Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of the property created by George Lucas and Lucasfilm LTD. Celeste and Faei are my own creations.
Chapter 12
The Sages
"Keep her steady. All power to engines!" Celeste said
"I'm transferring all I have, but it's not enough. We were being pulled into the planet before we dropped out!" Faei replied "Transferring all power to shields!"
"Engaging retro thrusters" Celeste yelled over the noise.
Flames shot across the viewport as the Legacy continued it's dive into the atmosphere of the unknown world.
As the flames broke, they saw a large mountain ahead of them
"Oh that is not good" Celeste said
"Deploying thrusters to compensate" Faei said
The Legacy shifted to port, just missing the rocks. Celeste swore she saw people standing on the mountain.
"I thought you said main engines were operational?!" Cade said from behind them
"They were. We came out of hyperspace already being pulled in by the gravity well. Deceleration thrusters didn't have a chance to kick in fully" Faei replied
"Engines are at max reverse thrust and we are slowing, but It's not enough!" Celeste said
"Impact in twenty seconds!" Faei said, reading the console display.
"EVERYONE BRACE!" Celeste yelled as the Legacy got closer and closer to the ground.
Impact came as a sudden shock. The Legacy skidded along the ground for what seemed like forever before finally coming to a complete stop.
"You okay?" Faei asked, lifting her head up off the console
"Yeah, I'm fine" Celeste replied. Faei began pressing commands into the console
"Basic analysis says the ship is mostly intact. A few hull breaches. No damage to main engines. Secondary systems online" Faei reported "Exterior sensors are barely working, but the planet is habitable. Oxygen-Nitrogen atmosphere. Gravity is standard"
"That's something at least. We need to get her up on her struts" Celeste said, pressing buttons "They're jammed" she sighed
"That's not surprise" Faei said "I'll go take a look" she walked out of the cockpit.
Celeste moved to attend to Cade and Corde
"You guys alright?" she asked
"I've had worse landings" Cade replied, sitting up against the bulkhead
"I'm fine" Corde replied "We still in one piece?"
"Looks that way. But she's damaged" Celeste said "If we can get her fixed, we might be able to make it off of this rock"
"That's good" Cade said
"I'm going to check on Faei" Celeste said
"How's it look?" she asked, looking down into the maintenence pit
"Well" Faei replied "Do you want the good news or the bad news first?"
"Bad" Celeste said
"The bad news is that the engine power lines are shot, the shields are gone and we have no access to the core controls, the main reactor is damaged and the landing struts are locked. Oh and over half of the repulsor drives are inop" Faei said
"The good news?"
"We're alive"
"Very funny, Faei"
"Life support, artificial gravity and backup power are all functional. The engines are working, but just have no power getting to them. If the struts could be unlocked, we could get her up off the ground enough for me to do repairs on the underside" Faei said, popping her head up
"How can we do that?" Celeste asked
"No clue. With some time I might be able to fix some of the minor system damage. Oh and the ventral turret is gone, so my readouts tell me" Faei replied
"That's no surprise" Celeste said
"Celeste, you should get up here!" Corde called out. Celeste ran to the cockpit. Faei jumped out and followed
"We have visitors" Corde said.
Several cloaked figures were making their way towards the crash. Several large animals walked with them
"It just keeps getting better" Celeste sneered and turned around "Corde, the dorsal turret is still online, how's your aim?"
"Excellent" Corde replied and ran out of the cockpit
"Cade, Faei, you're with me" Celeste said, grabbing a rifle from the cockpit locker.
Opening the starboard airlock, Celeste jumped out, landed on the ground and quickly held her rifle high. Faei and Cade followed.
The figures stood just beyond the crash site. Wearing a hood to conceal their faces, one of the figures began to move forward. Celeste kept her eyes lined down the sights of her rifle
"Who are you?" She asked
"Hello Celeste. We have been waiting for you" The figure said.
"Excuse me?" Celeste said back
"We have anticipated your arrival. You have been expected for many cycles" it said
"Expected? Who are you?" Celeste asked, keeping her rifle high
"We are no threat. Your weapons are not needed. We have waited for you to come here. We are here to help you" the figure said
"You didn't answer my question" Celeste said.
