The pair was silent, even the sound of their feet across the gilded floor seemed muted, afraid to disturb the peace. Like a pair of children for the first time walking into a museum they stared in awe at the remains left behind by previous generations. Everything seemed too big for them, all too massive and sombre for two such as they.
The senator had practically left them on the steps of the jedi temple, quickly rushing back to whatever business he had after seeing them through the small army of security droids guarding the outside. As such they were left alone to explore the massive ziggurat's insides.
In a way it resembled a palace, the gilded floors and pillars were covered by deep blue decorations that mostly consisted of thick lines interrupted by the odd circle, someone's idea of art no doubt Atton mused. Yet...it was more of a shrine then a temple in that the air was thick with an odd calm, something that even Atton found soothing.
The roof was far above them, how come every important place always felt the need to have the ceiling so far up? Were they expecting giants? Craning his neck Atton could just about make out golden inlays over blue stone. And the bars running through the large stained windows lining the walls seemed to be of nothing but gold. Fancy...
It didn't feel out of place though. They had passed maybe fifteen statues towering above them, all depicting noble-looking jedi. Not once had Atton managed to snort a comment about them though, there was just something...suppressing him.
"Wow..." The word was so quiet he almost missed it. "Look at this..." Mira was a little further off, her eyes wide to take in the sight of something hidden behind a large doorway. Quietly stepping over to her Atton peeked into the room she was referring to.
The slight hum was barely audible as he looked into a room where a wide corridor ran along its length, the rest of the space was cramped by dozens of black obelisks covered in all too familiar glowing blue rods. "The jedi archives..." Atton couldn't stop himself from whispering the words, neither the reverent tone in his voice.
"Mical would have a heart attack if he saw this..." Mira gasped quietly. Atton glanced at her, finding her mouth and eyes wide open in wonder. She looked delighted, yet her stance was relaxed, for the first time since...ever. Even back at dantooine there had been a slight tension in her, now she looked...at peace.
He found himself smiling. "Yeah...either that or he would get his first stiffy ever..."
"Pervert." Was the soft reply as a smiling Mira turned and walked into the middle of the large hall. Not understanding what she was doing Atton just watched.
The large hall was open and wide in all directions, rows of pillars holding up a high ceiling. All walls but the one furthest off led to different parts of the temple through wide doorways, the last wall however was covered in windows as tall as a small frigate, and as wide. The sun shining through them were reflected in the gilded pillars and floor, bathing the room in golden light.
Mira closed her eyes and raised her head, stretching her arms out she seemed to bathe in gold. She practically begun to levitate...heck she was levitating!Atton blinked, she didn't even seem aware of it, face soft with joy. Wow...Atton felt a little envious of the feeling of harmony emanating from her.
"Ah..." Mira slowly dropped to the floor, still seemingly unaware of her little feat. She turned a wide smile to Atton, eyes sparkling with delight. "Can you feel it? I feel light like a feather...it's like you could reach out and touch the force..." She reached out into the air, fingers opening and closing, as if trying to grasp something. The smile widened. "Wow..."
"I can feel it." He confirmed, squaring his shoulders. It was true, even though he tried to avoid it he could feel the force softly whispering to him, a sound that seemed to have built up over thousands of years...echoes of times long gone speaking to him.
It was scary really. Jedi, long turned to nothing but dust, were in a strange way still around... He half expected her to whisper to him, to speak of forgiveness and love, perhaps even to congratulate him and tell him her sacrifice had been worth it...
But no, her death had been far away from this place, and the presence of the force carried no distinctive pattern. It was merely a presence that had built up...the collective echo of thousands of beings. An echo...
Atton shuddered and pulled his jacket closer to him. Glad Mira was too busy enjoying the energy around her he pulled back against the wall, leaning back he felt a stab in his heart. Echoes...the exile...the mere thought of it hurt. Was her presence here? Had she left a mark here? He was sure of it, she had always been too special not to be noticed... he could almost smell her...it was painful. Had she once stood here? Or walked through that doorway?
