the new Holocron with wonder.

“There,” said Tionne, pointing to a speck above the treetops with a proud smile.

“We found a new ship, and Ikrit’s flying it,” Anakin explained.

“A really old ship, actually,” Tahiri put in.

Luke’s eyebrows went up. “That certainly is interesting news,” he said. He watched with fascination while the ancient ship landed a short way from the Lore Seeker and Ikrit and Uldir got out.

“Welcome back,” Luke said. “Let’s all go inside where you can rest and share your news with me.”

“What did you name the ship?” Tahiri asked Ikrit as they walked back toward the Great Temple.

“It’s a good name,” Uldir said, but he seemed distracted. The teenager stopped and looked up at the sky, as if still thinking about their adventure and the strange Mage they had met.

“I have named her the Sunrider,” said Ikrit.

“After Nomi Sunrider?” Tionne asked with a delighted smile.

“Yes, the Jedi Master who lived long ago,” Ikrit said.

Everyone approved of the name.

When they reached the base of the Great Temple, Luke started to climb the steps that ran up one of its four sides. Tahiri groaned and stood as still s if her bare feet were rooted to the ground.

“Um, Uncle Luke,” Anakin said., “would you mind very much if we went in through the hangar bay and took the turbolift?”

Luke raised his eyebrows at the unusual request. Tahiri giggled.

“I think we’ve all had enough stairs in the past few days to last us a long, long time,” she said.