Ghost of Nightmares Past/Chapter 9

JOURNEY INTO THE TOMBS

Obi-Wan paced in front of them, arms crossed, and eyes down. Yoda was sitting in his seat, holding his cane in both hands, also staring down. Mace and Ahsoka were looking at each of them in turn, Mace twirling his sabre hilt in his hands, Ahsoka biting her lip.

"I'm coming,"

Obi-Wan looked up at her, and she stared back. "No," He said firmly.

"Yes," Ahsoka said instantly, folding her arms. "Anakin is my master, and I took a vow to try and protect him. I'm going to live up to that vow."

Obi-Wan shook his head, before saying, "So like Anakin, aren't you?"

"So what?" Ahsoka said, walking towards him. "I'm coming, and I can get Rex and a few clones to come too! We can hold Grevious at bay, and let you try and rescue Master Skywalker. It's a good plan!"

"Not many Jedi that fight Grevious survive young one," Mace said instantly, placing his sabre back to his belt. "If you are going, then I am coming with you."

Obi-Wan stared at them both, and shook his head, "Nothing I say will ever change your minds, will it?"

"Nope," Ahsoka said, popping the 'p', and Mace shook his head. "Come on Master, in the end, you'll be glad of it."

Obi-Wan smiled, before turning to Yoda. "Do you see any threat at all?"

Yoda closed his eyes for a moment, before saying, "Clouded, young Skywalker is. But screaming to be released he is. Try to communicate with him, to get him back in control, I will." He opened his eyes, and shifted them to Obi-Wan, "Careful you must tread, Obi-Wan. Fear that there is more to this than Bruck Chun let's on."

"This has to be a trap, regardless." Mace said, as he picked up his cloak. "Me and the Padawan will have your back, Obi-Wan. You will have twenty minutes to stop Bruck Chun before he ends up killing Skywalker."

"I know," Obi-Wan said, stroking his beard slightly. "That's why I'm offering him an alternative body to control."

There was silence, and Ahsoka was the one who broke it. "But Master!" She squealed, "You can't give yourself up to him to be possessed!"

"I'm not," Obi-Wan said, and he turned to Yoda. "Is Bruck's original body buried in the conservation Cemetary?"

Ahsoka gazed, confused, from Obi-Wan to Yoda, who nodded. "Keys, Master Jacosta Nu has. Tread carefully, you will." He gave a massive sigh. "Go, and try to contact Anakin I will, through the force."

The three of them bowed, and walked out, leaving Yoda to ponder his thoughts, before going into a long meditation.

Shovels in hands, as well as buckets, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka wadded through the muddy under-section of the Jedi temple, with a young padawan, who looked absolutely terrified to be with them, carrying the keys. Obi-Wan stopped, and they stopped, and placed his bucket and spade to the ground, before reaching up to the light-hat he had placed on earlier, and flicked the switch, causing a massive beam of white light to shine through the eerie darkness. Ahsoka rummaged beside him, and another light appeared from another that she had placed on her own head. "Let's continue," Obi-Wan said, swinging his spade onto his shoulder and lifting his bucket.

They continued on for a few minutes, their lights shining the way for them, the padawan holding the keys following them closely. Finally, a great wooden door came before them, and, without warning, Obi-Wan stopped suddenly, causing the padawan to walk into him. "Oh dear," He said.

They were looking at shattered doors, with a massive hole in the middle where they would have joined. The wood was splintered, and the iron bolt was lying on the floor. Obi-Wan placed his tools on the ground and picked up the bolt. It was cut off. "Someone has been here before," He said, slowly dropping it to the ground.

"Who?" Ahsoka asked, helping the padawan to his feet.

"I have a hunch, and I hope I am wrong." Obi-Wan said, and they continued on.

When the stepped into the massive room, the padawan lit a match and flung it into the darkness. There was a spark and a roar as the flames roared into life, splitting off into different directions. Rats scarpered as the flames came towards them, illuminating the faces of long-gone Jedi that existed many years ago. Obi-Wan slowly walked forward, passed two rats that paused to stare at them. Ahsoka shivered when she saw them, and hurriedly moved on, following him down the line of tombs. They treaded water for a few moments, and, finally, they stopped. A tomb was visible before them, looking almost new. The tomb itself was shorter than Obi-Wan by an inch, but, even so, it depicted a handsome face of a padawan, with a braid and his sabre engraved into the stone work before him. Obi-Wan placed his spade and bucket next to the tomb, and Ahsoka followed suit. Obi-Wan blew the dust off the name plaque, and read it out.

""Here lies Bruck Chun, who fell to the Darkness.""

"Some fall," Ahsoka muttered darkly, as they placed their hands on one side of the top cover. The padawan watched, slightly frightened, as they heaved and pushed. Finally, they gave up, and Obi-Wan turned, panting slightly, to her.

"Force lift maybe?" He suggested.

They both raised their hands, and, building the force up around them, tried to lift it. There was a creaking noise, and then a cracking, as the lid of the tomb lifted slightly. Sweat began to appear on Ahsoka's forehead, as she struggled. "Go and push it," Obi-Wan told her, building more of his force energy around him, keeping it lifted as she rushed forwards, and, using both hands, pushed the lid to the ground, making it split into two. "Whoops," She said, staring at the broken lid.

"Doesn't matter," Obi-Wan said, as he approached the tomb. He took one look, and swore loudly. "He's gone!"

"What?" Ahsoka said, rushing to him side. He was right; there was nothing but dust and wraps. What was left was nothing. "Did he decompose?"

"No," Obi-Wan said, picking up some of the dust into his hand. "I think someone moved him."