Darth Tyrant: Fallen Peace

Chapter 4

Astrie for once in front of the council smiled and Satele smiled back. For a brief moment, he thought they had a connection, maybe just a small...

Soon cut off with her strict yet emotionless voice, "I am truly proud of you, but the next time you face a Sith as famous as he, I suggest you get out of there."

"And there she goes making me a fool" Astrie's thoughts betrayed him in this manner though. Satele truly felt that Astrie was growing in power, but she also cared for his life. Their relationship was far from master and apprentice. Instead, it was more of a worrying babysitter and child. Even then Corvex never had a master and apprentice relationship. All of Astrie's life he had idols to look up to. Corvex, Satele, Worr, Maill, and even the librarian, but none of them had given him the needed affection of a child.

"And Master Corvex, I'm glad to hear it was Darth Malgus tormenting Taris and not you. We welcome your return to Tython."

"And I thank you, Master Satele. Not only for your help but also your understanding."

Corvex seemed to have felt the same way as Satele.

"Oh, and Astrie. Thanks to your completion of this mission, I would like to offer you another one. There is a strange planet in the unknown regions that has magically appeared on my star map. I wondered if you'd like to take a look at it. Afterwards, I think I have a surprise for you." Satele smiled deactivating the hologram.

"I think it's safe to say you won't be needing me anymore." Corvex's statement seemed more of a question.

"No, I should have it from here." Astrie stood quickly remembering something. "Oh! Can I borrow the ship?"

Astrie, aboard the Silentium, was starting out over the vast expanse of a Galaxy. The stars, being the only light, glistened as tiny saber crystals glistened against the walls of Ilum. Having punched in the coordinates of the mystery planet he prepared for hyperspace.

The Unknown Region was unknown for a reason. Filled with deadly monsters and aliens, very few ever traversed there. Some smugglers told stories about "angels" the most beautiful beings in all of the Galaxy, others of monsters and droids with minds of their own. Either way, there is always truth behind a myth.

Slowing down to land on Xenostis, what he chose to name it, he realized it was all raging water much like Kamino. The only difference was the large black pumice-like platforms of stone. He looked for one he could land.

Touching down and looking out he couldn't see anything. The mist was thick and fused with fog. Astrie, looking out, had to lean on the force to see.

Reaching his hand out he could feel the power of the force. In places it was strongest it was red, weakest it was blue. Seeing the outline of the rocks and waves time seemed to freeze. Strangely almost everywhere he looked he saw red. The planet was a blinding well of the force, but with nothing living.

Tuning out the unifying Force he focused on the living. Now, most things were blue, in fact, everything was blue. Waving his hand across the horizon, eyes glued shut, he exhaled. There, was a faint glow of orange. He zoomed in on the image, and with it, he saw the faint outline of a skeleton. That is where he needed to go.

Leaping island to island he ran. Standing on the last island till his destination he saw the void of the sea. Taking a step onto the water he used the force to keep his density below that of the water. Slowly but surely he walked across the water, the exhaustion of the power hit him halfway across, a quarter-mile. Now he sped up, jumping forward with each step he pressed his destination.

Stepping onto the rough panel of rock he slouched in exhaustion. Taking deep breaths he looked around the island. The thick fog clouded his vision. Now, as slowly as possible, he stepped forward. Step, after step, after step, after step. Now, about what he thought was in the middle of the island, he felt the presence of something.

"Hello," he called out only to be answered by the crashing waves. "Hello?" He called out again, though this time he thought he heard the whirring sound of a droid. "Hello!?!" Now calling out he felt a sudden sense of urgency. He prepared to quickly grab his lightsaber.

"Hello?" A gravely, old voice called to him. "Is someone there? It's been so lonely and I have just run out of food."

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Astrie tapped out with the force to locate the voice but couldn't.

"I am Hai... Hail. The Republic sent me here for some diplomatic mission. I've had to live off food rations for weeks. And it's so cold."

From what Astrie could tell the man was sincere. "I am Astrie Mell of the Jedi council, I was here in search of knowledge." Astrie didn't expect a response.

"Knowledge... Yes, knowledge, the greatest weapon in the galaxy. Something the Sith will never understand. There is an ancient temple here on this island, if you want me to take you to it?"

Out of the mist came the old face of a human. A white pointed beard and bald head and the white clothes of a republic diplomat. "Yes, I would like to go."

Astrie couldn't tell why, but when he reached out he couldn't feel the force in him. Only time and space, manifested into a form. As they approached the temple-like structure Astrie noticed a series of droids, Wich he would have mistaken for human skeletons if it wasn't for the four arms and circular 360 joints in the wrists.

"This isn't a Jedi temple." Astrie grew worried. Nothing here was Jedi. In fact, most of it looked barbarian-like, war-torn ruins, with demolished buildings, droids, and weapons scattered across the floors.