The busy streets of Black Spire Outpost made it easy for Tay to see why so many people come here. Vendors could be seen selling their goods everywhere, from droids to clothes, to even alien pets. Heck, at one point, he even saw someone roasting meat from an overhanging podracer engine. Tay couldn't help but gaze around in wonder at the diversity. F, however, showed no such reaction, and pressed on through the crowd, her face concealed by her mask and hood.
"You know, you don't have to wear the mask" Tay told her, "The Empire hasn't made it here yet."
"It's not the Empire I'm worried about" F bluntly replied. Tay thought back to the Inquisitors that had attacked him; it would make sense to hide from them, and F must not be taking any chances.
Tay decided to change the subject. "Sooo, where are we going?"
"I can't tell you here" F replied, "All you need to know right now is that it's hidden and may be a place that can help you overcome your fear."
"I never said I was afraid."
"I can sense it."
This was one of the few times Tay didn't like Jedi senses; somethings he just wanted to keep hidden.
Eventually, the two arrived at what seemed like an ordinary cliff face, but what caught Tay off guard was that the statue in front of it looked remarkably like those from the Jedi Temple he trained at on Coruscant. F walked over to a part of the rock face and placed her hand on it. There was nothing for a few moments, but then a part of the rock opened up, revealing it to be a door. Making sure no one had noticed, F ducked inside, motioning Tay to follow in after her.
The rock door rumbled shut once the two Jedi entered, and Tay gawked at what he saw. The inside of the cliff was a massive Temple. Jedi statues and carvings decorated the walls as an opening in the roof of the cave allowed sunlight to enter. Tay could sense that the Force's presence here was incredibly potent, more so than anything he had previously experienced.
"I've never heard of this place before" he marveled.
"There are few who have" F explained, "This temple was known to only a few powerful Jedi, and fewer yet still live. Revan guided me here after I came out of hiding."
"So it is a temple"
F nodded, "One of the few to survive the days of the Old Republic. It's a place of peace, but also of tests. If you are to fulfill your purpose in this Blood Tie, you need to conquer your inner darkness and face your fears, as I have."
Tay grew anxious; he had been trying to hide from his inner fears for years and he did not feel ready to do so now. Just then, Skye's ghostly form appeared, as did the armored figure from earlier, Revan.
"He is very afraid" Revan observed, "I can sense his thoughts; he doesn't believe he is ready."
"He is" Skye replied, "He just doesn't see it yet."
Skye then turned to Tay. "Well?"
Tay wasn't sure how to respond. "I...well...I don't know."
"What do you mean?" Revan asked.
Tay couldn't bring himself to look at Revan as he explained, "Ever since my parents were killed, I've only been tortured. When I meditate, these nightmares appear and I can't stop them. My master being killed by Inquisitors only made things worse. Now part of me thinks that even the Force doesn't want me to do this."
"Don't say that about yourself" Skye told him, "You've been through a lot, yes, but that doesn't mean you can't get rid of it."
"She's right" F agreed, "I too am familiar with these nightmares. But I've recognized them as merely the work of the Dark Side trying to disorient us. Now that I've faced my fear, they don't bother me. The same thing can happen to you. You just have to trust that the Force will guide you."
Tay was silent for a few minutes as he thought it over. Then, he looked up at F with a more determined expression.
"What do I need to do?" he asked.
Revan answered by raising his hand, opening another door in the temple.
"There is something you need that lies in there" he explained, "but there are trials in your path. Face them, and you will be one step closer to your goal."
Tay looked at the dark tunnel that lay ahead. "What kind of trials? What's in there?"
"Only that which you take with you." Revan replied.
"I will stay here and wait for you" F said, "Good luck."
Tay nodded to her before approaching the tunnel. Then, taking a deep breath, he plunged into the darkness, and the door closed shut behind him.
Revan looked to F, "You worry about him."
"I only fear for what these trials will do to his mind" F explained, "Even if he passes them successfully, there's no telling what will happen to him."
Revan was silent, but then Skye decided to intervene. "I sense you speak from experience."
F closed her eyes as the memory of her master's death came back. "Yes, and the one who killed him...I have never felt such darkness."
"You certainly have changed" Revan told her, "But it was for the better."
F looked back to Revan. "Was it, though?"
Neither Revan nor Skye had an answer, leaving F alone with her thoughts as she sat down, cross-legged to meditate.
...
As the Star Destroyer loomed through space, Darth Vader spoke with the Inquisitor twins in his personal chambers.
"I understand hunting Jedi is no simple task, especially for a first encounter" he said, pacing in front of them, "While failure will not always be tolerated, I am willing to extend it this ONE TIME to give you a simple piece of advice."
"Which is?" Jeddak asked.
"Your connection with the Dark Side is your greatest weapon." Vader advised, "It will even show you where Jedi are hiding, so long as you are willing to listen to it."
"If I may ask, my Lord" Jada nervously said, "But why show us mercy? We failed you."
"I have seen something in your future" Vader replied, 'You two are capable of far more than you realize."
At Vader's prompt, Jeddak and Jada closed their eyes and meditated, searching for the Jedi through the Force. Suddenly, an image flashed in Jeddak's mind, showing a brief image of a cliff face with a statue in front of it. While he didn't recognize the location, the planet's name was clear in his mind.
"Batuu" he suddenly announced. "He's on Batuu. I saw it."
Vader's voice sounded mildly impressed. "Good, then that is where we will go. I suggest you two prepare yourselves."
Vader then gave the ship's Admiral the command, and the Star Destroyer shot into hyperspace, speeding towards Batuu.
Jada looked to Jeddak. "We have another chance to take out a Jedi, brother. Let's not waste it."
Jeddak held up his hand as electricity began crackling along it. "Trust me, I don't plan to."
Vader watched the two in silence; soon, these two would reach their full potential in the Dark Side, and when they did, no Jedi would stand a chance...
Let me know what you think so far!