Origins of the Force
By: Phillyflyer
Disclaimer: The Star Wars universe in all its glory is the property of one Mr. G. Lucas. That being said; what you are about to read contains many new ideas that have been entered into the afore mentioned universe by me. It contains original characters and story line. Well, accept for Ajunta Pall... Enjoy!
"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there lived a people in constant struggle for power. Without law or any form of government, it was civil war without end. Until one day a man rose to the forefront and offered a solution…
This man promised peace, he promised order and to unite all the systems of the galaxy as one. They thought they'd found their savior, but what they got was a tyrant. This dark tyrant wrought famine, fear, disease, and death upon his people. The more they suffered the more his power grew…
The people prayed for salvation from their gods, but none came. Billions died, and those who survived lingered only to pass on a living hell to their children. The tyrant was unstoppable and none dared oppose him. Then, one day, when all faith had left the people and it seemed as if there was no hope…
He appeared. Cloaked in light and wielding a mysterious power, the hero came and destroyed the tyrant; freeing the galaxy from darkness. The hero's name was Lucias and he had been sent to save the righteous from the brutality of man. The tyrant, who had been given the name Anemos, fought Lucias. But the wicked hand of man was no match for the light. The righteous one banished the beast into the void, vowing that as long as he and his children should live, the beast shall be oppressed."
Excerpt from the Book of Lucias
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…
STAR WARS
Origins of the force
The ability to bend reality as one sees fit, a mystical energy force that surrounds and binds all life together. The force is a power wielded by an ancient species known as the Luminos. These ancestors of Lucias have preserved justice in their galaxy for thousands of millennia, but now twilight is upon them and soon night must fall.
The planet Terresta is the last world in a galaxy about to be completely swallowed by the black hole at its center. Time and space distorts as doom lurks around the corner for the Luminos home world. A once mighty federation of hundreds of planets is now down to one, and its people struggle to make peace with their fate.
One of the elders of the Luminos council, Isaac, lives on Terresta with his four children. Fed up with the inaction of the Elder Council, Isaac now seeks to take matters into his own hands and save the legacy of the Luminos, before it is too late…
Chapter One: Har Megiddon
The full moon shines brightly as the only light in a pitch black sky, the stars have all gone and the sickly glow of the moon is all that reassures us we are still alive. I've been told it wasn't always like this; there was a time when the sky lit up at night like a sea of diamonds. There was no darkness, no black holes to swallow us up as we slept, no fear, no pain.
The Luminos do not age past adulthood, and so we are told we can never die. I wish I could believe that. My father is one of the elders, the original five sons of Lucias who have lived here on Terresta for over a thousand millennia. Wise beyond comprehension, no one dares to question them; and perhaps we don't need to. All would seem calm and peaceful, and every bump in the road can easily be smoothed with the simple reassurance that it is all for the greater glory of Lucias. My father, however, sees things differently.
Isaac, the youngest of the five elders, I can only describe him as an incredibly sad individual. I'm only fifteen years old and even I can see that. Terentius says that we mustn't burden father with undue questions, that he is a very important man who has enough distractions in his life. But still… I can't help but worry.
It was brisk night in late autumn that I found him sitting atop that hill, the hill that over looked Megiddo, the golden capital city of Terresta, its large marble structure with their polished golden roofs glistened in the light of the moon. Towering pillars stood before the entrance of the elder temple that was positioned triumphantly in the center of the city. Just beyond the pillars one could see the torches inside illuminating the massive golden colossus of Lucias that graced the temple's main hall. From atop the hill, the architecture that made up the city brilliantly wove together in a display of geometric perfection.
Isaac sat under an olive tree, garbed in the white robes of the elders. He had bright blond hair and blue eyes that gazed sorrowfully upon the city before him. I had spent all evening searching for him before finally finding him under that tree. It was clear that something was bothering him, he hardly even noticed me as I approached him from below; his hand lightly stroking his chin. I wanted to ask him what was wrong, what was he thinking at that exact moment? But I could not articulate such questions properly, so I went with the obvious question first.
"Father, what are you doing here? Supper's ready, you're going to be late. Father?" He didn't respond. He just continued to stare. Finally he looked up at the moon.
"Tell me Atredious, what do you feel when you look at the full moon?"
I didn't know how to respond. What kind of a question was that? What did that have to do with dinner? My mind was racing trying to come up with the response he wanted to hear.
"Uhh, well… I don't know? What should I feel?"
"Ha ha ha… How should you feel…" He smiled as his eyes scanned the sky, straining to locate any stray point of light. "Why does that surprise me? I didn't ask what should you feel, I asked what do you feel?"
"I don't understand."
"Hmph… of course not… Atredious, do you know what today is?"
This I knew. "Of course! Today is my birthday!"
"Heh, well yes it is that, but what I had meant was, do you know the historical significance of this day?"
"Can't say that I do."
"Today marks the millionth year that the Luminos have watched over this galaxy."
"Wow… and all on my birthday!"
