HEEJ, Pirtke Prov.-- Teivor Urll, a cute little blue-furred, black-eyed, newborn nonpareil in the tiny town of Heej, has the local farming community in an uproar. It seems this precocious poppet reads minds, snatches objects from mid-air and performs other awe-inspiring feats that have left local residents mind-boggled.

"He has strange and wonderful powers, just like the Jedi on the ?net," beams a proud Mom, 30-year-old farm wife Daiza Urll. "I went in to nurse him when he was two days old, and from across the room he yanked the feeder away from me. It flew right through the air, straight to his little hands."

"I?ve never seen anything like him, except on the holovee," agrees fond aunt Sulla Deat, who?s been helping Teivor?s mother around the house ever since the incredible infant was born two months ago. "I went in to check on him one day last week, and he?d moved his bed next to the window. This was a big bed. And it was across the room from where it should be.." Deat shakes her head with wide-eyed wonder. "And I know Daiza and I didn?t do it. It was a miracle."

Teivor?s aunt declares the wonder babe can also read minds. She says if she or Mom look at Teivor and think about sleep, the infant rolls over and drifts into nappyland without being rocked.

And like most mischievous little boys, Teivor?s also already used his mind powers to misbehave, says Deat. "One time I picked him up, thinking about giving him a bath, and he screamed like crazy until I put him back in his bed. He hates baths," she adds.

Other Heej residents are in awe over the amazing little lad living in their midst. "Just looking at Teivor gives me the chills," says a neighbor. "When I heard how the bed moved, I believed it. You can feel the power coming off him, just sitting in the same room with him."

What gives little Teivor his extraordinary powers? Local doctors are dumbfounded. They?ve tested the powerful tyke, but can come up with no explanation for his astonishing abilities.

A local holy man warns that Teivor?s powers may originate from evil demons. But Urll doesn?t believe that.

"They found something in his blood, but they don?t know what it is," said Urll. "They said it might be something like what Jedi have. They?re not sure. But I am."

She adds that Teivor?s locally-prominent farmer dad, 33-year-old Teilo Urll, plans to have their spectacular son professionally tested. "He?s got some friends in local government who can get ahold of Republic people, the ones who need to know about my boy," says Daiza.

Supposedly because of genetics, no Jedi have ever come from New Maadrik. But Mom thinks Teivor will change all that.

"My family always had the sixth sense. My great-grandmother had it, and I have it," says a solemn Daiza. "I believe Teivor is a sign. A sign that our world was meant to join the Republic. And that my baby will lead the way."

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Councilor:

Thank you for your transmission of your date 07 12mo NMY 2945. We appreciate your identification of the location of a possible candidate for admission into the Jedi Academy. Unfortunately, the transition period for New Maadrik?s entry into the Galactic Republic is still in effect. Therefore, we are unable to process your request for testing of your citizen at the present time due to jurisdictional constraints.

Please be assured of our unfailing interest in making your world?s transition into the Republic a smooth and mutually beneficial one. Thank you again for your transmission. If you have questions, please feel free to contact my office.

Roepke Dptal, Undersecretary to the Vice-Assistant Chancellor

Citizen?s Affairs Office, Galactic Republic, CORUSCANT 000

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HEEJ, Pirtke Prov--Protests decrying Republic neglect of a "Super Baby" began several weeks ago in the small farming community of Heej, and have rapidly spread into surrounding areas of the continent.

Teivor Urll, five months, has displayed since birth an array of powers which may be classified as "Jedi-like." Witnesses report the infant has levitated small objects and shown signs of telepathy.

Teivor?s parents are Teilo and Daiza Urll of Heej. Despite evidence that Maadrikans are genetically unsuited to Jedi training, the Urlls wish to have their son tested for admission into the Jedi Academy on Coruscant.

Pirtke Province and New Maadrik PG representatives have contacted the Republic government, which declined to test the infant. Pirtke representatives plan to submit an appeal.

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12 14mo NMY 2945

Transmission to:

Roepke Dptal

Undersecretary to the Vice-Assistant Chancellor

Citizen's Affairs Office, CORUSCANT 000

Sir,

Thank you for your reply of 18 13mo NMY 2945. We of the NMPG Republic Transitions Committee are gratified by your attention to the matter of testing for Teivor Urll.

