Let's See What We Can Find (Holden)

[KitKat]

Katarine laughed. "I guess it was something like that. "

The computer buzzed and he came back with information about what the staff looked like. She took a glance. It did look decorative and important that was for sure. She frowned suddenly.

"I wonder why someone went through the trouble of breaking it into three parts and scattering it?" It could have been a simple measure to prevent thieves but it could be something more sinister.

"Where I was from Zygerria was once really famous for being a slaver world. They were ruled by a monarch though not an emperor. "

[member="Holden Tark"]

 

[Holden Tark]

"Are you suggesting we might not want to put this together?"

The thought had crossed Holden's mind, but Katarine was the Jedi here. If she knew something, or even thought something, he didn't, she needed to say what was on her mind. They had to be on the same page. Either they were going to give up, or go through with it, or something in between like sell the pieces individually. Holden was getting nervous about the job.

"Whoever did also went to th same trouble to leave the clues for people to find it later. Something is up for sure, I just don't know what. Your call, you're the Jedi here. I just find relics and sell them."

He'd go a long with whatever she thought was right.

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

Katarine smiled at the questions. They reminded her of her students who started out seeing the world in black and white.

"No. I'm saying that someone went through a lot of trouble to keep them apart. It would be prudent to know why. At the very least we should be careful. The next site may have more information. "

They hadn't really paid the statue any mind. She realized now they couldn't make that mistake again. They would have to look for drawings or any type of hint at what this thing was.

[member="Holden Tark"]

 

[Holden Tark]

Holden nodded. He understood what she meant by the caution. There was a reason, a story, behind the staff, and they needed to discover that as well. Usually Holden ignored that part of his work, but this time he would be careful not to. Katarine had actually just taught him a valuable lesson, and it was going to be worth while.

The next temple, or maybe more like a shrine, was covered in signs of disrepair and abandonment. Whoever built it, had not been around in a while. Statues covered the perimeter as if they were guarding the place of intruders, or enemies, meant to do harm to what was inside. They had a protective posture which Holden found interesting.

"Look at how the statues are positioned. They're guarding something."

The observation was simple enough, but made him even more cautious about just taking the staff. We're they perfecting it, or keeping the staff from leaving? It was in the chamber on the right, but this time Holden was looking for a story.

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

As they entered the little shrine room Katarine followed Holden's words to the statues. They were in a protective position and she frowned. Perhaps this relic had been some religious thing for the people who lived all that long ago? She walked closer to one of the statues, examining it closley and noticed something very odd on it's arms. It had joints.

"I don't think they are here for decoration." She walked into the small room on the right and frowned again. The staff was in a small cradle but there was a side door completely open. It lead down a long tunnel that went further into the tomb. She wondered why anybody would go deeper into the tomb when what they sought was right in front of them?

"I'm guessing if we take it our way out of here gets cut off and we get forced deeper into the tomb. Which might be where the third piece is."

[member="Holden Tark"]

 

[Holden Tark]

"You're likely correct about that assumption."

Holden's eyes were studying the base of the cradle the staff piece was in and followed the line he saw from it. Naturally he wasn't really paying attention to where Katarine was, because he accidentally bumped his head into her backside. Standing a bit embarrassed, he apologized, but went right back to looking over the line to the statues. He noticed the joints, as well as the fact it seemed the bases would turn. The spear points on the crude weapon of the statues were very sharp. He knew what the line, and the other lines to the rest of the statutes meant.

"Forced through that door is absolutely right. The second we pull the staff from that craddled the statues seem designed to turn inward and press in on us with spears out. If he don't go we get hurt far beyond what I wish to be for today."

Now it seemed they had to either abandon the hunt, or go through with it. Sadly there was no evidence of a story here to tell them what was going on with the staff. Holden had an idea. He ran to the open door and looked at the walls on the other side of the threshold. Painted, just as he expected. The story would come as they went deeper into the temple. Likely the whole thing would reset if the took the third piece. It was now, or never.

