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"The Lost Ones": Book 3 in the Young Jedi Knights series


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chapter 1:


Aboard the Millennium Falcon, Jacen and Jaina, along with Tenel Ka and Lowie, are traveling to Coruscant for a month-long break from their Jedi training. Jacen tests out a new joke on Jaina: their Uncle Luke sleeps for one Jedi night. She suggests he tell it to Zekk instead.


Zekk is a friend of theirs on Coruscant who escaped a natural disaster on his world and has traveled the galaxy since then. He’s a friend of Old Peckhum who delivers the supplies to Yavin IV and sometimes helps him.


Then the twins practice shooting space debris and Jacen tries to beat Tenel Ka at the game table before landing. They are welcomed home and the guests are assigned rooms. Feeling that hers is too opulent, reminding her of the Hapan Royal Palace, Tenel Ka moves her mattress to the floor.

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  • We got reference to Zekk in the Junior Jedi Knights book Anakin’s Quest.



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chapter 2:


The next morning, they eat breakfast whilePO tries to encourage them to stay in and take classes with Anakin.


Jacen offers the Corusca gem he found on GemDiver station to his mother, but she tells him that she would prefer he find some special use for it himself.


Han confirms that the children are going to be spending the day with Zekk and their mother cautions them to be careful. There is a diplomatic banquet tomorrow night and she doesn’t want any of them injured.


They meet up with Zekk who takes them someplace he found while wandering the city. Along the way, Jacen notices etchings on some of the buildings. Zekk explains they belong to a street gang called The Lost Ones. They are made up of orphans and abandoned children. He has, so far, managed to avoid trouble with them, but he’d rather not risk that today.


He is also surprised by an Old Republic shuttlecraft that they find. The shuttle looks in pretty good shape, although the driver obviously died years ago. He plans to come back later and salvage it.


They finally reach their destination, the wreckage of a construction crawler where a Hawk-bat has built a nest. There are four eggs in there and Zekk can live for a month on just selling one of them.


Tenel Ka strings her rope and Jacen climbs down to grab the egg. The Hawk-bat returns and Jacen uses the Force to convince her to give up just one egg that will be given to a zoo where the baby will be admired by visitors its whole life.


The mother acquiesces and Jacen climbs up, telling Zekk the deal was for one egg only and to hurry out of here as Hawk-bats have short memories.

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  • Zekk didn’t say anything about selling the egg to a zoo. I hope Jacen can ensure that it goes to one.

  • Perhaps, the Old Republic shuttlecraft crashed during the battle over Coruscant at the end of the Clone Wars?

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chapter 2:
The next morning, they eat breakfast whilePO tries to encourage them to stay in and take classes with Anakin.
Jacen offers the Corusca gem he found on GemDiver station to his mother, but she tells him that she would prefer he find some special use for it himself.
Han confirms that the children are going to be spending the day with Zekk and their mother cautions them to be careful. There is a diplomatic banquet tomorrow night and she doesn’t want any of them injured.
They meet up with Zekk who takes them someplace he found while wandering the city. Along the way, Jacen notices etchings on some of the buildings. Zekk explains they belong to a street gang called The Lost Ones. They are made up of orphans and abandoned children. He has, so far, managed to avoid trouble with them, but he’d rather not risk that today.
He is also surprised by an Old Republic shuttlecraft that they find. The shuttle looks in pretty good shape, although the driver obviously died years ago. He plans to come back later and salvage it.
They finally reach their destination, the wreckage of a construction crawler where a Hawk-bat has built a nest. There are four eggs in there and Zekk can live for a month on just selling one of them.
Tenel Ka strings her rope and Jacen climbs down to grab the egg. The Hawk-bat returns and Jacen uses the Force to convince her to give up just one egg that will be given to a zoo where the baby will be admired by visitors its whole life.
The mother acquiesces and Jacen climbs up, telling Zekk the deal was for one egg only and to hurry out of here as Hawk-bats have short memories.
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  • Zekk didn’t say anything about selling the egg to a zoo. I hope Jacen can ensure that it goes to one.
  • Perhaps, the Old Republic shuttlecraft crashed during the battle over Coruscant at the end of the Clone Wars.

