Diving Deep Into The Killik's Hive

~~~(POV: Nella Opal)~~~

~~~(Location: The Wild Mountains, Killiks Hive, Alderaan)~~~

"That's perfect. Now crush the bugs with The Force. Focus your energy and use your hand to influence the action."

I follow Nathan's instructions, and I struggle to kill the last of this group of Killiks using Force Crush. Its armored shell is starting to crack, but I'm only prolonging its suffering. It takes all my willpower and focus, but I Force Crush the Killiks and fall to my knees with deep breaths.

Nathan's footsteps approach me from behind, and he takes a knee next to me. Placing his hand on my shoulder.

"You did great. Force Crush is an advanced technique, and you've done it after a few tries. It's exhausted you cause it literally makes you crush another creature which takes a lot of power, but you've done it. It shows how connected you are to The Force."

I lift my head, and I'm soaking my Padawan Robes in sweat. My armpits and underboob areas are staining. Nathan helps me to my feet and places his hand on my forehead. And as he does, all the energy I lost returns to me. After a couple of seconds, I feel fresh.

That's one of the most useful techniques I've ever seen or heard before. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to learn it.

"What did you just do?"

He smiles at my question and rests his arms at his sides. Instead of answering, he looks around the brutally killed group of Killiks. And he then turns back to SCORPIO. They have a weird relationship. I can tell Nate doesn't trust the droid.

And SCORPIO always watches Nate, like she's trying to figure out a weakness or something. He turns back to me and rests his hand on the top of my head like I'm his little sister or something.

"It's a technique called Force Rejuvenate, also known as Force Healing. It also uses The Force to accelerate the healing process. But Masters of the technique can do finer tuned adjustments like restore stamina and exhaustion."

Wow. There is so much to learn... I wonder if I'll be able to learn everything.

"SCORPIO, how close are we to the main chamber where The Hivemind resides?"

He keeps his eyes on me as he asks SCORPIO a question, and it doesn't take long for the droid to answer.

"We're almost there. After the next tunnel, there will be a hole to jump into. It'll lead to the main chamber. But it's heavily protected since they know we're coming. Likely over 100 Killiks from my calculations."

100 more to go... Ugh... Even though I'm physically recovered, I'm mentally exhausted...

"Don't worry, Nella. I'll be sure to take care of most of them this time around. I only had you take on the last group because I wanted you to push your current limits. And you've done so."

He moves past me and continues down the tunnel, and I follow behind him. I've learned that Nate can easily read my mind. And I'm eager to learn how to keep him out of my head. He's my Master, but I want some privacy.

~~~(POV: Nathan Opal)~~~

~~~(Location: The Wild Mountains, Killiks Hive, Alderaan)~~~

Nella is showing tremendous promise, and I can see her becoming one of the most powerful Force Users in the galaxy after a few years. But those are thoughts for another time. Right now, I'm focused on The Hivemind that's coming up.

SCORPIO has passed my tests. She hasn't led me astray down in these tunnels. But I'm still just as suspecting and skeptical of her as before. I remember her from the Star Wars Old Republic Games. And she's a devious manipulator.

"Nella, when we get down there. Whatever you hear, I don't want you telling anyone else. Cause you'll be hearing things about me, no one else knows. Not even SCORPIO or my old Master, Satele Shan."

The whole reason I'm here is to ask The Killiks about Abeloth and The Ones. From what I've deduced. The Abeloth of this Star Wars isn't the same that I know from the comics back on Earth in my old life.

Which begs the question of locking her away. And I don't know what The One's intentions are in this Star Wars. Could they be identical to what they were in The Clone Wars? I don't know. But I intend to find out.

The Force isn't warning me when it comes to my birth mother or The Ones... It's keeping things hidden from me...

This concerns me.