Master Jedi - Luke's Pilgrimage, Part II
Luke and Jina walked around the temple no less than ten times trying to find an alternate entrance, but none could be found. People were starting to notice the two so Luke decided to head into the garden again to think. I can't believe they only had one entrance, Luke thought, was that done for security purposes? Luke walked over to an empty bench, sat down and began sensing the area in hopes of finding a way in. Jina walked around looking at the beautiful flowers, not really interested in the temple, when she noticed a maintenance droid float up from a thick growth of bushes. She thought about keeping it to herself in hopes of having the opportunity to explore more of the city, but she knew that it would be better to tell Luke. "A droid just came up from those bushes," Jina unenthusiastically pointed. Luke got up and didn't hesitate to jump into the lush growth. Hidden in the midst was a small shaft leading down barely big enough for Luke to fit in. Before Jina could ask him what he was going to do Luke crawled in hoping to find himself inside the temple. Jina's head sank with disappointment when she realized she had to follow him, but she reluctantly did.
Crawling through the tunnel was hard work, and half-way through Luke began to realize how hasty he had been, imagining the rest of his days stuck in a maintenance droid access shaft. "Next time you see me jump into a situation like this stop me, okay?" Luke mumbled to Jina. She was far behind Luke, and extremely bothered to be crawling through the shaft when she could be admiring the city. They inched their way through the sparsely lit tunnel for thirty minutes before Luke arrived at a fork. Do I go left or right, Luke thought to himself as he tried to figure out their exact position relative to where they started. "I think we go left," Luke tried to direct his voice toward Jina. She just rolled her eyes and sighed as she caught up with him. "Jina you there?" Luke continued.
"Yes," she sighed loudly.
"We're going left okay."
Their journey through the access shaft lasted another fifteen long minutes before they reached the open air. Luke pulled himself out of the tight space and spread himself out on the ground looking up at the colorful night sky of Coruscant as he stretched his muscles. The temple was open in the center and was illuminated by the rainbow of neon colors the surrounding buildings provided. In the center of the square was a small, lush garden that apparently lived on thanks to the maintenance droids, and surrounding it was open ground that stopped at the four walls. On each wall was a door, including the main door which was four times larger than the three others, and large windows. A few lights could be seen scattered throughout indicating that the temple still had some power. Luke walked around soaking in the atmosphere, imagining what it would have been like to be among so many Jedi. He imagined training there, and walking the halls with honored masters. The images and memories he wished to be a part of swept him up in an experience he didn't anticipate as he felt himself closer to the old Jedi order than ever before.
Jina plopped out of the shaft and sat down, taking an extra long time dusting herself off. Every brush of her hand signaled her unhappiness that like the annoying buzz of an insect by your ear grabbed Luke's attention. "Are you okay?" Luke asked.
"Yes," Jina nodded, "I hope you don't plan on getting out the same way"
Luke chuckled, "Well, now that you mention it... I hadn't thought about getting out."
"Ugh!" Jina was disgusted.
Luke decided to think his decisions through a bit more and walked over to the front door to see about an exit plan. The recessed door was heavily shadowed, but it was clear that the door was not automated. The heavy, thick metal door was only held in place by two large gears on each side with two large stops at the top to hold it in a raised position. Amazing, they used the Force to open and close the door, Luke thought, I guess that was a security measure to keep anyone from hacking the door open. I guess we can get out this way, but those guards are still a problem.
After cutting through the west door Luke and Jina took a walk through the dark temple. Some emergency lights were on which served to illuminate the heavy damage the temple had sustained during the Jedi's final days there. Blaster fire, explosions, lightsaber marks - they all painted the walls with a mural of violence Luke didn't want to think about. Jina was oblivious to the history of the halls she walked through - after all her mind was on sightseeing through the city. She quietly, and reluctantly, followed Luke through the many corridors and rooms of the weary place when Luke began speaking, "This is where the old order of Jedi used to be centered. Many powerful Jedi walked right where we're walking right now."
"What happened to them?" Jina became curious.
"When the emperor took control he hunted them down and killed most of them... starting here."
Jina shivered at the thought of being in a place where so many had died.
"Yeah... take a good look Jina. This is a historical place for us."
Luke continued explaining the history of the Jedi temple and the Jedi order, using the trip to enlighten Jina as well as himself. She needed to learn about Jedi history and this was as good a time as any. They made their way around the temple and up to the next floor past countless classrooms and training halls, and had entered what appeared to be a library. The power to the computer consoles was dead, but there were a few scattered books that Luke thumbed through. He had just opened his third book when he felt someone's presence nearby, "Jina do you feel that?" She closed here eyes to focus then replied with a yes. Who would sneak in here, thought Luke. He told Jina to be ready as he quietly put the book down and started down the hall - Jina cautiously followed close behind. They creeped up to the entrance of a large two door room with their backs against the wall when Luke felt the presence inside strongly - a dark presence. He leaned over to Jina and whispered in her ear, "I want you to stay here while I go inside, but be ready for anything." Jina's throat suddenly became dry as she anticipated the worst. She unhooked her lightsaber, and brought it close to her chest clutching it tightly with both hands.
To Be Continued...
