Chapter: 82 Legend of a Thousand Moons (Part I)
"The past is only as prevalent as we make it."
Shaken faith! Public opinion in the Jedi Order continues to falter as the Clone Wars carry on. Citizens of the Republic struggle with putting their trust in peacekeepers turned soldiers. Amidst these uncertain times, the Revenant has risen to rally disciples to its cause. While the cultists claim to follow righteous principles, their true intentions remain unknown...
Not even the shadiest patch of desert was safe from Tatooine's twin suns. Each bright and blazing orb scorched the landscape as a bulky transport glided over the horizon. Dusty panels rattled while its repulsorlifts kicked up sand. Womp rats squealed and lumbering bantha herds tried to disperse as the craft hovered by. The multi-pronged emblem of the Hutt Clan gleamed across its sandy hull. The occasional clang of boots sounded from atop the transport's balcony as armed Niktos marched about. Bulky cowls guarded their leathery faces from incoming granules while an armored warrior stood watch.
The Niktos knew better than to mess with any of Jabba the Hutt's bounty hunters. And when it came to bodyguards, the mighty Jabba only picked fighters of the same caliber. A lightsaber clacked against this woman's armored thigh as her helmet scanned the desert ahead. Bulbous, cyan irises hummed from the high-powered tech in her visor. When it came to Rodians, Jabba's goons were used to shady punks who often dragged themselves into trouble. But the legendary 'Bug' was something else entirely. People had hardly seen her face as pulse-pounding rumors did all the talking for her.
Jee didn't even need the stories to be true as long as they kept people off of her back. Some believed that she'd killed a Jedi to obtain her lightsaber. Others claimed she'd stolen it from the Jedi Temple in a heist with Aurra Sing. The most valid point circulating around Jabba's Palace...was that no one wanted to get on the Bug's bad side.
For Jee, serving as Jabba's bodyguard had been her easiest job yet. All she had to do was look imposing and the rest would speak for itself. Merely standing next to Jabba and crossing her arms was enough to make the most stubborn client bend to his business proposals. Credits were flowing and Jee didn't have to worry about any senseless killing. She felt off the hook and liberated in the Outer Rim. Even escort missions across the Jundland Wastes were oddly calming and let Jee escape from the galaxy's chaos. Thanks to her, Tusken Raiders had learned to stay away from Hutt trade routes. But it was easy for anyone to get comfortable amidst such monotony. On a planet like Tatooine, one had to learn to check their corners and crevasses for attackers. Due to this frequented method, practitioners on Tatooine often forget to look up.
The last thing Jee ever expected that morning was to be part of an aerial raid. An attack shuttle's daunting silhouette briefly blocked the suns before descending alongside multiple starfighters. Their roaring engines echoed beyond the clouds as Jee's head snapped upward. "Incoming!" she shouted as the shuttle opened fire.
A spray of explosive lasers bombarded the surrounding dunes. Sand spewed in glazed heaps as the transport was thrown off course. Raucous sirens wailed as Jee observed their attackers. "Battle stations!" she shouted and directed the Niktos to move. Jabba's hired guns raced to their positions and hurriedly manned blaster turrets. One of them managed to get two blasts off before the attack shuttle launched a rocket. The explosive projectile was strong enough to obliterate the Nikto and dishevel the transport's flight pattern. "Damn it," Jee cursed and ran to the craft's opposite edge. She waited for the shuttle to hover in from the opposite side and then sparked up her lightsaber. With a mighty lunge, Jee flung herself onto the invading ship. She jabbed her blade into its hull as the pilot swayed to shake her off.
Realizing her ineffective efforts were distracting her from Jabba's transport, Jee leapt back. She flourished her saber among the surviving Niktos and deflected what lasers she could.
"Pitura!" one of her underlings hollered in Huttese. "Nigona pintu greesa!" He jabbed a finger at the transport's sparking control center and prompted Jee to fall back.
She rushed in to find the pilot struggling to maintain altitude. Their invaders had precisely targeted the repulsorlifts and upper hull, forcing the transport to drop. They don't want to destroy us, Jee deduced. These pirates want our goods.
Jee underestimated how little time she actually possessed. As the pilot lost control of the ship, those on the main deck were already being boarded. "Are you kidding me?" The Rodian scoffed and charged into battle. She slid over, batting away lasers even as Niktos collapsed beside her. The transport crashed before she could catch a glimpse of the heavily-armed invaders. The impact caused Jee to lose her footing and sent her tumbling across the main deck.
Immense dust clouds shrouded the craft as Jee leapt to her feet. The eerie stillness following the clamorous crash had her swaying her lightsaber. "Huloso?" she called for one of the Niktos. "Trovig!" Her calls went unanswered as her enemy's silhouettes formed in the dust. She Force-pushed the first gunman that stepped into view, enraging the others.
"Jedi sinner!" another cultist growled and lunged forward.
Infuriated by her predicament, Jee fought like a cornered animal. With a wild swipe of her lightsaber, she severed the man's rifle and kneed him in the chest. "I'm no Jedi," she hissed through her helmet.
