Easier said than done—that's a fact. Because flying through these—pardon my language—ass-ends of the galaxy is truly difficult. In essence, there is no hyperroute to Tython, and our flight there felt more like the hopping of a grasshopper.
Oh, poor hyperdrive… In less than five hours, we made nearly twenty jumps. On average, each leg took ten to twenty minutes, during which I didn't take my hands off the controls, carefully monitoring the process and orienting myself solely by the Force. Then the ship would drop out of hyperspace, a course correction would follow, and a new jump would be made. Then the whole thing repeated.
A few times I had to emergency-drop the ship into realspace because we almost blundered into a small black hole. In another instance, we nearly flew into a star. We did actually hit a nebula once, and we could very realistically have stayed there, as the storm knocked out the shields and damaged the ship's electronics—but knock on wood, the Force is with me, I am one with the Force, and with its help we got away with minor losses.
I envy the Mandalorians. They're sitting in the galley, playing cards, drinking. They know it's dangerous, but they trust me. I said I'd get them there—so they went off to play. Drinking, eating… Only Warren came running in, brought me a snack, and then sympathetically asked if I needed my sweat wiped. I waved him off, and just in time. It felt like I'd only looked away for a second, and we flew into the nebula. We almost got smeared across the whole nebula, but we dropped out at the last moment. Though the shield generator had to be rebooted—we almost burned it out. At least I managed to rest while it was cooling down.
For every ten jumps, we took a break and hovered in space, giving the hyperdrive a rest. I didn't need to fry it just for the fun of it. But everything comes to an end, and our suffering ended too. Around the fourth day, we dropped out of hyperspace in yet another system. And I didn't even immediately realize we'd arrived at the right place until Des confirmed it—we'd made it.
"We're here?" I asked.
"Yes. According to the computer, we're where we need to be. Mostly…"
"Mostly? Are you kidding?!"
"Quiet, Zeronis. Shade?"
"We need to scan the system," I said, clicking the switches to activate the long-range sensor arrays. "Planets, their moons, everything floating in space. I remember the system by heart."
Kaut sat at the auxiliary console to manage the scanning phase, while Des compiled the incoming data. Warren and Zeronis stood nearby, watching the work with me, waiting for the results.
"Shade."
"Yes?"
"I can congratulate you," Warren said, clapping me on the shoulder cheerfully and dispelling the tension. "You're home."
"Yeah. Well, what's the word, Des?"
"Working on it."
Clenching my fist, I shifted in my seat.
"Maybe you need a drink?"
"I have sweets in my cabin. Zer, bring them, please."
"On it."
A pack of something vaguely resembling chocolate candies with nougat and nuts inside helped. At least it kept my hands and mouth busy.
"Done!"
"And?"
"So, nine planets detected in the system, two of which are gas giants. There are also thirteen moons total."
"That's not Tython," I shook my head. "The system has eleven planets and seventeen moons. We're in the wrong place."
"We couldn't be," Des argued, checking the computer's data. "This is one hundred percent the Tython system."
"That's impossible… Show me the map!"
"Here."
A few clicks, and the system image lit up over the instrument panel. I even stood up, staring into the image, but…
"I don't believe it…" I rasped, sinking back into the seat.
"What's wrong?"
"There should be eleven planets. Sunspot," I pointed at the first planet, "then Krov Kesh, Tython, Kalimahr, Shikaakwa, Ska Gora, Obree, Ashla, Maur, and the Gates of the Furies. Malterra should be here, and Nox should be here—but they're gone… Just like Tython's moons are gone."
"There are asteroids on those orbits," Des said quietly.
"…"
"Where to… now?" Des asked, glancing at me.
I didn't answer immediately. Leaning back, frowning, rubbing my chin, I studied the map.
"Tython."
"Setting course for Tython," Des reported, prepping the ship for another jump.
Looking at Tython, I bit my lip. The planet remained, but about a fourth of it was shattered, as if after a collision with something massive… and not just once. Or not a collision, but an explosion—though what you'd have to hit it with, I don't even… Hm… No, if it had been the Infinity Gate, the whole planet would have been torn apart… probably.
