Another chapter coming out, hope to get the story rolling a bit more. As I've said in the past this is my own take on the Star Wars universe. A lot of PM's about inconsistency and what-not. I'm aware, I'm just doing things my way and producing my own content, like it, love it, groovy...just leave a REVIEW. Enjoy.
Chapter 9
Code
Had it been a week now, no two, maybe three, who knows. Felucia has been infected, something is growing here. Something dark, much like a cancer becomes metastatic, it gets into the blood stream and well the rest, the rest is something you'd want to prevent. The native Felucian's rely on the delicate balance and ecosystem's equilibrium to live. It was strange, to be depended on a planet for survival, much like the Jedi are depended on their precious teachings. So literal, yet so easily breakable, such is the creed that I follow. That I follow well, but I'm not a robot, I feel things, not a lot of things, but I do.
Much like I feel a dark force on this planet and it's making me uneasy.
Master Windu sent myself and Fisto to investigate.…
…..
Naruto played with the fire using a stick, it gathered in between a circle of rocks. His orbs scanning the flames as the hot humid wind of the jungle planet. The rain around him smashed against the muddy ground, the plants holding their stems above the water for air.
Naruto and Master Kit Fisto had set up camp in the middle of an outcropping, making a shelter out of a leaf that connected on the lower end of the large structures of plants that surrounded them. It also served as a makeshift barrier for the wind as to keep the wind off the fire.
A rustling in the outcrop drew Naruto's attention as he shook his head out of his daydream. He slowly moved to his belt, gripping one of his lightsabers. A chuckle following his actions caused him to relax.
"Relax Naruto, chill out", Master Fisto appeared, soaked to the bone with a net full of fish. He joined Naruto in the opposing dry spot with a smile on his face. "A good days catch, did you find anything out while you were on patrol?" he inquired jamming a stick through a fish.
"Somethings, I've discovered another force power. I can, do things here that I wouldn't normally be able to do", he explained whilst Fisto let out a cheerful laugh.
"Such is the magic of this place boy. The force energy that surrounds and harmonises this place affects you greatly. Tell me about this new force power later, but first, about the infection?" asked Fisto raising an eyebrow.
"I've mapped out all the breaks in the symbiosis, they form a border around a single position. I would have found that thing and we would have been off this hole in a day. My senses are dull, I can't believe this", he growled listening to the chorus of the rain.
"How about I teach you something that I perfected a few years back, it has helped me many-a-times when I've been lost", he suggested digging the stick into the dry dirt to cook the fish by the fire.
"Wait, if you've had this ability all this time, then why haven't you helped me track the source of this infection?" he asked raising and eyebrow in a slightly ill-mannered way.
"You wouldn't believe the things being out in the field you can learn, come I will show", a rustling to right caught his attention. "But let us deal with our friends first", he said as both of them stood to attention as a shrieking sound reached their ears.
A group of Felucians suddenly burst through the brush wielding farming tools.
Felucians were short in stature, with thick legs and four-fingered hands. They had elongated heads with reptilian faces, similar to that of a tortoise, with beady eyes that a select few kept hidden behind goggles. Their skin varied in tone from orange to light green.
"They're infected", said Naruto as he drew his lightsabers.
Fisto held his arm out in protest.
"Do no harm them, they no not what they do!" he rushed forward Naruto following him into the rain sheathing his weapons.
….
"I can't believe that I'm late! I had one job, one job, get to class on time!" an orange-clad, Torugata ran through the Jedi temple in a blur. She wore a bright orange top that clung to her body for movement, complete with a pair of blue shorts with a red spiral on the right leg. She wore blue sandals that showed of her toes and a yellow wrist protector on her left wrist.
"Master Yoda is gonna kill me" she shouted to herself.
She saw a wide open archway in the distance far off in the hallway.
'So, close, so close, yet so far away!' she thought to himself.
As she neared the archway, large metallic letters that shone were visible along the long stone wall. Rows of windows were both above and below it. The sign read: Academy of Jedi. In her opinion it seemed like she had been running for a millennial solstice. She ran through the building towards the classroom. Coincidentally she burst through the archway as soon as her name was called for attendance.
"Oh Ashoka, glad you could join us, I am", Master Yoda stood in front of his class with a cheeky smile.
Ashoka laughed nervously.
"Actions define our legacy young one", he scolded with a stamp of his cane.
"Yes sir", she muttered taking her place in line with the rest of the younglings.
….
