Finding the way
The Regensis exited hyperspace with the Spirit appearing behind it a moment later. All ships' occupants were immediately on alert for what lay waiting for them in real space. They were all met with the sight of a sea of orange and yellow in amorphous color patterns. It was composed of dust, interstellar gas, and whatever other matter had drifted its way in from the far reaches of space.
The Jedi were taking a moment to marvel at the sight when Jack's voice came through their comm systems. "Look alive people. Got a nebula ahead," he warned.
"We see it Jack," Elsa responded.
"Could be some stars forming in there," Hiccup added.
The ships drifted slowly towards the nebula and everyone steeled their nerves. Flying through a nebula could be dangerous. Besides forming stars there were various mega fauna that made their homes inside them. Some nebula were even known as ship graveyards, capable of tearing apart vessels that traveled through them.
"We'll take point, Jack," Hiccup said. "Stick close."
"Got it," Jack said in response.
With a breath Hiccup pressed forward on the yoke, directing the Regenisis into the nebula. The Spirit trailed behind, keeping a safe distance. As the ships drew closer to the nebula the space around them began growing thick with faint wisps of the dust and gases permeating its perimeter. Soon enough they were inside.
All around as far as the eye could see were clouds of interstellar gases and swirls of space dust. The travelers couldn't help but look around and marvel at the sight. In the distance they could see faint orbs of light, evidence of forming stars.
"Wow. It's amazing," Merida whispered in awe.
Jack snorted, unimpressed as he kept his attention fixed on the back of the Jedi corvette. "Meh. Fly through one nebula and you've flown through them all," he said casually with a shrug. Smugglers often used nebulas as routes to avoid the major hyperspace lanes and move illegal goods through space.
On the bridge of the Regenisis Hiccup shifted his focus from his view out the viewport to the navicomputer. The navicomputer was charting a course through the nebula, guided by the star compass. Elsa held the compass in her palm, it was opened and the inner mechanisms swiveled and pointed in the direction. She was thankful the ancient relic seemed to be working. One glance outside and it became easy to see how a ship could get lost.
The map updated, showing a change of course. Hiccup shifted the controls to the right, listing smoothly in that direction. The Spirit did the same a moment later to follow. They flew in silence, all eyes on the lookout for hazards. Hiccup occasionally relayed instructions for Jack to follow before adjusting the course of the ship.
Both ships suddenly flew into a much denser part of the nebula. The gases and dust were thick around them. It formed a solid wall that no one could see through. Hiccup began to grow nervous but stayed the course. In the back of his mind however, he couldn't help but shake a feeling that something was off.
"This seems too easy," he said aloud. The other Jedi looked toward him. "It just seems to easy," he said again.
Rapunzel and Elsa exchanged a glance before looking out the viewport. They couldn't help but agree. Things were going too well, too smoothly. Especially for them. They thought there would be more obstacles and hazards in the nebula. But thus far it had been smooth sailing.
Hiccup kept his view on the wall of gas obstructing his view before his eyes suddenly widened. He couldn't see anything. But he suddenly sensed danger. Something was coming toward them.
"Jack, heads up! We got danger inbound!" he declared loudly. The other Jedi jumped at his sudden warning. But their senses suddenly alerted them of danger as well.
They peered ahead to find the gas clouds were slowly dissipating, allowing them to see a little further ahead. Right in time to meet the face of a gigantic creature coming at them. The Jedi all shouted in alarm at the sight of the multiple eyes and large toothy maw of an enormous winged creature flying at them.
Hiccup immediately pulled up. The Regenisis quickly rose to pass over the creature's head. He flew over the length of its back and right between its wings only to be met with another. "Evasive action!" Hiccup called out for their comrades in the Spirit. He jerked the ship to the left, then up, and then into a dive.
His quick reflexes allowed him to avoid the creatures. Elsa and Rapunzel clung to the arms of their chairs tightly. They held their breaths anxiously before clearing the last of the group. Only when Hiccup didn't jerk on the controls for another quick evasive maneuver did they all release the breaths they'd been holding.
The corvette drifted forward as Hiccup slumped back in the pilot's seat, taking a moment to calm his nerves. All Jedi were wide eyed as they all took steadying breaths. That had been close. But, they'd come out ok.
"What were those?" Rapunzel asked aloud.