A short moment later, we dropped out right next to it to see this horror up close. On the planet—on those "normal" patches where there were gaps between the craters—there was nothing. No water, no forests, nothing. It was a lifeless piece of rock, a giant asteroid that didn't look even close to how I remembered it.
"The planet really took a beating…" Kaut commented, performing a scan. "Even the atmosphere was blown away."
"Blown away?" I turned to him.
"Yes. The planet is completely lifeless."
Placing a hand on the armrest, I tapped my fingers rapidly and lightly. Despite the monstrous sight, the thought that something might have remained wouldn't leave me. The worst part was that I couldn't even determine where the poles were; that's how badly it had been hit. No, of course, one could perform a full scan and compile a three-dimensional image of the seas, but I didn't think anyone in our company was capable of such work.
"Engage the scanners; look for ruins."
"Ruins?" Des asked, raising an eyebrow. "Down there?" He pointed demonstratively at the planet. Craters were simply everywhere.
"Our people built for the ages; something might have survived…"
"I doubt it."
"But what if?"
"Des, look for them," Warren intervened, placing a hand on my shoulder. The Mandalorian shrugged and activated the long-range scanning systems directed at the planet.
"There's nothing, Shade," Kaut answered. "The sensors are silent."
"Cameras too," Kaut added. "Only craters… even the mountains are gone."
"Right…" letting go of the controls, I rubbed the bridge of my nose. Conflicting feelings fought in my chest. Agitation, anger, disappointment, and disbelief in what I was seeing. "New course. We're going to Shikaakwa."
"Understood. Taking control, course for Shikaakwa," Des reported, turning the ship.
"Tython—that was your home, right?" Zer asked.
"Half of it. I was born and raised there, but I spent the other half of my life on Shikaakwa. That was where my family was… my clan."
"Well… maybe it's not so bad there?" Zeronis tried to encourage me.
"I hope so."
A new jump, a short moment of hyperspace, and we were in orbit around Shikaakwa. Unlike Tython, Shikaakwa already inspired some hope.
"Someone clearly didn't hold back when they hit these planets," Zer commented.
Warren stared at his brother, hinting that he should shut up. And as he was turning away, Zer decided to fix things:
"Well, at least there's an atmosphere here. What?" he asked when Warren snapped his gaze back to him and Kaut shook his head.
"Des?" I turned to the Mandalorian.
"There really is an atmosphere, but my tongue won't call it welcoming. According to the sensors, the temperature on the planet is minus fifty at the minimum. Are we going down?"
"We're going down."
"Handing over control."
"I have it."
Switching on the deflectors, I steered the ship toward the planet. Despite the significant changes, I still recognized the landmarks and knew where to fly. And I didn't even need the Force to find my hometown, buried in sand—and within it, the rising, ruined, but unconquered Palace of Hadiya. It had gained additions and looked even more like a fortress.
Strange, but I could still feel a slight ripple in the Force, as if there were some kind of Force source there. Although where would it come from? There had never been such things on Shikaakwa.
"What about the atmosphere?"
"Unfit for breathing," Des shook his head. "There's almost no oxygen; ninety to ninety-five percent is carbon dioxide."
"Where do you want to go?"
"I want to walk through my home."
"Should I prep the speeders?" Zeronis asked.
"No need."
Bringing the ship in close, I landed it right on the ruins near the central entrance of the ruined fortress.
"Are you with me?" I asked the Mandalorians, rising from the seat. In response, they silently pulled their helmets onto their heads.
Grunting, I put mine on, sealed it, and activated the breathing mix recycling system.
"Are we going through the bottom or the side exit?"
"The side exit; there's a containment field projector there."
Nodding, I was the first to head for the exit. Using the Force, I pressed the activation key for the energy barrier, and used it again to press the button to open the hatch.
A step forward, a short jump, and landing on the ground. Up close, everything was still much worse than from above. I felt like I was in some kind of post-apocalypse. I didn't want to believe my eyes; I didn't want to hear the wind wandering here. It felt like this was all a bad dream—that it wasn't real.
