The Search For Tython Part 5 From Andeddu To Tython

~*{ THE SEARCH FOR TYTHON }*~
"A one shot series about founding the New Je'daii Order" 
Part five: From Andeddu to Tython 
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Music:
"Way to go" by, Empire of the Sun
https://youtu.be/xg9ebVTL9yE
~*~
Terrogate had to leave Prakith for urgent matters on Cathar, leaving Bathori alone at the Keep. The first days she found nothing, but the third night she had a dream that gave the clues to find the hidden tomb of the Immortal God-King Andeddu. But there she hit a dead end, Mab was unable to enter the burial chamber where the Dark Lord kept his lore. For days she examined the tomb, trying to find  the hidden entrance but without success. 
~*~
Three days after locating the tomb, Terrogate returned to Prakith, the Busted Plugga stood on the outer bailey of the Keep as the ramp lowered. To the Cathar's surprise Mab wasn't there to welcome him back. He knew she was capable of taking care of herself, but her not being there made him feel worried. The Feline used the force and his natural gifts. Quickly he picked up on her scent and tracked her down to the lowest level of the dungeon. 
"Mab? Dear? I'm back" he said loudly through the corridor. There was no reply but he noticed one of the cell doors open. Curious to know why she would be in one of tye sky cells he quickly made his way to the open door. But she wasn't there, he only found her boots standing neatly at the door. Instantly he was filled with worry and screamed "Noooo!!" as he rushed to the edge of the cell. "Mab!! Mab!!!!" He yelled into the chasm, but he didn't see or hear anything. His heart sank thinking the worst had happened, thinking she had taken her own life while she was alone in this dark place, he slid down against the wall until he sat onto the hard stone floor. "Noo noo I should never have left you" he cried out loud but then he felt something, a rope. One he didn't notice before because the steam clouds covered the floor of the cell. 
He grabbed it and pulled, it was tied to the heavy metal door. He was relieved to know she didn't jump into the abyss but still he was worried. Terrogate walked to the edge and looked down "kriff" he mumbled to himself as he knew he had to go down as well. He turned around and carefully lowered himself. Holding the rope tightly he started to descend, he noticed the carved out ladder and followed it to the narrow ledge beneath the layer of clouds. Slow and steady he moved over the ledge until he reached the entrance of the cave. There he secured the rope.
He sensed the darkness resonating from the cave, but he also picked up on Bathori's familiar scent. Quickly he entered the cave and found his way down the tunnel, after a few meters downwards he saw fire burning along the walls, and a few minutes later he entered the tomb. In awe he stood at the entrance of the first chamber, gazing around. At the centre he saw his lifemate, sitting cross legged, meditating, facing a large statue of Andeddu. Slowly he approached, not wanting to startle her during her meditations "Mab my love.." he softly said, instantly her eyes opened and she turned to face him. "You're back!" He heard the joy on her voice as she jumped up to welcome him. "I missed you" the Iktotchi wrapped her arms around him, squeezing herself against the Cathar. "I missed you more my heart." Terrogate replied and kissed her on the top of her head. "You did it, you found it." He added as he looked at the unsettling depiction of the God King. Looking up into his eyes she responded "I did, but I can't find the entrance to the burial chamber." "We will find it. But please tell me how in the name of Typhojem you found this place?" He let go of her and smiled.
Bathori told her lifemate about the dream that led her to the throne room where she had a force echo. "So a ghost in your dream told you where the tomb was?" He asked intrigued by her story. "Yes and no.. it didn't feel like a dream, it was a memory. I saw it through her eyes…" she paused, not sure if she should tell the Cathar about the Je'daii Master's name. But Terrogate instantly noticed she was holding something back "What is it?" "there's something else." She said looking a little anxious, worried he might think she had lost her mind. "You can tell me" he said as he took her hand to reassure her it was alright. "Her name was Mab" the Iktotchi said. His eyes widened slightly in surprise, not sure what to think about it "Mab?" "The Je'daii Master that was buried under my home was called Mab, Mab ol Idun… it was her memory that I saw." She paused waiting for his reaction. "I don't know what to say" he replied scratching head "what does that mean" he added. Feeling insecure all of a sudden she turned away "I don't know. I don't understand why I have her memories." The Cathar could feel her insecurities and pulled her back to face him "don't worry about it. We will find out, but first we have to find the entrance to the burial chamber" he said with a smile and kissed her hand. 
