Tales of Enlightenment: New Prospects

Keth Cerepath, an assistant at the Jedi Temple, encounters a disheartened prospector. She shares a chilling tale of her encounter with pirates, which ultimately led her to Jedha.

Keth Cerepath, who works as an adjunct at the Temple of the Kyber located in Jedha City, concludes his workday. Dissatisfied with his current circumstances, he yearns for thrilling escapades, but for the time being, he finds solace at the tapbar called Enlightenment. Upon entering the bar, he acknowledges the Twinkle Sisters who are guarding the entrance. He also observes the regular staff of the establishment. The owner, Kradon Minst, is in conversation with an unfamiliar human woman. Keth then joins two other frequent patrons, Moona and Piralli, and explains that he was delayed due to having to adjust his sarcastic droid, P3-7A, who is forbidden from entering the bar. Moona and Piralli tease Keth about his droid, before Chantho, the bartender, inquires about Keth's order: retsa.

Keth inquires about the identity of the newcomer, and Piralli explains that she is a prospector who ended up there after a job went awry, and Kradon is now trying to extract information from her. In response, Keth observes that Enlightenment is quite busy this evening, a situation that will only intensify if a planned festival proceeds as scheduled. Kradon interjects, stating that it will be beneficial for business, and greets Keth before introducing the group of regulars to Saretha von Beel, mentioning that she is in need of employment. Saretha adds that she also desires a drink, but Kradon clarifies that she lost all of her funds following an incident. Moona asks what occurred, and Saretha reveals that pirates, Jedi, and creatures were involved. Intrigued, Keth offers to purchase her a drink in exchange for her story.

After consuming a glass of retsa, Saretha recounts that she was operating from Batuu when she was ambushed by pirates after a hyperspace jump. Upon regaining consciousness in a cell aboard the pirates' ship, she noticed a Jedi in the adjacent cell. He remarked that their meeting was unfortunate, and that ownership of material possessions was ultimately temporary. Piralli comments that the Jedi sounds like Keth's peculiar droid, and Saretha elaborates on the unusual personality of Master Lee Harro, who was displeased not because of his imprisonment, but because he would have to escape. Harro employed the Force to retrieve his lightsaber and break free from the cell, leaving Saretha behind. Moona expresses her belief that a Jedi would indeed act in such a manner.

Saretha continues her narrative. Harro returned after defeating all of the pirates and confining them in the ship's hold, and released her, before accompanying her back to her ship. Keth is puzzled as to how the pirates could have captured Harro if he escaped so easily, and Saretha reveals that the Jedi had permitted the pirates to capture him because they were travelling in the same direction as he was and he required transportation. Piralli is confused, and Saretha clarifies that this is simply Lee Harro's personality. He had intended to travel to an Outer Rim planet called Vexos for research purposes, but lost his ship on Chardis, and "got in the way" of the pirates on Batuu to continue his journey. However, he had felt compelled to assist Saretha.

Moona inquires about the subsequent events. Saretha explains that she felt obligated, and offered to transport Harro to Vexos herself. However, she did not anticipate that Vexos would be teeming with enormous monsters, and Master Harro, along with her starship, was devoured by one of them. Keth is taken aback, and Moona accuses Saretha of fabricating her story. Saretha insists on the truthfulness of her account, and Keth asks how. The prospector responds that she will require another drink to complete the story. Keth feigns a sigh and signals to Chantho to replenish Saretha's drink, contemplating that his evening is improving.

Piralli, under the influence of blue mappa, questions Saretha's narrative, asserting that "You can't be eaten by a monster and then live to tell the tale." Saretha consumes her retsa and asks Piralli if he has ever been in close proximity to a monster. Piralli responds in the negative, and Saretha emphasizes her point, seeking support from Keth, who is also astonished by the tale. Saretha adds that she will enlighten them and cautions them that the remainder of the story is not for the faint of heart. Kradon remarks that the most compelling stories are not. Keth surveys the room and observes that nearly the entire bar, including the owner, has moved closer to Saretha, captivated by her story.

