Raiders of the Lost Ark

[Arda Breaux]

She could hear her friend's voice in the back of her head, telling her how much of a nerd she was for all the books she had her nose in, specifically ones about the Jedi and their history. Though the one she had, the Jedi Master had been studying for a while; nothing was as it seemed from page to page, and the more she read into the book, the more puzzles and riddles she would come across in order to unlock new pieces of the knowledge that had been locked away for over five centuries. However, it seemed for good reason, as the deeper the Jedi Master found herself in the journal, the more dangerous the information became, not in sense of dark side abilities or secrets, but what would happen if these secrets fell into the wrong hands.

Then it made sense why each page she explored required some mastery over the tricks that build upon each other, each lock becoming more complicated than the one before, eventually leading her on a path to what she hoped to be the prize at the end of the maze.

However, she decided not to go alone in this journey and brought one of the Order's newest padawans, Teran Atrix. She had noticed he had been spending time in books, which was great, but she felt he would do well with some field experience too, apply some of what he has learned, or what he so far knows to something that not even she knew how much danger they would be getting themselves into. More or less after observing him for a few days, Arda told him to grab the warmest coat he had and meet her at her ship, now they were well on their way to the other side of the galaxy.

Arda paused in her own readings and decided to check on the kid, knowing he had been quiet for a while and she had yet to know if this was normal, though, she guessed it was better than one who asked dozens of questions. Standing and stretching, she wished this padawan training came with a how-to for Masters at times.

@Phoenix

 

[Teran Atrix]

Teran loved to read as much as the next person, but even he could only study for so long before getting sick of it. He'd been spending days in the library, and although he'd managed to get out a few times to do some hands on work with the Force, he was dying to do something other than study.

He'd spent plenty of time observing the others frequenting the library, but he hadn't realized that the woman down there was the Master Breaux. This was someone who could actually teach him about the Force, answer his questions about what it meant to be a Jedi, and actually help him accomplish something! He'd realized that whether he was well-trained or not, it might be time to actually get out and do something to help the cause.

When she'd come over to him one day while he was plugging through the Treatise on the Light and Dark (he'd managed to make it 100 pages in now) and offered (or ordered?) that he come along with her to some place cold, he'd practically leapt at the opportunity.

He'd gotten a nice, insulated jacket, strapped on his knife and blaster, and was making for the ship in no time. Before he knew it, they were hurtling through space toward an unknown destination, and Teran was feeling excited and nervous all at once. He felt woefully unprepared for doing actual Jedi things, and the idea of flubbing up in front of a Jedi Master was only making things worse. He tinkered on his datapad while they flew, as Master Breaux seemed to be busy with other things, and he didn't want to interrupt... whatever she was doing with a slew of questions.

When she began stirring and headed toward him, he slipped the datapad back into his pocket and raised his eyebrows expectantly, waiting for... some sort of explanation of what they were doing. @GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

"You've been awfully quiet." she told him, sitting down across from as he put away his datapad; she paused, observing him carefully as to catch something that she may have missed, "I hope this is not boring for you." Arda stated, "But you're probably wondering where we are going." thumbing through the pages of the book she held, slowing her search as she turned one page at a time, "Over five centuries ago, a Jedi temple on Telos was attacked by the Jedi Exiles, it was a massacre, the Order thought it to be one of the safest havens they had and kept many artifacts there so that if Tython or Ossus were to ever fall, they thought they would be safe there." Arda looked up from the journal, "But it appears their assumption was very wrong."

The Jedi Master handed the journal to Teran, careful not to lose the page she had found for him. He would notice they were instructions, a guide, written in the best cryptic and coy messages a Jedi Master could ever come up with, "When I started studying the Lothal temple, I became fascinated in the seals the Jedi had used to lock the temple's entrance and started to search for ways to learn how to make my own, and well," she nodded to the journal, "It has lead me to this journal and though it had taught me how to seal and lock nearly anything I could my mind to, it came with a companion book."

Arda stood up and walked over to some overhead storage containers and dug around for a moment before removing a second book, "The same Jedi who wrote that journal, wrote this one too, but this one has a slew of artifacts, lands, and prevented catastrophes that were sealed using the Force over the thousands of years prior to the fall of the Order. One of these places he wrote was on the Lothal temple, a place he called, a world between worlds. However, in order to understand how to get there, we need the Key Stone first, and that key stone is somewhere on Telos." she explained.