As she continued to fight on, one cultist in particular kept a close eye on Jee. Rather than look upon her with hateful eyes, this masked individual tilted her head with intrigue. Some of her fellow cultists were about to open fire when their masked superior held up a hand. "Enough," she said and the others bowed their heads. Jee turned to face the mysterious woman. A shining, pale shell of a mask lay firmly pressed against her face. Despite the woman's attempt at anonymity, Jee knew another Rodian when she saw one. The mask had been molded to accommodate her snout while her green antennae were styled back behind it.
Jee paused as she realized she was surrounded. She kept her eyes on the masked Rodian who asked, "If you are in fact not a Jedi...then what are you?" The stranger's voice was oddly calm after scolding her boarding party. The way she was able to switch to such a soothing demeanor was oddly unsettling.
"I'm me," Jee defined while keeping her saber activated. "And that's enough as is."
"A criminal?" the stranger inquired.
"What is this?" Jee scoffed. "Wait a minute," she realized. "You're those Revenant creeps that the HoloNet won't shut up about."
"It's hard to keep the truth concealed," the stranger said. "Especially when you refuse to acknowledge what rests in front of you."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jee asked.
"You think yourself better than the Jedi. That you can wield their weapon because you are free of their sinful doctrine. But you are still nothing more than a pawn."
Understanding that she was vastly outnumbered, Jee chose her words wisely. Still, she couldn't resist standing up for herself to some capacity. "I'm done being anyone's pawn," she affirmed. "You don't know a thing about me."
"And it appears that you don't either," the stranger sighed. "Don't worry...I once felt as lost as you do." She gestured to the other cultists. "We all did until we opened our eyes to the truth." She thrived amidst Jee's silence and took a step closer. "Tell me, non-Jedi...do you even know what it is that you're transporting?"
"I'm not paid to ask questions like that," Jee grumbled. "I just deal with the thugs who get in my clients way."
"Thugs," the masked woman reiterated the word and shook her head in disgust. "I can assure you that none of us match such a vile description. And neither do those below these decks." Jee raised a brow beneath her helmet as the stranger waved a hand. At her command two cultists blasted open a locked, durasteel hatch. Something...or rather someone shuffled within the hold. "Come," the woman insisted and beckoned Jee over. "Come and see for yourself."
Jee obliged and stepped towards the open compartment. At best, she had told herself Jabba was smuggling the latest shipment of spice to a buyer. At worst, she considered some hapless animal that was being sold into fur trade. Perhaps it was the blissful ignorance of job security that kept Jee from imagining an entire hold filled with slaves. Young, old, male and female...it didn't matter for Jabba the Hutt. Some of those shackled below decks looked as though they hadn't eaten nor seen sunlight in days. The sight shook Jee to her core. It was enough to have her deactivating her weapon and taking off her helmet. She shook her head in denial and peered down at the horrific sight.
"N-...no," Jee uttered. "How could he...how could I-"
"You saw what you wished to see," the masked woman explained. "You sought salvation in the temporary instead of the eternal. Never believing in the greater cause, and so you fell to shadow. Much like the Jedi and the Republic, the Hutt Clans also exploit anyone that they can."
Jee watched as Revenant cultists leapt down and freed the captive slaves. They offered them food packets and water from spare bottles before guiding them into their ships. "So what?" Jee muttered. "You're like...crusaders?"
"We are but the Pale One's humble disciples," the masked Rodian said. "The followers of truth."
"The Pale One?" Jee inquired as the stranger nodded. Even the mention of his name had some of the cultists bowing and whispering prayers.
"He who has come to deliver us all from suffering," she explained. "To save us and rebuild the galaxy as it was meant to be. You can be part of his crusade, for I see the yearning in your heart."
The cultist extended a gloved hand to Jee as she looked her over. She glanced at the liberated slaves and considered the horrid client she was working for. While Jee's path in life had never been easy, she contemplated what joining the Revenant would mean for her. "I've been betrayed, used, and left behind by everyone in my life," Jee said. "Why should I think your Revenant would be any different?"
The masked woman sighed sympathetically. "It's alright to be afraid," she assured. "Especially when this cruel, cruel galaxy has dealt so many bad hands. But the Pale One loves us all unconditionally. I can tell that you're special...and I promise that he will never betray you if you'll only give him a chance." With a deep breath, Jee took the cultist's hand. "Rejoice, my brothers and sisters. For on this day, a new child joins the Revenant."
"REJOICE," the others chanted and guided Jee into their shuttle. The liberated slaves were also led aboard in the name of 'salvation.'
"Lady Phina," a cultist said and bowed before the masked woman. "What of the prisoners?"
Phina glanced over her robed shoulder and observed their captives. Three Niktos were on their knees with their arms raised in surrender. "Atone them," she spoke sternly without even a second thought. Phina stepped towards the shuttle's ramp while listening to the panicking Niktos. "Praise be to the Pale One," she said as a trio of blastershots rang out behind her.
Despite being welcomed into the Revenant, Jee's flight was treated with the utmost secrecy. Her helmet was to stay off as a thick bag took its place. She sat in darkness for more time than she could keep track of. Hours passed as she undoubtedly endured the rumble of hyperspace. They could've flown her anywhere in the galaxy. They could've even made multiple jumps to throw her off entirely. Even as the shuttle landed, Jee was completely thrown off as to where she was.
