Chapter 1: Walking a Different Path, for Victory
Kanan's P.O.V
It was another night out here on Atollon. We just returned from a mission from Lothal; we took out that imperial factory that we were supposed to make a move on if it wasn't for Ezra seeing Maul that day. But, what do you know? We got it done. However, I would have been asleep right now with the others if it wasn't for this on my mind.
I sat in the cockpit of the Ghost that night, thinking to myself. This fight, are we even winning it? Are we even getting anywhere? Is this rebellion going to be successful? Are we fighting like weaklings when we should be fighting like those who want to stand up against our own governing body? The more I thought about it, the more it got to me. Despite everything we do, despite everything we fight for, despite the sacrifices we make to achieve our goals in this fight, we are still not getting anywhere. And though it wasn't necessarily my fault, that is where they were wrong, ALL of them. They know that when it comes to this fight, this war, victory cannot come without sacrifice. That was a major thing I learned during the Clone Wars.
As I kept on thinking about that saying, I knew that I had to do something for all of us; my friends, my padawan, the galaxy... And then, it all came to me. Sometimes to achieve victory, just to achieve that, you have to make impossible decisions. And I knew where to start, and that was with taking a walk on a different path in this battle.
I headed back to my room, grabbed my lightsaber, clipped it onto my belt, and then grabbed my holocron before leaving Ghost. As I walked away from it, I knew that everything was about to change just from this moment. I looked over my shoulder. "Forgive me." I said as I looked at the Ghost one last time, the last time that I'd be on this path. I looked away and boarded the Phantom, which was parked out on the tarmac of the base from when we came back from the Lothal mission. I boarded, getting into the cockpit, starting the ship up. I took a look at the Ghost one last time, knowing well that this was the last time that everyone would see me like this. As sorry as I was to do this, I felt like I had no other choice. There was no such thing as another choice.
I took off from Atollon, heading off for a world where I knew that I would find the power needed to gain victory. I opened up my holocron, looking for a world that has the power I need. I found it and looked at its file. The planet of Onderon. Onderon goes back to the time of the Sith Lord Freedon Nadd; his body lays in a tomb in the capital. "Good." I thought.
With that, I punched in the coordinates and jumped into hyperspace. I arrived hours later, descending towards the planet. The planet may have been occupied by the Empire, but that didn't mean that I wouldn't find what I needed. I arrived in the capital city of Iziz, the Phantom landing in a spaceport in the city. I exited, tossing an amount of credits that were enough to keep the ship here for a while to a worker. "Watch that thing." I reminded him.
"Yes, sir. Don't you worry." he said.
"Good."
With that, I took off into the city, asking a stranger directions to the tomb of Nadd. However, when I asked him, he didn't speak basic, and he didn't know where the tomb was either. I moved on and asked more people the same question. They didn't know anything. I tried a few more people, and then I got tapped on the back. I turned around and saw that the person who tapped me was a dark robed figure. I knew I found my guy who could give me directions by the looks of things.
"Tomb of Freedon Nadd, sir?" he asked.
"Yes, the Tomb of Freedon Nadd." I sternly answered.
"You came to the right guy. I can take you there, for a price."
"This is rather urgent. Take me there now."
"I'm sorry, but I can't until I have my credits."
"Ugh, fine! Here you go." I slapped some credits into his hand. "Keep the change. Now show me the way."
"Come with me."
I followed the dark robed figure through the city, both of us silent along the way. I spoke up after a while. "So, why did you offer to take me?" I asked.
"Because I overheard that you needed directions." the dark figure answered. "After all, I also have to go there, go there to worship the one who changed our great planet forever."
"So, you're a Naddist?"
"Exactly, a Naddist." When he said that, he put a hand on me. I swept it away forcefully.
"Don't touch me please." I said softly, my voice calm but my face showing him that I clearly meant it.
"I'm so sorry." We continued walking until we came up on the Royal Palace of Iziz. "This is it. The Tomb of Freedon Nadd is below there."
"Good. Now let's go." I sternly reminded him. He nodded and we approached the Palace, me force pushing any witnesses, being imperials. We entered, him leading me to the entrance to Nadd's tomb.
"This is it. However, may I remind you that you must go alone."
"Why? Didn't you say that you were a Naddist?"
"I did, sir, yes. But, let's just say that there were other plans. The Empire does have a high price on your head, Kanan Jarrus." I sensed him reaching for a blaster. Reacting quickly, I force pushed the blaster out of his hand and ignited my lightsaber, aiming it at his face.
He panicked as I walked closer with the blade pointed, him getting on the floor and crawling back. "You set me up." I said softly. "However, I will spare you, if you get me in there."
"I lied." This enraged me and I, for the first time, felt a feeling I never felt before. It was like a monster that was clawing its way into my soul. I felt the feeling of anger and hatred, and I was going to use them like I meant it. I lifted him up with the force and force choked him, the figure gasping for air. "Please! Let me go!"
"Tell me how to get to the Tomb of Nadd." I ordered as I gripped his throat tighter.
"Okay fine, fine, I'll show you the way."
