“Alright, so what is it that you want to do?” you ask Tera.
“Hush! Keep quiet!”
The two of you are in your quarters, Tera having finished her quick shower after that rather exciting meeting with the padawans. Tera drags you closer, lowering her voice down to a whisper, to the point where you have to turn your head to hear her more clearly.
“We’re going to do some stargazing.”
You stare at her in incredulity. Initiates have a nightly curfew to prevent you all from making trouble. Each clan of Younglings also has at least one caretaker who checks in from time to time to ensure your safety. If you were to disappear off into the night, you have no doubt that you’d be caught in moments. Not only that, but there is no way you’ll be able to even get a good look at the stars. Despite the Temple being on the top levels of the city, that doesn’t mean you’re able to escape the all encompassing smog of industry. It diffuses the light of the surrounding districts, making it impossible to enjoy the view of the stars.
“And how are we going to do that?” you ask. If she’s proposing something like this, she must have a plan.
“I asked Nyine and Cho’an to cover for us. If Master Binaj notices we’re gone, they’ll just say we’re using the ‘fresher.”
“... I guess that might work. She might be able to tell if they’re lying, though.”
“We’ll just have to take that risk!”
You shake your head in exasperation. Oh, Tera… Always so enthusiastic, but terrible at planning. She lives in the moment, failing to consider the consequences of her actions at times; usually when she gets too excited. You did promise to go along with her though, so you’ll just have to suffer along with her when the two of you inevitably get caught.
“Okay. But, where are we going to go? It’s not like we’ll get much of a better view from anywhere else than from the window here.”
To your great concern, Tera gives you the biggest smile you’ve seen from her all day. Her teeth flash, reflecting the light from your eyes. “We’re gonna go up!”
“Up? What do you… Oh.” You pause in realization. “Oh, no. No no no no no. You can’t be serious.”
There’s only five places within the Jedi Temple grounds that will allow you to rise above the choking smog. Five places that you really shouldn’t be.
“We’re going up one of the spires!”
≡][≡ ⬦⬦⬦ ≡][≡
“Tera, this is absolutely insane. You’re absolutely insane. We’re going to be punished so hard for this.”
“Shhh!” she hisses at you. Leaning forward, she peeks around the corner, then dashes forward, dragging you along. The two of you dash across the hallway, feet muffled by two layers of socks. You’ve left your boots behind for you’re sure that the tapping of the soles would easily give you away.
Darting into an alcove, the two of you pause to catch your breaths. You’re only on the first leg of your little adventure and you’re already stressed out of your mind. Right now, you need to first make your way to one of the five Spires. There are five Spires of the Jedi Temple, each one dedicated for a distinct purpose. The central spire, the tallest, is the most sacred of the five. Within the Spire are many chambers and items held to the utmost importance to the Jedi, and thus is guarded at all times. Obviously, the two of you aren’t going to risk the Masters’ wrath by trying for this one, despite it probably having the best view.
The southeast spire is also right out. It is there where the most active of councils sits. The Tower of Reconciliation serves to solve political disputes throughout the galaxy, helping with crucial steps of peaceful negotiation. In these turbulent times, the Masters of that council are kept busy all day long, and sometimes deep into the night. You have no wish to wander up that spire, only to bump into a council member sneaking out for a well-deserved break.
The southwest spire is yet another tower you wish to avoid. Within that spire sits the Jedi High Council. Even if it’s unlikely for the old farts on that Council to be up this late, you’re pretty sure that spire is still going to be rather well guarded.
That leaves two potential candidates for late-night shenanigans: the northwest and northeast towers. The northwest tower is home to the Council of First Knowledge, who hold all decision-making power in the management of the Jedi Temple — different from the High Council in that the High Council holds power for the Jedi Order as a whole. The northeast tower holds the Council of Reassignment, who deal with young Initiates who fail to obtain an apprenticeship. Hopefully, if or when you’re caught tonight, you don’t end up in front of those Masters so soon. You’d like to at least make it to the Trials first.
However, between getting caught by those Masters versus getting caught by those of the Council of First Knowledge, you’d much rather it be the former than the latter. These Masters are certainly more used to dealing with wayward Younglings, hopefully with kindness. Therefore, when the two of you come to the next junction, you pull Tera down the right-hand path.
You make good time, dashing down the hallways when you’re sure no one’s near. As you run, you reach out with all your senses: watching for shadows around corners; straining your ears to catch unexpected sound; feeling for any life besides you and Tera though the Force; casting your gaze about, warp-eye blazing behind your headband, looking for any souls around. Your effort is not in vain, for more than once are you able to perceive a potential threat to your mischief. Each time, you pull Tera aside, ducking into a nearby room or behind furniture with more than enough time to spare. As you do so, you resist the urge to watch the wandering Knight or Master pass, instead keeping your glowing eyes hidden and simply waiting until they’ve gone far enough to fade from your Force sense.
