Author's Note: Dearest readers...thank you so much for all of the love, support, and most of all patience that you're showing with this story. I am working hard to balance so much in y life right now, and you wonderful people help make things worth it. There is a possibility that this installment might take "The Frozen Force" to over 50,000 views. If so, we'll be celebrating next time. My friends, it is my honor to present this week's chapter.
This week, we have special review shoutouts and launch wrist rockets for: Darth Dracul, CJG98, 0x15, and an awesome Guest reviewer!
Long Live Imagination,
~ Michael
Chapter: 104 A Foreseen Fall
"Those afraid of pain often hurt others on the path to hide it."
Victory and death! No matter how many planets the Republic seems to reclaim in the war, their conflict against the Separatists seems endless. Yet far from the echoes of laserfire and bloodshed, there are those who search for greater truths. On the fringes of the Outer Rim, the Force channels itself through ancient ruins...
Centuries-worth of electromagnetic winds battered away at Zeffo's surface. They howled throughout the mountainous world and left a lasting chill in the air. Frosted ridges yielded to cramped caverns, whose entrances reflected off of expansive lagoons. Three-horned phillak grazed on fertile plateaus, caring little for the tremendous statues of old. These lost ruins provided refuge from the winds, and that alone was enough for the wild phillak. Icy fractals clung to a statue's narrow face, making its narrow visage glisten against the sun. Rows of cracked and sunken columns trailed behind the statue and led deep into a shadowy cave.
Snarls and chitters emanated from within as a trio of scazz munched on a scavenged egg. The black-eyed, red-skinned rodents plunged into their bountiful meal. But as they nudged and chittered at one another, they were left unaware of a looming figure. Its odd shape rose from the stalagmites just beyond the shadows. With a curious beep, the tiny figure projected its unique scanner. The scazz lifted their heads in alarm as a blue-hued, gridded anomaly passed over them. Startled by such a bizarre element, the scazz fled with a series of screeches. As the rodents scampered off into their burrows, the mysterious scanner leapt down to investigate.
BD-1's tiny metal feet sank into the gravely ground. The droid chimed with excitement and eagerly scanned the abandoned egg...or at least what was left of it. He raised his antennae and merrily stomped after a completed scan. Feeling satisfied, BD-1 decided to return to his owner. His gears whirred throughout the silent cave. Alternating between rapid scurries and brief hops, BD-1 traveled deeper into the darkness. It wasn't long before stalagmites and their overhead counterparts were replaced by a series of bronzium columns. These ruins only heralded an even greater find as BD-1 passed under a tremendous archway.
Every portion of ancient architecture was a testament to Zeffo ingenuity. Glyphs from a forgotten era emerged on the walls as BD-1 shined his searchlight. As the droid trekked through a dusty chamber, he discovered a room filled with Zeffo statues. Similar to the one constructed outside, each depicted a different member of the Zeffo High Council. The statue's heads were adorned with ornate and triangular headdresses. Despite their thin faces, the Zeffo possessed incredibly wide eyes. With the statues positioned in a circle, their hollow glares fell upon a being. This living figure knelt before the titanic statues. The mere sight of his Jedi robes was enough to have BD-1 chittering with delight.
Eager to reunite with his master, BD-1 rushed into the chamber and hopped to the Jedi's side. He curiously tilted his head when the elder didn't respond. Instead, Master Eno Cordova had entered a deep and meditative state. One so strong, that his mind had transcended above his physical essence. Cordova remained in a state of tranquility. Each passing breath had him calling upon a greater understanding of the Force around him. He called on it to accept his presence and unified with the temple's energy. While there hadn't been a single Jedi among the ancient Zeffo, they too could wield the Force with sacred purpose. Even if their sages had passed from existence, their statues held true. Cordova understood the principles of the Living and Cosmic Force. He knew that no one was ever truly gone, and that the essences of the Zeffo sages lived on through the Force.
Be with me, Cordova spoke within. Mighty and knowledgeable sages, enlighten me in your honor. His pale brows furrowed as he sensed a tremor in the Force. The unique sensation had him visualizing each sage's statue in his mind. A single word reached him, as if the Zeffo were answering from beyond.
"Why?"
Cordova welcomed the word with respect and diligence. The galaxy is in peril, he continued. Once more, corruption and conflict threaten to tear everything apart. Even now, these horrors of war echo on planets not so far from here. The elder waited, listening through the Force for another word or phrase to manifest.
"Worthy..."
Cordova nodded gently. You have every right to ponder that of me, he responded. I worry about the state of the Jedi Order, yet I've found parallels while studying your people. You were once a noble and peaceful society. But you too fell to the wiles of corruption and...the Dark Side itself. Yet I sense the Light Side within this temple. You survived. You rebuilt, even if it meant fleeing into the great unknown. As a servant of peace and justice, how can I truly serve my Order? How can I get them back on track? Please...show me the way.
The ensuing pause was daunting, yet Cordova's meditative state didn't falter. He threw his mind and body to the mercy of the Force. He did so until images formed within his mind's eye and a word finally emerged.
"Jedi..."
Yes, Cordova responded...his thought echoing beyond the mental plane. The elder braced himself as several figures formed across the darkness. Cordova squinted his eyes to get a better look at each materializing person. All of the Jedi he'd held closest to him emerged in a cluster. His former apprentice, Cere...stood alongside her own student, Trilla. Elsa and Yelena were beside them as the Jedi Council itself formed around Cordova. None of the apparitions appeared happy to see him, yet still he searched for the Zeffo's meaning. Cordova scanned over each Jedi as more emerged behind them. Before he knew it, he was completely surrounded by his own people.
"-Order..."
Despite the tremendous amount of Jedi surrounding him, Cordova chose to focus on his former student. That choice would cost him dearly as Cere suddenly gasped. Her body stiffened as a blastershot seemed to echo throughout the chamber. Although he knew it was only an apparition of his apprentice, seeing Cere in pain still made Cordova's stomach drop. None of the other figures moved as Cere fell dead. A second shot rang out the moment her body struck the ground, this time taking Trilla. The third claimed Elsa...and a fourth took Yelena as the blasts picked up speed.
