Isle of Berk, Ahch-To - Unknown Regions
The first thing he feels is a terrible ache all over his body. He tries to open his eyes but is met with a blurry haze over his vision. He blinks a few times to clear the fog and tries moving, only to hiss in pain.
"Easy there, Jedi. You took quite the hit," a female voice says.
A woman's hands are placed on his shoulders and help him sit up. He focuses on her more intently and wearily recognizes that his helper is Sif.
Jarik turns his head to inspect his surroundings and sees a number of people rushing around in the distance, tending to wounded warriors or checking to make sure a few black creatures on the ground are dead.
"What happened?" Jarik asks.
He attempts to stand and grimaces as his head throbs painfully, though Sif helps steady him. It feels as though he's been knocked to the moon by a Wookiee.
Movement nearby grabs his attention, and he sees Fandral walking over to them.
"Well, there was a miscalculation, and in the chaos, Gorr—" he starts to say.
Jarik gasps as his memory returns, and he recalls precisely what happened to knock him unconscious.
"Ahsoka!" he shouts in alarm.
"Yeah," Fandral sighs.
Jarik whips his head around and spots Odin knelt beside Ahsoka's prone form, Loki and Thor standing behind him and apparently in a heated argument. Jarik frantically rushes over to them, bypassing the two princes, and drops down beside Ahsoka with a horrified gaze.
Her body was covered in terrible burns, still smoking in some places, and her breathing came out in weak gasps. Her muscles twitched sporadically and her eyes were squeezed shut, making it was hard to tell if she was even conscious or simply immobilized from the pain.
"Kriff...!" he whispers in a panic.
Jarik gently places his left hand on her, making her twitch with a pained grunt, and holds his right hand out over her. He stretches out to connect with her over their dyad and grimaces, sensing the pain she's feeling. He tries to alleviate some of it by sending a flow of energy over to her and then searches deep within himself for a pool of Force energy. His right hand starts to glow as he attempts to heal her, but very faintly, and no healing seems to occur.
"Do not waste your energy, Jedi," Odin grimly advises him. "The mark of an Infinity Stone is not so easily rectified."
Jarik growls in frustration and tries to exert even more power, yet there's no affect. Recognizing the King's statement to be true he angrily pulls back and opts to continue his efforts to sooth Ahsoka's pain through their dyad, taking some of it onto himself again. He hisses through clenched teeth at the sudden feeling of fire burning his skin but forces himself to endure it, knowing Ahsoka's current state is far worse than his.
"This is bloody terrific," he then hears Thor grumbling. "I just can't believe that lowlife got away."
"No thanks to your idiocy, you big oaf!" Loki snarls at him.
"Standing around to debate isn't going to make it any better!" he scoffs in reply. "Father, let us go already! The longer we wait the harder it is to find Gorr!"
A different kind of fire starts to burn in Jarik's chest, completely unrelated to the pain of Ahsoka's injuries, as he senses the sheer... indifference in Thor's attitude. He takes a step back from Ahsoka and balls his hands into fists.
"You arrogant SLAG!" he roars.
Jarik turns and throws a heavy haymaker with his metal arm that connects with Thor's jaw with a resounding clang. Not expecting the sudden assault, Thor is caught by surprise and his head whips back in response, though rest of him doesn't move an inch.
A few nearby Vikings, including Stoick, react with shouts of shock and incredulity while a pair of Einherjar move forward but are halted with a simple gesture from Odin.
The furious Jedi attempts to throw another punch but is help back by Fandral with a hand on his shoulder. Thor places a hand on his jaw and then looks down at it in bewilderment before turning to glare at Jarik with cold, stormy eyes, promising recompense for the insult.
"Don't you dare touch me again, mortal," he scowls.
"Or what?" Jarik retorts furiously, too angry to feel intimidated. "You talk a big game, yet if it wasn't for you throwing that hammer around like a maniac, my wife wouldn't be on death's door right now!"
"HAH! Well, what did you expect from a fight with gods?" Thor laughs in amusement. "If you had any sense, you'd have stepped back and let me deal with it!"
Jarik growls and moves to hit Thor again, but Odin intervenes by banging his spear on the ground.
"That's ENOUGH!" the Allfather's voice booms.
He glares at the two men with a piercing gaze. Disapproval is evident in the look he gives Thor, though it goes unnoticed.
"I will not see us devolve into such foolishness, especially not now," he continues.
"Alright, then let's get goi—" Thor starts to say.
"You've done enough, Thor," Odin interrupts, his tone final.
Thor stares at his father in bewilderment and confusion but doesn't say anything more. Jarik begrudgingly returns his attention to Ahsoka's well-being and kneels down by her side to keep doing what he can.
"Father, what are we to do now?" Loki inquires. "Gorr is in possession of Morai's staff and is surely on his way to Eternity right now."
Odin acknowledges him with a grim nod and silently ponders how to respond.
Meanwhile, Stoick approaches them with a small group of Hooligans, including Gobber, Gothi, Spitelout, and a few others. He comes to a stop at a respectful distance and places a fist over his breast.
"Great Allfather, Lord of the Aesir, the people of Berk are indebted to you for coming to our aid. We are ready and willing to assist you in destroying this beast you hunt," he states, bowing before Odin.
His fellow Vikings follow his example, humbling themselves before the Allfather. Odin turns to them with a faint smile of acknowledgment.
"I admire your courage, Chieftain. But Gorr is not a foe within your power to defeat," he replies, shaking his head. "Where he goes, a mortal cannot."
Stoick drops his head in disappointment but adheres to the Allfather's decision.
"I understand, Lord Allfather," he says.