"Well it seems the only way to find out what is going on is to pick up the staff and run into that door."

Holden held his hand out over the staff and looked to Katarine. There was a smirk on his face. An adventure awaited them if they went for it.

"So which is it, are taking it, or turning back?"

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

Katarine was looking at the ceiling when she felt Holden bump into her. She looked down but he was so in the zone in the archeological moment that she figured she wouldn't disturb him. Her deep green eyes traveled back up towards the ceiling. The tiles looked sturdy enough.

She glanced over her shoulder to where he was smirking, his hand almost on the relic. "There is only one way to find out Daredevil." She winked at him and turned towards the statues with their spears, placing herself between them and Holden.

"Go for it."

[member="Holden Tark"]

 

[Holden Tark]

Holden didn't need any more encouragement. "You got it sweetheart," he said as he picked up the piece. Immediately the grinding noise of old gears could be heard followed by rock scraping agains rock. The statues lowered their spears, and the line of guards began to close in on them. Turned out he was was right. Rather than let Katarine play heroine, he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her toward the door. "Time to go."

Once they passed through the doorway, a large stone slab closed. That was close. A line of torches lit, and Holden grabbed one as they started to look at the paintings.

"So this emperor guy seemed like he was really important. About 5000 years ago he united all the clans and ruled the planet under a time of peace and prosperity. His staff was made as a symbol of the groups he brought together, three groups, three pieces. Well that makes sense. A battle broke out, he won, yada yada. Oh here's the good part. It was said just before he died that he'd come back. His staff being assembled would trigger his return."

Holden looked at Katarine who was taking in the paintings as well. They needed to figure out what they were going to do, because the only way out they new of was blocked. All of a sudden he didn't want to put the staff together.

So some kind of magic, or a force user. Any experience with dead coming back to life?"

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

They made it through the door just in time before the stone slab slid shut, locking them inside. Immediately Holden started reading the paintings on the wall, which told the story of the great emperor. Katarine followed along behind him, interpreting the drawings the same way he had.

"So some kind of magic, or a force user. Any experience with dead coming back to life?"

She frowned, remembering the events that had taken place inside her ancestors tomb. "Yea I do." Her voice sounded hollow. It was never a good thing when her family decided to come back from the dead. If this was anything like that they might be in trouble.

"It could just be a religious superstition." She sounded halfway hopeful as she read the wall. She ran her fingers over the drawings, moving the dust off wherever her fingertips touched. She felt dizzy all of a sudden and the room changed. She could see the tunnel in gleaming golden beauty, as if it had just been built. There were people all around her, walking and carrying things.

The dizziness was strong and she stumbled, her fingers sliding away from the wall. The room changed and she was back in the dark dusty tunnel with Holden, who she had just stumbled into fronm the power of the Force vision.

"There is something powerful in here."

[member="Holden Tark"]

 

[Holden Tark]

One moment Katarine had been talking to him about religious superstition, and the next she was falling back into his arms. He didn't know what was going on, but everything indicated she was about to pass out. Holden had a small canteen of water, and when she came to again, he offered it to her.

"You're telling me..." though he really had no clue what he was talking about.

How was he supposed to know she had just had a vision into the past. There was something at work beyond just the staff itself, and Holden was becoming more convinced he was not going to be getting credits for this thing. He sighed. The right thing to do wasn't always the profitable thing to do, but if this thing could cause more trouble for the galaxy than what it already had, then he wanted nothing to do with it.

"So, Kat, what's going on here? I mean I don't mind having you falling into my arms at all, but something is really messed up for you to just nearly pass out like that. You saw something, didn't you?"

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

Katarine blinked a few times and shook her head. "Yes I did, but I'm not sure what. It was just a golden hallway." She stood straight up shakily but was happy to see her legs would support her.

"I'm sorry. I'll try not to do that again." She smiled at him and glanced back at the wall. Tentatively, she placed her finger against it again but nothing happened.

"It doesn't feel dark. It just feels... strong." She frowned, looking ahead, knowing she had lost him completely with her how did he put it, "mumbo jumbo."