"Neebray manta," Hiccup answered. "They travel in groups and feed on the gases of nebulas."
"Oh," was all Rapunzel managed to say in response.
Hiccup pressed the button on their comm line to communicate with the Spirit. "Jack, everyone ok?" he asked in concern. He waited for a response, only to be met with static. "Jack? Eugene? Merida? I repeat, are you guys ok?" he asked, growing worried.
"Hic-havi-trou-comm sy-damage," came the broken response from their white haired friend.
They all exchanged a glance. Hiccup immediately jerked the yoke to the left for a sharp turn. He accelerated the ship back in the direction where they came.
"Hiccup? You seem worried?" Elsa noted. She could sense his worry went beyond just general concern for their comrades' well being. There was something more.
"I sensed fear from those creatures. Something scared them. They weren't just flying in a group. They were fleeing something," Hiccup said grimly.
The other Jedis' eyes widened and their stomachs dropped in dread. What could creatures of that size have to fear? Whatever it was they prayed they would find their friends before it did.
While Hiccup had successfully piloted his way through the flock of mantas, Jack had been forced to do the same. Upon seeing the first manta Jack had jumped into action. He swerved the ship to the left, skimming the side of the great beast. Then he dropped into a shallow dive, going under the next one. He swerved and jerked the controls, tilting the Spirit to slip through the narrow gaps between the flock.
After several harrowing minutes he saw an opening and a way out of the flock's path. He sped the ship up, looking to get out from this death trap as fast as he could. Right as he flew by the right side of the final manta its wing came down, grazing the top of the Spirit with a jarring hit that sent it spinning.
Everyone gave a yell while Jack grit his teeth with effort before managing to right the ship. He evened it out before steering it forward to put some distance between the flock and their ship. After a few moments of not seeing any more he assumed they were safe.
He threw himself back against his seat and let out a gusty sigh of relief. He took a few deep breaths before looking to his friends. "Everyone ok?" he asked.
"Aye," Merida said, hand on her chest as she tried to slow her racing heart.
"I'm-I'm good," Eugene stammered, still wide eyed but otherwise ok.
Jack let out a breath of relief. Then he glanced around, looking for their comrades ship. He scowled, finding it nowhere in sight. "Ah kriff! I don't see the Regenisis! he cried in exasperation.
The other began looking out the viewport frantically, searching for any signs of their comrades' ship. But as Jack said, it was nowhere in sight.
As if on cue the ship's comms system went off and a message came through. "Ja-ev-one-ok?" came a garbled voice that was likely Hiccup's.
Jack pressed the button to send a reply. "Hiccup, that you?" he asked.
"-ack-Eug-Mer-" was the only reply.
"What's happening?" Merida asked, bewildered.
Jack frowned and ran a quick systems check. He gave a growl and slapped a hand down on the ship's console in irritation. "That last hit must have damaged our comms," he answered. He tried one more time to contact Hiccup. "Hiccup, we're having trouble with the comm systems. We think it took some damage. Do you copy?"
They only got static in response. Jack sighed and rubbed a hand down his face. He let out a groan before turning his attention to the instruments. He looked at a few of the panels and frowned unhappily. "Can't get a reading on the Regenisis. Damn nebula is messing with the scanners," he said as he adjusted the instruments hopelessly.
After a beat he gave up. "I'm gonna activate the ship's beacon and let them find us." he decided. He looked to the others. "Sound good?"
They nodded in agreement. With that Jack switched on the Spirit's distress beacon. With the Regenisis being the only ship in the area they were sure their friends could find them. If that didn't work they knew that they had other methods to locate them. With the beacon active Jack switched the Spirit to a low power state and rose from his seat and left the cockpit to survey the ship for any additional damage and to see if he could get their communications running again.
With a grunt Eugene unclipped himself from his seat and rose. He stretched his arms above his head to ease the tension in shoulders. "Well, think I'll get me something to eat," he said aloud. He looked to the red head. "Want anything?"
Merida shook her head. "Ah'm good, thanks," she said politely.
Eugene shrugged in acceptance before leaving the cockpit. Merida unbuckled herself and reclined her chair back to try and relax. With nothing to do she let her mind wander. She wondered what it was they were looking for. What would they find at the end of this adventure? The Jedi all thought it was important. Merida wasn't so sure.