Unnoticed by the gathered assembly, Snotlout spots something glowing on the ground nearby and moves to investigate. He finds the source to be a small stone lying on the ground in a patch of grass, though the area around it is completely incinerated; even stranger, it is glowing with purple light.
Nearby, Hiccup spots him as Snotlout reaches down to pick up the glowing purple stone and widens his eyes in alarm. Though unsure what it is, Hiccup can only assume it is bad news.
"Snotlout!" he exclaims.
"BACK, MORTAL!" Loki roars.
The God of Mischief's sharp cry gains the attention of everyone nearby and has Snotlout jumping back with a shriek of terror. He spins around to see Loki storming over with a harsh glare. The Asgardian prince grabs the young Viking's arm and pulls him away from the Power Stone.
"Do you have a death wish?" he hisses.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't kill me! I'll do anything!" Snotlout pleads fearfully, squeezing his eyes shut in anticipation of something horrible happening to him.
Loki rolls his eyes in annoyance and releases Snotlout before pushing him aside.
"SNOTLOUT!" Stoick roars, brimming with fury. "OVER HERE, NOW!"
The great chieftain of Berk has fire in his eyes, which rarely reveals itself, only in moments of his worst anger. Any Hooligan in their right mind would be right to be afraid of him. In this case, however, Snotlout feels much safer with the furious chieftain than he does with the raven-haired prince of Asgard.
"Yes, Chief!" he squeaks out, eagerly rushing to obey the order.
Loki dismisses the Viking from his mind as he regards the Power Stone lying innocently on the ground before looking around at the gathered group of Hooligans and Asgardians.
"No one is to touch the Stone! Its power will destroy you," he states, leaving no room for argument.
"Why isn't it in Ahsoka's staff?" Astrid asks, recalling where she last saw it.
"It has been taken," Sif answers grimly. "Loki, do you have a way of containing it?"
Loki crouches down beside the Power Stone with a frown and stretches out a hand toward it, his palm glowing with magic. Before he can get much closer, however, a few small sparks erupt between the stone and his hand, and he pulls back with a grimace.
"I will send for a containment device," Odin states.
Loki glances back at Odin and nods in acknowledgment while the Allfather lifts his spear to the sky for a few seconds, the tip glowing with a faint golden hue, then drops it.
Meanwhile, thanks to the Knight Hawk not having suffered too much damage, its occupants were able to exit the ship. Mara and Talia make their way over to the group in search of their family and spot Jarik kneeling over the prone form of Ahsoka. The former gasps in horror.
"Mom?!" she cries out.
Mara rushes over to them with Talia still held in her arms, and they drop down beside their parents.
"What's wrong with Mama?" Talia asks with a whimper. "Is Mama okay?"
Jarik briefly acknowledges his daughters with a glance but remains focused on helping Ahsoka however he can. He continues to share his energy with Ahsoka over their dyad, yet his inability to properly heal her presents a growing problem.
"She's barely holding on," Jarik murmurs anxiously.
Tears brim in Mara's eyes, and she shakes her head in dismay while Odin walks back over.
"She is resilient," he remarks. "If not for Morai, I suspect she would not have survived this long."
Jarik lifts his head to Odin with a pleading gaze.
"Please, can you help her?"
"I am not sure," he admits regretfully. "There are ways, but most require a skilled practitioner of magic."
Though initially despairing, a flicker of hope surges in Jarik at the mention of magic.
"Magic? What kind of magic?" he asks.
"You know a magician?" Loki questions in surprise.
"You might say that."
He shares a brief glance with Mara and Talia, offering them a look of encouragement. Odin ponders the Jedi with a thoughtful frown on his face.
"I suspect I know of those you speak of," he remarks.
Before he could say more, the Bifrost drops down from the sky, surprising the Vikings and dragons nearby. Odin turns toward the pillar of light with Loki as a trio of Einherjar soldiers step out, one of them carrying a small metal object; an Orb. Loki takes the Orb from the Einherjar, and he and Odin move over to the Power Stone.
"Is she going to be okay, Dad?" Mara asks Jarik.
Jarik looks between his daughters and Ahsoka with an anxious gaze, lightly placing a hand on her forehead. Ahsoka trembles, and he lets out a heavy sigh.
"She has to be," he replies.
Loki levitates the Orb in his hands, and it starts opening by splitting in half with a series of complex twists and turns until eventually, two halves of it are hovering over both of his hands.
A few Vikings who can see the display whisper amongst themselves in awe, transfixed by it, and the family of Jedi can't help but observe as well.
Loki then offers the two halves of the Orb to Odin, who likewise completes a trade by handing him his spear. The Allfather stands above the gleaming Power Stone and holds one half of the Orb out toward it. The Stone trembles and starts to shake on the ground, spraying out a few purple sparks. It shakily hovers in the air and is pulled toward the Orb, landing squarely in the center of the half piece.
A deep hum of power permeates the air, and a bright flash of light illuminates the dark night for a moment. Odin grunts faintly from the sheer power exerted by the Stone and then places the other half over it, combining them to reform the Orb. Satisfied, Odin retrieves his spear from Loki and walks back over to the Jedi with the Orb held in his hand.
"This device was one of a select few created eons ago by beings of great power to contain the energy of Infinity Stones," he informs them. "While it may not fully block its signature, it will make it safe to hold."
He holds the Orb out to Jarik, who, after a moment's consideration, takes it with a gracious nod.
"What of the God Butcher?" Volstagg then asks.
Thor eagerly nods his head, relieved at returning to the previous topic of discussion.
"Yes, we must find him!" he insists.