Naruto ducked a swipe from a pitch fork and vaulted the striker. He wrapped his forearm around the Felucian's neck throwing the native into a pack of his fellow infected. He jumped up spun in midair landing on his hands as he eyed his attacker. The alien's eyes were yellow, they held so much pain and so much anger.
He pushed upward to a vertical base, delivering a kick to the Felucian's face. With an audible snap he sent the former farmer into the brush. Another charged toward him attempting a stab with a ploughing tool. He grabbed the wooden handle and snapped it by a grip, grabbing the infected by the throat with his other hand. He reached for lightsaber, the blue blade hissed to life as he eyed the corrupted.
By now, all of the assailants had left and Naruto growled. Fisto watched from behind Naruto with a curious look.
"H-Help", uttered the native, gasping for some semblance of oxygen.
Naruto raised an eyebrow and dropped the Felucian on the floor, he began thrashing about and shrieking again. The Jedi Knight silenced him with a foot to the chest, knocking the wind out of him.
"Tell me what's doing this to your people", ordered Naruto as the native shrieked again.
"T-There's a dark plant, it pumps out this substance...the ecosystem has been distrub…..The dark and light eco...balance….gone", he shrieked again as Naruto used ForceGrip to pick him up.
He then launched him across the small distance into the brush. He then proceeded to scurry away with a bout of frantic splashes.
"You didn't kill him, you're anger problems are improving", the Master Jedi walked past him with his trademark smile.
"Don't you lecture me", he growled earning a chuckle from Fisto.
"Come my boy, I have much to teach you about my Force Sense and you have much to show me", Naruto followed after the master. "Have you thought of a name for you new ability?" asked Fisto with a rub to the back of his head.
"I think I'll call it, Force Warp" he said with a slight nod of satisfaction.
"An excellent name, if the name suggests anything you're able to use to the force to move about as if you're teleporting, no?" he asked as they stepped into the thick jungle.
"No, the name suggests exactly what it is. I'm able to teleport, but it's unpredictable and at the moment I wouldn't use it to get around Courscant, let alone in the midst of a battle", he raised his lip in curiosity as Fisto laughed again.
"This power isn't totally unheard of you know, there was once a Jedi Master who had a similar power", at this Naruto cocked his head to the side in curiosity.
"Well let's focus on what I have to teach you first. Learning these new moves will improve you candidacy for master status", he explain as he force jumped into the canape above. Naruto followed him as they jumped toward the source of the planet's problem.
The dark energy was becoming all the more clearer to Fisto.
"Before this discussion continues, you've already found the location of this disturbance haven't you?" started Naruto with a frown of discontentment. "You could've found it ages ago, weeks? We've been in this hole for weeks!" he growled as he jumped up next to him as the rain dampened his clothes but not his mood.
"Yes, but I like this planet, you've discovered some new powers and you've gotten a little stronger", he said with a chuckle and shrug. "Have some gratitude Naruto, there is much I can teach you outside the temple. Simulations will only serve you so well", he laughed again as he flipped over a branch.
He mumbled looking down at the jungle floor.
Fisto didn't hear him, or pretended not to. He jumped down to the floor with a splash. Naruto followed as the air around them grew still. The brush whistled as the harsh wind blew their soaked clothes. Naruto shivered as the cold ran through his body like a wave, but he chose to ignore it in favour of Fisto's lesson.
"No place you finger to the ground", he instructed as they both placed their index fingers to the ground.
"I developed this technique to minimise casualties, not only can I sense the mitchlorians in other sentient beings. But I can also sense dark energies, negative emotions and planets from far-off distances", Naruto raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Now you're starting to think, you've got your brain working now. Do share?" he enquired with an inquisitive look.
"If I make it happen, I'll share, now continue, this power will be of use to me", he said closing his eyes.
"Like every power you may learn, you must only use them to keep the peace", as Naruto stood up, Fisto mimicking him in confusion, they both made eye contact. "What, do you have another question?" he asked.
"Because that's the 'Jedi Code?'" asked Naruto with scoff. "Take the code up Master Aayla, I'm sure you both have a lot to answer for", he rubbed his forehead the red cloth as it faithfully clung to him.
Fisto chuckled drawing it out to a full-blown laugh.
"Only fools follow blindly and take words as literal as those, we are not droids boy. Jedi feel too", Naruto cocked his head to the side and crossed his arm.
"You're saying you don't follow the code?" he asked judgmentally.
"You have much to learn", said the Jedi Master rubbing the back of his neck. "Follow your own code", he stated smiling at the young knight.
