The High Republic Adventures (2021) 9

The Padawans embark on yet another assignment! This time, they're headed to Takodana to aid the solitary Jedi who is defending the local Jedi temple from the ever-increasing threat posed by the Nihils. However, Qort finds it hard to concentrate as he confronts his own past amidst both emerging dangers and familiar allies.

Daniel José Older, the writer of this story and the bestselling author of Star Wars: Last Shot, along with artist Toni Bruno, bring IDW into The High Republic, a huge publishing crossover that encompasses both comics and prose!

Upon the Padawans' arrival on Takodana, Farzala Tarabal remarks on the planet's beauty, while Zeen Mrala comments that it reminds her of Trymant IV's former appearance, and Ram Jomaram makes a comment about Nymeve Lake. Lula Talisola then inquires of Qort whether he recalls anything about Takodana, given that he once resided there, which prompts him to close his eyes and reflect.

In a flashback, the pirate queen Maz Kanata is shown surveying the disarray at Takodana Castle while enjoying her morning beverage, complaining that everyone enjoys partying but no one wants to clean up the mess afterward. Her contemplation is disrupted by a knock at the door, but when she opens it, announcing that they don't serve breakfast, she discovers a trio of injured criminals. She asks them if they aren't too old to be playing practical jokes. The leader informs Maz that they are not attempting to prank her: they were transporting cargo, but some thing entered it and attacked them, and asks her to intervene. Maz is puzzled by their words, but then notices a box on the ground. Muttering about shenanigans, she opens it and is surprised to discover a blue-skinned baby inside.

In the present timeline, the Jedi starship is greeted by Maz and Jedi Master Sav Malagán from the local Jedi Temple. Both Maz and Sav express their surprise at seeing Qort after so many years, with Maz adding that he was much smaller the last time she saw him. Zeen and Lula are impressed, while Farzala admits he was unaware that Qort knew the legendary pirate queen, and Ram expresses his desire to be like Qort when he matures. Masters Kantam Sy and Torban Buck announce that they will be undertaking a preliminary reconnaissance mission through the nearby forests, and they bid the apprentices farewell with "May the Force be with you!"

Sav leads everyone inside to begin, and tells the Padawans about the Krill sisters, Bareen and Sabata, who she says defected from the Nihil and wish to assist them. However, she adds that it is up to them whether they believe their claims, as she remains skeptical. The Padawans share her skepticism, with Ram commenting that the day is full of surprises.

Some time ago, Maz leaves the infant with her steward droid, HURID-327, instructing him to try to quiet the child while she retrieves some milk. HURID replies that nothing seems to be effective, but he is startled when the child leaps from his box and onto the droid, proceeding to tear off the loadlifter droid's left arm and use it to attack him.

Back in the present, the Krill sisters insist that they have truly abandoned the Nihil, and Lula points out that although they don't trust the Nihil and have been fighting them for the past year, the Jedi do not believe in permanently ostracizing individuals simply because they have made errors. Lula concludes that the sisters should join them if they genuinely want to help defeat the Nihil, and Zeen adds that they will be closely monitored. Sav summons everyone to gather as they have preparations to make, which amuses Maz. In the Jedi temple's basement, Sav remarks that she hasn't needed to use any of this equipment since her Padawan days, which were over a century ago. Maz recalls the time when Sav went "undercover" with her pirate crew to participate in the Battle of Jedha, and the two share a laugh about Sav's Master's reaction and almost dying on more than one occasion. Sav then declares that the past is insignificant compared to the adventures that lie ahead, revealing a collection of cannons mounted on the wall. Farzala observes that this is not typical Jedi temple defense equipment, and Maz explains that this is a pirate planet and that she allowed Sav to borrow some equipment in case of trouble.

In the past, Maz returns with the milk to find HURID in pieces. HURID explains that he believes the child escaped to the basement, and Maz follows, commenting on the surprising amount of chaos the child created. Calling out to the kid, she finds him in one of her storerooms, wearing a skull.

In the present day, a probe droid is seen planting thermal detonators, only to conceal itself when Sav approaches with Qort and Lula, carrying some of the cannons. Elsewhere, in a control room, Bims tells Madoob that what he's about to show better be important, because the Toydarian is busy cleaning up the temple after Sav drove off a squadron of Nihil. After Madoob tells his boss to look, Bims asks the human to explain what the two are looking at as if he's a simple child, but when Madoob says it's ships, Bims demands more clarification, wanting to know the meanings of Madoob's summons. Madoob finally says that it's because it looks like they are under attack.

In the past, Maz concludes the story of the infant's arrival to her friend Farks while HURID tickles the child, noting that since the kid found the skull he hasn't destroyed anything more, although he refuses to remove it. Maz explains that since Farks was the one who gave her the skull in the first place, she thought the Patrolian might have some insight into what is happening. Farks explains that the skull is from a vonduun crab, and the child is wearing it because he comes from the planet Zav Alox on the edge of the galaxy. The Aloxians, Farks explains, are both incredibly violent and born immensely strong, which Farks presumes to be how they survive on a planet with those crabs.

The Aloxians send their children out to hunt the crabs at a very young age as an initiation rite, and the child wears the head of their first kill if they are not themselves killed. Farks explains that the Aloxians believe the skulls fuse with their wearers and conform to their heads, helping them to balance out their aggressive nature. Eventually, normally well into adulthood, the skull stops growing and the Aloxian's expanding head shatters it, which the species takes as a sign that the person has fully become their true self. Supposing that the child was kidnapped by Argoban raiders due to the Aloxians' value as child [soldiers](/article/soldier], Farks speculates that the child was separated from his helmet in order to increase his aggression. The Patrolian's speech is interrupted by a toy floating through the air, which catches Maz's attention as well. Farks is stunned into speechlessness by the child's display of Force powers, and Maz, commenting that this changes things, says she'll need to call Sav.

Presently, Lula has a question for Sav, who tells her to ask away as they mount a cannon in a temple window, although she can't promise she'll answer. Lula says that when people join the Jedi Order, they typically leave behind all the trappings of their families, lives and worlds, although Lula was in an orphanage so she didn't have a family. Sav asks if she's wondering why she wears a Kyuzo hat even though she's a Jedi, to which Lula says yes. Removing her hat, Sav says there's a story behind it as with most things, but the simple answer is that it's practical: it protects her from the light of Takodana's sun, it comes in handy when she needs to sled downhill fast, and it's a good plate in a pinch. Most importantly of all, Sav explains, it's an excellent weapon, as she tosses it to knock Sabata Krill's feet from under her.

Lula asks why Sav did that, and Sav reminds the pirate that she was warned she was being watched. Sabata says that she's innocent, which Sav scoffs at, saying she's been skulking around the temple since they started, demanding to know what she's hiding. Sav is contacted by Bims, who informs her that the Nihil have already returned and are coming at them full strength. Sabata runs, and Sav yells for her to be stopped as Qort chases her, but the pirate comments that Krix has perfect timing as she activates a detonator, setting off explosions throughout the temple…

Sav Malagán is the character who introduces the Krill sisters to the Padawans and explains that they have apparently defected. However, when they say that their defection from the Nihil is genuine a few pages later, Bareen says that Maz Kanata is the one who said this.