Chapter 7 – Going Forward
35 million years BBY
Inside a cave being held prisoner by two dwarves, was a human male with a unique complexion. His hands were tied to the ceiling and his feet were tied together. Currently he was semi-conscious under the effect of whatever drug there was in the drink provided by the two dwarves. He tried to call out for help, but no sound came.
One of his captors came forward with a knife in one hand and a large metallic jar in the other. As he inched closer and closer, the man's face showed his panic. The dwarf then slashed his knife across the man's throat and as the blood came sputtering out of his throat, the dwarf used the force to direct the leaking blood towards the jar. The other dwarf came and collected some of his blood and tasted a bit of it, before being swatted by his companion.
"Not until we have every last drop.", the first dwarf said.
"But brother, how are we to know whether it is the right ingredient if we don't taste it?", the second one chimed.
"Galar… it is the right ingredient.", said the first one.
"Very well, be it on your head then Fjalar.", spoke Galar.
The two then turned towards the chained-up man and watched as the man bled. Seeing the look of fear and panic being replaced by a look of acceptance on the man's face, the two dwarves smiled viciously. The two then made many more cuts on the man's body and bled him dry.
After collecting all the blood Galar said, "That is a very unique pattern on his forehead."
"Aye… it is. I would say that this is the best example of Odin's creativity.", Fjalar said pointing at the symbol on the now dead man's fore head. A symbol which in later years came to be known as the symbol of Fulcrum.
D100/3 ABY
It had been a peaceful few years, the Empire had been defeated, Lucifer had been locked up and the nine realms were finally getting back on their feet. During these three years, the Archangel Gabriel had spent a few weeks on Asgard to get his bearings back after which he accompanied Rayleigh on their tour around the universe.
Zeb was now mostly on Lira San, but visited the other members regularly. Kanan and Hera mostly lived on Asgard, but kept visiting the Republic regularly. Ezra and Sabine followed the same suit, but also had a home on Lothal. Ahsoka and Tarre had found a secluded world in the unknown regions of the Republic, where they built a summer home for all members of the Ghost Crew and their friends to use whenever they wished. Apart from that the two were living on Asgard, due to Tarre's heavy workload as the champion.
In this time, Allfather Thor had taken on his daughter Hera and his son-in-law Kanan as his new apprentices, as full-fledged members of the Aesir. Following this rule of three – one master and two apprentices, Fenrir had officially taken Ava and Ezra as his apprentices, while he and Satine Kryze pursued a romantic relationship. Tarre's apprentices were Ahsoka and Sabine.
In this time-frame Luke had begun rebuilding the Jedi Order, and knowing that he still had much to learn he asked the members of the old order – Mace Windu (who had joined the Aesir, as the apprentice of Talia), Kanan Jarrus and Ahsoka Tano-Viszla to join him. He was disheartened by their refusal, he then asked Ezra, but was refused again. Mace advised Luke that by rebuilding the Jedi Order, he must not include the prejudices and practices of the old order and that Yoda had chosen him to lead the new order of the Jedi, so Luke must decide what kind of an order he would like to build. He was offered a similar advice by Kanan and Ahsoka. Luke then asked for Tarre's advice to which Tarre said, "The existence of the sith is entirely consequential of the Jedi Order's refusal to recognize that emotion isn't something you can just get rid of. If you can ensure the acceptance of emotion as it is, the Jedi would have progressed… not just in the force but also as people."
Currently on Asgard, inside the house of Kanan and Hera, Thor and Chopper were playing with his one-year old grandson – Jacen Syndulla, a boy with green hair, the same colour as Hera's skin. The tips of his ears and eyelashes were green as well, but his skin was light and his eyes blue. The toddler was laughing at the antics of his grandfather Thor – who was still looking like an old man, and the astromech Chopper. The parents of the said toddler were currently off-world on an important mission in the Republic. Thor then lifted the little man and addressed both Jacen and Chopper, "Let's take a walk shall we." Chopper warbled something to which Thor said, "Language."
