Young Jedi Knights: The Lost Ones

During a pause in their training regimen, Jacen and Jaina find themselves once more in the company of Zekk, their longtime friend who resides as an orphan on the bustling streets of their home planet, Coruscant. Zekk, characterized by his youthful exuberance and carefree nature, has never known true hardship…until now. He observes the transformations within his friends, noting the significant growth and learning they have undergone. In comparison, he feels like a mere child lost in the shuffle.

However, a figure of considerable power has taken notice of Zekk's untapped potential. This individual possesses a deep understanding of shame and envy—and the means to exploit them. They recognize the allure of the dark side of the Force, particularly for someone who perceives themselves as having nothing to lose…

Following a period of intense study at Luke Skywalker's Jedi Praxeum, Jacen and Jaina Solo journey back to their Coruscant home for a month-long respite. Accompanying them are their fellow Jedi students, Tenel Ka and Lowbacca, along with Em Teedee, the youthful droid companion of the Wookiee.

On the day following their return, Jacen and Jaina extend an invitation to Tenel Ka and Lowbacca to meet their friend Zekk, a streetwise orphan. Following a memorable encounter with Zekk, the group of five ventures into the depths of Coruscant's undercity, where Zekk has established himself as a scavenger—locating discarded or forgotten items for both amusement and profit.

During this particular expedition, Zekk guides his companions to a hawk-bat nest that he had previously identified. Jacen, eager to assist his friend, employs his unique ability to communicate with animals in order to acquire one of the hawk-bat's eggs. They successfully return to the apartment Zekk shares with his friend Peckhum, but not before enduring a perilous confrontation with the Lost Ones—a troublesome gang of juvenile delinquents led by the aggressive Norys.

Over a meal consisting of stormtrooper rations within the midlevel apartment Zekk shares with Peckhum—an experienced spacer who provided shelter after Zekk was orphaned—Jaina extends an invitation to Zekk to attend a diplomatic banquet held at the Imperial Palace in honor of the new Karnak Alphan ambassador two days hence. Zekk accepts the invitation and dedicates the following day to acquiring new attire in order to present a respectable appearance at the banquet.

On the appointed day, Zekk arrives at the Imperial Palace, where he is greeted by the Solos' protocol droid, who promptly informs him that his clothing is outdated and attempts to groom his hair. Throughout the ceremony, Zekk remains reserved, acutely aware of his lack of belonging. Zekk's discomfort escalates into a mortifying experience when he mistakes a floral arrangement for a salad, consuming it and subsequently complimenting its deliciousness.

Zekk remains silent for the remainder of the evening before departing from the Imperial Palace. In a daze, he wanders through the city's lower levels until he is approached by a woman who requests a moment of his time. He refuses, but is forcibly restrained by her accomplices. She proceeds to scan Zekk with a strange device. Upon his continued refusal to cooperate, Zekk is stunned and abducted.

Zekk awakens within a cell and is greeted by a man identifying himself as Brakiss. Brakiss apologizes for Tamith Kai's overzealousness and informs Zekk that he possesses sensitivity to the Force. Brakiss then initiates a campaign to persuade Zekk to train at his Shadow Academy, highlighting his potential, turning him against his friends, and questioning whether he desires a future beyond that of a mere scavenger.

Meanwhile, Jacen and Jaina are deeply concerned about Zekk's whereabouts. They repeatedly attempt to contact him via commlink, but their efforts prove futile. Eventually, Peckhum—who is off duty from his position as a caretaker of one of the Orbital Solar Energy Transfer Satellites—arrives at their doorstep, inquiring about Zekk's disappearance. To Jacen and Jaina, this signifies that something grave has befallen Zekk.

Jacen and Tenel Ka venture into the undercity in search of Zekk, maintaining constant comlink communication with the twins' younger brother Anakin and C-3PO. Simultaneously, Jaina, Lowbacca, Chewbacca, and Em Teedee accompany Peckhum on a flight to the OSETS he oversees, aiming to perform necessary repairs to prevent its complete failure.

While navigating the undercity, Jacen and Tenel Ka encounter Zekk delivering a speech to a gathering of uncharacteristically subdued Lost Ones. The reason for this becomes apparent when Tamith Kai emerges after they confront Zekk and question his actions. Jacen and Tenel Ka are stunned and left behind.

While aboard the OSETS, Jaina and Lowbacca seize the opportunity to map the debris field surrounding Coruscant—a project they initiated after learning that a shuttle named the Moon Dash had collided with something in Coruscant's orbit. During a break, Jaina reviews footage of a previous incident near Coruscant, in which the bulk cruiser Adamant was hijacked by an Imperial strike force that seemingly materialized from nowhere. She contemplates the perplexing presence of short-range fighters—unequipped with hyperdrive—during the raid.

Lowbacca—who has been meticulously charting space debris—identifies an odd anomaly—an area of space inexplicably devoid of any debris. Concurrently, Jaina receives a communication from Jacen, who informs her that the Shadow Academy is conducting operations on Coruscant's surface. Convinced that these discoveries are interconnected, Jaina instructs Peckhum to focus the light reflected from the OSETS mirrors upon the anomalous region of space as a fleet of New Republic vessels converges on the same area. However, the fleet arrives too late, and the Shadow Academy escapes, leaving behind a message pod.

Jaina retrieves the message pod and opens it on Coruscant's surface. Its contents consist of a central multitasking unit that Zekk had intended to give to Peckhum, along with a message for his former friends, explaining his reasons for choosing to train at the Shadow Academy.

The Jedi trainees, particularly Jaina, experience profound disappointment as a result of Zekk's decision. Their vacation is prematurely terminated, and Luke Skywalker swiftly transports them back to Yavin 4 to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.

• ISBN 9781572970526 ; December 1995 ; Berkley Boulevard ; US paperback [1]
• ISBN 9780425169995 ; March 15 , 1999 ; Berkley Jam ; US paperback [3]