Lest we Forget
Shortly after the Vaapad landed on the worn and eroded landing pad in the Enclave, Dante had begun his search for artifacts. Perhaps even tombs lay about. He felt the cool air whistle around him, knowing full well that this felt more like a tomb—a tomb of the Jedi. Closing his eyes, he remembered the last time he had come to the planet, some 6-7 years back. He remembered the calm and mysterious Masters—including another hard-as-nails Master: Vrook.
There is no death, there is the Force, his mind whispered, a blessing and a mantra to those who were lost during the war—including those who were killed after. Their sacrifice would not be in vain, he vowed, as he opened his eyes, pulling his coat closer to his chest. He walked towards the old entrance, tapping a few keys onto the terminal, and a smile played across his face as the doors unlocked.
He felt the air rush out towards him, embracing the memories of those who once roamed these hallways. He sighed and began his journey into the dark tomb.
Surprisingly, he found the Enclave in favourable shape, considering that it was destroyed and rebuilt. He walked through the old Council room, brushing aside dust and cobwebs as he remembered fondly of the old and diminutive Master Vandar and other Masters, such as Zhar and Kavar.
He walked through the adjoining chambers, and noticed the old workbench, terminal and tables. Things didn't have to be this way, he thought, as he knew that everyone he had met on this planet had died, with the exception of Frreral. The old wookiee had a lot of fight in him left and in these times, there would undoubtedly be a lot more fighting. So much for the new era of peace and justice, he sighed.
Dante walked through the Enclave for several hours, combing through places he had went through already, rekindling the fond, yet short-lived, memories he had of the Dantooine Enclave. As he made his way into the sub-level, he found nothing but the dried husks of Laigreks and the bones of many humanoids—possibly salvagers, Jedi and farmers. Passing through them, he continued to find nothing, but old swords, chairs and tables strewn across the floors in several rooms.
When Malak came, he came in force, and that would have inevitably led the people within the Enclave to run for their lives—shoving aside others as well. Unfortunately, they would never have counted on the then Dark Lord of the Sith to send in brigades of ground forces to lay waste to anything surrounding the area—eliminating survivors.
He entered a small grove within the Enclave and saw three decomposed bodies lying together. In their hands were the hilts of lightsabers. The Jedi ran to the skeletal figures and realized from their clothes and hilts that these were the remains of the Jedi Masters Vrook, Kavar and Zez-Kai Ell. He closed his eyes and whispered the calming mantra. There is no death, there is the Force. After some time, he began to dig holes for the figures, burying them near the rear entrance of the Enclave. Their lightsabers went with them. After a few moments, Dante resumed his course, to search through the final chamber.
The Jedi continued to walk through the final chamber, only to gasp as he entered. The final chamber had been the sparring room where he had seen Rin Mesa. He walked over, noticing that most of the room had been heavily damaged, with debris still cast around the room. He tread slowly down the small set of stairs, as he walked over to where the blue Twi'lek had once stood, dueling the young Padawan Tun Kira. His hands found its way to the last remaining memory of her—the lightsaber he now wielded.
He looked down and rolled it around in his gloved hands, taking care to look over every scratch, every minute detail on the blade. His breathing came heavy as he remembered her smile, the way her lips tasted and the sweet fragrance of her skin. His closed his eyes as he felt the remains in his heart continue to tear apart at the seams. Clenching his teeth and fighting back the tears that eagerly sought its release, he remembered the words she had said to him, after the events of searching for the Unifying Force. You have to be strong, she had said, and live on for the both of us. There will come a time when we shall be together soon. She had said that to him months after she had passed away at the hands of Lotus Xa, who found her own demise at the hands of Dante—and at the bottom of the tunnel in some nameless planet.
He remembered those words—he found solace at the bottom of a bottle, continuing to drink and fight away the Force. It wasn't until Frreral had found him and taken him to the Temple on Coruscant, that Rin had come to him in the vision. It was no dream—she had spoken to him in the grove that he found so peaceful. After that, he had sworn to live on for her—and soon enough, Rena came to him, and helped him find peace after all. Without Rin, Frreral and Rena, Dante didn't know if he would have survived as long as he had.
"I'll continue, Rin," he whispered, "for as long as I have breath in me, I will continue to pass on what I've learned. For you, for Rena and for the Galaxy." With that, he walked out of the Enclave, knowing full well that it was no longer a secret Academy, but a tomb. As he entered through the back, he felt the tug of the Force around him. He could feel a presence further into the hills, calling him.
Somehow, it felt calm and serene, nothing like a dark presence, yet it also contained a fiery warrior's impression. It soothed him and called to him. The Jedi passed through the fields, undaunted and unharmed, as Kath hounds were nowhere to be seen—or felt. He knew that no one from Khoonda or salvagers would harm him; no one seemed to be around for several miles. The Enclave was nothing more than a bad memory for the people of Dantooine.
As he passed a small ledge, he noticed an old grove with a stone engraving. He walked towards the grove and saw a lightsaber covered by the field. He picked it up and looked at the engraving.
Here lies the Jedi Knight Juhani, a daughter of Cathar, who overcame the Dark Side and gave her life so that others may live freely and without fear. May you have found the peace within the Force that you had searched for within your life—your friends will miss you dearly.
Dante's countenance revealed surprise as he realized that this was a Jedi who had fought alongside Revan and the others. He thought she had chosen to live her life in exile, but it was clear that she had died for the others during the Battle of the Starforge. Perhaps he would later speak to Jolee about her, recounting tales of their exploits. But for now, he would have to report to the Council.
He ignited the lightsaber in his hand, revealing a sapphire blade and he rose it high above his head, and with marked precision, brought it down into a portion of untouched stone, searing a hole through it, large enough to fit the weapon. He deactivated the blade and looked around as he placed it within the hole and covering over it with leaves. "May others that are worthy of you reach for this blade when the time is right," he said softly, bowing.
He turned around and produced a round disc-shaped object. He tapped a key and sent a message. "I've reached Dantooine and have combed through the Enclave. Unfortunately there is nothing left, save for the corpses of salvagers. The Enclave has become a tomb—nothing has lived there for a while. The remains of Masters Kavar, Zez-kai and Vrook have been buried, and I can find no trace of life around here. I shall be returning to Coruscant shortly, Ravenmoon out." Suddenly he heard what seemed like blaster fire and the sounds of explosions across the vast open fields. He even heard what could be the screams of people dying in the firefight.
He closed the disc and pocketed it as he raced towards the mayhem. He felt his lightsaber fly to his hand, igniting the blue blade as he couldn't help but think, what was it you said Rena? 'No rest for the wicked?' He summoned the Force around him, enhancing his movements as he leapt over the hillside and watched several silver and black clad soldiers shooting crimson fire into the Khoonda installation, as the militia helplessly retaliated.
Author's Note: I actually wrote this on November 11th, which was Remembrance Day here in Canada and Veteran's Day in the US, signifying the end of World War I and World War II. I decided the title shouldbe in honour of those who had given their lives for the rest of us;and hopefully the mood of the chapter brought out that same feeling, even in the Star Wars Universe. I hope you enjoyed it, there shall be plenty more things to come in Catharsis.