"Stay close. " She lead the way down the rest of the dark tunnel. Eventually it opened up into the ruins of a grand throne room. There were trinkets lying on tables, vases carved out of jewels and other fine materials, and in the center was what looked to be a throne with the third piece of the staff inside the chair meant for someone important.

"A throne room this far in? Was the emperor scared of the public or something?"

[member="Holden Tark"]

 

[Holden Tark]

"Or he was hiding something," Holden said coming up behind the brunette Jedi.

He'd stayed close as she suggested, but let her walk ahead long enough so he his eyes could dip below her waist. What? Holden knew it wasn't nice, but a Corellian wasn't going to change his spots. For someone well over 800 years old, Katarine certainly still looked good in all the right places. His mind was in the right place though, as his comment had suggested. The salvager certainly knew they were in over their heads, well his anyway. If they pulled this off, the staff wasn't going for cheap that was certain.

"So honestly, you think we need to have nothing to do with this thing, or what? I mean, I'm more than willing to set some charges to that door and blast our way out of here. I brought plenty."

Holden always had a plan, and he always had a back up plan. It was how he was wired. The Corellian was a strategic thinker when it came to his work, and nothing rarely caught him by surprise. When it did, the man was flexible enough to toss his plan out the window and think on his feet. He'd been doing a lot of that this time around. Still he always had a contingency. The explosives were with him just for that.

"I mean if it isn't dark, we should be okay to see what happens right? Cuz right about now, I'm thinking we get this done quick, and go get some drinks somewhere close... I know a couple shadowports close by."

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

Katarine was busy looking at the hieroglyphics that were etched into the tomb.

"I don't think the staff itself is dangerous. I think the religious devotion to it might be. Once we get it and get out of here we will probably be okay."

She ran a finger over one of the hieroglyphics and whimpered. The room changed again. There were servants all around, carrying treys up to the throne where an emperor sat. He looked jaunty and proud but had kind eyes. In his hand he held the staff and as each person brought a tray up to him he waved it over them, muttering something. Their eyes would cloud over as if they had seen something and then they would thank him. There were those in the corner thanking the emperor. They were holding hands.

Katarine pulled her finger away from the wall, breathing hard. She winced and felt down to her knees. The visions were old and very powerful. "I think it reunites people. It bridges a gap between two souls that had wandered far away. At least that is the superstition. The Emperor used the staff to unite three colonies like you said. The staff has the power to unite people who fell apart."

She wipped the sweat off her face and looked up at the throne. "It's not dangerous, but it could be used dangerously in the wrong hands. That's why they kept it from people. I think it's fine to take it. Anything could be used the wrong way. That's a risk you take, but this staff doesn't feel dark or dangerous. It's just powerful. The issue is going to be whatever traps were designed to keep it here. "

She got to her feet and looked at him. "You are the expert. What are we looking at here?"

[member="Holden Tark"]

 

[Holden Tark]

Holden tried catch Katerine as she went down, but had been too busy looking over the base of the staff. He rushed to her as she collapsed, and put his hands on her shoulders. When she wiped her forehead, he sat back giving her space. All he could do was nod at her description as he had not seen the vision, nor had the ability. The man was at a loss, but when asked about the traps, he moved to look.

The base seemed to have nothing. Which meant one of two things, there was no trap, or the throne was the only safe place for them to be when they removed the final piece of the staff. Holden just shrugged.

"There doesn't seem to be anything of consequence. Either it resets everything, opens a door for us, or the throne is the safest place to be."

It wasn't helpful, but it was all he could say.

"The only way to find out is to pull the staff out and connect them all, or sell them separate. We could make a haul either way."

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

Katarine nodded, still winded from the vision. "Alright then... so pull the staff out and see if the whole place collapses? I like it. Simple and easy to remember."

She winked at him and put her hands in her pockets, eying the room one last time. "Why don't you do the honors?" She had a feeling something was going to happen when they took the staff out of the throne. The floor looked solid enough but for all she knew the walls would start caving in.

