Chapter XIII
The hijacked freighter drops from hyperspace over a green planet with brilliant blue rivers and bodies of water. Ahsoka walks into the freighters cockpit and admires the planet over Shila and Callan's shoulders.
Callan smiles, "Ashla, welcome to Panatha."
Shila shakes her head, "He told us to only see him in person if it's an emergency."
"Our friends are in trouble on Thakwaa, Love. Whatever the Empire is doing on Thakwaa is not good, and we can't just run from it. Besides, I contacted him while Ashla was gone, and he requested to see Ashla in person."
"Right." Ahsoka says, "And while I'm meeting your command, you know what to do Callan?"
"Yes, I will go find your other friend on Jedha."
Callan spins around in the pilots seat and faces Ahsoka. "I suppose I should be on my way. I'll meet you both on Jedha, hopefully by then I will have found Saw Gerrera."
Callan stands up and walks to the door when Shila calls back to stop him. Callan turns around to face her in the copilots seat.
"Be careful, I've heard enough stories about Saw Gerrera to know he can be dangerous."
"I'll be fine, Shila, trust me."
Callan smiles and waves as he walks out towards the hanger. Ahsoka says she'll
accompany him before following behind. Shila, continues to fly the ship towards Panatha.
Ahsoka kneels down on her A-wings right wing as Callan climbs into it's cockpit.
"Take Shila's word, Callan. Saw may be an experienced veteran and leader, but he can be very reckless."
"Got it. Any advice?"
"When you find Saw, tell him I sent you, use my name. Tell him I need his help on Thakwaa and that I will personally be there on Jedha to explain the rest as soon as I can."
"Will do, thanks. Anything else?"
The hatch slowly starts to close as Ahsoka stands up to get off her fighter.
"Just don't mention his sister."
"Why? Who's his sister?"
"Just don't say anything, it's a sensitive subject."
Ahsoka jumps off the fighter and moves to the elevator control panel. She flips the switch downward and lowers the platform through the shield gate.
Once under the freighter, Callan launches the starfighter off the elevator platform and drops back behind the ship. He turns the fighter and puts in the hyperspace coordinates for Jedha, a moment latter and he makes the jump into hyperspace.
Shila guides the freighter down to Panatha's surface. She moved to the pilots seat in place of Callan while Ahsoka takes the copilot seat. She moves the freighter slowly over the planets thick jungle tops.
Ahsoka admires the planets beauty. Mountains and cliff sides scatter the landscape, many exotic birds with great wingspans, perform magnificent acrobatics between their rocky peaks. A flock bursts through a waterfall that plummets down between two mountains and into a clear lake bellow.
"Ever been to Palantha?" Shila asks.
"Never, it's so beautiful. Have you ever been?"
"Can't say I have. I've heard travelers talk about this planet, most call it a paradise in the outer rim."
Shila leans forward and points off to her right through the viewport.
"There."
Ahsoka looks in the direction she is pointing and is awestruck in seeing the ancient facade of a temple built into a hillside between two mountains. The hill was cleared of timber long ago and its base spreads out into a large plateau.
Shila deploys the landing gear and drops the freighter down onto the plateau. Ahsoka and Shila walk beside each other down the ramp and out onto the planets surface. Shila takes a deep breath of fresh air, she felt she would go crazy if she had to spend another day in the freighter.
Ahsoka looks on at the temple's features. Green moss and vines climb up its stone side. The birds perch themselves along the old decident trestles, arcs, and window frames.
Shila motions for Ahsoka to follow, which she does without hesitation. As she climbs up the cracked temple steps with Shila in the lead, she feels the powerful connection the temple and the planet have to the Force. However, when Ahsoka gets closer to the temple's grand entrance, a faint but dark feeling embraces her. It's a feeling she recognizes, but what it is, isn't clear to her.
In what is apparent to be the grand hallway or courtyard, statues of hooded figures form the columns that hold the ceiling high above. Beams of daylight shine from skylights above and cast their gaze on images etched in the walls.
