Chapter 28
A lime, light fell over the Gungan, scanning him for further deficiencies. It blinked off, as if happy with the results.
The Gungan blinked away the dots in front of his eyes, stepping down from the chamber.
He stretched; examining his arms and hands. Skin that seemed as fresh as a child now replaced the old and decayed. He grinned in satisfaction as he trailed over to the ship's main quarter.
The sphere, now plugged into the system took on a musty, purple glow where it too sat rejuvenated and ready.
The Gungan closed his eyes, directing his thoughts to the tiny jewel. "The Shul."
There was a moment of silent thought as the computer processed the jewel's response. It wasn't long before a large, holographic map of the planet was brought forth. The computer zoomed in to reveal a miniscule, red dot approaching the planet's centre.
The Gungan hissed. The Shul was heading to the place. There she would be taught and would only grow stronger. He had to stop her before that happened. Even if it meant making sacrifices.
The Gungan dissolved the map, ordering the computer to proceed. There was a jolt as the ship's system fired up and it blasted off, heading for the one place that the Gungan had once vowed never to return too.
It took a great deal longer than expected for the Monster to direct them through the maze of caves and tunnels. Each one looking like the last, it made Julian wonder how the beast knew its way around. The walls were dark, they were now too far down for reefs to grow and so apart from the guide they were alone.
Julian stared at his passenger who sat curled up in her seat, sleeping soundly and instantly wished that he could do the same.
Julian yawned, attempting to blink away his drowsiness, but it only set in more.
Eventually, though Julian began to notice the change as soon caves began to become narrower and as if brought back from the dead, life began to spring up once again.
"Adia." Julian jabbed the girl in the ribs.
"What?!" Adia jumped upright.
"We're almost there."
"It's about time." Adia yawned, stretching in her seat.
The monster soon brought the sub to a halt, signalling Julian to a tiny crack in a wall in which it could not fit.
"We're not going in there are we?"
"Yup," Julian nodded, guiding the sub forward toward the wall.
From afar the crack seemed tiny and barely noticeable. But the closer they came the bigger it got. Until finally it seemed to be another cave in itself.
"What is this? An illusion?" Adia questioned.
"Yup." Julian repeated. "It's here to keep people we don't want, out."
"Oh." Adia sighed trying to sound as if she understood.
Julian brought the sub into the mouth of the passage where, as if to enter a bubble similar to that in Otoh Gunga a field suddenly overcame them. And all at once they entered into a brilliant, new world. Bright, gold reefs lined the walls and floor, so that it illuminated a light entirely of its own.
"What is this place?" Adia asked, nothing less than marvelled.
Julian grinned,
"This, Adia is home."
The place was teeming with life, a vast contrast to the world outside.
Fish and marine creatures that Adia had seen in no other place swam about, showing off a marvellous array of colours and forms. It was paradise.
"How can this place possibly exist?"
Julian shrugged, admittedly. "I don't know. To me it's always been here."
He brought the bongo upward where they surfaced and disembarked in a giant chamber.
Julian deactivated the Hydrofield and instantly a rush of cool, fresh air swept over them.
The place in itself was no less dazzling. The walls were made of the same hard stone as in the core and had been etched into to look as if giant columns held up the ceiling.
A tall, cloaked figure slowly approached. Each stride careful and elegant that the figure seemed to almost glide along the shiny, stone surface.
Down the front of his cloak ran a long strip, like that seen on the Otoh Gungan Rep council. Only on this cape, the writing was strange, like that on Julian's vest.
"Welcome." The figure brought up a hand in a gesture of greeting.
"My lord." Julian bowed, meekly followed by Adia.
"There is no need Adia." The figure chuckled, sliding the hood away from his face. Immediately Adia had to step back. His eyes! They were green, the same as her own.
He was an older Gungan, perhaps the age of Er Shua. But yet he seemed to possess an extreme fitness. His face and hands were not wrinkled at all. In fact the only thing that suggested his age were the finlets hanging from his face.
"You are dismissed Julian, I will inform you when you are needed again."
Adia gave Julian a look of dismay, but the Gungan ignored her silent plea to stay and bowed before making his way out.
When they were alone the old Gungan turned back to Adia.
"I am Lord Yah."
Those words left an echo in Adia's brain and she suddenly felt very dizzy. The thought had barely hit home when she suddenly blurted.
"You are my father."
A slow smile spread across his face as Adia's own face took on a flushed form. She hummed, embarrassed by her own abrupt behaviour.
"I am sorry, I have a habit of speaking before thinking."
The Gungan nodded in understanding and dismissed her apology.
"I sired you, but you are really the daughter of the Orban."
Two massive doors now loomed before them. Occupying either side was a guard who, on their approach hurried to open them.
They bowed, showing Adia and her escort into a giant, elegant hallway.