She blinked and shook her head to banish away that last treacherous thought. What was important to her friends was of course important to her. Especially if it was important to Hiccup. Her thoughts began to center on her partner. She hoped he was ok. She was sure he was, but she couldn't help but worry. She clasped her hands over her stomach and began to fiddle with her fingers anxiously.
Hiccup will find us, she said confidently to herself in her mind. Somehow. Someway. Hiccup and the other Jedi would find them.
As she fiddled with her fingers she suddenly became fixed on the fourth finger of her left hand. She craned her neck to look down on it, finding it felt oddly...empty? She unclasped her hand and raised it up to inspect it. She realized how small her hand seemed. How dainty her fingers were despite the callouses that stemmed from her years using weapons. Her mom used to say something about the way a woman's hands should be. She considered herself lucky to have found a partner that didn't seem to mind them.
As her mind drifted further, she couldn't help but think of Hiccup's ring. Or was it technically hers? It was intended for her...but she hadn't accepted it. But she hadn't said no. Just not yet. There was a difference...wasn't there?
She imagined the ring on her finger. She still remembered it fairly vividly. She still didn't know if it even fit her hand. But with Hiccup's meticulous nature at crafting and building, she was sure it would fit perfectly.
A smile came to her face as she continued to visualize the ring on her finger and what it would mean. She sat up, laying her hands in her lap as she continued to smile to herself.
A blue flash from the corner of her eyes snapped her from her thoughts. She looked up and out the viewport and into the gases surrounding the ship for anything amiss. She didn't see anything, she began to wonder if she was imagining it when she caught a glimpse of something else in the peripheral of her left eye.
Her head snapped to the left and she could have sworn she saw a shadow moving in the dust. It even looked like something had disturbed a patch of the wall of gas. Though considering it all looked the same, she wondered if she was imagining things.
Anxiety and paranoia began to settle in the pit of her stomach. It clenched as she kept sweeping her gaze back and forth, trying to make out if she'd just been imagining things. Suddenly blue light flashed from somewhere within the gases. She was perplexed until she realized it looked a lot like arcs of lighting all around them.
"Jack?! Ah think you need to come up here!" she cried out while keeping her gaze fixed out of the cockpit window.
She heard the tromping of their pilot as he entered the cockpit with a look of concern. "Something wrong Merida?" Jack asked.
"Is it possible to have lighting in space?" she asked, still not looking back at him.
"Lightning in-" Jack started in confusion. But he paused as he caught the glimpse of the blue arcs of electricity crackling all around them. He stepped forward for a better look, mind racing and utterly confused at what he was looking at.
He and Merida stared in silence before Jack caught a glimpse of a shape moving within the veil of gases. It finally clicked in his brain what they were looking at. Ice filled his veins and his stomach dropped. "KRIFF!" he cursed before pushing past Merida and throwing himself into his seat.
"Jack!" Merida cried as he harshly shoved her against the wall of the small cockpit. She looked at him, miffed before noting his frantic actions. His hands flew over the controls as he powered up the Spirit.
"Jack?" she asked, worried.
He looked to her, terror shining from his eyes. "Strap in! We need to go! NOW!" he ordered firmly, leaving no room to debate. Merida barely had time to put herself in her seat before the Spirit suddenly surged forward, engines hurtling them into motion.
She yelped and heard an alarmed cry somewhere behind them. Footsteps and curses signaled the arrival of Eugene as he entered the cockpit, a brown stain on his shirt and looking quite irritated.
"What the hell Jack? Give a guy a little warning next time," he said angrily.
Jack didn't bother looking at him, keeping his attention fixed solely on steering his ship. "Strap in Eugene. Things might get a bit dicey," he warned.
Eugene's eyes widened in concern before he obeyed. He took a seat behind Jack and strapped himself in. Merida did the same. As they mentally prepared themselves for what may be coming. They didn't know what had Jack so afraid, but they felt it wasn't the time to distract him with a question.
Around them the crackling of electricity seemed to be intensifying. Bolts of electricity danced between the clouds of gas. Its like they were flying through a storm. They kept their eyes forward for any signs of obstructions or hazards when suddenly something burst forth from the gas clouds ahead of them.
It came from below, a long gargantuan tendril riddled with sharp spines and suckers with electricity coursing through it. It came hurtling toward them at a dangerous speed. Everyone yelped while Jack turned the yoke sharply to the left. The ship tilted on its side and veered off narrowly missing the tentacle as it surged through the space the ship had been seconds before.