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chapter 4:

Zekk takes them back to the mid-level apartments on Coruscant left empty by those who left the world after the many devastating battles fought over it. Old Peckhum is there and takes the egg, stating he’s heard the Chief of State herself may be looking for exotic animals and this might do the trick.

They joke that the last time they saw him, he was cornered by a large creature on Yavin IV. He admits he was more frightened than he’d been in a dozen years. Right now, though, he’s servicing the orbital mirrors above the capital. It’s safer.

However, it’s also boring. The food, temperature and entertainment systems up there don’t work very well and the New Republic cannot allocate resources up there for just one man. Jaina thinks a multitasking unit could be malfunctioning and needs to be replaced.

Zekk believes they could find one in the old shuttlecraft he found. He can get it for Peckhum before he leaves and the others offer to install it for him at their next opportunity.

Their friend brings them food which turns out to be old Imperial stormtrooper rations he found in the under-levels. They don’t taste like anything but have nutritional value. Jacen and Jaina invite him to accompany them to a banquet tomorrow night at the Palace.
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  • The large creature incident occurred in “Heirs of the Force” chapter 3
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chapter 5:

While Lowie spends time with his uncle and Tenel Ka checks out the local obstacle courses, the twins head to Coruscant polar caps with their parents and brother the next morning.

It’s nice to just spend time as a family. Anakin says they’ll have more chances when he returns to the Jedi academy.

Leia reminds them of the banquet that night for the ambassador from Karnack Alpha. That system is near the Core which still contains some Imperial strongholds. Therefore, it’s important to make a good impression. Karnack Alpha places a high value on children, which is why she wants hers there. Jacen and Jaina mention they invited Zekk and beg her to let him come. She is reluctant to do so because of Zekk’s street background, but gives in, mentioning they will invite Lowie and Tenel Ka, too.
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  • Anakin has already been to the Jedi Academy, according to this chapter. This says to me that the Junior Jedi Knights books which stated that Anakin had not previously been at the Temple, are running concurrently with these.
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chapter 6:

Zekk had found some old formal clothing in Peckhum’s stash and traded some artifacts for a formal jacket. He doesn’t want to embarrass the twins. When he arrives, however, C 3PO insists on helping him groom, mentioning that the outfit was quite stylish several decades ago.

Leia Organa Solo herself is friendly, but is obviously surprised by his attire. Jacen and Jaina look like different people in their formal wear and cannot help but notice Zekk in his odd clothing. They assure him, as C 3PO fusses about his hair, that Zekk should just watch what everyone else is doing and play along.

Tenel Ka is dressed in nice-looking leather skins from Dathomir and Lowie is freshly scrubbed. Tenel Ka is familiar with the customs of the natives of Karnack Alpha. They are unusual, but easy-going.

When they are announced, the guests are seated. Leia gives an address and presents the rare hawk-bat egg to the ambassador who is reknown for her love of exotic creatures and for her humane, environmentally-progressive zoo. The ambassador is delighted with the egg, especially since it was retrieved by children.

Tenel Ka spots C 3PO about to commit a rare breach of etiquette by serving the ambassador first, so she assists him and serves the children first, youngest to oldest. The ambassador is pleased that they are honored so. She is especially happy when Tenel Ka has Anakin present the ambassador’s plate to her, according to the custom of her people.

Though the food is delicious, Zekk is afraid of doing anything wrong. The salad in the crystal bowl is unusual, but better than the food he’s used to. He pushes the empty bowl back and compliments the salad. Uncomfortable stares greet him and he checks to see if he’s spilled something on his clothing.

