L.S. I won't usually add notes before a chapter, but I thought I should say that I had a flash of "anti-writer's-block" last night. Please, review and let me know if this is even worth reading. -Soter
The Message
If Ethan's jaw wasn't attached to his head, it would surely have hit the floor. "WHAT?!"
"Shh!" the Durron chastises. "I haven't heard her voice in an eternity. Let her finish." He turns back to the image of Jaina Solo-Fel, ignoring the young man with the dinner-plate-sized green eyes.
"About a year ago, one of the historians at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant found what they believed to be the coordinates of the human race's homeworld. This was a major revelation; one which many of us believe would change the galaxy as we know it. Having an official homeworld could unite humans in ways never before seen, both for good or evil. It was decided by the Council to keep the location a secret from the Alliance and the Empire. Secretly, we set up the Exile Project, with the intent to send 21 Jedi to this planet, called Erda in our documents.
"The inadvertent advantages of sending a group of Jedi to take up residence on the planet are obvious. Not only will there be Jedi no mater what happens in the Known Regions, but there will also be stable leadership available to the inhabitants of that world.
"Two of the volunteers that will be part of this 'expedition' are Davin, my second oldest son, and his girlfriend Kalie. As much as it pains me to see them leave, I know it is best. There is more; the reason why I am making this recording." She pauses, a sigh inaudibly escaping her lips.
"Though that may explain why you are there, that is not why I am leaving this message for you.
"Recently I saw a possible future. I saw a day, long after Jag and I are gone, when the Empire that we have tried to peacefully build will be destroyed, along with the rest of the Galaxy. Everything that my family has fought for, ever since my grandfather left Tatooine to train, will be destroyed.
"I do not know what happened, but I want to prevent it, if possible. If not, I want to be able to set it right. Nine years before I was born, my grandfather, Anakin, destroyed the last remaining Sith Lords. Everyone thought that he had finally brought balance to the Force. Yet since then Dark Jedi and Sith Lords have risen up despite the apparent 'balance' that he achieved. Uncle Luke was even fighting for the Emperor for a time. My own brother became a Sith Lord.
"Something is wrong, but I don't know what it is. I am afraid to ask you what I must ask. I don't want you to be tempted by the Dark Side. Hopefully being removed from the rest of the galaxy will shelter you from the influence of the Dark Side. Or perhaps there is something you will learn that will bring greater clarity to this struggle. Whatever the case, you are our only hope.
"I guess that's it. All that is left is for you to train as a Jedi and make your return as the heir to the Fel throne. I pray you will. This Galaxy needs a stable leader, and if you're anything like Jag, I know you will be." Though the image is not extremely clear, Ethan is sure that he just saw a tear roll down Jaina Solo-Fel's cheek.
"Good luck, Ethan. And may the Force be with you." She bows, and the recording ends.
L.S. Next chapter hopefully before 2010. Thanks for reading thus far! -Soter