"We already know where he's going; we just have no way of getting there without the staff. No thanks to you," Loki adds at the end with a scowl.
"Perhaps not," Odin remarks, looking toward the Jedi. "But there are others who might know a way."
J't'p'tan, Farlax sector - Core Worlds
Among the plains on the outskirts of Tynoli, a large number of women were hard at work across a field of freshly unearthed soil. Split into groups of four, each group consisted of two pulling a plow across the soil while the other two walked behind them, scattering seeds.
One group had a Zeltron and a Verollian in charge of the plow, while a Togruta and a human walked behind them with a basket of seeds.
"You'd think... we'd have figured out... how to bypass such... menial... tasks by now," Danyse, the Zeltron woman, complains.
Danyse pauses for a second to wipe sweat off her brow.
"Why can't we use magic for this? It's exhausting!" she groans.
"That's the whole point," her Verollian partner, Xiffé, replies. "Respect the natural law, and it'll respect you."
The stronger Verollian takes a step forward and intentionally pulls the plow a bit harder, causing Danyse to stumble forward. The human, and youngest of the group, Nya, giggles in amusement at the flustered Zeltron.
"With respect," Danyse retorts, "how in the galaxy am I supposed to look good when I'm all sweaty and filthy like this?!"
Cera Tano rolls her eyes and tosses out another handful of seeds.
"As much as I appreciate the life lesson, I can't help but sympathize with Danyse on this one," she remarks.
"Kriff off, you got the easy job," Danyse scowls.
Cera shrugs in dismissal, happily letting her amusement at Danyse's frustration distract her from the exhaustion brought on by farm work in the humid heat.
Just then, without any warning, a pillar of rainbow light drops out of the sky and lands in the very center of the field, tossing Cera's group and a few others close enough on their backs.
"Woah! What the—?" Nya yelps in surprise.
The Fallanassi sorceresses quickly react to the situation by rushing to form a circle around the pillar and conjuring shields of energy, their hard labor otherwise forgotten. Xiffé takes the lead and points to two women close by.
"Alert the Matron!" she orders.
The two nod and summon a portal to the city, quickly crossing through it. Meanwhile, the pillar of light dissipates, and the sorceresses tense up in anticipation of a fight when a group of armored warriors are revealed.
Immediately noticing the threat against them, Thor brandishes his hammer to retaliate, but Odin quickly places a hand on Mjolnir with a stern gaze before stepping forward to address the group of sorceresses.
"Peace, daughters of the White Current! We bear no ill will!" he declares.
Odin doesn't raise his voice, yet it still echoes across the field so that everyone can hear it. A few Fallanassi tense up, sensing the magic that carries his voice, and make the deduction that he is powerful.
"State your business, intruder!" Xiffé demands in reply.
"Do ye not know whom you are speaking to?" Thor angrily retorts.
"Control yourself, boy," Odin reprimands him.
Cera looks between the different people in the group of invaders, taking note of the leader and the two at his side, clearly the ones in charge, as well as a collection of armored warriors, some more unique than others, and one of them female. However, she widens her eyes in surprise to recognize someone in the group: Jarik Shan. More importantly, he's carrying the badly injured figure of her sister in his arms.
"Ahsoka?" she says in astonishment.
Panicked at the sight, Cera drops her energy shields and immediately rushes over to Jarik. Xiffé and a few other Fallanassi move to stop her but are not quick enough, though it doesn't seem the intruding group poses a threat to them.
Cera gasps in dismay at seeing Ahsoka so clearly injured, with burns all over the front of her body, and Jarik moves forward to meet her.
"In the name of Morai!" she cries out, horrified by Ahsoka's wounds. "What happened?!"
Jarik shakes his head in response.
"No time. She needs healing, fast," he tells her.
Cera nods without hesitation and gestures for him to follow.
"This way!" she urges.
"Cera..." Xiffé says warily, frowning at her.
"Later, Xiffé!" Cera snaps back.
The Togruta sorceress opens up a portal to the Fallanassi temple in the city and rushes through, with Jarik behind her. After a moment of anxious contemplation, Nya follows after them. Xiffé shakes her head in frustration, while Danyse looks from where Cera left and back to where the Asgardians are still standing.
"I'm not plowing this a second time," she says.
Upon their arrival to the Temple of the Infinite Spirit, Cera ushered them to the halls of healing where Ahsoka was placed under the care of several Fallanassi healers. Jarik waited anxiously for Cera and the healers to conduct their examination, which was done through methods involving both sorcery and practical techniques. Having gotten word of their arrival Jarik and Ahsoka's old mentor, Xudi Irris, also joined them and collaborated with the healers in seeking a solution.
After what felt like an eternity Xudi steps away from the berth that Ahsoka was laid upon, lightly patting Cera's shoulder to comfort her, before moving over to Jarik.
"Please tell me you have good news," he pleads with her.
"She is stable for now," the former Jedi Master quickly reassures him. "But to heal these injuries requires a spell that will take some time to craft, and it will only work in combination with your dyad. Once it is ready you must provide the energy that powers it."
Jarik nods his head, feeling a tremendous sense of relief.
"Whatever I need to do."
She nods back to him as well.
"Now come, we must convene with the others," Xudi says. "It would seem there is much to be discussed."
"Can I not stay here with her?" Jarik replies, his demeanor full of reluctance.
Xudi smiles and places her one hand on his arm.
"Relax, Jarik. Cera will look after her," she tells him. "She will be fine, as long as you are."
"Right," he sighs in begrudging acceptance.
