CHAPTER X – THE LEGACY OF KA
Kei burst out of what appeared to be a large organ that had spilled out of one of the creatures. He immediately began running towards a mound of boulders in the distance. The damage caused by the two monsters had been devastating. Trees lay broken and charred. Blood and gore covered the terrain along with organs and pieces of blue scaly hide. A giant clawed finger from one of the creatures stuck out from the pile of boulders.
Kei's heart raced as he looked for a breaking point in one of the large rocks and used the Force to split it. He was exhausted, but stayed standing. Kei noticed a lump in the side of the beast's finger. It moved down to the severed end and Mina popped out, panting and covered in purple blood. Kei ran toward her and they embraced furiously for a moment before separating and keeping their distance. Their heads turned upward towards the sky as the sun disappeared over the horizon and the moon began to rise.
The moon of this planet appeared green and chilling. Its color instantly reminded Kei and Mina about their conflict on the Force plane. It also reminded Kei of Hara. They were both so exhausted, they could not think of what to do next. The moon's eerie light made the gas giant in the sky appear even larger and more menacing. As the moon rose higher into the sky, a shadow was cast throughout the ruined forest they stood in. As the shadow reached them, the ground beneath them inverted and they slid down into a rocky terrain with glowing rocks. They remained laying on the ground, partially slumped up against the rock clusters.
Kei spoke to Mina in her mind. "I'm sorry I never told you the direct connection between your vision and my power. My green flame technique comes from my ancestors. It involves their powerful song and prayer, but…I didn't learn it from them or their teachings. The person who showed it to me, the place with the green flames…I can take you there."
Mina's thoughts exploded like a starship battle in space. This was what she had been waiting for. The moment was finally here. After what they had experienced over the past few hours, it felt like their conversation by the fire on Harlu happened in another life. Her body ached and her lungs were just starting to calm down. She focused her mind. She would savor this no matter how she felt.
Kei sat up and opened the small compartment in the bottom of his lightsaber. He removed the holocron. Mina felt a strange and alluring presence and could not take her eyes off of it. She was amazed at the fact that Kei had managed keep the object hidden this whole time, even from their masters. Mina searched her feelings. Her masters had to have foreseen all of the connections. Even this world that they were on was connected to all of it in some way. She had to make the right decisions. All of this could very well be by their design.
Mina watched as Kei removed the kyber crystals from his sabers' hilts. She was surprised to see that his crystals were actually clear, but turned green as they neared the holocron. The holocron took in the crystals and began to float away. Kei struggled to stand, but managed to get to his feet and began following the holocron. Mina got up and followed as well.
They were unable to move for a brief moment. Bones had definitely been broken and they had used so much of their energy to survive the destruction caused by the large battling creatures. Using the Force to try and heal each other might kill them at this point. Their bodies cried out in pain as they rose to their feet and made their way across the rough and dark terrain, bracing each other as they limped along.
The holocron finally stopped over a large pool of shimmering black water. Kei recognized it immediately. So did Mina. The holocron changed colors rapidly before shining green and opening. They aura filled their minds and soon their surrounding were all dark. The only thing that remained was the dark water. White fish swam beneath their feet. Instead of the holocron, a circle of green flames appeared. Touching the surface of the water seemed to heal them of their wounds and ailments. Their energy returned.
Both of their hearts pounded in their chests. After everything they had been through, Kei suddenly felt a surge of regret for bringing Mina here. This was supposed to be a destined moment of triumph, but he felt conflicted. He brushed the thoughts away, envisioning the hacked flesh of the creature they had been inside earlier as he did so. He had brought them here and whatever happened from here on out was to be their destiny. He had to accept it.
As they approached the ring of flames, Hara appeared. She rose from the water and peered over her naked shoulder. She looked right into Kei's eyes with a knowing look as if to thank him. She then turned her body to face Mina. Hara continued to look into Mina's eyes. "Welcome home", she said in a disturbingly warm voice. Kei's expression was blank. Days ago he had been obsessed with returning to Hara and bringing Mina to her just as she had commanded, but in the moment, he began to feel differently. She could sense his conflict and was feeding on it like a parasite.