Jaina whispers to him that it wasn’t a salad, but a bouquet. He wasn’t supposed to eat it. To save Zekk from being too humiliated, Leia tells him she’s glad he liked the salad and reaches over to her bouquet for a bite. The others quickly follow suit.

Zekk knows they are only trying to help, but he cannot help but being embarrassed. After the banquet, he rushes off without confirming plans with Jaina the next day.
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  • Wouldn’t the New Republic diplomats have studied the customs of the ambassador’s people so that they wouldn’t commit social gaffes? Isn’t that what diplomats are for? I’m surprised that C 3PO wouldn’t have known the proper serving order here.
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chapter 7:

As the space cruiser, Adamant heads into Coruscant space, Admiral Ackbar thanks the military escort and advises them that Coruscant security will take over from here. The ship is carrying some hyperdrive cores and turbolaser battery emplacements that are badly needed.

However, the Adamant comes under attack by an unidentified fleet that takes out the weapons systems. Ackbar has no idea how they could be attacked in the protective perimeter of Coruscant itself, but he knows help will not arrive before the attackers steal the Adamant.

Qorl, former Imperial TIE pilot, leads the assault, having timed it for when the military escort left. When Imperial stormtroopers board, they avoid shooting too much, lest they damage the bridge. The officers are stunned or knocked out. Qorl orders them stuffed into an escape pod so they won’t die when the assault shuttle detaches itself from the hull of the Adamant. They fought valiantly and deserve not to die while unconscious on the bridge.

When Ackbar awakens, he finds himself in an escape pod with a splitting headache, watching the Adamant disappear.
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  • Not a very good show of military strategy by Ackbar there, eh? And I guess kidnapping or killing the Supreme Commander of the New Republic forces wasn’t on the priority list for the Second Imperium?

 

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chapter 8:

On the way back after the banquet, Zekk kicks out in frustration at how he’d embarrassed himself and his friends. He’d had no business at that banquet. Wandering the streets, he consoles himself that, at least, he’s not a slave to a schedule the way Jacen and Jaina are.

They are constantly checking the time to make sure they aren’t missing an important appointment or worrying that stuffy protocol droid. They can’t make allowances for unexpected situations.

He doesn’t have to worry about a schedule or what utensils to use when eating or what to say to an important dignitary. He wouldn’t trade lives with them for anything.

He is approached by a tall woman who introduces herself as Tamith Kai. Her colleagues, Vilas and Garowyn, are going to test him. Zekk has to be held down as he resists while a paddle-like device is used to measure some type of power. Tamith Kai determines he’s one of what they are looking for and has him stunned.
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  • The paddle-like device is suspiciously like the one Luke found in Jedi Search that is used to determine a subject’s potential in the Force.
  • Vilas was the associate of Vonnda Ra in Shadow Academy . Apparently, he is now working with Garowyn and Tamith Kai.
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chapter 9:

Jacen and Jaina fret over the impression they made to the ambassador, but their mother assures them it went better than expected. The ambassador was impressed with the number of children at the banquet and also appreciated how they went out of their way to try to make Zekk feel better about his mistake.

She wanted to discuss an alliance right then, but Leia postponed it until morning so she could spend time with her own children. The ambassador decided that she had no doubts about an alliance now. Their father has stayed behind to tell her children a bedtime story. They guess that it’s “The Little Lost Bantha Cub”.
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  • We remember that bedtime story from the JA trilogy.
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chapter 10:

When the young Jedi return to meet Zekk the next morning, he is nowhere to be found. They wait for some time, hoping he’ll return. Lowbacca suggests that Zekk might need longer to recover from his embarrassment. They leave a message and return the next day.

However, Zekk is still not there. Old Peckhum has already gone to his job at the orbital mirror station. They decide it’s time to search for Zekk and go to the twins’ mother for help.

