Chapter Twelve: Dweller on the Threshold

Hewn from the flame colored rock that dominated this part of the countryside, the temple was unlike anything that Crest had ever seen. The structure was tall, with four broad columns in front of the entryway and there were no doors, just an open chasm that led into the darkness within the temple. The surrounding landscape was rippled and strewn with massive boulders of the same, saffron color. Save for the rushing wind it was silent.

The group stood on a nearby hill at the foot of the mountain, on a series of stairs that had been carved from the rock face to form a winding pathway that lead to the temple's entrance. Crest and Traxis had replaced their helmets, so it was a small matter to scan the surrounding area to search for any hidden surprises. "It's official now," Traxis said in Mando'a. "I hate this place."

"Hate's a strong word, Trax," Crest replied. "I kinda like it here. Looks clear, anyway."

"Yeah, well, at least there's that," the other clone said with a snort. He switched to Basic and turned to the Jedi and the queen who were standing before the gaping doorway. "General Halcyon, we're not picking up any immediate danger."

The two women exchanged glances before the general nodded. "Thanks, guys. Well," she said to the queen. "I suppose we should enter. Is there a caretaker of some kind here?"

Sita shook her head. "Not that I'm aware of; it was abandoned many years ago." She took a deep breath and made to step forward, though Crest moved in front of her.

"We'll scope it out first, m'am." He smiled to himself as the queen nodded and allowed him to step inside, Traxis on his heels. The interior of the temple was cool, quiet and pitch-black to boot, so the clones flipped on their headlamps to illuminate the area. The chamber they'd stepped into was vast, so much so that Crest's light didn't reach the ceiling when he tilted his head upward. "Wow."

Traxis glanced around the sides, his light revealing carvings that looked old and weathered, the images obscured and obliterated by time. "Huh. Not so fancy in here, eh?"

Behind them, the Jedi and the queen stood together, speaking in low tones for several moments before the general called to the clones. "There's an altar in the back of this chamber where we need to go," she said, blinking as Crest and Trax adjusted their lights to hit below eye-level. "It's not far."

Nodding, Crest glanced in the direction she'd indicated. "How long will this take, do you think?"

"I'm not sure," the queen replied. "The gods run on their own schedule."

Crest had no response to that, so the group began to make their way to the rear of the structure. Just as they passed the middle of the room he heard the Jedi's footsteps halt; turning, he saw that she stood as if frozen in place, her eyes on the way ahead of them. If he didn't know any better he would have sworn that she looked terrified.

That can't be right; she's a Jedi. What could she possibly be afraid of, especially when she has the Force?

Just as Sita was turning to call to her, a strange voice resonated within the wide chamber and made everyone start in surprise.

"Welcome to my home."

Milo's voice was hesitant. "What's the plan, Captain?"

"I'm a little curious about that myself," Weave added, shooting Stonewall a skeptical look.

Never in his life had he even considered taking a ship of any kind without permission, but at this point, Stonewall found that he was seriously considering the option as they approached the palace hangar. Unbidden, an image of Kali being consumed in flames and buried by rock had lodged itself in his mind and refused to leave; he had no clue where it had come from but it was enough to make him forget what had passed between them in his desire to see her to safety. Even if she doesn't feel as I do, I can't just forget how I feel about her – or even everything that we've been through together – no matter how much easier it would make my life.

Stone frowned, but before he could reply his comlink chirped again. "What happened?"

The Jedi gave a sigh. "The plan's changed again, Captain. We're to remain here for the time being. Kalinda and the queen are going to continue on to the temple."

"Are you serious?" The words left his mouth before he could stop them, causing Weave and Milo to look at him in shock. "Sir..." He paused and tried to collect his thoughts. "I'm sorry, General, I meant no disrespect, but if the queen is in any danger, shouldn't we make every attempt to offer assistance?"

"The matter is not up for debate, Captain," Kenobi replied. "I'll keep you updated when General Halcyon contacts me again. In the meantime-"

"But sir-"

"In the meantime," the Jedi continued as if he hadn't spoken. "You will attempt to contact your friends; I'll meet with you once you have done so. Is that understood?"