Heavy clangs sounded beneath her feet as she was marched off of a ramp. Regardless of the Revenant's heroic mantra, Jee felt more like their prisoner as they escorted her onward. The shuttle's frigid environment was quickly replaced by that of a humid exterior. A bright sun beat down on the edge of her thick bag as she tried to figure out her location. Any efforts to deduce something beyond the warm climate proved futile, as the cultists had already ushered her indoors. Elevations constantly changed. Stairs and elevators discombobulated Jee while the heavy whir of machinery boomed overhead. After so much tumultuous clamor, Jee was taken into a silent chamber. She heard the doors seal behind her and suddenly felt a familiar hand takes hers.
"I never told you my name," the masked woman said while removing Jee's bag. "You may call me Phina."
"I'm Jee," she answered as her bulbous eyes adjusted to her surroundings. "Is the Revenant always so secretive?"
"Please understand that these precautions must be taken in order to ensure the safety of our brothers and sisters," Phina said. "For there are relentless forces at work who seek to destroy us. But fear not, new sister. For we shall prevail. All is made possible through the Pale One." Jee raised a brow as Phina guided her onward. They stepped deeper into the darkened and windowless chamber, only halting as a breathy voice emerged. Its resonance was enough to have Phina dropping to her knees and whispering in prayer.
"I've heard a great deal about you...Jee, is it?" the voice whispered from the shadows.
She recognized his voice from the HoloNews hack and multiple broadcasted speeches. Given Phina's zealous response to the voice, it was safe for Jee to assume that she was in the Pale One's presence. "Is that so?" she inquired and stepped into the shadows.
A dark figure shifted while a frigid chill filled the chamber. The Pale One sighed deeply and looked over his newest recruit. "I can see how much of your life has been spent running. That anxiousness lingers in your eyes. You carry that pressure on your shoulders. I can feel your need to belong."
"All that just from looking at me?" Jee mumbled. "Wow. I'm impressed."
The Pale One paused and offered a breathy chuckle. "You aren't the first doubter to cross my path, child. Nor shall you be the last. But in time, you too shall see things with newfound clarity. You shall reach true enlightenment and rise above."
A datascreen flickered on and caught Jee's attention. Her eyes widened as she observed Anna Dellian aggressively restraining a Mirialan mother. "Red?" she involuntarily uttered.
"Day after day-" the Pale One began. "-the Republic and its deceitful Jedi Order wreak havoc on the downtrodden. "They even turn on each other." The screen's image transitioned to a new headline. One of which had Jee craning her neck in bewilderment.
UMBARAN CAPITAL TAKEN. CLONE TROOPER IN CUSTODY AFTER EXECUTING JEDI GENERAL
"It's enough to make anyone lose faith in this galaxy," the Pale One lamented. "To give up on those who were sworn to always watch over us. But they are nothing more than figureheads. False gods crafted to seize power."
"And what are you?" Jee asked.
The Pale One offered a mild chuckle. "I...we are the only chance this galaxy has left for redemption. I used to think my purpose was to make this chaotic system of lies and deception see reason. But now I understand that the only way to attain salvation is through unhindered reckoning." The Pale One's shadowy figure loomed towards Jee. "Enough hiding who you are. Put aside your shame and embrace the power that has been given to you. Here, you can help us bestow salvation. Never again shall you feel betrayed or unworthy." Jee shuddered as the Pale One entered the dim light before her. "Join me, and we can rebuild this galaxy."
Jee's snout trembled in astonishment as she took in the Pale One's full appearance. "Y-...you're one of them," she whispered.
"Not anymore," the Pale One assured. "For in the trials of my immolation, I was able to free myself from their bindings...and be reborn."
"When it rains, it pours." was a common saying on most planets except for Kamino. This was commonly due to the fact that Kaminoans seldom possessed a sense of humor. As for those on Coruscant, the phrase had become a slogan for describing the Jedi Order as of late. The news regarding Anna Dellian's abusive maneuver had become a side story as new headlines surfaced. Even the Republic's capture of Umbara was second to an even deeper piece that had surfaced.
News speeders and curious patrons gathered on a landing platform. They formed chaotic clusters and swarmed a descending frigate, each determined to get a closer look at those disembarking. "Hurry, Chip!" Belle urged as she snuck her way to the front of the crowd. From the moment the ship's ventral hatch dropped, the scarlet-armored clones of the Coruscant Guard rushed in. Anticipating a mob of press, the guards formed a wall between both groups as recording devices flashed.
Her C1-P camera droid started rolling as she said, "This is Belle O'Har with the Coruscant Rose. I'm live on the scene where a Republic military frigate from Umbara has just touched down here in Galactic City. If you look just above this horde of guards, you can catch a glimpse of clone trooper 6922 being escorted in cuffs. Nicknamed 'Dogma' by other members of the 501st legion, 6922 has been arrested for executing his superior." Belle's head snapped towards the clones escorting Dogma as she tried to break through the barrier. "Excuse me!" she hollered. "Just a question!"
"No questions right now," a clone intoned and tried pushing her away. "Ma'am, stay back."