@Phoenix

 

[Teran Atrix]

Teran listened to her explanation, finding the history of the Jedi as interesting as the mission. The Sith had all but purged mentions of the Jedi from the galaxy, which meant that apart from the banned holonet footage he'd seen here and there, there was little out there for the common citizen to find. Even in the Lower City where illegal things were commonplace, most people weren't dealing in lost or sacred Jedi texts.

Telos. Ossus. Tython. He took note of the planets. He hadn't been to any of them before, but they might be worth a visit sooner rather than later. It sounded like he was going to mark one off the list here today.

He listened as she explained how Force seal worked, and he found himself wondering yet again just how many Force-based abilities there were. It seemed that the applications were virtually limitless.

Force seal? Do Jedi just take random words and throw "Force" in front of it to come up with abilities? This is "Force freeze" and "Force lift," he asked. It was probably a rude or impudent thing of him to say that, but she had to have a sense of humor... maybe?

He reached out and took the book from her and looked at the pre-determined page. Force sealing and a companion book. His mind started churning, now with something more productive than his comment about Force powers.

On a more serious note, does this book have any more details about where the other book is? Or where the temple was at least? he asked, glancing up from the book. It was pretty likely that there were records about that, and it was the obvious place to start.

And what's in this other companion book? Why do Jedi make everything so... cryptic? he asked. What he was reading about in the book seemed to all be written in riddles.

 

[Arda Breaux]

She was uncertain if he was being serious or not with the quip about placing "Force" in front of everything; the Jedi Master slowly raised an eyebrow as he named abilities and Arda couldn't hold back a smile and even a laugh, "I think they did," the Master shrugged, she couldn't think of an accurate answer, but she was certain Jedi Masters of the past had a sense of humor, she hoped. Perhaps they would have survived longer if they didn't have one to start with.

He had taken the book that she held out to him, asking more questions, she let him finish, waiting a quiet moment before speaking again, "I know where the Telos temple was located, its why I hoped you brought the warmest coat you could find. When the temple was attacked, the Master feared the key stone would be found by the Exiles if it were left behind or if he tried to escape from the world. So he left it in a safe spot on Telos, not too far from the temple, but the location has been sealed also and I may need some help to unlock it." she gestured a hand to Teran as though presenting him, "I think you can handle helping out, but you'll have to learn how to lock and unlock using the Force also."

The Jedi Master stood up, looking around, "So!" she tapped her chin, seeming excited about being able to teach; she grabbed a small box, empty it of its contents before closing it, "I will try not to be cryptic, though, I am starting to think it is a requirement of Jedi Masters..." she said sitting down in front of him. The Jedi closed her eyes, holding the box with both hands and she reached for the light inside herself. The Force stirred for the briefest moment and then settled and she was attentive to Teran, "Ok, its locked, what's amazing about this is, this lock can only be unlocked with the force, regardless of what technique you use to open it, nothing strong enough will be able to pry open the lid." she demonstrated by trying to separate the lid, even using her strength in the Force to separate it did not work and then handed it to Teran.

"If you haven't read about the Lothal Temple, it is sealed with the Force also, no explosive is strong enough to break through the entrance. Just imagine Jedi who were once powerful enough to create such a feat..." her voice trailed as she became lost in her own thoughts, her eyes looked passed Teran for a moment feeling as though she saw someone or something appear as quickly as they disappeared behind the padawan, but she regained her focus, "I want you to practice unlocking, then once you unlock it, I will teach you how to lock it. Questions?" she almost winced when she asked if he had questions, uncertain if she had just given the padawan permission to unleash all that was on his mind.

@Phoenix

 

[Teran Atrix]

Teran watched her lock the box with the Force, and explain about the essence of Force locks. He figured it seemed like a useful skill for a variety of things. Like when he learned how to use Force Locker or something to store all of his valuables he could stick Force Lock on it and it would be impenetrable!

Fine, so there probably wasn't a Force Locker, but he wouldn't have been shocked if there was.