More suddenly began bursting out from the gases and toward them. Jack cursed as he straightened out and had the ship swerving from side to side to dodge the incoming tentacles. He steered his way through the gaps in them before diving beneath another. Jack's palms were sweating as held the yoke in a death grip.
As he steered around another set it appeared as if they might be in the clear. Jack glanced around, on the lookout for more tentacles. He looked toward Merida seated beside him. She was looking around as well, but paused in her search to look to him. Jack opened his mouth to speak, but then glimpsed something out of the corner of his eye. His eyes widened and Merida took note of this. She whipped her head around and screamed at what she saw.
A massive dark shadow behind the clouds of dust and gas grew even larger before bursting forth. She was met with the sight of a huge, many eyed creature with a gaping maw of teeth, open and bearing down on them, about to bite down onto their ship. Eugene took notice a moment later and screamed in fright as well.
Jack screamed as well, but still had enough control of himself to veer the ship away at the last moment. The ship took a hard turn to the left, narrowly avoiding the jaws of the terrifying beast. The creature's jaws clamped down on empty space and it let out a bellow of frustration. But with its many eyes locked onto its next meal it was far from deterred.
It propelled itself into motion and after the Spirit. Its many electrically charged tentacles trailed behind it as it pursued. It closed the distance at an astonishing speed. The ship's proximity sensor alerted them to the approaching beast, they listened to it ping with dread.
"What the hell is that thing?" Eugene cried.
"It's a summa-verminoth! Apex predators! They can survive in the vacuum of space and will eat anything that crosses their path!" Jack answered quickly with a shrill cry. He heard stories about the creatures from other smugglers. He had hoped to never have the misfortune to cross paths with one.
Ahead, the crew began noticing debris around them. They splattered against the viewport as they steadily grew larger. Soon enough Jack began to swerve to avoid larger debris. Upon closer inspection they realized it was the partly eaten bodies of neebray manta.
"We must be in its feeding grounds," Merida noted.
"Lucky us," Jack said, weaving the Spirit through the graveyard of corpses. He glanced at the proximity sensor, showing that the creature was still in pursuit and maintaining a frightening pace.
The creature maintained its pursuit, its hulking mass batting away what was left of its preys' remains. It closed the distance before lashing out with a tentacle. It stretched it out and swung down on its quarry. The tentacle grazed the side of it, sending it into a spin.
Inside the cockpit the trio screamed as the hit sent the Spirit into a spin. The control console sparked at the surge of energy from the creature's tentacle arced through the ship. Jack managed to right them as the ship's diagnostic reports showed damage to the hull. They'd been lucky he'd improved the hull armor when he'd acquired the ship, otherwise they may all well be dead. But he knew he couldn't risk another hit like that. The next may very well be the last.
Behind them the summa-verminoth extended more of its tentacles. They reached out to encircle the ship, intent on blocking its path so it could pull them into its waiting jaws. The trio gasped as the tentacles circled around them. Jack's mind raced as he thought of the next move.
Suddenly something flew from the side and collided with a tentacle before exploding. They lurched away, creating a gap that let them fly through. As they passed something flew over the cockpit. They all looked up and smiled as they saw the Regenisis making a pass over them.
"You guys ok?" came Hiccup's voice over the communications systems.
Merida broke into a broad smile as she pressed the button to respond. "More or less. Thanks for the save," she said earnestly.
Outside the summa-verminoth howled in pain and anger. It looked to the new prey that had just come into its hunting grounds before taking off after it.
"Careful Hiccup, it's got its eyes on you guys now," Jack warned.
In the cockpit of the Regenisis the Jedi confirmed Jack's warning with the proximity sensor. Hiccup took a breath to steady his nerves as he held the yoke firm. Jack directed the Spirit after the creature and their comrades. Jack armed the Spirit's concussion missiles as he closed the distance behind it.
Up ahead the Regenesis was swerving left and right, dancing just out of the path of the incoming tentacles trying to grab it. The corvette lacked the raw speed and the maneuverability of the light freighter. Hiccup's senses were keeping them alive for now. But he knew that wouldn't last, they had to think of something.
