FORSAKEN IV - Harbinger of Chaos

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

"We're in a cave...?" Gorin spied his surroundings as a shaft of light pierced the darkness through one of the two opposing entrances. He could hear the reverberations of distant surf.

"Not just any cave," said Addia getting up as she held her wounded side and approached the center, where a flat rough-edged outcrop contained a black and white mosaic. The water dripping from the ceiling pooled in it and circular patterns edged the floor.

"The Prime Jedi." Ilum recognized the mosaic. It was a crest adopted by the Je'daii.

"Where's the rest of the dagger?" said Gorin, picking up the golden spiraled handle of the Dagger of Mortis, sitting atop of the seal.

"I have a few theories, but none of them are good for us," said Addia, taking out a medikit from her satchel. "My best guess is Skywalker has the other half and he too emerged from Mortis somewhere else." She applied bacta spray to her cut.

"What are the other theories?" said Ilum, walking over to attend to her wound.

"That we broke it and the release of energy tore a portal out of Mortis back to our reality."

"I'm going to have to concur with you and go with your indicial supposition." Ilum slapped a bacta patch over Addia's wound.

"Do you think we can we still use it?" Gorin poked his palm with the pointed tip of the handle.

"I don't think that's how it works, Go. It's called the Mortis Dagger, not the Mortis Handle," said Addia, moving around to make sure the bacta patch was secured. "And see, that's the problem with Jedi Guardians, always thinking with their lightsabers. Had that beskar-headed Skywalker agreed to help us, we could have put an end to Abeloth—the mudlicker." She shook her head, returning the medikit to her bag.

"Maybe, next time, we shouldn't call him 'Skywalker' when trying to convince him."

"Or he can grow the pfassk up and come to terms with the monster that he is." The loss of half the dagger to Skywalker made Addia cantankerous.

"Nonetheless, our most prescient issue is to determine our current location. This place is rather strong with the Force."

"There is something else too..." said Gorin, scanning the ceiling as if searching for the feeling. "Force-sensitives."

"Three of them," said Ilum. His greater sensitivity in the Force provided further details. "But there are other lifeforms nearby as well."

"Well, the Force-sensitives are not Skywalker," said Addia. "They are connected to the light side."

"But who are they?" said Gorin. "And why did the Force bring us here?"

"Perhaps it wills us to meet them—whomever they may be," said Ilum.

"More recruits?" Addia found the idea amusing. "We're going to need a bigger ship at this rate."

"Not necessarily," said Gorin. "I can make a few modifications so everyone fits comfortably, plus increase firepower and flexibility in combat."

"I'm sure you can."

"Let us not digress from the matter at hand," said Ilum. "We need to find out where we are, who those Force-sensitives are, and what the local cuisine is."

The last comment drew dumbfounded silence from Addia and Gorin.

"Humor?" said Addia, raising an eyebrow.

"Levity seemed appropriate to alleviate the concerns of our current predicament—failed as it did to accomplish this."

Gorin peered outside one of the two cave exits. "Well, I don't know about the first two questions, but I bet you my toolbelt the local food is fish. Wherever we are, Little Sister would be happy with all this water around."