Returning his smile she said "but how? We don't have the Holocron, and I scanned these walls. I found nothing." Terrogate let go of her hand and stepped away. Looking down at the square indentation on the floor he got an idea. "We don't have the Holocron of Heresies, but what if we have *a* Holocron?" Puzzled, the Iktotchi stared at him "what do you mean?" "You have the ability to create things out of thin air. And you have seen schematics of the real one." he said with pride in voice. Raising her eyebrow she asked "Are you suggesting I create an illusion?" With a nod "yes, it's worth a try." For a moment she thought about it, sure that it wouldn't be that easy, but then. "Very well, I'll give it a shot" she said, motioning to him to step aside. 
The Cathar obeyed and stepped aside and took place next to his lifemate. Mab lifted her golden hand, palm up and with her right she made a circular motion over it as she focused on what she remembered of the Holocron of Heresies. A faint, translucent pyramidal shape appeared in her golden hand and slowly became more solid untill she was holding a perfect replica of the Holocron in her hand. She glanced at Terrogate, who was impressed by her abilities and gave a wink "here goes nothing" she said and stepped forward. Facing the statue of Andeddu she knelt down and placed the Holocron on the square. It fits perfectly and instantly is lowered down a centimetre activated a mechanism. A beam of light suddenly came from the crystal at the summit of the sceptre, just as in the force echo, and as it hit the Holocron it scattered around the room revealing where the entrance room the burial chamber was. But there, the mechanism stopped, the door stayed shut. "Well at least we know where the door is" she said disappointed and looked over to Terrogate, who stepped to the wall to the  right of the statue. His hand trancing the door that had been revealed. "It's still a dead end" Mab sighed. The Cathar turned around, looking at her, noticing her disappointment "baby steps, baby steps my dear. We will find a way to open it." 
Completely puzzled, the two stood at the entrance of the burial chamber, having looked over the spot the Holocron had revealed as the hidden door. They have come so far but seemingly without the actual holocron it was impossible to open the door. But something tugged at the Cathars subconscious. Admittedly he knew little of Sith Magics and what he did know came from Mab herself or the archives on the Ventrix, but he did know one thing that transcended class and eras. That there was always more than one way to catch a prey. Mab had been hell bent on this since her dreams in the years following her recovery. She had risked everything to come this far and her Cathar lifemate knew that there would never be rest for her until she would find what she was searching for. 
“Just how in Typhojems name are we supposed to get in?” Mab asked loudly scratching frustrated behind her horn. Terrogate wasn't sure. ”hmm…. I just don't get it.” he responded admitting his confusion as to why the Sith illusion didn't work as completely as they needed it to. “You created the Holocron perfectly. I've seen it many times in the past while you were doing your research…. it looks a perfect replica” Terrogate said now trying to retrace their steps and piece the logic together. “It went into the slot and activated the mechanism but it still didn't do the trick. Not fully anyway.” he continued.. “you're sure you didn't miss anything?” Mab thought back for a moment on the holocron images from her studies, “hmmm.. I don't think so. All the inscriptions, the colouring, dimensions and shape.” she said with a furrow on her brow remembering the details “Like I said. It looks like a perfect replica.” the Cathar said putting his arm around her, his mate was so deep in thought she didn't seem to even notice. 
