A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for reading this far. Sorry for the long wait, I was out of town on vacation- everyone needs a break sometimes! But, now back to business.
If you're interested, I just started a second story that is Reylo centric starting in TLJ timeline that will take a very drastically different path from Reylo in this story. Especially if you're into the dark side or grey/borderline dark themes, it will start soft but it will go that way. It's rated M.
Ben's POV
Hutt Space
I was cautious not to get too near the Maw, without understanding of what had happened to Rey. I'd gone around to some of the planets in near proximity to lift what information I could get about the Maw from regional locals, but I wasn't having overwhelming success. Apparently, mysterious things often happened involving the Maw, and locals knew to avoid it all together. I was frustrated with the lack of progress, wanting so badly to return and wake Rey with a solution to this mess. Couldn't I solve just one problem?
So many had piled up, and I was feeling utterly useless. Everything just seemed to keep getting worse, and the more things spiraled out of control, the more helpless I felt. I was feeling more intensely melancholy that day, because it was a very special day. Our anniversary. 22 years with the love of my life. Except this was the first year I was without her. I laid in bed that night early with a holotape from our wedding. It still felt like yesterday, and made my heart lighter and heavier all at once.
I'd never forget "Lucky Number 7". That year had been immensely challenging. Our first year with 5 children under the age of 10. What a disaster, truly. It was our first year with the twins, and for our decidedly last child, what a curve ball life threw us by tossing us two instead of one. They were good babies honestly, though Callan was on the needy side at times, most of the issue was burgeoning powers and increasing independent streaks with the three older children.
Rene was hell on wheels the second he started walking, and he was pretty proficient at talking and walking at that point. He was an obedient child generally, but constantly getting into things and finding trouble unwittingly. Kier and Jaina were having a crisis of sorts, with so much attention being focused on Rene and the twins. It was a perfect storm, and Rey often was left feeling at the end of her rope and me haplessly trying to help, but seemingly always adding to her headache instead.
I had reluctantly left on some political trip, I couldn't even remember now. But, I was always keenly aware of our anniversary and I made a point to ensure I was back to Coruscant no later than. I'd procured a large bouquet of Nova lilies, Rey had remarked how much she liked them on a previous mission and I had taken note. Many times before in the year or so since we moved to the temple, Rey and the children were waiting for me at the landing pad, but they were not.
Cearu stood alone, waiting. She had remembered exactly when I said I would return, and faithfully appeared to greet me. She greeted me kindly, and when I'd inquired where the others were, she sheepishly suggested it had been a rough few days. I sighed, needing no further clarification as to what that meant. She heartily approved of the flowers as we made our way inside. I dropped by bag in our room, then headed on to the courtyard where Cearu indicated they were last she saw them.
The look of utter relief on Rey's face was not missed, the children must've been very taxing while I was away. Jaina was missing, but she often went to Poe's to spend time with Ezmera, so that wasn't surprising, though she usually was not away when I returned from a trip. Finn was holding a sleeping infant Alice, and trying to help Kier with a toy. Sofi rushed to me with a jubilant outburst, and I took her up in my arms. She immediately inquired about the flowers, which she also liked very much.
I had replied they were for Rey, because it was our wedding anniversary. The immediate look of slight panic, and rush of guilt I felt emanate from Rey was explanation all it's own for the odd state of affairs today. She had completely forgotten, and her face flushed red with shame. She profusely apologized that she had lost track of days and though I did poke fun at her a bit, I went easy on her. She promptly imploded with tears, which caused a very nervous expression from Finn.
I sent Cearu to draw a bath for Rey, with promise I would be in shortly. Sofi still clung around my neck as Kier scowled furiously, and I did my best to ignore the childish antics of the two of them. I asked Finn to inquire after Poe and Kaydel, and ask if they could come by the temple to help with the children that night so I could take Rey out for a much needed break from the chaos. Jannah had just returned from the market with a serving droid and assured me she would take care of everything and to just look after Rey.
It took convincing, but she plied Sofi with promise of a sweet treat if she would release me and help her with groceries. When I returned to our room finally, Cearu was sitting at Rey's dressing table with a very worried, helpless look and informed me softly that Rey was crying and she didn't know what to do. I had assured her it was okay and asked her to go help Jannah, and her prompt faith and obedience was a welcome foil to the other children. Indeed, Rey was sunk down in the tub in the adjoining fresher, sobbing quietly, probably in effort to hide it from Cearu.
I grabbed a stool from the vanity and sat beside the tub, slowly beginning to bathe her. She calmed almost immediately, but her emotions felt very defeated and desolate. I reached up to cup her face gently, brushing my thumb over her cheek and wiping away the tears. She closed her eyes and leaned into my touch. I asked softly why she was so upset, and that I wasn't bothered she forgot the day. Her response was a torrent of emotions, all directed at herself.
