Author's Note: I've heard you all loud and clear "Enough Fluff!" So be it... for now. How about we do some lore-building instead?
-Chapter 78: A Mystery of History-
Location: Generis
"Fail to know the past and the future is in jeopardy."
As the Clone Wars dragged on, Obi-Wan Kenobi had experienced many different assignments over the course of the war.
But this was a new experience entirely.
Alongside fellow Jedi Masters Aayla Secura and Kit Fisto, the trio of Jedi had been asked to visit a Republic Society for Historical Preservation archeological site and oversee the unearthing of a most mysterious find.
Located in the Atrivis system, Generis was a green and blue world full of untamed wilderness and rushing waters. A hot and humid climate, largely created by the vast amounts of jungle and forested environments, contributed to a tough and rugged world which could only be settled by the doggedly determined. However, there was one issue with the otherwise pristine world, that being it's placement in the galaxy.
While technically in Separatst space, the government of Generis had yet to declare allegiance to either the Republic or the Separatists. While technically a neutral in that regard, any activity on Generis was rendered safe from Separatist intervention due to this status, meaning Republic historians and archeologists could continue their work in relative peace, albeit a tense one. Given the circumstances, the presence of the Jedi would be for a good reason, and indicated the archeology team needed something guarded or carefully observed.
The Society for Historical Preservation had a very keen interest in Generis, given it was the home to many Rakatan temples dating back to the Infinite Empire. Given the course and direction their LAAT gunship was heading, Obi-Wan had a feeling their mission revolves around one of these temples.
"I'm surprised the Society asked for three Jedi Masters. Seems a little overkill, if you ask me." The Nautolan of the group said aloud.
"Could that be because you think old temples are boring, Master Fisto?" Aayla asked with a smile.
"In case you've forgotten, we live in an old temple, Master Secura." Kit replied with a cheeky grin.
"Regardless, I am curious as to what they need us for. Normally such archeological things can be dealt with internally." Obi-Wan chimed in. "Something tells me they have a very good reason, and I wonder what it is."
"It seems likely that it is a relic of great importance." Aayla suggested.
"Or it could be something that has a significant connection to the Jedi and they need our opinion on it." Kit also theorized. "The possibilities, Master Obi-Wan, are rather endless."
"Then I suppose we'll simply have to wait to get our answer."
The broad-leafed trees whipped wildly around as the gunship made landfall, setting down in a small clearing near the base of what was once a Rakatan temple. It was widely known that any and all evidence of the Rakata had been consumed by the jungle, after a mysertious plague suddenly wiped out most of the species. The temples had collapsed, reduced to rubble covered in overgrowth and underbrush. But this one, newly discovered and excavated, was in a fresh clearing that was teeming with archeologists, scientists and workers. The Jedi left their ship to join the throng and were quickly met by a short human, bearing a neatly trimmed goatee and dusty brown clothes. He ran over to Obi-Wan and offered his hand.
"Master Jedi! So good of you to come!" He joyfully welcomed. He struck Obi-Wan as a rather excitable fellow.
"I presume you are Doctor Saskan Hejj?" The Jedi replied as they shook hands.
"Indeed! Indeed! I am Doctor Hejj, leading archeologist on this site." Saskan replied.
"I am Obi-Wan Kenobi, and these are my associates: Masters Kit Fisto and Aayla Secura." Kenobi responded, introducing his comrades.
"Good, good! So pleased you all could come. Your knowledge and skills will be most invaluable to us." Saskan explained, motioning them to follow.
"We would appreciate an understanding of what it is you need our assistance with," Kit stated, "in order to know how to best put our 'skills' to best use." He shared a glance with Aayla, both of them wondering what in the universe they'd be doing. Surely they hadn't been sent here to do manual labor... had they?
"But of course! Tell me, Master Jedi, what do you know of the Rakata and the Infinite Empire?" An excited Saskan asked. With even the most basic understanding of galactic history, Jedi knew exactly what Doctor Hejj was referring to.
"They ruled most of the known galaxy at one time and were a species powerfully linked to the Force." Obi-Wan stated.
"They made incredible advances in technology that to this day seem miraculous." Aayla continued, her knowledge of the ancient species equal to Obi-Wan's. "They eventually started to die out, due to a plague I believe. That collapsed the empire."
"Which has been the accepted theory for over a millennium, but we have found something that would appear to throw all of that into question!" Saskan announced as he led them to the edge of temple's base. The Jedi shared brief, confused looks. Either Saskan was mad or this was a most absurd find.
"How so, Doctor? All the history texts record the fall of the Rakata in great detail. It is widely known information." Kit inquired.