Kei noted his reflection and saw that his scars were all still present, which meant that they were actually on the planet and not in the alternate dimension that he usually visited Hara in. The dimension of the holocron was modeled after this place. Chills ran through his body as his mind began to make clear connections regarding all of this for the first time. He also felt the sting of resentment as he realized that it wasn't just his own insight that was helping him draw connections, but Hara's abandonment of his spirit. His world was spinning and Hara was enjoying every second of it.
Hara spoke again, "I've been waiting for you". My faithful pupil did exactly as I asked of him, as I knew he would. Mina felt the sting of resentment and betrayal again as she looked over at Kei. She then felt a surge of sympathy as she reached out and felt his regret and conflict. He truly cared for her and she had grown to care for him. Anger surged inside of her.
"Your anger is delicious. Young child, born of darkness, I will not fail you as everyone else has. I know you've been searching for this place for a very long time and no one would take you there. Your master… knew of this place too. She kept it from you. Now…you are where you've always meant to be. Here with us. I've taught Kei-Ron many things that have made him very powerful. He's enjoyed my body time and time again…Of course he hasn't told you. Everyone close to you hides things from you because they are envious of your power and what you are meant to become. That will no longer happen...right, Kei-Ron? This is your destiny, Mina Lardte. I will not fail you."
Mina and Kei's anger swelled like fire and as it did, so did the green flames. Kei tried to control himself. He was determined not to let Hara control him this time. She was purposefully humiliating him in front of Mina, someone he had grown to care for very deeply over the past few weeks. He saw it clearly, but felt helpless and stood silent.
Mina took in her surroundings. It was just like her visions. Hara's presence was also very familiar and comforting. Hara reached her hand out to Mina in a loving gesture, ignoring Kei until saying "We are all meant to be together". At this, Kei relaxed. She certainly knew how to play him, but their unity had a nice ring to it.
He felt Hara's energy snaking its way into his own spirit, soothing the resentment swelling within him. He let it heal him and then pushed it away. It didn't matter that Hara felt him push her away; she was getting what she wanted. Hara turned her back to both of them and closed her eyes. As she did, Kei felt Mina's spirit flare up tremendously and she ignited her saber and struck in one lightning fast motion.
Hara's head fell onto the surface of the black water and began to sink. As it disappeared from view, Mina fell to her knees. Kei watched, motionless. His mind was blank. He felt Hara's spirit fade out of the Force. Mina got back to her feet and clenched her fist. Kei turned to look at her, his eyes wide. He no longer felt Mina's spirit in the Force. Instead, he felt Hara, her energy clear and painful.
Mina let out a battle cry that paralyzed Kei where he stood. She pulled out the Harlu holocron from one of the pouches on her belt and used the Force to summon the one in Kei's pocket. The holocrons activated and two spirits emerged. Kei recognized their energy as that of his ancestors. His spirit had called out to them and they listened! He ran towards them without thinking.
Mina turned to him and stopped his momentum with the Force. She moved swiftly and cut down the two ghosts that had emerged from the holocrons, causing the spheres, to fall and sink beneath the surface of the black water. As Kei's heart sunk, each blade on Mina's saber turned a rich crimson color and Kei could feel the immense pain and sorrow of the Kyber crystals as well as his ancestors. He had summoned them only to be destroyed.
Mina turned to him and closed her eyes, breathing deeply and taking in the pain and chaos. Her lightsaber blades began changing to green, matching the flames behind her. Kei's anger and confusion spun around his spirit, making him dizzy. He centered himself the best he could and closed his eyes so he would not see Mina. This was not her. Somehow, Hara had taken over her body.