Before Cordova knew it, he found himself entrenched in a circle of suffering. A cacophony of unseen blaster bolts continued to burst through the air. These shots were rivaled only by the torturous writhing of fallen Jedi. Cordova stood frozen in shock and watched as his brothers and sisters fell around him. The vision became so profoundly unsettling, that Cordova had to close his eyes from within. Back on the outer plane, he was trembling in his meditative state. His hushed whimpers had BD-1 worriedly nudging his knee. But Cordova fought through his suffering to fully witness the vision.
Anna and Mattias fell atop Elsa and Yelena. Yoda and Mace Windu collapsed as one, bringing an end to the mysterious blasterfire. An ominous silence filled the air as Cordova stood amidst a pile of corpses. As he searched for answers betwixt the slaughter, another word called out to reach him.
"Fall."
No, Cordova contested. There must be a way to stop this. I came here seeking answers for prevention! Not- Suddenly, an ear-splitting clatter filled the air. As Cordova looked down, he realized that every body had disappeared. Nothing but their lightsabers remained as each unique hilt lifted into the air. The clanging was tumultuous as the lightsabers swirled around Cordova. Tell me what to do! he called out. Please! Help me stop this!
"Fall," the Zeffo repeated. "Fall...Fall-"
In that instant, every single lightsaber in the vortex ignited. The hum of literally thousands of lightsabers was as deafening as the multicolored blades were blinding. Before Cordova could react, the lightsabers tilted downward and descended to strike him.
"FALL!"
Cordova's eyes shot open and he gasped. His hastening breaths and wild stare had BD-1 chiming in alarm. Familiarizing himself with his surroundings again, Cordova peered down at BD-1. The droid chimed concernedly while scanning over his face. Realizing that he had been crying, Cordova gently wiped away his tears. "I'm...alright, my friend," he sniffled and cleared his throat. Rising to his feet, the master observed each stern-faced statue. Although they were inanimate, he looked upon them as if they were as alive as he was. A haunting sensation had Cordova backing out of the chamber. "Hurry, BD-1," he whispered sharply. The droid perched on his wrist as he stumbled up a flight of cracked stairs. "We must return to Coruscant immediately. The Jedi Council must learn of our findings."
The return to Cordova's corvette had become a blur to him. After navigating the ancient Zeffo maze, he and BD-1 boarded their vessel and hastily departed. Launching into hyperspace felt eternal as they spiraled through lightspeed's vortex. Even as the corvette thundered into Coruscant airspace, Cordova remained in a hurry. He rushed his descent through the capital's atmosphere and darted towards the Jedi Temple. After parking his ship in the newly-constructed hangar, the master was quick to disembark and bolt into the inner atrium.
Every moment ascending to the grand spire had Cordova's heart pounding. But he maintained his composure and prepared himself to face the Jedi Council. Even as he steadied his breaths, memories of his horrific vision flashed within. They haunted the darkness of his mind every time he closed his eyes. His case would be hard enough to plead without being summoned. Cordova could only hope that seniority would aid his credibility.
Yet with each passing and exasperated plea, the council remained silent. Cordova's throat ran raw as he alternated between frantic explanations and orderly presumptions. Still, the council stayed quiet. "There was no lie in what I had witnessed," the elder continued. "The Zeffo spoke through the Force to reach me in this vision!"
Council members exchanged judgmental glances until Master Yoda spoke up. "These premonitions," he murmured. "Concerning they are. But always in motion is the future. And many possible outcomes...there are."
"I understand this," Cordova concurred. "But can we so swiftly ignore a Zeffo warning? They were no lesser practitioners of the Force than we are." BD-1 nodded from Cordova's shoulder.
"I'm familiar with these Zeffo ancients," Master Ki-Adi-Mundi replied. "And it is to my understanding that they inevitably succumbed to the pull of the Dark Side."
"So it could be a trick," Master Windu considered. "A deception through the Force to poison our Order from beyond the grave."
"No," Cordova uttered while swiftly shaking his head. "Respectfully, no. History is our greatest ally, and it teaches us that while the Zeffo did fall to darkness...many of them returned to the light. They fled to regions unknown in an effort to rebuild their lost peace."
Master Depa Billaba's seat was filled by her flickering hologram, for she was on a battlefront with her Padawan. Her crackling voice emerged as she asked, "Master Cordova...even if there was redemption among the Zeffo, can you be certain the ones who reached you were benevolent?"
Cordova slowly hung his head. "Well...not exactly. But-"
"Then how can we trust your vision?" Mace questioned.
Cordova cared little for his peers' heavy stares. "I don't understand what damage they'd seek to create from beyond the grave," he intoned. "I connected with them as a servant of the Light Side in their sanctuary. It is my firm belief that this vision was a warning. The doom of the Jedi Order is upon us if we do not act to stop it."
"What would you have us do?" Master Plo Koon inquired.
"Take a step back," Cordova insisted. "I am no politician, nor am I a soldier in this ongoing war. But as a scholar, true reasoning never fails. We must bring a swift end to the war without more bloodshed." Cordova ignored Master Mundi's impulsive scoff and carried on. "As negotiators of peace, we must speak with those in the Confederacy. I heard ceaseless blasterfire in my vision, and I believe this war will be our end." Cordova glanced at Masters Yelena and Kenobi, who were seated beside one another. "You must trust me, please. Trust the knowledge of old before it's too late. If not for ourselves, do it for the next generation of Jedi." He gestured to Master Billaba's projection. "The very younglings who have known nothing but this war."
"Master Cordova," Yoda said. "Recognize your contributions to the Order and its archives, the council does. But actively trying to end the war, we all ready are."
Before Cordova could stress his view, Mace cut him off. "It wouldn't matter how many planets we could open negotiations with as long as Dooku is pulling the strings."
"As this conflict carries on-" Obi-wan began. "-it does appear that Dooku's capture is our only way of truly ending this war."
"I still stand by my testament," Master Mundi insisted. "The entities behind this vision could've been Darksiders, and therefore we cannot trust anything Master Cordova saw."
"This-" Cordova uttered while clenching his fists. Yelena braced herself, for she'd never seen the scholar appear anything but calm. "This is an outrage!" he bellowed before dropping his tone once more. "I come to you with knowledge and you cast it aside. What happened to you all? What happened to us?"
"Do not mistake knowledge for a theorized vision," Mace asserted.
"Theor-" Cordova could hardly stomach what he was hearing. "So that's it then? You will all prolong this war. Keep this galaxy under siege as long as you need to, even if it means destroying us all?"
