Temple of the Infinite Spirit, Tynoli - J't'p'tan
3rd person POV...
Inside a chamber within the Temple of the Infinite Spirit, Jarik and Ahsoka were knelt on two mats. Likewise, Wialu was seated on a mat of her own across from them, whom they were paying close attention to.
"While every Force bond shares the same basic properties and functions, they also differ depending on the individuals that share it, and how powerful that connection is," she begins to say. "In order to begin repairing your bond, an understanding of why it was formed will be needed."
"Ever since we first met we were always been close to each other," Ahsoka replies, a slight frown on her face. "I guess I've never really thought about how it happened... it just did, over time."
Wialu shakes her head in response.
"It is not a simple matter of a close relationship that creates a Force bond. To do so requires intent and focus," she explains.
"Usually. But our bond isn't a very common one," Jarik says, sparing Ahsoka a brief glance before continuing. "And this isn't the first time it was broken."
Wialu lifts a brow in surprise and curiosity.
"It isn't?" she asks, and they nod their heads. "Then how is it you reconnected it then?
"We didn't do it ourselves, if that's what you're asking," he tells her. "There is a good reason for why it was repaired, though it's a bit of a long story... I'm not sure you'll fully believe it."
"Please," Wialu gestures for him to continue.
He and Ahsoka share another brief look before answering.
"During the war, the Jedi Council sent us with our masters to investigate a coded distress beacon that hadn't been used in over two thousand years," he explains, not noticing as Wialu's eyes light up in recognition. "When we arrived, we were brought to—"
"...Mortis."
The pair widen their eyes in surprise and bewilderment at Wialu's response.
"You've heard of it?" Ahsoka asks, and she nods.
"Our history is very much connected to the gods of that realm," Wialu says. "In ages past, the one you know as Daughter played a role in our formation. The rupture in the Force caused by her family's passing was felt by many of us here."
Even after nearly two decades have passed, Jarik and Ahsoka's memory of their time on Mortis was still clear as day to them, as well as the tragic circumstances regarding why the family of Force gods met their end.
"Unfortunately, while we were there the Son's ambition grew too strong, and he gave in to the dark side," Jarik grimly states.
"Indeed," Wialu acknowledges with a slightly saddened and resigned look on her face. "You said your bond was broken before. Was it his doing?"
Jarik grimaces as he recalls the pain he felt back then; Ahsoka, while never having any recollection of her time under the Son's control, also feels a bit unsettled at the reminder of the event.
"Yes. He..." Jarik hesitates in his response, still pained by the memory. "...well, he broke it by..."
Ahsoka looks at him sadly and places a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"He broke our bond by infecting me with the dark side, and then took my life when I was no longer useful to him," she answers on his behalf.
He nods in confirmation.
"Yeah," he sighs.
Wialu furrows her brow but says nothing while Ahsoka continues.
"The only reason I'm still here is because of the Daughter," she says. "She gave her life so that I could live."
Wialu glances down with a small, almost imperceptible smile as she contemplates the Daughter's final act in life, finding it to be unsurprising.
"Her compassion truly had no limits," she remarks softly, shifting her gaze to Ahsoka. "I now see how your bond was repaired. For you to be blessed by her directly... it is a rare circumstance."
Her smile is then replaced with a heavy sigh, her expression troubled.
"It is also why I'm afraid I no longer know how to help you," she adds.
"What?!" Ahsoka asks incredulously.
"Why not?" Jarik demands.
"If the Daughter gave her life to bring you back from death, and also repair your bond, then the result could have only been one thing: a dyad in the Force," Wialu explains.
The two share a baffled and uneasy look with each other at the new development; being a dyad was no surprise to them, but to hear that the reason for their dyad was due to Morai's influence is a staggering thought.
More importantly, however, the fact that Wialu apparently can't help them anymore is a huge problem.
"We knew that we're a dyad, but you mean it's because of her?" Jarik asks.