"We have existed here for over twenty three thousand years. We are the Order of the Je'daii Sages"
"Jedi sages?" Celeste said with curiousity "Never heard of you"
"That is how we want it. We have existed here, on Tython, since before the beginning of the Jedi order. I am Grand Sage Arei" the figure said, removing her hood
"I've heard of Tython" Cade said "It's where the Jedi order was born, wasn't it?"
"Correct. But before that order was born, we already existed in secret" Arei said "Our purpose was put forth by the first Grand Master Sage. Master Oy'di"
"What is your purpose?" Celeste asked
"That will become clear in time. For now, we are here to assist you" Arei said as the other figures stepped forward. Celeste instictively raised her weapon before Cade put his hand on the barrel, getting her lower it. He also looked back at the Legacy and waved his hand at Corde, signalling her to stand down. She nodded.
Ten figures stepped forward, raising their arms Celeste turned to see the Legacy lifting off the ground. The landing gear locked down and the ship was settled back down to the ground.
Faei ran towards it and began to inspect the underside.
"That was incredible!" Celeste remarked, turning back to Arei
"That was a demonstration" Arei replied "Our Force abilities are far beyond merely lifting a ship off of the ground"
"CELESTE!" Faei ran back to her, holding a chunk of durasteel "You are never going to believe this"
"Believe what?"
"We were struck by debris when we left Lehon, right?"
"Right..."
"One piece got lodged in the hull, crossing some wires. That activated the hyperdrive and brought us here" Faei said excitedly
"Are you serious? Some random debris did this?" Corde asked
"Yes. It's astounding. It crossed the A-Sis to B-Three wires, merging with the G-Eight. That activated the drive and cut primary console control, tripping the backup beacon controls, which..."
"Activates the homing beacon and takes the ship back to Iego" Celeste said, putting a hand on her face "That's incredible"
"No, the new galley set on the Legacy is incredible. This is beyond amazing. If this debris had gone another few centimeters in and tripped the D-Seven, the core would have overloaded and we would have been space dust. The astronomical chances of this is mind boggling" Faei said "Not to mention that Iego is almost a straight shot through the core from Lehon!"
"It was the will of the Force. Nothing happens by accident" Arei said
"Call if what you want, sister, but I call it damn good luck" Faei said
"Celeste, would you mind coming with us. I am sure you have many questions" Arei said
"Uh, sure?"
"Cel, I could use a hand" Faei said
"Four of our Knights will stay to offer assistance and to offer protection from the storms" Arei said
"Storms?" Celeste inquired
"Tython is a world so immensed in the Force that it conjures great storms that have the power to level mountains and rip forests from their very roots. We train all our Knights to be able to protect themselves from these storms. Several working together can protect an area" Arei replied "But your companions must stay anyway. Only those bathed in the Force are able and permitted to enter our sanctuary"
"Then I'll stay and help out" Corde said
"Very well. This way, Celeste" Arei guided. Cade walked in behind Celeste.
"You still didn't tell me how you knew my name" Celeste said
"My apologies" Arei said "We of the order are proficient in the Force enough that most often, verbal communication is inefficient. We prefer to reply on sensing thoughts and reading minds to communicate. I glanced your mind when you arrived. It was not my intention"
"Oh. Well that settles it. Did you see anything else?" Celeste asked
"Yes. Your concious thoughts and emotions. Nothing more" Arei replied
xxxx xxx
A decent walk later, Celeste found herself looking upon a mountainside
"This way" Arei said
"Uhh, where?" Celeste asked. Arei waved her arm and part of the mountain disappeared. Celeste stepped back
"Holograms?" she asked
"Yes" Arei replied "Combined with Force abilities. Tython is a world stronger in the Force than any other. We draw on it more easily"
"That's interesting" Celeste said
"I do feel stronger here" Cade said as the trio walked inside
"I don't feel any different" Celeste said, looking around. The walls were dimly lit, pillars with ornate tapestries placed out from the wall were spaced evenly apart. Small fires burned in front of each pillar.