She lamented that most days, she felt she wasn't a good Master, and even worse of a mother to our children. How she felt as though she never knew what to do with them anymore, felt as though she was failing miserably and that she would ruin our children and the ones who'd been entrusted to us too. Scared that they were unhappy, that she didn't have enough to give them. Spread thin. Exhausted. Overwhelmed. And that day on top of all that, she'd failed to be a good wife too.
I shifted so I could wash her hair while she sniffled, trying to calm herself again. I loved her more than life itself, and she was an amazingly patient Master and mother. She was resolute in the face of adversity, she never backed down. I tried to pack up all that tenderness, pride, and admiration, and channel it down the bond to her. I could say a lot of things, but I wanted her to feel it, and know undeniably it was true. I rinsed her hair in silence, and when I finished, I laid my hands gently over her shoulders. She reached up with her left hand and placed it over mine, then sighed. I felt her grief ebb, replaced with the calm, hopeful, and forgiving attitude I knew so well to be distinctively hers.
She forgave herself, and I fetched a large towel to bundle her in. I patted her dry, intermingled with brief kisses across her body until she finally relented and giggled. I smiled in return, and kissed her forehead. I then prompted her to get herself ready so I could take her out. She started to protest, but I told her the children were accounted for and that no more fussing or worrying was allowed for the remainder of the day. She gave in with a pout and retreated to her vanity.
Her high expectations and continuous drive to excel in all things were something I deeply admired about her, but I knew it would be one of many times I had to remind her to practice some of that unwavering patience and forgiveness she extended to everyone she met, on herself. Parenthood was messy, and even more so trying to teach something that there was no basis on how to teach. Surely with love and faith we couldn't butcher it irreparably. Perhaps that was naive of me to think, looking back.
That night, Finn, Jannah, Poe, and Kaydel wrangled all the kids together for a movie night in the courtyard with their favorite snacks and I took my beautiful wife out for a peaceful dinner in one of our favorite places. I'd long since had a private reservation for a secluded dining area in the rooftop terrarium at Skydome Botanical Gardens. While I enjoyed it more scientifically, being that many rare and exotic plants from all over the galaxy were housed there, Rey's fascination was more of a childlike wonder. Spending most of her life on a desert planet, coming to a place like the gardens felt like a vivid dream to her.
She was captivated and entirely in awe, she loved that place. When she saw me pull the airspeeder up outside the building, she was giddy with excitement. I'm not sure I could've pulled that stupid grin off my face even if I gave it every effort. Rey's exuberance and thirst for life couldn't be quelled, and it was absolutely one of my favorite things about her. The sheer joy this gave her filled my heart, and I'd need nothing else but that radiant expression. She was feeling herself again, revitalized by an experience she could soak in like a sponge.
Of course, I also couldn't help but admire the way that silky, moss green dress hung on her curves, and salivate a little in anticipation of removing it later. I remembered that distinctly. Because Rey had been so skinny and malnourished, childbearing had actually been very favorable to her figure. Her breasts and hips particularly were much more shapely, and you wouldn't catch a single complaint from me.
We led such an active and physically rigorous life, her body was always beautifully toned and flawless in my eyes, though she'd contest that given the chance. She'd had quite a meltdown after Rene, when she had to have new pants tailored to suit the thicker thighs and buttocks that had not "bounced back" after her return to full strength. I didn't mind at all, but she lamented I was a man and my opinion was biased. To which, I suggested she should love her body the way I did, which only earned a blush and a playful dismissal. She also liked to talk down her body about the marks children left behind on her from carrying the little beasts. Though, after Aida and Callan, she finally relented and asked me to heal them away, and I did without question to please her.
When she wanted yet another after Rene, I was extremely surprised, but after several conversations I agreed to it. After the twins, she was very firmly decided that there would be no more. Thank Kriff for that. Despite the difficulty, they were happy years for us, and I was thankful for every one of our beautiful children and the privilege to be their father. I guess I was coming full circle finally, as troublesome children do, to understand my mother. Even with Kier on the lamb and possibly very intimately nested with the dark side, I still loved and believed in him deeply.
The best I could hope for in all of this, is that he wouldn't get as far as I did before he turned back. And I unshakably believed he would turn back. Trusting the good in him and being patient, was not my strong suit. I realized now how incredibly hard that must've been for my own very impatient mother. But, she had always been so strong, even when I hated her for that. I had to be strong now, and weather through this storm. Faith was never easy for me, it came so naturally to Rey, but now it fell to me to have faith for both of us.