Stonewall took a deep breath. "Sir, if I may speak with you in person?" He ignored the looks from Weave and Milo as he waited for the Jedi to reply.

After several long moments he heard Kenobi answer. "Very well. I'm on my way back to the palace now. I'll find you." The transmission ended and Stone glanced at his brothers.

"I know what you're thinking," he said. "But I'm not crazy or defective. I just...I need to ask him something."

The others exchanged glances before Weave shrugged. "Whatever you say, Captain. Mind if we don't stick around? We can try to track down Danu and Kesin while you and the general are...speaking." A genuine look of relief came over the clone's face when Stone nodded; within moments the group had parted ways.

Stonewall met the Jedi at the foot of the stairs, where he'd taken to pacing while he waited for the other man. He watched as Kenobi stepped out of the crowd and felt anger rising within him – irrational and useless as it was – and his hands clenched at his sides as the Jedi approached. From his gaze, Stonewall could tell that the Jedi was aware of his emotions, though he found that he didn't much care at the moment.

But still. It was not in him to be hostile or even openly disrespectful, no matter how he felt. He took a deep breath. "General Kenobi, I have a question for you and I'd like your honest answer." Without waiting for the Jedi to acknowledge him, he continued. "What is the nature of your relationship with Gen...with Kalinda?"

He took a very small amount of pleasure in the startled expression on the Jedi's face, though it smoothed quickly as the general's look turned thoughtful. "I'm not certain if there's a word for what we are, actually. Kalinda and I have known each other since we were children and there was a time when she and I were lovers, but it's over now." His voice was quiet.

"Is it?" Beneath his armor, Stonewall's heart was hammering in his chest.

The Jedi blinked at him and nodded. "I had hoped it might be otherwise, but..." He paused and regarded the clone captain. "She has made it clear to me that it is not to be any longer." Stone felt something small and hard within him release, but he found that he couldn't speak so he merely nodded. Kenobi sighed. "I can't read her any longer, Stonewall. She closed herself off to me after Basrah; at this point, you likely know her better than I."

"I only know one thing," Stone replied when he found his voice. "And I wish I didn't." He looked at the Jedi again. "There's something you're not telling me."

"There are many things I choose not to share with you, Captain."

Stone frowned. "Sir. I meant in regards to her."

"Ah." Again, the Jedi was silent, though he seemed troubled. "Well," he said at last. "I'm not certain what to think about it myself. Kalinda told me that she could no longer access the Force."

The words hung in the air between them for several moments before Stonewall replied. "She...she can't use the Force?" He stared as the Jedi nodded, feeling anger welling within him once more. "And you sent her – out there – without it?"

"You should know that she is more than capable of taking care of herself and those around her," the general replied, his tone cool. "She has made that fact abundantly clear on many occasions."

"I know she's strong," Stonewall replied, shaking his head. "It's just..." There was a pause while he made a decision before looking back at the Jedi, whose eyes widened as Stone took down the wall in his mind. "I love her," he said at last. "Despite the fact that she doesn't feel the same way, despite the fact that she very likely thinks of me as just another clone, despite the fact that – logistically – there is no possible future for us, I love her."

The Jedi said nothing for a moment as he regarded the clone; Stonewall felt the other man's brush against his mind and stifled the urge to quell his thoughts about Kali. Finally, Kenobi nodded and – unexpectedly – gave a smile, albeit a sad one. "I see." He ran a hand through his hair. "Then you're a wiser man than I, Stonewall."

At this, the clone captain gave a bitter laugh. "Not really, General. There's still the small matter of the fact that she doesn't love me."

As the other man opened his mouth to reply, Weave's voice sounded over Stone's comm. "Captain: we've made contact with Danu and the others. We have a problem."

Very possibly out of self-preservation, Kalinda's feet refused to move; though she still couldn't access the Force there was something about the temple that elicited a furious, pounding fear in her chest and her palms were sweating and cold. Beyond her, Sita was trembling but there was no fear in her eyes, only determination as she glanced back. However, before anyone could speak, a strange voice from an unseen source filled the chamber and confirmed Kali's unnamed apprehension.

"Welcome to my home."

Immediately, Crest and Traxis sprang into defensive poses before the queen, weapons raised. Leaving her saber at her side, Kali drew her own blaster pistol and looked around the room. "Who's there?"