Walking out in the streets of Asgard, the three headed towards the house of Ezra and Sabine, on the way they saw many people, some of them looked at the child in Thor's arms and smiled at him. Reaching the house of the Ezra and Sabine (who had returned from Krownest two days ago), Thor knocked at their doors and noticed that Jacen had now fallen asleep. After a while Ezra opened the doors and with tired eyes. He welcomed them in quickly and gestured them to be very quiet. Sabine then appeared and she looked equally tired, while clutching a baby in her arms. The baby had a small patch of hair – the same colour as Ezra's and her face looked a lot like Sabine's. She beckoned them to have a seat in the living room as Ezra went to the kitchen. The baby was a few weeks old. Thor and Chopper had volunteered to babysit, allowing Sabine and Ezra to get some much-needed rest. Behind them was a two-year-old Sira, lying down on the rug. Sabine then showed the baby to Thor, who asked in a low tone, "What's her name?"
"Mira… after Ezra's mother.", Sabine said as she tried placing Mira in her crib. But the minute she did that, Mira started crying, causing Sira to raise her head and let out a concerned whine. Sabine quickly brought Mira back in her arms, after which Mira stopped crying. Hearing his daughter's cries, Ezra quickly came back from the kitchen and Thor gave an understanding smile.
"It is only scary the first time.", he said.
"What do I do?", Sabine asked, "Anytime I try putting her down, Mira starts crying."
"Connect with her. Assure her through the force, that you are right there with her.", Thor said.
"We tried that.", Ezra said in a tired voice.
"Let go of your worry and concern. Empty yourself and then connect.", Thor said.
Inside their summer vacation house –Ahsoka was currently resting, in happy marital bliss. She could feel the little life growing inside her. She opened her eyes and walked out of the room towards the kitchen where Tarre was currently cooking them a healthy lunch. She came and hugged him from behind.
"Nice nap?", Tarre asked.
"It would have been nicer, if you were there.", Ahsoka answered.
"I was finishing something up with JARVIS.", Tarre said.
"What?", she asked curiously.
"Remember when I said I wanted to open a restaurant after the war?", Tarre asked in return.
"Yeah.", Ahsoka answered with a smile, Tarre's culinary skills were by far the best she had ever seen.
"That ambition is nearly achieved.", Tarre answered.
"How so?", Ahsoka asked.
"I purchased a few high-end restaurant chains in the core worlds of Asgardia, Alfheim, Vanaheim and the Republic.", Tarre answered turning around.
"What!?", Ahsoka asked surprised, "How much did it cost?"
Tarre smiled and said, "10% of everything I saved over the past few millennia."
"That doesn't answer my question, not completely.", Ahsoka said.
Before Tarre could say anything, there was a loud banging on the door. Rushing to the door, they were greeted by Fenrir, who gasped, "Oh good, you are home. Listen I need you to help me bury a body."
"What!?", Tarre nearly yelled.
"I am going back inside.", Ahsoka said, shaking her head and heading back to the kitchen.
Going outside towards Fenrir's ship, Tarre asked in an irritated tone, "Why did you bring a body here?"
"The law is on my tail.", Fenrir answered, "What was your guess?" Seeing Tarre's reaction Fenrir continued, "They got lucky."
"Or you're getting slow.", Tarre finished for him.
"Says the man, who spends the majority of his time failing to capture garden gnomes.", Fenrir retorted.
As they reached the cargo hold of the ship, Tarre asked, "Whose body is it?"
"Okami.", Fenrir answered.
"What?", Tarre asked surprised, "Where was it?"
"In this galaxy, on a world called Lumen.", Fenrir answered.
"What were you doing on Lumen?", Tarre asked.
"Visiting Satine. She's there on some senate business.", Fenrir answered.
"What was an okami doing all this way from Vanaheim?", Tarre asked.
"I was unable to determine that", Fenrir answered.
Together the two of them then took the body to a secluded spot on one of the planet's moon and quickly dug 15 feet into the ground and buried it there.
"Fenrir you do know that this is our vacation home.", Tarre gestured as he and Fenrir landed back on the planet where the house was.
"I know. Won't happen again.", Fenrir replied.
"You know, Bendu and Bruce are hunting a lamia in Alfheim.", Tarre commented.
"Seriously. They have never left Vanaheim before. I wonder if it's an isolated case.", Fenrir said.
"I hope it is.", Tarre replied, "If it's not, then we could have a serious problem on our hands."