"Good luck."

[member="Holden Tark"]

 

[Holden Tark]

"Right... well here it goes," Holden said as he lifted the staff.

Holden stood still as if he expected something to happen, and... well... nothing. He shrugged and started to walk toward Katarine when the throne started to rise, and a hole open in the ceiling.

"Kat, jump, hurry."

The throne was jutting up from the ground and taking them back up to the outer room of the shrine. This is why Holden didn't see anything with the base, because it was the throne platform itself that was designed to move. Pulling the staff had been the activation for the lift. At least there was no apparent danger, but the thought did cross his mind that all of a sudden he might geet condused as the reincarnated emporer. Wouldn't that be ironic.

When they reached the top, no one was there, and statues had reset as they once had been. It was ironic that the staff was designed to reuinite people, or bring them together. Funny indeed, as Holden was certain this whole adventure had helped him to gain a new friend. Whatever the dynamic, Holden was ready to get out of the shrine, back to the ship, and talk about what they wanted to do with the thing.

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

Katarine jumped and together she and Holden were transported back to the beginning of the temple. When the throne had stopped moving she stepped off it. Everything seemed normal.

"Easy as pie." She grinned at him. "It looks like you are going to make a profit off this thing after all."

The trek back to the ship was an easy one. Everything seemed fine. She could still feel the power radiating off the staff but it was not dark energy. It just existed. She wondered if it actually did bring people together. Once they had boarded Katarine examined each part of the staff.

"Shall I try to put it together while you get us out of here?" It looked fairly simple. The two parts slid into one another and then a locking mechanism held them in place. It was old, and a bit tough to force into the holes, but after a few moments she had it. The moment the last piece clicked into place the room around her changed. She felt like she was traveling at super speeds. Everything around her was a blur and whished by with only small images sticking out. She saw a buyer, talking to Holden, very interested in the staff. She saw a salvaging crew, eager to help with the next mission. She saw a blury outline and a lopsided grin but before she could make it out it shifted and she saw amber eyes she recognized under the flashing lights of a casino.

She gasped and dropped the staff. It fell tot he floor unharmed. Katarine sat down and rubbed her face. "I think you are going to find someone very interested in the staff." She seemed confident but the amber eyes still haunted her. She got up and joined him in the control room where presumably he was calculating a jump or contacting interested parties.

"I hope this repays you for the information you gave me. I really appreciate it."

[member="Holden Tark"]

 

[Holden Tark]

Holden hadn't been aware that the vision thing happened again until Katarine dropped the staff to the floor. Her hands were at her face when the salvager turned around to face her, a look of concern. This was third time in less than a few hours this had happened to her, and what was strange about it all was that every time it was over, Holden could feel a small shift. He could care less about making a lot on the staff, or a crew at this point. Holden was more concerned for his new friend.

"Nevermind paying me back. I didn't need compensation for being a genuinely helpful person. At the end of the day, you're here in the galaxy, and honestly, needing a place to stay until you can get on your feet. Do you have that yet? Anywhere I need to take you, or do you need a bunk for a bit here? Either way, I'm not letting myself off the hook until I know that you'll be okay."

Holden smiled, and held the staff in his hand.

"Hey you said it yourself, this thing brings people together, and like it or not... this adventure makes me consider you a friend. I guess that means this thing really does work."

He knew nothing of what she had seen. Holden was oblivious to the past she left behind, or how it could possibly be haunting her. In truth, his comments were literally out of ignorance. Had he known what was plaguing her, haunting her, he'd proabably be a bit more empathetic.

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

Katarine smiled at him, appreciating his concern. "Thank you. I'm glad I've made a new friend. Right now you are the only person I know in this galaxy. "

Well maybe not if the visions were true. She would have to see. There was no mistaking the eyes she saw but she wasn't sure who the blury figure was.

"Actually do you ever make it to Zeltros? Maybe the next time you are close I could tag a ride?"

[member="Holden Tark"]