"Yes, you always were special Atredious… I know you would've gone on to accomplish great things…"
Would've? What could he have meant by that? At the time I could not begin to comprehend the destiny that would befall me, I was only a child, how could I? I watched as my father sank back down into a depressed funk.
"What's wrong Father?"
"Nothing… nothing's wrong." He stood up and dusted off his robe, then placed his hand on my shoulder. "We should hurry home, your brothers and sister are probably wondering where we are."
I stared up at him, still with concern on my face. He shot me back an odd sort of smirk.
"Come on, I'll race ya."
I smiled back at him.
"I got you beat this time old man!"
I ran down the hill with my father close at my heels. That was the last time I would ever laugh with him. I never was as truly happy as I was that day ever again…
The next day, the sun rose over Megiddo; its light somewhat stolen away. Still the crystal waters that flowed in the fountain in front of the elder temple reflected a thousand sparkles of light. Isaac rushed past and up the steps into the temple; he hurried by the colossus and into the court room where five pedestals stood at the end of a long corridor.
The door creaked as Isaac entered, his every footstep rang off the walls making it impossible for the other elders to not notice his tardiness. Isaac took his place atop the last pedestal on the right and fumbled with his papers. The elder immediately to his left, Ludovicus, glared at him with the kind of distain one normally reserves for only the most foul of creatures. Ludovicus was a tall and loathsome man; his features were as rough and ridged as his personality. Finally he snapped at Isaac, unable to hold back any longer.
"Isaac! You're late!"
Isaac glanced up from his papers and noticed the dissatisfied look on all his brother's faces.
"Oh, I am sorry for the delay. It was my son's birthday yesterday and I had promised to spend the entire day with the children. I guess I overslept."
Ludovicus leaned toward Isaac, almost taking satisfaction in his brother's blunder.
"That is no excuse! Either you will be here on time, or you will not come at all. Is that clear Isaac?"
"Of course."
The elder in the center, Marcus, cleared his throat. Marcus was a well built man with long brown hair that dangled in front of his fiery red eyes. His voice boomed through the halls of the temple, and he always spoke in a very stern authoritarian manner.
"Enough! Let's get on to business. Isaac, you have the floor."
Isaac nodded and gathered up his papers then stepped down from his pedestal and before his brothers.
"Thank you master, umm… on behalf of the people of Terresta, it has come to my attention that our evacuation policy is somewhat lacking…"
"Get to the point!" Ludovicus called out.
"Um, yes, well the point is I would like to request of the council….funding for the possibility of a mass evacuation of Terresta."
The elders looked at each other, then back at Isaac. Felix finally stood up, he had short spiky black hair and blue eyes. He spoke very softly.
"Mass evacuation? Whatever for?"
Isaac stared at them blankly, they knew what he was referring to.
"Well, the black hole of course. You all have seen what has happened to the other systems, if we hope to avoid such a fate we must have a plan."
Ludovicus shook his head.
"I find your lack of faith disturbing Master Isaac. You know as well as any of us that the book of Lucias clearly states that the day that Terresta is to meet its end, is the day that Lucias shall return and save the Luminos from destruction."
"I know the passage, Master, but we must be prepared for all possibilities; including that Lucias may not come."
Sylvanus quickly stood up. He, like his brother Felix, was very soft spoken.
"You forget yourself, Master Isaac!"
Ludovicus grinned at Isaac, almost toying with him.
"To suggest that the book of Lucias is anything less then the absolute word of Lucias himself is treason. I will not have you endangering the morals of our society with your…"
"If we do not act now, tomorrow we may not have a society! My Master!" Isaac was irate, he was tired of these games. But he knew he had no power to stop it.
"Order!" Marcus yelled, slamming his gavel. "You know the laws of our society, Isaac. These crazy ideas of yours are not to leave this Temple; I will not have mass panic on your account."
"For a million years have I dedicated my life to the Luminos. I only want what is best for our people, and the people demand to know why nothing has been done to solve this problem!"
"What is best for our people, Master Isaac, is at the discretion of this council, not the people."
Isaac lowered his papers, visibly trying to contain his anger.
"So you will do nothing, and leave your fate in the hands of that black hole!?"
"I put my fate into the hands of Lucias, Master Isaac," Marcus said, "as should you."
"… As you wish, Master."
Isaac lowered his head and left the court room, a very bitter look about his face. The other elders exchanged glances before finally speaking.
"He knows too much." Sylvanus said, looking at Felix.
"Can we trust him?"
Ludovicus leaned back in his seat, staring at the door as it slowly shut.
"We shall see soon enough…"
That day I had spent most of the morning in my room doing my meditations. Even though all Luminos already could naturally use the force, we constantly trained to hone our skills. There hadn't been war for hundreds of years on Terresta, but Father would push us as if we'd just been drafted into the army. He always warned us that war was inevitable; I guess I just never believed him.
The front door slammed hard, jolting me out of my meditations. I could hear Father grumbling about something, and I knew something was wrong. I slowly crept down the hallway and hid behind the kitchen table as I listened to Father talking to my oldest brother Terentius. Terentius was a tall and handsome young man; his brown hair came down just past his ears, hiding his pale blue eyes. Terentius was also a great warrior. He was always Father's poster boy, constantly lecturing the three of us as if he were an elder himself.