Keth summarizes her story, stating that "after escaping the pirates, even though they'd stolen most of your credits, you took Jedi Knight Lee Harro to the planet he'd been trying to reach?" Saretha confirms that the planet Lee wished to visit was Vexos, that he requested politely, and that it was the right thing to do after he rescued her and her ship. Moona suggests that Lee employed a mind trick on her, but Saretha dismisses this, stating that "Harro isn't like that" and that she knew what she was doing. However, she was unaware of what she was getting into, believing that there would be settlements on Vexos, but the planet is entirely uninhabited. Chantho refills Saretha's drink as she continues her story. Saretha describes the planet as consisting of stone cliffs, black rocks, and a complete absence of civilization. Saretha explains that Harro was there because his research had led him to believe that a sect of Force-users once resided on the planet.

Moona questions her decision to follow Lee, but Saretha defends herself, stating that she thought there might be relics or something that could compensate for her losses. She would also feel guilty if she abandoned him on a deserted planet. Saretha continues, saying that she followed Lee into one of the gullies, through the wilderness, and through the rain. Saretha described it as "a perfect hunting ground" and says that this is the point where they nearly got eaten by Strostodons. Saretha describes strostodons as giant birds with two legs and a beak. She continues her story, saying that Lee was searching for the entrance to an old cave system when the pack of strostodons attacked them. Saretha attempted to climb the nearby vines, but one of the birds caught her by the leg, and she displays the bandaged scar on her leg to everyone at the bar. Before she could lose her leg, Lee used his Jedi powers to control the strostodons and pacify them. Saretha wishes he had done that sooner as she pulls her pant legs down covering the scar. Lee made the strostodons leave but before they could move they heard a huge rumbling sound and the ground erupted.

A worm emerged and swallowed one of the strostodons before disappearing back into the ground. Saretha, standing frightened, looks at Lee, who suggests that they allow themselves to be swallowed by the worm to enter the caves. Lee explains to Saretha that the dozens of worms on the planet are parasites that block the caves. Piralli suggests that they should have killed the worm, but Saretha explains that Jedi do not like harming innocent creatures. Piralli believes that Lee is insane, and Saretha agrees. She explains that the worm is an appendage of a larger creature, so she and Lee could use it as a tunnel and avoid the pools of acid before exiting through the worm. Saretha describes it as an unpleasant experience and she believes she still has a stink smell in her hair. Lee slowed their descent through the worm with the force and they passed by the strostodon being digested. As she's going down, she notices many other throat holes connecting to the same place and she believes the worm had grown from inside the rock. The two exit the worm into the cave system.

Saretha describes the cave as having signs of inhabitants, a few primitive paintings, the remains of old pots, and a small chunk of rock. Saretha seemed pretty underwhelmed but Lee was ecstatic, especially for the strange rock. Lee reveals more to Saretha that he was on a quest to venture out to the frontier to find new ways to learn about the force. Lee collects his research for a few more hours before the two make their way out through carved steps in the rocks. When they emerge, the pirates are waiting for them to get their revenge on Harro. Saretha closes her eyes and puts her hands up, but Lee starts to whistle.

The flock of strostodons suddenly burst through and went after the pirates. Keth asked what happened to the pirates. Saretha responds that "if they didn't end up as worm food, they're probably still there now." Harro took their ship and headed towards his new exploration while Saretha took her own ship and had barely enough fuel to get to Jedha. Saretha pulls a rock out of her pocket and reveals that Lee gave it to her as a souvenir. She wishes she could see him again but doubts she ever will. Keth asks for the rock from Saretha and after analyzing it, tells her that it's pure Kyber and it would easily pay for the repairs of her ship. Saretha comments that Lee probably knew what he was doing giving the rock to her.

Saretha thanks Keth for the drinks and the small audience all move back towards their seats. Keth, Piralli, and Moona thank Saretha for the story. Saretha tosses the kyber into the air and comments that the next drinks are on her.