Light Above

~~~(POV: Nathen Opal)~~~

~~~(Location: Reydoth, Ancient Je'daii Ruins, Dantooine)~~~

~~~(Galactic Time: 8:30 PM)~~~

My eyes scan Abeloth's form up and down as she waits for my response. She wants me to find her prison world and free her. Use the star charts within this room to navigate the Maw and finally reunite with her.

"You say we'll never be a part again. You've told me in the past that I have some destiny. You've even called me Prince of the Stars."

A small smile graces her lips as I recall some of the things we've discussed. There are many lessons I've learned from my old life and this one. The first is that deception can come from anyone.

My own father abandoned my Mother and me, and I will not put the possibility that Abeloth is deceiving me off the table.

"But that doesn't mean your intentions with the wider galaxy are pure. You intend for us to rule, don't you... That's been your plan all along. To rule together."

Abeloth may look different and behave differently compared to the Abeloth I know. But she's still a powerful Force God, and I have no doubt she thinks people outside of me are equal to insects.

While I don't have a responsibility to the galaxy, I'm not required to save it if a crisis of this magnitude is unleashed. That doesn't mean I'm gonna be the one to unlock the cage for the monster to devour everything.

I watch my Mother's face turn to a sadder one, and she averts her eyes from me. I don't know if she's acting or if this is genuine. She's not like other Force sensitives. I can't sense her feelings or thoughts.

She's too powerful for something like that to work against her. She's stronger than me.

"My Amor... Do you believe me evil or cruel? A Queen who would kill and destroy her people. Whether they obey her or not? I know you don't know me as much as I want you to, but where do you think you get your goodness from?"

Lillis.

The woman who raised me on Tatooine.

She showed me what it meant to be good, and Jorand showed me what it meant to be strong and dedicated.

"I may not know if you're evil or cruel, but I know your power. Since I share your blood. Your words alone tell me you intend to enter and conquer the galaxy."

A slight frown takes form on her features. Her nose slightly scrunches up, and her brow creases. I have no doubt she can read my thoughts. What she's seeing are my memories with my parents.

With the woman, I consider to be my real Mother. 

"I wish my words alone could convince you that freeing me won't doom or enslave the galaxy... But there is a way that I can prove it..."

Suddenly, the lights in the room shift and change. Revealing new pictures and scenes that glow with the same color as my lightsaber.

What's shown to me are people waging war with one another. Ships and machines battling above planets. The pictures and scenes on the walls start to move and dance around. Depicting the coming slaughter.

The war the galaxy is in right now is just beginning.

Everything stops moving, and instead, a single picture is shown to me. A world surrounded by debris and destroyed ships.

"I've waited many years for you to come find me, and a Mother's love is endless. So, I'm fine waiting a bit longer. A series of events was set in motion when you were born, and those events are upon us."

I can't help raising an eyebrow in confusion as she speaks. Suddenly, the picture changes again, and it's all just jibberish and squiggles on the walls. Only providing light.

"When your journey through the coming storm is over, you'll know that what I say is truth."

She takes a step forward and looks down upon me. She's a little taller than me. Her hand comes up from her side, and it runs through the side of my hair. This time, I don't push her away or stop her.

In the next moment, she leans forward and places her forehead against mine. Closing her eyes as she does.

"We'll always be connected, Amor. When you see the truth, the star charts to find me will be here waiting."

Before I can say anything or ask anything, a bright light emits from the space between us. My eyes shut so as not to blind myself from the exposure. What comes next is a feeling of weightlessness, and the floor beneath me disappears.

The rushing winds assault my body, and I feel myself falling. I open my eyes as the light fades, and that's when I realize that I'm falling through the sky.

"Shit!!"

It only takes me a moment to readjust, and I'm channeling the Force through my body. As the ground approaches, I brace for impact. 

BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!

A significant crater forms at my impact site against the soft mud. Standing up and regaining my bearings, I can see the Temple off in the distance. Nella senses that I've suddenly appeared out here and can feel her approaching me.

I slowly walk out of the decent-sized crater and take a deep breath. I don't know what this journey Abeloth spoke about. All I can assume is it has something to do with what I saw on the walls before the single planet appeared.

"Does that mean I'll be dragged into the war..."

The war around the galaxy hasn't been something I concerned myself with unless it directly affected my travels through space.

"Despite all my power with the Force, I'm still subject to its machinations. I'm said to be the Force Incarnate, but my mind is separate from it."

Thinking about it more and more doesn't sit well with me.

Some sort of grand-scale conflict is about to break out, and one already far larger than the war between the Empire and Republic. The war has been out of the Cold War state for around four months now.

In a sense, it indeed hasn't started up again. Sure, there have been significant campaigns, but nothing as massive as what I saw.

Could it be something else entirely...

"Nate!!? Nate!! Are you alright!?"

I'm pulled from my thoughts about Abeloth's warning and see Nella break through the nearby trees. Her eyes scan me up and down, and she rushes me. Wrapping her arms around my body, and squeezing.

"I thought you'd disappeared for a second! What happened!? One moment, you were down there, and then you were in the sky out here! Something strange happened down there, didn't it?!"

The energy, concern, and excitement radiating off Nella causes an involuntary smile to form on my lips. She pulls away after the onslaught of questions and stares me in the eyes.

I could tell her about what happened down there. A part of me is telling me that I should. Nella is still just a young teenage girl, though. She's not ready for anything that I learned. Until the time is right, most of what I saw will remain with me.

"Let's just say I got more than I expected down there."

She looks at me with a cocked eyebrow and a turned frown. Reminding me of many of the faces Ahsoka made in the Clone Wars animation. She rolls her eyes a little and turns around.

"Fine, fine. Don't tell me. It's not like what you do concerns me or anything."

The condescension and sarcasm are heavy as she walks back through the forest. I shake my head at the attitude and jog to catch up to her. Taking a spot by her side.

"Don't worry; it's not like there isn't anything we can't handle."

The cockiness in my voice is a little more apparent than I'd like it, but it's not like I haven't met a challenge that I couldn't overcome.

Eventually, we make it back to the Temple, and Ulta Mers is waiting at the bottom of the stairs for us.

"I take it you found what you came looking for?"

She's looking directly at me as she says that. I fold my arms and take on a more relaxed expression.

"Yeah, and thanks for letting us search for what we need. I got what I came for."

And more.

"Any friend of Grandmaster Shan is a friend of mine. I'd ask you what you found down there, but I don't think I'd want to know. I take it you two will be leaving now?"

Dantooine and its secrets are known to me now, and there is no longer a need to be here.

"Yes, we'll be taking off. The Force be with you, Masters Mers."

It's not something I normally do, but I bow my head slightly. Showing respect to the woman. She does the same. I lift my head and turn around. Looking back in the direction of our ship.

Whatever's coming... To Abeloth... It'll reveal the truth to me.

I don't know what that means, but I know I'll find out.