"I hope you folks clear out that temple real quick, because it looks like there's gonna be a lot to do up here real soon. We got bogeys. We've got a Gonzati-class and some fighters closing in from the east. I gotta peel out to shake the fighters but whatever you are doing in there, make it fast."
Balun heard the news of reinforcements, however continued to push forward in a bid to immobilize any further threat left within the room.
Jasper Kai'el
and the others would see to the downing of the Cruiser, yet the Temple consisted of two layers. An upper floor and a lower floor, all with numerous faculties of their own. It was difficult to tell what, if any, of them were still operable, yet the young man, with a brave heart, opted to leave the group to determine whether there were other pirates hiding from the fight that had come to their doorstep.
His first stop would be the Hangar, a priority in the case that these thieves were likely to make for a quick exit, knowing Force Users were clearing them out. Fortunately, the Hangar was on the ground floor and one of the larger areas built to maintain and store small to medium-sized craft. It wouldn't be long before Balun found it, sprinting down one of the Temple corridors and skidding on his feet into the open mouth of the massive hangar.
A wave of relief washed over Balun as the hangar bay door collapsed, sealing off any potential escape route for the Pirates. The absence of active power left the hangar in darkness, but the comforting glow of his lightsaber provided enough illumination to reveal the trapped starfighters.
His boots echoed quietly as he walked across the durasteel surface, his eyes scanning from left to right as he held his lightsaber high to illuminate the path before him. Though he could sense no signs of life in the Hangar, something else seemed to catch his attention—subtle but still on the edge of his mind. He could swear that he wasn't alone.
"
Wwhrrrrl" Something made an odd noise coming from the nearby Starfighter. It had been quiet, but Balun was sure he had heard it. It had sounded like a droid of some kind, binary if he had ever heard it.
"
Hey, come on out here. I'm not one of them, I'm not going to hurt you..." Balun spoke up, trying to reassure whatever had been hiding in the Hangar might actually take his word for it and present itself.
At first, there was nothing. No response. Balun frowned. Had he been mistaken?
"
I promise, I'm one of the good guys. I was trained by the New Jedi Order," Balun called out once more, and this time, he was met with a louder whistle, followed by the sound of something metal rolling his way. A
BB Model Astromech would come towards the young rogue, a blue and white little droid that still acted uncertain yet approached closely enough for his lightsaber to reveal its shape.
The little droid gave a series of beeps and chirps, questioning the validity of Balun's claim by enquiring who had trained him.
"
I didn't become an Apprentice until after I left, but
Kahlil Noble
and
Valery Noble
were head of the Jedi Council at the time" Balun admitted.
The droid appeared to know the names, something in its memory banks recalling the first of the two, and it soon whistled further. "
Veiere? Nah, I never heard of them. Why?" Balun asked, moving lower to one knee as he spoke with the droid.
"
He was your owner? Where's he at now?".
The droid gave a bleak whistle, almost as if sounding out its sorrow.
"
Oh....-Sorry," Balun said, the former owner having been killed by a Sith Lord. "
Well...-Look, it's dangerous here. Why don't you come with me for now? We can figure out what to do after these pirates have been taken care of.".