Star Wars: The Ancient Force

C H A P T E R . 2 3 -- Jedi

SIX RED MACHINES hum in a dim room.

While mulling over what to do, Terigo mentions, "(His last line... It's the traditional passage initializing the final stage in ascendance... when one begins to train for resurrection... Terra said similar...)"

And Yoda, Luke thinks, about killing emotions. Three paths they want, wanting him to be something he's not.

"He said Kyber Power," Luke says. "So I guess they're trying to absorb the power from our lightsaber's Kyber crystals."

"Can you destroy them with the Force?" Terigo says.

"I can try," Luke says, already hurrying to sit down in front of one and meditate. "These are thick, like the crane, and it took time. I may not have time for all of them, so—"

"Yeah I'll try..." She knew she wouldn't be able to do damage, but it was at least practice.

Terigo sits to touch one with her palms, and they both focus on breathing evenly as the humming reclaims the room.

* * *

Meanwhile, Cicatrice was still running, faster than any of his men. "STAND DOWN. Tell all men to avoid the enemy at all costs!"

Elsewhere, Terra gets on a cart and asks the driver to go. He has him stop at various stormtroopers on the way to quickly touch their heads, leaving the sounds of blaster fire in his wake.

* * *

The sound of creaking metal echoes in the room. In front of Luke, the shell of the red machine was slowly bending... and pulling apart... bolt... by... bolt... until it suddenly stops humming.

Luke opens his eyes to take a triumphant breath. He remains a little out of it as he gets up to sit by another machine—

The entire ship begins tilting and Luke and Terigo hold on to the machines. The ship tilts thirty-five degrees, then slows and falls back with a thundering crash, leaving the ship tilted five degrees in the other direction.

As Luke goes to sit at another machine, he says, "I can only guess how much time we have left. When I blew up the Death Star, it went all at once, without warning. Do you think it's possible Terra—"

"No, he likely has too much faith in us. Given his concerns over Cicatrice, I doubt he'll risk his life by delaying to see if we make it out. I'm sure he thinks he's the most important thing to the galaxy," and she returns her hands to her machine to continue trying.

Luke notices and puts his hands on his machine, trying to clear his mind of the anxiety nagging at him to work faster faster faster.

But Terigo just stares at her machine, knowing she can do no good with this. Her composure begins wavering as a flurry of all sorts of emotions swirl around inside of her, fighting with each other. "Luke..."

"What."

"Do you think you're able to use lightning again and return from the Darkness—"

"What?"

"—like you did last time. Because I don't think I'll be able to return from all of them."

Luke becomes nearly irate, "Terigo no! Keep trying to bend it, it's the only way. We can't risk—"

The entire ship creaks and rumbles.

Terigo says sternly, "I can at least do one, you saw me do it. One will save us twenty minutes." She stands up to place her hands on her machine, then looks to Luke with eyes that roar 'trust me, I can do this.' "I have a good feeling about this. Keep working on yours."