I had just started to doze off, when suddenly an icy death grip squeezed my heart painfully and I shot upright in the bed. I felt the cold and pain radiate through my body like electricity. A hole ripped in the Force, and absence permanently left behind. "Rene." I choked, his name no further from my lips than I tasted the salt of tears upon them. I shuddered and stared down at my hands bunched into the blankets, then sobbed like I hadn't since I was a small child. The grief was smothering and unrelenting.
I knew, I didn't know how, but my body and my heart recognized the absence instinctually. My son, my child, my baby I'd held in my arms. Those eyes that rooted me to the spot. I'd promised I would protect him. I'd promised him I would cherish him. All the foolish notions of redemption for Han. That somehow if I gave him a good life, that would make up for the evil I did killing him. Now, I'd let him die just like Han. Alone, without his family. I should've been there. Please, if there was any being that ruled our fates, please don't let it be Kier that did this. Tell me the twins and Jaina were still gone, that they were spared that pain.
How the kriff could I tell them if they didn't know? Not only was I not strong enough to save their mother, I'd let their brother die too. Was it an accident? Was he murdered? Did he somehow get into trouble, as he often did, but couldn't escape it this time? Harley was still alive, I knew that. Weren't she and Rene together? My brain was spinning and I was trying to quell the panic building inside me. Panicking wouldn't help. He was dead, I knew that, and there was nothing I could do about it. But I needed to go home.
Aida's POV
Lothal
I felt a marked disturbance in the Force, and a glance at Callan revealed he had too. I didn't know what that meant, and it didn't appear that Callan knew either. Islene was oblivious to this of course, and I decided to bring it up later. We'd reached an area of the planet covered in monoliths, but no indication of a temple anywhere. We'd search for several hours, before deciding to settle into a camp for the night and try again in the morning. After starting a fire and eating some provisions we'd luckily thought ahead to acquire, I was frozen by the sound of a wolf howling in the near distance.
My eyes snapped to Callan, as his to mine. We'd never encountered a wolf before, but I remembered what Johun said. I stood and tried to determine what direction it was coming from. Surely a wolf and our search for the temple couldn't be random. Another howl, louder. Closer. "Aida." Callan said in a terse tone, and I whipped around to see a huge wolf standing only a few paces from him. "I have something you will need. And I will show you the temple." His rough, deep voice seemed to echo inside my head.
"Okay." I walked toward it, and it toward me. From the firelight, it was solid white and as tall as me on all fours. It released a small egg shaped object from its mouth into my hands. It was a rock of some sort, perfectly smooth. When I turned it over, it had strange symbols on it. I was puzzled, not understanding, but it was already walking away. "Callan, come on!" Callan scrambled to his feet to follow, as did Islene behind him. It stopped in front of a particularly huge megalith. "What, it's inside that? But there's no way in!" I whined.
We'd come to this megalith earlier that day, because Callan and I felt a vergence underneath the ground there. We knew what a vergence felt like, because the temple on Coruscant was built over an ancient one. With the Force so strong in this location, we assumed the temple must be here or very close, yet could find no entrance suggesting the megalith or any other monoliths surrounding it were hollow. I looked to the wolf, who's eyes closed briefly, then a huge gust of wind that nearly toppled us over.
When I uncovered my eyes from the sand, I noticed the large, concentric circles cut into the ground, spiraling out from the central spire and wrapping around the lesser towers. Amid the circles was an ancient emblem of the Jedi Order. "Stand on it. Raise together. Like a screw." The wolf sat down calmly.
"He says we can raise it together if we stand here. Like a screw?" I told Callan. He looked at the structure again, "Okay, so we have to twist it as it comes up? Doesn't seem so hard." He motioned to me to prepare to lift, and on a count of 3 we went to work. Geez, the thing was extremely heavy! It took all my concentration to keep going and manipulating the gigantic rock. When harnessing the Force to raise the spire, the markings on the ground gave off a radiant light within the Force. Sure as he said, the entrance came into view as it settled into place. Only, as soon as the entrance lined up with ground level, the wolf ran inside and disappeared. "Wait!" I called after it, but it was gone.
Once inside the base of the spire, there were doorways leading off of the grand entrance lined up with different halls. The natural caverns were filled with ornate stone pillars and walls adorned with glyphs and paintings, laid tile and stone artwork to form meditation halls and rooms likely for study and contemplation. It seemed strangely untouched by time, and I knew it had been several decades, if not over a hundred years, since anyone had been here.
