Tales of the Jedi 4

Nomi Sunrider is now training with Master Thon in the ways of the Jedi on the planet Ambria. She is sitting outside with her daughter, Vima, who is occupied playing with a group of neeks. Vima gives chase to the neeks, leading them to the dangerous Lake Natth, where a couple of hssiss appear and quickly frighten the neeks away. Nomi sprints after Vima and rescues her by employing her battle meditation against the creatures, causing them to turn on each other.

Nomi cautions Vima to stay away from the lake. As she grapples with her developing Force powers, Nomi is plagued by uncertainty regarding her path as a Jedi. The influence of the dark side emanating from Lake Natth intensifies these doubts. Nomi remains haunted by the death of her deceased husband, Andur Sunrider, as she contemplates why the Force failed to protect him on the day of his murder.

When Vima inquires about her father's return, Nomi expresses her longing for it to be true but admits that she doubts they will see or hear from him again. Jedi Master Thon, aware of Nomi's suffering and sorrow, has given her space for several months. Through the Force, he perceives significant events unfolding in other parts of the galaxy. Thon envisions Nomi becoming a legendary Jedi, celebrated for her courageous actions for as long as the Jedi Knights endure.

In the Stenness Node, Gruna, the captain of an ore-shuttler, finds his Ithullan ore hauler under attack by the pirate gang led by pirate captain Finhead Stonebone. The security hired by Bogga the Hutt for Gruna's protection arrives, but their assistance is limited as Dreebo, the lone pilot, is shot down in his Light tactical fighter. Finhead's E-2 Asteroid Miners, the Marauder Starjacker and Stenness Raider, extend their long snouts into the ore hauler, siphoning off vast quantities of mutonium and taking prisoners.

Unfortunately for the pirates, they are soon captured by Bogga's Core Galaxy Systems Dreadnaught, the Enforcer One, which is en route to Bogga's private moon orbiting Taboon. A group of armed Weequay guards confronts the prisoners, forcing them to disembark from their marauder ships. Finhead is dismayed to discover that Bogga, the crime lord of the Stenness Worlds, has a presence in the system.

Back on Ambria, Oss Wilum completes the repairs on the damaged A-3DO, a process that took several months due to the planet's isolated location and the difficulty in acquiring spare parts. When Nomi inquires about Master Thon's choice of such a desolate place to live, Wilum explains that Thon sought to test himself and had pushed the dark side energies back into the wilderness. Nomi expresses her fear of Master Thon, but Oss defends him, asserting that he is the finest Jedi Master he has encountered, while cautioning that he can be intimidating and challenging.

Oss informs Nomi that he and the Twi'lek Tott Doneeta will be departing to aid Master Arca Jeth and his apprentices, Ulic and Cay Qel-Droma, in addressing the ongoing Naddist Uprising on Onderon. Nomi and Vima remain behind with Master Thon on Ambria.

On the Taboon moon, the Enforcer One delivers Finhead Stonebone and his fellow pirates to face Bogga's justice at his palace. Bogga is currently dealing with Gudb, one of his subordinates, who has failed to secure the Adegan crystals for him. Bogga threatens to offer him as food to his pet hssiss, Ktriss.

Shortly thereafter, Finhead is brought before Bogga to be "sentenced" for robbing Captain Gruna, a friend of Bogga's. Instead of executing him, Bogga decides to show "mercy" to Finhead and informs him of a problem involving Master Thon, who possesses his Adegan crystals.

Meanwhile, Nomi discovers that she can communicate with Master Thon through the Force. As her daughter Vima snuggles with a toy Ewok, Thon reveals to her that she will use the adegan crystals to construct her first lightsaber. However, Nomi is still haunted by the memory of killing the criminals responsible for her husband Andur's murder.

Thon assures Nomi that she acted in self-defense, not out of vengeance. He acknowledges her remarkable natural talent with the lightsaber. Nomi responds that she will accept her training as long as she is not required to wield a lightsaber. Despite believing that Nomi is destined to use a lightsaber, Thon concedes and invites Nomi and Vima on a tour of her world.

Before their departure, Nomi extends an invitation to A-3DO, but the droid declines due to his stiff joints. Nomi instructs A-3D0 that, should they and Master Thon not return, he is to take their ship and inform Master Chamma of everything that has transpired. While Nomi harbors fear towards Master Thon, Vima does not share her mother's apprehension of the alien.

Finhead, unwilling to confront a Jedi, rejects the job offer and requests a simpler task. Bogga orders a Weequay guard to release Finhead's first mate, Roko, from his chains. Graballa unleashes his Hssiss Ktriss on Roko, who is brutally attacked and killed in front of the other pirates and Graballa. Finhead reluctantly agrees to find and kill Bogga, who uses Roko's death as a cautionary tale to discourage ore pirates from stealing from him.

Bogga then forces Captain Finhead into his service, permitting him to continue his piratical activities in other systems but demanding that he pay tribute to him annually. As Ktriss expresses its dislike for Finhead's scent, Bogga orders the pirate to leave, reiterating his command to retrieve the Adegan crystals and the remains of Master Thon.