Leia shows them some footage of an attack above Coruscant recently. They confirm the ships involved are some of the same who attacked GemDiver station. There’s something else that tugs at Jaina’s mind, too.

However, Leia assures them that Zekk can look out for himself. It is not uncommon for him to disappear for a few weeks. They’ve known him for a long time and he knows the city better than anyone. It’s likely he’s just hiding out after his mistake last night.

She tells them that at least three other teenagers have vanished from Imperial City recently. The New Republic simply doesn’t have the resources to search for every missing person, especially if they may not be in trouble.

The students decide to look themselves.
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chapter 11:

Zekk wakes up and begins pounding on the doors. Brakiss enters and tells him that he is at the Shadow Academy. He explains that Zekk has Force potential and can learn to use that here.

His friends don’t remember the Empire and neither does Zekk. He only knows what they tell him and everyone knows that history is written by the victor. Zekk’s life wouldn’t change if the Chief of State were replaced tomorrow.

He points out that Zekk’s so-called friends obviously never considered that he might be strong in the Force. After all, they never invited him to the Jedi Academy or even recommended him for testing. The long time that he’s known them, they’ve obviously never noticed his abilities.

Zekk tells Brakiss that his friends will come looking for him. Brakiss points out that Zekk really has no business in their world and they will soon return to their more important duties.

Zekk remembers that Jacen and Jaina had been kidnapped and taken to this place. Brakiss points out that they may have considered the Shadow Academy less luxurious than what they are used to. He made a mistake by recruiting high-profile candidates whose disappearance would be investigated.

But now he and Tamith Kai are searching the underworlds of Coruscant for students with just as high a potential as those from well-to-do backgrounds. These Jedi students can make a name for themselves here. He offers Zekk a snack and orders he be moved to a nicer room.

He tells the others he doesn’t think there’ll be more trouble from Zekk. In the meantime, Qorl reports that the cargo from the Adamant is being unloaded now.
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  • Didn’t Anakin see Zekk making a delivery with Old Peckhum in JJK book Anakin's Quest? Zekk has definitely been to the Jedi Academy before even if it wasn’t an invitation to be tested or trained there.
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chapter 12:

The shuttle Moon Dash runs into an unidentified piece of debris and explodes.

Jaina agreed to be the one to stay home in case Zekk or Old Peckhum contacted them, but she’s regretting it now. By the time her mother comes home for lunch, she’s climbing the walls with boredom.

Han Solo comes in, responding to a message from his wife. She tells him that a shuttle exploded right after leaving Coruscant this morning. He’d heard about it, too. She explains that, while these crashes with space debris in orbit are rare, the Commissioner of Trade wants a more detailed map of the debris created so that they can arrange for safer space lanes.

This is a convoluted, time-consuming process that they just cannot devote resources to. Jaina offers to do it. She and Lowie spend several hours working on the project and begin to rethink the idea that it would be interesting.
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chapter 13:

Peckhum is irritated that he has to return to the station tomorrow because his replacement was reassigned. He enters his quarters and finds they haven’t been touched for days. Zekk is nowhere in sight. Assuming he’s with his friends, he checks messages to find several from the Solo twins, fretting over his absence and missed activities.

Knowing this isn’t like Zekk, he decides to go to the palace.

At the Solos’ door, Jacen lets Peckhum in. He confirms that no one has seen Zekk. The friends admit they don’t know the bad neighborhoods very well, but since Peckhum is back, he can report Zekk missing. Peckhum explains that Zekk has had some run-ins with security in the past. Getting the authorities involved might be more trouble than it’s worth. He thinks he’ll be able to think of places to search they won’t know about.
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chapter 14:

Zekk wakes up feeling refreshed, showers for a long time and changes into the only clothes left for him. He is sure Jacen and Jaina will sound the alarm, so he will just have to play along with Brakiss until that happens.

Brakiss takes him to his office and explains that he can show Zekk how to use his talents. Even if he returns to the street afterwards, he will be better off having control over his abilities, rather than relying on what he thought was simple good luck.