"Perhaps, though I cannot be certain," Wialu says in reply. "Dyad's are extremely rare, so very little is known about them. The last time a dyad was ever heard of was nearly four thousand years ago, between your ancestors."
Jarik furrows his brow in acknowledgement, feeling a slight sense of wonder at the knowledge.
"Revan and Bastila," he realizes.
"Indeed," she nods in confirmation.
Despite her frustration Ahsoka can't help but feel a brief moment of amused exasperation, giving Jarik a dry look.
"Why is it always you Shan's that get involved with everything?" she lets out an exaggerated sigh.
"Don't forget that also includes you," he retorts.
She rolls her eyes in reply before adopting an anxious look on her face once more.
"Do you have any ideas about how we can fix our dyad?" she asks, almost longingly.
"None as of right now, I'm afraid," Wialu replies apologetically. "With so little known about Force dyads, it may take years of study to find an answer."
Ahsoka glares down at the floor with a crestfallen gaze, clearly upset at the answer. The dull, painful ache in her head starts to throb a bit more noticeable as a result of her stress, the severed bond still fresh on her mind.
Having grown more used to the void caused by it Jarik isn't as bothered, though is still equally disappointed by Wialu's response. Recalling the message in his holocron he perks up with an idea.
"Maybe not," he says, gaining the attention of both. "Last night my holocron showed us a recording of Revan, where he mentioned a way that we could repair it."
"Really?" Wialu questions, as much intrigued as she is skeptical. "What did he suggest?
"He said we would need a source of power equal to the Mortis Gods," he explains.
"I was afraid of that," she sighs in disappointment. "No such power is available to us anymore."
"There might still be a way," Jarik adds. "In his message, Revan mentioned that someone by the name of Tor Valum would know, in the Remni—"
"What did you just say?" Wialu suddenly demands, her eyes wide.
Jarik blinks at the interruption, he and Ahsoka caught off guard by the sudden intensity shown by the otherwise calm and collected sorceress.
"Tor Valum," he repeats cautiously, narrowing his eyes. "Have you heard of him?"
A dark frown spreads across Wialu's face as she hardens her gaze.
"Listen well, Jedi," she states firmly. "Under no circumstance are you to ever consider him as a possibility."
"Why not?" Ahsoka asks, confused. "Who is he?"
"Nobody you should concern yourselves with," Wialu dismissively replies.
"If Revan thinks this guy might know about repairing our bond, shouldn't that be enough?" Jarik argues.
"It is NOT enough!" she snaps before lowering her voice, her expression haunted. "It never is. Not with him."
Jarik regards her with an uneasy feeling of caution and doubt, whereas Ahsoka shakes her head out of clear frustration, brimming with emotion and pain she's withheld over the last few days.
"So you're just going to drop any possibility of an answer to our problem?" she angrily demands.
"I gave my word I will help you, but seeking that creature out is the one thing I will not do!" Wialu states with a stern voice.
"And why is that?" Jarik asks, eyes narrowed in search of an answer. "What are you not telling us?!"
She shakes her head in reply.
"There are some things too dangerous to know," she murmurs.
Ahsoka balls her hands into fists at the reply, her anger and frustration over the broken bond close to its breaking point.
"I will not—CANNOT accept that answer. If you won't give us that option then we deserve to know why!" she exclaims.
Even Jarik is a bit surprised by Ahsoka's burst of anger, it being a rarer sight the older and wiser she became. Then again, the pain of their bond breaking is still rather fresh on her mind, he realizes, and she's only starting to truly express it just now. Remembering how he felt in the months following their separation Jarik takes her hand in his and offers a reassuring smile.
Wialu sits silently for several moments in heavy contemplation, torn between sympathizing with the Jedi and following her duty, the latter of which is necessary. Eventually she stands up from the mat with a sigh and gestures for them to do the same.
"Very well. Please come with me," she requests, her voice soft.
