They were still at what appeared to be the Lothal Jedi Temple. From what Aura Tavar had spoken of earlier, this portal only changed when we were, not so much where. Aside from the survivors the temple seemed to be abandoned. Unfortunately they assumed that before they were ambushed. Creon's instincts compelled him to scan the room for anything that could have noticed their arrival. His vision took in the area as a whole and checked for any motion against the wind. His senses in the Force detected nothing, but was clouded by the harnessed energy within the dwelling of this temple.

"Stay on guard," Aura called out. "That could have been an indigenous group that could attack again on sight."

"We're quite literally between a rock and a hard place too," Revak Kur quipped at the portal which was now potruding a portion of a massive stone ecompassing the entire area of the portal. It was a big enough rock under a burial mound that no amount of combined effort would lift. Instead they faced the unknowns of an younger galaxy. The Jedi Consul took the first steps towards the entrance. Master Blade and Creon followed.

After searching the entire temple they concluded it was abandoned. They did not find their vessels for which they arrived on Lothal in this new parallel reality, but figured it would still be a long journey on foot to the planet's capital. It was the only city on the planet however, that had a intergalactic transport shuttle. It was a long journey, but their combined efforts into survival led them to discover that they were in the same year as their previous timeline. They returned to find a very different galaxy, one where a 'Galactic Alliance' and 'New Jedi Order' had pushed back a warmongering invasive species from another galaxy. In the Outer Regions they visited the home of Odan-Urr of what they called "New Tython". They found it under siege by Darth Ashen.

The Sith Lord raised his claw towards the skies and raked down lightning upon squadrons of enemy starfighters. The troops on either side fired only on themselves, intentionally ignoring the Force Users out of fear. Had it not been for the efforts of Revak Kur, Master Blade, and Creon the results of the battle would have been the same. The three musketeers brought with them volunteers from the New Jedi Order, which reinforced Clan Odan-Urr and turned the tides against Darth Ashen.

After the war had ended, the Jedi of Odan-Urr and the New Jedi Order became as one. It exposed most of the Brotherhood's influence and cleared up their maps on the outer rim. This "Galactic Jedi Order" shared its wealth and power with the "Galactic Alliance" and was recognized as an equal galactic super power. The Sith Brotherhood and the Imperial Empire were also seen as super powers politically, but not economically. After the war had ended inflation occurred in the Galactic Jedi Order and Galactic Alliance's favor. The Sith Brotherhood was forgotten to time. Propoganda from the Jedi Order and Alliance encouraged the embargo of the "super power" known as the Sith Brotherhood. It seduced the Empire to do the same in favor of sharing wealth. It lasted another 500 years over its own set of planets, but eventually faded when a unified "Galactic Governance" was created out of the three super powers becoming one.

Creon woke from his blanket nest on the ground of his bedroom. He had no bed, having adapted to sleeping on the floor from his time spent in the field for the First Order.

“Dirk,” he called to his pet, “Food?” he asked with a positive tone in his voice. The canine understood a few keywords, especially the word “food” or “treat”, and would recognize the upward tone inflection in his voice as an offer.

Creon made a tsk sound, trying to get the young pup’s attention from the luls of a long sleep. He looked over to see the young Cythraul curled in a ball next to him. It’s stillness looked peaceful to Creon. It always rested next to him in contact, and during his sleep Creon could feel the warmth of the creature’s body heat. They connected in a sense, as body heat is the catalyst of one’s internal energy, and can transfer upon contact like two rivers joining into a lake.

Dirk’s body, however, felt cold and stiff against Creon’s abdomen. Instead of fixing breakfast, Creon’s morning would be spent digging a grave.

***

It was no funeral like the ones held for officers of high rank, or members of the aristocracy with large families. Creon was the only one who stood at the snow mound with a wooden symbol over the grave. After the depression of the existential doom that comes for all mortals, his mind flipped through the series of memories to see where he had gone wrong. It wasn’t the food, or lack of exercise. It wasn’t the conditions of the environment, or the creature’s emotions. Dirk’s life just ceased without warning.

***

“Class dismissed,” Gui Sol announced to the robed students in his lecture hall. A variety of young learners and old rose from their seats, collected their belongings and departed. Creon, however, approached the techweaver with a heavy heart.

“Master, may I ask you a question?”

“Certainly. Creon is it? The soldier. I sensed the weight on your shoulders when we first met. What is you question?”

“Why is there death?”

Gui Sol paused for a moment with a raised eyebrow, “You’re asking the wrong person. I’m afraid i’m no scholar in the areas of philosophy or nature, but of technology. Did something happen?”

“No,” Creon lied, “I was just asking to see what answers are there. If death is of nature, could technology defy it?”