In the meantime, he was faced with the box. A box whose only purpose was to be unlocked. Practice makes perfect, he figured, turning the box over in his hands and looking at it like he might be able to find something on it to latch onto with the Force.

Um... what am I supposed to do with this? he finally said, looking up at her somewhat lost. Like... just reach out to it? Or... he asked at first.

Am I just supposed to know how to do this stuff naturally? Is there some... trick to learning these techniques on my own? Or... I don't know, experimenting or something? he asked. Despite his few training sessions, things were still very much a work in progress for the Padawan from Taris. @GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

Arda cringed inside, wondering if she were like this at the time when she was just learning the Force; though her thoughts joked that she probably was worse as her Master had left behind to save her own skin. It brought a smile to her face, one in a first that she were able to find some humor in such a tragedy of events that had occurred and followed. Arda placed her hands over his own as he held the box, "I asked the same questions when I started learning, and I still find myself asking them from time to time." she told him in understanding.

"Sometimes it helps if you close your eyes, they can be deceptive, leaving your brain to process it is still a locked box, with no visible lock, but if you close your eyes and allow yourself to feel and let the Force guide your sight, you can feel the barrier that keeps this box closed." explained the Jedi Master, "It reminds me of the old locks and using a pick to turn the notches just right so the lock will release...its about feeling and knowing where to push, to turn, and then allow it to release." she added, "Now, close your eyes, and reach out with the Force, feel what is keeping this box shut and use the Force to release it."

The Jedi Master sat back, letting him hold the box on his own and using what he knew to figure out the lock; though it wasn't a complicated one, she knew it would take him a moment or two...maybe six, they had time, to figure out how to do it. Though, Arda remained optimistic that he would figure it out hopefully before they arrived to Telos.

@Phoenix

 

[Teran Atrix]

Okay, that made sense. Teran knew a thing or two about locks, and the comparison - although it was still strange - seemed to make more sense to him. He took the box into his hands, holding it between both and closed his eyes as he reached out with the Force. Slow, deep breaths, he thought to himself, feeling the energy beginning to flow through him, into the box, and back out again.

Small pulses seemed to travel through the box, searching for what might block their way. There seemed to be nothing at first. No resistance. Nothing to stop him. And then he felt something. Like the resistance of a first pin in the lock.

Just like old times, he thought to himself, remembering back to many days of picking locks: skills of a misspent youth.

He didn't know how long it had taken, maybe minutes, maybe hours, but then he felt something. A little pop reached his ears and the box opened. HIs eyes opened wide and his face lit up, looking at Arda and obviously excited about his success.

He was feeling a lot better about this whole "opening locks" thing now. So what's next? Opening temples and stuff? he asked, handing the box back to her. @GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

Most of the confusion on his face seemed to disappear after she had explained it as clear as she could, she knew he would better understand once he was able to feel what she was speaking about. She sat in silence for not even she knew exactly, but in that time she felt the Force around Teran, the ebbs and flows of its waves rippled around her as he investigated the lock on the box until there was a shift and Arda perked up. Hearing the pop of the lock, Arda grinned and Teran was well aware of his accomplishment too as he looked at the Jedi Master, beaming with his accomplishment.

"Of course, temples, piece of cake! We'll count is as your final exam for learning how to unlock things." she said hearing the two toned beeping of the navi-computer letting her know they were nearing their destination. However, even Arda was uncertain about unlocking temples, boxes and book pages were one thing, but something as large as a land mass, or temple, that was a bit more complicated.

Or at least her mind thought so.

The violet and blue swirl of stars began to settle back into the black plain of space as she pulled the ship out of hyperdrive, revealing the brown and white world in the distance. Arda's senses reached out, she wouldn't be surprised it they were not the only ones visiting Telos, they were terribly close to the Sith Empire and the area would be prime for pirates looking to pick off unfortunate adventurers such as the two Jedi. "We're here, Teran." she said, taking the ship closer, waiting for the reads from the sensor computers, "Looks like in time for clear weather at the poles." she said taking the ship down through the atmosphere; snow and mountains covered the landscape, barren except for the occasional flock of birds that crossed their path, but it looked relatively untouched for over five centuries as the drifts seemed to grow as tall as the temple itself.