"This is incredible!" Celeste said as the entrance cavern ended and they entered a smaller tunnel that headed down into the planet
"Almost three thousand years ago, this planet was abandoned by the Jedi Order. We were able to come out of hiding deep within the surface and over the course of many years, we built our great temple underground" Arei said as she walked in front of Cade and Celeste "The hyperlanes to Tython destablized and we were left alone. The Sith came almost two thousand years later. The Jedi followed and we hid ourselves once more. Using a combination of holographic trickery and Force illusions we were able to remain undetected. Those who came luckly did not come near us. One of the reasons our ancestors chose this mountain for the temple is because it is isolated. This is an island and there is nothing else around us save for some old forests" Arei continued "The Jedi set up an academy on the near Kaleth, but they abandoned it within a century, leaving Tython alone once again" she finished as the trio exited the tunnel, walking into a more open area
"So you were unable build your temple before the Jedi first left?" Cade asked
"There were always beings around. Our order is devoted to a strict code of secrecy" Arei replied "Master Oy'di himself instructed that we never have any contact with any beings who set foot on Tython save for the one we are instructed to serve"
"So why do you have those?" Cade asked, pointing at several landing pads suspended over pools of water
"About five hundred years ago, some of the elders decided that following in Master's Oydi's words still permitted us to engage with the rest of the galaxy in a very limited fashion. We sent scouts into the galaxy to observe how the galaxy functions, bring back supplies and new technology for us to incorperate into our records. We maintain a library with the recorded history of the galaxy going back thirty thousand years" Arei said, looking at the ships
"So you've known about everything that has been going on?!" Cade asked with anger in his voice
"Yes. We have watched the galaxy since long before any of us were born" Arei said
"Then you could have helped! Sheltered the Jedi when they massacred!" Cade yelled
"No" Arei replied "Master Oy'di's instructions did not permit that"
"You let them die!" Cade accused, drawing his blade. Arei waved her hand, sending Cade to the ground
"We follow the code and instructions laid down by Master Oy'di very carefully. Though even if we were permitted to help, we could not have. When news reaches us, it is already weeks, sometimes months old" Arei said, standing over Cade "The Jedi purges were regretable, but we were unable to do anything. Including saving your father" Arei said as they re-entered a tunnel
"You don't have HoloNet here?" Celeste asked
"No. That would alert the galaxy to our existance" Arei replied as Celeste helped Cade up "Our scouts go out, gather information within their timeframe and then travel back to update our archives"
The tunnel they were in came to an end and Celeste's jaw dropped.
The tunnel gave way to a large cavern. Celeste's best guess was that it could have fit Mos Eisley inside and was tall enough it could have fit the tallest spire from the palace on Tatooine almost twice over. A small city with a large building that went front ground to ceiling in the center sprawled the inside.
"This is beautiful!" Celeste remarked "How many people live here?"
"Over two thousand beings and dozens of different species occupy our order. They are all sheltered here where they devot themselves to the purpose of our order" Arei said as a group of older beings walked up to them
"And what is your purpose?" Celeste asked again
"To serve the Force" one of the elders said "But more specifcially, to be guides to the living embodiment of the Force"
"The living embodiment of the Force? You mean a person?" Celeste asked
"Yes" Arei said
"Who?" Cade asked, standing with his lightsaber in hand
"You, Celeste" another elder said as everyone in the area bowed down, leaving Cade and Celeste with confused looks on their faces.
"Woah woah woah, I am not some living embodiment of the Force. I'm just a freighter captain. A month ago I had no idea what my lineage was!" Celeste protested. One of the elders rose
"You have not been trained as a Jedi? Not trained in the Force?" he asked
"I've trained myself to not use my Force abilities" Celeste said. the elders looked at each other
"This is most confusing" he said
"It is" another said "We always assumed the one we waited for would be a fully fledged Jedi"
"Sorry, I guess you were wrong" Celeste shrugged
"No, I think we were right. You arrived on the right day in the right year on a ship that burned the sky" one of the elders stepped forward "I am Master Kethra" he said. Celeste extended a hand out.
"Nice to meet you" she said
"We are honored to have you here" he replied back, shaking her hand
"Uhh, thanks?" Celeste
"Please, this way" he said said, stepping to the side. Celeste began to walk forward
xxxx
Stepping into the building, Celeste looked up and marvelled at the way it was built
"This is beautiful" she said
"This building was hewn from the rock more than ten generations ago" Kethra said
"It's gorgeous" Celeste said
"Thank you" he replied "This way"
Walking into the central chamber, Cade stood beside the door as Celeste moved to the centre saw the other elders that had approached her before all seated. Arei approached her.
