p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-top: 0px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle fought to calm the shaking in her hands as they sped through the grassy plains of Lothal and away from the Capitol city. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Another close call. She didn't want to think where she'd be now if–/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""How did you find me?" she blurted out. They had already been riding for quite awhile in silence, yet she hadn't bothered to ask them until now. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra looked up. There was a deep sadness in his eyes. "The wolves…" he started. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Wolves?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""After Kanan– after he–" Ezra looked away, unable to finish his sentence. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The realization dawned on Noelle. "He's gone, isn't he?" she said quietly. It only made sense. Ezra was here and Kanan was not. She felt another stab of guilt and grief for someone else she couldn't save. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"There was a long moment of silence, until Ezra finally spoke. "The Loth-Wolves spoke to me in a dream. They told me to go to the Jedi Temple on Lothal. The Empire is after something there, and they told me to find you first."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle was silent. It was almost too perfect to be true. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""The Jedi Temple is where I need to go," she said. "I came here to Lothal looking for answers, and the best place to go for those answers is the Temple."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Well, you came to the right place," Sabine said with a heavy sigh./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle shook her head."With the Force there are no coincidences. I was meant to come here at the same time as you are, although what your purpose is is likely different from mine."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra frowned. "The Loth-Wolves told meem style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;" 'restore past, redeem future.' /emWhat does that mean?" /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""For starters, what in the galaxy is a 'Loth-Wolf?'"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra actually managed a chuckle. "You'll have to see for yourself. Let's just get back to base first."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"~~~~~/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Their "base" was practically a deserted hollow situated in the side of one of the hive-shaped structures that dotted Lothal's surface. Only Hera remained. Noelle was curious to see how Hera was doing after all this. She likely wasn't in a good state after just losing the man she loved. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The green Twi'lek looked up from a stone platform she was musing over when she saw them approaching. Noelle hopped out of the speeder. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Hera!" She genuinely was pleased to see her either way. She missed being under Hera's command, even though she would rather take orders from no one. "How are you?'/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Hera gave a tired smile. "Better than before– I think. It's good to see you."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""It's good to see you too," Noelle replied sincerely. "Now what's this business with the Jedi Temple."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Ezra." Hera gestured to behind Noelle. "You have our attention, now explain what's going on."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra, Sabine, Chopper and Zeb joined Noelle and Hera at the little stone table, on which was a golden mural with three various hand configurations. Noelle had never seen anything like it before. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""This stone came from the Jedi Temple here on Lothal," said Ezra. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""That's far to the North," Hera observed. "How did it get here?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""The Loth -Wolves gave it to me," Ezra explained casually. "They think the Empire's doing something terrible there."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Zeb laughed. "Ok, wait." He held up his hands. "em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"They think/em. What did they em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"talk/em to you?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra scratched his head, as if he didn't know how to explain it himself. "Uhh, just the one."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"That was why Noelle wanted to see these Wolves for herself. They were obviously strongly connected to the Force in ways other creatures were not. They seemed no ordinary wolves from the description./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I wish they told you what these symbols mean," Sabine said, brushing her fingers over the golden hand configurations on the stone. "Maybe I could make more sense of them if I saw the Temple up close."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I agree," Ezra said. "We have to go. I don't want the Empire putting their hands all over the Temple." He glanced at Noelle, who nodded in agreement. She was no Jedi, but she didn't want the Empire to destroy anything else the Jedi had left behind. They had already taken Anakin and Ahsoka from her. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Hera crossed her arms. "So let's stop them!" She lowered her head. "For Kanan."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""For Kanan," Noelle repeated in a whisper. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""There's just one problem," Sabine added. "As Hera said, the Temple is far to the North, and we don't have a ship." /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra smiled. "I can get us there."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle could hear the howling echoing in the distance before the pack of Wolves appeared before them on the plains of Lothal. They were em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"huge/em, similar to how the nature of Middle-earth was oversized compared to that of Earth, these Wolves were larger than horses. They were larger than em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"bears/em./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Zeb, Sabine and Hera watched uncertainly as the largest Wolf, the leader of the pack, a white Wolf with solemn yellow eyes, approached Ezra and sat before him. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""We're ready," Ezra said to him. "Can you take us?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The White Wolf seemed to be saying "yes" in its own way and he slowly bent down, allowing Ezra to climb onto his back. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"For the first time in a very long time, Noelle smiled. She had ridden Great Eagles across Middle-earth, but never on the back of a wolf. Life could only get more exciting, couldn't it? /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Another white Wolf, not the pack leader, came over to her. Its eyes were a blood-red color rather than the yellow of the others. Noelle stroked its soft, pale fur as it bent down to allow her to climb onto its back. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The sun was beginning to set and its rays cast an orangish glow over the plains of the Lothal. It made the grass appear as a sea of gold to Noelle. And the Wolves were their ships. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;" She wouldn't treat this animal as if she was riding a horse. She had no control over it. It was taking em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"her/em. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Through the Force, she connected her mind to the Wolf, and followed Ezra as his Wolf sprang away into the grasslands. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The Temple was far to the North, and Noelle wasn't sure if this was faster than speeders. It certainly didn't seem like it, but there was a reason the Wolves were taking them. She trusted that even if the Empire spotted them somehow, the Wolves would keep them safe. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""How much further?!" Hera yelled to Ezra. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I don't know!"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Then suddenly Noelle saw the long blades of grass getting closer, and it was as if they were sinking into it. It was one of the strangest sensations she had ever experienced in her life. A blackness enveloped her, then a light. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"And she heard voices. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"~~~~~/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"When Noelle opened her eyes the Wolves were no longer moving, however, she was still on top of its furry neck. It was as if she had been asleep this whole time and the trip to the Temple was simply a dream./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Up ahead of them they could see Ezra conversing with the lead Wolf silhouetted against the fading sunlight. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle slid down off the back of her Wolf and she, Hera, Sabine, Zeb and Chopper joined Ezra and his Wolf. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""They say the Temple is not far from here, just a little to the Northwest, but we'll have to walk the rest of the way," he said. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Ezra, how do they do that?" Hera asked softly. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra gently touched the nose of the biggest White Wolf, the one he had been riding. Noelle wasn't even sure if he knew himself how these Wolves spoke to him. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Kanan said they were deeply connected to the Force."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I'm just glad they're on our side," Zeb said as they watched the Wolves disappear into the night./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""They're on… Lothal's side."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"They're on the Force's side, /emNoelle realized./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Is there a difference?" Sabine asked him. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Let's hope not."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"~~~~~~/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"By the time they were approaching the Jedi Temple, the sun was almost set. The sky glowed a hazy pink and purple on the horizon. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle gasped when she saw what the Empire had done to the place. It was practically stripped on the outside, surrounded by ships, patrols, lights and research equipment. It was clear ever since they had accidentally led the Empire here two years ago, they had just about destroyed this place. They were obviously looking for something, but what? Noelle had no idea how she was supposed to get inside the actual Temple. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""This is no military operation," Sabine said, voicing Noelle's thoughts. She pulled out her macrobinoculars. "What are they searching for?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Let me take a look." Sabine handed Ezra the binoculars. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Wait! The doors, they're both gone! And it looks like one of them has been cut right off the surface."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle frowned. There was something dirty in Dantooine going on here and she didn't like it. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Is this em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"really/em the Temple?" Sabine asked skeptically. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Yes, it is," Noelle replied dryly. "They wouldn't be here if it wasn't."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"The Emperor wants something here, and I've walked right into his trap. /em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"But she still had to go home. Either way she turned, she was walking into the Empire's clutches. This was her last chance. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""We're in the right place," Ezra confirmed to the others. "The Temple must have sealed itself off."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""They've uncovered a lot more artwork…" said Sabine, biting her lip. "Maybe I can figure it out if I get a closer look."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"And then we can figure out how to get inside./em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Agreed," said Hera. "You and Ezra go. We can keep watch from up here."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Wait!" Noelle jumped in. "I have to go too. I need to get inside that Temple–"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The others all looked at her as if she was out of her mind. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Noelle," Sabine began. "You em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"do /emsee all the troopers down there, don't you?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Not to mention there's no way I even know of to open the Temple," added Ezra. He hadn't taken his eyes off the site. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"They were right, she knew. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle bit her lip. She wasn't leaving, nor was she turning back. She had come too far for anything else. Regardless of whether she could make them understand the urgency, she had to get into that Temple. It was the only way. She didn't know for sure what was in there, or what she would find, but deep down she knew it was the way. She could feel it. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Yes, I see them, but I'm still going in."