Past Redemption: Jaina's Quest

Chapter 4

Interlude

For Thomas Michaels, the Force was the only thing he knew.

From an early age, he realized that he was far better at "reading" marks than his colleagues…which meant he was able to con more credits than every else.

He had been left orphaned and homeless at an early age by one of the many local wars that broke out across the galaxy after the Empire, and the stability it offered, collapsed. He wandered through the broken streets, scavenging for food, until an elderly woman, also homeless, had seen his potential and taken him under her wing.

She had begun his training in the Force (though he never did find out how where she had learned about it), and he had continued his training long after she had passed.

Then he had heard about Skywalker's Jedi Academy, and thought he could find a place to fit in.

Unfortunately, Skywalker had turned him down.

"I'm sorry." Skywalker had told him. "Although I can see you have ability in the Force…my resources are very limited at present, and I just can't take everyone who applies."

"So be it." He had thought. "I've been rejected more often than not."

Then he heard about the Shadow Academy…and was welcome with open arms.

He never tried to stand out; he just kept to himself and practiced his studies.

When the Shadow Academy fell, he was able to make a decent living on his own…but he eventually realized that he wouldn't be able to be truly successful by himself. He decided to look for other survivors of the Academy, and found two fellow students who he had been friends with.

They decided to form a team.

They would travel from system to system, staying just ahead of any law enforcement officials who might be looking for them. When they started to feel the pressure from said officials, they would simply board the shuttle they had…acquired…and move to the next system.

On average, they would stay about 2 months in any given place.

They preferred low level crimes…trying not to kill or even serious harm anybody who stood in their way. They found this method made it easier to stay below the radar.

As they were preparing to leave the system they were currently operating in, they queried their navicomp for nearby "suitable" systems.

There were two systems that looked promising: Baranth and Targon. Each system had several planets but only one that was hospitable.

Baranth was a corporate planet, much like Coruscant. Their experience on such worlds had been less than successful, as they had larger security forces. Targon was a smaller system, hardly more than a stopover on established smuggler's routes. Because Baranth was closer (and they needed to restock anyway), they would stop there first (being sure to get the needed supplies before doing anything that might force them to make a hasty departure). Then, on to Targon.

Targon IV

For his part, Mathu Lison didn't sleep that night. He lay awake pondering everything his guest…make that Padawan…had told him about Anakin and the current state of the galaxy.

Although he hadn't been close to Anakin…he did consider Anakin to have been his friend and, try as he might, he just couldn't imagine the circumstances that would have led to the Chosen One turning to the Dark Side.

His thoughts wandered to those last days of the Jedi Order.

For the first time in anyone's memory (except for, quite possibly, Yoda), the Galaxy was at war.

He was about to board his fighter to travel to yet another system when he noticed Master Yoda walking towards him.

"Confer upon you the rank of "Master", the Council does." Yoda had told him without preface. "To the Council, appoint you."

"I…am honored, Master." He replied when he recovered from his shock.

"Not the honor it used to be, I am afraid." Yoda told him. "Dark times ahead, I see…May the Force be with you on your mission."

"And you too, Master." He said. "Thank you."

Had he known that that would be the last time he would see Master Yoda, or Coruscant itself…he would have asked some more questions. As it was, he climbed into his fighter and took off.

Two weeks later, he was flying over Trade Federation formations, taking out targets of opportunity, when his two Clone Trooper wingmen fell back and his R2 unit started screaming that they were taking "friendly" fire.

He took immediate evasive maneuvers and managed to get away from the battle when his ship shook violently and he decided to eject.

He used the Force to slow his fall, but he still hit the ground at over 100 kilometers per hour and slid over two hundred feet, coming to a stop along the edge of a woodline.

Luckily, Talorian's have very thick skin…even so, he was certain he had broken a few ribs.

When he came to a stop, he pulled his lightsaber and was about to ignite it, but his instinct stopped him. Although he was able to get far enough away from the fighting that he was in no danger of being caught up in it, he was close enough that the smoke from it was able to sufficiently hide him from his now ex-wingmates, and he ducked into the nearby woods and tried to will the pain radiating from his ribs to lessen enough to allow him to react to anything else that might come his way.

After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and studied the wreckage of his ship, hoping that he might be able to salvage something…at the very least, a radio.

The Clone Troopers, as if reading his mind, fired a volley that completely obliterated the wreckage, then they made a few circles overhead, looking for movement, and flew away.