"This meeting is over," Mace said as a grim silence filled the chamber.
Cordova shook his head in denial and turned to his friend. "And what say you, Master Yelena?" he asked somberly. "Do you believe me?"
"Master Cordova-" Ki-Adi-Mundi began.
"Respectfully," the scholar interrupted. "Master Yelena has received a seat on this council and I request to hear her personal thoughts. All eyes fell upon Yelena, but her colleague's broken glare hit her the hardest. How different he'd appeared since their expeditions to Felucia and Rhen Var.
"Master Cordova," Yelena said, clearing her throat. "The council is doing everything it can to end the war and-"
Without hearing another word, Cordova departed from the spire. "Thank you for your time," he huffed before disappearing behind the doors. Much to the council's shock, Yelena lunged out of her seat and chased after him.
"Master Cordova," Yelena beckoned as he approached the elevator. "Master Cordova, wait!"
"I've heard quite enough, thank you," he grumbled. Despite his frustration, BD-1 tapped on his shoulder in an effort to make him talk to Yelena.
"You wanted an answer, so I gave you one." Yelena implored.
"You call that an answer?" Cordova scoffed and faced Yelena. "No, that was a regurgitation. It was as if the council was speaking through your mind."
"I represent the council," Yelena defended.
"That may be so, but you still have your own thoughts." Cordova retorted. "You are as much of a prominent member as any of them are. I don't understand how you can all ignore my vision."
"They told you why," Yelena explained. "Do not let emotion cloud your judgement, Master Cordova. Maybe this vision is a Dark Side trick or some misinterpretation through the Force. Take a breath. There are thousands of us. Logically, what force could possibly be strong enough to kill us all without warning? Can you blame the council for being skeptical?"
"What if it isn't a sudden demise, but a gradual one?" Cordova continued.
"You can't get hung up on this," Yelena insisted. "I say this out of care for you Master Cordova. I've witnessed how appreciated your discoveries are firsthand. The last thing I'd want is for people to regard you as some madman."
Cordova sighed. "What happened to you, Yelena?" he asked and left her raising a brow. "According to what you told me, you risked everything to save the Dellian girls. And then you just...stopped taking risks altogether."
"I didn't take a risk that night on Aren," Yelena said. "My master did and she lost her life. I just...survived."
Cordova slowly nodded. "Now that makes more sense."
"Excuse me?" Yelena inquired as the elevator dinged.
"You fear risk," Cordova said. "You fear what it means for you and those around you. So instead, you do as your told. Because at least then whatever happens won't be your fault."
"Now hold on-"
"If what I've seen is true in any capacity-" Cordova continued and stepped into the elevator. "-we cannot count on the council to help us. And risks will need to be taken if any of us are to survive. Good day," he murmured as the doors shut between them.
Yelena stood alone in the empty corridor, left with nothing more than the sting of Cordova's words. Even when she tried shaking them off, Yelena was left to endure his warning to the council.
"You must trust me, please. Trust the knowledge of old before it's too late. If not for ourselves, do it for the next generation of Jedi."
"The next generation," Yelena whispered to herself. Whether Cordova was right or not, the future of the Jedi Order was at stake. Thinking of her students both young and old, Yelena understood that she too had a choice to make. Doctrine clashed with the very feelings she sought to reserve. Have I truly always done as I'm told? she asked herself. Don't I trust myself? I've always backed out of what little risks I have taken. Even when I tried taking Elsa to Aren, all it did was get me injured and her captured. But what is life without risk? Yelena hung her head as thoughts of Master Adersen crossed her mind. When news of his passing reached the Jedi Order, it came as a shock to his closer companions like Yelena. Adersen challenged himself to take in Elsa and Anna, she thought. The same way their very parents and my master sacrificed everything to ensure the sisters' survival. How could I possibly measure up? As Yelena thought of Elsa and Grogu, she sighed deeply...and knew what had to be done.
Green sparks flared within one of the temple's lower dojos. Several energized targets absorbed repeated strikes from a furious Jedi. He growled with each swing of his lightsaber, letting his auburn locks fall against his sweaty forehead. Hans Westgard was relentless, and kept slashing even as a familiar presence entered behind him. His head twitched briefly, as if recognizing Anna before he continued to strike the targets.
"Hey," she murmured while cautiously approaching him.
Hans paused and caught his breath between swings. "Hey?" he scoffed. "Is that all you've got for me?" Hans followed up his jeer with another ferocious lunge at the targets.
"Um...how else do you want to be greeted?" Anna inquired, instantly going on the defensive. "Hello there? Hiya? What's popping?" Anna's brows furrowed when Hans didn't answer. Instead, he kept hacking at the energized targets. "Hans?" Frustrated, she stomped up to him and leaned towards into dueling space. "You don't get to just snap and then give me the silent treatment. What's your problem?"
"My problem?" Hans replied and deactivated his saber. Sweat glistened across his face as he forced a grin. "Oh I don't have a single problem. You on the other hand. I'd love to know what your issue with me is. Am I just not good enough for you?" He griped and gestured to his panting self. "Not enough of your type?"
Anna's confusion shifted to irritation as she rolled her eyes. "Are you kriffing kidding me?" she answered. "Is this about Skywalker?"
"Don't treat me like I'm stupid," Hans grumbled. "Of course it's about him," he added and stomped away, forcing Anna to chase after him. "Poster boy and poster gal. Do you have any idea what it was like, seeing your faces plastered together on every datascreen?"
"Because we were doing our job?" Anna retorted. "Hans, you know the 501st and my squad were on assignment. The Outer Rim is under siege!"
"Yeah, well so are we." Hans added and finally spun to meet her. "You could've invited me to tag along. I could've helped. But it's clear why you didn't."
"You aren't a Deathchaser," Anna explained. "Watcher asked-"
"I led you to victory on that one mission!" Hans countered.
"What?" Anna blurted. "Kriffing Tatooine? You completely disregarded our plan and then I caught you kissing a dancer!"
"I was undercover and your original plan was garbage," Hans defended. "What's your excuse?"
"Excuse for what?" Anna asked, growing increasingly flustered. Her eyes widened when she realized what Hans was implying. He stormed out of the dojo, forcing her to follow him. Her mind became a ticking time bomb, for all she wanted to do was defend herself. But speaking out in the open meant exposing their relationship. Anna's faced flushed with red as she stomped after Hans.