"You're making no sense, this is, unlike most Jedi teachings, black and white. We are not able to have attachments because they bind us to this world and distance us from the force", said Naruto his tone becoming cynical. "Yet it is a conflict that all Jedi, at some point, wrestle with. You are right, Jedi are people, Jedi feel to, we are not droids", he finished as Fisto's grin never left his face.
"Ah, a breakthrough!" he exclaimed with another chuckle.
"You're starting to irritate me, teach me, or get lost", he warned making the Master Jedi sigh, regaining his breath and composure.
"I am trying to teach you something", he sighed and shook his head. "Follow these teachings and you will destroy yourself. The script for the Jedi teachings and code were written over a thousand ago, do you not think it harsh to judge a society on these principals, a different society", he voiced, sporting his trademark grin.
"Society is the same, still the same bullshit happened a thousand year ago and the same bullshit will be happening a thousand years from now", he growled. "You and your precious peacekeeping ideals, you cannot dictate what rules you follow then enforce the ones you deem more important than others, you're a hypocrite", Naruto's tone gradually growing angrier and more accusing.
"Whose to say the Jedi aren't hypocrite's? Like you said Jedi are merely people and have as much influence as they have power. Power breeds corruption and corruption is what molds and shapes evil", he explained having Naruto listening intently.
"The Jedi are forbidden from having any attachments, those are the rules. You have broken those rules whether they be realistic or not. You can't tell me that you and Master Aayla merely pick and chose what rules you play by", he said pointing and noticeably looking down on the Jedi.
"Maybe, maybe not", the Master Jedi chuckled softly. "I'm a free spirit my boy. You must decide this for yourself. Following rules does not make you a good Jedi, spreading happiness and our message of peace, does", he awaited Naruto's retorted, with an eager feeling.
"You are not judged for these actions?" asked Naruto, feelings of confusion welling up inside of him. "You should be expelled if any Jedi Masters are informed", he stated his tone returning to monotone.
"Whose judging whom? People may think what they like, other Jedi may think what they like. I am ready to face whatever may happen. But I can safely say that I am free and happy, can you?" he watched as this questioned seemed to catch the young knight off guard.
"How is it that you have not been expelled?!" he shouted in confusion, his teeth gritting. "You're a free spirit?" he nodded sarcastically. "Oh, oh okay, you're a free spirit then. Well that's just the best excuse I've ever heard in my eighteen years. Maybe I should just go and fuck that really hot senator from Courscant and whomever I like and when questioned about it, I'll just tell everyone that I'm a free spirit!" he finished as Master Fisto doubled over in laughed.
Naruto's face adopted an utterly horrified look, with a shake of his head he rolled his eyes.
"Oh, my I haven't laughed like that in a long time, you're funny boy", he said whipping the tears from his eyes. "Who knows, maybe you'd best take this up with Master Yoda, now", he paused as the rain continued to pour on them.
"You're not the only ones are you, to break this rule?" he asked earning another smile from the Jedi.
"Nope", he stated simply with shrug.
"Then why should I follow this rule?" the young blonde asked in confusion.
"Do whatever you feel is right, that's what I believe the Jedi Code is about. Besides, have you ever read that thing? 'You must only carry a certain number of lightsabers'. 'Jedi must spend 10 years under the guidance of a Master'. 'All Jedi must be of a compassionate disposition'", he finished with a sigh.
"You can see where I'm going with this?" he gestured with his hand.
"I can see that, not all of these rules are followed and there is a lot of holes in our creed. But I will continue to do what I think is right", Fisto smiled at the young man's answer.
"There's hope for you yet", he stated smiling at the boy's neutral expression. "Follow your own rules, make your own decisions, your forbid yourself and forge your own path ahead. That's what makes you a man", he said placing a hand on his shoulder.
To his surprise Naruto did not brush his hand away.
"Do as I do and you will find the force like you've never lost it", he repeated the actions from moments ago, stepping back and knelling down, placing his index finger on the ground.
"Like I never lost it?" he paused shaking the rain out of his eyes. "Do any Jedi, ever make any sense?", Naruto sighed doing as Fisto asked.
"I've pointed you in the right direction, now, how much can you see with those eyes?" asked Fisto a wide grin appearing on the young master's face.
Naruto shook his head.
"Thank you", he mumbled placing his index finger on the wet ground.
The thunder and lightning roared above as Naruto tapped into the force energy around him.
….
1 Month Later
'Where is it, where is it?' Naruto ran his gloved finger over a large conglomerate of books on the marble book shelf that towered over him.
R4 followed him faithfully, beeping and whistling at his master happily. Naruto ignored him in favour of his search.