However, we must admit to chagrin at your negative response. It casts doubt upon our confidence in the Republic's concern for our citizens insofar as they are soon to be full citizens of the Galactic Republic, with all rights due therein. Thus we hereby appeal your office's refusal to send a representative for testing purposes.

As you no doubt understand, this is a fragile time for negotiations between our people and yours. This matter of Teivor Urll, while it may not seem important to your office, holds great significance for New Maadrik. If you are unable to assist with this situation, then we respectfully request that you refer us to your superior or some other being who has power to take action on our behalf. Thank you again for your attention in this matter. Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions you may have.

Bartlke Smooq, Head Councilor

Republic Transitions Committee

New Maadrik People's Government

N MAAD 8485-2

HEEJ, Pirtke Prov--What began as a story for the tabloids and chatvids has gained popularity worldwide. Repeated appeals by the New Maadrik PG to consider Jedi testing for a Heej infant have failed to elicit a favorable response from the Galactic Republic.

The continued refusals have sparked a series of anti-Republic protests which began in Pirtke Province and have spread throughout the planet. These protests, mostly peaceful, have been reported in Layne, Madgke and the United Southern Provinces.

The cause of this spate of unrest is six-month old Teivor Urll, of Heej in Pirtke Province. Witnesses report the infant, son of Teilo and Daiza Urrl of Heej, has displayed unusual abilities which include telekinesis and telepathy. Jedi have been known to possess these skills.

Republic Transitions Committee chief Bartlke Smooq said Republic representatives have cited jurisdictional constraints as the reason for lack of testing. New Maadrik's full integration into the Galactic Republic is not scheduled to take place for seven months.

However, accusations of racism have arisen as protesters claim the Republic will not test because of genetic and not jurisdictional concerns. And some in the NM PG feel this claim has validity.

"The Republic is not taking us seriously, at least as seriously as it should," said Smooq. "The committee doesn't feel jurisdictional or transitional explanations apply to this situation. The people of New Maadrik are citizens of the Republic in everything but name. There must be some other reason."

Luici Zolkn, head of the Layne People's Rights Advocacy Group (L-PRAG) and organizer of one peaceful protest, agrees.

"They think Maadrikans are genetically unsuitable," said Zolkn, citing one of L-PRAG?s reasons for protest. "But that's only because we've been on the fringe of Republic space for so long. They don't understand us."

"This is a prime opportunity for the people of New Maadrik to make their voices heard throughout the Galaxy and promote mutual understanding," said Zolkn.

Reports from other areas of unrest say citizens are becoming disillusioned with the Republic over its continued unwillingness to test Urll. Smooq fears this disillusionment may increasingly become the case.

"They're saying the Republic is too large, to unwieldy, to focus on smaller worlds," said Smooq. "We can only hope that as we get closer to full membership, the Republic will take the opportunity to prove that isn't the case."

Galactic Republic officials have declined comment.

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Republic News Central

Holonet Transcript

Timestamp: 05/09 20:34 R.S.T.

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Have you ever heard of New Maadrik? If you haven't, don't be surprised. Not many in the Core worlds are aware of the existence of this peaceful, agrarian jewel of a world hidden away in Sector 758.

Neither, apparently, is the Senate aware of New Maadrik, despite the fact that in six months this planet will add over a billion new voices to the Republic citizenry.

This ignorance is a tragedy, because the gentle, furred, humanoid peoples of New Maadrik have worked hard to reach their goal of Republic membership. They toiled for centuries to improve agricultural methods and build a solid infrastructure. New Maadrikans yanked endlessly at their humble roots to make their planet one of the prime grain and metals exporters in the entire quadrant.

But now they are beginning to believe their application was a mistake. The Republic is ignoring them. And the New Maadrikans are angry.

This anger began seven months ago, when a boy named Teivor Urll was born in a small farming town named Heej on the northernmost continent of the planet. Almost from the day of his birth, young Urrl began to display telekinesis and telepathy, abilities unheard of on New Maadrik.