"Dogma!" Belle shouted regardless. "Why did you kill your Jedi General? Why did you murder Master Pong Krell?"
While Dogma kept his head down, his nose twitched as he was bombarded with questions from the press. "Did you do it to make a statement?" another reporter asked.
"Did someone pay you to do it?" asked a third.
Dogma's cuffed wrists trembled as he finally snapped. "He betrayed us!" he roared towards the crowd. The clones escorting Dogma tried to shut him up as the press surged forward. "He betrayed all of us!" Dogma continued to bray. "He made me kill my brothers! I...I had to stop him...Had to make him pay!" The other clones dragged him away as news outlets raced off to report on the development.
Headlines over Krell's death dominated the HoloNet. Reporters tore the story to pieces and proposed every conspiracy theory possible. Anti-Republic channels sided with Dogma, saying he had every right to feel betrayed and that his claims needed to be investigated. Pro-Republic channels mourned the loss of such a 'profound and noble' Jedi. They flashed holoimages bathing Krell's face in bright lights while demonizing Dogma's mugshot in dark shadows. They emphasized the clone trooper's facial tattoo in an effort to make him look more threatening. Claims ranged from Dogma being a Separatist pawn to a defective clone. Theories considered if clones could start an uprising and steal jobs from hardworking Republic citizens. The media became a revolving fireball, mostly turning Krell into a martyr to sell Republic war bonds. As for the Jedi Order, they had remained oddly silent about the death of one of their own. Anti-war protests spiked and crowds continued to gather outside of the temple. Protesters called for the Order to denounce Krell and investigate Dogma's claim.
Yet while the Coruscanti's calls went unheard, the Jedi were in fact well aware of the situation. In fact, the majority of the Order was incredibly distraught over the news. The Jedi Council had been ruminating over Krell's various, sabotaged campaigns but had yet to denounce him. This was mostly due to the fact that Supreme Chancellor Palpatine had insisted they stay neutral on the matter. In his eyes, Coruscant's patriots were buying war bonds and profits were growing amidst the predicament. Having witnessed Krell's cruelty firsthand, Padawan Barriss Offee yearned for her elders to make a deliberation of justice. Instead, her hopes were shattered when the council sided with Chancellor Palpatine.
"How can we let this happen?" Barriss pleaded with her master. "After everything he did...the lives he cost the Republic. He's just allowed to get away with this in the public eye?"
Luminara sighed and placed a comforting hand on Barriss' shoulder. The gesture did little to reassure the Padawan as her elder said, "Yes, apprentice. For we know the truth and that is enough. The council has made its decision and we must honor it."
"A decision that favors the war," Barriss uttered. "It favors profits, not justice."
"Barriss," Luminara sighed. "When you rise to knighthood, you will understand that the Force works in various ways. While we may detest the war, we still must win it. Sometimes we all have to make sacrifices to benefit the greater good."
As Luminara stepped away, Barriss was left to ponder over her master's words. Not a single utterance brought her comfort as she bit back a growl. The young Mirialan's nose wrinkled and she subtly clenched a fist. All of the careless torment she'd witnessed on Felucia...the neglect she'd seen her master display towards two grieving orphans. Orphans whose parents had died because of their actions. Barriss' lower lip trembled and breaths quickened. Her blood felt like it had been set aflame as she observed the rising hypocrisy around her. Nothing is changing, she told herself. The only thing we've come to believe in...is violence.
Amidst all of the uncertainty among the Jedi, none were more distraught than Tori Vica. The news was as astonishing as it was believable. She just stepped away upon learning of Krell's passing. Tori found a secluded balcony near the temple gardens. One of which was reminiscent of her parents' extravagant backyard. She observed Coruscant's chaotic cityscape and ruminated over her former master's demise.
As she dwelled on the past, her present approached from behind. "Tori?" Master Meliz Sumar beckoned. The Pantoran hunched forward, almost ashamed to hear her mentor so concerned. Tori was still beating herself up for dwelling on Krell so much, and Meliz sensed every ounce of her internal struggle. Rather than ask what she already knew, the master simply said, "I'm here if you want to talk."
Tori's lip quivered with each of Meliz's passing steps. The master was nearly back inside when Tori finally spoke up. "Why?" she uttered. She turned just as Meliz did and they met each other halfway. "Why did he have to die for me to receive any sliver of peace? If I can even call it that? And why is our council choosing not to denounce him? After what he did to me and countless others-" Tori halted her tears with a stubborn sniffle. It took everything for her to keep it together as Meliz caressed her blue cheek.
Sensing her student's pain, the master wished she could literally tear it out of her. "I'm so sorry, Tori." she said. "If only everyone had a heart as strong as yours. But some people have fractures that none will ever see. So they end up living and dying with them. Master Krell, like many others...will have to be the apology you never receive." Tori remembered Meliz's teachings and gently nodded. "He may never have shown it, but he was a tortured being. As are all who abuse others. While it may be difficult to, pity them and hope they find their destiny again."
Tori sighed and peered out towards Coruscant's sun-streaked clouds. "What's my destiny, master?" she asked with such hopeful innocence in her tone. Gone was her typical abrasiveness as she looked to Meliz like she held all of the wisdom in the galaxy.