Gui Sol leaned back in his chair in a disapproving posture and an expression of disappointment, “It’s best to accept mortality, Creon. Chasing to become immortal is folly, one that has caused the early deaths of those who tried in history.”

“Yes, master.” Creon bowed and turned to depart.

“Creon, wait,” Gui called out as the soldier was halfway out of the room.

“Yes sir?”

“Speak with Jedi Master A’lora, she’s well attuned to the spiritual nature of the Force and may be able to help your mind come to terms with your struggle.”

“Thank you master.”

***
“I am glad you came to me with this issue,” the Togruta said with a gentle voice raising herself from her lotus pose. “It is written that the Force carries our spirits into a realm that aligns with our connection to it. Death is not absolute, there is no eternal oblivion but rather a unity with the universe and all living things.”

Creon sighed at her answer, and A’lora looked at his sorrow with a tender gaze of sympathy. “You’ve lost something dear to you, haven’t you.”

“You say the Force carries our spirits, but this is only grounded in faith.”

“And science,” she added, “Our sensitivity comes from our midichlorian count.”

Creon shook his head in dismissal, “Only that they produce energy, which is hardly any different than the mitochondria. How are we suppose to know that organelles can prolonge a soul. If so, what’s the purpose for material life? What’s the point of living if in death you are still alive?”

“I would meditate on this, and trust in the Force. There is a way for one to preserve their sense of self as an apparition in the Force. A way to return to the nether.”

Creon respectfully nodded, but there was doubt in his eyes. There was no evidence, so certainty. Nature designed life to die, and there was no coming back. For those who never got a chance to experience the life they were blessed with, like Dirk, existence was but a blink of an eye. He was glad however, that even though the pup’s life was shortly lived, it was one filled with a unique love that only man’s best friend could fill.

“We are going to die, and we are fortunate for that,” A’liya said, breaking the silence. “Most lifeforms will never get the potential to be born. Think about it, the potential people who could have been in our place, but who will never in fact see the light of day vastly outnumber every living thing in the galaxy. Your father could have mated with a different mother, and you would not be here. It’s that simple. We are privileged for this, so do not wine on the inevitable return to the prior state we had before our birth. For the vast majority have never stirred from non-existent possibility.”

“Thank you Master.”

“It’s the simple things in life. A roof over our head with a warm bed, and a stocked refrigerator. Not everyone has that. Sure, we may live in a chaotic galaxy. It’s filled with selfishness, temptations, and suffering. Allowing yourself to be influenced by the negativity of others, or filling yourself with depression over existential evils is a self-affliction. But these are things outside of your control as an individual, and trying to claim the power to change it all is only going to corrupt you. Just look at the Empire or First Order for example. I don’t think “order” will fix the problems we face, rather love.”

“Heh, it seems a tad cliché when you put it that way.”

“I suppose it is. But you can’t root out the things that make people unhappy from the top down, it has to come from the bottom um. It begins with yourself by finding your own inner peace and happiness in moderation. Then it should be your desire to spread your happiness like a fire to those close to you, be it your family or community. This will in turn amplify your own joy, and the family or community you influenced will repeat the process with those around them.”

“Easier said than done.”

“Sure its ideal, but I don’t think it’s impossible. I envision a galaxy where people are polite and kind to one another.”

“There will always be those who only look out for themselves.”

“This is true, but if you think about enough, the person who only serves themselves will come to a bad ending. We all know this. Hell, the Jedi have been preaching it for centuries. A kind and caring society can easily recognize that manner of behavior. The selfish person is naturally shunned until they learn to turn themselves around. I honestly think selfishness isn’t a moral instinct, but rather a habit of immaturity. As we grow wiser, we realize that it doesn’t benefit us as much in the means of seeking happiness as altruism.”

“I don’t know… I’ve seen old men still stuck in their own ways, Creon.”
“Age and wisdom are not the same. It is only expected of our elders to be wise because they have had more time to learn. When I say maturity, I mean in a mental and emotional manner. It even effects our spirits. Those who dwell on the virtuous nature of the Force see a longer lifespan, a venerated presence, and powers to perform great miracles. Those who plunge themselves into darkness will only find just that, as well as hunger. They grow pale and sickly, with eyes that have no emotion inside.”

“So just so we are clear, it’s the small joys in life and the connections we make that are key to happiness?”

“That’s how I see it, yes. I’m sure every other person in this universe has their own subjective view on the things that make them happy. But I think what I describe goes beyond the typical “pleasure seeking” that our brains are hardwired to seek, and more of a philosophy that can lead to a wealth of true enlightened merriment, even in the face of adversity.

“Hmm… Well I can see your point, and I’ll take time to reflect on what you said. I appreciate your time in coming to talk with me Creon.”

“The pleasure is all mine Master Sol, I wish you a happy Life Day, and May the Force be with you.”