And Vega Lights my Way
As I travel down the road and search the empty sky,
waiting for the moment when my eyes will see.
Many are the
memories, the mysteries of time,
how they dance around and
whisper endlessly. – True Love Takes Time, Denver
Chapter 14
The weather had turned cold and wet and almost foreboding as the three Jedi Knights made their way to the ruins of the Jedi Temple, and although Luke had a hundred questions – perhaps thousands, about what had happened back in Representative Canaille's apartment, all attempts at conversation had been rebuffed.
Turn your focus inward, Young one. Schurke – Master Canaille – had told him firmly. Be aware of your companions as well as yourself… And he had…
He could sense Aubé's concern and love for her brother, her determination to keep him safe. A sense of… longing for Luke himself – Luke the man, not the Jedi.
Master Canaille himself had been almost an enigma, yet he radiated a quiet calm that gave strength to the younger two Jedi, but unlike Aubé and himself, he had declined to carry a weapon of any kind.
My ally is the Force, he had told them simply. I trust in it.
It was nearly mid morning by the time they reached the Temple, and a profound change had come over Schurke. No longer jovial or easy going, he had approached this self-imposed mission with a grim determination that Aubé had never seen.
Schurke led them to an ivy covered stair way that appeared to lead nowhere. Wordlessly, and trusting the Master, Luke and Aubé followed him down.
Schurke stopped at a wall that looked blank, confusing Luke and Aubé. A moment later a small panel appeared under his hand. He paused, and looked at them with his new found seriousness. Aubé instinctively reached for Luke's hand, who grasped it tightly in his own.
"Now children," Schurke began in a grim voice, catching their eyes. "I want you to promise me that no matter what you see or hear, you will only listen to me."
"Yes Master," Luke agreed.
"Yes Pappa," said Aubé obediently. "But Pappa…"
Schurke cupped her chin gently but firmly in his hand. "No but Pappa Aubé." Schurke told her softly. "Promise me that even if I tell you to run, you'll do it without question or argument."
Cowed by the intensity of his words, Aubé lowered her head. "Yes Pappa," she replied meekly. "I understand."
Schurke kissed his daughter on the forehead and then ran his fingers deftly over the panel. "Sometimes it was wiser not to go through the front entrance," he grunted as a hidden door opened slowly, creaking with the disuse of the years, and then stopped part way. Schurke cursed colorfully in Corellian, making Aubé blush. Quickly, both Aubé and Luke leaned into the door, adding their combined strength to his. In short order, the reluctant door gave way.
As they entered, the first thing Luke was aware of was the smell of age – but not in the familiar, comforting sense. It was the sent of corruption, and sorrow, and death. Underlying this, however, was the vaguest feeling of familiarity … as if he had been here before, perhaps many lifetimes ago.
Schurke motioned for Luke and Aubé to follow him, and in the dim passageway – for Schurke had forbidden them to bring a light – they made their way carefully down a set of stairs, kicking up small clouds of dust in their wake.
Without warning, a second door flew open before them, and both Luke and Aubé gasped at the sight. They had walked into what had once been the great room of the Jedi temple, with light streaming in from the massive broken windows. Particles of dust caught and played with the light, creating streams that danced and flickered with deceptive innocence. Garbage littered the floor, but through it all they could still see the remnants of blaster burns. Luke could have sworn he saw… something… out of the corner of his eye.
"I saw it too," Aubé murmured, "And whatever it was, it wasn't living!"
Schurke grunted. "Of course it was, Aubé," he said softly. "All things live on in the Force… even memories."
He stopped short and spread his arms out with palms facing upwards in an attitude of supplication. "Close your eyes and listen, children. You can still hear them…"
More than a little frightened, Aubé once again took Luke's hand in her own. "Hear whom Pappa?"
"Just listen…"
Luke closed his eyes and opened himself to the Force, unsure what to expect. Suddenly, he became acutely aware of voices, welcoming and reassuring.