Meliz took a deep breath and rubbed Tori's back. "I'll never lie to you, Tori," she said. "So in truth, I don't know what your destiny is. But I believe that every day you spend walking the path of Light gives you a chance to discover it. In the end, you'll have a choice to make just as we all will. The kind of choice that will determine who you truly are. In those moments, perhaps your destiny will make a little more sense. And you'll be able to look back on all of it and say 'This, I have done'."
The Pantoran slowly smiled as she continued to gaze at the clouds. Focusing on her future and feeling slightly at ease with Krell's end, Tori bowed to Meliz. "Thank you, master. I-"
Meliz's holocomm chimed and she was quick to pluck it from her utility belt. Tori watched with inquisitive eyes as a hologram of Master Yoda projected before them. "Master Sumar...Padawan Vica," he greeted. "A mission for you, the council has."
Eager to get back in the field, Tori flashed a giddy grin while Meliz leaned closer to the hologram. "What is the council's will, Master Yoda?" she asked.
"Struck again, the Revenant has," he explained. "Experience with the cult, you have. Go to Tatooine and speak with Jabba the Hutt you must."
"That crime lord?" Tori scoffed.
"Easy, Padawan." Meliz mumbled. "The Hutts aren't our enemies...currently."
"Good relations with the Hutts we have," Yoda said. "Go forth, and May the Force be with you."
A T-6 Jedi Ambassador Shuttle rocketed out of hyperspace and glided towards Tatooine. With broad and rotating wings, the shuttle could switch between flight and landing configurations. In its current position, the wings remained rotated to ninety degrees. Meliz sat at the controls and began their steady descent while Tori posed a question.
"So how is it that the Republic has any form of relation with slave-keeping, spice-running, and murderous crime lords?" Tori asked.
"Closer to the start of the war, the Separatists kidnapped Jabba the Hutt's son. The Republic returned little Rotta to him and was allowed to keep valuable hyperspace lanes as a result."
"So it came down to politics," Tori huffed. "Why am I not even surprised?"
"Well, the Jedi rescued Jabba's son because it was the right thing to do." Meliz quipped.
"Oh come on, master." Tori teased. "How many people get kidnapped daily in this galaxy while no one spares a passing glance? You don't think those hyperspace lanes had anything to do with the Republic's motivation behind helping out a literal crime lord?"
Meliz paused and stared out the viewport. Tori smirked as she could practically see the gears turning in her master's head. "Good point, apprentice." Meliz admitted. "Very good point."
"Will the politics ever end?" Tori dramatically declared with her arms raised to the ceiling.
"Not in our lifetime," Meliz chuckled. Tori grew concerned when her master's laugh suddenly faded. Her elder's gaze became transfixed on the stars just beyond Tatooine's blazing horizon.
"Is...everything alright?" Tori asked.
"Oh I was just reminiscing," Meliz confessed. "The stealth ship my apprentice, Kor, and I piloted was legendary at the start of the war. It wasn't long after its crucible that our mission to Iego unfolded." Tori could sense Meliz's longing every time she stared out into space. There was a yearning within that kept her hoping beyond the bitter reality of that day. Meliz shook off her grief and gently tapped Tori's arm. "Hey," she playfully scolded. "Strap in before we enter the atmosphere. If you aren't buckled up, you'll smack right into the viewport. And if that happens, I'm posting it on the HoloNet!"
Her teasing was enough to garner a snicker out of Tori. While the remark was humorous, she knew her master could never do such a thing. Their shuttle glided through Tatooine's atmosphere and sailed over its dusty landscape. The ship's broad shadow listed over the Dune Sea's unforgiving sands. And yet even such a harsh environment was still capable of housing an illustrious palace. "Initiate landing procedure," Meliz said.
"On it," Tori replied and tugged on an overhead lever. A cacophonous whirring sounded as the shuttle's wings reconfigured into a horizontal formation.
A pair of burly and snorting Gamorrean guards stood watch over a stretch of polished rock. Meliz set the ship down as a pale and pink-eyed Twi'lek emerged from the palace. "Make no mistake," Meliz told Tori as the ship's ramp dropped. "Just because we're allies doesn't mean we should let our guards down."
"You don't have to tell me twice," Tori muttered before they brandished exaggerated grins.
"De wanna wanga," Meliz greeted in Huttese, surprising both Tori and the Twi'lek majordomo.
"H'chu apenkee," Bib Fortuna welcomed her in return. Tori's bewildered eyes darted between the duo as they conversed. "Boska," Bib beckoned with a waved of his long-fingered nails. "Boska, boska."
As they entered Jabba's colossal palace, Tori leaned towards her master and whispered. "Should I have studied Huttese?"
"No it's alright," Meliz assured. "I merely spoke it as a show of good faith. But if you'd like to learn more languages, I'd be happy to guide you."
"As much as I appreciate that-" Tori winced. "I've spent enough time cooped up in the temple to be stuck reading in the Archives."
Meliz smirked. "There are easier methods, young Tori. Technology is evolving and we must grow with it. She unclipped a handheld device from her utility belt and handed it to Tori.
"What the heck is this?" the Pantoran asked.
"Tualingo," Meliz answered. "With that software, learning intergalactic languages has never been easier."
