Chapter 17 Ghosts of the Past

Gavin watched the white polar region of Telos as it came into view. He was thoughtful as he approached remembering his teachers words.

"There should be a copy of the holocrons you seek." Surik had said. "Be warned, however, in her arrogance Atris sought both knowledge of the Jedi and Sith. It drover her to the darkside and created the second Darth Traya."

The meaning was clear. Gavin had to be careful and mindful. Resolving himself to dispose of any Sith relic he found, he centered himself to resist the lure of the dark artifacts.

Landing on top of the plateau that the former academy was located on, Gavin walked to a well concealed door covered in snow and ice. Pulling out a hand-held plasma cutter, he cut through the snow and ice and cut open the rusted shut door.

The hidden academy was in surprisingly good shape for a building that old. The lights didn't work, so Gaven turned on his headlamp. Exploring the ruined temple was creepy. It felt as if he was being watched.

"Why have you come here?" A female voice asked over Gavins shoulder.

Gavin spun around, igniting his blue lightsaber. In front of him floated a force ghost of a white-haired woman in a silvery white robe. "Atris." He said curtly.

The ghost nodded before frowning. "Indeed I am now tell me why do you intrude on this temple, Jedi?"

"Meetra Surik sent me for a certain set of holocrons." Gavin answered honestly.

"And what makes you worthy of that?" Atris asked. "Knowledge without wisdom brings disaster."

"Mistress Surik once told me the same thing," Gavin began, "She then said that she wishes she could have told you how we are not defined by our past, but also by our future."

Atris stopped eyes wide. "She said that? Who is she to you?"

"She was my teacher, my friend and mentor." Gavin answered honestly.

Atris floated in shock for a few minutes. "Take the knowledge and go. A word of advice leave the Sith holocrons here they are too full of hate they would corrupt you."

"I was going to dispose of them." Gavin explained. "Another Jedi purge is coming. I would use this temple as it was once meant to be used as a sanctuary to rebuild."

"Does the council know?" Atris asked.

"No, they are too arrogant." Gavin stayed, "In your time, Jedi went to war to stop the Mandalorians from invading and slaughtering worlds. This time, they have gone to war to prevent planets from seceding from the Republic. They see a single Sith on the opposite side and jump headfirst into battle."

Atris watched as Gavin shook his head. "Even those wise enough to see the trap jump headfirst in. The Jedi thought they beat the Sith a thousand years ago. They then stopped evolving, " Gavin continued. "Jedi represents the light, life. However, they have forgotten life's greatest lesson. Nothing stays the same. They have refused to evolve even as our enemies have."

Atris nodded her head slowly. "Use my temple then dispose of the Sith artifacts and use it as it was intended as a sanctuary and a place to rebuild should the order fall." She then faded away.

Gavin walked further into the temple before he was beset by a vision. A strange ship, a central cylinder surrounded by 6 dreadnoughts leaking fire and air before crashing into a desolate planet. "Help us, Help us." A voice called desperately. The vision then fades to black.

Gavin shook himself as he stood. "What was that?" He asked himself. walking quickly he found the holocrons he came for. Grabbing all jedi holocrons the then left for the Tempest to try to make sense of the unsettling vision. "Never a dull moment he quipped as he returned to his ship."