As the summa-verminoth closed the distance and was opening its jaws to bite down onto the fleeing ship it was suddenly struck from behind. Several tentacles were hit with concussion missiles that exploded, scorching and tearing chunks of the appendages off. It whipped around in a wild rage only to spy the light freighter making a banking turn to the left. It took off after it in a frenzy.
Hiccup turned the corvette around to follow, not willing to let their friends out of their sight. "This isn't working," Hiccup said over the comm system.
"You're telling me!" Jack cried in alarm.
"It's too big for our concussion missiles to do anything. All we're doing is making it mad," Hiccup stated, frustrated.
At the Spirit's helm Jack silently agreed. He didn't know what to do and they couldn't keep running away forever. Sooner or later it would catch them. Then it'd be all over. The most they could do was shift its attention off the other ship but that was only prolonging the inevitable. He racked his brain for a solution, and after a few beats a light bulb went off in his head.
"I got an idea!" he shouted as he broke into a grin.
"We're all ears, Jack," Eugene said from behind him.
"Ok, so before we left Prime I was paranoid about traveling into the Unknown Regions. Rightfully so, I might add!" Jack declared with a sense of vindication.
"Get to the point, Jack," Elsa said to him over the comm.
"I asked some of the engineers to load us up with some extra barrels of fuel, just in case we ran out in space," he revealed.
"How do you think that will help?" Merida asked.
Jack gave a grin, eyes twinkling. "I say if this thing wants to take a bite out of something, let's give it to it. We throw the barrels out into space and let it chomp down onto it, but we attach a thermal detonator to it and blow it to hell when it does," he declared.
There was silence as all his comrades thought of his plan. It was a bit of a long shot, but they figured it could work. With a bit of luck and preparation at least.
Eugene undid his safety straps and leapt up. "I'll go get the fuel ready," he said quickly.
"Ah'll help," Merida said as she did the same. They ran from the cockpit.
"We'll keep its attention while you guys prepare," Hiccup said over the comm.
"Copy that," Jack replied in confirmation.
With that Hiccup narrowed his eyes and aimed all weapons at the summa-verminoth. He let loose a volley of missiles while also firing the Regenisis turbolaser cannons at its back. The missiles struck their mark. Causing it to halt and whirl around. The electricity from its tentacle sparked and crackled as its frustration and anger grew.
It lunged forward, mouth open. Hiccup continued to blast it, to make sure they grabbed its full attention. When they were within a few hundred meters Hiccup yanked on the yoke, directing the ship into a wide turn. The ship veered right and the summa-verminoth lashed out with its horde of tentacles. Hiccup veered from side to side and turned the ship on its side as it lashed out. He pushed the ship as fast as it could go.
Meanwhile, Eugene pushed a repulsorsled loaded with four barrels of rhydonium. His eyes were wide as he maneuvered the cargo mover through the halls of the ship and to the port side of the ship. As he neared the door he pulled on the handles to bring it to a stop just outside. Still, managing to bang the barrels against the door. He flinched on instinct, eyeing the barrels nervously.
"Eugene!" came a cry from behind.
Eugene whipped around to see Merida running toward him. "Got the detonator and trigger," she said as she showed him her hands.
He nodded. "Help me with this," he said as he motioned to the sled. She nodded and stepped forward. She attached the detonator to one of the barrels and pocketed the trigger. Eugene opened the hatch before putting his hands on the sled's handlebars. Merida did the same before they pushed it into the airlock.
They stepped back and Eugene closed it before they both ran back to the cockpit.
Merida reached it first, rushing in and declaring, "IT'S READY!"
Jack looked back and nodded. "Hiccup, we're all ready on our side," Jack said into the comm. He looked out the viewport window to see the Regenesis in the distance just barely managing to evade the jaws of the predator chasing it.
"Got it, bringing it your way," Hiccup said in reply.
They all watched as the Regenesis turned and began heading toward them with the monster in tow. Jack directed the Spirit toward them. Jack narrowed his eyes as his ship got closer.
"Hiccup, I want you to slow down just a little. I'll make a pass in front of it and shoot our bomb into its mouth," Jack said.
"Acknowledged," Hiccup said, eyes focused on the silhouette of the Spirit drawing closer. This was going to be a tricky maneuver. But he felt Jack could definitely pull it off. He reduced a little speed to the engines, watching as the proximity sensor alerted him to the creature closing the distance. He took a breath, trusting in Force as he kept straight ahead.