We finally came to a very large antechamber of some sort, maybe it was the center of this web of rooms. On the far wall was a huge mural. In the middle was a tall, angular man with a long beard and pointed hat wearing a grey suit of some sort with a black cowl. To the left of him, a girl in a white and light grey gown with a large flower in bloom behind her and an owl perched on her shoulder. To the right of the man, was a shorter male with no hair and white skin. He had magenta markings on the crown of his head and from his eyes down his cheeks, and he wore a black suit that covered his neck up to his chin, and a dark grey cowl.
Behind them was what appeared to be the megalith, with several concentric circles painted white, grey, and black in the background, but also big circles that encompassed the head of each person and three smaller circles near their shoulders that were empty. The girl was holding the tall man's hand, and the man's other hand held the short man's. The deep engravings of the circles reminded me of the ones outside the temple that had lit up when we used the Force to open the temple.
I studied this curiously, and the rock the wolf had given me. The word 'mortis' was engraved in the stone in Aurebesh at the bottom and three circles side by side with hands inside them. A hand pointing right, a hand pointing straight up, and a fist. Callan had walked up to it and was tracing the grooves with his fingers, Islene standing not far behind him focused on something. She looked back at me, "Look at this, isn't it strange?"
She showed me where she'd noticed tiny, less noticeable grooves near the hands and shoulders, which suggested this mural transformed in some way through movement. And it dawned on me, that's why the big grooves reminded me of outside. They were a hint, to use the Force on the mural to open something. "Cal! She's right, this mural is strange because it's actually an entrance! If we use the Force on it like we did the temple, I think it will light up and open. Let's try to move the hands like they are on this stone, I think that's the key!"
Callan looked a little dubious, but he agreed nonetheless and stepped back to join me. Together, we started to exert the Force to move the hands on the mural, and as I suspected, it lit up as the hands moved into position one by one. Once the hands settled into the position on the rock, the grooves lit up solid and very bright, followed by a loud rumbling. Suddenly, a bright flash of light. We had shielded our eyes, and when we opened them again, we were in a black room on a strange transparent floor, and Islene was gone. Callan's eyes met mine with a slight panic to them, likely due to that last realization.
"She can't use the Force, it makes sense she couldn't get to...wherever this is. I think we found the gateway in." I pointed ahead at a semi circle doorway that fell over the path. It was pure black in the room and through the gateway, there was no telling where it led. A shimmering white edge around the gateway moved, there were little shimmering wolves in the frame over the doorway. They suddenly began to move, dropping and running into the gateway. Callan looked to me again, in a silent agreement to follow them.
We cautiously passed through, and ended up on another transparent platform. Except, this one was connected by transparent walkways to many other platforms in every direction like a huge spiderweb. On each platform, there was a floating oval, almost like a mirror or a window. "I think you're right, I think this is it Aida." Callan said quietly as he looked around, he didn't seem afraid but I detected some trepidation. There was no one in sight, but an overwhelming feeling of many Force users inside this place once we passed through the gateway. "Let's split up, we'll cover more ground that way. I'll look for Johun, you go look for Cearu."
Callan didn't like that at all. "No, I think we should stay together and stick to the plan, we're here for Cearu, not Johun. You don't even know him." Callan was frustrated, and I definitely saw the fear and concern in his eyes at the mention of separating in this place. "If you want Cearu, go find her. I won't leave Johun behind. You won't change my mind Callan. I don't think we can remain here for indefinite time and still be able to return, so we should go quickly." He was angry now, "You had better hope nothing bad happens! We're sitting ducks in here and you want to split up. Of course I'm going to look for Cearu, I can't believe you right now."
He huffed and stormed off down one of the paths. I sighed, I expected a lecture on it, that was fine. But if Cearu could be saved, so could Johun. And he was good, I could feel it in my bones when we met. He didn't deserve to be trapped here for eternity. I didn't know who else was trapped here, but I knew he was and I was going to find him and free him. I set off in the opposite direction Callan went, and on the next platform paused in front of the weird floating oval.
Once on the platform in front of it, it lit up like a window into another place, or a very clear holotape. It was as though I was watching something happening, some place, some time. It seemed very real. Only, I didn't know who the people were, and not the foggiest on when or where they were. I moved on, and though I did tend to look, I didn't stop to watch the other ovals for a while. It felt like I had been walking a long time, the energies around me constantly in flux, some getting stronger where others got weaker. The silence was unnerving, my steps didn't even make noise.
That is, until I heard familiar voices in one of the ovals. "That's what happens when you're being hunted by a creature in a mask!" A man and a woman having a pointed conversation, then the man's voice changed and became much clearer. My parents! I rushed over to the oval, and though I didn't know what I was expecting, what I saw was surely not it. Mom, very young, maybe between Harley and Jaina's age, wearing some kind of white outfit and her hair in three buns. She was sweating, and restrained to an interrogation table. Dad, also much younger, but very much an adult, wearing all black and clean shaven, a mask held in his hands. A startled expression on Mom's face.