There was a feeling to this place that seeped a chill into her body and she was certain it was just not from the cold. Once off the ship, she stood silently for a moment, her breath condensing with each exhale until she glanced at Teran, "Ready Padawan?" she gave him a quick smile before heading to the the temple entrance.

@Phoenix

 

[Teran Atrix]

Teran moved toward the cockpit as well, taking a seat and strapping in as the swirls and streaks of stars turned back into the pinpricks of light on the black of space. More noticeable was the planet filling the viewport, it's snow-swirled surface rushing up to meet them. It looked... desolate and cold. He would have thought the Jedi of old - when they were in power - would have built their fortresses on more hospitable worlds. The expression on his face probably said as much, but he didn't complain or say a word.

He reached out a hand across the hall and took the opportunity to practice his telekinesis, pulling the coat toward himself as he focused on the Force that surrounded it. It probably wasn't entirely appropriate to use the Force in such ways, but it was practice, and the Force knew that Teran needed the practice.

Mm-hmm, he confirmed with a nod. Within moments, he had slipped into the coat, put the satchel over his shoulder, and was making his way down the ramp. Despite the coat, the chill of the wind and snow immediately seemed to bite at him. It was going to be a long day if they couldn't get this temple open quickly.

I'm guessing that's the entrance? he asked, looking out at a small inlet that led into the mountain's face. It was half-covered by snow, but he could just make out engravings that weren't natural formations.

Bzrap! The sound of a blaster shot filled the air and slapped into the snow a few feet in front of the Jedi. The snow was turned to a puddle of steaming water, and Teran began trying to pounce through the snow toward cover as quickly as possible while more blaster fire rained down.

Pirates?! Sith?! he asked over the sound of distant gunfire, trying to pop his head out to see the attackers. @GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

Teran asked about the entrance as they approached the temple and Arda nodded, pulling out the journal and flipped through the pages until it arrived on the details of where to find the keystone. Though as she did so, their journey was interrupted by blaster fire, narrowly missing the two Jedi as the bolt melted into the snow. The woman slipped the journal away as quick as she brought her saber to hand, "Go padawan!" she yelled for him to find cover, but he was thinking well before her needing to direct him; he called out, asking who it was and the saber ignited, reflect the shots away from her and her student.

"It doesn't matter." she told him, the Force flowed through the Jedi Master, focusing its power in her palm, "Close your eyes," she commanded the learner as she did her own, releasing a brilliant ball of light from her palm, it stretched out, surrounding the Jedi, reflecting off the white of the snow, making it even more intense. Anyone looking would receive uncomfortable temporary blindness, but it would be enough to make the blaster fire stop and for Arda to join back with Teran. She looked up at the entrance built into the mountain and climbed up the drift, "Cover me," she said working quickly as she stabbed the saber through the door, pulling it across, down, across again before blaster fire started again, but more sporadic as if they were guessing where the Jedi were standing in relation to the temple. "Kriffff...." she hissed pulling the saber back up and the slab of metal fell backwards into temple.

"C'mon, inside you go first." she told him, standing ready for any stray bolts that came for where they stood, "Might be a drop..." she warned, waiting for him to climb inside first and she would follow.

 

[Teran Atrix]

Teran made it to the cover of the rock and glanced back to see Arda, standing fearlessly in the open, saber waving around in the air and easily batting bolts away from the pair. He wished he could do something like that, but he wasn't sure that his skills were ready for that. Instead, he pulled out his blaster pistol and took aim at the direction that the gunfire was coming from.

A pair of shots lanced out, striking the rocks they took for cover followed by two more as she said to cover her. It kept the barrage suppressed for the moment, and in short order she had cut a hole through the door.

There is no death, there's the Force, he told himself as he pushed away from his rock and charged for the doorway, plodding through the snow in an attempt to make it to cover once again. He pulled the lightsaber out and held the hilt in his hand as he prepared to charge through the door. Luckily she gave him a warning of the drop and he pulled up short, toes poking over the edge.

I can do this, he muttered, and drew the Force toward himself. Quickly and quietly, he dropped down, letting the Force pull at his legs to cushion his fall. Even so, the impact traveled up his legs, and his arms slammed into the dirt on the other side. He pushed himself up quickly and lit his saber, lighting the darkness and pointing his pistol ahead toward the edge of the darkness.