"What are they telling you, Luke?" Schurke asked him, although it seemed that he already knew.
Luke was overwhelmed. "Don't… don't forget us!" he stammered. "They want… they want me, want us…"
"To pass on what we have learned," Aubé finished for him softly. "To honor them by… by honoring the Force…"
"Yes," Schurke breathed. "What else do you hear?"
"Beware…" Luke answered. "And there's something else here…"
"A cloud," added Aubé. "But it's hard to… catch… like a mist caught in the wind." She shivered. "Pappa, it's cold!"
Luke felt something alien tickling at the back of his consciousness – no, it wasn't completely unfamiliar, he had felt it once before… in the cave on Dagobah.
Push it away, Luke. Kampher's voice echoed in his thoughts. Push it away…
Aubé clung to his hand more tightly, and he drew strength from it. "You felt it too," she murmured, and he nodded.
"Be on your watch," Schurke told them firmly as he began walking determinedly. "I believe he knows we're here."
"Who's he, Master?" Luke asked, puzzled.
"Kay'leb?" Aubé asked hopefully. "Pappa, is it Kay?"
"Not your brother, Aubé," Schurke answered without turning around. Indeed, he seemed to know exactly where he was going. "But He, as in the Dark soul that wants to make your brother his own…"
The streets of Ord Mantel were dusty and dirty. They would bathe in the pool of a thousand fountains and never feel clean again, Schurke had been sure of it.
But it wasn't just the dust, nor the dirt…
"Not much time, Toboo…"
"We'll save her, Schurke," replied Anakin. "Even if it means losing ourselves in the bargain. But it won't come to that."
Schurke began gathering their things, taking special care to clip his light-saber within easy reach. He put his hand on Anakin's shoulder.
"All together then?" he asked hoarsely, and Anakin nodded.
"We will not hang alone…"
Schurke shook his head, trying to bring himself back to the present, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that there was a lesson in the memory.
Behind him, he could sense Luke and Aubé, joined by much more than the bonding that they had all shared. Schurke knew that if he himself failed to survive this mission, at least they would continue on. He would save his son.
Even if it means losing ourselves in the bargain…
No, he wouldn't lose the children. This time there would be no mistakes.
"Do you hear that?" Aubé's voice echoed softly from behind. "It almost sounds like…"
"I'm here…" It was Kay'leb, and yet…
"NAILS!"
"Aubé! NO!" a scream ripped from Schurke's throat as helplessly, he watched the first fingers of Force lightning caress his daughter.
For Luke, however, it was as if he were watching events unfold… outside. Time had come to an almost grinding halt, and in the long seconds it took for the lightning to reach its target, the scene before him changed. It was like watching an incredibly realistic holo – vid overlying the sight of Aubé motionless on the ground. He saw a younger, heartier Obi-Wan Kenobi standing in the room in front of him. A pair of power couplings crackled with deadly intensity.
Remember this, Padawans, Kenobi said languidly. A Sith will twist the Force, corrupt it and direct it at you thusly… There was a crackle of energy, and an arc of electricity sprang forth. Effortlessly, Obi-Wan caught it in the blade of his Light-saber. You cannot hope to stop it indefinitely, but this little maneuver can buy you some much needed time…
The moment passed, and Luke found himself standing between Aubé and the assault, his Lightsaber already deflecting the deadly force, which came to an abrupt halt. To Luke's horror, Schurke had not only leapt over to the attacker, he was actually holding on to him.
"Master!" Luke cried. "What… "
"Take her out of here!" Schurke shouted back. "Luke, you promised to obey me with out question! Now GO!"
Luke scooped the unconscious Aubé into his arms and did as he had promised; he obeyed the elder Jedi without question. "I'll get help!" he called back, unsure whether help would arrive as rescue or recovery.
"Forgive me for leaving him, Aubé," he crooned into her ear as he dashed towards the exit with her limp form held close to his chest. "Please…"