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"~~~~~~/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle, Sabine and Ezra pulled into the research grounds in their stolen Stormtrooper uniforms and speeder bikes. They had ambushed three unsuspecting troopers on the way down. It made for a perfect disguise. Well, as long as they could play along. It wasn't anything they hadn't done before, but still, sneaking around was always tricky. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The Temple loomed high above them, and Noelle felt small in its shadow. The last time she had been standing here in this place felt like a lifetime ago, when Ahsoka had refused to help Ezra and Kanan open the Temple because she was no longer a Jedi…/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"That was when it hit Noelle. em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"She/em couldn'tem style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;" /emopen the Temple either. She wasn't a would have to open it himself. Was it another coincidence that she had happened to come here with the only living Jedi left who was willing to help her? /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Large blocks of stone were arranged neatly off to one side parallel to the Temple. Each of them contained a different segment of artwork, Noelle suspected. She recognized them from em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"inside /emthe Temple, which was puzzling given that the Empire hadn't seemed to have been able to get inside from what she could see. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Troopers!" came a voice behind them suddenly. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"Uh oh–/em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"An old man accompanied by two Death Troopers was coming their way. "Get away from there at em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"once!" /em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The old guy bent down and touched the stone Sabine had been inspecting. "I've said it before: none of you are to touch the artifacts! The tiniest blemish could erase evidence, which is critical to understanding the gateway."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Gateway?" Ezra asked aloud, awe in his voice. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle cringed inwardly. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I mean yes sir! Sorry sir!" Ezra covered up quickly. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Minister!" one of the Death Troopers interrupted. "Coruscant is contacting you."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle felt a shiver run down her spine at that. She had the feeling she knew exactly who it was. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The old man, the "minister," didn't comment, but chastised the two troopers for poor conduct and went along his way, as Noelle, Sabine and Ezra slunk away into the shadows. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""That was close!" said Sabine. She gave Ezra a look. "Next time try and keep it together, will you?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Sorry," he replied. He glanced at Noelle. "What do you think he meant, 'gateway?'"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle was frowning. "The gateway into the Temple? I'm not sure. Those paintings I recognized from inside the actual Temple. How would they have gotten in?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Chopper, I need you to reroute the incoming Imperial Transmission," Sabine commanded the droid over her earpiece. The others waiting up top had heard the whole exchange./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Chopper wawawaed in response. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"At first all they heard was static, then the voices came though. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;""We have recently made some remarkable discoveries, my Emperor.," /emcame the voice of the old minister. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The voice that replied sent a chill that almost paralyzed Noelle's whole body. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;""We must discover the secrets of the Temple. For even now our enemies move against us."/em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Palpatine knew they were here. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"~~~~~~~/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;""We must seize the power within. The conduit between the living and the dead." /em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Hera had wanted them to fall back. She had insisted it was too dangerous with the Emperor involved. But Ezra had convinced her that was exactly why they needed to stay./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The longer they prolonged entering the Temple, the more perilous the situation was getting. Now that the Emperor knew they were here, he would be actively moving against them, as he had no doubt warned the minister they were there. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle, Ezra and Sabine, still in disguise, followed the minister and his troopers closer to the actual Temple itself. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The floodlights were switched on, illuminating the area which had been nothing but pitch blackness. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle gasped. The image on the wall–/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"It showed three figures: a woman on the left, an old man in the middle, and a pale man on the right. She em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"knew/emthem./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"Mortis/em," she whispered. No one heard her but Ezra and Sabine, who turned their heads slightly in her direction, but waited until the minister and his troopers cleared out before asking. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""You know them?" Ezra whispered./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle nodded. "Yeah, a lifetime ago. They're the Mortis gods. The Daughter, who represented the Light Side, the Son, who represented the Dark, and the Father who represented the Balance between them."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Sabine frowned. "Represented?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""They're gone now," Noelle answered. "They all died on Mortis."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Noelle," Ezra whispered in awe. "Do you recognize the bird on the Daughter's arm?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle stared long and hard at it. "I think–"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Ahsoka. It was nearby whenever she was."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle couldn't believe it. "Are youem style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;" sure/em?" /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I'm positive," said Ezra. "It was a convor, green and white like this one. I always saw it flying overhead when Ahsoka visited us on Atollon." He pointed to the far right bottom corner just below the Son. "And look! Loth-Wolves!"