The young Jedi Knight had been searching in tomes of the Jedi archives for a few hours now. He needed more information on this new move of his. He had only been able to summon the power on Felucia, the force energy ran strong there, his power in-conjunction skyrocketed. He was able to run further, jump higher, destroy more efficiently. If there was a way to feel this powerful all the time, just thinking of his new capabilities made him excited.
"A Jedi's pursuit of power is for the greater good, not because you've got something to prove", Naruto raised an eyebrow to see a Master Mundi in all his stern glory. He stood at the end of row with a small book in his hand.
"I believe this is what you're looking for-
Naruto Force Pulled the book out of his hands swiftly, bringing the title of the book up to his eyes: 'The Gutsy Jedi'.
"What kind of a ridiculous title is that?" he muttered turning the maroon bindings around examining the old piece of literature. "And how do you know what I'm looking for?" asked the young blonde looking up to see that the Master Jedi had disappeared.
R4 whistled in amazement.
"Tch, whatever", he dismissed the events and checked the book out.
He made his way to long desk in the middle of the library that ran from one end on the building to another, situated on the lower floor. He sat down, his astro-droid wheeling next to him, whistling for attention. The young blonde faced him briefly, offering him a stern look and returning to his book.
He opened the piece of knowledge, his eyes widening as a young Jedi's painted portrait adjourned the first page on the inside cover. He studied the person carefully, taking in every feature and trait that this Jedi exhibited.
He had bright, blue eyes and spiky, blond hair his jaw-length bangs framing either side of his face. His attire consisted of a standard Jedi uniform with two bands on both of his sleeves, keeping the typically large sleeves close to his forearms, with a, blue forehead warmer, and blue sandals. Completing his odd look he wore short-sleeved long white haori over his robes, closed in the front by a thin, orange rope. A belt held a blaster and two saber hilts, one smaller than the other, likely a smaller blade than the larger one.
"Who are you?" wondered Naruto out-loud, narrowing his eyes at the book.
"That's a Jedi who died long ago", Naruto's eyebrow twitched as Master Mundi's voice reached his ears again. He spun around with an angry look on his face, as the Master's stern look hadn't left his face.
"What now?" Naruto asked abruptly.
"I wish you would do things quicker, I'm late for a council meeting and I can't be hanging around here all day waiting for you to figure out the key to your new powers. You'd never find something like that in this public sector, it's a book from the forbidden section of the archives", he stated shaking his head and crossing his arms.
R4 backed away steadily, slightly startled by the Master Jedi's repeated appearances.
"If you are late, you may leave old man. I don't need your help to figure anything out and how did you know about those?" asked Naruto cocking his head to the side in confusion.
"I know what I know, because I know it", he stated shaking his head again. "Master Aayla did a bang up job teaching you to be thick, did she not", he stated with a sigh eying the blonde.
"Why is it that all you old createns find new ways to annoy me everyday?" he asked standing to attention.
Suddenly Master Mundi grabbed him by the shoulders and spun him around, sitting him back down on the chair.
"You've got a lot in common, read, force-willing you'll able to figure out this on your own. Pity I don't have more time with you, I could turn you into such a brainiac", he said chuckling to himself.
"If you're so self assured that I wasted Master Aayla's time then I'd suggest going to your meeting, you're bothering me", he dismissed earning another sigh from the Master Jedi.
"So much potential, shame about yourself", he touched a sensitive spot on Naruto's neck, waving as he walked away.
A few moments past and Naruto made no movements, R4 beeped at him, breaking him out of his stupor.
"I know, trust me R4, I know", he shook his head and turned the page. "Just what does this Jedi have to do with my powers?" he asked himself flipping to another blank page.
He curiously looked at the script at the bottom of the page, the author had signed it in a very strange language. A few more moments of silence passed as the library suddenly grew even more silent. Anxiety welled up in Naruto as a bead of sweat rolled down the side of his head from the bottom of his forehead warmer, down onto the warn paper.
"Eosian", he swallowed the lump welling up in his throat.
"Hi Master!" Naruto winced as a voice called to him, the owner pulling on his robes.
The young Knight swallowed another lump in his throat and breathed out a long sigh. Composing himself he turned around with a neutral expression on his features.
"What are you doing!?" the youngling called up to him. His facial features softening slightly, once it was revealed who had addressed him.
"Ashoka, I am not your master and what are you doing here?" he asked calmly turning his chair around to face her.
"Learning!" she stated simply and loudly.
Naruto aburptly covering her mouth with his gloved hand. As many Padawans and Jedi alike gave the pair dirty and curious looks momentarily.