I recognized that helmet he held. That was Kylo Ren's helmet. It felt like something was buzzing in the back of my brain as I tried to wrap my mind around what it was I was seeing. There was no way Dad was Kylo Ren. Right? No. There's no way. I rationalized I must've been watching some other timeline entirely, events that didn't exist in ours. That was not real. I shook it off, and kept on. I must've passed another dozen portals, and I was beginning to tire. I hadn't seen a single person here. Would I be able to see him? That was a troubling thought.
Another portal caught my eye as I passed, and I stopped abruptly. It was Rene. It wasn't his voice, he didn't speak. It was his expression that stopped me in my tracks. Pain, fear, disbelief. The light fading in his eyes as he struggled to take a raspy breath, then he collapsed to the ground with a thud. It was only then I realized what was happening. A lightsaber stab wound through his abdomen made it all too clear- he was dying. A chill climbed up my spine, and that buzzing feeling in my brain came back.
It couldn't be. That feeling we had earlier? Was that Rene? I tried to remember how it felt when Cearu died, we'd felt it before we'd known. Dad was the one who told us, we didn't recognize who it was on our own. My breaths came harder, and tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but I shored against them. No. That was not real. These portals were trying to distract me and derail my mission, none of it was real. I steeled my resolve not to look at them anymore no matter what, and fled from the platform.
Islene's POV
Lothal
They had suddenly disappeared some time ago after activating the mural, and I tried not to be fearful as the hours dragged on. Surely, they knew what they were doing and they were strong enough to deal with whatever it was they were doing. But then, I heard voices echoing through the temple. At least 3 men. I wasn't sure if they were real at first, but they kept getting louder, they were getting closer. As I could make out what they were saying, it was to my despair I discovered they were looking for us and it didn't sound like they had good intentions. I crept toward one opening trying to figure out if I could see them, but I could only hear two of them in vague proximity.
Suddenly, cold leather clamped across my mouth and another strong arm locked around my waist, fixing me against what felt to be a large man. Fear surged through my veins and I struggled against him furiously. In the haze of panic, I'd nearly forgotten I had a small stunner in my belt, that I now wriggled an arm free of his grasp to jab him with. He groaned loudly in pain, his muscles all seizing up tightly, then he became a limp noodle falling to the floor. I disentangled myself and fled as fast as my feet could carry me. I had a mind to fleetingly worry for Callan and Aida, but they had the Force, whereas I did not. I resolved that they would be okay, and I needed to secure my own safety and wait for them to return.
I heard boots pattering against the stone fast behind me as I burst outside and made a bee line for the airspeeder. Why hadn't I procured a weapon? Not smart. I must have taken for granted having the two Grey Jedi around, I didn't consider them leaving me behind. Now I felt guilty, but I had to leave them behind, or I wouldn't likely survive this encounter with whoever these men were. I scolded myself for not looking at the man I had stunned before I fled. It would help to know who these men were.
As I pushed the airspeeder as fast as it's engine would allow, I heard the men yell behind me and fire at my vessel. I weaved between the monoliths trying to obstruct their line of sight, and at least that was successful. I fled back to the only place I knew on this planet, Jho's, and had to hope he had nothing to do with this surprise attack. He seemed much too kind and simple to be so duplicitous, and I clung to that.
I ditched the airspeeder well outside the outpost and tried to leave it somewhat obscured from sight in case those men were pursuing me. I made the last leg on foot. I got to the cantina out of breath, and Jho came to me quickly with water inquiring after my two companions. I admitted that I regretfully had to leave them behind because I couldn't find them. Jho asked, but I told him that no, I did not know who my assailants were. A droid communicated something to Jho urgently, and he quickly pulled me behind his bar and instructed me to hide quietly.
A dozen heavy footfalls and indistinguishable radio traffic followed immediately. They demanded information from Jho, regarding three subjects meeting my own description and that of my two companions. Jho tried to pretend he did not understand them, and I saw a hand reach across the counter and grab Jho by the apron. They knew the spacecraft his droids were fixing belonged to us, they would not be fooled. I noticed an old hunting blaster was secured just under the counter and I started to reach for it, but I saw Jho wave his hand under the counter telling me no.