"Information that could very well be wrong!" Saskan stated as he followed a crudely-constructed gangway down into a cleared portion of the temple. "Permit me to start from the beginning;" he continued as the Jedi followed him onto the stone floor, "as we were clearing out this lower level of the temple, we uncovered a hidden antechamber behind a stone door that blended in with the walls. It was a small room, tall enough for the average man to fit but no bigger than your average refresher. In it we found the remains of a single Rakatan, a notable find itself, as well as a single stone tablet and the broken remains of what might've been another."
"If I may, Doctor, what exactly does this have to do with us?" Obi-Wan asked, not seeing the connection.
"The Jedi Order is an old one, spanning many thousands of years. I thought it best that some of its members see what is written on this tablet that they, in their impressive wisdom, might know how we should proceed with this information." Saskan earnestly responded. With the Jedi now hanging on to his mysterious words, the doctor led them to a short table where a large, flat slab lay. As the Jedi drew closer, they could see it was made of a dark, shiny material, like polished obsidian. The entire tablet was covered in etchings and markings, resembling an ancient language.
The language of the Rakata.
The four gathered around it as Saskan pointed out significant components. "The words have been chiseled into the slab, quite possibly by the Rakatan we found in the chamber. Now, despite the age, this piece is still very readable. Do any of you know Rakatan?" He wondered.
"Unfortunately, it wasn't exactly an offered elective at the Jedi Temple." The Nautolan joked.
"Then it is fortunate that I do. Please, pay close attention to the words, as this entire script is very telling." With that, Saskan began to retell an account that would stick with the Jedi present for the rest of their days...
"We, the Rakata, were a proud and mighty race. All others served us, all others worshipped us. Our empire spanned from star to star, stretching far across the galaxy. We thought we were beyond consequences, beyond retribution. While word of our power spread, we assumed none would dare to challenge us, our sovereignty assured. In supposition, perhaps it was our growth and strength that invited challenge. Whether it was fate or chance, we may never know.
"We became consumed by our gains... and failed to see him coming.
"A soulless beast, a creature of nightmare and fear, he came with such roaring force the likes of which had never been seen before... nor has been seen since. The boldest warriors confronted him, only to fall in pieces. The most brutal of our lords stood against him and their souls were burned away by a fire unquenchable.
"The flames. They lengthened like shadows, consuming all in their path. They followed him, left behind in his wake like deep footprints, yet clung to him like great wings. He was a creature of fire and flame, chaos incarnate, all-consuming and undying. His rage was swift and his justice terrible, no Rakata could stand against him.
"They say he first appeared on the Star Forge and slaughtered everyone there with his bladed grip alone. They say the flames came later... when he cursed us all with the plague that destroyed us. Many bicker over the source of the plague, but it was he... that demon, who set it upon us.
"Very few lived to tell this tale. Very few escaped his hellish wrath and fiery vengeance. But those who have heap story upon story, living in quaking fear of the monster that walks with hellfire licking his body. Yet they all agree on one thing. Those who have escape his fury, the few who have witnessed his rage firsthand, they call him... the Iron Demon." As he finished, Obi-Wan felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, Aayla felt a chill roll through her spine and Kit visibly shuddered, losing his humorous demeanor. All three of the Jedi felt a pang of darkness through the Force, as if some ancient entity had been conjured by the reading. Something about this 'Iron Demon' seemed so impossibly probable that none of them could deny what they felt in this moment. Saskan looked up from the tablet and glanced back and forth between his three visitors. "As you can see, Master Jedi, if the words of this tablet are true, actually written by a member of the Rakata species, then the truth behind their demise has been revealed at last!" He boldly stated. "It was not something that felled the Infinite Empire, but someone."
"This is... a most intriguing find, Doctor." Obi-Wan finally said, speaking slowly as he came to terms with what he felt through the Force. "I should add that the notion of a 'demon' is not new to the galaxy. Take the story of the Naboo Cacodemon, or the swamp demon of Somov Rit. Truely, not once has an 'Iron Demon' been mentioned, though." The other Jedi nodded, having heard tales and stories, but never actually witnessing any evidence.
"Which is what makes this find so unique!" Saskan continued. "Our resident xenolinguist, in studying this, took note of how Iron Demon is written. It is in fact not a word, there is no direct translation from Rakata to Basic. They had to create a new phrase to describe what they saw. 'Iron Demon' is but an approximate translation of what they used here." He revealed.
"Surely such a discovery is not to be undermined in any way... but I still question the validity of it all." Aayla hesitantly mused. "What if these are the ravings of a madman? What if there is nothing true about any of this?" Apparently, Doctor Hejj already had an answer for her.