While Cera and Jarik rushed Ahsoka off to the halls of healing, the other Fallanassi brought the Asgardians to the Temple as well after the Matron, Wialu, assured them that the 'intruders' were no threat. Although still wary of the sudden arrivals, the Matron's apparent familiarity with them convinced Xiffé and the other Fallanassi to grant them entry.
Wialu and a few of her closest aides convened with the Asgardians in a large room built for such occasions, rare as they were. Xudi and Jarik also joined the assembly as the Fallanassi began speaking with their visitors.
"It has been some time since last our paths crossed, Odin Allfather," Wialu addresses in a reverent manner. "On behalf of the Fallanassi, I welcome you."
She bows her head in respect to the King of Asgard, prompting Xudi and the other Fallanassi to do the same.
"I am honored, Matron Wialu," Odin inclines his head in return. "I know Frigga would have welcomed a visit here, but she has other engagements at this time. However, I'm afraid the circumstances of our visit are most dire."
"If you are concerned about the Infinity Stone, I can assure you the Sun and Moon are worthy keepers," Wialu states.
"I came to the same conclusion myself, though that is not why I am here," he replies, and she nods in understanding.
"What ill fate befell Lady Tano?" one of the aides, Sydali Kirling, inquires.
"The Butcher of Gods, I'm afraid," Odin reveals.
Wialu narrows her eyes, a look of unease filling her, whilst murmurs of surprise and worry pass amongst the Fallanassi. Xudi widens her eyes in alarm and glances at Jarik, who grimly nods in confirmation.
"We have heard of him," she says. "The Fallanassi have taken steps to ensure he cannot find our sanctums or place the cosmos in jeopardy."
"His sights are set on a much higher target," Odin informs her. "To that end he has stolen something which the Jedi carried: the Staff of Morai."
Gasps of dismay and astonishment filter among the Fallanassi and Wialu widens her eyes in horror.
"No...!" she whispers.
"Heretic!" Sydali scowls. "What need would he have of Lady Morai's staff?"
Loki steps forward to answer.
"In one of his last attacks Gorr left behind an echo from which I was able to deduce his intentions," he explains. "He seeks the extinction of all gods, and plans to accomplish this by finding Eternity."
The Fallanassi, as well as Sif and the Warriors Three, fall into an uneasy silence as realization sets in of the magnitude of what Gorr is planning.
"Eternity? What is that?" Jarik asks, the only one in the room unfamiliar with it.
"One of the great cosmic beings, equal in might to the Whills themselves," Xudi answers for him. "His essence is the foundation for which existence is built on."
Jarik raises an eyebrow in bewilderment as he contemplates what she said, finding himself more frustrated than anything else at his understanding of the universe being flipped on its head once more. An unpleasantly common feeling for him, it seems.
"Okay... so why would Eternity help Gorr?" he asks next.
"It is said that Eternity can grant one wish to those who find him, whatever it might be," Odin reveals.
"That's... I don't like that. Why? How is that possible?" Jarik shakes his head in complete dismay. "Surely with that kind of power someone would have destroyed the universe by now!"
"Because only one wish shall ever be granted by Eternity. And he has never been found by anyone in the history of the universe, not even the Celestials," the Allfather replies.
"Then Gorr is a fool. How could he possible expect to find Eternity?" Thor demands.
"With the Staff of Morai," Loki explains grimly. "It is the key to unlocking the gates of the cosmos. With it he can navigate a path through the Vergence Scatter to the realm of Eternity."
"He must not be allowed to succeed!" Wialu exclaims fiercely. "Such a wish will do more than kill gods! It will shatter existence as we know it!"
Jarik holds his forehead in his hands in a gesture of complete astonishment and growing fear about what he's hearing, feeling more and more lost over the true nature of just what he and Ahsoka had unwittingly gotten themselves involved in.
"I-I can't believe what I'm hearing! By the Force," he whispers to himself, shaking his head. "What do we do? What can we do?"
"We still have time have to find him," Xudi insists. "If the Staff is the key, then he'll need a great deal of energy to power it. Energy he would need to find."
"What form of energy would he need?" Loki inquires.
Wialu shares a knowing look with Xudi and Sydali.
"The purest kind," she states.
"The White Current," Sydali adds.
"You mean the Force?" Jarik asks, recalling their name for it.
"Yes. A Force nexus would be what he needs," Xudi answers in confirmation. "But there are hundreds of them scattered across the galaxy, and those are just the ones we know!"
"Well, no time to start than right now, I say!" Thor shrugs.
"We'd never find him in time that way," Loki retorts in dismissal.
"Well I don't see you magicians offering a better idea!" he snaps back at him.
A few of the Fallanassi frown at him.
"Understanding the laws of magic is no easy feat. Show some respect," Sydali says.
Thor blinks at her incredulously.
"Excuse me?" he demands, narrowing his eyes.
"Enough," Odin intervenes, giving Thor a stern look before returning his attention to the Fallanassi. "I do not know this galaxy as well as you do. Are there any nexus's you believe he would most likely use?"
There's silence as the sorceresses ponder the different locations they know of.
Jarik recalls some Force nexus's that he's familiar with recorded in the Jedi history books. Some places like Malachor are out of the question, given they are wounds in the Force.
But there is another...
"Ruusan," he suggests.
All eyes turn to him and he continues.
"There was a battle fought between the Sith and the Jedi about a thousand years ago on the planet Ruusan. The Sith used a ritual to create a weapon against the Jedi but it backfired, killing them too. The explosion created the most powerful Force nexus on known record."
"You're right, Jarik," Xudi nods in agreement. "The souls of thousands of Jedi and Sith were trapped there by the ritual, unable to become one with the Force. It's the perfect place for Gorr."