He shows Zekk how to manipulate the flame on a flare stick. Zekk is surprised to see how he can control how it moves. Wanting to know more, he is taken to the docking bay where he sees Tamith Kai and the other two glowering at him. Brakiss assures him they are just jealous of the attention he’s giving Zekk.

He shows him the hyperdrive cores they relieved from the New Republic. As the underdogs here, the Second Imperium must fight for itself. It believes in freedom, but not so much that it will allow aimless people to give up their potential. People like Zekk who have the ability to take care of themselves will help those less able to find purpose in life.

Brakiss gives him the flare stick, urges him to practice and think about what he’s said.
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chapter 15:

Peckhum gives them some ideas about where to look, but it’s clear that they could spent ages searching for Zekk and never find him, especially if he doesn’t want to be found.

He has to return to the orbital mirror station where he’s not going to be much good without decent communications. Jaina and Lowbacca offer to go with him and rig something that will bide him time until major repairs can be made. Meanwhile, the others will stay down here and keep searching.

Using comlinks, Jacen and Tenel Ka keep in contact with Anakin and C 3PO. Jacen finds he enjoys spending time alone with Tenel Ka and wouldn’t mind her propping him up if he injured himself.

They explore all day, evading dangerous creatures, Jacen telling her that the Bantha crossed the Dune Sea to get to the other side and nearly being killed when a bridge falls beneath them.

When they come across the remains of the crashed shuttle, it looks disturbed. They take it as a good sign that Zekk has been here until they find the etchings of the Lost Ones on the ship.
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chapter 16:

The Lightning Rod is cramped with Peckhum, Jaina, Lowbacca and his uncle Chewbacca aboard.

They get aboard the orbital mirror station, admiring the view from it before getting to work on the comm. station. As the mid-day meal approaches, the Wookiees decide to concentrate on repairing the food processing systems.
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chapter 17:

Convinced that Zekk is being held by the Lost Ones, Jacen and Tenel Ka venture deeper into their territory. Jacen tells her that the difference between an AT-AT and a stormtrooper is that one is an Imperial walker and the other is a walking Imperial.

Tenel Ka suggests he reach out in the Force to try to sense his friend. He gets the faintest tingle and moves further down, hearing a familiar voice. They follow the voice until they find Zekk speaking with Norys and the other Lost Ones.

Zekk starts to look happy to see them, but composes himself. He asks them not to ruin this for him. Tamith Kai is there. Zekk explains that he has been found to have Force potential, which his friends would have known had they bothered to test him. They are all being given the opportunity to join the Shadow Academy . Any of the Lost Ones with Force potential will be trained as Jedi. The others will be recruited into Imperial military service with a chance for advancement. The Second Imperium doesn’t care about social class. They will be given equal opportunities. He tells Jacen that he doesn’t understand what it’s like to go without basic needs. The Shadow Academy is giving Zekk the opportunity to make a name for himself instead of judging him by how he lives.

Tenel Ka urges Jacen to back off while they can still leave. However, Garowyn won’t risk their meddling anymore and the two students are stunned by blasters.
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chapter 18:

Brakiss seals his door so he won’t be overheard speaking to the leader of the Second Imperium. He is delighted to see the transmitted image of Emperor Palpatine. Even Luke Skywalker had taught about how many things thought impossible can be done through the Force. The Emperor was thought dead, but has returned to lead this new Empire.

But he demands success and Brakiss is eager to prove his worth. The Shadow Academy is mined with explosives should things get out of hand here.

He reports to the Emperor that they’ve gotten the cargo from the Adamant to add to their arsenal. Recruiting those without hope from the underworld of Imperial Center is proving to be a better idea. The ones without Force potential are being trained as elite stormtroopers. Since they are familiar with the lower levels of the capital, they will be of use.