They regard each other with a quick glance, slightly curious and hopeful, and then move to follow the Fallanassi Matron. She leads them out of the room and through the temple, arriving shortly at the circular chamber they first visited the previous day. Once inside Wialu approaches the pedestal and carefully sets her hands on it, turning the ring set around the pendant.
"You must understand that there is more at stake here than you could possibly realize," she begins to say, gesturing above her.
Jarik and Ahsoka look up at the large sphere hovering on the ceiling, which slowly morphs into a cosmic landscape of countless stars and galaxies.
"Our universe is vast, spanning across countless galaxies that each hold millions of different worlds," Wialu says, the cosmic map making itself clear. "But even in the grand scheme of all that exists, we are only one part of it."
"One part?" Ahsoka repeats, widening her eyes. "You mean there are... other universes?"
"I'm afraid so," she confirms. "Some are like our own, while others are so different that they're beyond comprehension. An infinite number of them, all part of one vast Multiverse. And with an infinite number of worlds, comes an infinite number of threats."
As she speaks she rotates the wheel further, and the cosmic map zooms outward until it is large enough to be a small visible sphere of glowing stars and galaxies, only it is joined by a number of others, all hovering alongside each other. It was as if each universe was simply another galaxy on its own.
Though the concept of different realms isn't unknown to them—Mortis and the World Between Worlds being proof of that—knowing that it applies at an unimaginable scale is a lot to comprehend. Although amazed and slightly nervous by the idea of a Multiverse, Jarik's thoughts are pulled back to the original topic of division.
"And where does Tor Valum factor into this?" he questions.
"He draws his power from an entity that would stop at nothing to bend all of us to its will," Wialu explains, her face grim. "When compared to what the Multiverse has to offer, we are but a child's plaything."
They both watch, transfixed, as the cosmic cloud begins changing to showcase a visual scenery or strange beings, each of which Wialu starts to list off.
"Abeloth."
The ghoulish sight of a pale woman's face appears. Two soulless black eyes that glittered like starlight gazed at them, accompanied by a toothy smile.
Ahsoka shivers at the sight, though she's also confused by feeling a strange sense of sadness within her.
"Dormammu."
The scene changes to a more dark and unique environment, appearing somewhat molecular in shape, though much more frightening and unnatural. A monstrous being takes shape amongst the chaos, its body constantly changing and shifting in a way that makes it almost impossible to perceive.
"Unicron."
Giant cracks spread their way across the surface of a planet before it erupts in an explosion of purple light, allowing a horned devil to emerge from within.
Jarik regards the image with unease, recognizing it from his visions.
"Angra."
A demonic being shrouded in darkness appears, wielding a spear-like weapon. It had two distinct horns on its head along with glowing purple eyes.
"Darkseid."
The shadowy form of a menacing figure appears last, glaring at them with burning red eyes, whilst a silhouette in the shape of a pyramid filled the space behind him.
Jarik and Ahsoka share a look, unsettled by seeing what was supposedly just a mythical bogeyman used to scare children.
The images fade away and the planetary sphere reforms itself on the ceiling as Wialu removes her hands from the pedestal, her gaze hardening as she regards the two.
"…beings so powerful that if they were unleashed into our universe, they would not stop until they had consumed it to the very last atom," she finishes with cold certainty. "Until they are all that remains."
Jarik ponders some of the things he's seen and heard of in myth and legend, knowing for certain that at least one of the beings Wialu listed is real. He has no idea what to expect if his visions of Unicorn came true.
"If things like that really exist, then how do you fight them?" he asks.
"We can't. All we can do is keep them away," she answers simply. "That is why our society exists, and why we cannot leave anything to chance."
Wialu returns her focus to the pedestal, and the sphere above begins rotating. Bands of orange magic appear around the planet model, taking the form of shields in specific locations.
