Star Wars: Lurking Darkness

Chapter 22

     Reaching the temple had been easier than Von had expected. They had managed to sneak by many clone squads that carefully patrolled the areas around the temple. Cloaking himself from the force, Von knew no one could know he was coming for their own protection. If there were any Jedi alive they would have had to do the same making it extra difficult for him to find them.

     Teg and Dan had landed safely not too far from the temple and took refuge in a nearby Tapcafe. Von was familiar with that location and had instructed the two young men to lay low until further notice. Teg hadn't been very happy about that order, but he was well aware of the dangers all around him.

     As they reached the temple grounds Von quickly scoped the area for anyone who could be watching out for intruders. Behind him stood three clones and one man who all were ready for a firefight. Von could sense the darkside of the force still lingering inside the temple.

     Small fires still burned all around the temple and imploded pieces of the grand temple littered the floors inside. Finding a hole he presumed was created by a rocket, Von made sure he was the first to enter the temple. He was immediately stunned by what he saw next.

     Entering behind him the others also stopped as they too observed the devastation around them.

     The bodies of fallen Jedi lay still scattered throughout the once peaceful temple. Von's legs buckled beneath him as he dropped to his knees and bowed to the carnage in front of him. Nothing could have prepared him for any of this

     Clone troopers lay close by each Jedi who had lost their battle against the force wielders.

     Stryder stepped forward and placed his hand on Von who was distraught by the destruction caused by the clones. It was all surreal for he had known the Jedi to be the most powerful beings in the galaxy, yet here they lay lifeless among their once trusted clone army.

     The trio of clone troopers formed a perimeter around their general and lieutenant. They kept their feelings hidden and tried hard to ignore their fallen brothers.

     Tears traveled down the Jedi masters face. The force was silenced by the crackling of flames and tumbling debris. The heat burning his skin was quickly numbed by the pain in his soul. Everything had changed, everything would change. Reaching for his lightsaber he needed to see more. He needed to find survivors of this atrocity.

     Looking over to his right he saw the body of a young Nautolian who had been shot several times. Standing up he slowly crept over to where she now permanently laid. The scorch marks still producing smoke, which meant she had perished only moments before their arrival. Von now knew there were still survivors nearby. He just needed to find them before it was too late.

     "Let's keep going."

     "Von we don't have to do this, besides I really don't think there's anyone left. If they were smart they would have abandoned the temple before the onslaught."

     "Do you see this!?" Von yelled pointing at the Nautolian's body. "She just died and took these four clones with her. She cleared the way for us without even knowing it. The least we can do is continue on and find other survivors before their forced to do the same and die trying. I will not leave until I find answers, or survivors."

     Stryder bowed his head as Von rushed off to do what he came here for. The clones wasted no time in following their fearless general.

     Von knew he had to check two primary locations within the temple and the first one was the library where his old master would have likely been through all of this. Running into the Jedi library the scenery hadn't changed only this time younglings had been mercilessly slaughtered.