Silverlight Rising Part I: ForceFall

Chapter Seven: Razing Hope

Coruscant, the beating heart of the entire Republic and the Galaxy…a bright light of reason and diplomacy shinning hopelessly against an ocean of darkness and ignorance. I once dreamt of conquering this planet, of subjugating its nearly three trillion people, and of ruling the galaxy the way I see fit at my brother’s side. Such a foolish endeavor, to think we could have toppled this stronghold. But then again my brother didn’t want to conquer Coruscant, he wanted to obliterate it and remove it from the texts of history so that on day no one will remember it ever existed, just like Korriban. How can we have been so wrong, so far gone that we were willing to murder trillions just to prove our power. What is wrong with us?

“This is Admiral Tolan Masii of the Republic Fleet; I’m told you have important information about this unknown enemy.” Tolan’s hologram stutters in the middle of the bridge.

“Yes admiral, I’m Master Bim Seto of the Jedi Council.” Bim hesitates. “We don’t have a lot of information about the enemy. However, we do know they are led by a creature named Xyon-Kray, he’s a being of immense power.” Bim finishes with a painful wince.

“Is he part of the Sith? You’re not giving me much to go on Master Seto.” Tolan’s voice cracks a little showing the stress of battle.

“My apologies Admiral, What we think we know is this creature does not ally himself with either the Jedi or Sith. We believe he is following his own agenda.”

“Another faction that rivals both the Jedi and the Sith!?” Tolan looks off screen. “There are more of them coming from hyperspace, how many, Lieutenant? That’s impossible run the scan again!” He shouts and looks back at us. “Master Seto, we’re in dire-straits here, do you know anything that can help us defeat them?”

Bim looks at me with a hopeful stare. I know what he wants but I don’t have the answer. Xyon-Kray hasn’t existed for more than a day and he’s already amassed a fleet large enough to bring the Republic to their knees. I look at the battle field scans hundreds upon hundreds of asymmetric stone and metal ships continue to flash in from hyperspace like an unending flood of destruction. For ever one Silverlight ship destroyed by the republic, two take its place and this will go on and on until the republic can no longer resist. Coruscant was already under siege, its sprawling worldwide city was dotted with flames and chaos that slowly moved across the lighted skyscrapers like an unstoppable deluge.

I look at Bim. “We need to retreat.” The words flow out of my mouth with so much confidence it leaves Bim off balance.

“Master Seto?” Admiral Massi asks.

“Admiral, I don’t have an answer for you as of yet. I must contact the Jedi council, can you patch us through?”

Tolan makes a disgruntled face then nods his head. “Patching you in momentarily.”

A few seconds later the hologram of Grand Master Ventra Na’Ray appears. Although she looked calm and centered the unmistakable sounds of battle surrounded her with glimpses of battling Jedi flowing in and out of the foreground like fleeting shadows.

“Master Seto!” she exclaims.

“Master Na’Ray, I do not have time to explain…We must enact ForceFall Contingency Echo-114. We do not know enough about the enemy to adequately defend ourselves.” Bim’s voice was frantic.

Master Ventra grimaces. “You know what that means for the republic, Master. You’re asking me to order the Jedi to abandon an ally in need.” The muffled sound of screams and blasters echo in the distance pulling Ventra’s attention from the conversation.

Bim looks at me again then winces and stares back at Ventra. “Yes, this new enemy can turn force sensitives into something we’ve never seen before, we need to retreat and regroup on Tython. It’s our only option.”

“Very well…” Ventra hesitates before composing herself. “This is Grand Master Ventra Na’Ray of the Jedi High Council on Coruscant. I am here by enacting ForceFall Contingency Echo-114, all Jedi who receive this message are to immediately disengage and retreat. I repeat…disengage and retreat. Authorization code 67 Specter –Alpha, Coruscant has fallen…Coruscant has fallen” The Cardinal Phoenix’s bridge falls silent with Ventra’s saddened Hologram wavering.

I check the scans of Coruscant and the battle space; thousands upon thousands of ships were lifting off and engaging their hyper-drives. Admiral Tolan’s hologram appears. “What are you doing!?” he shouts, “There’s still hope, why are you abandoning us!?”

Bim’s face show the regret of his decision with a flick of his finger he closes the hologram. “Bartle,” He says quietly “Set a course for Tython.”