Out in the backyard, Constans and Eva were practicing their saber techniques. Eva was the second eldest, and not a bad duelist herself. She had green eyes. It was quite an amazing thing… our mother had green eyes, other then that I've never seen another person with green eyes before. Eva's long auburn hair danced freely with the wind as she spun around, parrying Constans' blows. Constans was of medium build with short dark hair, and even though he was very young, he was also very wise. He'd spend hours locked away in his room pouring over ancient Luminos tomes.
And then there's me, Atredious, the youngest of four children. I myself had messy dark brown hair that always found new and interesting positions from day to day. My eyes were just as dark; Terentius always said that a warrior should present himself respectfully. In the old days, back when Terresta actually had an army (and when there were actually other systems to go to war with) the warriors then were known as Jedi Knights. No one knows exactly why, but the Jedi Knights were the epitome of elegance and were highly revered. I think that's what Terentius wanted for us, to be like the Jedi.
Terentius walked over to Father as he leaned over with his head in one hand and clutching one of the chairs in the living room with the other.
"Father? You're home so soon?"
"Fools!" Isaac suddenly cried out, "Nothing but old stubborn fools!"
Father stood up straight and began pacing frantically about the room. I ducked lower behind the table so not to be seen. Terentius continued to follow his every step.
"Trouble at the council today Father?"
Father suddenly stopped and turned to face Terentius.
"Trouble? Trouble isn't the half of it. They still do not heed my warnings!"
A sort of blasé look came over Terentius.
"Oh come on now, you should have faith father. We have existed for nearly a million years and just to be destroyed within the blink of an eye…I do not believe that shall be our fate."
"Terentius…" Isaac turned away from his son, he was almost too ashamed to look him in the eye. "I am as ardent a religious man as anyone, but search your feelings. Surely you can sense the doom at hand." Isaac turned back to Terentius, anticipating his response.
"I do feel something," Terentius began to stare off into space, "I feel… empty. As if there is nothing in the force beyond these walls, and that there never was."
"Listen to me son, we have to get out of here. There is very little time left, much less then the council has revealed."
Terentius looked up at Isaac, somewhat perturbed.
"How long?"
"A day… two at most."
"Are you certain? The elders said it would take years for the…"
"The elders wish not to create panic! And they do not want to accept what they know to be true. I would also choose not to believe it, if not for the warning in my heart…The Luminos shall fall unless we act."
The room went dead silent. I could hear my heart thumping in my chest; I struggled to quiet my breathing. Finally Terentius spoke.
"You're not well Father, I think maybe you should lie down, get a handle on things."
Terentius took Father's arm, but he quickly jerked it away.
"I don't need to lie down, damn it! I need to take action… my own son doesn't believe me…"
Isaac stormed out of the house and slammed the door behind him. Slowly I rose from my position behind the table and approached Terentius.
"Is it true what Father said? Are we going to die?" I asked.
Terentius didn't look at me, he just closed his eyes and smiled.
"Do not despair little brother; have faith in Lucias."
"Should we not also have faith in Father?"
"He is not himself," Terentius finally looked up. I could see in his eyes that there was a lot on his mind. "Once a few days have past, he'll come to his senses… and don't you have training today?"
"What's the point of combat training?" I groaned, "There hasn't been a fight on Terresta in over a hundred years!"
Terentius smiled at me; that smug "What I say, goes" kinda smile that just burned me up inside.
"A Jedi Knight is a keeper of the peace, and as keepers of the peace we must always be ready. Now go fetch your brother and sister and meet me at the sanctum."
"Yes sir…" I sighed. I turned away from Terentius and exited the house out the back door. Sure enough, there in the garden I found Constans and Eva finishing up their dueling practice. Constans flashing his purple saber in a Shii Cho defensive saber form, while Eva put forth the offense with her green blade. Father had given all of us lightsabers; no one accept the elders ever carried such weapons anymore. He always seemed to be preparing us for a war. Terentius' lightsaber was blue and mine was red. I always liked the red color; something about it filled me with an emotion I could never adequately describe.
I watched Constans and Eva finish their fight as finally Eva stuck out her hand and shoved Constans back using the force. She stood over him and pointed her lightsaber down at his neck.
"Hey, no fair! You can't use force powers during a saber duel!" Constans complained.
"All's fair in love and war, brother."
After the battle I ran over to them.
"Constans, Eva!"
"Atredious? Is it time for training with Terentius already?" Eva asked. I shook my head.
"We're not going to train with him today."
Constans finally picked himself up off the ground and brushed himself off.
"What are you talking about? We train with him everyday."
"It's Father, we have to help him."
Constans and Eva exchanged glances then looked back at me.
"What's the matter? Is he sick?" Eva asked.
"No, just come with me!"
I grabbed the lightsaber off of my belt and ran off down the hill towards Megiddo. Constans and Eva hesitantly followed in step.