Umm... aren't we going to get trapped here? Like with murderers outside? he asked, hearing that the gunfire was tapering off. Or does like... Force Defense activate on these temples? he asked. Even he, new to the Force, could feel that the Force was strong here. He hoped it might lend them some sort of aid. @GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

She watched as the padawan disappeared into the temple and she took one more scan across the mountain ridge before climbing through the hole and dropping to the ground using the Force to absorb the shock of the landing. Knees bent slightly as she used her senses to explore what she could not see; Teran had his saber ignited giving some light, asking if they were going to get trapped her and if this place had Force defense activation.

Arda smirked as she stood up straight, unzipping her coat to access her belt, pulling out a glow-rod, "Force Defense? I think you watched too many early Saturday morning holo-toons as a kid, Teran." she laughed, "We'll worry about the murdering, trigger happy intruders outside later, c'mon, we're the first Jedi probably in over five centuries that have set foot here." she grinned, feeling a bubble of excitement and enthusiasm, even with the trouble lurking outside the temple's doors, this place remained relatively untouched. The Force was certainly strong here, but there was something else, like a scar from a deep wound. She stood silently for a moment, just feeling and exploring, but remembering they probably had a time limit, Arda pulled out the journal, holding the rod over the page with the map, "So, there is another exit to this place that will take us to the location of the key stone..." she looked up, and nodded, gesturing they continue forward.

She didn't want to rush through, but at the same time, she didn't want to linger too long as she took in what she saw from the light's soft glow. She held up the glow rod, her eyes scanning from one wall, up to the ceiling and down the other side, simple designs created murals of Jedi history, however, they wouldn't have to go too far before they would see the scorch marks of blaster fire and the indents where sabers had cut through the stone from the battle that took place here. "Can you tell me what you feel here, Teran?" she asked him, looking to test his senses.

@Phoenix

 

[Teran Atrix]

Teran flipped the ignition switch on his lightsaber as she pulled out a glow rod, but still held both weapons in hand as they began to move forward. This place looked, felt, and smelled old. And old like there hadn't been any airflow through here over the last 500 years. He wondered if it had been simply sealed that entire time to keep the harsh weather out.

Apparently there wasn't anything called "Force Defense" but he didn't know what not. There seemed to be a name for everything else, why not that too? If there wasn't, however, that meant that they were back to defending the old fashioned way: sabers and blasters. What could go wrong?

A lot. A lot could go wrong.

Well that's good, he said as she said there was another way out. That beat being trapped down here alone with pirates behind them at least.

The deeper in they went, though, the more things seemed to change. Saber wounds scorched the walls and signs of blaster scoring and explosives littered the walls. A flash of... something raged through his mind. Suddenly his mind was filled with images of Jedi and Sith locked in duels. Soldiers poured through the building, executing children, younglings, and adults alike. Blaster shots struck them in the head and a sickening smell filled Teran's nostrils.

His lightsaber flashed to life and he swiped for the soldier only to watch the blade pass harmlessly through. An apparition. It wasn't now, it was hundreds of years in the past. He was watching deaths he was powerless to stop. Worse still, he could feel their deaths. The agony, pain, and fear. It washed over him in huge waves and wouldn't stop. He could do nothing as the vision unfolded, leaving bodies strewn across the floor, and the Padawan sank to his knee, shoulders slumped, and breathing heavily. He didn't know if Arda had seen the vision was well, but he had. As clear as day.

What is this place? he asked. It was a temple he knew, but the Force was stronger here. It was overwhelming and the visions here were much stronger than any of the dreams he had had. He hadn't realized it corresponded to him touching the saber marks on the wall. @GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

As she had asked her question, Teran's saber ignited, swiping through the dust of a unknown enemy, she did not see the visions that he was seeing, instead she could feel the torment that pooled where they stepped. Teran fell to one knee and Arda knelled down beside him, worried that perhaps she had underestimated Teran and he wasn't ready for something like this. However, these moments were never predictable and every Jedi would eventually feel and experience the darkness left across the galaxy. She rested a hand on his shoulder and another cupped his cheek to raise his gaze to her own, warmth poured from her own finger tips, looking to calm him as he found his own footing once more,"Reach within Teran, breathe." she told him as questioned what this place was. Arda frowned, this place was more than she had expected in the first place, no longer was it a temple, and it made sense why the doors were sealed as they were.