"Well what're we waiting for?" Thor says, eager to get going.
"Ruusan is a lost planet," Jarik interjects, glowering. "I'm not sure how to find it."
"Fortunately, Master Shan, the Fallanassi do know how to find it," Wialu declares.
Jarik blinks in surprise but nods his head in acceptance with a sigh. It's not nearly the most astonishing thing he's heard or seen today.
"We'll need a strategy to best Gorr," Loki says with a heavy frown.
"If everyone else keeps his dogs distracted, I can handle the butcher," Thor declares confidently.
"Are you sure that is wise, Thor?' Sif questions warily.
"He was beating four of us at the same time," Jarik scoffs, crossing his arms. "What makes you think can take him alone?"
"Because I'm the best one for the job! Aside from father of course," Thor dismissively replies, frowning at Jarik. "Clearly you Jedi aren't suited for this task."
Jarik glowers at Thor with disdain but Xudi speaks up before he could.
"My students are plenty capable, Odinson. Do not diminish their skills boasting of your own," she states firmly.
"It will take all of us to ensure Gorr is defeated," Odin nods in agreement.
Just then the door slides open and Cera enters the room, gaining the attention of the group.
"Pardon the interruption, Matron," she says, and Wialu nods in reply. "Jarik, we're ready for you."
Jarik uncrosses his arms and glances at Xudi before following Cera out of the room, and Xudi goes as well. They rush through the temple and quickly end up back in the halls of healing where the other sorceresses are standing around Ahsoka's berth. Jarik stands by her side and carefully places a hand on her forehead, pained by the sight of her in her current state.
"What do I need to do?" he asks.
"Your dyad gives you power over life. Our spell will lift the Stone's curse, but only you can channel the flow of energy that will heal her," Xudi informs him.
"Ok," he nods in understanding.
Xudi and Cera join the healers around the berth and Jarik stands at Ahsoka's side with his hand outstretched over her, waiting for the Fallanassi to begin. His mentor utters a few words in an unfamiliar tongue and makes a gesture with one hand, her ability to cast spells completely unhampered despite her missing limb. Cera and the other Fallanassi follow suit, muttering the same incantation and then holding their hands out in a diamond shaped gesture.
A glow of orange energy exudes from their hands and flows over Ahsoka, making her hiss in pain as the magic reacts to the burns inflicted by the Power Stone. The misty light covers the burns, making them sizzle as what looks to be purplish flakes of ash lift away from her skin, and Ahsoka cries out in pain; her hand somehow finds his metal one and clasps onto it tightly in a desperate attempt to find relief, and he keeps hold of it without a second thought.
Jarik waits impatiently, full of anxiety as he observes the Fallanassi's spell at work. He glances around at the healers to notice their brows are furrowed tensely in a clear exertion, the process taking a great deal of concentration and focus on their part. As he looks back down at Ahsoka, however, he notices that despite their effort it seems like the ashy flakes have stopping lifting away, as though resisting an invisible force, and even start falling back to coat Ahsoka's injuries.
"Jarik..." Xudi mutters clenched teeth.
The reminder spurs him into action immediately and he gathers the Force to himself, seeking the pool of energy that lies within his dyad. Finding it, he opens his link with Ahsoka and begins to pour as much power as he dares through it, calling on the Living Force to heal her wounds.
Gold and silver light glow beneath Jarik and Ahsoka's eyelids as he uses their dyad to heal her burns and power the spell removing the residual radiation left by the Power Stone. He begins to feel a shroud of exhaustion seep into his body, threatening to plunge him out of consciousness, but Jarik pushes through it by sheer willpower. After some time Ahsoka's injuries are reduced to scars and yet Jarik perseveres, not satisfied until she's fully healed.
Just when it feels like he can't give anything more, Ahsoka's eyes snap open and she lets out a terrible cry; her voice is join by another's, echoing in unison.
"FATHER!"
Valley of the Jedi, Ruusan - Mid Rim
As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, black mist began flowing across the desert landscape to shroud it in greater darkness. It creeps closer to a wide canyon stretching across the planet's surface, where multiple signs of an extinct civilization are visible.
Dozens of large statues depicting hooded figures stand at the edge or within the canyon, all of which look toward a necropolis built within a more open section of the canyon. The black mist encircles the feet of the statues and continues onward, flowing down towards the necropolis. As the sun's light moves away from the ruined structure, however, dim light continues to emanate from it as a constant stream of orange energy rises into the sky like a beacon.
The black mist surrounds the necropolis but soon is seemingly unable to continue any farther, and after a few moments Gorr emerges from the shadows and approaches the necropolis himself.
Quiet whispers and murmurings echo around the necropolis as the souls of ancient Force wielders look upon their first visitor in centuries. The power of the Force nexus is incomparable, yet this stranger carries a grew deal of dark powers himself. Wary of the stranger, the spirits keep their distance.
Gorr inspects his surroundings as he enters the necropolis, studying the ancient ruins which tell the tragic tale of a battle in ages past. The God Butcher can sense the souls of over a thousand beings around him, watching him, invisible to mortal eyes; yet All-Black grants him clarity of vision beyond what any mortal or god possesses. Not only can he see these despairing souls, but he can also feel the sheer power of the Force nexus. The amount of energy here is intoxicating and it carries the stench of death with it. The creation of a thought bomb, this nexus was truly a force to be reckoned with. It even tries to hold back some of his own power. It may try, but it will soon learn to obey him.
Reaching the center of the necropolis, Gorr takes the Staff of Morai in his hands and thrusts it into the ground. The spirits hiss in response to this action and Gorr growls right back at them.
