Star Wars Nexus Libria

Part Six: The Corrupt Cleanse

Omok ran down along the bookcases. All the books and holocrons and never a map to be found. He first tried looking for his students, but he found no one. The deeper into the Nexus he went the more and more lost he became. He tried to return to the front but was completely stumped about his direction. Any time he tried to communicate with the Force the same whispering voice came back to haunt him.

“Why do you deny what is given?” The whispers asked.

“I would deny that that wishes to corrupt!” Omok retorted.

Omok finally came across another being. A man about his height and a lightsaber was attached to his waist. 

“You there, Jedi, can you assist me?” Omok asked. When the man didn’t answer, Omok grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him from the book he was reading.

The unnamed Jedi’s eyes were gray and empty. His face was gaunt and malnourished. The former being looked haggard and only a shadow of its former self. He looked at Omok for exactly seven seconds and then went back to its reading.

“It is a bit sad looking isn’t it?” The whispers came back. “This one came looking for wisdom and strength to learn armies, but he never feels quite satisfied. So he stays and learns more.”

“Do you ever tell them that they have learned enough?” Omok asked his mood was a bit somber.

“Why would I tell a thirsty man not to drink? Those that are here are free to leave, but none of them want to leave. They want to be here.”

“Their eyes are empty and hollow. They don’t show any signs of free will.”

“Their freedom is not compromised at all. They live and read and learn. Raavik is a prime example of this. He comes and goes as he pleases. He gathers supplies and gains new followers for the Nexus.”

The Voice seemed to go silent for a while, but Omok could continue to feel the undeniable presence. Omok continued to wander through the Nexus. He tried his best not to rely on the Force for he felt the presence of the Voice. 

He figured that he might be able to work his way out of the Nexus and find a suitable ship and leave this place. He found many others in his wanderings, many more of the broken and wretched beings. Most of them had weapons of some sort, attached to their belts, blasters and lightsabers, even vibroblades. Some of them looked ancient, others looked like they just found the Nexus. Regardless, all were hopeless now.

“Tell me, Voice, can you show me the way out?” Omok asked.

This time the Voice materialized a wraithly figure appeared before Omok. Just a torso, two arms and a head, no legs, no face. 

“All this time you spent looking for a way out, and you forgot the easiest way to do so. Simply by asking.” The Voice waved his arms to the side and bookcases opened up and a pathway was revealed through to the ships that were docked outside. 

Omok started his on the path toward the outside. He felt his connection to the Light become reestablished.

Star Wars: Nexus Libria

Part Six: The Corrupted Cleanse

“Can you really leave so easily?” The wraith asked floating behind. “Knowing that you are abandoning all of your students to a place that you have deemed unsuitable.” 

“There is no hope for them they have all become mindless.” Omok responded, taking his first steps toward the exit. He had to leave and warn the republic about the dangers of this place.

“Have you always been so cynical? Are not the Jedi supposed to find the good in everything? Perhaps your lack of hope denies you to see another philosophy. Can you feel the Light filtering in here? Am I a threat to you? Does it say I am a threat?”

Omok closed his eyes and meditated, he felt the Light side of the Force enveloped him and in a single instant the words, “GET OUT NOW!” flashed in his mind. He opened his eyes and now saw the mindless crowd surrounding him. The exit was still open, but the path was now crowded with being of all kinds and all holding their weapons.

“THE KNOWLEDGE IS OURS” The crowd all said in unison. They cocked and readied their weapons. All the different colors of the lightsaber reminded Omok of a rainbow.

“Voice, stop them.” Omok demanded.

The Voice was barely audible. “I cannot stop their thirst for knowledge and all have some connection to the Force. Your feelings have betrayed you.” The Voice turned to ice, the exit closed, and the gray light lit the dark eyes of the horde. “Jedi, your fate is sealed.”

The horde rushed forward in a blood rage. The lightsabers and blasters filled the halls. Omok sped away knowing that he was vastly overwhelmed. The Voice followed and spoke more as Omok ran away on top of some of the bookcases.

“You cannot hide. You are only delaying the inevitable. This place is filled with everyone knowing where everything is. Think of it as a hive mind, while you accept the privilege of the Nexus.”

Five lightsabers appeared in front of Omok’s path. Yellow Sentinels. Five former Jedi. Two threw their saber, two followed through by running, and one stayed in reserve. 

Omok dropped down in between the cases to further avoid a fight. He made a mental note of where the exit was and he made his way there. He avoided the relentless horde however he could.

He knew not how long he stayed at the Nexus, constantly on the run. Dodging and weaving. He never engaged in combat for fear of being quickly overrun. 

When he began to feel exhausted. He faltered and stumbled. He fell down at the exit and the boots of Raavik Yaan.