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Holding out the palm of her hand, Sabine turned on a hologram of the original piece of the stone the Loth-Wolves had given to Ezra. "Yeah. I thought I might need to refer to it," she said. Suddenly, she gasped. "Look! The hands! They're the same on the figures as the ones here on the stone."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""That's no coincidence." Noelle gazed long and hard at the figures. "Maybe the hands are the key to opening the Temple?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Sabine's eyes were also scanning the image on the side of the wall. "I think this is it. The painting on the Temple is like a star map, but none that I'm familiar with. Those lines are like paths, and the rings, planets– or doorways."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Maybe, maybe that em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"was/em it. Maybe the "map" was like a map where one of those portals led to her world? Or maybe one of them represented Earth? She sure hoped so. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Sabine went on. "The hands represent different configurations. Right now, it looks like the painting is lined up with the central figure." She pointed at the Father's hand position on the hologram of the stone. "I think we want this one, where the lines are together."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Sooo, how do we open the Temple?" Ezra asked her. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I don't know. You tell me. You're the Jedi!"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra glanced at Noelle. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I'm not a Jedi either," she reminded him. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra sighed. He stepped closer to the mural and rubbed his hands together while Noelle and Sabine kept watch./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Hurry!" Sabine gritted her teeth./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""You can't rush these things!" Ezra shot back./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle watched him. He closed his eyes as his hand began to wander over to the top of the Daughter's in the mural. Suddenly, she sensed someone was coming their way. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Get down!" She grabbed Ezra's arm and pulled him down into a dark wedge between the boulder he was standing on and the actual Temple itself. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The stormtroopers had discovered them. Well– Sabine. She was stalling them, giving Noelle and Ezra a chance. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra was frowning as the two of them crouched behind the rock, hardly daring to even breathe./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""The stone," Ezra whispered. "Listen to the stone and its story." He stood back up slowly, and placed his hand back on top of the Daughter's on the mural, this time placing it in the same position as hers. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Listen," he said softly to himself. "Kanan said to em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"listen/em."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The painting began to glow a bright shimmering gold. Noelle gasped and took a step backwards, practically tripping as the "pathways" Sabine had described began to shift. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Then the Daughter's face em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"moved, /emturning to look at her Father and Brother. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;""We are the ones who guard the Power. We are the Middle, the Beginning and the End."/em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The Father's hand moved down to point at the Son's fist. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra looked at Noelle, his mouth agape. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle shook her head in awe. "I don't know what's happening either," she whispered. "But I think you did it, Ezra. You opened the Temple."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Not yet."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The six golden Loth-Wolves that were situated at the bottom corners of the mural perked their heads up then began to howl. Noelle wondered if anyone besides she and Ezra could hear them. Then, following the leader of the pack, they began to meander to the right em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"away /emfrom the actual painting itself. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle and Ezra raced after them./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Where are they going…" Noelle wondered aloud. There weren't many places em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"for/em them to go. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The Wolves stopped, and Noelle and Ezra could see they had formed a circle, but they were still walking. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""This is it!" Ezra breathed. "The entry into the Temple." Reaching forward, he stuck his hand out to the portal the Wolves had created. His hand disappeared into thin air. He pulled back with a gasp. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle nodded. "This must be one of the doorways Sabine was referring to. We have to go inside."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra frowned. "But Noelle, if we go inside, how are we getting back out?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle shook her head, then she placed a hand on the young Jedi's shoulder. "Ezra, I'm not coming back. Better me than you. You're the future of the Jedi Order. They need you."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Wait." Ezra looked shocked. "What do you mean you're not coming back?! em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"We/em need you! The galaxy needs you! You're our only hope!"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I–"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Suddenly, the alarm sirens began to blare, and they could hear the cries and shouts of stormtroopers coming their way. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""There they are!" Two Death Troopers and two stormtroopers aimed their blasters at Noelle and Ezra./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"She gritted her teeth as the minister approached. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""The Gateway!" he cried delightedly./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""We don't have time to talk. We've gotta go now!" Noelle grabbed Ezra's arm and they backed slowly towards the portal. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""GO!" Sabine shouted. She was being retained by two troopers under the command of the minister./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"They nodded. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Stop them!" the minister screamed. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"But it was too late. Noelle and Ezra had only been feet away from the portal when they dived into it, neither of them knowing what lay beyond the walls of the Temple./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Another close call. She didn't want to think where she'd be now if–/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""How did you find me?" she blurted out. They had already been riding for quite awhile in silence, yet she hadn't bothered to ask them until now. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra looked up. There was a deep sadness in his eyes. "The wolves…" he started. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Wolves?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""After Kanan– after he–" Ezra looked away, unable to finish his sentence. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The realization dawned on Noelle. "He's gone, isn't he?" she said quietly. It only made sense. Ezra was here and Kanan was not. She felt another stab of guilt and grief for someone else she couldn't save. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"There was a long moment of silence, until Ezra finally spoke. "The Loth-Wolves spoke to me in a dream. They told me to go to the Jedi Temple on Lothal. The Empire is after something there, and they told me to find you first."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle was silent. It was almost too perfect to be true. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""The Jedi Temple is where I need to go," she said. "I came here to Lothal looking for answers, and the best place to go for those answers is the Temple."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Well, you came to the right place," Sabine said with a heavy sigh./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle shook her head."With the Force there are no coincidences. I was meant to come here at the same time as you are, although what your purpose is is likely different from mine."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra frowned. "The Loth-Wolves told meem style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;" 'restore past, redeem future.' /emWhat does that mean?" /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""For starters, what in the galaxy is a 'Loth-Wolf?'"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra actually managed a chuckle. "You'll have to see for yourself. Let's just get back to base first."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"~~~~~/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Their "base" was practically a deserted hollow situated in the side of one of the hive-shaped structures that dotted Lothal's surface. Only Hera remained. Noelle was curious to see how Hera was doing after all this. She likely wasn't in a good state after just losing the man she loved. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The green Twi'lek looked up from a stone platform she was musing over when she saw them approaching. Noelle hopped out of the speeder. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Hera!" She genuinely was pleased to see her either way. She missed being under Hera's command, even though she would rather take orders from no one. "How are you?'/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Hera gave a tired smile. "Better than before– I think. It's good to see you."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""It's good to see you too," Noelle replied sincerely. "Now what's this business with the Jedi Temple."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Ezra." Hera gestured to behind Noelle. "You have our attention, now explain what's going on."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra, Sabine, Chopper and Zeb joined Noelle and Hera at the little stone table, on which was a golden mural with three various hand configurations. Noelle had never seen anything like it before. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""This stone came from the Jedi Temple here on Lothal," said Ezra. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""That's far to the North," Hera observed. "How did it get here?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""The Loth -Wolves gave it to me," Ezra explained casually. "They think the Empire's doing something terrible there."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Zeb laughed. "Ok, wait." He held up his hands. "em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"They think/em. What did they em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"talk/em to you?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra scratched his head, as if he didn't know how to explain it himself. "Uhh, just the one."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"That was why Noelle wanted to see these Wolves for herself. They were obviously strongly connected to the Force in ways other creatures were not. They seemed no ordinary wolves from the description./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I wish they told you what these symbols mean," Sabine said, brushing her fingers over the golden hand configurations on the stone. "Maybe I could make more sense of them if I saw the Temple up close."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I agree," Ezra said. "We have to go. I don't want the Empire putting their hands all over the Temple." He glanced at Noelle, who nodded in agreement. She was no Jedi, but she didn't want the Empire to destroy anything else the Jedi had left behind. They had already taken Anakin and Ahsoka from her. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Hera crossed her arms. "So let's stop them!" She lowered her head. "For Kanan."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""For Kanan," Noelle repeated in a whisper. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""There's just one problem," Sabine added. "As Hera said, the Temple is far to the North, and we don't have a ship." /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra smiled. "I can get us there."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle could hear the howling echoing in the distance before the pack of Wolves appeared before them on the plains of Lothal. They were em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"huge/em, similar to how the nature of Middle-earth was oversized compared to that of Earth, these Wolves were larger than horses. They were larger than em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"bears/em./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Zeb, Sabine and Hera watched uncertainly as the largest Wolf, the leader of the pack, a white Wolf with solemn yellow eyes, approached Ezra and sat before him. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""We're ready," Ezra said to him. "Can you take us?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The White Wolf seemed to be saying "yes" in its own way and he slowly bent down, allowing Ezra to climb onto his back. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"For the first time in a very long time, Noelle smiled. She had ridden Great Eagles across Middle-earth, but never on the back of a wolf. Life could only get more exciting, couldn't it? /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Another white Wolf, not the pack leader, came over to her. Its eyes were a blood-red color rather than the yellow of the others. Noelle stroked its soft, pale fur as it bent down to allow her to climb onto its back. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The sun was beginning to set and its rays cast an orangish glow over the plains of the Lothal. It made the grass appear as a sea of gold to Noelle. And the Wolves were their ships. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;" She wouldn't treat this animal as if she was riding a horse. She had no control over it. It was taking em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"her/em. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Through the Force, she connected her mind to the Wolf, and followed Ezra as his Wolf sprang away into the grasslands. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The Temple was far to the North, and Noelle wasn't sure if this was faster than speeders. It certainly didn't seem like it, but there was a reason the Wolves were taking them. She trusted that even if the Empire spotted them somehow, the Wolves would keep them safe. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""How much further?!" Hera yelled to Ezra. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I don't know!"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Then suddenly Noelle saw the long blades of grass getting closer, and it was as if they were sinking into it. It was one of the strangest sensations she had ever experienced in her life. A blackness enveloped her, then a light. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"And she heard voices. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"~~~~~/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"When Noelle opened her eyes the Wolves were no longer moving, however, she was still on top of its furry neck. It was as if she had been asleep this whole time and the trip to the Temple was simply a dream./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Up ahead of them they could see Ezra conversing with the lead Wolf silhouetted against the fading sunlight. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle slid down off the back of her Wolf and she, Hera, Sabine, Zeb and Chopper joined Ezra and his Wolf. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""They say the Temple is not far from here, just a little to the Northwest, but we'll have to walk the rest of the way," he said. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Ezra, how do they do that?" Hera asked softly. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra gently touched the nose of the biggest White Wolf, the one he had been riding. Noelle wasn't even sure if he knew himself how these Wolves spoke to him. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Kanan said they were deeply connected to the Force."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I'm just glad they're on our side," Zeb said as they watched the Wolves disappear into the night./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""They're on… Lothal's side."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"They're on the Force's side, /emNoelle realized./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Is there a difference?" Sabine asked him. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Let's hope not."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"~~~~~~/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"By the time they were approaching the Jedi Temple, the sun was almost set. The sky glowed a hazy pink and purple on the horizon. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle gasped when she saw what the Empire had done to the place. It was practically stripped on the outside, surrounded by ships, patrols, lights and research equipment. It was clear ever since they had accidentally led the Empire here two years ago, they had just about destroyed this place. They were obviously looking for something, but what? Noelle had no idea how she was supposed to get inside the actual Temple. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""This is no military operation," Sabine said, voicing Noelle's thoughts. She pulled out her macrobinoculars. "What are they searching for?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Let me take a look." Sabine handed Ezra the binoculars. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Wait! The doors, they're both gone! And it looks like one of them has been cut right off the surface."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle frowned. There was something dirty in Dantooine going on here and she didn't like it. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Is this em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"really/em the Temple?" Sabine asked skeptically. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Yes, it is," Noelle replied dryly. "They wouldn't be here if it wasn't."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"The Emperor wants something here, and I've walked right into his trap. /em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"But she still had to go home. Either way she turned, she was walking into the Empire's clutches. This was her last chance. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""We're in the right place," Ezra confirmed to the others. "The Temple must have sealed itself off."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""They've uncovered a lot more artwork…" said Sabine, biting her lip. "Maybe I can figure it out if I get a closer look."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"And then we can figure out how to get inside./em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Agreed," said Hera. "You and Ezra go. We can keep watch from up here."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Wait!" Noelle jumped in. "I have to go too. I need to get inside that Temple–"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The others all looked at her as if she was out of her mind. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Noelle," Sabine began. "You em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"do /emsee all the troopers down there, don't you?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Not to mention there's no way I even know of to open the Temple," added Ezra. He hadn't taken his eyes off the site. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"They were right, she knew. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle bit her lip. She wasn't leaving, nor was she turning back. She had come too far for anything else. Regardless of whether she could make them understand the urgency, she had to get into that Temple. It was the only way. She didn't know for sure what was in there, or what she would find, but deep down she knew it was the way. She could feel it. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Yes, I see them, but I'm still going in."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"~~~~~~/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle, Sabine and Ezra pulled into the research grounds in their stolen Stormtrooper uniforms and speeder bikes. They had ambushed three unsuspecting troopers on the way down. It made for a perfect disguise. Well, as long as they could play along. It wasn't anything they hadn't done before, but still, sneaking around was always tricky. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The Temple loomed high above them, and Noelle felt small in its shadow. The last time she had been standing here in this place felt like a lifetime ago, when Ahsoka had refused to help Ezra and Kanan open the Temple because she was no longer a Jedi…/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"That was when it hit Noelle. em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"She/em couldn'tem style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;" /emopen the Temple either. She wasn't a would have to open it himself. Was it another coincidence that she had happened to come here with the only living Jedi left who was willing to help her? /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Large blocks of stone were arranged neatly off to one side parallel to the Temple. Each of them contained a different segment of artwork, Noelle suspected. She recognized them from em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"inside /emthe Temple, which was puzzling given that the Empire hadn't seemed to have been able to get inside from what she could see. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Troopers!" came a voice behind them suddenly. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"Uh oh–/em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"An old man accompanied by two Death Troopers was coming their way. "Get away from there at em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"once!" /em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The old guy bent down and touched the stone Sabine had been inspecting. "I've said it before: none of you are to touch the artifacts! The tiniest blemish could erase evidence, which is critical to understanding the gateway."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Gateway?" Ezra asked aloud, awe in his voice. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle cringed inwardly. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I mean yes sir! Sorry sir!" Ezra covered up quickly. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Minister!" one of the Death Troopers interrupted. "Coruscant is contacting you."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle felt a shiver run down her spine at that. She had the feeling she knew exactly who it was. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The old man, the "minister," didn't comment, but chastised the two troopers for poor conduct and went along his way, as Noelle, Sabine and Ezra slunk away into the shadows. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""That was close!" said Sabine. She gave Ezra a look. "Next time try and keep it together, will you?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Sorry," he replied. He glanced at Noelle. "What do you think he meant, 'gateway?'"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle was frowning. "The gateway into the Temple? I'm not sure. Those paintings I recognized from inside the actual Temple. How would they have gotten in?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Chopper, I need you to reroute the incoming Imperial Transmission," Sabine commanded the droid over her earpiece. The others waiting up top had heard the whole exchange./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Chopper wawawaed in response. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"At first all they heard was static, then the voices came though. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;""We have recently made some remarkable discoveries, my Emperor.," /emcame the voice of the old minister. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The voice that replied sent a chill that almost paralyzed Noelle's whole body. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;""We must discover the secrets of the Temple. For even now our enemies move against us."/em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Palpatine knew they were here. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"~~~~~~~/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;""We must seize the power within. The conduit between the living and the dead." /em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Hera had wanted them to fall back. She had insisted it was too dangerous with the Emperor involved. But Ezra had convinced her that was exactly why they needed to stay./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The longer they prolonged entering the Temple, the more perilous the situation was getting. Now that the Emperor knew they were here, he would be actively moving against them, as he had no doubt warned the minister they were there. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle, Ezra and Sabine, still in disguise, followed the minister and his troopers closer to the actual Temple itself. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The floodlights were switched on, illuminating the area which had been nothing but pitch blackness. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle gasped. The image on the wall–/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"It showed three figures: a woman on the left, an old man in the middle, and a pale man on the right. She em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"knew/emthem./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"Mortis/em," she whispered. No one heard her but Ezra and Sabine, who turned their heads slightly in her direction, but waited until the minister and his troopers cleared out before asking. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""You know them?" Ezra whispered./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle nodded. "Yeah, a lifetime ago. They're the Mortis gods. The Daughter, who represented the Light Side, the Son, who represented the Dark, and the Father who represented the Balance between them."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Sabine frowned. "Represented?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""They're gone now," Noelle answered. "They all died on Mortis."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Noelle," Ezra whispered in awe. "Do you recognize the bird on the Daughter's arm?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle stared long and hard at it. "I think–"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Ahsoka. It was nearby whenever she was."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle couldn't believe it. "Are youem style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;" sure/em?" /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I'm positive," said Ezra. "It was a convor, green and white like this one. I always saw it flying overhead when Ahsoka visited us on Atollon." He pointed to the far right bottom corner just below the Son. "And look! Loth-Wolves!"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Holding out the palm of her hand, Sabine turned on a hologram of the original piece of the stone the Loth-Wolves had given to Ezra. "Yeah. I thought I might need to refer to it," she said. Suddenly, she gasped. "Look! The hands! They're the same on the figures as the ones here on the stone."