Tori and Meliz were guided into Jabba's shadowy chamber. Their noble attire instantly drew glares and scowls from the majority of his shady guests. As if it wasn't bad enough that Jedi were already loathed in the Outer Rim...the news about Krell wasn't helping anyone. Tori and Meliz chose to focus on Jabba...or at least they tried to as a pudgy huttlet inched his way by Jabba's tail.
"Well if it isn't Jabba Jr.-" Tori whispered until Meliz hurriedly nudged her into silence.
Jabba the Hutt stared the Jedi down. The hefty, slime-lipped crime lord gulped and sent a living entree wriggling into his stomach. "Oh mighty Jabba," Meliz said. "We've come because you've reported an attack you believe to be perpetrated by the Revenant?"
When Jabba nodded, the majority of his scaly torso went along with him. He spouted off in Huttese while angrily raising a stubby fist. Tori raised a brow and awaited a translation from the approaching protocol droid. "The Mighty Jabba says that these cultists have targeted multiple operations belonging to him and other members of the Hutt Council. At first, he thought it may have been the Republic trying to destabilize his system."
We should be doing that, Tori thought as she observed a youthful Twi'lek chained at Jabba's side. It disgusted her to see someone like Bib Fortuna in a powerful position while a member of his own kind was living in bondage.
The protocol droid continued to translate. "But these cultists are too savage to be aligned with the Republic's interests. They have murdered the Great Jabba's staff, including his noble bodyguard. Once they've stolen his goods, they depart without a trace."
"So why contact the Jedi Order?" Meliz inquired. "Surely you must have something else to share on this matter."
Jabba brought his irate tone down to a mild-mannered grumble. As he groused in his native tongue, those reptilian irises of his listed leftward. A set of footsteps echoed from the darkness as a peculiar silhouette took shape. Meliz squinted and took in Jabba's words as Tori listened for the translation.
"The Mighty Jabba possesses information that may be beneficial to him and the Republic," the droid computed. "One of his bounty hunters uncovered a surge of Revenant activity while recovering a target in the Ash Worlds."
Meliz's eyes widened upon hearing the location while Tori remained perplexed. The Pantoran could sense her master's rising stress over the Ash Worlds, yet couldn't comprehend why. Instead, she focused on the bounty hunter as he stepped into view. The silhouette initially depicted a massive, circular cranium. But as it came forward, the overhanging lights revealed a large-rimmed and metallic hat. The hunter raised his head and looked upon the Jedi with piercing, yellow eyes. Layers of wrinkly green skin circled those daunting orbs and surrounded an iconic filter mask. The pressurized device was typical among members of the Kyuzo species, whose homeworld possessed a specific atmospheric makeup.
"Ja paoou Hutto aller ayvac toi," the Kyuzo said and nodded to Jabba.
"Did you get a word of that?" Tori muttered.
"He said Jabba's paid him to guide us through the Ash Worlds...and to the-" Meliz swallowed hard. "-the nebula where he spotted the cultists."
"Can we trust him?" Tori asked while staring up at the Kyuzo.
"When it comes to getting paid, these hunters tend to see their jobs through." Meliz sighed before addressing the Hutt. "We will investigate this matter, Jabba, and humbly accept your guide."
Hoping that he understood Galactic Basic, Tori dared to speak to the Kyuzo. "So," she coughed. "Got a name?"
The lanky, stern-faced bounty hunter glared at her and murmured, "Embo."
Gone was the cheerful banter of Tori and Meliz's flight to Tatooine. As they soared through another lightspeed vortex, Tori was left to sit in awkward silence. While Meliz tensely gripped the shuttle's controls, Embo slouched in one of the backseats. The Pantoran occasionally glanced back at him and gazed into his unblinking eyes. That's normal, she told herself. This is fine.
Unable to handle the rising tension any longer, Tori finally spoke up. "Master," she whispered sharply. "What's going on? Ever since they mentioned the Ash Worlds, you've been so...stiff."
Meliz sighed and reminded herself not to keep Tori in the dark. "I just don't know if I'm ready to go back," she said. Tori tilted her head as her master continued. "The coordinates that Embo gave us lead directly to-" Meliz bit her lip, but forced herself to utter the words. "-the Iego System."
Tori's heart sank as sympathy took over. "Oh," she realized. "I'm so sorry, master. I had no idea that-"
Meliz raised a sympathetic hand. "It's alright," she admitted. "Sometimes, the past finds its way back to you no matter what you do to avoid it." As she concluded her somber statement, a warning chime sounded from the dashboard. "Buckle up. We're coming out of lightspeed."
Following Embo's coordinates, the shuttle rocketed through a nebula and towards massive world. The planet of Iego had a mystifying, crimson tint to it as the shuttle soared beyond its reaches.
"Varee fye asir," Embo instructed and rose from his seat. "Dee mowvay seesh choshev."
"He says this is the spot," Meliz translated. "The cultists were leaving and entering the planet systematically. As if searching."
A distant flicker caught Tori's attention and she leaned against a viewport. "Is Iego known for heavy storm activity?" she asked. "It seems like a barren world."
