"Let's pack these up for now. We can't unlock it yet—we'll need more Massassi crystals." Amir placed the Massassi crystals into his backpack.
"Maybe Hoth will turn up something unexpected," Amir mused. If it was a similar temple, he could revisit that sealed door on Hoth—maybe he'd get lucky.
"There's no path forward from here. Let's head back," Ahsoka said.
The two of them exited the temple. On a flat stretch directly opposite, they used their lightsabers to fell some trees and the Force to clear away loose rock, opening up a decent-sized landing zone. Then they climbed back up the mountain to Mistwing and chatted for a bit about everything that had happened recently.
Not long after, a small fleet swept in—Paks had clearly called in reinforcements.
The ships set down on the clearing they'd just prepared, and a group of people and droids disembarked.
After nodding to Ahsoka, they got to work under Paks's direction—organizing, hauling, and starting construction.
"One base won't be enough," Ahsoka said evenly. "We'll keep exploring and establish more. Over the years we've connected with a lot of like-minded people—and the number keeps growing. They all need somewhere safe. The war is about to begin, Amir."
Her voice stayed calm, but Amir could feel the pressure she was carrying beneath it.
"If I find a good location, I'll recommend it to you," Amir said after a moment.
"Perfect. Where are you headed next?" Ahsoka asked.
"Get a full medical check… then a trip back to Tatooine," Amir replied. He decided not to go back to Hoth yet—too easy to walk into an Imperial ambush after the mess he'd caused there. Gideon and the others were still alive.
"The data you stole should include the location of their primary research facility," Ahsoka said. "If we can decrypt it, we'll launch an attack. We have to rescue those children."
"I'll help," Amir said. He'd wanted to burn that place down for a long time. They'd hunted him for far too long—time they paid for it.
"Over here!" Paks shouted from not far away.
"I'll take a look."
Amir descended from the summit and headed to where Paks was.
Near the base of the mountain, half-hidden by trees and fog, there was a stone house—so concealed you'd miss it unless you were looking for it.
Paks was clearing a path toward it.
"No one's lived here for centuries, right?" Paks grunted. "Look how big the trees are in front of the door."
Amir stepped in and began slicing through the thick growth with his lightsaber.
Once they'd cleared enough, Paks stepped over a rock, reached the doorway, and slowly leaned his head in to peer inside.
"Doesn't look too bad in there. If I can just get a light on—huh?" Paks murmured, confused.
A gray blur exploded from a corner of the room.
Before Paks could even react, something hit him with brutal force and drove him into the ground.
Amir's eyes widened—he hadn't expected anything living inside this ruined shack. He snapped into focus and saw it clearly: a mud-gray reptilian beast, all claws and a yawning maw.
Its jaws were about to close on Paks's head.
Amir flung his lightsaber.
The green blade cut cleanly through the creature's skull, splitting it in two.
"—Hah! That was close!" Paks rose slowly, one hand bracing his scratched shoulder.
Amir recalled the lightsaber, stepped forward to steady Paks—and then casually swept his Force-sense through the room.
His scalp prickled.
He shoved Paks backward and re-ignited his lightsaber in front of him.
A second beast—twice the size of the first—lunged.
It slammed into Amir, one claw clamping the lightsaber's hilt, the other bracing against Amir's left hand.
"Pewpewpewpew!" Paks reacted fast this time, yanking his blaster out and firing.
BD-4 sprang onto the monster's head and kicked at it with its tiny mechanical legs.
But the beast was freakishly tough. The blaster bolts left only a small scorch mark on its hide.
Muscle and mass won out—when it shoved, Amir was thrown backward.
The beast tried to pursue, but an ethereal call rang out from above.
Mistwing was circling overhead.
The beast roared in frustration and bolted into the distance.
Amir wasn't about to let it go. Two ambush predators—one big, one small—had just tried to cheap-shot them.
He watched the mud-gray silhouette fading into the fog and slowly raised his right hand.
In an instant, as if seized by an invisible giant, the beast lifted off the ground.
It thrashed wildly, legs pumping as if it could still run—airborne and helpless.
Mistwing didn't waste the opening.
A huge shadow plunged through the valley, wind tearing past. Its talons flashed with cold, razor light.
With a thunderous impact, it ripped through the branches that blocked the line of sight, then dropped without losing momentum—like a dragonfly skimming water. Just before hitting the ground, Mistwing's body arrested midair, talons snapping inward.
They punched through the beast's hide and hooked deep, locking onto the entire body.
With a powerful beat of four wings, Mistwing rose—prey in its grip—ascending into the mist.
Amir couldn't help smiling at the clean, beautiful kill.
Aside from his fear of heights, Paks was tough. Once the danger passed, he slapped on a bit of med gel and kept moving into the house.
"Go rest first. I'll get you to a medpod in a bit," Amir tried to stop him.
"It's nothing. Surface scratches," Paks said, already inside. BD-4 lit the way again.
Amir followed. The place was crude—stones stacked into walls—more like a temporary shelter than a permanent home.
"There are murals in here too," Amir said. "Same hand as the ones by Mistwing's nest."
He lifted his gaze along BD-4's light, and his breath caught.
Carved into the center of the wall was a familiar emblem: a circular crest with white wings spread wide—and a shining blade at its heart.
"The Jedi Order symbol," Amir blurted out.
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🌌 Star Wars: Relics of the Past
📢 The Force Calls! 📢
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