Private Tales of the Jedi Underground: Mission to Shador

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Elias Edo​

Lorn caught the last of the freed slaves stumbling from the mangled hatch. He steadied a Twi'lek woman, then shoved her toward safety.

A deep metallic groan tore through the bay. The shuttle gave out completely, lurching forward. It slammed nose-first into the deck and erupted in a fireball. A heavy wave of heat crawled over his back. He turned, cloak whipping in the blast, and guided the refugees farther from the wreck. Smoke rolled upward, staining the ceiling black.

Dozens of slaves clustered together, still shackled in pairs. Lorn moved through them, cutting the binds one by one. The golden blade flashed quick and clean. Chains fell to the floor with dull clangs. When the last of them was free, Lorn exhaled, scanning their faces. They were exhausted and bruised, but alive.

Elias approached, his own strength clearly drained. Lorn spoke quietly. "Most of them look healthy enough. They'll need food, water, and time."

He paused, watching Elias a moment longer, a faint smile crossing his tired face. "What you did back there, holding that shuttle…"

Lorn shook his head, his tone caught somewhere between awe and gratitude. "I've seen Jedi Masters lose focus under less strain. I can't imagine the sheer will it took to keep that ship grounded."

He clasped Elias' shoulder, the gesture steady and sincere. "Thank you. I couldn't have done this without you."

 

[Elias Edo]

MISSION TO SHADOR
(Soundtrack: Under Cover of Night - Halo Infinite)

"I did what I had to," Elias said stoically. His eyes were fixed on the freed slaves, but when he felt Lorn's hand on his shoulder, he flashed a small grin. It was never like him to show pride on the battlefield, especially not since his return from the Netherworld, but this... this felt different.

Freeing slaves was taxing work, but something Elias never got his fill of. He'd spent his formative years as a fresh-faced Knight in the NJO breaking slave rings all across the Outer Rim with Tarus Undara before his friend was lost to the Maw. After the Battle of Tython during the SGHW, Elias' ventures took him back to the Core, but he found himself once again combatting slavers during his tenure with the Rimward Trade League. That had been the last time he fought the good fight.

Today was more than just a mission to him, it was a rejuvenation. A pessimist might remind him that they only saved a half-dozen slaves when there are millions more who will die in chains, but to Elias, that was six souls spared that fate by his hand. And by Lorn's.

"But I couldn't have done it alone, either," Elias told the Jedi beside him. He patted Lorn on the should and nodded an unspoken gratitude that didn't need to be said aloud. He hoped Lorn knew how much this mission meant to him.

Tags: Lorn Reingard​