"It's mostly comprised of deserts and expansive canyons," Meliz answered. "Storms wouldn't be common. Why?" Tori pointed towards the flickering as Meliz got a closer look. Further examination revealed that the alleged lightning strikes were in fact explosions in Iego's upper atmosphere. Curious, Meliz activated the ship's forward scanners and was alarmed at her find. "By the Force," she uttered. "That's laserfire. There's a transport under attack!"
"Think it's the Revenant?" Tori asked until an unmarked transmission came through comms.
"Incoming shuttle," a manic voice decreed. "This shall be your only warning. Turn back or suffer atonement."
"Yep," Meliz answered Tori's inquiry and accelerated towards the battle.
"Eeteez vowuz fowu?" Embo grumbled.
"Of course we can handle it," Meliz assured.
Embo paused and gestured to Tori. "Gee vow lay dyr yeel."
"Don't let her youth fool you," Meliz quipped. "Tori can handle anything."
Realizing that Embo was underestimating and possibly berating her, Tori glared up at him. "Yeah," she scoffed, trying to appear tough. "What she said."
Embo shook his head and rolled his eyes as Meliz flew them closer. An elongated transport was rapidly descending through Iego's atmosphere. Meanwhile, a heavily fortified attack ship was blasting away at its engines and determined to send it crashing. The transport trailed smoke as those onboard struggled to maintain altitude. As the situation grew increasingly dire, the sight of a Jedi shuttle became one of hope.
Timing her turn just right, Meliz rammed the Revenant ship with one of her wings. Her strike sent it off course and took firing focus off of the transport. "That ship's badly damaged," the master deduced while looking at it from above. Smoke billowed from its flaming engines as Meliz pointed at her apprentice. "Tori, take the controls."
"What?" the Pantoran blurted. "What are you gonna do?"
"I need to make sure they can land that transport safely," Meliz said and pulled a lever to drop the ventral hatch. "You can do this, Padawan. I believe in you. Just keep us steady!"
"Right," Tori mumbled as her master dashed down the corridor. Embo's judgmental stare motivated her to grab the controls faster as she guided the craft downward.
As her apprentice flew the shuttle, Meliz leapt down and landed on the transport. She used the Force to push smoke clouds out of her face and made her way to the bridge's viewport. She sparked up her blue lightsaber and used it to catch the crew's attention. Their smoky silhouettes peered up at Meliz as she assured them that she was benevolent. Before she could instruct the crew's safe descent any further, a scarlet laser narrowly missed her head. Meliz ducked down and saw that the Revenant ship had returned. The craft lowered its ramps and sent waves of cultists to contend with Meliz.
"Kill the sinner!" one of them shouted as he landed on the transport.
"Deliver us from Jedi evil!" shouted another. With blasters at the ready, the cultists charged at Meliz head on. Determined to protect the transport at all costs, Meliz batted away the incoming lasers. Realizing she had the advantage, she simply Force-pushed multiple cultists off of the ship and and sent them plummeting from the clouds. Despite her effective strategy, Meliz didn't count on so many devout cultists emerging from the Revenant ship.
"She's outnumbered!" Tori panicked from the shuttle's cockpit. "Embo, can you help her-" She glanced back and saw that the bounty hunter was already gone.
As Revenant forces closed in to overwhelm Meliz, none of them expected to hear a sharp ringing in the air. In that instant, a metallic, disk-like projectile came zipping over. It smashed into several cultists before ricocheting back into Embo's bony fingers. Satisfied with his initial strike, Embo flourished his hat and returned it to his head. He then crouched to use his hat as a shield against incoming laserfire.
Meliz sprung to the bounty hunter's aid and cut down the nearest cultist. While drawing enemy fire, she gave Embo time to unlatch his own weapon. A high-powered bowcaster unfolded from the Kyuzo's back and he returned fire with it. Lasers darted atop the rapidly descending ship while Tori tried to monitor the situation from above. "Master?" she worriedly called over comms. "I don't think that ship's gonna make it."
"See if you can get lower and closer," Meliz called back. "If we can evacuate those aboard, they might be able to all fit in our shuttle." While Meliz's plan was made with the best intentions, Revenant cultists kept her from reaching the passengers.
"You will not stop the purge!" one of them growled, only to be shot in the chest by Embo.
"Tay stoi," the Kyuzo scoffed at his kill before moving on.
"Come on, Tori," the Padawan whispered to motivate herself. Her golden gaze darted between the transport and her controls. "You can do this." As she focused on lowering the shuttle, she didn't notice the Revenant attack craft hovering towards her viewport. By the time she'd spotted the enemy ship in her peripherals, it had fired a pair lasers directly at her. "Kriff!" she cursed and leapt for the floor. She practically took the seatbelt with her as the lasers obliterated her viewport and destroyed the control board.
Wild gusts surged through the exposed cockpit while the control board burst into flames. "Oh great," Tori grunted and sprung to her feet. She activated her comlink and immediately spun around. "Master," she coughed through the ensuing smoke. "Bad news...the shuttle's-" Before Tori could even report her status, a second round from the attack craft struck the shuttle's wing.
The ensuing explosion had Embo and Meliz looking to the clouds beside them. The master's blood ran cold at the sight of the flaming shuttle. "Tori!" she screamed. She considered throwing herself into a free fall after the burning ship, but Embo held her back.