"Something you wanna tell me?" Hans jeered, very much knowing that she couldn't. "That's what I thought," he grumbled as she followed him to the dormitories. He opened the door to his quarters and glanced over his shoulder. "Good to know that I was just a plaything to you."
Infuriated, Anna discreetly Force-pushed Hans into his own room. As he tumbled against his bed, Anna slipped in and shut the door behind her. "Sometimes I wish I could just smack you when you talk like that!"
"So violent," Hans grumbled.
Anna didn't let up and sharply whispered, "You honestly think I slept with Anakin?"
"On a first name basis, hm?" Hans replied and Anna looked like she could strangle him. "You two had plenty of time together. Weeks on end across multiple battlefronts. It was only a matter of time before the loneliness and heat of it all got to you."
"You're insane," Anna muttered, her voice cracking. "Actually insane."
"Here we go with the gaslighting," Hans huffed. "That's when you make someone feel-"
"I know what gaslighting is," Anna growled.
"Then you'd also know that you're guilty as charged," Hans berated. "You can't tell me that you weren't enamored by Skywalker, the Jedi Order's golden boy."
"I couldn't kriffing stand him!" Anna fired back. "That's why we parted ways."
"Or you grew too attached," Hans mumbled. "Well I hope your little romp was worth it."
"Hans," Anna hissed and tried to stay levelheaded. "I love you, you idiot. How many kriffing times do I have to tell you that?"
"Saying it is one thing. Showing it is another," Hans insisted as Anna sulked. "I've always been there for you, and we've barely spoken since you went on assignment. When we did, you always kept things brief."
"Because I was in a war zone," Anna explained. "We also can't exactly call our secret love out in the open, genius."
"It's not like our conversations were meaningful anyway," Hans lamented.
"You barely said anything during those calls."
"And that's my fault?" Hans griped and crossed his arms. "I was waiting," he added as Anna raised a brow. "Waiting to see if you'd actually put me first and remember." He shook his head at Anna's ongoing bewilderment. "My twenty-fourth birthday was last week."
"H-Hans," Anna uttered. "I had no idea, you-...you never mentioned it."
"Well, you never asked." Hans intoned. "So I spent my birthday all alone. Not a single well-wish. I knew the Order didn't give a damn about me, but you-"
"Hans," Anna implored and sat on the bed's edge with him. "I'm sorry I didn't know about your birthday. But I do love you and I would never cheat on you. Especially not with Anakin," Anna grimaced at the thought and Hans smirked.
"I want to believe you," Hans whispered. "I just don't know why you've barely given me attention then. Especially if I mean so much to you."
Anna pursed her lips and let her eyes wander across the dark room. "I've...had a lot on my mind," she confessed. "A lot. The Outer Rim Sieges are still raging on. Anakin and I had a falling out after he disrespected my squad. To top it all off, my clan master passed away. He just...died. It wasn't even a result of the ongoing war. Master Adersen was sick with an illness completely out of his control. Hell, how much is actually in anyone's control?" Anna queried. As she did so, memories of murdering Dr. Morzetti flooded her mind. She'd staved them off whenever possible, but such vulnerability had cracked her resolve.
Hans noticed her visible discomfort and inched closer to her. He tried putting an arm around Anna, but she had started to dissociate. Her mind wandered into a blurred state, the likes of which had Morzetti's wheezes echoing on eternal loop.
"Hey," Hans urged and shook Anna.
Her eyes fluttered as she gasped and returned to the present moment. "H-huh?"
"You're really messed up, aren't you?" Hans remarked as Anna hugged herself. "It's alright, I've got just the thing."
As he ducked towards his personal case, Anna braced herself. "Hans," she mumbled in protest.
"Hey," he insisted. "You said you loved me, right? Well part of loving someone is about trust." He uncapped a multi-colored death stick vial and let the granules fall into his palm. "Trust me to help you," Hans continued. "You've got a lot on your mind. Way too damn much for any servant of the Order to be dealing with. Think of everything we've been through together. Especially on Takodana."
Anna's heart sank as she recalled the grim scene they'd faced on the forested world. Yet in spite of those thoughts surrounding Hans' father, Anna's mind drifted elsewhere. She thought about how close she'd become to Hans as a result. Anna reminisced on the passion they'd shared during the flight and held on to that feeling, longing to make it endure.
"I...trust you," she whispered.
Hans' grin widened as he crushed the death stick granules into a finer powder. "Say goodbye to the pain of the past," he assured. "You don't have to feel it anymore."
"And his legacy will live on through all of us. Through our actions and beyond...into the Force." Even as Elsa spoke such reassuring words, she found it difficult to remain steadfast. To look upon each youngling in Brith Clan and wholeheartedly tell them that their master had passed away...was gut-wrenching. Elsa felt each painful and emotional ripple through the Force. Her heart pounded at the sight of so many heartbroken children. Their wide and teary eyes were lost to Elsa's words. No amount of reassurance could bring peace to the younglings as they searched for unseen understanding. The last thing Elsa wanted was for any of the children to feel abandoned by the loss. "But listen closely," she told them. "None of you have to bear this pain alone. Jedi of the Order will always stand by your side."
In many ways, Elsa found it fitting that Master Adersen had entrusted Brith Clan to Master Kalia. Ithorians were a naturally docile race, and Kalia herself had always been nurturing. She needed the younglings as much as they needed her. While they were healing from the loss of their master, she was still grieving Beetra and her Padawan. Elsa couldn't help but wonder if Adersen had planned out every detail, wanting to leave everyone in the best hands possible. Although Adersen's loss had impacted each child differently, they were united in Kalia's embrace. Elsa held back her tears and chose to be strong as the children embraced their new master. Kalia's long, gentle arms extended to the younglings as she comforted them through their pain. In the face of detachment and doctrine, it was blissful to see so many coming together. Even the rambunctious Karkarodons who once bullied Stel had quelled under the circumstances. Elsa peered beyond the group and watched a Zeltron youngling approach the window.
The pink-skinned child paused and stared at her former classmate. "Stel?" she worried and watched him repeatedly tap on the window. The Theelin's eyes remained fixated on ongoing skylane traffic as he tapped away. "Stel..."