"On J't'p'tan there are three temples—including the one you stand in now—which were created by the Ones to generate a protective shield for our galaxy," she explains, and the view expands for the orange shields to encompass the whole galaxy, instead of just a planet. "Our sister galaxy, the Milky Way, maintains similar shielding on a planet called Earth. Together, these barriers safeguard our universe from the forces of darkness that seek to destroy it."
Years of commanding military forces enable the two Jedi to immediately deduce their importance.
"And if those barriers were broken, everything would end," Jarik states in acknowledgement.
"So you're here to protect them," Ahsoka adds, crossing her arms.
"It is our duty to safeguard them from any that would prove to be a threat," Wialu nods in confirmation.
"Did the Jedi ever know about this?" Jarik asks.
"No. And we made sure to keep it that way," she replies.
Jarik raises an eyebrow, not entirely unable to disagree with that, but also doubtful at the same time.
"But if you were attacked one day, and your defense failed, what would happen then?" he points out cautiously. "If the danger is as bad as you're saying, wouldn't it be more practical if the galaxy as a whole was able to safeguard it?"
"You think merely as a warrior, thinking only through militaristic means, but galactic involvement would bring nothing but certain destruction," Wialu disagrees. "A politician would neither care nor understand the danger, and the Jedi were no better. They would seek only to control us."
She steps away from the pedestal and the sphere above returns to normal, the magical glow fading.
"You must understand, I will do everything in my power to aid you in healing your bond to each other," she tells them. "But if you go to that monster, you will unleash a darkness greater than any of us could imagine, willingly or not. I will not risk the safety of the universe for any reason, no matter how just."
With that being said she turns from them and exits the room, leaving the two behind the ponder what she said. They both share a look of doubt and uncertainty, mixed with a tinge of frustration.
Fortress Inquisitorius, Nur - Outer Rim Territories
3rd person POV...
If there's one thing that everyone stationed at Fortress Inquisitorius could agree on, it was their hatred for the Jedi. And not a single person who enlisted to work there was unwilling to give the Jedi their due.
It wasn't as if the reason why was unclear; after all, the Jedi were the ones who caused nothing but trouble in the galaxy. Imagine how surprised they were when it was proven that a group of righteous, know-it-all religious zealots proved to be ineffective leaders in the Clone War.
Admittedly, Khardan sometimes had mixed feelings about whether he should hate them or pity them. After all, it's not like the Jedi actually knew any better, right? Everyone in the galaxy knows that the Jedi only took in the tiny children—it's easy to indoctrinate someone with your garbage when they don't know any better. If anything, it's the parents of those kids who should be blamed for giving them up to the most over-glorified cult in history.
The good news is that the Jedi are all but gone these days, thanks to the Empire. But of course, good news only lasts for so long. Turns out the Empire isn't so above the corruption of the Jedi either, since the Emperor is more than happy to utilize his own army of Force-sensitive agents to do his bidding who many were, ironically enough, former Jedi themselves. Still, they also agreed in the need to rid the galaxy of any surviving Jedi, and they were good at their job.
Which makes the newest topic of conversation all the more shocking to everyone at the facility, especially amongst those who were enlisted as Purge Troopers.
"Are the others really all dead?" Firis was asking, unable to believe what she was hearing. "How could that have happened?"
"Who knows?" Khardan shrugs helplessly in reply. "All I know is that five of them went somewhere, but only Second came back alive."
"So now it's just her and Ninth Sister that are left?" Benton questions.
Khardan goes to answer but is beaten to it by Veldin, who is perched casually on top of a storage crate, making a few adjustments to his DC-15LE rifle.
"Great. We're left with the worst of the lot," he says derisively.
"Shh!" Khardan quickly snaps at him. "You crazy?"
"What, you scared or something?" Veldin sighs in exasperation.
"You should be," he retorts.
Veldin scoffs in reply with a look of contempt on his face. Meanwhile, not too far away from them the Second Sister was passing by, many of the Imperial personnel making sure to stay out of her way.