He saw Jack pulling away to make a turn. The proximity sensor pinged more incessantly. Outside the creature closed in on the Regenisis. It began to open its jaws, finally about to sink them into its elusive prey. Jack positioned the ship and set his sublight thrusters to full power for a burst of speed. He and the others were pushed into their seat as they rocketed toward the narrow gap between the corvette and the creature.
As its jaws closed in the Spirit rocketed through the gap in its jaws while Jack activated the airlock. The doors opened and the barrels and repulsorsled were sucked out into the vacuum of space, sending right down its gullet. The Spirit narrowly missed the teeth clamping down on it. The creature paused as it felt something lodge itself in its throat, giving the Regenisis the little time it needed to put some distance between itself and the creature.
"Now Merida!" Jack cried.
The red head, with the detonator in hand, pressed down on the button. There was a flash as the creature's head was blown apart by a powerful explosion. Bits of its body flew outward in all directions, some managing to hit both ships. Bits of scorched flesh splattered on the viewport window of the Spirit, causing Jack to grimace and exclaim in disgust.
"Ewww! Nasty!" he cried loudly. "I told you all this was a bad idea! UGH! I hate Wild Space!" he added loudly in exasperation. He knew venturing into these regions had been a bad idea.
Eugene and Merida looked at him in silence. Giving him a few moments to settle down. He made a few more remarks, declaring that he'd been right and that they should have listened to him, and complaining about the damage the Spirit had taken.
"Ya' done?" Merida asked after a few moments of letting him rant.
Jack looked at her with a scowl before facing forward and closing his eyes. He crossed his arms over his chest and took a breath. "Yeah. I think I'm good now," he said, more calmly with a nod.
They looked outside to see the Regenisis approaching them. It stopped and rested above them. "Are you all ok?" Elsa asked from the bridge.
"Yeah, babe. All souls accounted for," Jack replied.
The Jedi exchanged relieved glances, glad their comrades and partners had come out of this in one piece.
"Let's get a move on. Hopefully the next bit of this is uneventful," Hiccup said.
With that he activated the holomap and directed the ship back on course. Jack directed the Spirit follow as they continued their journey through the nebula, leaving behind the charred carcass of the summa-verminoth to float listless through space. All the while being on the lookout for any more threats.
Traversing the rest of the nebula was uneventful. They encountered no other creature or anything of note. Eventually they all noticed that the gases around them began growing light. Their spirits climbed as sure enough, they came out the other side.
Only to be met with an endless void of blackness and stars ahead of them. The Jedi were momentarily baffled. All that for nothing? It couldn't end like this. But the holomap suddenly expanded as it plotted a hyperspace route. The navicomputer began putting in coordinates by itself.
"Looks like it's only a short lightspeed jump after this," Rapunzel noted.
Hiccup nodded while Elsa typed at the controls. "Jack, we're sending you coordinates and a hyperspace route," Elsa informed the other pilot.
"WHAT!? You want to make a jump? We don't know what's out there!" Jack shouted in bewilderment.
"The compass is guiding our way. It will be fine, Jack. Trust us," Elsa said to assure him.
The Jedi heard mutterings from Jack's end before being followed by a defeated sigh. "Fine. Inputting coordinates. Stand by for jump," he said in acceptance.
The Jedi looked to each other, thoughts easily being conveyor to one another. This next jump could spell certain doom. Or it could throw them right back into danger. It was risky, trusting a device that was thousands of years old.
And yet…
Elsa smiled at her comrades. "The Force is with us. I know it is," she whispered with unwavering confidence. To emphasize her words she reached a hand out and placed it over the hyperdrive lever before holding their gazes and waiting.
Hiccup chuckled but gave a grin. "Yes. The nebula was just a test," he said with a nod. Then slowly she raised a hand up and placed it on top of Elsa's. The Knight held the other's gaze, their trust in each other as sure as their trust in the Force.
Rapunzel eagerly brought her hand down, placing it over theirs. "Then we're all united. Let's do it. Together," she said with a bright smile.
"All set," came Jack's voice over the comm.
With that the Jedi all set their sights ahead, staring into the unknown. "One three," Hiccup said aloud.
"One," Elsa started.
"Two," Rapunzel continued, nervous excitement bubbling up in her stomach.