He pretended to suddenly remember who they were talking about, and told them we bought and airspeeder and headed for the southern hemisphere somewhere mentioning a farm of some sort. Again, the commander was very displeased, and remarked how strange then that men of his found the blonde girl and the airspeeder far to the north in an odd cave, and that she had headed back this way. To my right underneath the bar, a droid suddenly popped out of the floor revealing a secret tunnel. It was very small, and I didn't know where it led. The droid didn't make a sound, just waving to me to follow it.
I heard the commander threaten Jho for the information or he would die. I was keenly concerned for his safety, he'd been so kind and helpful, there had to be something I could do. But again, under the counter, he waved at me to go. I hesitated for a moment, but I gave in and dropped down into the passage with the droid, who deftly replaced the panel flush with the floor again and ushered me on. I'd barely taken a step when I heard the blasters, and a loud thud against the floor above us. My lip quivered, and I bit back a whimper as hot tears burned at my eyes.
Adrenaline dumped in my veins, the threat of death was very near, and I trembled slightly trying not to trip or fall as the droid hurried me along. Once a length down the passage, the droid spoke, telling me Jho had a freighter with a hyperdrive motivator that he had also modified with significant weaponry, and that he'd been told to take me to it so that I could escape. My heart was so heavy, that kind creature had given his life to save me from whoever these people were, and he didn't even know me. The guilt felt like lead, and it was hard to swallow.
The passage opened up into a roofless garage space and sure enough, there was the freighter with a tarp over it slowly being removed by other worker droids. The droid beside me ran off to help the others, and I heaved a sigh. What a mess I'd gotten myself into. I hoped Callan and Aida were safe, desperately. Then, a sudden and intense pain burst through the back of my skull and I saw a flash behind my eyes, and all was black.
Callan's POV
Lothal
I'd finally found Cearu, by dumb luck I supposed, there appeared to be no rhyme or reason to this place at all. She was surprised to see me, fearful at first that I might've died, but then only filled with wonder when I revealed we had found the portal to come rescue her. We'd been working our way back the way I had come, when I felt such an oppressive, smothering darkness. It almost felt harder to breathe, and the confusion must've been evident on my face, because Cearu looked around apprehensively.
"We need to leave, and fast. I was warned about a powerful dark user in here who's been trying to break out. It must be him we feel. I was told not to let him get close because he has draining abilities. Lead the way, hurry!" She urged me on worriedly. A thunder like sound started echoing through the deathly silent space. "That's definitely not a good sign!" While I'd been moving with a purpose before, now I full out ran. There was an immediate sense of something impending and I wasn't interested in learning what it was.
"Callan!' I tripped and nearly fell off the walkway, Cearu grabbed my arm and thrust me back ahead of her. I shook my head, I was imagining things surely. That sounded like Islene… and she sounded afraid. It was in my mind I heard it, and she couldn't use the Force, there's no way she could project into my mind. But, I couldn't help the tremendous anxiety I felt now for her safety. Nothing about this place followed the 'rules' of the galaxy, she could be being attacked outside the portal, and I had to get to her!
With a renewed vigor, I ran with all I had, and Cearu was close behind me. I could see that strang portal ahead finally, and I fervently hoped Aida was near. "Aida!" I called out, and waited with bated breath for a reply. A few seconds went by, and just as my hope started to sink, I heard her calling back, "Callan! I'm here!" If I squinted, I could just barely make out two figures in the distance. That darkness felt like it was closing in, and it made my blood run cold despite my physical exertion. As we neared, Aida and that man were running too. Did they feel this energy chasing us too?
Aida reached the platform seconds before us, "Through the portal, go!" I yelled when she hesitated. She rushed through the portal, the man hot on her heels. I was only paces away, but it felt as though that energy was trying to reach out and grab me, my muscles started to stall and feel sluggish. It felt like trudging through waist high water, and I saw Cearu's struggle and alarm at this development too. "Give it all you've got, we have to get through!" She shouted.
Was this a Force technique? I closed my eyes and focused, trying to mentally disperse it or redirect it elsewhere. It was a technique I had been working diligently on with Dad for months before, absorbing or deflecting Force energy. Redirecting didn't seem to work, and I was better at absorbing anyway, so I decided to try and just swallow up this energy around us and hope there was no negative effect. As though I had popped a drain on a tub, suddenly the energy spiraled away from hindering our bodies and into me, I could feel that oppressive darkness under my skin.
But, without hesitation, we immediately surged forward through the portal and collapsed to the floor on the other side. "Callan! Are you alright?" Aida rushed to me, but I pointed up and an inversion of that mural lit up on the far wall now. What should have taken me considerable effort, took a flick of my wrist this time, and without any help either. The grooves flashed bright again as the hands moved back to their original positions, blinding us for a second before we appeared back on the stone floor of the temple. I heaved a sigh of relief, the dark energy was gone.
