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I don't own Star Wars or its characters, but Nadia Aomori and my other OCs I own only.
Enjoy!
Fire of the Rebellion
Chapter 13: Auratera
A terrestrial Auratera system planet in the Outer Rim Territories' Vorzyd sector, located along the Salin Corridor, Auratera had forests, mountains, plains and inland seas located on multiple continents.
The planet had low gravity and it was home to the hibrek treeas well as the domesticated reenee, the avianskysnare and the reptilian ursosaur.
The planet's atmosphere was breathable to multiple sentient species.
Auratera was situated between its star system's twin stars.
Though it only orbited Aurell, the larger of the two stars, Auratera moved between the two and only experienced a night cycle when Ryern was eclipsed by Aurell.
The near-constant exposure to the sun meant that Auratera was a bright world, though the temperature and level of light was directly related to the two stars' proximity to the planet based on orbital patterns.
Nadia piloted the Action VI Transport as she made the bulk transport carefully land to Acablas which was a site that attracted Force-sensitives for centuries, drawn by the powerful vergence in the Force.
Sitting next to the raven haired woman was Ferus.
Nadia wore a long white tailcoat with dark violet inner lining and a sleeveless dark grey top as well as a brown belt attached over black skintight leather pants. The top had rectangular and diamond-shaped cutouts around the neckline which have purple outlines. She also wore thigh-high black heeled boots with gold-coloured edging around the top. Her long wavy raven black hair was styled in a ponytail that had a few strands sticking out or curled including one on the very top while the bangs were straight-cut and choppy with chin-length forelocks.
Ferus wore a dark blue shirt and matching pants with a brown belt, a white padded vest and a brown vest over that. The shirt had a red and blue emblem on each shoulder with three loops of fabric beneath the emblem on the left shoulder for holding equipment.
Nadia slowly turned her head to look at Ferus.
"Ferus, do you feel it?"Nadia questioned.
"Yes, Dia."Ferus answered, agreeing with his wife."I sense an unusual yet naturally occurring concentration of Force energy localised around this site."
The couple glanced behind them which showed both Zachary and Gwendolyn sleeping in their backseats.
Zachary wore a black V-necked shirt that was worn underneath a black trench-coat with grey lining going down the sleeves, black pants with a black belt that had a large silver buckle and black boots with silver plates to protect his shins. He had a silver plate worn on the left side of his coat. He had a strap that went over his right shoulder and under it to wrap around his left side.
Gwendolyn wore a black waistcoat of gold buttons with gold linen outlines on the edge, a white blouse with sleeves slightly below her elbows, a white lace lining on her sleeves and collar, a pair of rolled up deep purple denim shorts with a gold button and grey socks over short black leggings and brown leather ankle boots. Her long straight chestnut brown hair which reached about just below her shoulder blades in length with matching blunt square side-bangs on the left side along with a section of it tied onto a half ponytail on the back of her head.
RG-G1 beeped as he went to wake up the Olin twins.
The droid used his little hand to whack both Zachary and Gwendolyn's arms, making them wake up.
"Ow!"Gwendolyn groaned in pain.
"Quit doing that, G-G!"Zachary snapped.
Both Nadia and Ferus chuckled as the two of them went over to their children.
"We arrived to where we wanted to come to, Zack and Gwen."Nadia informed.
"If you two are too tired, then-"Ferus started.
Gwendolyn immediately stood up from where she sat.
"No way, dad! I'm not tired!"Gwendolyn remarked confidently."I was just resting my eyes!"
Zachary rolled his eyes as he went off his seat as well.
"Sure you were, little sister."Zachary scoffed.
Gwendolyn glared at Zachary.
"Don't call me, 'little sister'!"Gwendolyn scowled."I was born the same day you were!"
"After 3 minutes and 14 seconds."Zachary informed.
"That doesn't change anything!"Gwendolyn argued.
Nadia irritatedly snarled as she began walking out of the Action VI Transport with Ferus.
"Kids today."Nadia muttered unhappily.
"They definitely got their sass from you."Ferus chuckled.
Zachary and Gwendolyn headed out of the Action VI Transport as well to join their parents.
"What exactly is here in Acablas, mum and dad?"Zachary asked.
"The Force is strong here."Gwendolyn admitted.
"That's completely correct, moonstone."Ferus agreed."What we're sensing is a powerful vergence in the Force."
Bewildered looks look appeared on both Zachary and Gwendolyn's faces.
"Since when does the Force have a vergence?"Zachary questioned.