Walking forward, I climbed a dune and looked at the surroundings. A dead world… Those words fit Shikaakwa best now. And… I knew this. I knew it was dead, so why did I feel so bad? Apparently, somewhere inside, I'd believed… hoped for the better. Though… what "better" could there be? I can't even imagine.
And the worst part: I could feel the echo remaining here. Somewhere on the edge of consciousness, screams were echoing, and through my visor, shadows flitted before my eyes. It felt like death rain was falling from a fire-covered sky, grinding the city like a crushing machine.
Suddenly, someone touched my shoulder. Startled, I reflexively grabbed my sword and looked at Warren. Damn…
"You okay?"
"Yes… Yes, I'm fine," I shook myself.
"You sure?"
Right… Inhale, exhale. The Force is with me; I am one with the Force. The Force source, long since overfilled, had captured the memories of this place. Overfilled, it steadily poured energy outward, which was why I'd begun to be pulled into visions.
"Yes. I'm fine, Warren. This place has a Force source, so there might be… anomalies here. Keep that in mind."
"Understood."
Turning around, I climbed down from the dune.
"Let's go."
"Where?"
"Let's see what's inside."
"Shade, wait. Maybe we shouldn't?" Warren stopped me.
"If you're worried, just wait for me on the ship," I answered quite sharply, but the Mandalorians only heard doubt in their bravery. In response, Warren half-smirked and half-growled with displeasure. Well, yeah—the worst insult for a Mandalorian is to be called a coward.
Turning, I was the first to head for the entrance, leading the others behind me. Damn… It was like finding Kwa ruins; there were such emanations there… though, compared to the background in the Abyss, this was a resort.
Stopping before the entrance to the fortress, I looked at the broken doors and raised my eyes.
"What does it say?" Des asked.
"It's in Tythonian: 'First Fortress-Temple of the Immortals in the Force.'"
"Did you build it?"
"My wife… and children."
Following inside, I looked around. The entrance hall had clearly been remodeled—made larger, like in my temple on Tython. And right opposite the entrance, a stone slab hung with carved words:
"The Great Order learned the Riddles of the Force,
It held the balance between two sides
And thus the generations passed
Until suddenly discord arose in one
A gaze upon the Force,
A schism, into two feuding branches
From the Je'daii Order, two currents were born.
Some were mired in darkness of spirit,
Chaining themselves with sins.
Others went blind in the light of the Force
Forgot themselves, forgot others.
Forgot home, and the old teachings,
Forgot that in the Force, there is no right side.
They fight, misunderstanding the Meaning,
Gazing toward one side, worshipping only it.
But there is no darkness without light,
As there is no light without the same darkness
They are one,
Two sides of the same coin
Only in balance with oneself,
Can you be warmed in the darkness
And scorched by light like darkness,
And if you are one with the Force—you shall be invincible.
And there is no ignorance, for us there is knowledge of passion
For us there is no fear—there is power,
We are the guiding fire of Light.
We are the mystery of Darkness.
We are the heart of the Force itself.
And in balance with chaos and harmony,
But only within us.
Immortal in the Force."
"And what is that?"
"I wrote a poem once, for a joke. This is its… remodeled version. A part of the code is used here."
"Got it."
Turning, I headed into one of the corridors.
"In my time, this place served as Queen Hadiya's palace and a command headquarters simultaneously. It was also where I wanted to establish a temple once, but due to certain circumstances, the idea had to be abandoned."
"Why?"
"I had disagreements with the Council, and by mutual agreement, it was decided to build the tenth temple on Tython. Apparently, my descendants did eventually move the temple here…" I stopped abruptly and fell silent.
Turning around, I scanned the corridor with my NVG but saw nothing. Strange. Very strange.
"What is it?"
"Nothing. I just thought I saw something."