"Hmph. Yeah right, like there's something so scary about a group of stuck up mystics brooding all the time!" Veldin continues to say.
Second Sister pauses in her tracks and looks over, the red visor of her helmet gleaming. Khardan, Firis, and Benton share a quick glance of alarm and begin to panic, internally pleading for their squad-mate to stop talking.
"Shut up!" Khardan hisses at him viciously.
Veldin glowers back at him and gets to his feet, collecting his rifle and and helmet in his hands.
"Fine, be a coward then! Everybody knows they're full of bull..."
He starts to walk away, intent on leaving the group behind. As he turns around, however, he immediately falls silent at the sight of the Second Sister standing right in front of him. Pure terror starts to race through him as the Inquisitor silently glares at him, and he nervously takes a step back.
"S-Second Sister... I—" he stammers, at a loss of what to say.
He doesn't get the chance to say anything more when a red lightsaber is thrust through his chest. Everyone in the room turns to look over in surprise and unease at the scene, and Khardan briefly shuts his eyes out of frustration and despair, hearing the sound of Veldin's corpse hitting the ground. The Second Sister switches her gaze to the other three Purge Troopers.
"Anyone else?" she asks in a clearly threatening manner.
The three remain still and silent as a way of response, not daring to question her, and after a few tense seconds the Inquisitor nods her head in cold satisfaction, deactivating her lightsaber.
Just then an Imperial officer approaches the group, carrying a datapad in hand.
"Sir, the Emperor is requesting you make contact with him," he reports.
"Direct the transmission to my quarters," Second Sister orders.
The officer blanches at her reply, looking a bit uneasy.
"A-Apologies, Inquisitor, but the the request is for Captain Fellec," he informs them.
Second Sister growls in frustration but doesn't say anymore, wise enough to not question an order from the Emperor, and storms away.
Khardan furrows his brow in a bit of surprise and uneasy skepticism at the news.
"Very well, Lieutenant," he acknowledges. "Lead the way."
With his Purge Trooper helmet back on over his head Khardan enters one of the small command center's within the Fortress, anticipating a dark and empty room in which to contact the Emperor. Instead, he's surprised to find two strange people inside—a male humanoid alien with goggles over his eyes, and a pale human woman with black hair.
"Captain Fellec. We have need of you," the woman says, her voice soft and deadly.
Khardan shivers with unease at the mysterious duo, but brushes it aside. He's dealt with the Inquisitors, and even the Emperor himself before, so these two should be no different.
"Whatever it is you need can wait until after I have spoken with the Emperor," he states firmly.
"Precisely," Aralina says. "You will be speaking with us.
Khardan hesitates with an annoyed glare.
"Excuse me, but just who are you, exactly?!" he demands.
"When the Emperor cannot be present, we are his voice," Ochi of Bestoon declares. "You would do well to respect it."
He narrows his eyes at them in response, highly skeptical. After all, who wouldn't be?
"And I'm supposed to just take your word for it?" he says disbelievingly.
"My dear Khardan..." Aralina purrs, her voice putting him on edge. "Are you willing to let such doubt put your little one at risk?"
Khardan widens his eyes in shock and takes a step back in disbelief, fear running through him. How could they have known about that?!
"Y-" he starts to say, his voice faltering.
He then lowers his gaze with a trembling sense of realization: the only way they could've known about that is from the Emperor, which means they're telling the truth. And he has to obey.
"...what is the Emperor's bidding?" he mutters.
"He has entrusted my associate and I with the task of finding a group of special individuals—a 'cult' if you will, not unlike the Jedi," she informs him.
"What do you need from me then?" he questions.
Aralina smiles, her eyes gleaming yellow.
Tynoli, J't'p'tan - Core Worlds
3rd person POV...
A series of images flew past him in the smokey environment, a cacophony of voices going with them. He sees a man and a woman together, both of them familiar. Then he sees himself when he was younger, confessing a secret she and him both shared.