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""That's no coincidence." Noelle gazed long and hard at the figures. "Maybe the hands are the key to opening the Temple?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Sabine's eyes were also scanning the image on the side of the wall. "I think this is it. The painting on the Temple is like a star map, but none that I'm familiar with. Those lines are like paths, and the rings, planets– or doorways."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Maybe, maybe that em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"was/em it. Maybe the "map" was like a map where one of those portals led to her world? Or maybe one of them represented Earth? She sure hoped so. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Sabine went on. "The hands represent different configurations. Right now, it looks like the painting is lined up with the central figure." She pointed at the Father's hand position on the hologram of the stone. "I think we want this one, where the lines are together."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Sooo, how do we open the Temple?" Ezra asked her. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I don't know. You tell me. You're the Jedi!"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra glanced at Noelle. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I'm not a Jedi either," she reminded him. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra sighed. He stepped closer to the mural and rubbed his hands together while Noelle and Sabine kept watch./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Hurry!" Sabine gritted her teeth./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""You can't rush these things!" Ezra shot back./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle watched him. He closed his eyes as his hand began to wander over to the top of the Daughter's in the mural. Suddenly, she sensed someone was coming their way. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Get down!" She grabbed Ezra's arm and pulled him down into a dark wedge between the boulder he was standing on and the actual Temple itself. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The stormtroopers had discovered them. Well– Sabine. She was stalling them, giving Noelle and Ezra a chance. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra was frowning as the two of them crouched behind the rock, hardly daring to even breathe./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""The stone," Ezra whispered. "Listen to the stone and its story." He stood back up slowly, and placed his hand back on top of the Daughter's on the mural, this time placing it in the same position as hers. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Listen," he said softly to himself. "Kanan said to em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"listen/em."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The painting began to glow a bright shimmering gold. Noelle gasped and took a step backwards, practically tripping as the "pathways" Sabine had described began to shift. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Then the Daughter's face em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"moved, /emturning to look at her Father and Brother. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;""We are the ones who guard the Power. We are the Middle, the Beginning and the End."/em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The Father's hand moved down to point at the Son's fist. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra looked at Noelle, his mouth agape. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle shook her head in awe. "I don't know what's happening either," she whispered. "But I think you did it, Ezra. You opened the Temple."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Not yet."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The six golden Loth-Wolves that were situated at the bottom corners of the mural perked their heads up then began to howl. Noelle wondered if anyone besides she and Ezra could hear them. Then, following the leader of the pack, they began to meander to the right em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"away /emfrom the actual painting itself. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle and Ezra raced after them./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Where are they going…" Noelle wondered aloud. There weren't many places em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"for/em them to go. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The Wolves stopped, and Noelle and Ezra could see they had formed a circle, but they were still walking. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""This is it!" Ezra breathed. "The entry into the Temple." Reaching forward, he stuck his hand out to the portal the Wolves had created. His hand disappeared into thin air. He pulled back with a gasp. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle nodded. "This must be one of the doorways Sabine was referring to. We have to go inside."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Ezra frowned. "But Noelle, if we go inside, how are we getting back out?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Noelle shook her head, then she placed a hand on the young Jedi's shoulder. "Ezra, I'm not coming back. Better me than you. You're the future of the Jedi Order. They need you."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Wait." Ezra looked shocked. "What do you mean you're not coming back?! em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; clear: none !important; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important;"We/em need you! The galaxy needs you! You're our only hope!"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I–"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Suddenly, the alarm sirens began to blare, and they could hear the cries and shouts of stormtroopers coming their way. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""There they are!" Two Death Troopers and two stormtroopers aimed their blasters at Noelle and Ezra./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"She gritted her teeth as the minister approached. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""The Gateway!" he cried delightedly./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""We don't have time to talk. We've gotta go now!" Noelle grabbed Ezra's arm and they backed slowly towards the portal. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""GO!" Sabine shouted. She was being retained by two troopers under the command of the minister./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"They nodded. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Stop them!" the minister screamed. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"But it was too late. Noelle and Ezra had only been feet away from the portal when they dived into it, neither of them knowing what lay beyond the walls of the Temple./p