And before you know it, you’ve made it to the base of the spire. You’ve certainly learned a lot from your experience. Both the Force and your witchsight were incredibly useful for sneaking around, and you’re sure you can pull it off again. It is a bit taxing on the mind though, so you’ll certainly sleep well tonight. If you can make it back to your bed before being caught, that is.
Not only are your senses useful for stealth, but they’re extremely useful for detecting others too. After all, that’s what you were trained to do with your Force sense. However, it requires concentration to truly work. You’re sure that the Jedi who passed you by sensed you subconsciously, but paid you no mind. After all, this is the Jedi Temple. What threat could there be hiding in the shadows? It’s likely you faded into the background, blending in with the lifeforce of all the other beings around. You’re unlikely to be spotted by a random wandering Jedi who is not actively looking for curfew-dodging Younglings. However, ahead of you lies the spire, most likely guarded and a much greater challenge to face.
This is your last chance to turn back. The last chance to walk away from near-certain punishment.
But, this is exhilarating! Sneaking around, moments away from getting caught is fun! The adrenaline continues to pump through your veins and you’re practically vibrating with excitement.
So, you turn to Tera and ask. “You ready?”
“Yeah!”
Just around the corner are the main doors to the Spire, flanked by a pair of guards. The Temple Guards are garbed just like Master Masbau when he’s at work. Each one anonymous. Each imposing with their double-sided pikes and clear strength in the Force.
And it happens that these two are now leaving? Well, that’s convenient. They stroll off around the corner, leaving the door completely unguarded.
At an unspoken signal, the two of you rush forwards, barely making a sound as you cross the distance. You’re not sure exactly where the guards are going, but you’re certain you’d like to already be inside by the time they’re back. However, as much of a rush as you’re in, you make sure to hold Tera back from yanking the door open immediately. Instead, you pause for a second, leaning into your Force and warp-senses to check for anybody inside first. Finding no one, you nod to Tera and lead her inside.
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The whole place is dark. Good. That means that everyone’s already left. A bit strange, considering you thought the entire Temple was supposed to be busy every hour of the day. Other than for Initiates that is. You’re given a nightly curfew to, according to the Masters, make sure you get enough sleep so that you grow up big and strong. You’re pretty sure it’s actually just to keep you out of trouble at least for the night.
Well, considering you’re out here and not safely in bed, that’s just wishful thinking on their part!
The center of the spire hosts a turbolift; very helpful for the aging Masters who sit on the Council. You’re pretty sure you wouldn’t want to trudge up the several hundred steps of stairs every day when you get that old. Right now, though, you’re young and still shaking with excitement, and therefore are alright with climbing the stairs tonight.
The stairs are going to be much safer too. If you sense anyone ahead, you’ll be able to stop and backtrack. You’ll not be able to do so from inside a turbolift. So, you silence Tera’s complaints with your good reasoning and begin the mighty climb.
Again, luck is with you. Nobody seems to be around at all, not even droids. You hear no sounds of movement other than the muffled shuffling of your and Tera’s feet, and you again sense no signs of life.
You lead Tera by the hand as you move, for it is too dark for your friend to see. Poor Tera has to feel her way forward with every step, trusting you to keep her from tripping over something and tumbling backwards down the stairs. Fortunately for her, you are a gooood friend. You’d never do something so evil, like let go of her hand and disappear into the darkness.
“Eek!” she lets out a soft shriek, swiping her hands around ahead of her in search of you. She kneels down for safety, then calls out for you in panic. “Xena? Xena! Where’d you go? Don’t leave meee!”
Okay, you’ll admit it. That was a bit mean of you. Guiltily, you step back over from the side of the stairs and whisper to her.
“Sorry, Tera. I, uh, lost my grip on you for a second.”
“You liar! I know you let go on purpose!” She grabs onto your arm with all her strength as she speaks, causing you to wince in pain. “Don’t do that again!”
“Sorry! Sorry…”
“Let’s just go.”
A few hundred more stairs and you’re definitely tiring. This is looking to be less and less fun than you’d thought. Hundreds of stairs to the top? No. More like thousands! Your legs burn! You’re definitely gonna feel this in the morning, even more so than you do now. So, you decide to compromise. You and Tera take the turbolift up a few dozen floors, then hop off to walk up another few levels while carefully searching ahead with the Force and with your warp-sight. You repeat the process until you’re nearing the top, then decide to walk the rest of the way.
But, just as you think you’re in the clear and are about to speak your relief to Tera, you hear something echoing from up ahead. Voices.
That ain’t good.
You stop in your tracks, causing Tera to bump into you. Fortunately, she’s able to recover herself and doesn’t fall. Hopefully, you’re far enough away that whoever is ahead of you is unable to sense you with their indubitably better Force-senses. You shuffle over to the side, crouching down, ready to move back down. There are no nearby floors other than one up ahead, so you’ll have to backtrack rather far if whoever is over there comes this way.
Fortunately, they don’t. You can hear the faint whine of motors, then the soft whooshing as turbolift doors open. After a moment, you hear both noises again as the turbolift makes its way down. You’re safe.
