Chapter 2: Searching
Someone was coming.
Viren stood yet on his ridge, ever watching.
Waiting.
While he wanted to pursue the five figured from his vision, his better judgment told him otherwise. He knew nothing of them yet. He needed to learn more before acting.
So he remained, reading the signals in the Force, knowing that answers would come to him.
He was right.
He could feel the girl approaching.
The answer to all he needed to know.
The weapon with which to carry out what needed to be done.
o0o
As she landed on the bleak planet of Taldornadi, Hazel was drawn not to the foreboding temple, which rose a shining black silhouette against its faded surroundings, not to the massive military headquarters which sprawled around it, nearly blending in to the bleak landscape, but to a solitary mountain which rose some distance away from the manmade structures but towered over them both. At first she had no idea why, but then she saw the figure. A lone man stood on an even lonelier ridge which stood out in sharp contrast to the otherwise unremarkable mountainside. How he got up there was anyone's guess, as there was no vehicle in sight and no visible path to climb to that point. He just stood there, barely moving. Without her senses, Hazel might have thought the guy was some strange statue. But no, he was definitely real.
Though she had no idea who this guy was, he did not feel hostile to Hazel, so she decided to go see what he was all about. She stalled her ship beside the ridge and leaped out to land beside him.
"How did you get up here?" was her first question. Yeah, probably not the most important, but it was nagging her the most.
"This is where I awoke," the stranger replied. "How I came to be here or by what manner is as unknown to me as it is to you. Since you are going to ask me this next, my name is Ketzel Viren. And yours would be?"
"I'm Hazel Bark," she said, inwardly groaning at the way this guy, Viren, talked. Why did he have to be one of those people who tried to talk so intelligently? It was one of Hazel biggest pet peeves, one of many. Very many.
"Given that you willingly came to this dead place and stopped for me, I would guess you are looking for answers of some kind," said Viren. "What do you seek here?"
"Nothing in particular. Some old Sith used to live here and I came by to see what she left behind. For all I know there could be something really useful abandoned out here."
Hazel wasn't sure it was a good idea letting this man who she did not know and whose intentions were a total mystery to her into her plans, but she didn't see how it could hurt. Besides, perhaps Viren could help her somehow. At least he wasn't against her, which was more than could be said about most people.
"A Sith you say? And none of her fellows came and scoured this place after her demise?"
"Her fellows? There aren't any more Sith left," Hazel stated, unsure of how someone could not know that. "The last true ones died out decades ago, she was just the leftovers."
"The Sith are gone..." Viren said quietly, before his eyes hardened again. "Who destroyed them? The Jedi?"
"They wish," scoffed Hazel. "No, my family were the ones who got most of that done. My father and his siblings fought in the final war with them and killed Darth Aelitou. The Jedi didn't really do much."
Viren considered her words a little longer before shaking his head. "It does not matter. If you wish, I can help you investigate the temple down on the plain. I have been to such places before and know where best to find objects of significance."
"Well...alright," said Hazel, unsure if this was a good idea. There were risks, of course, but she didn't think he was lying about anything. Still, it would take more than words for Hazel to trust this man.
"I hope your ship has room for two," said Viren as he followed Hazel inside.
o.o.o.o
The temple was everything Hazel had expected it to be. Dark, musty, overgrown. Just like anyone would expect of such a place. For the most part, it was completely empty, which was a surprise, but Hazel continued to be drawn to the center of it, and it appeared Viren was as well.
"For only twenty-five years of abandonment, this site is more desolated than I had expected," said Viren.
"Come to think of it, you're right," agreed Hazel. "No sign of life anywhere...almost makes me wonder if this is the right place."
"Unless you are on the wrong planet entirely, this is undoubtedly what you are looking for. Can you not feel the power pulsating from the core of this place?"
"Of course I feel it," said Hazel. "How weak do you think I am?"
"A great amount of power does not always equate to well-attuned senses."
"I hope you aren't referring to me!"
Viren shook his head. "You are clearly no Jedi to be so affronted at even an insinuation of criticism of your abilities."
"I'm proud to be a Bark!" retorted Hazel. "I don't give two Fosh about the Jedi."
"That is evident," said Viren. "Now keep your voice down. Just because this place appears to be empty does not mean it is."
"I would if you stopped treating me like this," Hazel snapped, though in a quieter voice. "Keep it up and I can always decide I don't want you around."
"A little late for that decision," said Viren as he quickened his pace through the dank tunnels.
Hazel rolled her eyes and followed him. She was beginning to have second thoughts about giving Viren a ride off of that ridge. But she had to admit that he was right; she was stuck with him. At least for now.