"Please leave me alone, Livia." the boy whispered. "You can't boss me around anymore."
Livia bit her lip and inched closer. "I don't wanna boss you around," she insisted. "I just wanted to see how-"
"I said please leave me alone!" Stel asserted. While Livia shuddered at his response, several younglings also glanced over. Master Kalia was about to intervene when Elsa raised a hand. Interposing herself betwixt it all, Elsa neared her apprentice.
"Padawan," she spoke calmly yet assertively while Livia backed away. Stel winced at his master's beckoning and kept tapping on the glass. "Please look at me," Elsa said and made the boy hunch further. She sighed at his response and knelt beside the child.
"I'm fine," he grumbled and increased his tapping speed. "It's over."
"It's not over," Elsa implored. "Master Adersen passed on, but that doesn't just mean the end of things. I know you aren't fine and that's okay. I'm not fine either." Elsa subtly gestured to the rest of Brith Clan. "No one is. We will all miss him very much and it's okay to feel sad." She looked out the window alongside him. "But we cannot lose sight of who we are."
Rather than answer her, Stel proposed a new question. "What if we left?" he asked and Elsa raised her brows. His eyes were fixated on the passing airspeeders. And like them, he imagined flying far from the temple and his grief. "The Jedi," he continued. "What if we left together?"
"Stel," Elsa intoned. "Running away wouldn't solve anything. No matter what kind of company you kept."
"But everyone accepted that Padawan Tano left," Stel considered. "Why couldn't they do the same for us? Then we wouldn't have to lose anyone else."
"Loss is inevitable," Elsa sighed. "And while Ahsoka made her choice to leave our Order, we have a responsibility to it. You still have much to learn, young one," she explained before sensing a familiar presence. Elsa glanced over her shoulder and was surprised to see Yelena entering the room. Her old master spoke to Kalia in a hushed tone, all while occasionally eyeing Elsa.
"Padawan," the eldest Dellian whispered. "Stay here." She approached the masters to better understand what was going on. "Master Yelena," she greeted with a solemn bow. "What brings you to Brith Clan?"
"You, actually." Yelena confessed. "Elsa, I know circumstances are...grim. But I must speak with you. Alone."
Elsa's confusion was quelled by Kalia's gentle touch. "I will watch over your Padawan," the Ithorian insisted. "You can trust me." Elsa alternated her nervous gaze between Kalia and Yelena. She ultimately nodded and departed with her old master.
"I hope this is important," Elsa fretted. "Stel needs me more than ever now."
Yelena huffed as they traversed the temple's winding corridors. "I understand," she replied. "And I'm sorry to pull you from him. But this couldn't wait any longer." Sensing Elsa's anxiety, Yelena continued at a quieter volume. "I don't want to keep any secrets between us, Elsa. Even if it means-" Yelena's nostrils flared as she struggled to release the words. "-not just doing as I'm told."
"Is this about your assignment from the council?" Elsa inquired as Yelena nodded discreetly. "Yelena...I've made peace with your choices. You don't have to-"
The elder swiftly raised her hand. "Please," she implored. "Let me do this." Hoping to lighten the mood, she flashed a jovial smirk. "Before I cave and change my mind."
Elsa quietly followed Yelena into an unknown wing. Their footsteps echoed beyond the soft carpeting and throughout the grandiose halls.
"Where are we?" Elsa asked as she entered unfamiliar territory. Rather than answer her question with mere words, Yelena suddenly shimmied between two columns. Worried yet curious, Elsa followed her in. With a wave of her hand, Yelena used the Force to shift the rear portion of the columns and reveal a secret passage. "By the Force," Elsa gasped at the shadowy yet polished staircase. Following Yelena's lead, she descended through the mysterious and shadowy passage.
The deeper they traveled, the more freely the Light Side of the Force came to Elsa's senses. It was as if they'd entered another world, unknown to the Order as a whole and teeming with raw potential. Despite her urges speak out on such power, Elsa kept a level head and wondered where they were truly headed. Her heart sank as they approached a set of doors bearing the Jedi Order's crest. The seal appeared as ancient as the Jedi enclave she'd visited on Dantooine. Elsa gasped as Yelena opened the doors with the Force. Once the sacred crest parted, the duo stepped into a tranquil chamber. Gentle waters trickled from a single fountain and flowed along steady, circular divots in the floor. Small, ornate foliage bloomed from pots situated along the divots. These botanical wonders stretched deeper into the chamber, where several other rooms brandished the Order's symbol.
"I had no idea this was down here," Elsa confessed. "What exactly is this place?"
"A training sanctuary," Yelena explained. "Built during the High Republic almost two hundred years ago."
"Will the Order's secrets ever cease?" Elsa whispered while running her fingers against a familiar flower's petals. She embraced the blooming blueblossom as Yelena approached.
"I'm afraid not," the master confessed. "I'm still coming to terms with these ongoing mysteries myself. For generations, this sanctuary has been used to train children whom the council has deemed to be connected to any vergences in the Force."
"Vergences?" Elsa inquired.
"Nexus points," Yelena elaborated. "Locations throughout the galaxy where the Force's flow is unusually strong. The temple itself was built upon such a vergence. But it is believed that when an infant is found near one of these points, it is never a coincidence. It is then that the council selects one of its members to guide the infant and oversee its training."
Elsa knitted her brows as she focused on her rising senses. A pair of clawed feet pattered against the stony flooring. The nearby power cells cast a pointy-eared shadow in front of Elsa, making her believe Master Yoda had followed them. She spun with a gasp, but instead found herself face to face with a younger member of his species.
"Elsa," Yelena sighed, knowing there was no turning back. "This is my Padawan...Grogu."
All seemed quiet in the upper dormitories. Whether it was or actually wasn't, Anna couldn't say. In fact, nothing seemed quite right. Everything was so...heavy. The doors to Hans' quarters hissed open. The mechanism was far more clamorous than it ever had been and made Anna wince. The ringing in her ears came in echoey waves as she glanced back into Hans' room. She had to briefly shake her head as a stinging sensation took hold. It was as if someone had taken an igniter to her nostrils and set them ablaze. She sought to quell this fiery itch with a sniffle, but that only brought a greater sting. Whatever death stick granules lingered on her upper lip had finally entered with that sniffle. "H-hans?" she asked. Anna wasn't even sure if she'd spoken those words or thought them.