Hara began to speak. "Thank you, my pupil. You helped make this body strong and ready to take my spirit. You both have helped me complete the ritual by offering up two of Harlu's healers. I can now begin to regain my full power. As it stands, you are now 'Kei-Ron Ka', no longer a child of Harlu. You must serve my purpose…or die".
Kei interrupted as Hara continued to speak, "I'll join you, Master. Without question…but tell me…Who are you really?" Hara looked at him and Kei kept his eyes closed, focusing on Hara's spirit so that he was not overwhelmed by emotion from seeing Mina's body being controlled. Hara's true form and spirit appeared to him in his mind's eye.
"As you already know, my true name is Hara Ka. This was not a lie, nor have I ever lied to you. Krenolie is my home world. There was once a Sith Lord named Saru Ka who lived on this planet. She gave birth to me by sheer will of the Force. She raised me and trained me in her ways. She made the mistake of allying herself with another powerful Sith Lord who betrayed and stole her power. She managed to survive, but was trapped in a holocron here on Krenolie. The Sith Lord was from Harlu. He had betrayed your ancestors for his power, slaughtering many of them in the process. He tortured me and defiled my spirit to become his apprentice. Many of the abilities I've taught you were an amalgamation of his teachings. Years later, I managed to destroy his body, but his spirit lingered and tried to possess me. The effort from destroying his spirit obliterated my physical body."
"My mother had taught me how to transfer my spirit as well, but there was nowhere for me to go. My hatred kept my spirit in limbo, its essence fading with each passing day. Your aunt, Farokwili sensed my presence and preserved me in the holocron. It was your destiny that you find me. I want to set my mother free and give her a new body. I want us to live on this planet in peace. I want you to have the honor of being her vessel".
"Your Master and the false Skywalker will not allow it, however. If they sense my mother's presence, they will destroy her. She is feared in the galaxy among Force users. The Lord she allied with made sure of it, to hide his own identity from being discovered. If you join me, you must help me destroy Ahsoka Tano and Rey Palpatine."
Kei kept his eyes closed. He felt Hara's sincerity, but did not let it penetrate him. He would have to play along. He knew he could save Mina somehow, but now was not the time. If they dueled, they would surely destroy each other. He remembered Ahsoka's words from before they had left Harlu for Krenolie. She would always accept him no matter what he'd done. This was her nature, true selflessness and balance in The Force. He let the thought wash away his shame and made a last ditch effort to call out to Ahsoka through the Force. This was a crack in Hara wisdom. He hold onto it to keep from losing all hope.
At the same time, Hara just wanted to live in peace. He was truly trapped between his true masters and the one he had kept in the shadows, which he was now bound to through this unholy ritual he had taken part in. As he knelt before Hara in a false gesture of servitude, he felt Ahsoka and Rey's presence. They were on the planet! Hara surely must have felt their energy as well since she now inhabited Mina's body. He opened his eyes and spoke before Hara could. "Master, we're not strong enough to face them now. Let me return to them while you regain your power and plant weaknesses. I will bring them before you here and whichever one is not destroyed, will become your mother's vessel."
Hara smiled. "My pupil, this is the type of inspiration I was expecting of you. Tell your master and the Palpatine girl that the padawan was killed during your quest. The loss will put them off-balance. In the meantime I will work to regain my full power in this body. They may have foreseen many things, but I am certain they will not be expecting this. For we are not falling into the mere will of the Dark Side of The Force as the Sith so foolishly have and failed time and time again…we will be Masters of The New Way."
Kei turned and closed his eyes. He had completely forgotten about everything he had gone through over the past couple of days. He had to formulate a plan and not let the empowerment of her words consume his spirit. He couldn't allow Hara to reach her full strength. He felt the sun begin to rise and the shadow realm inverted back to the surface. Hara was nowhere to be seen and he no longer felt her presence. Instead, he felt the presence of the two masters in the far distance. He began running towards their energy, allowing the planet's life to give him power and pushing the thoughts of loss away from him as the sun rose higher into the pink sky…the newly misshaped silhouette of the great mountain reminding him that everything had changed.