Sorry for the delay. I had writer's block, wrote a few rewrites, and polished the chapter. So, now that this chapter's done, let's continue with the story. :)
Adrenaline pumped through Janus' veins. Fresh tears coursed through her eyes, ready to fall. She wiped her tears away, fearful that anything she did now, at this point, would prove devastating.
Janus, at last, reached the green grassy field, next to the training grounds. She looked back at the Cave, watching as the Cave's entrance closed with grey rocky boulders. Tears filled her eyes, as she fell to the ground, not knowing what to do. She wanted more than anything to believe that Maximus was still alive!
Unfortunately, some dreams could not come true. Maximus was dead, trapped inside the Cave, never to return. Where his soul went next was beyond her. Janus closed her eyes, praying and hoping Maximus would turn out okay in the next life. That is, if he had a next life. Oh, who knew? Janus was just lucky to be alive.
Janus gasped a little in Helen's grasp. Helen's long scaly purple arms filled her up, forcing Janus to move into a standing position, even though the female dalmatian did not want to do such a thing. Janus looked up at Helen, contemplating her next move.
"Come on. The Council awaits!" Helen stated, pulling Janus towards her in a great big hug. "I know, he's gone. But there isn't anything else we can do. Maximus lived his life. We might as well celebrate it."
"Yeah, Helen's right," Jock stated, joining Helen and Janus all at once, wrapping his furry spotted arms around them for good measure. "Maximus lived a thrilling life, granted he was punished into becoming Cerberus, but he became a close friend. We deserve to live, for his sake. Shouldn't we?"
Janus wiped the tears from her eyes. She couldn't believe it: Maximus was dead. It was unthinkable.
"Anyway," Helen said, interrupting them, "we should go tell the Council what happened. I'm sure they'll understand."
"Yeah," Janus said, fresh tears slowly passing from her eyes. "Let's do that." She wandered off, away from the training grounds, heading straight for the Jedi Temple.
.
Janus found herself at the Jedi Council Chambers. There they were, her fellow Jedi Masters, awaiting her word on the events that happened inside the Cave. It was enough that Janus was here to witness these events and still come out alive. And yet, she felt awful about leaving one of her companions behind.
It was a tragedy.
Janus approached Master Yuvon, passing to him the Hawk's feather. Master Yuvon looked at the feather, before falling into distress.
"Master Yuvon!" Ela Gren, the Twi'lek Jedi Master, approached Master Yuvon, helping him stand, "Are you alright?"
"Hmhm. Yes, I'm fine," Master Yuvon stated, righting himself.
"We have to warn the other Jedi about this," Master Tavus said, walking towards the holoterminal to send a message on Master Yuvon's condition.
"Hm. I said I'm fine," Master Yuvon said, as Master Tavus looked at him in interest. However, as Master Tavus shut down the holoterminal, Master Yuvon looked at the Hawk's feather once more, "This did not come from the Jedi, but from the Angels and Archangels in the Heavens." Master Yuvon turned to Janus, stating to her, "Where pray tell did you find such a prize?"
Janus hesitated. She knew she had to say something, but where should she start? At last, her words came to her, "Well, my Master, Helen the Shapeshifter, Jock, and myself went to look for whatever it is you wanted me to investigate inside the Cave. We found this, and we met the new Cerberus, after collecting the panpipes Pan gifted to me. But," Janus was met with sorrow, her head sagging as she recalled Maximus, "Maximus died inside that Cave. He didn't come back. I'm sorry."
Master Yuvon shook his head. He placed a green hand against her furry shoulders, telling her, "No, no! Do not fear, young one. Maximus was a dear friend to you. I am sorry for your loss." He spoke up, in a more chipper voice, "But what is important is remembering that he died for a noble deed! He will be remembered as a hero."
Janus smiled silently, appreciating this. "Thank you, Master Yuvon."
"He will indeed. This I promise," Ela Gren, Twi'lek Jedi Master, stated, getting Janus and Master Yuvon's attention, "But right now, we have important matters to discuss. This Hawk's feather is something else, but it is also the clue that the Jedi were hoping you would find and figure out. It is a clue to the past, and to the Heavens, and what went on there. It must be discovered, to unlock its secrets."
"Yes, this does seem promising," Master Yuvon said, getting everyone's attention. As he passed the feather back to Janus, who stuffed the feather back inside her robes, Master Yuvon turned to the Jedi Council, informing them, "This matter behind the feather is important. There is a War about to start in the Heavens, a War which will soon take over this world. I fear this War has already started, what with the Fallen Angels ascending down into the Lower Dimensions. Something must be done, something to unpiece the mystery behind the Rebellion in the Heavens. It is also the Lord's duty for us to uncover these pieces."
