Chapter 7- a good day to...live
Yoda could feel the anxiety levels of the jedi watching the fight rising and knew they wanted him to intervene. He would not let an injury or death happen to either Hunt or Brandt but had a very good reason for holding back. When he'd shared Brandt's mind he'd seen amongst the chaos a small ball of very strong light, hard as steel. Even with all the force power he possessed he could not penetrate this ball. He knew it was what kept Brandt alive and sane throughout what he had endured. It was what he believed would save him now, because if Brandt could not pull himself back from the brink then Yoda could not carry out the plan that he was sure would reveal everything. So he waited..
Sometimes you believe you have decided your fate, surrended to the inevitable. Brandt had chosen to die on that day, needed the pain to end and to be released. So why he act completely differently to he'd expected. All he could hear was the humming of the lightsaber as the Sith bore down upon him, he would not look at his destiny approaching ,no longer cared. "Good bye Jedi', the siths voice dripped pure malice uncaring that he was not fighting. "Goodbye", Brandt said it in his mind firmly and expected no answer as he could not touch the force, yet a voice quite clearly told him, "it's not over yet". As the lightsaber swept down he found himself rolling over rapidly,avoiding the downward strike. An enraged growl grunted from the siths mouth and the hum of the lightsaber descended again. This time when he rolled he felt the saber hit, but not at flesh and bone, instead his arms and legs were suddenly free and his connection to the force was restored as the saber hit his binders. All this had happened with his eyes firmly shut and William Brandt suddenly found himself not dying but vowing to live.
Brandt had moved out of the range of his lightsaber so fast that Ethan had not seen it happen. He flew past rapidly then slowed disengaging his own saber. "Brandt', he called out loudly, "can you hear me".
There was no reply and the eyes were still glassy and he reached out to touch Brandt's mind he found a large shiny wall, endless and stronger than anything he'd come across standing in his path. Brandt's lightsaber was still inert so Ethan approached him raising his hand in preparation for slapping him firmly across the face. As he went to strike Brandt firmly caught his wrist and pulled it away while hitting out with his other hand. Ethan ducked and pulled out of Brandt's grip but he did not stop just turning to come at him again. Now their fight was hand to hand and it was just as unpredictable as before.
He was used to going up against the sith apprentice without a lightsaber and that was what was saving him from being killed as the now infuriated apprentice struck out at him. Brandt threw everything and anything he could find at the man, hurling bones, old pieces of clothing and pebbles from the cell floor. Still the apprentice came on and Brandt knew that this time nobody was around to stop this battle. Clearing his mind completely he let the force guide his movements. When the sith lifted his blade to strike again Brandt leapt straight up at the last minute. He had timed it so exactly that the sith apprentices lightsaber imbedded itself in the stone walls of the cell and stayed there. Such was the force of the blow that the saber was imbedded right up to part of the hilt. The sith strained to pull it out using both the force and all his physical strength, but the rock held it fast. So began another battle as he hit out with his fists. He was fuelled by pure anger at it made his dark powers even stronger. Jumping over the sith's head Brand found himself facing the wall with the embedded saber beside him. The apprentice had lightning building in his hands, a sure sign his dark powers were now beyond mere apprentice level. He was now facing a master.
In desperation Brandt grabbed for the lightsabers hilt, and saw the sith grin, "no way Jedi, ", he spat as he rasied his hands and prepared to launch the lightning attack
Waiting for the lightning to hit, Brandt stared defiantly into the sith's eyes. Thus he saw them go all pale and lightless, his mouth sagged open as though he was surprised by something. It was only then Brandt realized he had pulled the lightsaber from the rock , ignited it and in one swift movement imbedded it into the apprentices stomach. He stood over him now feeling no sense of victory or anger,it meant quite clearly that the sith had never won and broken him. It only took him a moment to decide what to do, if he stayed the master would take it as an acceptance of his role as his new apprentice. Staying to lop off the masters head was debated but he knew that at the moment he did not have the strength to defeat the man. It was time to go, yet his feet would not move, it was like he was stuck. He could feel something pulling at him roughly. In his mind he could see himself back in his cell chained and awaiting the apprentices arrival again. "You can do it go back now ", that voice told him. Back, for a moment he wondered what the voice meant, then he found he could see a second vision of himsef in the jedi temple fighting a battle not with an enemy but with a colleague. That was he knew with renewed clarity was the true reality whereas this was the past, if he stayed he'd be trapped and forced to relive events all over in his mind again and again. That would not do, "I am free now", he sent the thought out strongly and found the cell disappearing.
Before him now stood a man he knew as Ethan Hunt and he was attacking him wildly with his fists. It was time to stop.
Ethan saw Brand'ts eyes change and his hands move from balled fist into relaxed palm flat motions. "I think Hunt we should just call it a draw", he suggested calmly.
"Of course", Ethan was quick to agree. Brandt bowed then returned the lightsaber to its place on the table. He then walked over and bowed before Yoda, "my battle is complete master", he told him.
"So it is",Yoda agreed. He stood and beckoned Brandt to follow him. He was aware now of the looks on everyones faces, the padawans looked afraid, and the others pensive , it must have been some battle.