"Welcome, Celeste" Arei said "Please, relax yourself. You are not here to be judged"
"Then why am I here?" Celeste asked
"Celeste" Arei said, taking her seat "We are the council of Sages. Do you know of the three pillars of the Je'daii order?"
"No" Celeste replied
"Strength. Knowledge. Wisdom. These are the three pillars of the order. They represent the most important parts of a Force user" Arei said "On this council, sits two representatives of each pillar. Masters Kethra and Cela represent Wisdom. Masters Erica and Heldaz represent Knowledge. Masters Ascil and De'flah represent Strength. I am, as I said before, am the Grand Sage"
"I still don't know what this is all about" Celeste said, shifting her posture
"How were you born?" Master Erica, a Human female asked
"What do you mean?" Celeste asked
"How were you conceived? And brought into the world?" Erica asked
"In the Sith temple and in a Sith fortress" Celeste replied
"You were born Sith?" Erica asked
"Yes"
"But you are not Sith?" Heldaz, a Togruta asked
"No"
"Why not?" Heldaz asked
"I was taken from my mother when I was young" Celeste replied
"Abducted?" Arei asked
"No. An accident seperated us" Celeste said
"And you found your own way?" Heldaz said
"Eventually" Celeste replied "What does this have to do with anything?"
"What do you know of the legend of the chosen one?" Arei asked
"Nothing beyond what the Jedi council has told me" Celeste replied
"What have they told you?" Arei asked
"That the Chosen One is from an ancient prophecy about a person that will destroy the Sith and bring the Force into balance" Celeste replied
"That is a very basic interpretation" Heldaz said "Would you like to hear the prophecy in it's entirety?" he asked
"Yes. I would" Celeste replied
"Very Well" Arei said. She pressed a button on her chair and a holo image of a plaque appeared
"Born from darkness and taken from life, a child will make it's way to the stars. With power unmatched by any, the child will end the chaos and bring harmonious balance to the galaxy" Arei said, reading the plaque. The holo-image disappeared "Now Celeste, does that describe your life?"
"More or less, I guess" Celeste shrugged "Though I wasn't a child when I took command of the Star's Legacy"
"But it is representative of your life?" Master Cela asked
"Yes, it is" Celeste replied
"Then it fits" Master Kethra said
"She did arrive at the right time" Heldaz said
"But is she the right age?" Master Erica asked, looking at Celeste
"Master Oy'di did not specify that the person would be a certain age" Arei said. Celeste was about to reply when her wrist computer beeped
"Go ahead" she said, stepping closer to the door as the council continuted to look speak among itself
"Cel, it's Faei. I went over a complete diagnostic of the Legacy" Faei said
"How bad is it?" Celeste asked
"Worse than I thought. Emergency power is holding steady and the solar panels are keeping her charged, but the main power couplings are fried and the navigation array is heavily damaged. We can't lift her off the ground for long with only the emergency couplings. On top of that the hyperdrive motivator is fused, which wouldn't be an issue..." Faei reported
"...If the main power coupling was functional" Celeste sighed
"Celeste, I could not help but over hear" Arei said "We have some materials you might be able to use. There is a crashed ship nearby"
"That could be useful" Celeste said
"I will send Knights to guide them" Arei said
"Faei, help is on the way" Celeste said
"Got that. Thanks" Faei said and signed off. Celeste looked out the window of the council chamber and saw a large ring in a walled off section of the city.
"What is that?" she asked
"That is the Knights trial arena. Any Knight wishing to become a master must pass it's test" Arei said
"What is it's test?" Celeste asked
"A trial testing skill and wisdom. Combat skill and ability to solve a large puzzle" Arei replied
"For what?" Celeste asked
"The first of the team of five Knights to reach the center without losing their sabers, gets to face Master Kefrah for the title of Master. A team of five Knights enter with the blessing of the council. Master Kefrah has fifty warriors under his command. To defeat an enemy, you must make them drop their saber and find your way to the Master before anyone else. If you drop your saber, then you lose" Arei said
"When does it happen next?" Celeste asked
"Tommorrow. Why?" Arei asked. Celeste clenched her fist.
"Because I want in" Celeste said with a grin