Then, my previous panic hit again. "Islene!" I called, my voice echoing through the chambers. Silence greeted me in return. Aida's brows mashed in confusion as she looked around, now realizing my concern. Islene was not here. "How long have we been gone? Do you think she just went back to camp? It is a bit creepy here alone." Aida said, a hint of optimism to her voice as usual. "I have a bad feeling. I think something happened while we were inside, I think she's in danger and we need to find her." Aida's eyes widened with worry and she nodded, a solemn expression replacing her hopeful one.
I looked to the man I assumed was Johun, and he just stared behind me at Cearu. "Who is Islene?" Cearu was looking at me. "A girl we met, she's been helping us." I replied simply, rising to my feet and dusting off my robes. I started for the doorway back toward the entrance, and Aida scrambled to follow behind me. The grooves of the mural went dark, causing me to stop for a moment and evaluate the change, but then instantaneously, the temple started to shake and groan violently and I felt the sensation of sinking rapidly.
"The temple is collapsing! Run!" Aida yelled, surging forward as I did, Johun and Cearu following. The pillars were crumbling, huge pieces of rock and tile and statue were falling all around us, and we took care not to be crushed in the mad dash out. Except, we did finally get to the main hall, to find the entrance caved in already. Aida's eyes rushed to mine, a look of wild panic in her eyes. "Up there, I see light!" Cearu yelled, pointing straight upward to another opening in the wall. Without pause, Cearu used the Force to fling Aida up to the ledge, and though startled, she grabbed the ledge and hoisted herself up. I was unceremoniously flung upward next, Aida grabbing me once in reach.
Johun didn't hesitate, he sent Cearu up next with evident strain, but Aida and I caught her in the Force and pulled her onto the ledge. The three of us leaned over and grabbed Johun together, pulling him directly up from the floor. Pushing and pulling people was one thing, but it took considerably more effort to levitate them without hurting them accidentally in the process. As we came through the doorway to the outside, we realized not only was the temple collapsing, it was literally sinking into the ground. The doorway that was so high up toward the ceiling of the main chamber we'd just exited, was nearly level with the ground outside already.
We all collapsed into the sand some paces away from the temple to catch our breath, watching with mild awe as the temple was swallowed up. "I had forgotten how stressful being alive was." Johun muttered bemusedly. Cearu chuckled lightly. "I'm Johun, by the way." He looked to me briefly, then kept his eyes locked on Cearu. "Callan." I muttered tiredly. "I'm Cearu. It's nice to meet you." She replied with her usual reserved half-smile. Aida sat next to me, our knees nearly touching.
"I saw some concerning things inside. I don't know if they were real or not, but I think we should get home right away. Let's hurry and find Islene and get out of here." She said to me quietly.
Allana's POV
Nal Hutta-Kessel
Things had stalled with the Grand Council of Nal Hutta. The Huttese were keen to take the opportunity to become independent again with all the galactic unrest, and while they were not interested in joining the Confederation as I'd been tasked to ensure, they wanted to sign a treaty essentially saying they wouldn't interfere in exchange for a 'few' planets they wanted from the Outer Rim. I knew this was unacceptable, I didn't even need to ask. I knew what Master Lumiya expected of me, and if I had to pulverize these stupid lards into submission then so be it.
I didn't relish the idea of war, but I was willing to do what was needed. However, Hapian men were all too happy to join the action, even if they were only peons. But I guess that's all they had to look forward to in their menial existence, unable to hold any position or status of significance in Hapian culture. I supposed they might be thrilled by the power they were able to exert in other cultures through this war. My favorite Chume'doro, Jet, entered my quarters. "Sorry to disturb you, Ta'a Chume, but there has been an offer extended from Arok the Hutt." She handed me a datapad.
I read over the message, essentially stating he had a gift for me to sway me in favor of the arrangement they seeked. It stated a spy in their employ had come across a Hapian fugitive ship that my military had engaged previously, and that he sent a task force to collect the persons on board. He currently had one in his possession, and squads scouring for two others that had been on the ship. He wished to give me this prisoner as a token of goodwill. I smiled to myself, how simple minded these fools were. Oh yes, I would take whoever this person was, it didn't matter to me. I wasn't aware of any fugitives to begin with, but in the case it might be something important, I'd certainly take them. But he was in for a rude surprise if he thought that would seal a deal between us.
There had been several battles within the Inner Rim, my commanders reported. Most resulting in a hasty retreat, but two outright wins for the Confederation so far. Father called earlier today to tell me Kier was being sent with a small fleet of reinforcements to assist me with the battle against the Hutt, a secret upper hand they did not know I would have. While Kier being sent irked my pride to some extent, I took a petty delight in the fact I at least had all my natural born limbs. Fool. I was surely a better battle tactician anyway, I always bested Kier in physical combat.