~See the carnage wrought by these Force adepts.~
Gorr looks around himself once more, seeing with his eyes as well as his senses within the unseen world. He can taste the power of this Force nexus, but can also sense the story it shares. Gorr's face contorts into a snarl as he realizes what happened here.
~See the hypocrisy of those who claim to wield the Force.~
The whisperings of All-Black are spoken with truth. This planet was razed in the battle fought between Jedi and Sith, and it is not the only one. The more Gorr ponders the Valley of the Jedi, the more disgust he feels for those responsible.
The only thing worse than a god was a mortal pretending to be one.
"They have destroyed countless worlds," he sneers with pure loathing. "Just like the gods, they will suffer me!"
Raising All-Black into the air, Gorr stabs the blade into the ground with a roar and then holds his arms out. Stretching out his influence he begins harnessing the immense power of the Force nexus, drawing it into himself and absorbing its energy. All around him, the fallen souls cry out in dismay as they're suddenly bound by invisible chains and dragged towards the God Butcher. The claw at the air but are unable to escape the grasp of Gorr and become shackled to his lifeforce, increasing his powers tenfold.
A terrible cackle echoes in Gorr's mind.
He sees a man in black raising a sword eerily similar to All-Black. A wave of fire erupts from him, consuming everything in its path.
A terrible cackle echoes in Gorr's mind.
He pays it no mind. If it was a god, it would die all the same.
After draining the necropolis completely of Force energy Gorr directs his hands toward the Staff of Morai and begins channeling power into it. The top of the staff glows bright with energy and shoots a bright beam that starts forming the shape of a portal.
A terrible cackle echoes in Gorr's mind.
Imperial Palace, Imperial Center - Core Worlds
The Emperor sits hunched over in his throne room, feeling a great weight of foreboding over his head. His senses in the Force have been troubling him lately, more so than they have in many years. There has been a great disturbance in the Force; one of many.
A terrible cackle echoes in his mind. Something has awoken.
He does not like it. He does not like any of them.
A distant burst of tremendous power in the Force had swept past him moments ago, yet its origin was not so far that he could simply consider it at another time. It occurred within the borders of his Empire.
And it is not the only one he has felt in recent weeks.
A shadow has appeared at the very edge of his sight, one he is almost certain emanates from the Unknown Regions. The sheer distance means that it is incredibly powerful. But it is not those wretched Vong, nor is it the accursed Jarik Shan. It is an entity cloaked in the dark side of the Force.
If he did not know any better he would suspect it to be the presence of a Dark Lord of the Sith, but that is impossible.
For some odd reason he recalls the feeling he had after he killed his master so many years ago, something that shadowed his sense of triumph. But this cannot be Plagueis, he is quite certain of it. Whatever this... dark one... is... it cannot be allowed to persist.
Nothing that threatens him can be allowed to persist.
J't'p'tan, Farlax sector - Core Worlds
"Ahsoka!"
Jarik stands over Ahsoka, exhausted and completely spent, yet relieved. He tenderly holds her face in his hands. Ahsoka's breathing calms, and she slowly reaches her hands up to touch his. She blinks a few times to clear the blurriness from her eyes and then meets his gaze with a faint smile, feeling the same sense of joy and relief as he.
"Jarik..." she murmurs.
Xudi, Cera, and the Fallanassi healers move back a few steps and take some time to recuperate after the taxing ordeal. Magic is very useful, yet there are no small number of tasks that any lesser sorcerer might consider impossible.
Jarik looks over Ahsoka's body, inspecting her skin for any burns that might've escaped notice.
"Are you alright?" he asks her.
"I think so," she replies.
She grimaces in discomfort as she attempts to sit up in the berth, and Jarik carefully supports her.
"What happened?" she asks him.
An angry frown appears on Jarik's face.
"Someone did something completely moronic," he mutters irritably.
Ahsoka frowns in concern, wondering why he seems so upset, and tries to recall what happened that caused her injury. She remembers her frantic attempts to evade Gorr, somehow just barely managing to avoid being sliced to ribbons before making an attempt with her staff to attack, and then... something hit her.
Gorr had vanished, and then she saw a flash of blue hurtling towards her... Was it a... hamme—?
"You really need to stop scaring me, sister."
Ahsoka blinks as she's pulled out of her thoughts and looks over at the one who spoke, surprised to see none other than her sister, Cera.
"Cera?" she asks.
"The one and only," Cera smiles at her.
Ahsoka scoffs faintly in amusement and takes a second to inspect her surroundings, instantly noticing the Fallanassi healers standing around the room.
"Are we on J't'p'tan?"
"That would be correct," Xudi approaches her with a smile. "It's good to see you again."
"You as well," Ahsoka smiles back.
"What's wrong with Dad?" Cera then asks, her smile dropping.
Ahsoka blinks in alarm.
"What?"
"You screamed about father just now, when you woke up," Cera explains warily. "Has something happened to him?"
Ahsoka shakes her head in confusion.
"I'm not sure what..." she starts to say, before pausing. "...wait, I remember."
The faraway look in her eyes is accompanied by an uneasy frown.
"That wasn't me," Ahsoka says, turning to meet Jarik's gaze. "It was Morai."
Jarik narrows his eyes at her statement, and the Fallanassi share startled glances with one another at hearing the name of their deity.
"What do you mean?" Jarik asks tensely.
Instances where Ahsoka and Morai acted as though they were the same being were extremely rare—far rarer than Jarik's Force visions—yet whenever it happened, it was usually because something had the Force goddess seriously spooked. And that was never a good sign.