Then it struck her, Mab stepped forward letting the Cathars hand slide off her and drop free, turning to face Terrogate she spoke slowly and in thought..”perfect... yes, but only on the outside'' she said to him with the look of realisation displayed all over her pale and tattooed face. “The kyber crystal.” she said as if she thought of a memory long past.. “What are you talking about my love? What kyber crystal?” Terrogate looked intrigued. 
“When Wyyrlok came he had the actual Holocron of Heresies.” she said touching her chin and starting to pace back and forth in front of the Cathar. “Well the only difference between this one and the original is that the God King Andeddu placed his own lightsabers kyber crystal inside the holocron itself” Mab said coming to a stop in front of her lifemate. “So the door mechanism must be set to both the precise shape and weight of the Holocron with his kyber crystal inside it, so he was the only one who could open the gateway”. “Well, can't you just create another Sith illusion but add the details of the crystal to it?” the Cathar asked excitedly. “I…I can't,“ Mab replied looking a little sad. “I don't understand my stars? Why not?” the Cathar responded. “Because I've never seen it or seen it described, not enough for this anyway”. Mab replied. “You see there already isn't much detailed scripture on Andeddu and his Holocron from what I took from the Academy Archives but almost nothing on his lightsaber or Crystal itself, save just a notation saying that they existed and he had placed the crystal into the Holocron. If I need to re-create it perfectly then the odds of that happening are astronomical.” Mab couldn't help but start to look a little defeated at this realisation. 
Trying to make Mab feel better Terrogate spoke to her “perhaps we are just thinking about this way too hard… I vote we just try and force it open..” “No Wait!!” Mab raised her voice, but before she could even finish her words, Terrogate lifted his hands and sent a blasting wave of telekinesis in the way of a force push at the door...
Within 2 seconds the force push shot outwards from the Warrior knights hands, towards the sealed door. But on making contact with the door it then reflected straight off it and shot directly back at the Terrogate, resulting in a loud bang of a noise and the force of the impact sending him flying backwards several meters and landing into the statue of the God King. The heavy statue remained unmoving from it's spot as if nothing had even impacted into it, not even a 117kg airborne Cathar. Terrogate sat on the ground at its feet, shoulders slumped and his eyes closed. 
“Terrogate!” Mab ran over to him, “Terrogate you big fool, are you ok?” “I'm fine love” he replied gingerly, wincing at the pain and slowly trying to stand up. “Just a bruised ego.” he said with a light chuckle and a cough. “Just what the hell did you expect was going to happen?” she  smiled down at him. Terrogate reached up and placed his hand on the statue to help pull himself to his feet. The Cathar lifted his arm and reached for the only thing above him which was the base of the sceptre the statue held in his hand. Pulling up on it with his weight to help him rise, the scepter and the statue's hand holding it, to his astonishment began to twist and rotate a few degrees. Terrogate's feline ears picked up a scraping sound of stone against stone and looked back at Mab.  Her eyes had a glow behind them “keep going” she told him excitedly. Terrogate stood and continued to turn the scepter until it rated a full 90 degrees counterclockwise and the whole statue started shifting sideways along the wall until it came to a stop a full meter to the left of where it stood only moments ago. 
“Well I definitely wasn’t expecting *that*” said the Cathar standing and staring in amazement of what had just occurred. “Look!” Mab leaned in closer to the space of wall where the statue used to be positioned. “What is it?” Terrogate asked as he looked closer. 
It was a perfectly circular hole in the stone wall, about 30 centimetres in diameter, cobwebs and dust had covered the opening and above it, was a marking on the wall. Etchings in another language but those were also covered in dust. Terrogate raised his furry hand to the markings and wiped over them, clearing the dust and revealing the engraving. He instantly recognised some of the letters to be Ancient Sith, the same as they had seen in some of the texts he and Mab now had in their possession from the Academy archives and also the journal of Lord Remulus Dreypa that they had stolen from the Empresses personal library's forbidden section all those years ago. He was improving with reading them but Mab, Mab was the true scholar amongst them. “What do they say?” he asked as he turned his head looking at her. 