"A vergence or nexus point is a phenomenon of the Force that is centered on a place or object, or in rare instances on an individual, Zack."Nadia exclaimed."A vergence is a place in the galaxy where the Force flowed the most freely, in a concentrated wellspring of energy that could be more easily harnessed by those sensitive to its power."
Nadia, Ferus, Zachary and Gwendolyn began walking around the ancient site.
Since the site was empty, it clearly meant no one had stepped foot into the place for such a long time.
"The powers of the vergence fluctuated between mild light and deeply influenced by the Dark Side while the planet was largely basked in the Light Side of the Force, the site sometimes acted as a well in which the Dark Side was concentrated."Nadia continued."The switch in the nexus' alignment was swift and abrupt and often coincided with the solar events in the system."
A curious look appeared on Gwendolyn's face.
"Exactly which side of the Force that the planet Auratera housed?"Gwendolyn questioned.
Nadia had a neutral look as she and Ferus suddenly stopped walking, making their two children do the same.
"Both."Ferus responded.
Zachary and Gwendolyn followed their parents' gazes, only for both of them to become astonished.
On the lip of Aca's Funnel at the Acablas vergence was the Jedi Temple of Auratera whole the opposite side was the Sith Temple of Auratera.
Built on the ruins of older temples, the two towers of the Jedi Temple flanked a taller central building that overlooked Aca's Funnel. The main entrance to the Temple was located atop a monumental stair that led halfway up the funnel's outer slope. The Temple's exterior was dotted with stone overlooks where Jedi would train at lightsaber combat and meditation.
The Sith Pyramid's entrance was located on the rim of the Funnel, with a ceremonial path lined with statues leading deep into the structure. Halfway up the pyramid, a cantilevered balcony reached out over the Funnel, and ended over the cenote opening.
Gwendolyn's jaw dropped a little, only for Nadia to slowly close it.
"Oh my stars."Gwendolyn mumbled.
"Never expected to see an old Jedi Temple and Sith Temple in the same planet."Zachary admitted."More clearly, so close to each other."
Nadia, Ferus, Zachary and Gwendolyn began approaching the Aca's Funnel; an irregularly shaped elliptical cone that served as a focusing point of the vergence below.
The opening in the bottom of the Funnel was off-center and allowed the elements down into the cenote. A rocky formation in its natural state, the funnel was paved over to form a winding stairway that descended to the opening.
Nadia placed her hand over her eyes to block the sunlight as she glanced at the Jedi Temple which showed their entrance had been blocked.
"There are places in the galaxy, strong in the Force. The light. The dark. Neither can't exist without the other."Nadia complemented."They are born in places teeming with life...and in places that are filled with death. Worlds whose surfaces are graveyards, whose screams echo through the Force. It is possible for war, for men to give birth to such places, to leave wounds on the galaxy itself."
The Olin twins look at their parents.
"Mum and dad, what exactly did we come here for?"Zachary questioned.
"To seek knowledge."Ferus admitted.
"From the light side of the Force?"Gwendolyn assumed.
"Acablas is actually dangerous to those untrained in the Force and even some trained Jedi Knights were prone to its ill-effects."Nadia informed with a small frown."The powers of the vergence fluctuated between mildly light and deeply influenced by the dark side. While the planet was largely basked in the light side of the Force, the site sometimes acted as a well in which the dark side was concentrated. The switch in the nexus' alignment was swift and abrupt and often coincided with the solar events in the system."
Zachary glanced at the Jedi Temple and then the Sith Temple.
"So both Force-Sensitive wielders from the Light and Dark Sides have been here in Acablas?"Zachary assumed.
Ferus frowned and folded his arms.
"The site was home to many different structures which varied in size, use and architecture, Zack."Ferus admitted."Constructed by the Jedi Order, Sith Empires and various others, some ranged from monolithic and elaborate while others were simple or prefabricated."
Nadia brought her attention back on Zachary and Gwendolyn.
"Though the big question is are the two of you ready for what's ahead of you?"Nadia said.
Both Zachary and Gwendolyn gave confident smiles to Nadia and Ferus.
"We want to understand the Force more, mum and dad."Zachary insisted.
"You can count of us."Gwendolyn assured confidently.
Nadia simply smirked at Zachary and Gwendolyn.
"We shall see."Nadia chuckled slightly.
Before Ferus could say anything, Nadia headed down to the opening in the bottom of the Funnel despite being off-center.
"Nadia!"Ferus snapped.
Zachary and Gwendolyn then headed down as well, much to Ferus' dismay.
"Always going without any thoughts."Ferus mumbled.