Her lover was a swaying blur on his shadowy bed. His eyes listed towards the ceiling as he succumbed to his elevated state of mind. Having indulged more of the substance than she had, Hans wasn't even paying attention to her. "I'm gonna-" Anna murmured as her knees wobbled. "Gonna go-"
She stumbled out into the hallway, peering back only when his door slammed shut. Hans had been right about a lack of feeling, at least when it came to the past. All of Anna's previous pains faded in exchange for a plethora of sensory hindrances. Every step down the corridor felt heavier than its predecessor. No matter how far Anna traveled, she felt as though she hadn't budged. Looking down at the floor prompted feelings of nausea as the carpet pulsed in surreal waves. The once sturdy columns around her wobbled towards the ceiling. The dizzying anomaly became so unsettling, that Anna collapsed against the nearest wall. She fought to keep her balance, even as its bronze hues seemed to ooze over her fingers. Her world was melting as she felt sad and terrified all at once. Dehydration battled nausea until a lunge brought Anna to her knees. The ensuing thud was explosive against Anna's ears and the world around her faded. Colors became a dense, silver blur as she knelt in a void of nothingness. Her mild whimpers seemed endless until a pair of figures approached from beyond.
Anna felt like she could hardly keep her eyes open. The figures maintained a steady pace as they closed in. With each passing step, they alternated between morphing together and separating again. Blurred shapes switched between clone armor and the dresses of Aren royalty. But as the duo finally arrived, Anna noticed their Jedi robes.
"Anna?" a young woman's voice beckoned. It sounded like it was calling from miles away, even when the person was right in front of her. As Anna squinted for a closer look, she observed Tori Vica alongside a Trandoshan Jedi. "Are you alright?" Tori asked, her yellow facial markings crawling cross her face. Tori kept talking and even exchanged several words with her partner. Yet no matter how much Anna leaned closer, she couldn't make out what they were saying. Their words faded further and further back. Staring at Tori's melting lips, she made out the word 'Adersen'.
"I know we haven't talked much as of late," Tori continued. "But we're all experiencing the loss of our clan master together. I'm here for you." She extended a hand to Anna, who suddenly widened her eyes. What Tori viewed as a simple gesture was completely different in Anna's eyes.
Adersen...Adersen...Adersen a voice kept echoing beyond the blur. Anna saw Tori's lips continuously mouthing his name, expanding and surrounding her. When she looked at Tori's open hand, she instead saw Master Adersen.
"Y-...you?" she uttered.
"Is this the Jedi Master you were to become?" he judged.
"No," Anna pleaded and reached out. "I-"
Before she could defend herself, Adersen's apparition started coughing heavily. His coughs transitioned into an all too familiar wheeze as she bore witness to Dr. Nila Morzetti. Anna's hand wasn't holding Adersen's but instead seizing Morzetti by the throat. "No!" Anna screamed and backed into the blurred darkness. "Not again! No!" She sprinted into the shadows, running as far as she needed to if it meant escaping that horrible noise.
Why are the memories coming back? she thought to herself. This was supposed to help. Should I have taken more? Make it stop. Make it stop!
A pair of firm hands siezed her through the shadows. Snatching her wrists, the hands held her in place as she growled, "Don't you kriffing touch me! Let go!" Her threats faltered as tears fled her eyes. Yet at the height of her sensory overload, one voice crept through. "Anna," it said calmly, even through her hysteria. "Anna," it spoke again to ground her. Anna stood in her blurred and surreal reality. "What's wrong?"
"I-" Anna gasped. "I don't know. I don't where I am."
Rather than ask another question and risk further stressing her, the voice maintained a level tone. "Feel my hands," it said and slid them to meet her palms. "Feel the floor beneath you. What's it made of?"
Anna's breaths slowed as she dug her heels into the flooring. "It's...a carpet," she whispered.
"That's right," said the voice. "You're here in the temple. Can you hear me?"
Anna slowly nodded and fought to see clearly. As she squinted through her own blur, she glimpsed a pair of strong hands against hers. She followed their swirling combination of shapes to a single image, as a young blonde's face formed. "K-Kristoff?" she whispered.
"That's right," Kristoff spoke soothingly and caressed her palms. "I'm here. Just take it easy. One breath at a time." As he worked to calm her, Sven came grunting from around the corner. When the Cevrian noticed the situation, he deviated from his patrol route to assist.
Sven spoke in his native tongue as Kristoff shook his head. "I don't know, buddy," the guard said. "I just found her running down the hall like this." He felt Anna's sweaty forehead and looked at her eyes. Anna's pupils had dilated to a concerning size and she was hardly blinking. Tears fled her reddening gaze as Kristoff took her by the arm. "Let's just get her some place safe," he told Sven before turning to Anna. "Can you still feel my hand?" he asked.
"Yes," the Jedi whispered.
"Okay, just hold on." Kristoff assured until he noticed her shivering. He immediately removed his security cap and placed it on her head to preserve warmth. "You're gonna be alright," he added while guiding her alongside Sven.
Grogu gently shut his eyes and raised an arm. The infant's tridactyl hand twitched as he focused on a water pitcher. "That's it," Yelena whispered while Elsa watched intently. "Concentrate, Grogu. See the water in your mind. Feel its properties beyond the pitcher."
Elsa raised her brows as Yelena's student levitated the object. Grogu babbled and his forehead furrowed. He delicately swayed his hand across the room and towards Elsa's lap. While the pitcher occasionally teetered, the child remained steadfast. Elsa grinned as the pitcher descended into her palms. "Astounding," she professed.
"Not bad for a twenty-two year old, right?" Yelena remarked.
"Not bad at all-" Elsa started to answer before almost spilling the pitcher. "Wait, what?" she blurted and glared at Grogu. "Twenty-two?"
"Every species ages differently," Yelena explained while her Padawan played with his feet. "Grogu's still very much a baby, but his progress through the Force is remarkable."
"I see why the council wants him trained," Elsa replied while using the pitcher to water the sanctuary's flowers. She took a deep breath and stopped by a bushel of blueblossoms. "For what it's worth," she added. "I believe he's in good hands."
Yelena tilted her head, confused yet curious over Elsa's choice of words. "Do you truly mean that?" she asked. "After...everything that's happened between us?"