"Perhaps now would be a good time to examine the back of the tablet." He suggested.
"The back...?" Aayla quietly repeated, curious. At Doctor Hejj's request, Obi-Wan used the Force to lift and turn the tablet over... revealing something underneath that caused all their eyes to widen. "Oh my..." The Twi'lek softly gasped.
There, etched in the black, were hieroglyphic markings. Simple images of many Rakata warriors surrounding what could only be described as a pillar of fire, with jagged flames reaching for the battle-ready surrounding it.
But in the heart of the pillar, plainly cut and distinct from the pillar, were a pair of eyes. And unlike the black nature of everything else, they had been painted a dark, dull red.
"Is that blood?" Obi-Wan asked.
"We have yet to test it... but we believe so, yes." Saskan answered. "It could come from the Rakatan found in the room for all we know, or this was some image sacred to the survivors and he was protecting it." The doctor theorized. The Jedi contemplated this new discovery, now backed by even more evidence.
"It seems so remarkable that an influential piece of history would be found here." Kit said aloud. "It is unfortunate that there is no other evidence." He added.
"But there is, Master Jedi!" Saskan announced. The short man quickly scrambled over to another wheeled table and pushed it over. On it were smaller pieces of the same obsidian-like material, clearly having been broken off of something larger. Setting down the complete tablet, the Jedi turned to examine these as well. "We've found portions of inscribed Rakatan on these as well. Just like the last one, both of these are still legible." Clearing his throat, Saskan read the first piece,
"Flee! Flee the demon and his terrible might! Run far away from our limitless domain before his burning gaze is set upon you! Woe to the warrior who stands in his way! Woe to the nobleman who thinks themselves more powerful than he...!" Coming to the end, the doctor looked to his listeners who briefly reflected on the grave message, "Obviously a short verse, possibly part of a longer one." He stated. "This second piece we found laying in a corner of the antechamber, not too far away from this third and final piece." He clarified, pointing to the other fragment.
"What does it say, Doctor?" Kit inquired. Saskan obliged him,
"Stand steely and tall, harbinger of the dark, fell your foes with restless fervour. May your fire never die, may your power never dim, and may we all fear your wrath above all else." Dwelling on the curiously written piece, sounding more like an honorary tribute than a warning or a recollection, the Jedi briefly wondered if the surviving Rakatan had deified their destroyer in the aftermath.
"Most ominous." Obi-Wan deduced. "While it does not refer explicitly to an 'Iron Demon', I get the sense that is who this refers to. There's something different about that script in comparison to the others, though." He observed.
"I agree," Kit chimed in, "it sounds as though whomever was writing it was particularly humbled by the Demon."
"Perhaps he hoped to offer a warning to anyone else that might read his work." Aayla theorized. The Jedi nodded as they all began to speculate and develop their own opinions on the matter. As a silence ensued, Doctor Hejj promptly broke it.
"Well, Master Jedi? What do you think of all this?"
"Regarding your reasons for requesting us, Doctor, I believe we should try to pursue this 'Iron Demon' in an effort to draw upon more than one source to confirm its validity." Obi-Wan replied, formulating a plan in his mind. "If it truly exists, then other cultures that were subservient to the Rakata might have additional information in the form of their own accounts."
"The term 'demon' is one often thrown around in reference to certain Sith or other vile creatures." Aayla continued. "The possibility that the term was applied to something of equal evil is very high."
"Unless of course, other cultures and societies can confirm the existence of a single 'Iron Demon'." Kit added in agreement.
"Then, please, go and do what you must. I will assist in whatever way I can." Saskan readily affirmed.
"We'll start with some scans of the text as well as the hieroglyphs on the back." Obi-Wan requested. The little man ran off to collect the necessary equipment as Kenobi beckoned Aayla and Kit closer to him. "We should contact Coruscant and see to it that the High Council knows about this information. Perhaps somewhere in the archives there might be some reference to this demon in even the Order's own history." He quietly told them. "Tell me, what did you all think when this demon was first mentioned?" He then asked.
"I felt a cold pang in the Force, like something dark had suddenly awoken in our midst." Aayla revealed.
"As did I. But I also felt something in the air, like a latent shadow had fallen across us all." Kit added.
"Then we all concur we felt similarly." Obi-Wan surmised. "I did not want to say it in front of Doctor Hejj, but I felt something very evil tickling my senses. Something about this Iron Demon is very dark and very real. I do not know why, but I believe that we have stumbled across something big... very big." Kenobi grimly stated.
Aayla and Kit couldn't help but agree.