Ahsoka falls back into her mind and recalls what she saw amidst the pain and agony of her injury. There were flashes of a moment in time, so familiar to her, and yet she knew she herself wasn't present... because she had been dead at the time. Instead, she witnessed it through the perspective of another—one whose spirit dwelled inside of her.
"I saw Morai's death. And the Father's," she reveals, and Jarik widens his eyes.
Ahsoka shivers as she recalls the intense agony that Morai had felt in that moment.
"...It was All-Black," she murmurs.
"What was black?" Cera asks, confused.
"That was its name. All-Black, the Necrosword," she clarifies.
"The weapon used by Gorr?" Xudi says with a frown.
Ahsoka stares at Jarik intently, her unsettled look growing more pronounced. He frowns and tries to deduce what she's trying to tell him. He recalls the sword that Gorr wields and how Ahsoka had described it earlier as feeling, for just a fleeting moment, strangely familiar. Somehow this sword is what killed the Mortis gods—?
Wait... the only thing that could control the Son was a blade capable of killing him.
A blade with the power to kill gods.
"The Mortis dagger?!" Jarik gasps in realization.
Ahsoka nervously nods her head, confirming his thoughts.
"They are the same. It remained quiet in the Father's keeping, but when the Son killed Morai... something awoke inside it," she explains, appearing almost haunted by the information. "Somehow, Gorr must have found it after Mortis fell, and it... changed him."
She shakes her head in discomfort, but a grim sense of determination follows soon after.
"It has to be destroyed," she declares.
During their conversation, the group failed to notice the arrival of Wialu and the Asgardians outside the room. However, upon her declaration, Odin announces his presence.
"Then that is what we shall do," he states firmly. "I have seen this blade before. The darkness inside it obeys no one—not even Gorr. So we shall make certain its influence can spread no longer."
"Indeed," Wialu nods in agreement. "Are you well enough to take back your symbol of power, Lady Tano?"
Jarik frowns and looks at Ahsoka with concern.
"Matron, should we not allow her time to recover...?" Cera worriedly begins to ask.
"Gorr will not wait for a resting mortal," Thor interrupts in a dismissive tone. "Neither should we."
Jarik scowls at him, but Ahsoka speaks up before he can.
"He's right. We have to stop Gorr," she says.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Jarik asks warily.
"I'm fine, Jarik, thanks to you," she smiles at him.
"Then it is time the Fallanassi waged war against the God Butcher," Wialu announces, turning toward Odin. "Allfather, we will follow your lead."
Odin nods in acknowledgement, appearing very much like the mighty warrior king he's known to be.
"Ready the Einherjar, my sons," he instructs Thor and Loki. "We are headed to enemy territory."
Valley of the Jedi, Ruusan - Mid Rim
Gorr grins as the rush of power continues flowing around him in all directions, fueling the beam of energy shooting from the Staff of Morai. Eventually, a bright flash of starlight bursts outward from the vortex, and Gorr averts his eyes from the brightness.
Everything goes silent. When Gorr looks back, he sees a stable portal glowing with white and blue light. Through the portal, he sees a large chamber—more of a grand hallway—built out of dark stone and lined with statues that appear to be made of gold in the dim lighting. At the very end is a statue depicting a titanic cloaked figure, with one side of its face in gold and the other half in darkness.
"Eternity... at last," Gorr smiles with glee.
He trembles in anticipation at the thought of his lifelong objective nearly reaching its completion. The sword in his hand seems to do the same.
~Arise, King in Black! Annhiliate the gods!~
Hearing All-Black's whispers in his head, Gorr couldn't agree more.
Just then, another flash of blinding light appears, accompanied by what feels like the planet shaking. Gorr spins around in surprise to see the Bifrost dropping out of the sky, from which a wave of Einherjar appears. Leading them are Odin and his sons, accompanied by Jarik and Ahsoka. At the same time, several fiery portals open on either side of the Bifrost, from which dozens of sorceresses emerge.
Gorr looks between them all with a scowl and grips his sword tightly when he catches sight of Ahsoka. He frowns at her, surprised to see her healed.
"The gates!" the Fallanassi Matron cries out in alarm.
Gorr growls low in his throat and glances back at the portal behind him for a moment, then turns back to his opponents with a grin of amusement. He reaches out and takes the Staff of Morai back into his hand.
"Your gods will burn in the Void," he declares with a sneer. "And you will watch!"
Thor gives a defiant roar and blasts through the air with Mjolnir, while Odin shoots a beam of energy from his spear. Instead of fighting, Gorr swiftly turns around and dashes through the portal in a shadowy blur, which closes as soon as he crosses it. Both Thor and Odin's beams are mere inches from touching the portal before it vanishes entirely. Thor crashes through several stone pillars instead.
"NO!" Odin exclaims in a panic.
"We were too late..." Wialu whispers in dismay.
Having attempted a charge of their own with Force speed, Jarik and Ahsoka skid to a halt, wide-eyed. They share a bewildered look with each other, unsure of how to comprehend what just happened.
It's all over? Just like that?
Thor screams in rage and jumps back to where the portal had vanished, glaring as though his fury could simply will another one to pop into existence.
"Quick, open another portal!" he orders.
"We can't," Xudi says.
"Don't be daft, we must follow him!" he yells. "Use your magic!"
"He's bypassed the Vergence Scatter, Thor!" Loki snaps in reply, shaking his head. "There is no way for us to follow him now."
Thor glowers at Loki with disdain and turns toward his father, only to see the same look of defeat in his eyes, which gives him pause. Seeing Odin not speak up with any other suggestions, Thor shakes his head in disbelief.