"Its a tomb." she stated, "A scar of a wound that has healed, but has not forgotten what has happened here." explained the Jedi Master, "Nor can we forget what has happened here. This will not be the first place we will find like this, there are many." she stood up and held out her hand to help him back up too, "Do not cower from it though, remind yourself what is felt here happened centuries prior, it cannot hurt you unless you let it."

However, understood the pain he was witnessing, there was something inhumane and grotesque about how the Jedi Order fell, it was almost as though no fight was ever given, but then again, they had been fighting a long while before their fall, they could have given into their exhaustion, but for Arda, it was hard to accept they would just surrender. She brushed off her knees and gestured for him to follow, "Come along, not too much further." she said coming to a t-section of halls, turning to their left, following the stone steps into the black void of halls bellow the entrance. Arda kept her eyes closed, letting the Force guide her steps, feeling the Force, pressing beyond the pain and fear, looking for the peace that once existed. "There is peace here though..." she mentioned, "Chaos, yet serenity..."

@Phoenix

 

[Teran Atrix]

He wasn't sure what he had expected when he came here, but it wasn't this. He hadn't expected to see the death so close. He had seen these things in dreams, but it was so much different to be here and feel what had happened. He felt a tightening in his chest followed moments later by a warmth washing through his mind. He could feel his breathing slow down and he forced himself to take even inhalations, filling his lungs and holding it. He focused on the sound of her voice and the Force, pulling himself back from the brink of... whatever that was.

He nodded his head emphatically, pushing himself back up. I'm... I'm okay, he said, and although it didn't sound entirely convincing, he stubbornly pushed himself up and stumbled forward before gaining his footing.

No, I'm good, yeah, he said, nodding and sounding as if he was trying to convince himself. It's... it was... he didn't even know what to say about what he'd seen. It had been brutal and violent. It had been without humanity or remorse. It was... dark.

He followed her down to the break in the hall and followed after her, listening to her talk about chaos yet peace in it all. What does that... mean? Even when there's chaos around us we remain firm? he asked, trying to sort these things out. To be a Jedi meant a lot of philosophy and religious beliefs that he was still coming to terms with. There was still a lot he had wrong.

These... visions. What are they? he asked. He had never realized that the Jedi were supposed to see the past and future. Can they be controlled? he asked. He didn't know if there was a way to interpret or categorize these things. Should he ignore them? Cultivate them? Try to apply something from them? This wasn't the first time something like this had happened, and he was beginning to think it wouldn't be the last.

 

[Arda Breaux]

Teran asked for meaning in what she meant by that, she raised her eyebrows,"Simply put, yes, we remain firm, but its more than that." she paused, taking thought into how to explain it without sounding cryptic in her response, "It can take many meanings. The Force itself, is about balance, light-dark, cold-warmth, life...and death, same goes for chaos and serenity, without, chaos we would not understand the meaning of serenity, and without serenity, we would not understand the meaning of chaos." explained the Jedi woman, "Here, we feel many things, darkness, death, chaos...so we must be the balance, we carry the light, we carry life, and we must remain calm - balance, as the Force strives to achieve in the galaxy."

Arda opened her eyes and glanced to her padawan, "Placing our trust in the Force, allowing it to guide our actions, then we can navigate dark places such as this. Unfortunately, it doesn't make experiencing visions any easier, but I think the better you understand why they occur, the better prepared you will know how to handle them." she explained and fell quiet for a moment as she thought about his question on the visions.

"They can show us things that have come to pass or things that have yet to happen." she explained in a very textbook matter-of-fact, though she felt it wasn't too helpful in giving him a clear answer. "From what I know, they cannot be controlled, some can focus this ability into psychometry, where one can see the past memories of an object. But otherwise, I know they can occur randomly, either sleeping, meditating, awake..."

Arda paused, coming to a door, "We can look together more on this, I'm sorry I don't really have a clearer answer, padawan." she told him frowing in her own disappointment she could not enlighten him further and rested a hand on his shoulder. The woman opened the journal again, the glow rod illuminating the pages and simple double doors in front of them.