Grogu's wide eyes darted from Jedi to Jedi as Elsa formulated her response. She looked down at him and said, "When you have a Padawan, you do everything you can to help them succeed. You focus on tuning their faults and polishing their strengths, all in the name of guidance." Elsa sighed and returned her gaze to Yelena. "And you couldn't imagine what it would be like if they failed because of you. Because your personal actions got in the way of their progression." Yelena swallowed hard as Elsa continued. "And that thought is terrifying. To think what your past could do to their future. To imagine that no matter how close you two feel, all of that could be severed because of your mistake." Yelena gulped again, desperate to combat the lump in her throat. "Master Yelena," Elsa implored. "I think I understand now. You weren't just protecting me from getting hurt, you were protecting yourself." Elsa kept her voice soft. "And that's alright."
The elder looked up at Elsa with misty eyes. "I thought if I guarded my heart enough, maybe I wouldn't get so attached to you. But you were my student and I wanted you to succeed by all and any means. Yet every time I found myself getting closer-" Yelena bit her lip and hurriedly wiped a tear. "-I backed away. Because I was afraid. I clung to the Jedi Code to try and keep myself grounded. Tried to do everything the council asked of me because I was so afraid of losing you." Yelena forced an ironic chuckle. "Yet through my avoidance...I ended up losing you in an entirely different way." Yelena's attempt to calm herself was made easier when she felt a pair of tiny hands pat her leg. She and Elsa shared a snicker as little Grogu hugged her.
"Elsa," Yelena said. "Hear this now more than ever. Mattias was right all along. Padawans are the children we will never have." She placed her hands on Elsa's shoulders and said, "You are as much my daughter as you are Iduna's. And I am so deeply sorry that I ever made you feel like less." Hanging her head, Yelena succumbed to the very pain she'd staved off for years. "Should the day come where you find it in your heart to forgive me, I-"
Yelena paused as Elsa gripped her shoulders too. Looking into each other's teary eyes, Elsa smiled and said, "I already have."
"Thank you," Yelena whispered until Elsa pulled her closer.
"I forgive you," Elsa reiterated. "Now you need to forgive yourself."
"I can't promise perfection," Yelena confessed.
"And I never needed it," Elsa assured. "I just needed you."
It was in that moment, that Yelena realized Master Cordova had been right. Her attempted presence was enough for Elsa. For so often was the effort to make amends overlooked by the actual result. Letting her tears flow freely, Yelena pulled Elsa into an embrace. The knight's fingers curled against her former master's tabards. Their joyous tears dampened each other's robes until Grogu's babbling caught them off guard. Elsa and Yelena glanced at Grogu before sharing a tearful giggle.
"I'm glad you opened up to me," Elsa admitted. "Because there's no way you wouldn't get attached to a Padawan like Grogu."
"He is cute," Yelena confessed as the youngling twitched his ears. "How's your Padawan doing?"
Elsa winced and admitted, "Adersen's passing hit him hard. He even talked to me about leaving the Order."
Yelena sighed at the boy's situation. "Perhaps I can talk to him," she proposed and Elsa's eyes lit up. Yelena scooped Grogu up in her arms and said, "It's almost this little one's nap time anyway. Plus-" she smiled sincerely and looked at Elsa with a newfound sense of self. "-I want to be a part of your life too."
Kristoff shuffled down the hall and back to the guards' quarters. "Blondie!" Cadet Officer Ferix bellowed. Her stern stare found him as he stumbled with a snack tray from the cafeteria. "I don't remember authorizing an extra break for you."
"Sven and I completed our patrol routes," Kristoff panted. "We started early."
Suspicious, Lyn stomped after Kristoff. She caught up and thrust a burly arm to block his path. "Not so fast," she scolded and Kristoff gulped. His fingers curled against the rattling tray while Lyn stared him down. "What's your angle?"
"I'm just picking up a snack for us," Kristoff professed.
"Don't play dumb with me," Lyn asserted while his heart raced. "Starting your patrols early? Being first on the scene to respond to that traitorous Offee girl? I see what you're doing and it won't work."
Keeping calm, Kristoff simply shrugged. "With all due respect...please enlighten me, cadet officer."
"You want my spot," Lyn grumbled. "Well Master Drallig was very clear. He's not promoting any others to look after you moofmilkers. So if you think you're getting my position, you've got another thing-"
"Officer Ferix," Kristoff assured. "I promise that I don't want your position. After all, you're doing such a...pleasant job already."
"And don't you forget it," Lyn scoffed and leaned in. "Finish your grub and then double time it to the atrium. That's an order."
"Yes ma'am," Kristoff obliged and continued on his way.
Lyn continued to glare and sneer even as Kristoff stepped out of earshot. "You'll have to take this spot from my cold, dead hands." She groused. "Ya mooch."
With Lyn out of the way, Kristoff hurriedly entered the guard dorms and bolted to his bunk. Located in the furthest corner, Kristoff's bed had plenty of shadows to take advantage of. The likes of which were perfect for helping Anna stay hidden from wandering eyes. "How is she?" Kristoff asked while setting the tray down. Sven mooed concernedly and gestured to the bed. Although Anna was previously burning up, she had begun to shiver profusely. "Hey," Kristoff whispered and dropped to her side. "I'm back." Anna groaned as her eyes listed across the darkness. "It's okay," he assured. "It's just me." Acting on her shivers, Kristoff pulled a blanket over Anna's body. He bundledit up around her arms and legs to keep her warm. Leaning in beside her, Kristoff observed Anna's chapped lips and withdrew a water bottle from the tray. "We've got to keep you hydrated," he whispered while uncapping it. When she initially rejected the fluid, Kristoff reduced his pressure to small sips. "I also have some diced up meiloorun for whenever you're ready."
Anna's head twitched as Sven worriedly muttered to Kristoff. Addressing the Cevrian's concern, he looked at Anna and whispered, "I don't know what's going on...but we only want to help you. I can call Doctor Sheparr...or Master Mattias to-"
"No," Anna croaked and nearly spit the water out. "Please," she babbled while flailing under the blanket. "Don't-...Don't-"
Kristoff held her quivering hand and steadied it. "Okay...okay," he reassured to calm her down. "But if I'm not getting anyone else involved, I need to know what happened. Please." Kristoff bowed his head in an effort to reach hers. Anna could hardly pick her face up from the mattress. Her bloodshot, teary eyes reached his gentle gaze. Seeing her in such an agonizing state was heart-wrenching, yet he willed himself to stay strong. "Are you sick?" Kristoff whispered as she slowly shook her head. "Did you...take something?" Her unresponsiveness had Kristoff swallowing hard. "Anna..." he asserted until she ultimately nodded. The confession alone was enough to have her weeping through her high state.