Ferus then went down to the bottom of the Funnel to join his family.
Nadia, Ferus, Zachary and Gwendolyn stood together starting at the facility.
The dome of the cenote had duracrete-like stone slabs.
The facility's walls were decorated with elaborate paintings of the Force in use and symbols of unknown origin.
At its base, the exposed rock of the cavern was still visible, supporting a stone walkway that encircled the chamber with archways allowing access to the caverns beyond
Just below the walkway, extremely clear water pooled, varying based on weather conditions in the region.
A stone platform rose from the water in the center of the chamber, though whether it was natural or constructed could not be determined..
The Olin family stood near the entrance of a cavern that led to the Jedi Temple.
"Mother, I feel the light side of the Force."Zachary admitted with an anxious look."But I also feel the dark side calling to me as well."
"So do I."Gwendolyn whispered.
A sigh escaped from Nadia's mouth.
"Beside the Jedi Order, the Brotherhood of Darkness came to Acablas to create their Sith Temple."Nadia admitted.
"The Brotherhood of Darkness?"Zachary said in confusion.
"It was a Sith army that rose to power in the last decade of the Republic Dark Age."Nadia explained."Founded by Jedi Master–turned–Sith Lord Skere Kaan, the Brotherhood was formed out the fragmented Sith after slaughtering many of its most powerful lords and sought to destroy the Republic."
Ferus bent down on one knee to look at Zachary and Gwendolyn.
"Both of you will be tested."Ferus informed."But you two must remember to always believe in yourselves. Do this and no matter where you are, neither of you have nothing to fear."
Nadia then planted a kiss on Zachary before doing the same with Gwendolyn.
"Remember the Force isn't just a power you both wield. It's part of you. Let it guide your actions and thoughts. Though remember this."Nadia stated firmly."Destiny's shaped by actions informed by wisdom. The Force's more than light or dark. It's a spectrum we must comprehend."
Both Zachary and Gwendolyn nodded before heading to different entrances of the cavern.
When their children were out of sight, Nadia and Ferus sat down to meditate.
"We didn't come to Acablas just for our kids, right Dia?"Ferus assumed.
Nadia glanced at Ferus.
"That's true, Ferus."Nadia agreed with a nod."I never really fully embraced both sides of the Force. Though I sensed the potential our children have, but I know power without restraint leads to self-destruction. We've seen those who sought to control rather than understand."
Ferus became silent for a moment before responding back to his wife.
"You want to lower their ambition?"Ferus assumed.
Nadia shook her head.
"Ambition must be tempered with conscience."Nadia admitted."The cost of unbridled desire is often paid by the innocent. I want both Zack and Gwen to understand that."
Zachary carefully walked around the path he was walking in.
He didn't know how long he had been walking and felt like he was in some kind of maze.
The thirteen year old boy kept his fear under control as he caught side of a Skysnare nearby.
The Skysnare was a large bird that was naturally camouflaged by its blue and white plumage. Equipped with four powerful talons and a long hooked beak, it had two eyes on the top of its head and two on the bottom.
Using the Force to control his fear, Zachary continued walking to where he was walking to.
He learned that Skysnares that lived near to the ruins of Acablas possessed slight Force-sensitivity, allowing them not only to sense prey, but to pull prey up into the air with the Force and catch it in its huge beak.
Zachary shut his eyes as he felt the Skysnare slowly approaching him from behind.
"I am one with the Force and the Force is with me."Zachary whispered in a strong yet firm tone."I am one with the Force and the Force is with me."
Suddenly, the Skysnare vanquished from behind Zachary before the teenage boy kept walking.
"You're a foolish boy."
Zachary kept his mouth shut as he felt a pair of black gloved hands touch his shoulders, but he didn't dare turn his head to see who it was.
"The strong have always shaped the fate of the weak."Darth Nihilus declared."It's the natural order of the galaxy."
Zachary glared at his dark ancestor's words.
"True Order isn't imposed through fear and oppression."Zachary replied with a frown."It arises from balance and respect for all life."
The teenage boy get come as he felt a cold shiver tower over him.
"You speak of bonds yet the Jedi forbid attachments."Darth Nihilus retorted."Do you attend to walk to their path and become a self-righteous being like them?"
Zachary closed his eyes.
"No. Strength is not merely physical or rooted in the Force."Zachary admitted."Though some Jedi don't understand that attachment is not an enemy. Fear of loss, accepting change and letting go is. That is the challenge."
"That's a mere platitude."Darth Nihilus scoffed."Peace is an illusion. Only through feeding through the power of both Jedi and Sith, can make you unlock your true potential. Don't waste your time like your mother did."