Mabs mouth moved without sound as she read the words to herself, then she replied.. “It says, Knowledge is power, and all true power must require sacrifice”.
Mab touches Terrogates arm lightly, “Move.” she said softly. He did as she requested without question and watched her Ignite her lightsaber ‘Queen of the fairies’. With her other hand she wiped the cobwebs off the outside of the hole's round opening and then lifted her saber up to look inside. The minty green glow flooded the opening and showed the hole was a short tunnel reaching back about a meter in length and at the very end was a lever. 
“It's a failsafe", she said “A what?” The Cathar replied. “A failsafe.. ehm think of it like this, if the holocron is the key for the main door, then this is the spare key you hide under the mat for emergencies.” she explained switching off her lightsaber. “He must have had it installed so if anything would ever happen to his holocron there was still a way to access inside.” she said in thought, a hint of excitement twinkled behind her golden eyes once more giving of a slight glow. The Cathar had noticed the glow before, but now it looked like it was coming from her veins. Terrogate rubbed his eyes, perhaps he landed into the statue harder than he thought and he was starting to see things he thought to himself.
“Well that's easy, all we need to do is pull the lever and the door will open'' he said wanting to move past his crazy vision and stepped in front of the opening, looking inside, his feline eyes picked up the sight of the levet. But Mab suddenly looked worried.. Something about this was all ‘too’ easy. And she couldn't shake the words from her thoughts. Surely it was a confirmation that inside the door was what she was looking for? But was it also a warning? “We should try to use telekinesis to pull it.. Just in case.” she suggested to her mate. Terrogate shrugs, it seemed simple enough to him. Just reach inside and pull the lever. Nothing difficult about it, but Mab made a good point. They were in the Keep of a Dark Lord after all. “Ok my heart. Together then, on 3.” he smiled back to her and Mab nodded in agreement. Together they focus their force energies.. “1...2...3!” And with that they both reached out and attempted to force pull the lever towards them…
But nothing happened. And after about 10 seconds of trying, both stopped and lowered their hands looking at each other. “I don't understand,'' Terrogate said. “It seems as though the lever is protected from being touched by the force” Mab said with a thoughtful frown and added "I guess we are forced to open it manually.” Terrogate gave a nod, “ok then” then stepped up to the hole. Reaching his right arm inside all the way up to his bicep his hand felt the lever at the end. Gripping the smooth metal he looked over at Mab who now gazed back at him with a worry on her face. “Here goes..” he said but just before he could pull, Mab yelled “STOP!!” 
Terrogate froze and looked at her.. “It should be me..” she said. “But...i've already got it.. I only need to..”  “I said *no* my love.” she insisted, “The God king was a great sorcerer, it would make sense that only another sorcerer could open the door safely.” she lied, as deep down she had a sense of dread about this whole thing, and she would not put him at any risk for her. Although she knew he would do so in a heartbeat, it was one of the things she loved about him. 
“Hmmm, sounds like something a Sith sorcerer would do”.. He said letting go of the lever and removing his arm. “But please be careful.” he added. She smiled and hugged him pulling herself close. Returning her hug he kissed her at the top of her head. 
When Mab let him go she positioned herself in front of the hole. Using her Ultra-chrome arm she reached inside, her arms reach was shorter than her taller partner's so she had to reach all the way up to her shoulder before she could grip the lever properly. “Ok… I'm ready…” she said and began to pull the lever. It was hard to move, presumably it had been there unused for millennia and Mab grunted and groaned as she pulled it back, centimetre by centimetre, slowly but then she heard a mechanism that began moving inside the wall itself.. “ I hear something,” she said panting, her breath heavy from the exertion. Terrogate smiled back at her excitedly..