'When I used my Force powers to keep you alive on that bridge it created our bond.'
'We've been friends the moment we were brought to the Temple, and it sort of just.. formed on its own over time.'
The man and the woman appear again, expressing their love for one another.
'You aren't afraid to love anymore?'
'Nothing could make me feel safer than to be loved by you.'
He sees himself again, though older now. Unification and forgiveness is what he is seeking, though others weren't as initially interested.
'I want to reunite with my family.'
'Hate is useless.'
'This is the Way.'
'I will come for my great prize.'
Wars were raging across the universe as armies clashed, some with warriors as if they were directly from myth and legend, fighting against a terrible evil. At the center of many were the same two beings, their bond proving to be unbreakable.
He knew them. He was one of them.
The two beings didn't fight for themselves, but for the ones they cared about. A dark force that opposed them sought their power for themselves.
'Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the Dark.'
'The power of two...'
'We have to risk our chance at happiness so they can have a life we might never know.'
'...restores the One...'
He opens his eyes, only to find himself unable to see much due to the lack of any light. The sound of light breathing beside him has Jarik looking over to see Ahsoka still asleep, her chest rising and falling with each breath taken. He lets out a sigh and resume staring at the ceiling, his mind plagued with concerning thoughts.
It's clear that the Force is trying to tell him something; whenever he has his visions there's always a reason, it's just that he doesn't always know what that reason is. From what he heard and saw it's definitely related to he and Ahsoka's current problem with their bond, though there were a few other moments that he can't find any connection for, aside from a troubling sensation of danger.
Irritation seeps in slightly at himself, and so he attempts to shelve any worries from his mind for now and go back to sleep.
The following morning Jarik was seated at the desk in his shared room with Ahsoka, turning his Jedi holocron over and over in his hands. He sighs in a bit of frustration, his thoughts dwelling on Tor Valum as well as another vision he had the previous night.
"Tor Valum," he says, a bit sarcastically. "How convenient that Revan's holocron doesn't have anything else on the subject aside from that one message."
Ahsoka, who is standing beside the window with her arms crossed and looking out of it, frowns in similar annoyance.
"And I have a feeling none of the Fallanassi will be of much help either," she scoffs.
"What about Xudi?" Jarik asks, turning to look at her.
Ahsoka rolls her eyes, slightly bitter in her response.
"Yeah, I'm sure she'd be just thrilled about us going to Remnicore and meeting this Tor Valum!" she sarcastically growls.
"I guess you have a point," he begrudgingly agrees, running a hand through his hair. "If we want to go, then we'll probably have to sneak away."
"Probably," she comments.
Jarik ponders the plan for a moment, hesitation seeping in as he gives more thought to the warnings Wialu gave them.
Everywhere they go they find new enemies, whether they're looking for them or not, and it seems very possible that this would be no different, except for the fact that the consequences would be far worse.
"Do you think we should?" he asks her.
"Sneak away?" she replies, confused.
"Go to Remnicore," he explains.
"I thought you'd already made up your mind," she comments.
"I had earlier, but with everything Wialu told us about..." he says with a look of caution and uncertainty. "...is it worth the risk?"
Ahsoka furrows her brow in thought and falls silent for a short while.
"If we were to somehow end up responsible for the end of everything as we know it, probably not," she begrudgingly admits before shaking her head. "But Wialu said that those defensive barriers are generated here, not there."
She lets out a frustrated sigh and sits down on the bed, holding placing her forehead in her hands.
"We've done so much for so many people... just this once, I'd like to be a little self-serving for a change," Ahsoka says softly.
Jarik regards her with empathy and gets up from his chair to sit on the bed beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She gratefully leans her head against him in response, allowing his presence to comfort her with as much as she could feel without their shared bond to each other.
They both sit there in silence for a while, blocking out anything else to focus on only the two of them. Eventually, however, a flash of green movement out of the corner of Jarik's vision gets his attention, and he looks out the bedroom window.