There was silence for several long moments before the voice spoke again, closer, less ethereal and accompanied by a soft shuffling of feet across the temple floor. "Calm down, little ones. I mean you no harm."

"General...?" Crest sounded alarmed as a pale figure began to emerge from the shadows, but Kali held up her hand.

"Who are you?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. "We thought that this temple was abandoned."

The figure sharpened in the light of the clones' headlamps; it appeared to be a Arunai woman, gnarled and bent with age, a strip of faded red cloth tied around her head to cover her eyes. Her robes had once been white, but were now tattered and stained with age and disrepair and they fluttered when she put a weathered hand to her chest. "It was abandoned and I am all that remains." She stood before Traxis and tilted her head up to him in what would have been a comical sight had Kali not been so wary. "You are afraid, child, but you needn't be." Her voice had a conversational lilt; when her gaze moved to Crest, he stiffened. "You are not afraid enough."

Sita stepped forward and knelt; after a moment, Kalinda and the clones did as well. "Maha," Sita said, using the Arunai term that Kali thought meant mother. "I have come here seeking answers. My people are in a time of great turmoil and I must know how to be strong enough to lead them."

The blind woman nodded and seemed to look the young queen up and down, her tone chiding as she spoke. "Yes, yes...I know all this. And you should know that what you seek what you already possess. But you..." she moved to stand before Kali even as Sita's mouth hung open in shock. "You are in need of answers, are you not?" Kali felt the others' gazes turn to her and her face grew warm as she nodded. "Well, you should come with me. Your friends can wait here for your return. They will be safe," she added as Kali opened her mouth to object.

"Maha," Sita said, raising her chin. "I did not make this journey for nothing: these men and this woman have risked their lives to get here; I have dissenters in my Parliament who would see my rule disbanded and a massive war is threatening my doorstep. I came here for an affirmation from the gods that I am fit to rule and I shall not leave without it." The words rang in the air around them, echoing in the vast chamber.

The old woman chuckled and gave a dismissive wave of her hand. "I don't care to repeat myself, child. Go back to your people and tell them that you have the blessing of the goddess." She looked back at Kali. "It has been a long time since a Jedi has seen fit to enter my home."

"I'm not sure I'm a Jedi any longer.: the Force has left me." Kalinda felt the bubble of fear in her chest expand even as she spoke the words.

"Then I suppose you should not dawdle," the woman replied, her tone wry. She turned to leave, pausing once to beckon Kali before she began to fade into the darkness.

Though they rose to their feet, no one spoke for a moment before Sita looked at her. "You can't use the Force? Kalinda...why didn't you say anything?"

"I'm wondering that myself, boss," Crest added. "You realize that the Captain will kill me if we let you go off with that old biddy, right?"

Traxis cleared his throat. "Going to agree with Crest on this one, General." He cast a wistful look at the temple's entrance. "We can leave, you know. Just walk away."

"No," Kali replied. "Something's here...maybe it's an answer. If there's any chance, any chance at all that this might help me, I have to try." She looked at Sita. "What do you think? You know this place better than I do."

The young queen shook her head. "The ways of our gods are not familiar to you, but it seems to me that you should go." She gave another tight smile. "At least this trip will not have been in vain."

Nodding, Kali looked at Traxis and Crest. "Stay with the transport and protect Sita; I'll return as soon as I can. If you run into any trouble at all, you are to return to the city."

"General..." Crest hesitated. "I wasn't kidding about the captain. He'd want us to make sure that you were safe."

Her chest tightened at the words but she shook her head. "I'll see to it that you keep your skins, okay? Just...keep Sita safe. Please." She watched as the clones nodded and wished again that she could sense their emotions; turning to Sita, she gave the younger woman an encouraging smile. "You couldn't be in better hands."

"I am starting to see that," the queen replied. "I will think on what you said. Until we meet again." She gave a low bow and nodded to the clones; the trio made their way to the temple's entrance, while Kali turned to face the gaping maw that stood before her.

After taking a deep breath, she stepped forward.

Things are taking a turn for the mysterious, aren't they?

FYI, the title for this chapter comes from the Van Morrison song of the same name.

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