Cold air, clean and pure. That was Dan's first thought, as the ship opened to the light. At the foot of the ramp, a pair of human workers waited, faces bored as they chatted to pass the time.

"I wonder if old Vornest will gain the support we need?"

The woman who spoke had vibrant, blue hair, and a tattoo on her left cheek.

"Who knows, but Abram is certain he will, so the company is pressing forward..."

The man, bearded and weary, stopped his words as Ultron strode from the scout ship. The A.I. stood a head and shoulders over the pair, his expressive face locked in a grimace of disdain.

"Master, this place is a primitive wasteland... are you certain this galaxy holds an advanced civilization?"

"Be nice Ultron," May chided the mechanical man. "We're here to get permission to build our home here, not make enemies."

"Ruff, ruff!"

Bear snapped at Ultron's heels, an attempt to herd the indignant machine.

"You get him, Bear!"

Dan laughed as he walked from the ship. The light on his skin filled him with a burst of energy. It sharpened his senses, filled his muscles with a comfortable force.

"Hey, you can't have a battle droid in this city!"

Blue hair eyed Ultron with a fearful stare. Droids were common enough, but it seemed Ultron still drew attention.

"He's not a battle droid, he's... an advanced R&D model," Dan walked forward, hand extended. "He's an expert in advance technologies of all kinds, one of the best mechanics in the galaxy!"

"Well, just make sure he follows the rules..." The woman shook his hand and winced. "You're strong for a little kid!"

She wrung her hand, a glare on her face.

"Sorry!" He flexed his hand in surprise. "I don't know my own strength."

"Stop crushing people's hands and introduce yourself! I'm May, and this is Dan."

"Nice to meet you," Blue hair glanced down at Bear and Stormy. "What are those things?"

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The woman's eye's held a desire that Dan understood. The need to scoop up a fluffy creature and cuddle it.

"This is Stormy," Dan hefted the little kitten in one hand. "And this goof is Bear."

"Hello Bear," Blue hair leaned down, stars in her eyes. "It's nice to meet you!"

"Woof, woof, woof!"

The small pup ran circles, just out of her reach. He barked an alert, an anxious warning for his masters.

"It's alright, Bear," May scooped the silly puppy into her arms. "Sorry, he's a bit wary of strangers."

"That's ok..." The woman's eyes watered. "Maybe we can become friends over time."

"Sure!" May smiled. "It's good for him to socialize with new people, I'll bring him to visit the port again sometime!"

"Not to be rude," Merlyn waved a hand. "But the daylight is burning, and we must secure the rights to build a home on this world."

"Building rights?" Beard scratched his chin. "Most of this planet is free for development, but if you want to build in or around the city, you'll need to visit the central office."

"Hmmm..."

Dan turned to May, eyes raised in a question.

"How about we go get permission, we can build a small house here, and find a place on an empty continent to build the main homestead?"

"Sounds good," Dan turned to blue hair. "Which way to the central office?"

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"Hmmmm..."

A small, green figure stirred from his meditation. The lights from countless windows filled the air with an orange glow. Yoda stood to face the cityscape, a frown etched onto his face.

"Sense a disturbance, do I... a great shift in the force."

The Jedi Grandmaster closed his eyes and reached out. The future, which had long become muddled, was now a complete blank. A void that gave no hints.

"Call the council, I must!"

Conviction filled his eyes. Without an eye on the future, the danger to the order was great. The dark side was insidious, it would spread its influence without close observation.

Slow, yet driven by purpose, Master Yoda made his way back, into the comfort of the Jedi Temple.

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"Impossible!"

A blast of dark-blue lightning ravaged the air, a cascade that ruined several valuable experiments.

"Who is blocking my vision of the future?"

Rage filled the eyes of the man responsible for the destruction. Palpatine, whose greatest advantage over his master lay with his future sight, was now blinded. His vision was black, as was his mood.

"Could it be Master..."

If Plagueis discovered his plans, everything he'd worked for was lost. His rage vanished, absorbed by the empty pits of his eyes. He would be patient, careful, as he always was. Perhaps it was a trick of the Jedi, or some great event that brought chaos to the force.

"Still, it's best to be prepared," He waved, a gesture that summoned his apprentice. "Darth Maul, I have a mission for you..."

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"Remember, when you lay a hand on the current, it must be without direction."

A woman, dressed in simple white robes, lectured a small group of students. They stood in a field of green, just outside the conclave walls.

"But Master Wialu, how can I get the result I want, and have no direction..."

"The White Current doesn't provide us with what we want," Wialu smiled. "It makes us the tool through which the force can express its flow."

She waved a hand and the conclave behind her vanished from sight. No energy was taken from her, yet her illusion covered over a mile.

"We can only let the force move as it should, the rest will come. The current knows what we need, better than we ever..."

Her words caught in her throat, lodged there by an oppressive force. Something had changed. The current had shifted, swelled to a turbulent rush. An unknown element flipped the board. It mocked the flow and remade the ocean itself.

"Master, are you alright?"

A student placed a hand on Wialu's shoulder and broke her free of her paralysis. She jumped, heart in her throat.

"Class is over for today, continue to practice when you can and we'll meet again next week!"

Wialu vanished from sight, her students left to stare in confusion.

"Master Wialu, how are we supposed to find the conclave!"

The Master of the Fallanassi had no equal when it came to illusions, and she'd forgotten to reveal the settlement.

"Master!"