Was she dead? Or was she still fighting a fight he couldn't even begin to comprehend? Had she found Revan? Was she just another cold corpse on an uncharted world somewhere? Or was she just now dancing that dance of death that made it look like there was no one else in the world? He shrugged, did it matter? To him she was dead, a presence that would never return, at least not to him. The thought hurt...yet he couldn't keep it away.
"Reality to Atton." Blinking he looked up from his thoughts He found Mira with a crooked smile, crossed arms and tilted hips, making her look like a disapproving mother. Her smile quickly faded at the look he returned. "Hey, I'll have none of that." She stepped closer, a sharp finger stabbing Atton in the chin. Pulling his head back did no good as she closed in, a kind look on her face. "You'll be happy with this place or I'll break your legs."
"Heh, thanks but..."
"No." The pressing finger was replaced by a hand gripping his jaw., she came even closer, another hand catching his wrist. "Come on...feel it." She forced his hand up. Then he felt it...something at the edge of his mind.
Atton panicked and tried to back away...but only struck the wall. His mental defences came up a second later, lashing away at the gentle touch. Mira just smiled, withdrawing her mental touch, it was still close though, asking for just a little trust. The deep brown eyes held no deception, nor the wide mouth with that little smile...she didn't smell of treachery either. He trusted her...
Hesitating slightly Atton let a controlled little piece of power trickle out, just enough to let Mira get a grasp on him. The ethereal touch felt strange, he had experienced it with the exile once, and then it had felt like he would drown in the massive power pulling him in. This was a feathery touch though, a gentle tug.
"Huh, you got an...strange signature." Mira whispered, closing her eyes. "An earthy...taste if you will." Atton felt a tingle down his spine even as the tug urged Atton's consciousness up, to sense the room around them. He couldn't help but close his eyes as well, not trusting them as another sense spoke to him.
It wasn't a whisper, it was a song.
Gasping Atton grabbed his head, swaying where he stood as he realised the grip on his jaw hadn't slackened for a moment. The song was a whirlwind of voices, impressions and emotions. It almost seemed to draw him in, gripping his heart and wishing him to speak to it, to add his voice to it.
Suddenly the tug became a surge and Atton felt his barriers being torn apart. He wasn't even sure if he wanted them up as the song pulled him into its embrace.
It was full of emotions of fear, happiness and hope...yet it spoke of peace.
It was so naïve, foolish even, like a child...yet it contained the wisdom of ages.
It cried out of adventures yet to be had, the chaos of battle ...yet it was the quiet heart of a storm.
It cried out with the death of millions, of pain unimaginable...yet it went on with vigour.
Atton felt his shoulders drop, a tension he wasn't aware of disappearing. Slowly opening his eyes he found himself staring at Mira, the woman looking away with a curious look on her face. "Wow...that was something new. I think I understand why you seemed to glow with power back there a moment ago." Atton smirked at his own words, he was starting to sound as dorky as Mical...
"Yeah, sure." Mira shook her head, looking a little dizzy. Lowering her arms she stepped away. "I didn't know you were that powerful...you have a curious...signature." She made a limp gesture, struggling for the proper words and apparently coming up short.
"Uh, thank you?" Atton cleared his throat as he with some regret pulled his presence back behind the walls he had forged. Without the exile it had felt odd using his released powers and he had easily converted his mental defences into a prison for them. There had been no use for them without her...and he really didn't deserve the gift he now twice had received. "Are you all right? You look a little...confused?"
"Yeah...yeah I'm fine..." Mira didn't meet his gaze. Had he frightened her? Had some of his dark soul shown through and warned her of the beast within him? It didn't seem that way, she just seemed...puzzled. "Come on, we should find the sleeping accommodation."
"Really? I didn't think the force made you that tingly."
"Please just...shut up."
Atton stopped, confused by the odd behaviour of the woman walking away from him. Shrugging he followed, knowing better then to ask questions to mysterious women...