RotF Chapter 8

Modre is an ocean world, but the oceans are toxic. The handful of islands that are the only land are desert with harsh, orange sand. The winds are high, so sandstorms are the norm.

Enthea isn’t familiar with this world, and neither is anyone in the party except Laki.

All four of them are in the cockpit, watching the swirling, orange sands approach as they approach. Obi-Wan wears Enthea’s Padawan robes, and it’s eerie how well they suit him in his new body. Well, the body isn’t new… his own body, merely in a new configuration. It’s so amusing to see that it makes it difficult for Enthea to concentrate.

Ryoke is having the same problem, but doing a much better job hiding it. Meanwhile, Laki takes every chance she gets to tease Obi-Wan. Enthea was afraid that his temper was going to snap when she pinched his rear an hour ago.

Enthea shakes her head. Thinking about her master’s alluring new bottom will only lead to problems.

Ryoke skillfully brings the ship in as Obi-Wan peers warily through the windshield at the sandstorm.

“We didn’t bring protective equipment for this,” he murmurs, but his new, light, feminine voice takes all the gravity out of the words. “We’ll have to use the **** to protect ourselves.”

“Leave it to me,” Ryoke says confidently. “How can anything live down here? Is there a sealed base or settlement?”

“No,” Laki replies from the copilot’s chair. “Only the temple.”

Enthea and Obi-Wan brace themselves as Ryoke lands. Once they’re stationary, she powers down the engines while Laki stands up, leaving her twin lightsabers behind.

“You don’t think we’ll need them?” Obi-Wan asks.

“There’s only one other living creature here,” Laki replies with a shrug. “And she has no weapons.”

Enthea looks questioningly at Obi-Wan, who gives a little shake of his head. She leaves her lightsaber on her belt and follows him to the rear of the ship, where Ryoke pushes to the front of the group.

“Do you know the way?” she asks over her shoulder.

“Of course,” Laki replies.

“How many times have you come here?” Obi-Wan asks.

“Only once.”

“Perfect,” Obi-Wan mutters, going to smooth his robes the way that he normally would, only to find breasts in the way. Scowling, he shoots Ryoke a look. She hits the button, and the ramp opens.

Ryoke uses the **** to project a protective bubble large enough to protect them all from the sand, leading the way down to the surface. The sand is surprisingly soft, and Enthea hopes their ship won’t sink into it.

“There,” Laki shouts over the howling wind, pointing.

They start off, safe in the bubble.

It takes only a few minutes of walking before the temple becomes visible. It’s shaped like a pyramid, and it’s huge. Much larger than Enthea expected from Laki’s vague description.

“And there’s only one life form here?” Obi-Wan asked.

“What do your feelings tell you, Master Kenobi?” Laki asks playfully.

“Does this priestess know that we’re here?”

“She probably knew the instant we decided to come,” Laki says.

They climb stone steps, worn smooth by ages of sandstorms. The temple is constructed of white rock.

“Who built this?” Enthea asks as they climb.

“You’ll have to ask her,” Laki says.

“What’s her name?” Ryoke asks loudly, a little sweat on her forehead from maintaining the shield for so long.

“I doubt she remembers,” Laki shouts back.

They pass under a big arch, into a grand chamber. Sand is underfoot, having blown in from outside into drifts against the walls.

At least they’re protected from the wind. Ryoke drops her shield, looking around curiously. The white stone doesn’t make the place feel especially dark, but it is with so little light coming in from outside. It’s massive, and sounds echo off the walls.

Enthea gazes in awe at the carvings in the stone. They are simplistic, but unmistakable: female humanoid forms. They’re nude, but not very detailed.

“Beautiful,” Obi-Wan notes, brushing himself off, but no sand got on anyone. The temple does a good job muffling the noise of the storm. It’s almost peaceful inside. “Ryoke, do you sense anything?”

“Danger,” Ryoke replies without hesitation.

“So do I. Laki? What now?”

“Follow me, impatient little one,” she says patting the top of his head as she moves past to take the lead.

