As Zell traversed the cave, trailing shortly behind the other children. And he was on high alert, from them moment they had entered, two children had already disappeared from the group. Not wanting to fall victim as well he heightened his senses on his surroundings and the remaining children.
Watching for signs of any similar bizarre mishaps that could befall them.
However despite his vigil he suddenly started listening to sound of his own foot steps, as they echoed down the path. He became entranced, his mind fuzzy as he focused on the rhythm, as they began sounding like a chorus of melodies.
His thoughts became clouded as a feeling tranquility set in.
A minute later however his calmness turned into realization. That the sounds he had been enjoying just a short while ago suddenly vanished. Regaining his senses, Zell came to an abrupt stop slowly shaking his head to throw off the lingering sensation that had been invade his mind.
Once he was sure thoughts were whole again he looked around to see if the others were effected like was, only to see that he was completely alone.
Turning his head left and right, he searched his immediate area to see if any one was nearby.
But there was no one.
"Ok how did this happen. I was literally just a few feet behind the group. How could I have lost track them from that close"
Zell tried recalling the last memory he had of when his group was still in sight, to figure out how they had gotten separated. But when he tried all that came to mind was they were together one instant and then not the next. And only blankness in between.
"---For something like this to happen out of the blue, this place---is indeed a powerful force nexus. I must say, its one thing to read about them in the archives, but its another to live them in real life"
Chalking up his new found isolation to the abundant force energy that saturated the cave he resumed walking through the cavern, seeing no point in staying still he continued onward.
Eventually his ears picked up what he could only guess was the sound of rushing water and crashing waves.
As he draw closer the sound got stronger and more furious, followed by a heavy scent of water in the air.
Soon he exited the passageway and found himself standing at the near edge of a out stretched cliff inside an enormous chamber, overlooking a large drop that lead right into a mighty whirlpool nearly a quarter mile downward. A large raging waterfall can like wise be seen facing the clip from the opposite side of the room, feeding water into the pool below.
Zell carefully looked around the chamber to see if there were any other paths he could take, but there were none. Bring his attention back to the whirlpool, he debated inwardly on what to do now.
He turned around to look back at the way he came, considering whether to double and search for alterative passageway he may have missed earlier.
But what he saw left him shocked. The original way that he had came through, was gone.
That's right Gone. Not covered over with a thick sheet of ice, but completely gone as if it had never been there at all. In its place was solid ice and rock that mixed seamlessly with the interior of the chamber.
"Well---this is a problem"
With this sudden development Zell became very disgruntle. And a moment of contemplation he begrudging accepted that there was now only one semi viable exit from this chamber.
"sigh--- It would seem that dropping down into the whirlpool is my only way forward now. Seeing as how this chamber isn't filled to the brim and the water level below appears to be maintaining a constantly level despite the ample water coming in from the waterfall, surely the entering water is escaping some where else. So it should be spit me out some where----right?"
Zell asked himself nervously as he readied himself to jump down.
"Man I seriously hope my earlier thought was right, and that the order does in fact has some form of plan or insurance in place to rescue initiates in case dire situations occur during these rites. Other wise I'm possibly just jumping to my grave here"
After taking in three large breaths to calm his nerves, Zell leaped head first off the cliff into the ravenous whirlpool.
Upon being submerged, where Zell had braced himself expecting to be violently swept away by the current, but he instead he felt a sudden weightless wrap around his body. The next moment his consciousness start to become cloudy as a haze covered his mind.
Slowly strength left his body and his mind began to fade to black, as if he was falling into a deep sleep.
Using what little energy he had managed to gather he attempted to struggle and fight off this overwhelming lethargy. But it proved futile and darkness some claimed him.
**********
Outside the Cave Master Fay stood in place at the entrance, staring into the cave, waiting patiently for the initiates to return.
"May the force strengthen your wills young ones"
As Fay thought this sentence she turned slightly to the side to find professor Huyang trudging through the snow to reach her.
"Master Fay I am terrible sorry to disturb you while you're so diligently waiting for the return of the initiates but--"
"Yes what is it professor. I can assure you Its quite alright, you're not disturbing me at all, is there a problem"
"No, not a problem per say. Its just that while on the crucible, I was getting the lightsaber components ready for when the children return and I noticed a holo call from the jedi temple being transmitted to the ship. I answered and was told its for you"
"The temple? Quite unusual for them to calling at this time. I hope its nothing serious"
"I see. Then I should see to it quickly. Professor if you would, please stay here in my place till I return. It will most likely still be some time till any of initiates start exiting the cave, but I would still like some one to be here to greet them just in case"
"It would be my pleasure master Fay. I will happily remain here to welcome and congratulate them, should they emerge before you return"
"Thank you"
Leaving the ancient droid with a nod, professor Fay made her way back to the ship.
Once back inside and on the bridge of the Crucible, Fay walked over to the communicator. Pushing a button to activate it, an holographic image of master Yoda appeared.
"Hello Grand Master, I apologize for keeping you, how can I help you?
"Greetings Master Fay. The gathering, processing well I hope"
"Yes it is, the initiates are still in the caverns, but I'm confidant that they will all succeed"
"Hmm---Good new, this is"
"I agree, but master and please forgive me in case this comes off as rude, but, I doubt that you'd contact me just for a status report"
"Correct you are"
"---Sigh---I take it you're actually calling in regards to the proposition we discussed back at the temple before the Crucible left Coruscant, I assume"
"Yes it is"
Yoda said with a chuckle, in amusement of Fay's accurate guess.
"So a decision, you have come to yet, Yes?"
Fay looked away from the grandmaster in contemplation as she thought hard her answer. The decision that Yoda spoke of, was not one that she was willing to make lightly. In truth she wanted to reject Yoda's proposition if possible since it strongly went against a core principle that made up her beliefs. But even for a Jedi master like Fay say no to the order's grand master was not an easy task.