"I'm sorry," Anna uttered through her confusion. "I'm so messed up right now."
"It's alright," Kristoff answered. Although hesitant at first, he raised a hand to rub her back. His soothing touch helped her focus on something beyond her other stimulations. "It's...okay to feel messed up sometimes. You take all the time you need." While Sven kept an eye out for other guards, Kristoff continued to watch over the Jedi. "I'm not going anywhere," he said. "We'll ride this out together." As Anna reached a leveled state, Kristoff noticed the yellow kyber crystal sloped against her neck. She's still wearing the necklace, he thought.
Stel Sovan had lost complete track of time. In fact, not even Master Kalia could pry him from the window. He continued to tap on the glass and stare at a ceaseless flow of airspeeders. Although she was concerned about him, Kalia had to be sure that the rest of Brith Clan's younglings were looked after as well.
"I'm sorry I ran away before," Stel remembered saying. "I was scared."
"To be brave is to be scared," Master Adersen had told him. "But-"
"I know. I'm not alone."
"Good lad..."
But it didn't matter how many others were grieving around him. Stel still felt alone. The gravity of his pain weighed him down, keeping him at a point of stagnation. He missed Master Adersen...a mentor who'd been so calm and patient with him.
"Stel?" Elsa's voice beckoned. Her and Yelena's reflections appeared in the window beside him. "There's someone here would like to help you."
"Master Adersen's gone," the youngling uttered. "What difference would any help make?"
Yelena answered in Elsa's stead. "This isn't about him," the elder said calmly. "It's about you." She approached the window and knelt beside Stel. "He is at peace," she assured. "But now, you need to heal. And I know it hurts. I know you feel numb to everyone's presence and words."
"How could you know how terrible this is?" Stel whimpered, finally breaking his gaze from the window.
Yelena sighed and placed a comforting hand on the Theelin's shoulder. "Because I lost my master too. And while Padawans are the children we'll never have...masters are like parents to us."
Stel sniffled. "Do you...still miss your master?"
"Every day," Yelena confessed as Elsa held back her own emotions. "In truth...you will never be the same after losing your master. I can't promise you a speedy recovery, but you will heal in time. And one day, you will become a beacon of hope that others will look to for guidance." Yelena looked Elsa's Padawan directly in the eye and added, "The Stels of tomorrow need the Stel of today to be strong."
"We are Jedi," Stel murmured and nodded to Elsa.
"That's right," Yelena affirmed and patted his head.
Master Cordova sat among the relics in his quarters. His somber gaze traveled across the shelves as if searching each artifact for an answer. Yet no ancient helmet nor ceremonial sword could guide him after the vision he'd witnessed. BD-1 waddled over and hopped up on his armrest. The droid offered a concerned beep and Cordova pet him. "We'll find a way, my friend," he assured. "We must trust in the Force to see us through." As the old man found comfort in his droid, a series of knocks came to the door. "Kindly return at a later time," Cordova lamented. "I'm...very busy."
"They were never going to believe you," an older woman spoke through the door. A twinge of familiarity was enough to make Cordova rise from his seat. "But I do."
Cordova rushed to the door with BD-1 in tow. He quickly opened it to see the Order's chief librarian. "Jocasta," Cordova gasped. "What are you-"
"Master Yelena told me everything."
Cordova smiled subtly, grateful for the risk Yelena had taken. "But what if the council is right?" he considered. "What if my vision is a mistake?"
"The only mistake would be not to heed it," Jocasta persisted. "If the Force is guiding you, it is our duty to hear its call. And at times-" Jocasta withdrew a cube from her satchel. "-step in to defend its future."
The device's azure glow flickered in Cordova's eyes as he reached for it. "A holocron," he whispered.
"Guard it well," Jocasta intoned. "For if the destruction you envisioned is to pass, this is our future. Searching through our Seeker's data entries, I've compiled a list of every Force-sensitive child scattered across the stars. Their recorded names and locations are stored in this holocron. Should there be a fallen Order, the galaxy will need a new generation of Jedi."
"Thank you, Jocasta." Cordova said while stashing the holocron away. "I will never forget what you and Yelena have done for me today." Despite his gratitude, the council's words had planted seeds of doubt in the master's mind. "Jocasta," he mumbled. "Do you think my vision could've been planted by the Dark Side? That it's actually a trap of some sort?"
"I won't deny the possibility," she answered. "But recent events have me favoring otherwise. First the temple bombing, and now-" Jocasta grimaced as Cordova raised a brow. "Well, I'm sure you've heard."
"I'm afraid I've been quite occupied," Cordova confessed. "What exactly happened?" Jocasta's grim visage was enough to have her companion stumbling back into his room. "BD-1," Cordova beckoned. "Turn the HoloNews on. Please." His droid chimed and leapt towards a desk-mounted datascreen. As BD-1 linked into the device, images flashed of a breaking news bulletin.
REPUBLIC FORCES PULLING OUT OF RINGO VINDA. JEDI MASTER AMONG THOSE KILLED IN ACTION. CAUSE OF DEATH UNDER INVESTIGATION.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading this week's chapter of "The Frozen Force!" Our adventure carries on and I genuinely thank you for all of your kindness. Your support of this story is very much appreciated, whether you're a veteran reader or just getting started. We are going to stick with posting every other week for now. I just got promoted to trainer at work, giving me even less time to balance everything else out. This being said, two weeks still work the best for me to steadily create quality content. Your patience is greatly appreciated, my friends. Right now, things are good to stay as they have been. If I need to start training people at work, there is a chance that I may need to devote more time to my 'Padawans' (couldn't resist). If that happens, we may need to invent a new code for two week breaks. But that's just another contingency just in case! I feel like Batman with contingencies XD.
Dearest readers, I will see you in two weeks on Friday, April 22nd for Chapter: 105 - Daze of Our Fives
Long Live Imagination and May the Force be with You,
~ Michael