“Wait, Master Seto, we need to think about our next move.” I say, following Seto out of the bridge and into the hall where Mara, Pensim, Tome and Halish were standing with various expressions of disbelief on their faces.

“ForceFall Echo-114 orders all Jedi to converge on Tython, that’s our next move.” Bim says walking past the group without giving them notice.

“I understand that but…”

“How could you!” Halish shouts running past me. “How could allow this…this Sith.” He points at me “To, to influence you.”

“That’s enough Master Qin.” Bim says softly

Halish steps in front of Master Seto. “No!” he shouts. “We’ve abandoned the Republic, can’t you see this was the goal all along. This Sith is manipulating you!” he hisses through his teeth.

“I said that is enough, Halish!” Bim shouts with a painful shutter. “We are sitting at the brink of total annihilation and all you care about is this Sith. What is it Halish…huh, you use to be a man of serenity and control but now you’re frantic, it’s unbecoming of a Jedi Master. The stench of anger and hate soaks you!” Master Seto says taking a step towards Halish. “So what is it about this boy that makes you so scared?”

The corridor falls silent; Halish drops his shoulders and glances at me. “My apologies Master Seto I…should go meditate and get some rest, it’s been a trying day…for all of us.” He half bows.

Bim shutters with pain again. “Very well.” His tone was daunting. “Everybody needs to go get some rest.”

Everyone leaves the corridor except for Master Seto and I. “Master, I don’t think it a wise decision to go to Tython. Xyon-Kray will most likely go there next.”

Bim looks at me; he was starting to falter under the stress and pain. “Then where would you have us go?”

I think for a bit. “Xyon’s power is unique; we’ve never seen this before. But I’ve heard stories…legends really, about ancient Sith being able to forcibly subjugate others to follow their will.”

“That’s what you want us to do, just follow some Sith fairy tales and hope for the best?” Bim says through his teeth before turning to walk away.

I couldn’t fault him these stories were practically fairy tales told to all young Sith initiates to inspire them. I was standing there watching Bim slowly walk away when I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up “Rhelg” the whisper penetrates the deepest parts of my mind causing me to whip around to see who was there but I was alone.

“What!?” I say aloud gaining Master Seto’s attention “Did you hear that master?”

“Here what?” he asks curiously

“Rhelg.” the whisper returns this time with more force making me lean against the wall with my hand on my head.

Master Seto approaches me and I look at him. “Rhelg…does that mean anything to you?” I ask.

Bim tilts his head and walks past me into the bridge where Quomas was about to engage the Hyper-drive “Q, not yet.” Bim says causing him to jump. He approaches the star map and types in Rhelg. A moment later a terribly barren plant comes into focus. “It’s a planet…what do you know of it?” he asks.

“I vaguely remember it was an important stronghold during the hyperspace wars.” I say shaking my head. “Master Seto, I heard this planet’s name whispered to me just now.”

“It’s in Sith space. What will happen if we go there?” Bim asks.

I grab my chin and think. “The Sith scattered after Korriban I can’t imagine we’d find anyone there. It’s a holy planet, used for pilgrimages. But I have a feeling we’re supposed to go there for some reason.” Although I can’t explain why.

Bim Seto exhales loudly before pressing the planet. “Q, please take us to Rhelg.” He looks at me. “I really hope you’re feeling is right.”

I nod my head as Quomas engages the hyper-drive. We’ve abandoned Coruscant…something I never thought I’d see and something the Jedi swore they would never do. The message would take several days to reach he dark corners of the Galaxy, soon everyone will know that Sith and the Jedi have been defeated and a new age of unknown has begun. I rub the back of my neck as the aching sensation finally starts to dissipate. It’s odd, even though I know things are getting worse…I feel better knowing we are moving away from Coruscant. People all over will look at us and think we’re cowards…and maybe we are for running. History has always condemned the cowards that lived and admired the heroes that sacrificed, but in reality heroes often die in vain and the cowards have to live knowing their deaths meant nothing.

Bim places his hand on my shoulder. “What’s wrong?” I ask.

“I need to talk to you, in private.” He walks out of the bridge and into the med bay where an unconscienced Reeva Alix was resting. The Silverlight aura had disappeared and she returned to her normal self…more or less.