"Three!" Hiccup finished. In unison they all pushed the lever forward. The stars began to stretch before their ship shot off into hyperspace. A second later the Spirit followed behind.
The two ships traveled through hyperspace for some time before reaching their destination. Almost at once both ships returned to real space. They were all met with a sight of a verdant world in a system orbiting a relatively young star. The planet before them was a myriad of blues, greens, and browns, indicating a diverse biosphere with several ecosystems.
The compass indicated their destination was somewhere on world. Hiccup directed the Regenisis down to the planet with the Spirit in tow. They dropped to a cruising altitude as they took in the world below. They were above an ocean but were rapidly approaching a large landmass. They could make out a variety of flying creatures, confirming the world supported life.
Soon enough they reached the continent. They flew inland, flying over a dense jungle. The compass was pointing them toward a distant snow-capped mountain range. They flew toward it before circling around.
"Look," Rapunzel suddenly piped in. She was out of her seat and leaning forward to peek out the viewport. She pointed a finger at something below.
Hiccup and Elsa perked up and gazed down to see a valley that was strewn with rivers and dotted with lakes. But what Rapunzel was pointing at was a series of large white circles of various sizes that seemed to perforate the green of the jungle. Hiccup hummed curiously, staring before directing the ship down toward one of the larger ones.
"Think we found a place to land, Jack," Hiccup said over the comm.
"I see em, Hicc," Jack replied.
The Spirit split off, going to a smaller one. Hiccup focused on steering the ship down while initiating the landing sequence. The ship dropped before stopping to hover a few meters above the ground. The landing gear extended before Hiccup gently set the ship down. Once he'd set the ship down he powered down the systems and stood.
The other Jedi did the same and together they left the cockpit. Hiccup opened the exit ramp before descending down to the ground. They were met with a warm and humid breeze. They stepped out from under the ship, feeling the heat of the sun bearing down on them. Rapunzel and Elsa looked around for their companions while Hiccup knelt down to examine the ground beneath them.
He extended a hand, finding the ground being composed of white stone. He rubbed his hand over it, finding it to be smooth. He glanced around, finding areas where bits of foliage managed to peek through small cracks that had formed in its face.
"Hey!" came a shout.
Hiccup looked up and looked in the direction of the shout alongside the other Jedi to find their companions breaking through the foliage and underbrush. They all smiled as they met, embracing their partners, all relieved they'd made it out from the nebula in one piece.
"So now what?" Jack asked. He looked around at the dense jungle all around them. "I wasn't detecting any signals and didn't see any cities. Doesn't look to be civilization of any kind on this world," he commented.
"I'm not so sure," Hiccup countered. He gestured down to the stone beneath them. "This stone was definitely placed here by some kind of sentient life," he reasoned. Hiccup was thinking that this and the other circles were meant to serve the purpose of landing pads.
Jack hummed in thought before shrugging. He looked around, wondering what their next move was. "What now then?" he reiterated.
The Jedi looked at their companions before all at once they looked away, staring in the same direction and pointing in unison. "That way," they all said in conjunction. The Jedi exchanged glances, glad to see they were all in agreement and had been getting the same feeling since they'd landed.
With nothing else to go on they all fell into step, following the Jedi into the brush. The group trekked through the jungle. All around they could hear the calls of birds and caught glimpses of creatures scurrying in the trees above them. All the while they kept an eye out for anything dangerous, not knowing what kind of predatory creatures may lurk in the foliage, waiting to pounce on them.
As they walked the Jedi felt the feeling grow stronger, calling out to them. They increased their pace. Their strides grew before soon enough they broke out into a jog. The others had no choice but to do the same, lest they be left behind.
They could hear the faint sounds of water in the distance. The trickling of a small stream and the roaring of what sounded like a waterfall. Soon enough they broke through the brush to be met with the sight of a lake. It was bordered by an outcropping of rock and filled by a waterfall that flowed from a high cliff. It ran off, forming a small river that flowed into the jungle.
The others looked around, wondering if they'd reached their destination while the Jedi were silent. The Force was strong here. This is what they'd all sensed, what they'd been drawn to. Or what had been drawing them here.
The others were about to ask what was to come next when Rapunzel raised a hand. The Padawan's movements were driven on instinct, the Force guiding her actions. She lifted her arm, palm out toward the lake and began to focus.
