Jheryth bolted upright, breath coming in ragged gasps. The smell of a very familiar perfume seemed to fade from his consciousness as he registered his tactical adviser's voice blaring at him from the ships's comm system. "M'lord, we have arrived."
Jheryth closed his eyes, willing himself into calmness before answering. "Where are we?"
"Alderaan, m'lord.", his tactical adviser responded, with some surprise in his voice. "You have appointments to visit your businesses here."
"Alderaan", Jheryth repeated, trying to clear the clouded state he found his thoughts to currently be in. He'd been very focused and calm the past few years.
"M'lord?", his tactical adviser queried with some concern. Jheryth could feel the force whispering to him, pulling his focus to his forest clearing.
He threw off the covers and sprang out of bed, "Change of plans." He got dressed and made his way to the cockpit. "You and Decker go check in, give my blessing and then take some time off." He handed them each a cred stick, "Take me to my clearing. I'll call you when I'm ready."
An hour later, Jheryth stepped out into the clearing, slung his pack over his shoulder, and narrowed his eyes at the spot at the edge of the clearing where the stranger appeared to him twice in his life. He pursed his lips in dissatisfaction and then scoffed to the air, "Destiny?" He growled in frustration and made his way into the forest.
The forest closed in around him, becoming so thick he had to draw his saber to cut a path through for himself. A half day worth of traveling brought him to a mass of hanging vines blocking his way. As his saber sliced through, the vines cascaded to the floor, revealing the crumbling remains of a stone wall. He worked his way past the wall, stepping into what appeared to be a secluded clearing, much like his own, except much larger. The trees grew so thick, the clearing was covered in a canopy of foliage, leaving the area in perpetual twilight. He picked his way through, stone and leaves crunching under his boots.
He made his way to the center, surveying the area. Based on the remnants of walls and bits of foundation jutting from the ground, what once stood here was impressive in size. He took a slow, deep breath and closed his eyes. Starting a slow rotation, he watched the scenery move in his mind, until something caught his attention. He stopped and opened his eyes.
Before him was part of a wall, partially covered by undergrowth. He moved closer, narrowing his eyes, absorbing every detail. The wall appeared to be one of the largest standing pieces of the ruins. He brushed back the dust and foliage, and a strange thrill ran through him as his fingertips moved across the rough stone. He cleared as much away as he could, tracing his fingers along the surface, stopping on a small inlet that pulsed with a green shimmer. Smiling to himself, he pressed down on the inset and stepped back as a hiss of stale air escaped from underneath the wall, heralding the rough sound of stone moving against stone.
A large piece of the wall sank down and away, pieces of the wall and earth crumbling down the newly exposed stairway that greeted him. As he started his descent, the wall started its return to its steadfast vigil, dropping more bits of rubble and earth down upon him and the stairway. Jheryth reached out with the force, using the glow of his saber to light his way, making for the end of the stairs. Taking a couple of cautious steps forward, overhead lights flickered to life, illuminating the corridor he was now standing in.
He followed for a way, and a few turns later the corridor opened up into what could be described as a rather well-furnished bunker. The circular aspect of its design, as well as the orderly way each living area was arranged had a familiar appeal. What held his attention most readily was the circular computer station, and the most beautiful emerald that hovered at a dais just beyond that, suspended in a shaft of green light.
Jheryth moved forward, skirting the computer, entranced by the emerald. He heard a voice whipering to him, "...take it..." He reached his hand out to take the emerald, and as soon as his hand broke the plane of light, the computer station came to life, announcing that his DNA had been confirmed. He pulled his hand away quickly as the holo-terminal erupted in green beams of light that fanned out, forming the shape of the mysterious stranger that knew so much about him. The silky male voice that came from the holo-image was unmistakable. "I have been waiting for you for a long time. Welcome home."
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