"I really did run into danger," Amir said as they walked into the station. He also meant to ask whether the Rebellion knew anything about th
"I really did run into danger," Amir said as they walked into the station. He also meant to ask whether the Rebellion knew anything about the Empire's recent activity.
While they made their way deeper inside, Amir explained everything that had just happened.
"We haven't received any intel like that," Harke said after thinking for a moment.
"Then let's not worry about it for now. We can look into it later."
At that moment, Guli Gena spoke. "Amir, do you remember the first vision I had about your future?"
"The one where you passed out?" Amir recalled meeting her for the first time on a street in Coruscant.
"Yes. I just saw the same vision again—only much clearer this time. I felt a strong sense of being watched… something lurking in the dark."
"It wasn't just about you. I felt it watching me, too."
Amir immediately grew alert. A presence? Watching?
"Can you describe it in more detail?" he asked.
"It's like…" Guli Gena rasped in her distinct voice, "a theater. Have you ever been to one?"
"More or less," Amir replied. He'd seen a few performances on Coruscant, but they were all heavily censored by the Empire—utterly lifeless.
"It's like someone hiding behind the curtain in the dark, observing everything happening onstage," she said. "We're the actors, and this thing sees right through us. The feeling is… disturbing."
Amir was silent for a while, then said, "Don't try to connect with the Force again for now."
"Alright," Guli Gena agreed, though she seemed unsure. "I've had a bad feeling, too—like something terrible will happen if I keep trying to commune with the Forest God."
"You mentioned you needed my help?" Amir turned to Harke, remembering his earlier message.
"Right here," Harke said, pointing toward the station's interior. "We've hit a wall in treating the children. We need more medical equipment. This used to be a medical outpost."
"Can't you buy what you need? Even if the gear here still works, it must be decades old," Amir asked.
"We've bought everything we could—legally and on the black market," Harke said. "But the Empire's restrictions are too tight. We're still missing some essential components."
"You really think you'll find them here?" Amir looked around the rundown station, skeptical.
"Guli Gena suggested it—so I trust there's something here."
"Hey! I just said we could try searching here. I didn't ask the goddess," Guli Gena replied helplessly.
Harke ignored her. "The real issue is the infestation. This place has been abandoned for years, and a lot of space-dwelling creatures have made it home. We barely managed to get the power system back online, but going deeper is still risky."
"What kind of creatures?" Amir asked. He'd read about dozens in Imperial databases, but never encountered one in person. Now he was curious.
"Mostly iron-eaters," Harke said. "They secrete a corrosive fluid that melts through minerals and alloys. Most abandoned stations have a few—but this one has a lot."
"They're nasty," Guli Gena added. "And you really don't want to get bitten by one."
"I just hope the gear we need hasn't already been chewed through," Harke muttered.
He had good reason to worry. Medical devices were far more chemically complex and less corrosion-resistant than the station's reinforced framework—basically a gourmet meal for iron-eaters.
"Let's go," Amir said, drawing his lightsaber from inside his robe.
"Right. I sealed the main entrance earlier to keep them from getting into the control room again."
The trio headed into the power control chamber. The station still had a decent energy reserve. Why it had been abandoned was unclear.
At a nearby door, Harke pressed a control panel.
The door hissed open. Guli Gena grabbed three glowsticks from a wall mount and handed one to Amir.
He flicked it on, casting a bright white light down the hallway.
"A lot of the wiring's been chewed through," Harke noted. "Most of the station is pitch-black."
"Let's stick together," Amir said firmly. He'd seen too many holovids to fall for the classic "let's split up" mistake. No way, not even if it slowed them down.
"Okay!" Guli Gena said nervously, edging closer to him.
She was clearly scared.
"Let's head for the main breaker first," Harke suggested.
"Got it," Amir replied, then released a spider drone to scout ahead.
"You ever hear of space ghosts?" Harke asked suddenly as they walked.
Guli Gena visibly shivered.
"Space ghosts?" Amir repeated. He had. Little Jay had told him all about them—the kid was already writing a book titled Uncanny Tales of the Coruscant Underlevels.
But they might not be just stories. Amir knew that Jedi spirits were real.
Obi-Wan's own master, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, had learned how to become a Force ghost. Even after death, he continued to exist in the Force—and taught that knowledge to Master Yoda.
Obi-Wan had mentioned it once in passing.
After the Clone Wars ended, Yoda passed the knowledge on to Obi-Wan.
Surrendering the body, becoming one with the Force—an eternal consciousness that could explore the mysteries of existence forever.
Eventually, Yoda, Obi-Wan, Luke, and Anakin would all become Force spirits. But that would be long, long after this.
Obi-Wan hadn't mastered it yet.
"What do you think, Amir? Are space ghosts real?" Harke asked, noticing Amir had gone quiet.
"Oh, probably," Amir replied casually. "The galaxy's big. Stranger things have happened."
"…"
Harke didn't say anything else—but he edged a little closer to Amir.
So you're scared too?! Then why even bring it up?!
Amir glanced at both of them, each peering nervously into the shadows.
Maybe the real challenge wasn't the iron-eaters—but the pitch-black corridors. Still, those creatures could definitely be dangerous… Amir reassured himself.
As they advanced, faint scuttling sounds echoed around them.
The spider drone finished its scan.
"The structure's still solid," Amir reported. "But I can't say the same for what's inside. There's no telling what equipment may have survived."
"Here—the main breaker. Probably turned off during the evacuation," Harke said, pointing to a location on the holomap.
"Ah!!" Guli Gena suddenly screamed.
Amir and Harke quickly swung their glowsticks in her direction.
A shadow darted across the floor.
"There it is!" Harke shouted, startled.
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