บท 194: Reydoth & Ruins
~~~(POV: Nathen Opal)~~~
~~~(Location: Light Freighter, Command Deck, Flying Over Dantooine)~~~
~~~(Galactic Time: 5:25 PM)~~~
Dayla is sleeping in one of the copilot chairs as we fly over the lands of Dantooine. We've been traveling for around an hour now, and we're approaching the location Major Riley gave me.
The door leading into the command deck opens with a slight hiss. I don't turn to look since I know who it is. The light footsteps of my cousin approach the chair that Dayla is sleeping in.
"She must've asked you plenty of questions if she's this tired. I was worried you'd ignore her, but I can see that's not the case."
Her tone is slightly teasing as she finds a different chair to sit in. It was obvious that Nella was the one who sent Dayla to ask me questions. I wasn't annoyed or bothered by it; it was actually quite insightful.
Dayla may have an average connection to The Force, but she's got a remarkable mind. She'll learn how to use The Force faster than most.
"I figured that was your doing. She had a particular fascination about why I'm so 'special.' I hope you didn't tell her anything specific about me, Nella. That information is dangerous."
There is no anger or disappointment, only a slight edge of caution. I don't want Dayla to know about me. Not for a long time. The knowledge of who I am is deadly on its own. That shouldn't be a child's burden to carry.
Nella looks at me, telling me she's insulted that I'd suggest such a thing.
"To be fair, Nate. It's not like I know everything about you anyway. I know you're the son of Abeloth, but I don't know who that is. If anyone should be asking you those kinds of questions, it should be me since I'm your apprentice."
Keeping information like that is what makes the people close to me safe. Besides, Nella knows much more about me than she's letting on. She's not an idiot, and I'm willing to bet she's deduced things on her own.
"If you want to know the truth, I can tell you."
Now, that takes her by surprise. Her eyes leave the window; she was looking out at Dantooine and now back to me.
"But you need to ask yourself if you can carry the weight of what I'll tell you."
Nella knows I'm born of The Force without a father. She knows I'm the son of Abeloth. She knows a little about Abeloth. Her saying she doesn't know who that is was a ploy for a conversation like this.
I know what she's up to. She's the daughter of one of the most powerful diplomats in the galaxy. In the end, if she's this curious. It's better to tell her before she resents me for it.
My cousin takes my words in as she turns her gaze away from mine. Really thinking about it now that she's been given the choice to learn it or not. After a few minutes, she looks back at me with determination in her eyes.
"I want to know the entire truth about you, Nate. I have to know why you are the way you are."
I click a few buttons on the console before me, and the ship enters autopilot. My chair turns to face Nella directly. She's waiting on the edge of her seat. I look at Dayla to make sure she's genuinely asleep, which she is.
"Abeloth is known as The Mother. An entity of extraordinary Force Power. She's one of four individuals known as Mortis Gods."
Her eyes widen ever so slightly as I begin explaining the tale of my birth in the universe. She won't know about my last life.
"Each Mortis God represents an aspect of The Force. The Mother is the chaos of The Force. The Light and Dark rage within her."
Abeloth has said to me that I'm The Force given flesh. The chaos, the balance, the light, and the dark. All within me. Everything The Force is, I am.
"Abeloth, my Mother, became pregnant without a male counterpart. A child born purely of The Force."
She looks me up and down as I finish talking. Knowing I don't need to go beyond that in regards to my birth.
"I don't know how Abeloth and I were separated, but I was raised on Tatooine. Then, I found myself on Tython."
That's the abbreviated tale of my life. Of my origins here in the Star Wars Universe. Nella learns back as she races through her own thoughts about what I've revealed to her. I turn back toward the console and look at the Navi-computer.
We're about five minutes away from the location, and we should prepare.
I take control of the ship and silently bring us to a good spot to land about three miles away from the location. As we land in some tree cover, large stone spires in the distance grab my attention. It's no doubt where the archeologists are.
The whole reason we've come to Dantooine was to answer questions regarding where Abeloth is and to unload the artifacts we've found.
Once we've safely landed, Nella stands up and leaves the command deck without saying anything. I turn and look at Dayla, who is still asleep. I walk over and pick her up in my arms. Taking her to her room and laying her down on her bed.
After a couple of minutes, Nella and I are both outside. She's remaining silent as we walk in the direction of the coordinates.
"Does that mean you're a Mortis God, too?"
The sudden question as we navigate through the thick trees breaks the silence. She's asked a question I've often asked myself many times before. I've bounced back and forth between yes and no, but the truth is. I don't know.
What qualifies a person to be a Mortis God... I don't know...
"I couldn't say, Nella. I don't have the answer to that question. All I know for sure is I've been told I have even more potential than Abeloth."
That I heard from my Mother herself, Abeloth is already extraordinarily powerful. Sure, I've broken planets. Healed planets. Torn starships apart and ripped them from the upper atmosphere.
But I'm betting Abeloth is fully capable of that, too. Even more than what I can currently do.
"Is Abeloth the strongest of the Mortis Gods?"
That's a question I do know the answer to.
"Yes, she is."
There is no debating that.
~~~(POV: Ulta Mers)~~~
~~~(Location: Reydoth, Ancient Je'daii Ruins, Dantooine)~~~
~~~(Galactic Time: 5:55 PM)~~~
I slowly open my eyes as a breath of fresh air opens my lungs. Amid my meditation, I've sensed a great danger approaching the ruins. My attention turns to the door opening to my private quarters, and it's one of the students.
"Master Mers, we've picked up two unidentified individuals approaching the ruins. Not only that, but many of the Padawans have come down with a weird case of dreadful fear."
All I can do is stand up and make my way to the door my old friend is waiting at. As we both stand in the empty hallway, I turn to him and place my hand on his shoulder.
"Listen closely, Arno. I want you to gather the archeologists and take them to the emergency bunker. Wait for my signal. As the only Knight here at the moment, you fall in second in command."
Arno bows his head and makes his way to the dig site. I turn on my heels and start making my way toward the entrance to the ruins. My long blond hair blows in the wind, and my Jedi robes cling to my body.
The eyes of soldiers and miners stare at me as I walk by. I'm not unaware of my feminine attractiveness, but it does get in the way sometimes.
"I haven't felt something this powerful in all my life..."
The words leave me in a whisper as I exit onto the large staircase leading into the ruins. I've heard stories of Nathen Opal. About how once you've felt his power, you wouldn't mistake it for anyone else.
I don't know what Grandmaster Shan's former student is doing on Dantooine, but I do intend to find out.
Someone who holds this much power is always dangerous.
After a few minutes, a call on my holo-communicator grabs my attention. I pull it from my waist and answer. Arno appears, and that's when I know the archeologists and scientists are safe.
"Master Mers, every essential personnel has been secured in the bunker. Do you wish me to remain here, or shall I join you in defending the ruins?"
It's a little premature for him to conclude that this will end in a fight. Nate was a Jedi Padawan at one point, and I've heard from Satele herself that Nate isn't the person he turned into when he left the Order all those years ago.
"No, stay in the bunker if I fail to deal with Nate. You and the Padawans are the only hope the civilians have."
This is one of those points in your life where you're tested. And if you fail, you'll lose everything.
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