You move upward again. Cautiously. Who knows if there is anyone else ahead? You’re unfamiliar with the Spires, so you have no idea of its layout. It could be that the Council is currently in session and someone just stepped out to use the ‘fresher, and the only ‘fresher around is at the bottom of the tower. Best use caution in times like these.
But, your fears are unfounded. Though the lights have been left on, it seems that nobody else is around. Instead, all you find is a damp floor, smelling faintly like cleaning chemicals. The person who just left was probably just janitorial staff, doing a late-night clean up.
“Tera, I think it’s clear.”
She moves up ahead, also reaching out with the Force. “Oh, good! I think you’re right. Let’s get going.”
You move through the various rooms of the penthouse floor of the Spire, looking for somewhere with a good view. As much as it would be fun, you’re pretty sure it wouldn’t be a good idea to make your way outside the Spire at this height. The winds this far up can get quite strong and you’d much rather not make your way down from the outside of the Spire.
So instead, you find the Council meeting room. In here is a circle of seats — which you make sure not to touch — as well as a set of large windows, giving you one of the best views in all of Coruscant.
You avoid the center of the room, trying not to imagine what it would be like to stand there in the future. Instead, you wander around the edges, peering out at the city around you. With the lights off, the view is magnificent. From here, you can see all four of the other Spires. Each one stands tall and proud above the Temple ziggurat below. Down there is the courtyard in which you were first found, next to the walls of the Temple grounds. This is your home, the greatest and most sacred of Jedi academies in the Galaxy. Here is a place of knowledge. A place of peace. A place of understanding.
You sigh as you look down. The Temple is beautiful, but this is all you know. Other than on short and painful trips to the endless city around, the only other place you’ve been outside of the Temple was Ilum. It was during that trip that you made some of the most critical decisions and memories of your life.
You look up at the stars, accomplishing the goal for tonight.
Out there… Out there is also home. As much as the Temple means to you, you cannot help but feel that there is something missing. The Temple holds all the people and values you hold dear, yet it was only out there, in space, that you realized there is another home for you.
The void calls to you. It beckons. And as you look out there, into the great beyond, you feel something change within you. Something… odd. You take a quick look within but see nothing at your inspection. Hmm.
Looking back up, you continue to watch the stars. Streaks of light pass through the sky. Ships, satellites, stations. Beautiful vessels, dancing on the edge between space and not-space.
The dream you had showed you what could be. It showed you something greater. There’s something both within you and without you that needs to be explored. But…
You’re scared. Why?
You’re so curious! You must know what is within the darkened hull of the ship. But, something about it fills you with dread. Is it the fear of the unknown, or is it something else?
This isn’t what you came up here to do, though. You came out here to have fun with Tera and look at the grandiose views you cannot claim from below. Out there is the smog coated city. Lights shine through, blurred by the tangible blanket of pollution settling between the towering buildings.
And up there are the oh so beautiful stars. They call to you, just begging to be explored, but so far out of reach that it almost hurts to think about it for too long. The void, the stars. The ship, the warp. All of these hold the answers you seek, along with so many more questions to confuse you ever more.
Tomorrow. You’ll talk to Master Masbau tomorrow. He’ll know what to do. It’s been a very long day, and you’re really feeling the day’s fatigue now.
You look over the Tera and it appears she’s just about ready to go too. She’s swaying slightly, fighting back a yawn, but still looking eagerly out at the constellations above, soaking in one last view.
“Tera, we should probably go now.”
“Ah. Yes—”
“I agree,” a voice booms out from behind you.
Yelping in surprise, you drop down into a fighting stance while Tera bolts for the door. But, after a few steps, she slows and stops, realizing that it’s futile since you’ve already been caught red-handed. You’re kicking yourself for you’d been so absorbed in your thoughts that you didn’t pay attention to the approaching anomaly in your Force sense.
Stepping forward, a Temple Guard is illuminated by the city’s lights pouring through the windows.
Oh no. You recognized that voice. And you certainly recognize that true-self you see with your witchsight.
“Xena. Tera. I hope you’ve had your fun,” Master Masbau continues. “It’s time for bed. Come. I’ll take you two back.”
“Yes, Master,” you say in defeat. Well, that’s it. Adventure complete. A partial success!
“How’d you know we were here?” asks Tera?
“Your caretaker alerted us when she realized you were missing, and your friends ratted you out. I just guessed which Spire you’d gone up. Looks like I was right!”
Bantha-crap! He just knows you well enough to understand your thinking process. You guess he can’t admit that in front of Tera, though. He’s operating off the assumption that she can’t recognize him with his mask on. You’re pretty sure she does, though.
“The two of you can expect a good talking to from Master Binaj tomorrow. Don’t think you’re getting away with this stunt just because you’re not being punished now!”
He’s way too gleeful about this. You’re sure he’ll make your training session with him tomorrow absolute hell.
Oh well. At least you had some fun. You’ll deal with the fallout of this tomorrow.