Zachary glared at Darth Nihilus.
"You are the darkness in which all life dies. All life existed to feed your power. You cared nothing for the Sith or its teachings…or the Jedi. Your only intention was to devour everything in the galaxy."Zachary stated."But even if your blood runs through my veins, I would never attend to wield the Force to learn your way of living. Either way, you have no power over me. You're not even alive."
Darth Nihilus activated his blood lightsaber to slash Zachary, but the illusion of the ancient Sith Lord's attack didn't cut the teenage boy and then disappeared from sight.
Zachary opened his eyes and found himself in a cave surrounded by kyber crystals.
A glimpse of confusion appeared on Zachary's face.
"So the Lord of Hunger was an illusion after all."Zachary murmured with a hint of relief.
Zachary approached the kyber crystals and stared at them in awe.
As the teenage boy walked further, he noticed most of the kyber crystals were glowing in a low way.
But he knew there was a crystal for him.
He was sure of it.
As Zachary walked closer, he noticed a yellow kyber crystal glowing nearby.
The teenage boy approached the kyber crystal and carefully took it out from to look at it.
Zachary smirked. "I did it."
Gwendolyn patted slowly as she walked in the maze-like area.
"Whatever is here, I feel cold."Gwendolyn thought with a troubled expression."I guess it's the dark side trying to provoke me or my own fear toying with my emotions."
The teenage girl kept walking and found herself in a walkway that had water surrounding it.
The walkway contained skeletons and artefacts discarded from ancient ceremonies remained sunken in the waters.
"It's scary how the Sith alchemists preformed arcane rituals and sacrificed beings to the dark side."Gwendolyn thought with a disturbed expression."Though does this mean I have to somehow walk through here."
Gwendolyn rubbed her arms as she felt a chilling wind blow around her.
"What an awful wind."Gwendolyn declared uncomfortably before becoming serious."But I can't stop here."
The young brunette started walking in the path in front of her as her boots did a dripping sound due to the water around her.
She patted slowly as she walked and looked at her surroundings.
"It doesn't have to be this way!"
There were lightsabers clashing against each other heard in the background as Gwendolyn rushed forward to see what was going on.
Gwendolyn paled in fear as she stopped running when she caught sight of Ferus fighting Darth Vader.
"Dad?!"Gwendolyn gasped.
Ferus glared at Darth Vader as his blue lightsaber blocked the Sith Lord's red blade that attempted to cut him in half.
A nervous feeling grew inside Gwendolyn.
Where was her mother and older twin brother?
The young brunette snapped out of her thoughts when she saw Darth Vader used the Force to throw Ferus into the floor.
"Leave my dad alone!"Gwendolyn snapped.
Gwendolyn attempted to rush over to her father, only for Darth Vader to grab her and start choking her with the Force.
Seeing his daughter in danger, Ferus immediately went back on his feet to help Gwendolyn.
Darth Vader released Gwendolyn before he and Ferus continued duelling against each other.
"You were a Jedi once!"Ferus snapped."She didn't want this to happen to you!"
Before Gwendolyn could do anything, Darth Vader suddenly grabbed Ferus by the neck, making him drop his lightsaber.
Ferus struggled to breath from Darth Vader's grip.
"This is why you always lose!"Darth Vader scowled.
Gwendolyn watched in terror as the Sith Lord strangled her father to death before dropping his lifeless body on the floor.
"NO!"Gwendolyn cried out in sorrow.
Darth Vader then turned his attention to Gwendolyn, making her back away in terror.
"No! Go away!"Gwendolyn snapped in anger and sadness."Leave me alone!"
Gwendolyn dodged Darth Vader's blade, only for her to suddenly be knocked off and drop into the watery surface of the walk away.
She struggled to breath as the water devoured her.
The teenage girl's ruby red eyes snapped opened, only to find herself in a different walk away that seemed part of the facility.
Gwendolyn patted, trying to figure what happened.
"It…It was just an illusion."Gwendolyn muttered, getting over her shock."My dad is still alive. Same with my mum and Zack."
Gwendolyn rushed to the doorway in front of her, only to come face to face with Darth Vader.
The young brunette became utterly shocked at seeing the Emperor's right hand again with his lightsaber out.
"If you're looking for your relatives, I have you know they have died alongside the remaining Jedi, child."Darth Vader declared coldly.
"No!"Gwendolyn snapped, refusing to believe her relatives' demise."They're still alive!"
"The Jedi know little of power."Darth Vader retorted."Don't throw away your life for them."