Within seconds Terrogate and Mab then both heard the sound of cogs and grinding gears. They looked at each other with wide eyes, but then, they heard it. The fast and sharp clicking sound of dozens of razor sharp spikes shooting out from all internal sides of the hole in the wall trying to pierce her arm, trapping her. Had it been an arm made of flesh it would be deeply penetrated on all sides.. “Terrogate!! Help me!” she yelled, struggling to move. Terrogate heard the panic in her voice and grabbed her “Just let go of it, ..” he told her. “No way! I'm not letting go… We may not get another chance.. Help me pull…” she insisted struggling. Terrogate grabbed her around her shoulder and her waist and together they began to pull. They both used all their strength, the sound of spikes that scrapped over her golden arm was piercing and so high pitched that it hurt Terrogate's ears.”Pull love…. Pull… Just a little more….” Mab said through gritted teeth. Terrogate lifted his right leg and planted it against the wall to help use as leverage and pulled at her arm with all his might. Praying he wouldn't do permanent harm to his love. But they needed to get her arm out, and she was not going to let go of that lever, so it was their only choice. “Aaahhhhhhhh!!!!” Mab screamed with the intensity of the effort and the strain on her shoulder muscle.. the sound of the metal scrapped over her arm was still audible over the noise of their heavy breaths and grunting. Then at once they heard a loud heavy clunk, the spikes retracted instantly sending Mab and Terrogate flying backwards, Terrogate landed hard onto the flat of his back and the Iktotchi on top of him. Her lifemate's body softened her fall. 
As Mab opened her eyes she looked down at her Golden arm. She had been lucky that her arm was ultrachrome, as an arm of flesh and bone would have been totally destroyed beyond repair. The spikes had scraped along her golden arm and made long streaks, the text, once written in her own blood by her former Master, was now too illegible to make out. The Iktotchi witch wondered what the spikes had been made of as her arm could stop a lightsaber blow.
“All true power must require sacrifice” she whispered to herself as she stared at her arm. Then she heard a low groan coming from underneath her, bringing her back to reality. “Mab… my stars are you ok..?” Terrogate asked. “Yes, yes I'm fine" she quickly got up and added jokingly "it's just a scratch". The Cathar chuckled painfully at the joke as he still lay on his back and asked “did we do it?” Mab turned around and looked up at where the Holocron had shown them was the entrance. Instantly her eyes lit up, it had worked, the door was open. Smiling wide, tears of joy welling up in her eyes, she replied “Yes… Yes we did it.” and stepped aside, showing the Cathar the open door. 
They both could sense a pull, a dark familiar energy of the force that emanated from the burial chamber. Terrogate got back up and looked at his lifemate "ladies first" he said with a smile. Inside her chest her heart was racing, the euphoria gushed through her veins making them glow and as she stepped to the dark doorway that glow became more visible. Mab herself didn't notice but Terrogate did, it was strange and yet beautiful "Mab? Are you feeling ok?" He asked softly before she stepped over the threshold. With an excited twinkle in her eyes she looked back at him as she grabbed her lightsaber "yeah, I feel great. Come, what are you waiting for" She switched her saber on and stepped through the doorway into the darkness. Quickly the Cathar followed her and entered the chamber behind her. The minty green glow of her saber gave enough light to show the way. 
The feline scanned the room, he could easily see in the dark and instantly noticed the large stone Sarcophagus at the centre of the chamber, surrounded by stone bookcases filled with scrolls and tomes. With Pyrokinesis the witch ignited the torches she found along the walls, lighting the large chamber before switching off her lightsaber again. "We did it" Mab whispered softly. Terrogate approached the Sarcophagus and glanced over at his lifemate who joined him. She raised her hand and held it above the stone slab, looking at the Cathar..he understood what she was about to do and nodded.