"Ok, we're here..." she said, "Through here, it will take us to the keystone, you ready?" she asked, turning the handle and pushing open the doors that would lead them to the location.

@Phoenix

 

[Teran Atrix]

Teran listened to her explanation about the dichotomy and balance of the Force. He had heard pieces of this here and there, but when he heard it now it just made sense. He nodded his understanding, though he knew he would have to consider it a great deal more before he was able to fully understand all the facets of it. He was a curious person with an inquisitive mind, and he wanted the answers. At least well enough to satisfy himself and this was a good place to start.

That makes sense, he said with a nod, careful not to touch the walls too much anymore. He didn't know if he could handle bringing on another vision right now.

Okay, Master Breaux, he agreed, noting that they had come to the next door. Thank you, he said. She seemed frustrated by his questions, but he was glad to have someone to actually show him something about the Force. To finally have a guide and teacher.

Arda pushed the door open and Teran made his way into the room. It was large and open. There was a large stone in the center of the room, elevated above the rest of the ground that gave off light even now, 500 years later, and sent it across the entire room. The floors were stone and the room gave off the impression that it was an important place.

Artifact storage? Do these places have security systems or something? Apparently Force Defense isn't a thing, he said when suddenly he heard something from the far side of the room. A rustling like the sound of pots or pans. Teran knew pots and pans weren't in here, but ancient Jedi artifacts were.

Before Teran could do anything, a dug went scurrying across the open, looking like it had all the tools to be a thief. Or had it made its home here? Either way, it seemed to be on the run and needed stoping.

 

[Arda Breaux]

Arda followed behind Teran as they entered the room, it seemed unnaturally empty and her eyes were drawn to the stone in the room's center; it illuminated the room as she stepped further inside, giving just enough light that they didn't need to rely on the glow rod, but Arda kept it with her just in case. The air was odd in here, not as stale as the rest of the temple, telling them there was another possible exit to the outside from inside the archives. Teran questioned the hall's purpose and even security for such places, "Yes, generally they had guards, door locking measures, doubt anything lethal...or anything still works." she told him feeling pretty confident in that response given this place had not been touched in over five centuries. Though, she couldn't say it all without a smile as Teran touched on the idea of Force Defense once more.

The Jedi Master opened her mouth to say something as just as quickly as her senses alerted her to another presence did she see the creature run across the room; it nearly startled the woman, but as she stepped forward into the light of the stone, the centuries old defense system activated, large blast doors sealed the entrance and most likely any other exits from this place. It would trap everyone inside until they would figure out how to deactivate it, but on a positive note, it would trap the dug thief also as Arda took off after the uninvited temple guest. With him or her here, it could have possibly given explanation to their trigger happy audience outside the temple's gates.

"STOP!" Arda called out to the thief, her feet carried her quickly, her natural speed was generally unmatched in the Order, it was key to her survival on Corellia, and it would be key to learning more about their guest also. Keeping him in her sight, she reached with the Force, latching quickly onto an ankle...or wrist...whatever it would be considered and pulled him backwards and face first into the stone floor until Arda and Teran were able to catch up.

@Phoenix

 

[Teran Atrix]

With the sudden appearance of the dug, Teran jumped like he was watching a horror movie, but his pistol soon followed his eyes, locking in on the dug but not yet firing. Jedi weren't supposed to shoot first and ask questions later, and Arda was already tearing across the ground and tripping the alien up.

It flipped forward on its hand-feet, and landed face first into the stone. Why you do thaaaaaaaat? it asked in a raspy voice. Teran chased after the pair, but the dug didn't seem interested in running anymore. It had blood running from its mouth down its very short chin and reached up another hand-foot to wipe some of it away.

You Jediiiiii? I though they were all dead. Gone from this place! he objected to their presence, evidently unhappy at having been tripped up and now trapped in this room with them. Just my luck some Jedi show up after 500 years while I'm here, he muttered angrily under his breath as he began to get up, apparently unfazed by the idea that they might not want him to get up.

What you pay me to get you out of here? he asked. He seemed to be entrepenuerial at least, and was already looking to make a profit off of his misfortune and his captors. @GABA