Master Bim slowly sits down finally letting the pain show through. He injects himself with a pain stim and lets out a long sigh. “What do you want to talk about?” I ask tentatively.

Bim stares off into dead space for a few second before looking at me. “Halish,” He says with a caustic tone. “He has been losing it ever since you showed up at the council, he always been quick to action but this is different.” Bim brushes his golden mane with his remaining hand, and lets out another groan. “I need to know what happened between you two.”

I hesitate before standing and walking to wall. “Is that why you and Master Vis Jarabus were transferred to Dantooine…to investigate Halish Qin?”

Bim stops brushing his hair. “Grand Master Dan’Dak Urv sent for us, he suspected Master Qin was not all that he seemed.”

It made sense, I think back to the council chamber and how Master Seto and Master Jarabus never took their eyes off Halish as I was telling my story. “And what was going to come from this investigation…a slap on the wrist, removal from the council, incarceration?”

“It depends on the charges and whether he did them or not.” Bim responds, resumes his grooming.

“What if he’s a murderer?” my tone was hushed as if I was keeping a secret from even myself.

Bim stares at me. “Those are bold charges…do you have proof?”

I look at my hands, we’re all murders here every single one of us. “It’s his word against mine.”

Bim frowns. “Then tell me your side of it.”

I want to; it’s been so long since I talked about it. Kavin and I stopped dwelling on the past long ago and the last person I told the truth to was Ny’Emma. But then again what would come out of it, Bim was in no condition to detain Halish and knowing the good Master Qin, he would do anything to preserve his legacy even if that meant killing everyone including himself. No, there will be a time and place for this but not now.

I walk towards Master Seto and place my hand on his shoulder. “Now is not the time, if he even suspects that someone else knows he will destroy the ship. Of that I’m sure.”

I turn to leave when Bim scoffs. “How can you expect me to act normal around him then?”

I look at Bim and smile. “How is it that you act normal around me…improvise, it’s what the Sith do best.”

The ship was eerily quiet when I walked into the common area searching for a suitable place the rest when I hear a sharp and low beep come from beside me. The little astromech droid was in the process of fixing the busted circuit board Halish threw me into. “What’s up little guy?” I say in an impish tone. The droid turns toward me and lets out a string of beeps and boops that I could only imagine is its way of telling me off. “Yeah I didn’t catch that, so what are you called?” I use the force to lift the droid towards me spinning it freely in the air stopping it on the model number. “Q2-Z4, huh…” the Droid begins beeping louder as if I was hurting it when I hear Quomas clear his throat behind me.

I jump and drop the droid…again. “Don’t you think you’ve caused enough trouble?” Quomas says in an acidic tone.

“No, I’m just getting started.” I retort almost instantly.

This time Quomas gives me a grave look. “I have a daughter that I have to protect.”

I feel a stinging pain in the back of my head. “Listen, Q…I didn’t…”

“What you have to say doesn’t matter, Exiled One. If there is any semblance of humanity left in you please don’t hurt my daughter!” His words were rough, but deserved.

I nod my head and he leaves in a hurry. It take a lot of courage to stand up to the people you know are far more powerful, some would say that it’s foolish when you know you’ll be beaten. But in a father’s eyes, their child means everything. That type of love and devotion can save worlds…and destroy them.

I feel the pangs of fatigue setting in as I continue to search the ship for a place to sleep, finally settling on the engine maintenance room. The loud roar of the hyper-drive does well to drown out my inner thoughts and the intense vibrations dull my senses. I thoroughly scan the room memorizing everything’s placement before crawling into the corner and propping myself against the wall. I continue to study the room, gauging the distance from me to the door. While it is unlikely that Halish would attempt to kill me, not with Bim here. But one can’t be too careful. A few minutes pass before I commit to my position and begin meditating and grounding myself. I soon feel sleep starting to overcome me, I quickly grab my lightsaber and rest it in my lap.

The absolution of sleep has always been both welcomed and feared by me. It’s a place I can go to escape the craziness of everything but it leaves me uncomfortably vulnerable. I shut my eyes feeling the Cardinal Phoenix’s vibrations run through me. I ease my body, allowing myself to finally relax. What lies ahead of us is unknown, we’ve ventured into the realm obscurity with little more than unanswered questions compelling us forward.