"So that's it? That—that's all you have to—" he struggles to say.
He grits his teeth, shaking his head, and shatters another stone column with a swing of his hammer in rage.
Ahsoka and Jarik continue to stare at each other, having never felt more out of their depth than now. Ahsoka approaches where Gorr had stuck Morai's staff in the ground before taking it with him, staring at the spot as though it were still there.
"There has to be another way," she says, though it comes more as a plea than anything.
"There is no other way," Xudi shakes her head in defeat. "Not without the key."
Jarik lifts his head as a thought enters his mind.
"Key..." he murmurs thoughtfully, looking toward the sorcerers. "You said the Staff was the key to navigating the World Between Worlds, right?"
"Yes. And we don't have it, in case you forgot," Loki scowls.
Jarik ignores his scathing tone as his mind races with an idea.
"If Morai's the one who made it in the first place, then shouldn't that mean she's able to navigate through it as well?" he suggests.
Everyone else frowns in confusion.
"What are you saying?" Cera asks.
Jarik turns toward Ahsoka with a knowing look, and she furrows her brow in uncertainty.
"You think that I can open a portal too?" she asks for confirmation.
"You have her power," he reminds her.
"The Valdilar were indeed capable of navigating through the realm," Odin admits before shaking his head. "But we do not have enough energy to do so, which is why the Staff was needed."
Xudi slowly paces through the necropolis with an uneasy gaze.
"I can't sense anything here. The Force nexus... it's completely drained," she murmurs in shock.
"Perhaps if we all channeled the energy needed..." Wialu theorizes.
Loki hums as he ponders the suggestion.
"That could work."
Still, Odin shakes his head in disagreement.
"It is not enough, I'm afraid. You may carry Morai's spirit, young Force wielder, but your body could not handle the strain of opening a pathway," he tells Ahsoka, his voice sounding grim. "Even now, I can sense you are on the verge of sleep."
Jarik looks at her with a worried gaze, and Ahsoka sighs in frustration.
"Then what are we to do?!" she demands.
Odin doesn't answer right away, gazing at the ground with a stern expression as he contemplates how to proceed. After a short time, he seems to come to a decision, though by the heavy breath he took, it wasn't an easy one.
"I will act as a conduit," he says. "I can muster the Odinforce to power a portal, but you must direct where it leads."
Loki turns to look at him in surprise and unease.
"But, father, your own sleep is already overdue!" he protests.
At that, Thor also expresses concern, though his angry demeanor softens slightly.
"I will do what I must to ensure the safety of the realms," Odin resolutely declares, leaving no room for argument. "Jedi, step forward."
Ahsoka takes a deep breath and nods in acknowledgment, stepping forward and standing beside the Allfather. While Odin jabs his spear into the ground to stand upright, leaving his hands free, Wialu moves up to Ahsoka.
"Call upon her light to empower you, Lady Tano," she instructs her. "She will guide you."
Ahsoka nods in reply and then waits for Odin to begin. The Allfather shuts his eye and lifts his hands up in front of him, and his body begins to radiate a golden glow.
Ahsoka does the same and mirrors his posture, sensing the king's raw power beside her. His presence seems to pull at her mind, instructing her without words on what to do, and she opens herself to him. She almost pulls back in shock at the well of energy surging within the Allfather but maintains her focus. He's waiting for her before he proceeds.
Through her dyad, she also senses Jarik's mind join with hers as he sends encouragement and shares his own power, which she gratefully accepts.
Ahsoka looks deep inside herself, seeking the pool of light that stems from Morai's spirit. The goddess of light, aware of the danger facing them, reaches right back to her. A flash of images races through Ahsoka's mind—too fast and too strange for her to interpret—but she seizes those images and shares them with Odin.
Bright energy covers Odin's hands, and he stretches his arms forward to cast out a wave of immense power. A blinding flash of light forces everyone to avert their gaze for a moment.
A wave of exhaustion causes Ahsoka to stagger backward unsteadily, and Jarik rushes to catch her before she trips and falls.
"Easy, Ahsoka! Easy," he holds her steady.
Everyone else stares in awe at the bright golden portal circling in front of them, through which they can see a cosmic path stretching beyond the stars.
"The gateway..." Xudi murmurs in amazement.
Having drained himself of energy, Odin lets out a faint groan and tumbles backward.
"Father!" Loki exclaims.
He rushes to catch Odin before he hits the ground, and Thor moves over as well, with a look of concern on his face. The other Asgardians hold their breath in concern for their king. Loki carefully lays him on the ground to see that Odin is fully unconscious.
"Is he alright?" Jarik asks.
"He's entered the Odinsleep," Loki replies, sharing an uneasy look with Thor. "He used all his remaining energy to create this portal."
Jarik frowns in both worry and dismay. Worry for the health and well-being of the king, and dismay over being deprived of likely their most powerful ally in the fight against Gorr.
"Our people can return him to Asgard," Wialu informs the princes. "He will be in good hands."
"See that he is," Loki tells her in a stern voice, as though giving an order.
"May our ancestors bid him a swift recovery," Thor states grimly. "Now, onward, friends! Let us not squander this opportunity which father has given us!"
A small group of Einherjar and Fallanassi sorceresses move to care for the Allfather while everyone else turns to Thor at his proclamation.
Sharing an anxious look with each other, Jarik and Ahsoka spare Odin one final glance before moving to join the others through the portal and confront the God Butcher once and for all.
Author's Note: We're nearing the end of the Gods and Monsters arc, next chapter gets real crazy! After that I promise we'll get back to some more exclusively Star Wars storytelling, which I imagine many of you are eager for.