Closing my eyes, I looked around again… All clear. Turning, I walked down the corridor, and with every step I sank into the Force, scanning this place. Somehow, a smile appeared on my lips by itself, because unlike the street, that very familiar atmosphere reigned here. I didn't even notice how I slipped into a vision. The corridors transformed, and it felt as if I were walking through that very fortress. Jerking for a moment, I looked around once more… Doubt and disbelief gripped my heart, but the hallucination wouldn't vanish. If not for the emptiness, I might have even believed it.
Despite the remodeling, this place had preserved its essence. Passing the turns, I climbed the stairs. Right… the living quarters are on the left on the third floor. Quickening my pace, I rushed down the corridor. I mean… I'm home, right? I'll turn the corner and Hadiya will be there, right? Belief in the reality of the vision was stronger than memories. I wanted to believe that everything that had happened to me was a dream, or another glitch of the Force…
And more than that, I could hear… feel the emotions! I could hear laughter, hear voices… They were here, they were all here. I could hear their joy, hear their pride and confidence. The walls themselves were saturated with these emotions. Running a hand along one of them, I couldn't help but smile… Yes… So familiar… So home.
And now, I would see them. I would, right? Bursting around the corner, I stopped abruptly. Instead of the residential wing, a crater lay before me.
No… Not a vision… Not a dream… The mark left here was far from what I remembered. Anger, resentment, betrayal… They washed over me like a wave. There were no ghosts here, only an echo.
The system, as it should, removed the accumulating moisture and tried to cool my face, but it couldn't stop the flowing tears. I knew what I was getting into… I'd said goodbye to everything dear to me. But here I was… I'd returned home. I'd made it… But… There was no home, there was nothing; even the memory of it had been distorted. It was destroyed from within, trampled, and erased from history.
Clenching my fist until the glove creaked, I felt the Force respond to my pain, and the energy spilled around me flowed into me on its own. From the resulting pressure, dust fell from the ceiling, and the walls groaned plaintively…
***
Warren
From the very moment we arrived in the system, Shade hadn't been himself. In all the time we'd spent with him, we'd never seen him nervous anywhere. Not even on the day of our first meeting. But now… everything was different.
It became especially apparent when we stepped onto Shikaakwa.
"I've got goosebumps," Des said, shivvering and looking at me.
"You're not the only one."
"Kaut, keep up."
Completely unexpectedly, Shade quickened his pace. An attempt to find out the reason failed; he simply didn't hear me. Following him, we found ourselves at the entrance to a destroyed wing.
I wanted to call out to Shade, but… looking at his stone-still figure, I was afraid. Suddenly, dust fell from the ceiling, and age-old fortifications groaned. I felt as if, in the blink of an eye, I were hundreds of meters deep underwater—the pressure was that strong. But everything passed as suddenly as it had crashed down.
Our homeworld is in decline, and we can understand what's going on inside Shade now. So, without saying a word, we stepped aside, giving him time.
"You know… it's even symbolic."
"What exactly?" I looked at Zeronis.
"Shade is standing before an abyss separating him from the past. But he's already crossed it, and he's looking back… don't you think?"
"Hm…"
"Warren, maybe Des and I will walk around for a bit?" Kaut suggested.
"Go, just be careful."
And after another half hour, Shade finally thawed out—but instead of coming to us, he turned in the opposite direction.
"Shade! Shade, where are you going?"
"To the northern wing."
"Why?"
"Because the Force is leading me there."
"None of that makes sense, but it's very interesting," Zeronis joked.
"Let's go, Zer. Can't leave him alone," I sighed.
And our newly-discovered brother dragged us through the lower levels of the fortress. They were preserved much better than the upper ones. At least there wasn't a feeling that this structure was about to fold right on top of you.
"They really knew how to build," Zeronis scratched the stone. "Feels like it was cast from stone, but I can't identify the type."
"Just accept the fact: wizards lived here."
Following Shade, we talked quietly. Shade would either stop, freezing and staring into the void, or abruptly keep walking. In one of the corridors, we lingered longer than usual. Shade dropped to one knee and stretched out a hand into the void. Exchanging a look with Zeronis, I saw him shrug.
