Star Wars Invasion: Episode VIII, Prologue

PROLOGUE

   "Time is like a story. It has a beginning, a middle...and eventually, an end."

   The H'drachi Seer gestured widely at the walls of the cold cave he, Jacen Solo, and Jaden Korr were in.

   "The time-stream is like a river. It has no apparent beginning or end, but we can still look down and up it, and see what it has gone through and what it will eventually encounter."

   Taking a slow, deep breath, the aged H'drachi closed his eyes and pressed the palms of his hands together.

   "Now, open up your mind. Imagine an actual river, not unlike the ones which are formed near the W'eston Falls."

   Jacen did so, adopting a position similar to the H'drachi's, conjuring the image of a river in his mind.

   "Now, step into the river."

   Jacen imagined himself putting his bare feet into the water, feeling it rise up to his shins.

   "Now swim."

   The river carried him, moved him through the fragile layers of time and space. He had no clear idea on what his destination was, but he could feel that he was going backwards in time.

   When the flow of the water abruptly stopped, he found himself still on M'haeli but at a different place and time. He was standing near the peak of Selon Mountain, where he had landed his ship. Down below, he could see a crowd of H'drachi observing the arrival of ancient Old Republic ships. 

   Time then moved forward slightly and he found himself in M'haeli's capital city, N'croth. A heated debate had broken out between the Republic dignitaries and the natives. He soon saw the H'drachi being forced out of their city and to the ghettos located on N'croth's outskirts.

   The river took hold on his feet again and he was soon sent back to the present. Jacen opened his eyes to see the old H'drachi Seer staring at him, smiling slightly.

   "This is what sets us apart from other people that believe in the Force," the Seer said. "We are born with the natural gift of looking into the future as well as the past."

   He tilted his head slightly, stroking his short, gray beard. "You are quite unique, Jedi Solo. Quite a few of your kind have approached us, seeking to perceive into the future like we do, but were too narrow-minded to succeed."

   "Well, looking into the past is nothing new to the Jedi Order," Jacen said. "I know or have heard of great Jedi who could use psychometry, such as my uncle, Master Skywalker, and a Kiffar Jedi known as Quinlan Vos."

   The Seer nodded, smiling. "Yes, I am aware of the Jedi prowess in psychometry. But you being able to use it without touching an object was quite impressive."

   Jacen smiled. "Thank you, Master Ph'ban. Has anyone else besides Jedi approached you or the other Seers about your 'gift?'"

   Ph'ban's smile seemed to fade as he continued stroking his beard. "I don't believe so. Very few have heard or cared about our order of seers, let alone approach us."

   He paused in his caressing. "However, an ancestor of mine left behind many journals, and in one of them he mentioned a student who was an off-worlder."

   "Do you happen to know this student's name?"

   "According to the journal, he never stated it," the H'drachi Seer said. "He simply called himself the Shadow."

-Several years ago-

   "I am quite impressed," the old H'drachi Seer said to his student. "You have progressed quite far in your training."

   The student smiled. "Many of my peers have complimented my adaptability."

   The Seer smiled. "And as well they should. However, one last test remains."

   His pupil raised an eyebrow. "What would that be, master?"

   "You have observed the past, and you have peered somewhat into the future." He gestured at him. "It is time for you to look into your future."

   The student nodded and closed his eyes, following the mental steps he had been taught. The H'drachi did the same, so that he could see what his apprentice saw as well.

   What he saw appalled him.

   A strange shape hung in the infinity of space, a fiery star hovering below it. Upon getting a closer look, he saw that the shape was a metallic orb with three large fins attached to it. At the bottom tips of the three fins, an orb of energy formed between them, and it suddenly began absorbing energies from the star.

   All in the meantime, a fleet of ships began to surround the object while a large, indescribable shape rose behind it....

   The Seer broke away from the vision and stared wide-eyed at his student. "What...what was that?" he stammered.

   To further his bafflement, the student smiled. "The culmination of everything," he said. "The vessel of the Reunification."

   His green eyes bore into the H'drachi's and the Seer's mouth dropped in the horror of what he saw in them.

   "The Star Forge. The Builders' masterpiece."

STAR WARS: INVASION

EPISODE VIII

THE STAR FORGE

Timeline: 37 ABY (though this Prologue occurs not longer after Episode VII)