Despite superstitious misgivings from conservative elements in their small community, parents Teilo and Daiza Urll believed their son's power was a gift-- a gift that might produce the first Jedi of their species.

At first, the only media who believed in Urll's powers were sensationalistic tabloid and chatvids. But soon, the legitimate New Maadrikan media discovered the situation. Young Urll became a planetwide sensation which created a hopeful fervor in the breast of every Maadrikan.

Maadrikan doctors discovered blood anomalies that might link young Urll to the Jedi. But since methods of testing potential Jedi remain a Temple secret, the truth could not be discovered without professional help.

Proudly did New Maadrikan politicians request Jedi testing for Urll-- only to find their hopes dashed by a never-ending slew of barely-polite form letter Republican refusals. The Jedi, it appears, aren't interested.

These official Republic transmissions cited the New Maadrikan transition as the reason for lack of testing. But the Maadrikans have taken it personally, and feel that the Republic just doesn't care.

"I just can't believe how they ignore us," says a tearful Daiza Urll. "We didn't want money, or even the fame. We just wanted our boy to be a Jedi."

But if even the Jedi ignore them, says Urll, then she's lost faith.

"I always heard about the Jedi, and even saw some on the holovee," says Urll. "I thought they were the most wonderful beings I ever laid eyes on. But now I don't know if I want my boy to be one, if they can't even bother to come out here in person."

The entire planet has been swept up by the disaffectation felt so keenly by the Urlls. The Maadrikans' protests are characteristically peaceful, but the concerns they air are chilling. "WE KNOW YOU'RE SOMEBODY, TEIVOR," screams one placard, implying that the Republic does not.

Why is New Maadrik being ignored? They're not, says Berne Garrihol, chief Republic ambassador to the New Maadrik transition.

"Please be assured that the Republic continues to firmly believe in the value of New Maadrik," says Garrihol. "They are a good people, and inhabit a resourceful world which will bring much to the Republic."

These words are even more chilling. It becomes apparent that the child and his abilities are not even the issue. The issue is the increasing reluctance of the bloated Republic bureaucracy to effectively attend to the needs of the trillions of inhabitants of its hundreds of member worlds.

And no one understands this more than the overlooked people of New Maadrik. They have only now begun to realize that their worth as citizens of the Republic lies not in their peace-loving society, or their culture that values hard work and individual accomplishment.

They've been reduced to the value of their exports-- to credit signs shining in the eyes of the Senate Economics Committee. Or worse, to little more than blips on a strategic holomap in Republic Navy headquarters.

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PRIORITY Transmission to Vice-Chancellor's Office

Code 009243-8484-1 CORUSCANT 000

Sir-- Request immediate assistance. The New Maadrik People's Government have issued a formal declaration of Intent to Withdraw as of 0900 hours this morning, R.S.T.

Reported to you two days ago that negotiations were strained Re: transition of New Maadrik and was directed by your office to continue negotiations. I attempted to calm NMPG fears but the support I have received from your office (with all due respect) was minimal.

The Maadrikans are quite upset over this situation with Teivor Urll, the Maadrikan child submitted for admission to the JA on Coruscant. They showed me transmissions from the Citizen's Affairs Office, courtesy of Undersecretary Dptal. Regrets, I underestimated the depth of their conviction that the GRs refusal to test was a slight to their people Thus I did not follow-up with Dptal.

I am currently unable to contact Dptal. I now doubt that the transmissions from the NM Republic Transmissions Committee have reached you. I will transmit all pertinent information about the situation directly to you (attached). We don't want to lose this one. I feel the situation can be rectified by an immediate response from your office. Requesting further guidance,

Berne Garrihol, Chief

New Maadrikan Liaison Committee

Galactic Republic

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TRANSMISSION- SECURE CHANNEL

PERSONAL COMMUNIQUE- CHANCELLOR VALORUM

EYES-ONLY: MACE WINDU

Master Windu, I have issued an official order for the Jedi to send someone to New Maadrik to test an infant named Teivor Urll for possible entrance into the Academy. You will be receiving these orders within the hour. I felt it best to send you this memorandum before you got official word, so I could give you a bit of explanation and guidance.