Shivvering from the goosebumps running down my back, I returned my attention to Shade. It looked eerie. Standing up, he seemed to follow someone with his eyes. Someone short who had walked past him.
"War, do you believe in ghosts?"
I looked at Zeronis silently.
"Question withdrawn."
But as soon as we lost sight of Shade for a moment, he literally vanished.
"I don't get it… Shade, come in! Shade!" But only static answered.
"Is the comms glitching?"
"Doesn't look like it. Des, Kaut, you there?"
"Yes."
"On the line."
"Мы lost Shade."
"How?!"
"Just like that. He's not responding to the request."
"What do we do?"
"What else… we look. Spread out."
"Copy."
Splitting up, we went into different corridors. Just our luck… Weaving through gloomy passages occasionally lit by starlight through cracks, I sent request after request, but it was silent. The tracking system, which sent each other's data to all of us, couldn't help either. While I could see Des, Kaut, and Zeronis clearly, Shade's signal would appear and then vanish.
When it started to get dark, luck finally decided to smile on me, and I managed to catch his signal. Orienting myself quickly, I ran through the corridor and found myself in another ruined hall. A large, spacious room with a domed, punctured roof, in the center of which Shade sat on a broken piece of the ceiling, meditatively rotating a fragment before him without taking his eyes off it.
On the sides of the room, frescoes were preserved depicting some anthropomorphic beings in cloaks. They held energy swords with both hands at chest level, pointed at the ground, and their faces were hidden by masks just like the one Shade wore. They didn't look threatening; they reminded me more of guardians protecting this place. We had found identical statues—in varying states of preservation and in different poses—in the citadel's corridors.
"Shade?"
"Sorry, Warren," Shade suddenly apologized.
"What?"
"Sorry for making you nervous," he turned to me.
It felt like his voice's timbre had changed. As if… I were talking not to a living creature, but to a ghost.
"Shade, what's going on?"
"This place," he gestured, "is a hall for meditation and study. The Force is concentrated here. It led me here to show me what I'd missed…"
"And?"
"You know, history is written by the victors, Warren. In official history, my descendants were betrayed by the Je'daii, and that was their end. But… it's not so. This place remembers what happened afterward; it's saturated with memories. And my descendants survived."
"You saw the past?"
"Yes."
"And you saw how it all started?"
"Partially. But it was enough for me. Tell me, Warren: what does a slave want?"
"Freedom?"
"Not at all. A slave wants to rule other slaves. He dreams of becoming a master, dreams of power. The best slave driver is a former slave. The Infinite Empire kept hundreds of peoples in slavery, and when a chance to throw off the chains appeared, they didn't miss it. When the Hadian Empire came—when my son reached out a helping hand to help them stand, and Terra gave them bread—they signed the Empire's death warrant."
The last words gave me goosebumps. Not from the words, no, but from the tone Shade used to speak them.
"I don't understand. Why?! And what do slaves and the Je'daii have to do with this? You said the Je'daii betrayed you? No?"
"It's all… a bit more complicated."
Shade went silent for a moment, as if choosing his words, while watching the rotating stone.
"The Infinite Empire used Force-users like batteries, like energy. That's why there were many of them within the Rakatan Empire; they were intentionally… bred like cattle, like slaves. Adepts of the One Force cannot accept an outsider into their ranks—if you used one side, then you will continue to use it. Thus, where did all that mass gradually flow? Correct: to the Je'daii. They distorted the old concepts, replaced what was valued in my time; there were more slaves and they changed the Order. This process went slowly, unnoticed… Groups of renegades appeared; many peoples got their own pet, pocket Force-users. And now add that the Empire at that time was the strongest state. Do you think the liberated valued that? No, they looked at the Hadian Empire as another master—one who was weaker than the previous one, and who could be devoured. The blow was cruel, Warren… Those the Empire liberated, those it helped and lifted from their knees—they were the ones who signed the death warrant. Но the Terrans are strong. Not just in body, but in spirit. They aren't the kind to put up with such lawlessness, so a simple victory didn't happen. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha… can you imagine? Those bastards even went to the surviving Rakatans! Thus, instead of a war, there was a genocide. They hit the Hadian Empire with everything they could… and eventually beat it. But it wasn't the end. It was the Terrans who cut the hyperroutes to Tython using the Force and went underground. They gathered their strength… waited. And they returned. That was when everyone realized what kind of beast they'd spawned, and against whom they'd raised a hand. The whole galaxy flared up, Warren. The Terrans were genocided… and they answered in kind. And they had weapons capable of destroying entire worlds. That was when Lehon was blown to pieces, along with several other planets. Dark Jedi, Light Jedi, the Republic—everyone united against such a threat, because as long as those weapons existed, no one could be at rest. The Jedi brought massive forces into the system. They led them manually, as we arrived. They destroyed the Terrans, wiped them to zero—moreover, they erased the very mention of the Terrans and the Hadian Empire from history. At least, as far as they could reach. And after that, whenever users of the One Force appeared anywhere, measures were taken immediately."