Janus looked up, stunned to hear these words, "The Lord is in on this?" She looked away with disdain and hatred, and yet she found her solace, the moment God warmed her heart. She sighed, knowing then she was in safe hands.
"Do not fear me. I am with you, always," God stated, knowing this was right. "Follow what the Jedi Council tells you. Do not look back. Do not fear. Maximus found his place in the Heavens with me, and yet, he has other lives to attend to."
Janus looked up towards the Heavens, nodding to Him. "Thank you, Lord. Thank you." She had no idea God was everywhere, or the fact that He was standing right behind her.
God placed his hands against Janus' shoulder. The feeling of calmness overwhelmed her. It was wonderful.
God pulled out the Hawk's feather from Janus' robes, saying to the group, "Find the other feathers. There are six more, and each rest in the foothills of every region you could go to. Find the feathers, uncover the secrets behind the Rebellion in the Heavens. And…" God looked at Jock in interest, smiling at him, "take Jock and Helen with you. As I understand, Helen is your Jedi Master. But for Jock, I fear there is more to his tale than he knows. Take care of each other, all three of you. You may find more companions along the way." God patted Janus on her right shoulder, before departing from the Council Chambers. By the time Janus looked up, God was gone. Or so she thought.
"Check your hands—or should I say, your paws," Master Yuvon stated, getting Janus' attention.
"What?" Janus looked down at her furry paws. The Hawk's feather was there, placed on the palms of her furry, spotted paws. Janus looked at the Hawk's feather for a moment, gaining a flash of an image of a lush, green jungle. Then her vision restored. She was back at the Jedi Temple, inside the Jedi Council Chambers. She hadn't left the Council Chambers physically, but mentally, she had moved.
Just what was going on?
"Well," Helen joined Janus, "if you'll allow me to accompany you, then we can begin this journey.
"Hey!" Jock ran up to Janus from behind, wrapped a furry, spotted arm around her shoulders, as he gently patted Helen's right arm. "We're best buddies!" Jock sighed, stroking Janus' chin and cheek a little bit with his free paw, before patting Janus across her shoulder. Jock told her, calmly but warmly, "You'll do fine. Trust me. We'll make it through this."
Master Yuvon nodded, getting the trio's attention, "Hmm. Then it's settled. Janus, you, Jock, and Helen must now take on this quest. Go find the other feathers, but I trust you'll need to each one to uncover your next location. Good luck, all of you. May the Force be with you.*"
Janus, Jock, and Helen bowed, before Janus followed her two companions out of the Jedi Council Chambers and back to the Jedi Temple's foyer, where new mysteries awaited them.
.
Janus was not looking forward to resolving this, but it had to be done. Janus joined Jock and Helen over by one of the benches. They sat down and pondered their next move.
Helen huffed. Jock looked at Helen in amusement and awe. Helen was so angry. "Gah! How do we know the Lord is leading us in the right direction? It could be a trap!"
Janus shushed her. "The Lord knows what he is doing. We must trust Him. He could lead us somewhere. It's only a matter of figuring out what that is."
Jock shrugged, placing an arm around her. "Well, either way, you wouldn't expect much from Him. He is God, the God of Creation. He created us and I would rather uphold that honor. Oh, I'm sorry!" Jock retracted his arm from Janus' shoulder, seeing the glare on her face. Still, Janus smirked, allowing him to keep wrapping his arm around her. He did, smirking at her with all pleasantness in his eyes.
Helen sighed, gruffly as she sat down next to them, "Well, while you two lovebirds figure it out, I'm going to wait for you to find out what that Hawk's feather wants." She sneered in angst, "I can assure you; it will not be good."
Janus cackled with excitement. "Why? You afraid something could happen to us?"
Helen gave a sarcastic laugh, annoyed at her. And yet, she couldn't stay mad at her for very long. Helen giggled, cheery-eyed at her two new friends, her Padawan learner and their Sith friend.
Yes, things were blissful. But what else could go wrong?
Janus kept looking at the Hawk's feather in interest, for she thought she had the vision. In a puff of smoke, her vision showed her darkness, along with zipping golden-brown lights. Then there was nothing. Janus pulled herself out of the trance state, realizing that she couldn't force the images to come.
Janus huffed, defeated.
"What is it?" Helen asked, cautious now.
Janus shook her head, saying to her, "I can't do it by force."
"What can't you do?" Helen asked, keen on finding out what was bothering her.
"Janus!" Jock cried in Janus' ear, alerting her fast as she stuffed the Hawk's feather back in her robes. Janus looked up, telling them with compassion:
"If I knew how to unlock these visions, I would do so. But visions aren't something to be forced," Janus said. She sighed, lowering her head. "It's hopeless."