Taking a deep breath she lowered her hand and as soon as it touched the cold stone she saw an translucent image of raging fire, the God King himself standing in midsts of it all with terror in his eyes and his opponent, the large Chagrian Sith Wyyrlok the third stood before him. "You know nothing, you understand nothing!!" Andeddu screamed at Wyyrlok, the fire raging around them "they were searching for me! My enemies… searching through the force, to find me, end me, steal away my knowledge, my power!" He raised his sceptre. "I sense fear" the Chagrian laughed "you are a coward lord Andeddu and you hid rather than face your foes! You do not deserve your knowledge or your power!" Wyyrlok sent the flames towards the books, setting the entire library on fire. "My books! My scrolls! You needed them yourself!" Andeddu screamed in terror. The Chagrian laughed viciously "I am destroying you, all trace of you. Your Holocron I will also destroy, there will be nothing left… My master would not only understand, he'd applaud. The old ways, your ways, have failed… here…. Now.. we are the Sith!" "Noooooo'' The Dark Lord screamed as he watched his entire library go up in flames.. the image shifted, the God King lay defeated on the stone floor of his tomb, the crystal of his sceptre shattered as he was no more. The flames were gone, they had been a mere illusion. Wyyrlok had used the God King's own tricks against him, making him believe that his entire library was destroyed. The Sith lifted the lifeless body of Andeddu and placed him back in his Sarcophagus and closed it with the stone lid.
Gasping for air Mab let go of the Sarcophagus. "What did you see?" Terrogate asked concerned. "I saw Andeddu and Wyyrlok.." she looked up into his eyes and added "he's definitely dead." "That's good news I suppose" the Cathar chuckled then he placed his hand on the Sarcophagus "so…. Ehm.. you want to have a look?" He glanced sideways at her with a cheeky smile. Her curiosity was strong, "I guess we could" 
Both of them took a step back and used telekinesis to lift the heavy stone lid off the Sarcophagus. As the lid moved they could hear the sound of air being sucked through the crack into the Sarcophagus. Both glanced at each other with surprise as they continued to move the lid to the side and placed it carefully on the stone floor. For a moment they waited for anything to happen but it remained silent. Mab grabbed Terrogate's hand and pulled him with her as she approached the ancient stone coffin. Slowly, cautiously she stepped up and peeked over the side into the coffin. There he lay, motionless, dead, the Dark Lord Andeddu still wearing his crown. His body had been preserved in the vacuum created by the Sarcophagus, but still he looked rotten. Dry shrivelled skin, a hollow sunken features. The terror was still written all over his face, eyes and mouth open as if he was still screaming. "The notso immortal God-King it seems" Mab chuckled softly as she gazed at the corpse of Andeddu. "Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown" she added and reached for it. "What are you doing?" Terrogate asked as he watched her go for the crown. She looked up "he doesn't need it anymore" and she took the crown of Andeddu head. "I will take good care of it old boy" she whispered to the dead king. She looked up at her lifemate, winked and lifted the crown, it wouldn't fit because of her horns so she just held it about her head with a smile on her face. The Cathar smiled and made a bow "my queen." Then suddenly Mab heard a whisper in the back of her mind "what you believe to be real, *is* real, even your own death. Your mind is no match for mine." A shiver went down her spine, she knew it was yet another echo of the past. "We shall see" she replied softly and lowered the crown.
"What about this my love?" Terrogate asked and Mab turned to see what he was referring to. The warrior was holding the sceptre "I believe this goes with that crown" he waved it in the air. "Unfortunately the crystal is broken" he added as he motioned to the floor where the shards of the shattered crystal lay. She took the sceptre from his hand "surly we can find a replacement for it" she said as she examined it. "Of Course my queen" Terrogate said with a wink and asked "what's next?" Holding the sceptre in one hand and the crown in the other the Iktotchi witch let out a satisfied breath. "close this sucker up" she said pointing the sceptre the Sarcophagus, "I have a lot of reading to do." Smiling her eyes scanned the stone book cases, glowing with excitement she wondered curiously what secrets she would find between the pages the ancient tomes…
~*~
After securing the *mortal* God-King in his Sarcophagus, Mab and Terrogate got to work. Going through Andeddu's entire library, searching for knowledge about Tython.
Days they spend cataloguing every tome and every scroll the found, organizing it all. After nearly a week collecting everything that could help with their search for lost world of Tython, Mab finally began to study the texts thoroughly. 