Matters political. You have a distaste for this sort of thing, and the bureaucratic red tape that accompanies, I know, but this is important.

New Maadrik is in the transitional phase of Republic membership. As you well know, this process is a delicate and arduous one that requires the utmost trust and respect of both parties. If there is a lack of trust, then facilitation of Republic custom and law becomes nigh impossible. That trust is breaking down between the Republic and New Maadrik as you read this.

The problem is a seven-month old Maadrikan named Teivor Urll. You may have heard something about him by now, but just in case, I'll run it through. Apparently, the child may have exhibited some sort of ability that's led the people of his planet to believe he is using the Force. Low-level bureaucrats from my offices have been in communication with officials from New Maadrik. These officials want a Jedi to come out and test the boy for possible entrance into the Academy. My office's bureaucrats did not realize the tenuous nature of our negotiations with New Maadrik and shuffled the matter away with form transmissions and polite refusals.

The people of New Maadrik are now up in arms, believing the Republic to an uncaring political juggernaut, unable and unwilling to stop and notice the little people running underfoot. They have a point. In some ways, the Republic is that giant thing, rolling on and caring little. To tell the truth, if New Maadrik were already a Republic planet, we'd ignore this whole thing. But considering the maneuvering and side deals rippling across the Senate floor in anticipation of the export licensing contracts and shifts in the balance of power in the quadrant, we cannot afford to ignore this trifling little detail. The New Maadrikans are having anti-Republic demonstrations in the streets, for goodness' sake! When was the last time that happened? And now I hear that the transition teams have been shut out and negotiations have ground to a halt. These people are bound and determined to have that boy tested.

And that is exactly what we are going to give them. Especially now that the press has now grabbed on to this story like a Trandoshan with a Wookiee pelt. The media are taking this opportunity to verbally lash the Republic in defense of the everyman, painting the governing body as self-involved elitists.

This makes me unhappy.

I ask you, Master Windu, to send a Jedi to test the boy. I would ask that you send a Master Jedi for good public relations. Someone comfortable with the media and who has a good presence, to quell the hordes of reporters sure to be there and also reassure the people of New Maadrik that we care about them.

I know that you will not go on this mission, but I know that you will choose someone qualified to handle this. I hate to foist the petty political squabbles of the Republic onto the Jedi, but I hope that you can see that this route is best for everyone involved.

And who knows? If this lad is indeed already powerful in the Force at his age, then you very well may have a worthy addition to the ranks of your order.

FV

PAN CAMERA to TALLIS DREHL. 4?3?2?

CAMERA OFF

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I have done as you asked, Master Windu. The Maadrikan boy has a midichlorian level indicative of his race-- that is to say, very low. Any extra-human abilities he may have exhibited were not of the Force. He did not display any of these abilities in the short time I was with him. I would suspect that any phenomena that occurred were misconstrued by the parents of the child and fostered by the media frenzy that ensued. The parents were nearly lustful towards the possibility that their boy might become a Jedi. Needless to say, they were disappointed in the extreme when I informed them otherwise. I sincerely hope that this affair does not affect the future happiness of the child or his family.

Representatives of the major news services were present when my Padawan and I arrived on the planet and they hounded us relentlessly. The press was bent on elevating the child to the level of celebrity, which would have been disastrous if the boy had been strong in the Force. As per your instructions, we ignored the press for the most part and completed the mission with all due speed.

On a personal note, I have noticed as of late a certain uncomfortable distance between the Jedi order and the populace of the Republic. Most on New Maadrik viewed us with fear and envy in their hearts. I could feel it coming in waves. Half the people were afraid of us and the other half wanted to be us. I know that we have always been somewhat secretive with our ways, but perhaps if we could be more forthcoming, incidents like this would never need happen. If people understood more about the Jedi, about the hardships and the tests, maybe they would see that sometimes the Force can be a burden, as well as a gift. The press might not consider us a mystery to be solved or exposed. People could see that we don't consider the Force as our own personal and confidential thing, but as something we use for them. Not just because we can, but that we do it because they can't. I realize that we are not members of a clandestine or imperious organization basking in its elite status, but through understanding and compassion, I hope we might convince others of that fact.

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The End