"Thank you."
I let him go, and he collapsed to the floor, gasping for air. He got up and he led the way, heading downstairs. He led me through the halls of the palace until we stopped at a wall. He put his hands on the wall, moving them around for what I thought was no reason whatsoever until the wall shifted, and a secret stairway revealed itself. "Come." the figure gestured. I nodded and I headed in, the wall closing behind me. He grabbed a torch, gesturing for me to grab one.
"No. I have my own way." I answered, grabbing my saber and activating it. I pointed it up, using it as a makeshift torch as we made our way deeper into the tomb. It was dark in here, both physically and figuratively, with the presence of the dark side being strong in here. I was told by the Jedi Order at a young age that the dark side leads to you becoming a shadow of yourself, but if it meant winning this battle at any cost, it meant that the dark side was the only way. There was no other way. We kept on walking until I felt the presence become stronger, and there it was.
On top of a casket, where the long dead Nadd lay, was a bright red pyramid like object that only those who were willing to bend the rules used. While my padawan may have used this, I knew that he used it because he wanted to win, even if it meant winning at a cost. Now I was going to do the same thing with that very object that lay there: study it, and learn how to end this conflict once and for all, though this meant the end of the Kanan Jarrus that everyone knew me as.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when the figure called me. "You can approach that thing if you wish." he said.
"I got the hint." I replied, walking down to the casket, gulping at I was about to do. From this very moment, the light side means nothing. I grabbed the holocron, using the force to turn it on. The components broke apart as I felt the dark side touch me, and the touch was way stronger than last time. A hollow voice then spoke from it.
"Who activates my holocron?" it asked.
"I did." I answered.
"What are you called?"
"I am Kanan Jarrus, a Jedi Knight."
"Why do you come here, Kanan Jarrus, Jedi Knight?"
"I come here for knowledge. I wish to learn how to end this conflict."
"Conflict, huh? And knowledge? This holocron contains knowledge of powers that even you can't comprehend, Jedi Knight."
"I want you to teach me the power to defeat my enemies, to gain victory over those who stand in the way of me and my friends."
"Ha ha ha. I see you truly do wish to learn, don't you? But, I do not think you are worthy of my knowledge that my holocron contains."
"Not worthy? I wish to be taught. I really mean it. Teach me what you have to offer me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I am. I hunger for your knowledge."
"I am impressed by your ambitions, Kanan Jarrus, Jedi Knight. Shall we begin?"
"Yes."
The next morning on Atollon
Ezra's P.O.V
"Morning, guys." I said as I walked into the kitchen for breakfast.
"Morning, Ez." Hera replied, handing me a plate with space waffles.
"Thanks." I sat down and took a bite when the door slid open. Sabine entered.
"Have any of you seen Kanan?" she asked.
"No?" Alex answered, unsure. "I thought he was sleeping late, wasn't he?"
"Well, he's not in his room. I checked." the Mando replied. "I also tried contacting him but I didn't get anything. Plus, the Phantom's nowhere in sight."
"Then that means that Kanan must've taken it." Zeb chimed in.
"Where did he go though?" Hera asked. "He didn't say anything beforehand."
"I'll contact him using our force bond. He should respond." I replied. I closed my eyes and reached out to Kanan through the force, and then I opened my eyes and gasped, almost collapsing back in my chair. I don't know what just happened, but I felt the presence of the dark side on his end.
"Ezra, what's wrong?" Alex asked.
"It's Kanan." I replied. "I felt the dark side on his end." Everybody gasped in response.
"We gotta find him! Ezra, where is he?" Hera asked.
"I don't know. His force signature is so dark that I can't even get a good location on where he is. We gotta get going. Wait, wait! I think I found where he is."
"Where?"
"Um,um, in some place called Iziz."
"The Capital of Onderon." Sabine said. "What would he be doing there?"
"That we gotta find out. I'm taking us off in a minute. We're going to Onderon."
Hera ran to the cockpit of the Ghost and we took off for Onderon. We jumped into hyperspace, and we got there two hours later, coming out of hyperspace and descending to the surface. However, we saw a ship fly past us, then the Ghost jolted when we felt it dock. However, it was just the Phantom, and Hera turned back around for Atollon. When we got back to space and got into hyperspace, we headed to the back to greet Kanan. He stepped out.
"Thank god you're okay. We were worried about you." Hera said.
"Where were you anyway?" I asked.
Kanan didn't answer and walked ahead, shoving us out of the way. "What was that for? Kanan?" Sabine asked when he didn't answer, instead walking into his room.
"Leave me alone, before I make you leave me alone." the blind Jedi growled. This made us all widen our eyes. We've never seen him like this. I tried calling his name but he shut the door on us. I tried to connect with him using the force, but in the end, all I felt was the dark side force signature from earlier. It looked like that Kanan was dealing with it. What was going on with him?
Meanwhile
Kanan's P.O.V
Once I got in, I sat down on the bed and pulled out my holocron, activating it, giving in to lust for the power this thing holds.
"I feel the power in me. You have given me what I am craving more. Teach me more."
"Your wish is granted."