Darth Tyrant: Fallen Peace

Chapter 16

Ilum was cold, to say the least. The icy planet reminded Astrie of his trip to hoth, though Ilum's presence in the force was brighter and more at ease. The life flowing through the planet was powerful, and unifying. He has reached his destination, however opening the temple would be the difficult part. The door was a solid block of ice, to thick for his lightsaber, and it was midnight. The pure dominance of the temple was almost scary to Astrie.

The Temple was low to the ground, maybe 2-3 stories high. He concluded majority of it was underground, due to the complexity of the design. It had clearly been bombed in the past, most likely by imperials, but the temple managed to heal itself. Ilum's nights where long, too long for Astrie to wait for day. He knew he had to find a way in, before something found him. On Ilum, and many planets, there was always something more dangerous than someone. On Ilum, this was many of the carnivorous wild life.

He sat and meditated at the foot of the door. Allowing the Force to flow through him. Though of course he had no clue what he was doing. He assumed the door was meant to be opened during the day, a lesson of patience. But there was one problem, Astrie wasn't patient when it came to tedious tasks. Reaching out with the force, and both hands, he tried to grasp at the door, even if to move it a little for him to get in. Sadly the door didn't budge.

Astrie reached out for another attempt, it wasn't until a hand was placed on his shoulder that he gave up. "Mister, no one has opened that door for years, no sith, no Jedi."

Astrie turned to see a little sith pureblood girl. Her red skin was pale, as anyone born or living on Ilum's was. Though her short black hair matched her black, glistening eyes. She was wearing robes made of white fur made to protect her from the cold.

Astrie looked over at the girl, who handed him a Larger robe of the same design. "What's your name little one? And why are you here?"

The girl looked up at him and smiled. "My name is Vell, and I live here with my family. Down below the ground. My mother sensed your presence, and sent me to get you."

Astrie smiled and knelt down to her height. "Thank you for the coat. I was getting quite cold." He lied, normal people would have been cold, but the Jedi teached to resist the elements. "How about you lead the way."

The girl smiled and started off, trusting Astrie to follow, which he did. Something about her made him feel happy inside, as if her behavior reminded him of his childhood. Then, after pondering it, he realized he felt sorry for the girl, for he knew the worst of fates where bestowed upon the kindest of people.

He could feel the force flowing from her, like all sith pureblood's, but in a different manner. She seemed more physically enhanced, she was a leanly muscular child, who's eyes watched every movement. And her breath and steps were silent and left no traces of her existence. No foot prints and no vapor from her breath.

Even though he could sense the force in her strongly, he couldn't sense her emotion, or thoughts. He was left to jump to conclusions as she led him into a tunnel. The dark made it harder for him to see, and she seemingly turned into the shadows. Hopping in and out of existence with no control of her abilities. Astrie had to rely on the force to guide him.

The icy tunnel opened up to a large underground cave, flooded with lights from the Ilum crystals. The cave was that of an underground city in an icy bubble. The houses where made of packed snow and ice, and the fires where surrounded by people dancing, cooking, keeping warm, people of all races. No anger, hate, fear, nothing negative lived amongst them. The Sith lived with Twi'leks, Zabrak, Kel dor, even Togruta.

What was stranger was the absence of life amongst them. Astrie felt no reality from them. To him he could sense only the unifying force, nothing else. He looked at the girl who seemed to have teleported to a house door. She smiled and waved him to follow as she entered.

Entering the house Astrie saw a fire with the Sith girl sitting with her mother. "You are finally here. Don't speak, sit, and let me tell you why you are here."

Astrie knew better than to argue. He could sense her power, amongst the living and dead.

"Your master sent you here to the temple. She is wise, and sent you to exile, teach you patience and control, she wanted to. Though you already knew this from your former master, the Cathar. He to, was wise. He faced against the liar and deciver and stood victorious. He is with Allaa now. He is in the temple, and you will see him, as are many others now with Allaa."

Astrie felt the need to ask. "Who or what is Allaa?"

The Mother frowned. "Allaa is our overseer. He is one of many, but he is ours. He led us to peace, showed us temple, then froze the planet to show power and teach lessons. Timeless he was, till he was killed. Now he lives in the temple, built to honor his ageless life, after death."

Astrie nodded as if he understood. "So, Allaa, is inside the temple, and so is my dead master. Why is this important?"

The mother stood up and walked over to him. She leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Allaa has foreseen your arrival, he shared it with me, and he has told those with him. He wishes to teach you. My daughter cannot know, or she will follow."

Astrie stood up as she stepped back. "Thank you for you and your daughters hospitality, and your guidance."

As Astrie left he followed the path, which was the only one made of stone, to a door. He looked at the writing on it. The only words he could make out was the word three.

Astrie lifted out his hand and reached out with the force. Slowly he slid the door open, only to reveal yet another door directly behind the first one. He reached out with his other hand to open it, succeeding, only to reveal, yet again, another door. As he went to let go of the first door it started to close. He reached out to catch it. With his mind, he grasped the third door, opening it, allowing him to enter the temple.