Gwendolyn fearfully backed away causing herself to end up against a wall.
Then a brave look appeared on the young brunette's face.
"I know that there have been a lot of mistakes caused by the Jedi and the Sith."Gwendolyn declared sternly as she glared at Darth Vader."But what I heard about you from my parents is that you're actually a being trapped in your own darkness."
"You know nothing, child."Darth Vader scowled.
A scoff escaped from Gwendolyn's mouth.
"I may not know much. I still have a lot to learn and I am scared of letting my family down someday."Gwendolyn declared firmly, letting out her fear."Though I know that no matter what happens, the Jedi will someday return and defeat the Empire once and for all. Setting us all free. Including…you."
The moment Gwendolyn said that, the illusion of Darth Vader vanish in her eyes.
A sigh of relief escaped from Gwendolyn's mouth before she gratefully slumped to the floor.
The teenaged girl then saw she was in a large hall with inscriptions throughout the walls as she stood up from where she was.
"What is this?"Gwendolyn murmured.
Gwendolyn then saw a little star appear above her and descend toward her which revealed to be a small magenta kyber crystal that landed in her hands.
The young brunette smiled at her kyber crystal.
"Wow…"Gwendolyn murmured in awe.
Both Ferus and Nadia's eyes opened when the two of them saw Zachary and Gwendolyn coming out from separate entrances of the cavern.
"Hey, mum and dad."Zachary greeted with a wave.
"We're back."Gwendolyn remarked happily.
Nadia and Ferus stood up from where they were and went over to their two children.
"So how did it go?"Ferus asked.
"Did you both found what you needed?"Nadia questioned.
Zachary and Gwendolyn shared a glance with each other before looking at their parents.
"Me and Gwen both saw different things. The things that scared us the most."Zachary admitted."Mine was someone from the past and…linked to us."
"And mine was a fear that is out there in the galaxy right now."Gwendolyn stated."Based on someone losing those close to them. But overall…"
Zachary and Gwendolyn then held out their hands to show their parents the kyber crystals that they received from their tests.
Amazed looks appeared on Ferus and Nadia's faces.
"You both got a kyber crystal!"Ferus chuckled proudly before hugging Zachary and Gwendolyn."Well done!"
Nadia smirked as she ruffled Zachary's head and planting a kiss on Gwendolyn's forehead.
"I am so proud of you both."Nadia remarked.
Nadia then looked at Zachary's yellow kyber crystal.
"Zack, the colour of your kyber crystal represents balance, practicality and a certain level of independence from the mainstream of Jedi life."Nadia exclaimed."Yellow indicated a Jedi Sentinel, a Jedi who honed his or her skills in a balance of combat and scholarly pursuits."
Gwendolyn smirked at Zachary.
"You usually focus on the philosophical stuff."Gwendolyn sneered.
Zachary rolled his eyes as Ferus looked at Gwendolyn's magenta kyber crystal.
"Since your kyber crystal's colour is magenta, it is symbolic of the compassion, femininity, and charm that it represents and those who wield them, Gwen."Ferus declared."Those with a magenta blade are seen as powerful and courageous figures, capable of taking on any challenge they face. It has been said that these warriors befit their saber's unique hue by using their power to bring balance to the Force."
Gwendolyn's eyes sparkled in delight.
"That's awesome!"Gwendolyn remarked happily.
Zachary smiled at Ferus and Nadia.
"So, the next step for us is to create our own lightsabers?"Zachary assumed.
"Exactly."Nadia agreed with a nod."But first-"
Nadia took out her grappling hook and fired to the opening in the bottom of the Funnel before checking that it was held tightly.
"We have to get out of her."Nadia declared.
In space, the Action VI Transport flew away from Auratera.
Inside the Action VI Transport, RG-G1 let out a beep at his companions.
"It has been interesting trip, G-G."Nadia complemented."It was kind of like a moment that happened in the past."
Ferus glanced at the back seats to see Zachary and Gwendolyn too busy talking to each other.
"The next generation of our family is really heading to the next level."Ferus praised.
Nadia nodded at her husband as she thought about Darth Vader and the Inquisitors.
"Our kids learned that they have to control their fears today."Nadia commented with a fragile smile."But some day soon, they'll have to face what scares them which actually worries me."
Ferus planted a kiss on Nadia's forehead.
"Don't worry, Dia."Ferus assured firmly."No harm won't ever come to them. I promise."
Nadia smiled back at Ferus before making the Action VI Transport jump into hyperspace.
See you all in the next chapter and have a wonderful day!