They trail her up more stairs, to another chamber that’s almost as large, and has one object in it: a chair. More like a throne, and it’s facing away from them. Enthea sees the pale hand resting on the arm. Someone’s here.

She bumps into Obi-Wan’s arm. He’s put it out to stop her.

“That’s close enough,” he says.

“Don’t be afraid,” Laki says over her shoulder. Obi-Wan grabs Ryoke to stop her as well, but Laki goes closer.

With a noisy grinding sound of heavy stone, the chair turns.

The woman sitting in it is as nude as the carvings. The chair… does not match her.

She has lovely, blue skin and piercing red eyes. She’s as tall ask Ryoke. Enthea has only encountered a few Chiss and has no idea how to guess their age, but this woman’s body looks as youthful as her own, although she has a much more desirable figure.

“Jedi,” the Chiss says, wearing a smile. “Four Jedi. My, my.”

“You predicted that I would return,” Laki says, putting her hand on her hip. She looks over her shoulder at Obi-Wan. “I told you she was good.”

“Laki,” the Chiss says, as though it’s taken her a moment to recognize the other woman. “You look different.”

“It’s called aging. You should try it,” Laki replies. “Let me introduce my friends. Master Obi-Wan Kenobi of the Jedi Council. Ryoke, and Enthea. A padawan.”

“A pleasure,” the Chiss says, still regarding them with that flat, emotionless look. Enthea tries to keep her eyes on the face of the priestess and not her body. Not so long ago she had to steal a secret moment or get a pass from the Jedi to seek any kind of stimulation. Now it’s all around her.

“We’re sorry to come without an invitation,” Obi-Wan begins. “But we’re here to ask your help.”

“The Jedi seek the Mandalorian bounty hunter with the gift of foresight,” the Chiss replies, utterly deadpan. “There’s no need. The Jedi needn’t lift a finger. The bounty hunter is coming to them.”

“Well, that’s good news,” Obi-Wan replies, taken aback.

“Perhaps.”

“What can you tell us that might help us?”

“It is not my place to help you,” the Chiss replies.

“Laki says that you place value on peace and harmony. That is the agenda that the Jedi serve,” Obi-Wan says.

“Not with that hanging from your belt.”

Obi-Wan looks down at his lightsaber and sighs. “You sound just like…”

“…Satine Kryze,” the Chiss says, and Obi-Wan stiffens.

“She knows things, Obi-Wan,” Laki tells him with a shrug. “Your duty is to serve, but I don’t see you on the streets of Coruscant feeding the poor. You have your own way of doing things and so does she. You won’t **** anything out of her.”

“I have no plans to **** anything,” Obi-Wan says bitterly. “But the Sith must be fought. If you can help us, lives might yet be saved.”

“No. Different lives would be taken. I cannot value the life of a Jedi over the life of a Sith,” the priestess says.

“The Sith seek only power and destruction,” Obi-Wan protests. “Why can’t you see them as your enemy?”

“The Sith are capable of creating great beauty. This place, for example.” The Chiss lifts one hand off the arm of her chair to gesture at the temple.

Ryoke tenses, looking around with new eyes. “The Sith built this?”

“Of course,” the Chiss says placidly.

Obi-Wan exchanges a look with Ryoke.

“Perhaps you would not feel so strongly if you understood the Sith better,” the Chiss suggests.

“I think I understand them well enough,” Obi-Wan replies stiffly.

“Master Kenobi, a Jedi with a closed mind is no Jedi at all,” Laki remarks, and he twitches irritably.

“Under this temple, there is a vault, which may still hold something left by those who built it,” the Chiss says. “Perhaps it could help you. I will show you the way in the morning if you like.”

“Why not now?” Ryoke asks.

The Chiss lifts her hand again to indicate the slanted openings in the walls, which let in just a little light from outside. “The dark. If you go now, you would go to your deaths. What waits down there would not be stopped by your shields,” she adds to Ryoke. “Better to wait.”