"Look," he says, widening his eyes in surprise.
Ahsoka follows his gaze to see a familiar green and white convor perched on a tree branch in the garden just outside.
"Morai?" she murmurs.
Ahsoka POV...
The animal form of the Daughter is still sitting on the tree branch when we stepped outside, gazing down us with an ever-intelligent gaze that speaks a thousand words.
"Maybe she can help us know what to do," Jarik suggests.
I nod my head in agreement at the idea, feeling hopeful. If there's anyone who can help us with our problem, then it's Morai. Why else would she suddenly appear to us?
I take a few steps closer to her and Morai chirps a few times, fluttering her wings.
"Morai... do you know of a being called Tor Valum?" I ask her.
She tilts her head and regards me with glimmering eyes, nodding once.
"Is he trustworthy?" I add.
Although there isn't much of a visible change in her demeanor, I can almost feel the way that her gaze grows more tense, while her presence feels a bit more negative.
No, Tor Valum is not someone to be trusted.
I share an uneasy look with Jarik to convey my own thoughts, and his expression becomes grim. Releasing a small sigh I return my gaze to Morai.
"Can he help us?" I then ask her.
Morai's demeanor doesn't change for a long time aside from a slight tilt of her head, periodically shifting her gaze between me and Jarik.
Eventually she spreads her wings and takes flight, swooping over our heads with a brief cry. We turn to watch her fly away, but I widen my eyes in astonishment when Morai suddenly lands on the outstretched arm of none-other than Cera, who's standing a few feet away from us.
"Huh... what do you know..." Jarik remarks.
For some reason he's not as surprised as I would've expected him to be. Then again, he's seen a lot within the next two years.
I slowly approach Cera, who is calmly stroking a finger along Morai's back feathers. The convor then takes off into the sky once again and Cera looks at me with a cautious, slightly questioning gaze.
She stays silent still, so I decide to start with a question of my own.
"You're familiar with her?" I ask her.
"In a way," she replies softly, letting out a heavy sigh. "Ahsoka... I'm sorry about how I was acting earlier."
Sympathy fills my heart at her apology. I would never blame her for thinking the way she did, especially after she explained what happened after I was gone.
"No, it's okay," I shake my head in response. "I should've tried reaching out to you sooner."
"That's not your fault," she disagrees. "I shouldn't be taking my frustration out on you for decisions made by the Jedi. And to be honest... I am proud of who you've become."
I accept her compliment with a nod and a small, albeit slightly shy, smile, an odd sense of relief and joy overcoming me.
"Thank you," I say gratefully in response.
Jarik is watching us from a respectful position, though once he feels the heavy topic is over he of course can't help but add his own quip.
"I wish my family was as fast at resolving differences as you are," he comments.
I roll my eyes with an exasperated sigh while Cera glances at him with a slight frown.
"Is that supposed to mean something?" she questions.
"Don't take it personally, he's like that a lot," I reassure her.
"What? That was a compliment," he scoffs, shaking his head. "Man, you ladies are such strange creatures."
"Says the man who can't contain himself," I say dismissively.
"I do a pretty good job of it in bed," he retorts.
I widen my eyes incredulously and whirl around to gape at him whilst Cera lifts a brow and blinks her eyes quickly in astonishment. I can feel my face burning up slightly from embarrassment, and my lekku rapidly turn a deep shade of purple.
"Wh- Jarik!" I cry out.
"Hey, you were asking for it," he replies casually, grinning at me.
Cera stands quietly with her arms crossed, glancing between the two of us in barely restrained bewilderment and disbelief, maybe even slightly appalled. I cross my arms in front of me and quickly turn away from both her and Jarik, still extremely embarrassed.
I so want to smack him right now...
"Anyway..." Cera slowly resumes conversation. "I hear you have seem to have an interest in Remnicore."