Shade clenched his fist, and the levitating stone shattered into dust with it. His voice wavered, growing angrier, showing the owner's hidden feelings.
"But there were those who… stood for the Terrans," after a pause, he continued more calmly. "I don't know the names of those species, Warren. But I saw Taungs among them. Taungs were never slaves. They are warriors. Free warriors who outlasted the Celestials, outlasted their fall, outlasted the Rakata, but… they couldn't outlast the Republic. And now, all… every last representative of the peoples who were on the Terrans' side has been cut down. If not for your culture—not for the ideological character of accepting any xeno into the clan, which the Taungs elevated to an Absolute back in the days of the Celestials—then most likely there would be no Mandalore either. As Te Or'ka said: it is impossible to destroy an idea. And after the fracturing, the Sith had no trouble using a resentful people against the Republic. And then a second time as well. So much Mandalorian blood has been spilled. First alongside us, then beside the Sith… I'm actually surprised anything at all is left of you. Apparently… it wasn't an accident that you were the ones who found me."
"Yeah… apparently not an accident."
"And you know, Warren—I'm glad your ancestors followed the Sith. Seriously!" Shade suddenly changed his tone.
"What?"
"Because thanks to that, you gave the Jedi a beating and destroyed much of their knowledge. Including the knowledge that spoke of the danger of the Terrans—otherwise the Order would've tried to cut me down right on the doorstep. But this way… nobody knows anything about the Terrans. Not the Sith, because they were getting trashed by the Jedi, nor the Jedi, because their library was burned. Had I woken up a little earlier, everything could have gone a completely different way…"
"And if you'd returned home, this could have been avoided."
"I don't think so, Warren. I am… a peaceful creature, with my own code. It's just that I had to kill and fight too often, heh-heh-heh. Most likely, I'd have stepped on the same rake."
Shade went silent; I didn't rush to answer either. The silence was broken by the communicator coming to life:
"Warren, receiving," Des's voice crackled.
"On the line."
"Warren, I met up with Zeronis and Kaut. What have you got?"
"I found Shade."
"And how is he?"
I looked at Aero.
"Seen better days…" Shade smirked at my answer. "He's fine, basically."
"That's good… and we found something interesting here."
"What exactly?"
"A collapse. Leads to a basement. Since the fortress hasn't sagged, we think something might have survived down there."
"There's a bomb shelter under the palace," Shade added directly over the comms. "Most likely it survived."
"Oh! Welcome back, brother!" Kaut cheered. "Well, we're standing by the stairs leading down now."
"You don't need stairs; you need the lift."
"Right… well, we saw the lift too."
"Then wait for us there."
"Copy that."
The connection cut, and Shade and I looked at each other.
"You're sure you're okay?"
"Yes. Let's go, Warren—the time has come to revive a world on the brink from the remains of a dead one," Shade said in a livelier voice, standing up. "My home may have perished, but we can save yours."
"You think so?"
"I'm sure. And while we're at it, we'll remind the galaxy why it feared the Terrans so much. After all, the last Tythonian is still in this world."
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: patreon.com/Granulan