"Great." He said as he viewed the now completely destroyed remains for a few more seconds, then stood and walked (limped) deeper into the woods.

Sometime later (he wasn't sure how long) he found an abandoned radio in the remains of a building. He excitedly tuned it to the Jedi frequency, intending to call for help…but instead, he heard the signal that no Jedi ever wanted to hear.

It meant "Emergency…do NOT try to contact the Temple. Go into hiding until a member of the Council sounds the all clear."

He didn't question it. He didn't hesitate. He turned off the radio and disappeared.

Eventually, he made his way to Targon V.

As he lay awake, reliving these events, he looked over at the corner that his new…Padawan…had taken up residence in.

Although she had filled in a few blanks in his knowledge, he hadn't lived all these years in complete isolation. He had heard about the Emperor's death and the rise of the New Republic. However, after all those years of hiding his identity, he hadn't seen a place for either himself or his skills in the new government.

He was content to live out his life as a hermit…occasionally doing good deeds for people (like when he had intervened on the Maris' behalf).

Or…more correctly…he had been content.

He smiled.

"Who knows?" He thought. "I just might be a hermit again in the very near future."

Although it was still night out, he sensed that dawn was approaching and, with it, his first day with a new Padawan. He was curious to see how well her training had been thus far.

His new Padawan.

He had trouble accepting the fact that Anakin had children…let alone grandchildren. And he definitely had trouble accepting the fact that Anakin's son was training other Jedi. He would be asking Jaina a lot of questions about how her training was being conducted. She was of an age where the Dark Side was very tempting…and the Council went to great lengths to ensure that Padawans were paired with the proper Knights or Masters for one-on-one training…to guide them through this dangerous time.

He would have to play this by ear. Had she grown up in the Temple, he would have been confident in the quality of her training before now. Now…he would spend some time gauging her knowledge and testing her skills.

He sighed, threw off his covers, and put on his "inner" garments (the outer robe, which looked like a cape, would get in the way of what he had planned).

Her first lesson by Master Lison had been a chastisement about eagerness, but it didn't stop her from lying awake all night, reliving the events of the last few weeks.

Three weeks ago, she had been training with Jacen, Tenel Ka, Lowbacca and the others, when Uncle Luke had summoned her for the meeting with Liam. From the start, she had doubted that the mission would be a success. Now, she was about to begin training under the tutelage of a Jedi Master from the Old Order.

Who'd have thought?

She heard him get up and begin putting on his clothes.

"He wasn't kidding when he said "First thing in the morning."." She thought, then sighed, got up, put on her own clothes, and headed to the refresher.

A few minutes later, she came out to find the cabin empty and the door open. She walked outside and looked around, finally seeing him down by the lake.

As she approached, she saw that he was sitting cross-legged, apparently meditating. Without a word, she sat down next to him and assumed the same position.

"The Force gets its strength from the energy of the living…both plants and animals." He told her. "Right now, the majority of life around us is enjoying its last few minutes of slumber before the sun wakes it up to start a new day. Don't think…just feel."

At first, she wasn't sure where this was going, so she just did what he said. When the first light of the sun began to brighten the sky, she started feeling a tingling sensation all over.

By the time the sun itself was visible, the energies that the freshly awakened life around her was giving off felt like an electric current, which lasted for a few minutes after the sun was fully visible.

"Whoa." She thought…she couldn't remember ever feeling the Force that strongly before.

"It is a new sensation," Master Lison began…surprising her because she was so caught up in it that she had actually forgotten he was there. "and it can be overwhelming. In time, you will learn to feed off it…and to feed it…until you actually become a single mind with all life around you…at least for a few minutes. Over time, you will find that you can tap into the "Force Consciousness"…as my Master called it…at will."

He stood up, and Jaina followed his lead.

"Now…lest you think that training to be a Jedi is all about a mental connection to the Force…" He took off running, heading for the trail that Jaina had walked down the day before.

For a second, she watched him go; then, she took a deep breath and ran after him.

Three hours later, they returned to the cabin, having run faster than Jaina would have believed humanly possible…that is, if she hadn't witnessed it with her own two lungs.

Breakfast was powdered eggs and citrus juice.

"I think that is enough for one day." Master Lison told her while they were eating. "And we will keep to this schedule for the near future…at least until you get used to it."

She simply nodded.

"As I said," he continued, "the sensation you felt at sunrise can be overwhelming at first. I want you to spend the day meditating on it."