I blink my eyes at the statement, a bit surprised at how I almost forgot the original topic that caused this conversation. I look over in her direction, wondering how she figured that. As far as I'm aware Wialu hasn't shared the topic of our conversation with anyone. Jarik voices my question first.
"What makes you think that?" he asks.
"It's a terrible idea," she simply says in response.
"Trust me, we don't like it either," I tell her.
"So why would you even consider it?" she frowns.
"Because there could be an answer to our problem there," I explain.
"And there isn't one here?" she argues.
I let out a heavy sigh and shake my head, sharing a quick glance with Jarik before responding to her.
"There isn't one because Jarik and I... we're a dyad, Cera," I tell her.
Cera narrows her eyes slightly and regards the two of us with a hardened gaze, her lips pressed thin together.
"When do you want to leave?" she then says.
"I- what?" I stammer out, surprised by her response.
"You want to help?" Jarik asks, equally stunned.
"Trust me when I tell you that you have no idea what you will find there," Cera says with an intense look on her face. "No one has ever been allowed to set foot on Remnicore without the permission of the Matron and the Council of Nassi. It is a terrible idea."
She then lets out a sigh, glancing off to the side in what seems to be exasperation before she continues.
"But I have a feeling you both will go through with it anyway," she scoffs, and her expression softens. "And I can't, in good conscience, risk losing my sister again when I'm able to help."
I look at her in gratitude, that same feeling of joy from earlier filling me again. It feels so relieving to be back on good terms with someone I thought I'd never see again.
"Thank you, Cera," I tell her.
Remnicore - Wild Space
3rd person POV...
A glowing ring of orange sparks illuminates the otherwise dark environment, giving way for three individuals to step out of it. They look around at their surroundings to see they're in a relatively rocky plain with a few boulders of varying size scattered around. In the distance were much larger and jagged mountains, and the only source of light came from a red star peeking through layers of dark clouds in the sky.
"Why do Sith planets always look the same?" Jarik comments in disappointment, and Ahsoka just shrugs in response.
"I've only been here one other time, and that was very brief," Cera informs them, taking a few steps forward. "The place that you're looking for is a few miles from here, so you'll have to walk."
"Why not just open a portal straight there?" Ahsoka asks.
"We can't," she replies.
"Aren't the rules being broken alrea—" Jarik starts to say.
"It's not a rule. I meant we literally can't," she explains. "When we get to the top of this hill, you'll see why."
She gestures for them to follow, and the three begin to make their way up a short rocky incline with the promise of an expansive view at the top. Once they reach the summit a couple minutes later they stop to take in the sight before them, which Jarik and Ahsoka do so with wide eyes.
Before them lay a huge canyon stretching for at least several miles, filled with the remnants of ancient ruins and clear signs of a destroyed cityscape, similar to the landscape around Malachor's temple. The only audible sound breaking through the deafening silence was the echo of wind blowing across the environment. But the most striking feature that filled the horizon was a giant Pyramid at the other end of the canyon, casting everything in its shadow.
One end of the huge structure was broken, but even that section was big: the pyramid is easily large enough to rival the Jedi Temple on Coruscant in size, making it far bigger than the Malachor Sith Temple. But the weirdest thing of all for them... it felt alive. Normally the Force, light or dark, exudes a sense of purpose or intent in the way that it binds the galaxy together, but never has it felt more like an actual, living, being than around here. It's ethereal, in a way, somewhat like the Son, and yet completely different, making it hard to figure out.
Not only does it feel alive, but it feels unnatural, as if entropy itself has taken form. Similar to Oryx's presence, but a bit more subtle and refined. As if there's nothing to it but...
...Darkness.
Author's Note: Lot's of interesting developments in this chapter, some of which are quite big name drops. And we've now reached what will ultimately be the biggest and baddest of the bad's in the Multiverse!
Jarik is also back to his mischievous ways again. What good husband would he be if he didn't embarrass his wife every now and again? ;)