Everyone began to hear a rumbling from below and the surface of the lake began to bubble and churn. Then, one by one stones began to rise from the water. Seemingly random at first as they extended from the shore to the waterfall. But the gaps between them began to close as more and more stones rose from beneath the surface of the lake, forming a small footpath.
Then, Elsa raised her hand. She focused, letting the Force flow from her. Everyone could hear the scraping of stone before the waterfall began to split, divided by a stone that jutted from the cliff face hidden behind it.
The wall of water parted wide enough to reveal that the path of stones continued, meeting at a rock face. But carved upon that face was something that made the Jedis' eyes widen. They gasped in shock, for carved into the stone was the old symbol of the Jedi Order. It was the symbol that hadn't been used since the days of the Old Republic.
After a moment of silent awe Hiccup slowly raised his hand and extended it outward. He presented his palm outward, finger slightly curled as he called upon the Force. It was ominously quiet before the scraping of stone broke the silence.
The stone face shook before it began to rise. Soon enough it opened to reveal a large hole in the cliff face. Hiccup dropped his hand and smiled, as did Elsa and Rapunzel. Despite not knowing what lay in waiting in that opening they felt no fear.
A feeling washed over them. A sense of safety and welcome. A feeling that was nostalgic to them.
"What is it, Hiccup?" Merida asked softly. The silence of her Jedi companions was starting to unnerve her.
Hiccup kept his gaze ahead, calmly smiling before giving her an answer. "It's...a temple," he whispered auspiciously.
"A Jedi temple."
Dread made his way through his master's flagship, the Nightmare Galleon, in silence. Members of his master ghoulish crew looked at him as he passed but paid him little heed. Only the most deferential gave a nod of acknowledgment as they tended to their tasks of maintaining the ship.
He made his way toward the capital ship's lift, stepping inside and taking it up to a higher floor just before the bridge. The floor he exited on was lined with holding cells for captured enemies. As he walked by the cells, he could make out the sounds of faint screams of terror. The prisoners were held in an almost perpetual state of fear, forced to come face to face with their worst nightmares without respite. It rendered them unable to begin contemplating devising a means of escape.
He stopped at the outside of a holding cell guarded by two Tognath, each wielding a lanvarok. He stepped before them and said nothing. They stared at him with their white unblinking eyes before giving him a nod of deference. Then they each took a step to the side to make way for him to enter. The one on the right pivoted, pressing a button on the control panel to open the door for him obediently.
He entered the room to see his master at his work. The Sith Lord stopped before turning to look at him. "Greetings apprentice," Dread's true master greeted.
"Master," Dread greeted back with a bow of his head. He approached his master, taking note of one of Drago's Inquisitors strapped down onto a lab bench, unconscious due to his master's will.
"I don't understand why you've taken to capturing Drago's Force adepts instead of eliminating them to dwindle his strength," Dread questioned.
"Because I need an army, one that can match Drago's," he stated. With a wave of his hand the Inquisitor suddenly came to, eyes snapping open before he frantically took a look around the room before they fell onto Dread.
"Lord Dread? I-I don't understand," the Inquisitor said in confusion and bewilderment.
"So what is it you plan to do?" Dread asked curiously.
The Sith Lord smiled darkly as he raised a hand up and held it above the Inquisitor's face. The Inquisitor looked into the amber eyes of the powerful darksider before him.
And he was afraid.
Out of nowhere black sand began to appear and swirl around the man's hand. More and more swirled and spiraled around him. Dread watched on curiously and watched as the sand suddenly enveloped the Inquisitor's face.
The man let out pained and strangled screams as the sand started making its way inside, suffocating him as it went into his mouth, up his nose, and even through his eyes. The man strained and struggled against his binds as the sand began to fill him with every one of his darkest fears and then magnified them to untold levels.
Levels so great it drove the man to madness, and then beyond that.
The man stilled, his mind and will broken beyond repair. The thing that remained on the table was completely still, awaiting a command from the Sith Lord. The Sith Lord smiled with evil pleasure.
"This, and more like it, will serve as my army. I will unleash them across the galaxy. They will wipe out Drago's forces, and those of his allies," he stated in triumph.
"And also the Jedi," he added darkly.
The thing that remained of the Inquisitor opened its eyes to reveal pitch black orbs. No longer a person, only a mindless killing machine that would never tire, never sleep, have no fear, and most importantly…
Never die.