"This is a quiet space, you must be courteous and not be so loud when you come here", he said gently removing his hand.
She nodded vigorously and jumped up on the chair next to him.
"What'cha reading?" she asked innocently grabbing the book and lifting it up, opting to start at the middle of the small book.
"Don't read that", he said as the book floated away from her and into Naruto's hand.
"That's so cool, do it again", she ordered earning a sigh from Naruto. As he placed the book in his Jedi robes.
"Don't you have school?" asked the young Eosian placing the book gently on the wooden desk.
"Don't you have work?" she shot back with a giggle.
"Don't sass me kid, why aren't you at school?" he asked leaning on his hand.
"It's boring, I'm ready to do other things, to start learning some real stuff. Master Yoda said it himself", she boasted earning a finger tap on her forehead. She winced and feel backward on her seat.
"If I show you something will you stop bothering me?" he asked Naruto with a board look earning a squeal from the young Torgurta.
Naruto placed his finger on his lips, she immediately placed her hands over her mouth, still smiling into them with utter joy.
….
Ashoka followed Naruto up the passageways up and around the Jedi temple with a skip in her step. She was eager for whatever Naruto had to show her. They made their way up the staircases and seemingly endless hallways until they found themselves at the very top of the main building of the temple at the base of the council chambers.
The wind blew at a strong steady rate as their clothes began fluttering around them. Ashoka covered her eyes and steadied herself from falling.
"Master I can't-
"This is where I come to train, if you want to train with me, then you'll train here for now", he stamped his boot on the ground and a rack of small lightsaber hilts appeared from the ground.
Naruto gestured to them with a neutral expression.
"Pick one", he suggested.
She squealed again earning a stern look from the Jedi Knight.
"Take this seriously or I will make certain that you end up back in that classroom", he threatened with an eyebrow raise.
The youngling took a breath and composed herself as the wind picked up again. She walked up to the rack and examined the hilts.
"Each of them has a two specific traits that each Jedi may personalise for his or her use. One trait comes from the crystal within, not only do they dictate colour, but a specific force enhancing property. For example, the ability to recover and gather force energy at a faster rate, or the increase in strength or speed of your force powers", she nodded in understanding.
Inwardly Naruto was smiling, she was understanding his every word, she was very perceptive for her age.
"The second comes from the hilt itself, which you may modify to your liking. Things don't usually go the way as planned out on missions, your lightsaber is something you should use to give yourself an advantage. You modify the hilt to compliment your style, an example would be-
He paused and thought for a second.
"I once knew a Jedi Master who used a curved hilt, because his style was very fluid and free-flowing", he explained as she turned to him.
"I get it", she said turning back to the rack and picking up a small lightsaber hilt on the end.
It hissed to life, exploding in a light violet blaze.
"Good, now that you've chosen-
Naruto hadn't expected her to start screaming and swing it around like a person in a rage. Naruto stood in front of Ashoka with activating green lightsaber in his left hand. She had chosen a violet small tanto-style lightsaber with a loose grip. She made swooshing and zooming noises to her never-ending amusement.
"Jedi Master Ashoka!" she exclaimed. "Evil-dooers beware, Ashoka is here to save the day!" declared the youngling continuing her assault on the air and Naruto's ears.
The Jedi Knight watched with a raised eyebrow. She turned to face him swinging and twirling the blade around.
"I'm ready!" she exclaimed as she held the blade in a death grip upward to Jedi Knight.
Naruto lazily swung his blade making a connecting strike with her violet weapon sending it flying out of her hands.
"I've never lost a fight before!" she shouted in astonishment.
"Finished?" he asked her earning a nod.
She ran over to her weapon, reactivating it and returning to her spot.
"We'll start with something very simple, just do as I do and don't hurt yourself for force-sake", he scoffed earning another laugh from the child.
He held his lightsaber out with his arms slightly bent in a double handed grip. She followed his actions with her tongue firmly glued to her upper lip.
"Good now put some strength behind it", he instructed
She began to laugh.
….
Hope you all enjoyed the new chapter, please leave a REVIEW and let me know what you're all thinking. This was a bit of a filler chapter, but I've wanted certain things to happen before things start to really pick up. Addressing the attachment issue was one of the main reasons for this chapter. In my opinion it's a very useless rule, take it or leave. Having someone else's example to follow is also encouraging. Oh and Fisto's and Aayla's relationship isn't canon although there is something in legends about it, recommend the read. Well catch you next chapter when things start to really get interesting.