Finally after nearly two months the Iktotchi witch found what she had been looking for, the coordinates of Tython.
~*~
Tythan System 160 ABY
The navcom beebed, Mab looked at the screen "we officially entered the Tythan System" she said with a bright smile "over there we have Furies Gate, the outermost planet of the system" she added as she looked over at Terrogate who sat next to her in the co pilot seat. He had a proud smile on his face. "There should be a scientific outpost in orbit, Fury station." The Iktotchi added as tapped on the screen, zooming in on the barren world. "Look, over there.. we could visit it.." The Cathar placed his hand on her shoulder  "Mab, dear..  one thing at a time" he said reminding her of their mission. Letting out a soft giggle she gave a nod "of course. Just showing you some points of interest." The witch glowed with excitement, after years of searching they had finally got the coordinates of Tython and she was anxious to get there. To calm her nerves she kept talking her lifemate's ears off, telling him everything she knew about the system and about the lost world itself. "Next we have the Mawr and Orbi also known as 'the Giants'." Again she tapped on the screen to show the Cathar while she navigated the Busted Plugga through the system. "You might be more interested in Ska Gora though" she said suddenly "it's a green planet that the Duro used to build their city ships. Plus the Rakata base prime was located there" Mab explained. 
Time passed, while the Iktotchi kept talking, sharing everything she knew. Finally their destination was in sight "look" she said, pointing at through the front window instead of the navcom. "There it is… Tython'' tears of joy welled up in her eyes and she held her hand out. Terrogate took her hand in his, squeezing it lightly and bringing it to his mouth to kiss it "Congratulations my love." He said softly as the planet closer...
~*~
Tython 160 ABY
The Busted Plugga broke into orbit and glided through the clouds. Beneath them the beautiful landscape of Tython was revealed. Green forest, dry deserts, great plains and rough mountains. But Mab did not take the ship any lower as they got closer to coordinates. "Aren't we going to land?" The Cathar asked as he looked at her, "we are almost there." He added. "I know. Just wait and see" she said with a grin, unlike Terrogate, she knew what she was looking for and after a few minutes their destination was in sight. "Look" Mab said. Terrogate looked up from the computer and watched through the window. His eyes widened as he saw a towering pillar-like rock formation that reached for the clouds.."what in the name of Typhojem is that?" He asked. "That, is Akar Kesh" Mab replied as she took the ship closer. 
The mountain towered above the clouds, water cascaded down waterfalls on each side of the plateau. At the very top they could see a stone structure, a flat pavilion with eight minarets and at the centre a circular pool. "The ninth Tho Yor, the biggest one used to hover above the temple" Mab said as she circled the ship around the mountain top. "Where is it now?" Terrogate asked. "I don't know. Nothing has been written about what happened to it. It vanished." The Iktotchi took the ship down towards the plateau and landed it near the temple.
Moments later, hand in hand the Witch and the Warrior walked down the ramp of the Busted Plugga. The sun stood low on the horizon, soon it would disappear under the clouds. Their hearts were racing in their chests, they had finally made it, they were on Tython the home of the Je'daii Order The slowly fading light of the orange dunes flooded the area in a pinkish amber hue. The two Moons of Ashla and Bogan were visible in the sky above them, large and in clear contrast to each other. Together they took in the exquisite ancient stone carvings and runes expertly cut into the stone as they walked hand in hand. Likely carved by the old Masters of Bodi Temple themselves, the temple of arts. This place was sacred, the place of reflection and meditation for over a thousand generations. The feeling of connection to the force was absolute. Terrogate could feel his love's life force almost as though he and her we're connected by a million strands of light. He felt her heartbeat, her breath. When he closed his eyes for a moment he could see her perfectly in his mind's eye, she was smiling at him as visions flashed through his mind. 