Though the images show clear age, Ahsoka can make out the fine detail and context of them. Each image is different, but all portray one of three themes. One being a warrior or defender, such images shown are of a cloaked figure battling a formidable foe. Another showing knowledge and security, the images consist of another cloaked figure surrounded by texts or defending the innocent. The third and final type of image depicts justice and serenity, where the cloaked figure acts as a diplomat to civil disputes or keeping the peace between foreign worlds.
"What is this place?" Ahsoka asks Shila, though she feels she already knows the answer.
"I'm not sure, however I know that the people of Panatha are considered mistiques or uphold their ancient ways you may call it. Perhaps this is some kind of shrine or spiritual site."
The dark, cold feeling that has Ahsoka has felt since walking up to the temple has grown stronger, and seems to be calling her towards it. The darkness seems to be emitting from down the hallway. The hallway ends at a stone staircase that leads up to a balcony that breaks off into the upper levels of the temple.
Ahsoka and Shila walk up the stairs and onto the balcony. Sitting just before them is a tall doorway with two beautifully hand carved doors that divide the hallway from the next room. Two statues guard the door, both identical to each other, each wearing robes with a mask covering their faces, and a long staff at hand. Ahsoka looks above the doorway to see a circular symbol carved into the wall. She squints her eyes as she tries to look closer at its markings, it is then she realizes it's a Crucible, the placard of the Jedi Order during the days of the Old Republic.
This is a Jedi Temple. Ahsoka thinks to herself.
Ahsoka places her hand on the door and can feel the darkness as if begging her to look past it. Ahsoka looks back at Shila, who is still standing on the top step.
"I can't go in. He requested to see you alone."
Ahsoka nods in understanding.
Ahsoka opens the door and feels the cold flow out. She boldly steps into the narrow hall, trying not show her concern in front of Shila. She shuts the door behind her and continues down the hall, keeping in mind of her lightsabers at her side.
The orange glow of torch light can be seen at the end of the hall. When Ahsoka gets to the end, it opens up into a large chamber, the temples Council Chamber. The chairs are aligned neatly in a circle just as Council Chambers are at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant which Ahsoka is familiar with. However, she doesn't remember on Coruscant of there being a single chair in the center of the room, with a figure cloaked in dark robes and armor sitting in it. His face unseen as it is shrouded by his hood.
Ahsoka moves closer, still hesitant and ready to grab her weapons if necessary.
The figure looks up, aware of Ashla's presence.
The mystery man raises a hand and motions for her to come closer, Ahsoka can see his arm is a prosthetic. The arm clitters and tics as the fingers move.
A deep voice - sounding to be artificial - is heard. "Please, come closer. Since Callan called, I've been waiting anxiously for you to come."
Ahsoka stops, just fifteen feet from the man, making no effort to hide the distrust of him in her eyes. The cold feeling has become stronger.
"Who are you?" Ahsoka demands.
"You don't recognize me? I suppose it's been a good many years. You've grown, but I still remember your face."
Ahsoka narrows her eyes at him.
"May I address you by your name? Ahsoka Tano?"
Ahsoka is astonished. Callan, he wouldn't have -
"No, Callan didn't reveal your name. He didn't have to, he gave your alias, yes, and told of a Togruta with unique abilities. After learning of your little incident with the Empire on Maada, I knew it had to be you."
Ahsoka places a hand on one of her lightsabers.
She demands again, and pronounce each word, "Who are you?"
"Now now, there's no need for violence."
He holds up his apparent good hand and motions to a chair behind Ahsoka.
Ahsoka looks behind her and sees one of the council chairs moving towards her - levitating towards her. It rests back on the ground behind her.
The man puts down his hand. "Sit. We have much to talk about."
Ahsoka sits down slowly, bewildered that she has seen the Force being called upon by someone besides herself as it has been so long.
"You may remember more of the person I was. In fact, you helped teach me much of what I know in the use of a lightsaber. It was also your master, Anakin Skywalker, who destroyed me, or at least thought he destroyed me. Perhaps my name will jog your memory, it's Titus, Darth Titus."