The Emperor is pleased and advises Brakiss will live another day.
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chapter 19:

Anakin and C 3PO, having returned home an hour ago, are concerned when Jacen and Tenel Ka are late and do not answer their comlink. When Anakin’s mother returns home, he explains how they went searching for Zekk and that the others are missing.

She knows Jacen would respond to his comlink if he could. Calling guards to help her, she sets Threepio to tracing Jacen’s comlink.

In the underlevels, they trace the signal into unfamiliar territory. One of the guards advises Leia that the markings are those of street gangs living down here. Anakin remembers how Jacen and Jaina talked about the Lost Ones who were trying to recruit Zekk.

Inside a building, they find the comlink and the unconscious bodies of Jacen and Tenel Ka. Bringing them back to consciousness, Anakin and Leia ease them up. The two teenagers explain how Tamith Kai came with Zekk and they recruited the Lost Ones to join the Shadow Academy. They believe Zekk is being trained as a Dark Jedi.

Leia decides this Second Imperium has caused enough trouble for her family and it’s time to do something about it.
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chapter 20:

With the bulk of the repairs done, Jaina and Lowie use the opportunity to get a better look at the space debris out there. Jaina examines her datapad of the attack on the Adamant.

From Ackbar’s description of the attack, Jaina knows that Qorl had been coordinating it. She’d hoped he would have realized the fallacy of returning to the Empire. She also notices something strange about the attack. It’s been bugging her, but she finally realizes what it is. The fighters attacking the ship are short-range fighters. They have to have come from somewhere close by.

Lowbacca agrees. In his examination of the area that the Moon Dash ended its journey, there is no space debris that could account for the damage it took. Something big is out there, but it’s not visible.

Jacen contacts them and explains their situation. Jaina points out that Zekk can’t use the Force, but Jacen reminds her that they just never noticed that Zekk’s luck at scrounging items was an example of his abilities. She’s very upset to think that he is willingly working with Brakiss.

She tells Jacen to have their mother contact Admiral Ackbar. The Shadow Academy had a cloaking shield and she has a good idea where it might be hiding. They’ll send the coordinates so a fleet can handle the situation before the Imperials are wise to them.

She has Peckhum shine the orbital mirrors on the coordinates, exposing the station. It moves out of the way. She surmises it was already preparing to leave the system. The New Republic ships appear and fire upon the station, but it is already moving and exits the system.
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  • That New Republic force got there fast. I know they are right there at Coruscant, but, in the past, it’s taken time for ships to leave the planet and get into space.
  • I’m not sure how Jaina knew Qorl was part of the attack on the Adamant by the battle footage. She’s never seen him in a space battle. Yeah, he flew the TIE fighter from Yavin IV while pursued by the Falcon, but that’s a bit different.
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chapter 21:

Jaina laments the loss of her friend as the Shadow Academy vanishes. The others pick up a signal coming from the empty space. They find that it’s a message canister. Lowie sends a transmission for the New Republic fleet to pick it up. Jaina remembers how her uncle told her Kyp Durron had hidden in one once, but she knows Zekk won’t be in this one.

Ackbar, several New Republic techs, and Jaina’s parents meet the group down on Coruscant. The message pod contains no explosives or biological material. It does, however, contain a multitasking unit for Peckhum.

There’s a message from Zekk explaining that he would never hurt any of them, but he’s been given an opportunity to better himself that no one in the New Republic ever offered him. He hopes to see them again some day.
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chapter 22:

Luke Skywalker greets his returning students on Yavin IV. He tells them that it’s not so easy to tell when someone has the potential to be a Jedi. Even Darth Vader never recognized that their mother was strong in the Force, though he was in her presence many times. They shouldn’t blame themselves for never realizing their friend had it, too.

The pull of the Dark Side is strong, but there is hope for everyone, including Zekk and Brakiss. Luke can sense a battle coming and the Jedi Knights will have to be ready.
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​End of Book 3

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