~ He saw Ammit standing across a crowded room dressed in her purple gown at the Sith awards, she was smiling and waving to him. The vision warped forward, next he saw her in her red dress on Weyland, they were holding each other close as they danced under the stars, her golden eyes stared up at him. His vision flashed to the beach, she was in her white bikini, sitting with him on the sand holding hands under the water as they shared their desires, their feelings, hopes and dreams. He next thing saw her laying in his arms, eyes closed and naked, close to death, almost completely submerged in the bacta bath in their home. The image merged seamlessly to them in the planetarium, Mabs legs and arms wrapped around him, kissing him passionately with the huge domes ceiling lit up like the night sky. The visions then flashed to more recently, to Mab and himself, standing in the darkness of Andeddu's tomb, she was glowing and held his hand. He leaned in and tenderly kissed her. ~
He felt her lips on his and when he finally opened his eyes he realised they were actually kissing. He pulled back from the kiss with nothing but love in his eyes and Mab looked up at him with those same beautiful golden eyes that had always made his heart swell with love for the Iktotchi. The same look as she had always given him when they enjoyed these tender moments together, bright and sparkling, warm, loving.. But now with an added glow and Terrogate now knew this was somehow connected to her level of excitement.  Smiling down at her when they locked eyes, the whole world disappeared around them. He had never been so sure about anything in his whole entire life. 
“Mab” Terrogate said softly. Smiling brightly Mab looked at him and said “Yes my love what is it?” She had a feeling he was up to something he had been acting differently the moment they stepped aboard the Busted Plugga to go to Tython. The Cathar took her hands in his before he spoke again “Mab, the moment I met you I felt like our fates were in some way connected. That it was destiny I survived the war, survived wandering the cold reaches of space for Millenia and finally finding my way to you. You are the most amazing person I have ever met. Your passion for knowledge, love for your family and your inner strength are just a few of a thousand reasons why I fell for you”. The Iktotchi witch smiled, feeling a tad nervous “I love you too my heart, but I feel there is something on your mind. What is it?” she said and firmed her grip in his hand, she wondered why the Cathar was telling her all this? 
Then suddenly Terrogate got down on one knee before her, her hands in his as he looked up at her underneath the twin moons. The amber glow of sunset to the left of them setting her golden eyes on fire, the sounds and sweet smell of rushing water from the waterfalls surrounding them in the air and the gentle evening breeze caressing their skin. “I love you more than life itself” he continued. Nervously Mab looked down at him, still smiling but her eyes welling up with love and joyful anticipation. “I could not imagine a life without you in it.” the Cathar continued, looking deep into her eyes. “I believe the force has led me to you, and you to me for a reason. I believe that we were meant to find each other, and save each other. I think about you always, you are my passion. My strength. I want to give myself to you fully. To know I will fall asleep next to you and wake up to your face every day of the rest of my life, to be the father to your children, to love and protect you and them from this day until the day I return to the force.” A hint of a tear formed in his eyes as he spoke his heart, steeling himself to ask the question he had planned to have asked her years ago “Mab, my stars..” he said to her once more.. “Will you marry me”? 
Her heart fluttered in her chest, for a moment Mab froze and forgot to breath. In the past they has spoken about their future often, they had shared their wishes their desires. She knew that this question would come one day and if the civil war hadn't happened it would have come more early. Still smiling brightly she looked down at the man she loved, the sun disappeared under the clouds when she softly replied "yes." Terrogate now froze for a moment, 'had she just accepted his proposal?' he thought to himself, worried that it might have been just his imagination. "Yes" Mab repeated. "Yes?" The Cathar's eyes lit up.. the Iktotchi nodded "yes.. I will marry you" she said as the last strands of light faded above the horizon. Instantly Terrogate jumped up and pulled her close into his embrace. On that moment when they kissed everything fell into place, nothing else mattered…. It was perfect….
~*~
The End...
** next will be a series about exploring and rebuilding the temples of the Je'daii
Category:Stories
Category:159Aby
Category:160Aby