| << In Transit | Index | Sweeter Than Heaven or Hell >> |
| Relic |
Relic
Hundreds of thousands of beings of every major galactic species were jammed into th plaza in front of the obsidian, pyramid-like structure. They chettered excitedly to each other in Basic, Sullustian,Wookieese, and thousands of other tongues. It would be only minutes before the grandest of events would occur; an event that drew pilgrims from every corner of the galaxy.
" MY grandfather was here the last time the Relic was brought out." Said the
man named Ibrahim to his son Delain. " That was nearly 70 years ago, when he was about your age."
" Why do they wait so long?" the boy asked.
" The Relic is all that remains of our Jedi Father. The Masters inside the temple, there,
want to preserve it as long as they can; so that it will remain a symbol of inspiration for many years
to come. So, they take it out only every 70 years."
Before the child could ask any more questions, a large holoscreen rose from behind the tample, and folded open so that those in the furthest corners of the plaza could witness the sacred events about to occur. The temple's two obsidian doors slid open. The entire crowd went silent..
Three humans, a Calamarian , and two exotic, gargoyle-like creatures walked
down several stairs to a platform, their purple robes rustling gently in the breeze.
In their hands were archaic musical instruments. Three of the musicians stood to the
right on the platform; the others to the left. The musicians began playing a strange, primitive song;
a song that seemed to harken back to pre-hyperdrive, or even pre-tech, days.
The humans blew through long, wooden reeds; creating different tones as their
gingers covered and uncovered holes in the instruments. The Calamarian played a box-like instrument
with strings stretched across a hole. The two gargoyles pounded wildly on drums..
Twelve beings dressed in white robes then exited the temple and joined the musicians
on the platform"
" Those are the Jedi Masters, who will be initiated into the Relic Guardianship." Ibrahim
said to Delain. " They had to perform many feats, and learn many secrets, before today. Only 12 are initiated
each century
" Wow." Was all Delain could say. Only 12 out of a million Jedi?? These beings had to
be extraordinary indeed.
Once the acolytes were assembled on the platform, twelve more figures exited
the temple. This time they were dressed in black cloaks. Six of them lined the stairs to the right,
the other six lined up on the left side. They stood straight and silent as the music suddenly stopped.
An elderly bearded man appeared in the temple entryway. In his arms was a large,
cylindrical object, covered with a cloth bearing all sorts of inscriptions in gold thread. As the
man passed each black-robed guardian, they bowed their heads
" Who's that man holding the Relic, Papa?" Delain asked, as the man came closer
to the platform.
" That is Auriel Celestis, a direct descendant of our Jedi Mother and, therefore of the
same blood as our Father." Ibrahim replied. " Now, the moment comes..."
Celestis reached the platform, and the musicians began to play a soft, solemn
tune. Each acolyte came forward one by one. THe acolyte knelt before Celestis, who then touched the
cylinder to the acolyte's forehead.
" Now they are initiated." Ibrahim said quietly to his son. The boy could
only nod. The Relic was right there, so close...
Celestis activated a tiny comlink on his collar.
" Greetings, my brothers and sisters. Today we have gathered to witness a
most holy event...the viewing of our sacred Relic. This was authenticated five centuries ago by our
Jedi scientists, who discovered it in the ruins of a laboratory. They considered it a miracle of the
FOrce that it was still preserved in this container. It is now over 1500 years old, dating back to
the darkest years of our history. It is the only mortal remnant of our galaxy's savior.
" Behold!" He cried as he pulled away the cloth.
Gasps echoed across the plaza as eyes of thousads of colors and shapes saw the
hand floating in a jar of bacta fluid. The hand that had once belonged to a farmboy-turned-Master, now
long gone.
" Let this be a symbol, to all of you, of the trials we suffer in our lives
and the importance of perseverance. Let this inspire you to carry on the work begun by our Father." Celestis
called out as he held the jar high for all to see.
750,000 heads bowed down in deep contemplation; but one little boy's thoughts
were on other things besides lofty goals.
He wondered what the Jedi Father would've thought of these proceedings ,if his
eternal spirit could see what was happening today. He wondered what kind of person Luke Skywalker
had been. Not just his deeds, or teaching - everybody knew that stuff; but what did he like to do in his
spare time? What made him laugh? What made him cry? Did he have any pets?
Delain wondered about these things as the ceremony came to an end and everyone
went back inside the temple. The holoscreen folded up and went back down. The crowd was
beginning to disperse.
Ibrahim gazed down at his son as he led the boy away from the temple. Delain's eyes
were lifted skyward and clouded with wonder. Ibrahim smiled as he read his boy's thoughts.
" It's a pity we'll never know, isn't it?" Ibrahim said to his son. " That is lost forever.
| << In Transit | Index | Sweeter Than Heaven or Hell >> |