"What is this place?" Adia whispered, staring at the array of pictures and scenes of history etched into the walls.
"This is the planet core, the temple of our ancestors. It is where we hold contact with the Orban, our watchers. This is the place in which you were conceived and your destiny decided."
Adia fell silent, not quite able to process the information. She shook her head, moving onto another subject.
"And that language you speak? It seems familiar somehow. Yet I don't understand it."
"It is the language of your people, Adia. The language of the Mesulan. No doubt your mother tried teaching it to you when you were young. And of cause, no doubt, you have forgotten it."
There was another silent linger. For a man whom she hadn't seen since her birth, she could think of nothing to say. It made her feel uncomfortable.
Eventually the two stopped at another set of double doors. The Guards bowed as Adia's father signalled for their open and guided her into the massive bedroom.
"These are your living quarters Adia. You will wash," he stared distastefully at her clothes. "And change."
With hoods drawn, two capped maids stood at the ready.
"Lady Yah."
Bony and soft voiced they bowed in unison.
About to make a remark about this place and twos Adia turned back to her father but he backed out of the room.
"A messenger will be sent when you are done." He said before the doors slammed shut behind him.
Adia stared back at the maids who briskly hurried over and began stripping her of her outer garments.
"Wha..?" Adia pulled away. "What are you doing?!"
"Yi ka! Yi Ka!" one of the maids begged.
She turned to her counterpart, making out as if she was undressing her.
"Doso undaie." She pointed to Adia, giving her a reassuring smile.
Hesitantly, Adia let the women approach. They pulled away her garment, leaving her to stand in her undergarment until they signalled her through another doorway.
She was taken into a bathing room, glorious in size. The walls depicted vast engravings of beaches and lazy streams. The room itself consisted of nothing but a giant pool, almost as large as the lake that Adia used to bathe in, in the forest. Beautiful. Dazzled, Adia was caught off guard when a girl suddenly stripped her of the remainder of her clothing.
Instantly, Adia shrieked, ripping back her garment from the girl but the other came up from behind and shoved her forward into the pool.
Adia came up coughing and spluttering but was then overcome but the strong smell of essence rising from the steamy water. Her body immediately began to relax as she could quite literally feel the tension and muck melt away from her body. This could quite possibly be heaven.
Grabbing sponges the maids attempted to dive in and wash her but Adia strongly objected. Making it clear that she would rather be left alone.
Julian wondered the hallways humming. He'd just bathed and felt refreshed. It was good to be back in a place that he knew well.
"Young Shua."
Julian turned, to face Lord Yah.
"My Lord." He bowed.
The Gungan nodded, barely comprehending his gesture of greeting.
"Where are you heading?"
"I am about to contact Sir Er Shua to inform him of our safe return. He requested that I do this as soon as we arrived."
The Lord shook his head, "No, I want you to report to Adia's quarters. See that she is fine."
"Yes my Lord." Julian bowed again but then stopped.
"What is it?"
"My Lord." The Gungan hesitated. "Adia does not have the sphere. During my retrieval of the girl we were attacked by something. A warrior who possessed the art of sphere mastery. His strength far exceeded Adia and he was able to take hold of the Sphere." He licked his suddenly dry lips. "I have reason to believe that he was a warrior of the Shadows and I don't think that was the last we saw of him either."
The Gungan nodded, taking in the information. Julian caught a flicker of worry in the prophet's eye. But he fixed his posture fast and merely sighed.
"So long as Adia lives, she will be the true master of the sphere. If she were to die, then the sphere's mastery would fall into the hands of another. I need you to look after her while she is at her weakest. She needs to be trained before she faces this 'so called' warrior again. Go to her now."
"Yes my Lord."
Julian dismissed himself and journeyed to Adia's quarters. Explaining to the guards that he was under the orders of Lord Yah he was let in, only to be confronted by a naked Adia who was screaming abuses at the maid that attempted to dress her.
Julian coughed, going an instant shade of pink he looked to the wall.
"Julian!" Adia dashed over to his side. "These people are trying to attack me!"
"No, they are your maids and they are trying to dress you, Adia." Julian stated bluntly, looking to the exasperated maids.
"Do you want to dress yourself then?" He asked Adia.
"Yes!" The girl shouted abruptly.
Julian signalled to the two maids.
"You are dismissed."
Obviously annoyed by the gesture, one of the two gave him a contorted stare before throwing a piece of clothing down and storming out followed by her companion.
Julian faced the wall again, giving Adia the chance to hurry over and dress herself.
He heard ruffling and then a shriek.
"How in the world am I supposed to dress? I don't even know what it is that I am supposed to be wearing?!"
He turned back around. Still naked, Adia held up the garment upside down.
Julian sighed, swallowing down his discomfort.
"I will help you dress."