The retired back to Yodas suite where the master asked him what he could remember. He told him about the sith apprentice and how after chosing to die he had instead walked away alive. Yoda smiled at him, "fall into darkness you did not, very strong the force is within you."More than just a knight you are".
It was high praise and definetly a scary thought, it bought a lump to his throat. But it also made him feel a little lost, "it still didn't tell me anything about who I am. They just called me jedi, never by my name."
"It was part of distancing yourself from who you really were", Yoda told him."Your testing gave some insights. Your choice of saber was unusual", Yoda pushed a button and an image of a tall creature in brown robes was transmitted. "This is Master Botek Greden, a jedi master who disappeared many years ago. He was getting on to almost 95 at the time, getting tired he was. He went on a final journey and never returned. His death though was never felt through the force". Your choice of saber indicated you may have a past history with him".
Brandt studied the image hoping that it might trigger a memory, Greden was most definitely not human, so he should remember if he'd met him. But all he felt was a great big blank. "Sorry Master Yoda but I don't recall meeting him". Yoda just shrugged, "the answers are still shrouded but find them you can"
Oh that was just so great why could someone not just give him a nice simple answer,"must you always talk in riddles", Brandt protested to Yoda. Yoda seemed to smile again and just nodded. Brandt was tempted to swear but held back. "What was the voice I heard ", he asked after a moment.
That had been a very intriguing part of the story for the jedi master, he'd never heard of something like that before. "It may have something to do with what I sense in you", he decided. Did Brandt really want to know what that Yoda was still speaking telling him, "you posess a rare gift Brandt, a strong force wall, inpenetrable by even me".
Brandt thought about that, "but if I possess this gift and are stronger than a knight then that makes me a jedi master."Surely it is impossible for the temple not to have someone with knowledge of my existence".
"Your capture was probably the catalyst for this power", Yoda determined. "I would also say you were amongst those jedi who had infrequent contact with the temple. Many offworld jedi there are".
Thinking that over Brandt decided he could accept that . "So whats next", he asked
"A plan I do have",Yoda replied. "Oh naturally you do", Brandt muttered. "Why do I have a feeling that it involves trying to find this sith master", he said that louder and with a hint of anxiety.
"Very grave and disturbing your memory was", Yoda decreed," we already know Count Dooku is a Sith but do not know his master. We also know they only have one apprentice at a time. Therefore it seems to suggest there are other sith out there'
He may have only known he was a jedi for a short time but Yoda's comment still scared him deeply.
He noticed the jedi master was still studying him and decided he might as well leap ahead and get this over with, "alright what am I supposed to do", he asked. The door chimed right at that moment and Brandt had the strangest feeling the answer to his question was waiting. When three people walked through the door , Brandt knew this had been planned all along.
Have a seat", Yoda invited Jane, Benji and Ethan. They sat facing yoda and Brandt. "Master Hunt's team was formed to help solve the unusual", Yoda told Brandt, "help you they will".
Brandt looked over at the trio, "as you know I can only offer small amounts of insights".
Ethan nodded, "that's alright, we will start with your carefully faked life. I am guessing that whoever altered the jedi records also created a new identity for you. But it is all just on file, by physically checking up on your past we may be able to discover the truth'.
"Working from your birth forward is probably the way to go", Benji advised. We do know your recent history so we will try to see if we can make both ends meet."
"So you'll head back to Rysis then", Brandt remarked. He got a nod in return. Closing his eyes briefly Brandt moved onto his next question, "so why you are doing all this what will I be doing". He cast a worried glance at Yoda, "being held in some secure location so my flashbacks don't hurt anyone".
"Hurt anyone you have not", Yoda told him. "Nor will you", he added firmly before Brandt could start worrying and adding the word 'yet' in his mind. He was relieved he wasn't going to be locked up naturally but Yoda had yet to tell him what he had planned. Visions of days more of jedi training passed through his mind. "Go with them you will", Yodas voice interrupted his thoughts.
What, Ethan was thankful the thought had stayed in his mind. He had to admit he found Brandt 'difficult" and even his previous offer to start again with getting to know the man was not making it easier. From the scowl Brandt threw in his direction he was obviously feeling the same.
"Only by reliving the past personally will the truth be known", Yoda added. "Yes and that means somewhere along this path we may collide with the Sith master", Brandt stated. He shivered at the thought and found a flash of yellow eyes briefly surface along with the feeling of malice. This time though he knew it was a memory and not something that had been implanted. Master Yoda had cleaned out part of that fear. Memories of his actions at the docking platform surfaced then along with the sudden realisation he had forgotten something very important. "Master Yoda were you aware of the fact there is a sith here", he asked.
A gasp from Hunts team answered that question. 'Surely you are mistaken", Jane challenged. "No", Brandt replied steadily," the feeling of wanting to escape and fear of the jedi came from within, not so the suggestion to attack Obi Wan. It was a different mind and it most defintely came from somewhere close by", Brandt stated.
Yoda's eyes slitted and he looked grave, "not so surprising this is", he stated, "great turmoil the force is in". "But nothing has changed, find the offworld Sith you eventually will, find the one here I will". Neither of us can fail, darkness is drawing nearer".
That really was a great thought to start a journey ", Brandt decided. But unfortuantely his newly aware thoughts were also telling him it was the truth.