Helen sighed, staring at her, quizzically, "Maybe you need a calmer environment, one where you're not distracted. Maybe then, these visions can flow free. Forcing a vision doesn't work. I know that now, or I think I do."
Janus sighed. She looked at Helen now, knowing who was wiser. "So, what do you suggest we do?"
Helen shrugged, silent, "We find a ship, the one the Jedi lend to us, we could climb aboard, and then you can think. We'll know our destination by then."
Jock shook his head. "Unless we're missing something, then I don't see what else we could do." He stood up, speaking with Helen, while Janus had some time to think.
Janus recalled the brief flashing image that occurred within the Jedi Council Chambers. "A jungle. But where is this jungle?" She pulled out the Hawk's feather again, revealing to her a jungle after all. She recalled seeing this jungle from one of the maps the Jedi had, containing the world view of the First World.
She recognized this jungle. It was… no. It couldn't be, "Shapeshifter's Haven? Is that where we need to go?" She was shown more images of the jungle and a village. People and creatures shapeshifting at will. And a companion, a newcomer, unfamiliar to Janus, Helen, and Jock, wearing nothing more than a red jacket, a brown waistcoat, a white buttoned up shirt, grey pants, and brown boots. He had a rugged face, and he was very intriguing. Oh, and this figure blasted his enemies with a blaster, firing red laser beams at them!
Who was this man? And why did Janus like him? Something was wrong here.
Janus came to out of the vision, much to Helen and Jock's chagrin.
Helen smirked and Jock sighed. They were relieved Janus had seen something.
"Know our destination? Where do we go to next?" Helen asked, curiosity in her eyes.
Janus sighed, telling her and Jock, "Shapeshifter's Haven. There's a man there with a red jacket. He looked like he was blasting his enemies. I don't know who he is or what his name is, but he's there. He may help us find out more about the Rebellion in the Heavens."
Jock smirked. He liked this plan, "Great. Then let's go do that."
"Shapeshifter's Haven? Oh dear!" Helen cringed. She clasped her face, shaking her head in anxiety. Janus looked at Helen, frightened for her while Jock laughed. Helen snarled at Jock, pointing her index finger at him, "I told you not to laugh! It isn't funny."
"I'm sorry. Truly, I am," Jock stated, pleased.
Helen sneered, calming down, "Yeah, I know the place. Smugglers run through there, and transports too. There's supposed to be a cargo village, storing all the supplies and clothes, food and drinks you can imagine. There's also a cantina. It may be a fresh start for us, but we need answers. I think I know where to find that village."
Janus stared at Helen, wide-eyed, "You do?"
Jock fell into shock, too, but recovered, "Right then," He grinned at Helen, "Let's go find a ship."
"Speaking of ship, your ship awaits," Master Yuvon said, joining Helen, Janus, and Jock. "The Council have prepared ships made for the Jedi. Yours can be found in the spaceport, located beyond the waterfalls, near the temple. Good luck." He wandered off before another word was spoken. Janus looked at Master Yuvon like he'd gone mad. And yet, she understood his reasons.
"Right," Helen said, interrupting Janus' thoughts, "Well, come on. It's time for us to depart."
"Right. I should have known we'd be travelling outside," Jock stated, making his way towards the temple's entrance.
Helen looked at Janus, telling her, "Are you coming?"
Janus hardly paid attention to her and to Jock. She looked at Master Yuvon heading up the ramp, back to the second level. Janus sighed. She was grateful for Master Yuvon's teachings. She waved to Master Yuvon, before departing with Helen and Jock outside the temple and back to the training grounds.
.
The moment Janus was out in the training grounds, she knew that a part of her life was now over. She was a Padawan learner, part of the Jedi Order. Her Angelic self was right all along. And now, Janus was about to undertake a mission she could hardly understand.
Was this truly the beginning of her journey? Were all these missions what she needed to do from now on? And now, she had a Dragonoid Jedi Master and their Sith dalmatian friend to aide them.
Before departing towards the waterfalls, she remembered the Caves and Maximus. She would miss him, but she knew he would be remembered as a hero. His mission in life would not go in vain.
"Well, come on! Don't you want to see our new ship?" Helen said, enthusiastic.
Janus smiled, joining her and Jock.
Footnotes:
*The quote, "May the Force be with you," comes from George Lucas, 20th Century Fox, and Disney's, "Star Wars".
.x.
Lots of excitement happening in this chapter! :)
The next chapter will focus on the Jedi starship. So, what do you think is going to happen next? What will the Jedi starship be? I'm very excited for the next chapter because it's inspired by the "Star Wars" video games. And typically, with every "Star Wars" game, players get their very own ship to travel anywhere they want to in the video games. :) So, very exciting upoming chapter. :)
Thanks everyone for reading this story so far. :) More chapters to come! :)
~Aria Breuer