"Tao vace moire!" he warned.
"I don't care!" Meliz screamed in his arms. "Tori, no!" She watched the shuttle plummet faster than their transport. She didn't even have time to grieve as the Revenant attack craft set its sights on them next. Mentally shaken but forced to stand her ground, Meliz boldly flourished her lightsaber. Her adrenaline raged on as the attack craft primed its laser cannons. Before it could fire on her and Embo, a unique beam pierced the clouds above them. This pulsing, iridescent ray split the Revenant ship in two and caused its remnants to explode in fiery heaps. Shocked, Meliz watched as a pale-plated ship soared in from the clouds. With sharp wings and powerful weaponry, this mystery craft darted under the transport.
Dazed but far from dead, Tori awakened from the shuttle's second explosion. The world spun around her as she forced herself to stand. Her pale purple braid nearly came undone when she shook off her dizziness. "What?" she murmured. "Where am-" Her eyes widened at the sight of a rapidly approaching canyon. This fear only subsided to astonishment as a bizarre ship dove alongside her. One of its hatches opened and revealed an even more perplexing sight.
A bulky cloak swayed with gravity's merciless pull as a hooded figure emerged. The cobalt cowl covering his mouth made his hazel eyes all the more vivid. His entrancing stare focused on Tori as he stretched out a gloved hand. "Jump for it!" he urged. Still dizzy, Tori shook her head to make sense of what she was seeing. "You're running out of sky," the stranger intoned. "Now jump!" Snapping herself back into the moment, Tori gave herself a running start and leapt out of the cockpit. She barely snagged the stranger's hand as he pulled her into his ship. "Were you the only one onboard?" he asked and she hastily nodded. As the shuttle crashed into a canyon, the hooded man turned to an unseen pilot. "We're clear, Chaeli!" he hollered. "Get us under that transport."
While the pilot guided their ship across a barren plain, the stranger looked over at Tori. "Jedi," he said and disembarked. "I'm gonna need your help on this one."
Confused yet grateful, the Pantoran hopped out after him. "What do you need?" she asked. Tori nearly choked when he pointed up at the rapidly descending transport. "Wait...what? You want me to try and catch that?"
"Not you," the man assured. "Us." As he raised his hands and parted his cloak, a unique lightsaber hilt swayed from his belt. "And that's much too big of a craft for us to necessarily catch. So think of us as easing it in. Together now!" Without a moment to lose, Tori joined the mysterious Force user and stretched her hands towards the ship. Mental and physical strain came upon her as she gritted her teeth. The transport shifted as an intense battle against gravity ensued. But with their combined power, the flaming transport started leveling out. "That's it!" the stranger grunted. "Keep going!"
"I'm...trying," Tori winced as her forearms trembled. "I can't hold on!"
"Yes you can!" the stranger asserted. "We can do this!" The Force users roared together as the transport skidded across the terrain beside them. When Tori finally released her grip, she felt as though all of her limbs had turned to dust. She dropped to her knees to catch her breath as her bodily numbness subsided.
Dust from the impact settled and Meliz felt her way through the smoke. "Tori?" the master beckoned until she saw the youthful Pantoran. "Tori!" she rejoiced and dashed to her. "I knew you were alive! From the moment our ship started leveling out, I knew you'd survived to help us. I sensed your Force connection!"
"I can't take all the credit," Tori confessed. "I would've been a goner if it wasn't for this guy."
As Meliz turned to look upon Tori's rescuer, she felt a distinct tremor in the Force. One that made her question what she'd felt earlier and if she'd even sensed Tori at first at all. The stranger's body briefly stiffened when he looked at Meliz, as if he too had sensed a pulsing connection. Throughout all of her years as a Jedi, Meliz had always been taught to listen to the Force. But what it was telling her now seemed...unsettling. This false hope had her biting back words that her heart was begging to scream. Her eyes teemed with a hopefulness she'd often suppressed. Yet in those moments, Meliz dared to try. She chose to hope one last time, in honor of every grieving night amidst a plethora of painful years.
"K-...Kor?" she barely uttered and focused on his unwavering eyes.
The stranger's brows furrowed as if years of his own grief had come crashing down. Misty-eyed, he lowered his hood and cowl. No amount of stubble could obscure the youthful face Meliz had left cradled in her memories. A gentle smile found its way to the young man's lips and he struggled to find his own words. As his heart leapt for joy over their surprising reunion, all Kor Mabel could say was "Hello Master."
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading this week's chapter of "The Frozen Force!" As always, your love and support of this story is greatly appreciated. Kor LIVES! Fun fact to help get a visual...but Kor Mabel's likeness is based on Grey's Anatomy/ Detroit: Become Human actor Jesse Williams. We've got ourselves one amazing reunion ahead of us and I'll see you next week for Part II of this arc!
Some story news updates to keep in mind: Haunted Arendelle 2 premieres October 3rd. I am excited to announce that the SECOND ANNUAL FROZEN FORCE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL is scheduled to premiere on October 8th! Plenty to look forward to here at GoldenHeart Stories and I appreciate your support!
Long Live Imagination and May the Force be with You!
~ Michael