She nodded again…after the run, she was too sore to do much more.

"Also…" he continued, "over time, a meditation area…melds…with the aura of the individual meditating. It is important to have an area to meditate alone…an area where no one else meditates in…to facilitate your awareness of the Force. I want you to find such a place for yourself." He smiled. "We will do the sunrise meditation together by the lake…at least, for the time being…but I want you to do all of your other meditations in your own private place."

It took a few hours, but she finally found a small clearing (about 10 feet in diameter) about a quarter of a kilometer away from the cabin.

She sat down, crossed her (still sore) legs, and closed her eyes.

Almost immediately, the black clouds approached…but didn't attack. Instead, they circled her for a few minutes, and then vanished. They didn't leave…didn't dissolve…they just…blinked out of existence.

She thought it might have been because of her connection, however brief, with the Force Consciousness that Master Lison had described, although she couldn't be certain.

She made up her mind to discuss the issue with Master Lison later that day.

She smiled…it is just one of many questions she had for him.

One of the items she had made it a point to grab from her shuttle the previous night had been the current edition of the written journal she had been keeping since she had learned to write.

She laughed…Jacen had made fun of her whenever he happened to find her writing in it. "Nobody uses a pen and paper to write with anymore." He would tease.

Well…she did. And she realized that it would come in very handy to take some time before going to bed and write that day's teachings…just in case Master Lison didn't return to the Academy with her.

She also realized that she would have to divide it into two parts: one to write down the teachings, and another to write down her questions…and, hopefully, his answers.

She was glad she had brought several empty books with her when she departed Yavin.

After dinner (some freeze-dried meat he had in his cooler), they were sitting in the living room, drinking an herbal tea.

"Master?" Jaina began. "After the morning…connection with the Force Consciousness, I noticed a certain…energy rush. How long does this rush last?"

"It depends on several factors." He answered. "First and foremost being how strong in the Force one is. I'm sure you noticed residual effects throughout the day."

She nodded.

"It provides a boost that can last for hours." He continued. "Or…in certain cases, it can give you an immediate burst of power…such as before you enter into battle."

"Provided that it happens at sunrise?" Jaina asked, smiling.

"With enough training…one can tap the Consciousness at will." He corrected. "Granted, you probably wouldn't have the amount of time that we did this morning before going into battle. But, with practice, you can quickly tap into it…and get at least a small burst."

"But what if…" She began.

"I don't want you to dwell on this one thing." He interrupted. "Being a Jedi is a life…not an event. There are many aspects to it…the Force Consciousness is a useful tool, yes, but it is not meant to exclude anything else." He smiled. "Besides…a Jedi, by definition, always has always has a connection to the Force."

She nodded, then looked at her glass of tea…deciding to raise the subject of the black clouds.

"Master," She timidly began, "for awhile now, my meditations have been plagued by…disturbing visions."

"What of?" He asked.

"It starts out," she told him, "with a mist surrounding me. Then, three black clouds attack me. Sometimes I can successfully fight them off…sometimes not."

"Do these visions happen every time you meditate?" He asked.

"Not every time." She answered, shaking her head. "But more often than not, of late."

"And what happens when you don't fight them off?"

"Whether or not I'm successful…I wake up." She told him. "Today was a first. They didn't attack, they simply vanished."

He sat back and appeared to be in deep thought.

"Force Visions can be a tricky thing." He finally said. "Yoda used to have a saying…"Always in motion, is the future."…and if you've ever experienced visions…you know exactly what he meant."

She nodded.

"My advice with visions," he continued, "has always been to keep them in mind…but to have patience and see where they lead you. True visions will always reveal their meaning…even if that meaning is something you were able to avoid because of them."

Thinking of Uncle Luke's visions of her parents while he was training on Dagobah, she nodded in complete understanding.

"It is getting late." He told her as he stood to go into the kitchen and wash his glass out. "And…unless you got more sleep than I did last night, I'm sure you are exhausted."

She smiled…not realizing just how tired she was until he mentioned it.

"Get some sleep…we will continue first thing in the morning."

"Of course." She smiled…now fully aware that he meant it literally. She finished off her tea, washed the glass, and changed into her bed clothes (basically, a pair of sweat pants and t-shirt).

The last thing she did before lying down was to pull out her journal and chronicle the day's events. That completed, she lay down and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

No dreams…no visions…just the deep sleep of exhaustion.

It had been a long day.

To Be Continued

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