"Grandmaster. What you asked me to do then, and are still asking me to do now is a very serious matter to me. I'm sorry but may I please have a bit more time to think on it.
She said as she gave an apologetic bow, unwilling to give a direct answer, at this time.
"Hmm---, yes, quickly a decision, made, this should not be. Please answer wherever you are ready"
The discussion shortly came to an end, and the Fay ended the communication.
But Before returning to professor Huyang she chose remained alone on the ship for a bit to think, and giving serious thought on what her chose would be towards Yoda's proposal.
'Truly this not an easy choice at all'
**********
Inside a space as white as bone that appears to be boundless in all directions, Zell lied spread out on his back, as he started regaining consciousness as he slowly sat up into a sitting position. Feeling an intense throbbing dizziness Zell was in no hurry to attempt to stand up and risk tumbling down again.
Once fully coherent after a bit he took account of his surroundings and saw only complete nothingness.
He rose to his feet as he sighed to himself about his current location.
"What is this place?"
He spook as he began walking forward. Not because he had some idea of were he was going, but because he was uncomfortable simple staying in place doing nothing in this empty space.
"This doesn't look or feel like a vision or some illusion"
Zell started tightly griped one of his hands repeatedly, wanting to test his physical sensations. Seeing if his present state was corporeal.
As his finger nails sank into his palm, he felt a sting of pain. This told him that this wasn't a dream at least.
Stopping in place he looked up, down, left, right, forwards and backwards with crossed arms, into expansive whiteness.
"Well, this is getting a bit disorienting, not only is there nothing around, there's no boundary to help distinguish up from down, left from right. Even this surface I've been walking all this time, though it feels solid I can't really tell if I'm on solid ground or not, and the fact that all this whiteness mix together so perfectly, isn't helping"
"I wonder what this place's purpose is, and why was I brought here?"
Not getting his hopes up on getting an answer from the white void that surrounded him Zell readied himself to start walking again. But just when he was about to, a voice replied to him.
"Its mostly meant to serve as a place for us to talk"
'!!!!!!!!'
Suddenly hearing the words of an unknown stranger, Zell, startled, immediately spun on his heels to face the source of the voice.
What appeared in his view was a brown haired, brown eye, muscular human male who seemed to be dressed in jedi garbs, but they appeared to be of an older design.
'How---how-did he manage to sneak up behind me, without me noticing?'
As a Miraluka Zell has a natural inborn ability to use force sight. A force ability that grants him and his kind enhanced visual and spatial perception. Even in the dark or behind walls. Effectively allowing them to 'seeing' with the force, as a means to overcome they physical blindness.
Miralukas in particular have a continuous 360-degree Force perception field. Making it extremely difficult for anyone to sneak up on them. Thought not completely impossible.
This is why Zell was so startled. That someone had managed to get so close with him within him either seeing or feeling their presences was a first in his entire life.
"Brother was their any need for you to scary the boy by calling out to him from behind"
Hearing a second voice suddenly appearing just like first, Zell swung his head to his left to see a second man. This time it was blond haired gentlemen with brown eyes similar to the first, also wearing old jedi robes.
From the looks of him he was a bit younger then the first.
"Come now, you know that was not my intention. Besides I think that if I had suddenly appeared in front of him right out of thin air that would have have scared him even more. Wouldn't you say"
"While that's true, we could have easily just materialized a short distance away and walked up to him, there was no need to ----"
As the two men continue to bicker back and forth, Zell remain silent and held a sharp focus on the two and on his surrounding in case any other mysterious strangers wanted try and instantly show up, catching him unaware.
'A second one. And just like the first man he also appeared out of no where, and I was unable to see him coming. Just what is going on here?'
After two minutes of the men's back and forth bantering that seemed like it would go on nonstop, Zell's patience and politeness reached its end. He spoke up interrupting the two bring an end the monotonous stalemate.
"Excuse me sirs. Please pardon me for interrupting your conversion, but if I may, can I ask a few questions. Who are you both, where are we exactly, and why I'm I here? Oh beg my pardon I'm Zell Mooncrest by the way"
Truthfully Zell did not expect to be given a straight answer. As the two bickered previously Zell came to the conclusion that this entire situation was likely a phenomena generated by the force, which is not known for being the most forthcoming about its goals or intentions.
Which would also be a likely explanation for how the two men had suddenly appeared near him, bypassing his force perception. Or at least that's what Zell theorized.
So he was mostly prepared to be given the run around, or just some cryptic message. But still he decided to ask a straight question on the slim chance that he may be given a straight answer.
The two men paused and looked at Zell in surprised. Realizing they had completely ignored the one they were supposed to be speaking with this whole time, they swiftly collected themselves.
"Our deepest apologies. My elder brother and I did not mean to forget you. We can easily get caught up in our own little world when we argue sometimes"
"That right, again please forgive us"
Both men bowed to Zell in apology.
"As for you questions, well lets start with the latter first"
"This world or rather this white space isn't located in the reality you know. Though my intuition tells me you already know that. It's something of a spiritual plain of sorts or a type of mind scape, constructed using the power of the force vergence located within the kyber crystal caves of Illum where your physical body remains at this moment"
"But earlier I felt pain when I tested to see if this place was real or not"
"Just because this place isn't in the physical world doesn't mean its not real. And the force is so concentrated here its no surprise that you are to maintain some bodily sensations, such as touch"
"My younger brother is right, as I said earlier its function so allow me and brother to converse with you in a rather direct manor. There are matters of grave importance we must tell you about"
Zell nodded his head in understanding.
"But first, as for who we are----"
The the elder brother paused, as he stared strongly at Zell.
"Well---we are---your Ancestors"
'----what?'