He also mentioned he wanted me, in the meantime until Kier arrived, to go on a secret mission directly from him to retrieve a talisman from the tomb of a Sith on Kessel. The conversation was hurried, it was obvious he was concerned about being overheard. He said he didn't have time, but he would explain the importance of it later. I was dubious at first, Master Lumiya would surely punish me severely if I was caught deviating from her orders or in a plot undermining her, but ultimately I decided he was my father, and my loyalty belonged to him above her for that fact alone. He would look out for my interests more than her.
So I set out after telling Jet to acquire our 'gift'. Kessel thankfully wasn't far, it only took a few hours. I felt the dark energy emanating from the whole misshapen planet as soon as it came into view. It was a bleak and barren place, not high on my list of places to see. The only settlement was Kessendra, and I knew there would be no tombs there, so I entered the atmosphere far north of it. The air was too thin to breathe on the surface, so I had to tolerate a mask for the duration of this search.
I hadn't thought much on how I was going to find the talisman, I was mostly following the natural draw I felt through the dark side. It was stronger here, and I let it lead me. Surely, wherever it originated there was something notable. If there was a powerful talisman here, I'd bet that was the source of this pull. There were several ruins, caves, and seemingly mausoleum type structures I observed, I wondered what might've once been here. Was this planet livable at one time?
I also couldn't help but notice the unnerving species of avians that inhabited the planet. They were entirely skeletal, with large, black, empty eye sockets that somehow still seemed to track my every movement. The further I followed the strange draw I felt, the more strange birds appeared. I realized now it was coming from a mausoleum I was approaching. Of course, the talisman was probably locked in the coffin of some dead guy, that sounded logical. I wasn't thrilled about a tomb to begin with, but digging around in some stranger's remains was extremely low on my list of things I'd like to be doing.
I pushed hard at the stone blocking the entrance with the Force, and it finally relented enough I could slip inside. With what little light was bleeding in from outside, I could see a staircase leading down, and the walls lined with skeletons neatly laying in hollows. I headed for the staircase, hearing what I thought was a whisper calling me from below. Only a few paces in, suddenly that huge stone slammed shut, the noise and pitch black startling me. I stood still, activating my saber for some light, I couldn't see anything.
Or, so I thought. I could definitely now see several pairs of yellow glimmering in the dark from those hollows on the walls. I was apprehensive at best about this development, further uneased by the fact I realized they were eyes as the skeletons sat up and turned to face me. "Oh hell." I muttered to myself. There was definitely something valuable here, because this was one big booby trap, these skeletons were spelled by some kind of arcane Sith magic to defend this place.
That whisper again. It said my name this time. I looked to the stairs again, to be sure there wasn't someone, or something, there. Nothing. I looked back at the skeletons, expecting they would rise and attack. But no, they had sat up and faced me, but remained seated in their hollows just looking at me. Fucking weird. I felt that they weren't going to attack at that point, maybe they sensed my darkness? Or knew it was their Master that was calling me here? I didn't know, but I proceeded down the stairs.
At the bottom, it was lit by candlelight. Entirely bizarre to me, hadn't this place been sealed up until I just arrived? Who lit these? Maybe it was more of the crazy Sith magic. I looked around the room, it was all stone with tapestries affixed to the far wall with symbols I didn't recognize. There were two long tables on each side of the room with various dust covered things on them, clothing, jewels, crystals, medallions, chalices, and at the very end, what appeared to be an ancient design of a lightsaber hilt. While very curious, these were not items I came for, and I didn't know what would happen if I touched them, so I didn't dare to.
I continued to walk forward to the end of the long room. There was a huge stone coffin with an inscription on it, and the candles lighting the room were on long candelabras standing on each end of the dias the coffin sat atop. There was a thick layer of dust over the inscription, and I brushed it away with my sleeve. I'm not sure what I expected, it was some kind of runic language that I didn't know, I couldn't read it. The voice whispered again, this time as though it were right beside my ear, telling me to open it.
I don't remember consciously thinking that I would do it, something tickled at the edge of my mind, but I couldn't focus on it. I felt as if in a trace, my body moving of its own accord, but somehow I didn't feel alarmed about it. I pushed at the lid, but it didn't move. Without pause, I stepped back and used the Force this time, and the lid moved. I felt an enormous surge of darkness, I'd never felt anything like it before, but I had no time to process it. I vaguely recognized I was falling, and the thud of my head against the stone floor before the black swallowed me.