Chapter 10: The Higher Ground
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars.
The two Jedi gathered their belongings and headed to the mountains. They hoped to reach the 4th peak before afternoon as Qui-Gon recalled Rayfe speaking of the significance of the number four to some of the so called freedom fighters who were religious. The left in silence each lost in their own thoughts after the visions both had the night before. The older Jedi noticed the wind changing direction and becoming gustier as they approached the foothills. He was certain it wasn't normal patterns and as if reading his masters thought Obi-Wan asked."Master did you feel that?"
"Yes, obi wan, the force is different up here. Had I not felt this I would not have believed it and assumed the sensitive faction imagined it." They once again fell silent in contemplation. Several minutes later it was Qui-Gon who broke the silence. "Padawan, what do you think your recent dreams mean?"
Obi-Wan stopped thinking he had not heard his master correctly and wasn't completely sure it wasn't a trick question or some kind of test. "Not all dreams have meaning, and neither do visions for that matter." Qui- Gon remained silent so Obi wan continued. "You said this planet is different and many other Jedi avoid it, with good reasons, and the situation has had its difficult moments so the stress-"
"Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon interrupted, "while that is true I understand you have a different understanding and experiences with the Force. I also understand that many more share your experiences than mine. So I ask again. Do you believe the visions you have had while on this planet have meaning?"
Obi-Wan was still hesitant as he chose his words, "Yes, Master, but I have come to believe they are warnings of what will come, but I do not believe that the images represent the warnings. In other words the situations that happened will take place but not with the people I saw. I do not know if I have even met the actual people involved."
Qui-Gon was somewhat troubled but let none of it show, instead he simply nodded.
They reached the top of the first mountain paused a moment and began their decent. "Master, what do you think? Is the future fluid or static? Can I change any of what I have seen in the visions? If not why do I even see it? If so and I attempt to make changes will it bring about the thing I tried to avoid? If we are here for a purpose what is it? Were we placed together for a purpose?" All the questions seemed to spill out. Truly he didn't plan on flooding his master with so many questions.
"I do not know, Padawan. I haven't many so I can only go by the present, which is the one thing I know we can control. I see choices I can make in the moment and all the choices I make have consequences."
"But what about the so called shadow Jedi and the Sith?"
"Choices, Obi-Wan, they have consequences that must be considered. They made the choices too based on what they had. That is why I continue to focus on the moment."
"Continue to focus on the moment? Have you ever considered not doing that, Master?"
"Yes, Padawan, that is what you thought about your visions. I had one this morning. I am convinced it was of something that will take place. It will not influence what I do the moment it takes place, as I will make moment to moment choices like I always have before. But, because it is not unusual for you to have the visions I wanted to know what YOU thought."
"Oh!" was all Obi-Wan could say while he was trying to process this new information.
They reached the valley between the first two hills and a think green fog rolled in. The wind blew strong as the valley almost became a wind tunnel. Obi-Wan noticed it was not unlike the first day they arrived and he saw the 'ghosts' of the planet for the first time. Qui-Gon had only said he felt a shift in the force but saw nothing. Ob-Wan wasn't sure what his master saw this time having just been told he had a vision of the future. "Do you sense anything, Master?" He asked softly.
"Indeed, more than sense something, Obi-Wan. Look!"
From the tops of the hills several beings came and stood in front of them. "Master Jedi, welcome again to Kallus. You, like the natives, come to the high places in search of answers." The one who appeared centuries old told them. "Listen"
Another one stepped out from behind him. "There is no Past or future. There is only now, a single eternal present. Time is a still lake with invisible undercurrents swirling beneath it. It is both static and fluid as you call it."
"But last time you told me it was fluid" Obi-Wan told him. How is it fluid then and both and neither now."
"Ah young one. You have more knowledge now than you did back then. You were ready to go deeper. You would not have understood and I see you still question. Hear us!"
A third younger looking ghost who if 'alive' would have been Obi-Wan's peer stepped up. " Time is relevant, so are other things. I will give you another example. There are only degrees of shadow. Light and darkness is not like you understand. The shadow can be made more pure by adding light and balance is achieved only when there is purity of shadow or…light. It happens though choices, conscious choices. You will make them.
The oldest spoke again. "There is balance. You two represent balance; only together do you fully see the Force. That Master Jinn is why you made the choice to train him. You will train those who represent your counterweight. Balance, seek it and you will find it."
"When?" Obi-Wan finally asked. "Why the dreams? When will it take place? When will the Force be balanced forever?" He was afraid this time.
"Don't focus on your fears" Qui-Gon quietly reminded him sensing his padawan's near panic attack.
"Now." The ghosts answered. "There is ONLY now!"
Suddenly the fog lifted they were gone and the two Jedi found themselves standing on the top of the 3rd hill. They were unaware of even walking and they did not feel as if much time passed but once they could see the sky again they noticed it was noon and they were getting hungry. They were setting up the food that they packed with them and began to eat.
"What did you make of that, Master?"
"I am not sure. I don't believe in ghosts but clearly they were not on our plain of existence. It also seemed unlike any vision. I don't have much to go on but that was nothing like the previous one, and you experienced it too. There have never been shared visions. I can only conclude that the legends of this planet or more than just legends. You were troubled. What do you think?"
"I have seen a ghost." Obi-wan answered and laughed but without humor. "It didn't bother me when I saw them the first time and that wasn't as traumatic as the bar but I agree. They spoke to us from the Force. They are one with it. That is what they meant about the time problem. For us it is fluid. For them there is only the present."
"That is impossible. No one retains their individual consciousness in the Force, Obi-Wan."
"I know." He sighed. He still considered the possibility and found some comfort in it. Whatever it was, it was…interesting."
"Agreed." I will meditate and discuss things with Master Yoda if I do not find my own answer. He may have knowledge of this happening before.
They were about to finish their meal when Rayfe approached them. "Greetings, Master Jedi. I am pleased but not surprised to see you here. Did you see them?"
"Them?" Qui-Gon asked not wanting to reveal too much.
"Yes, master Jinn, the planet's colonists. One of which is my ancestor! Surely you at least felt their presence."
"We saw them Rayfe." Obi-Wan answered. "But, your ancestor, no one remains conscious in the Force."
"Are you sure, young Jedi? The elders believe it is possible if you chose to. They don't know how but believe you will have the knowledge before you die, even if it is just moments before. Others have had family members come back and give verbal instructions on how to do it. I am not sure myself. I have already told you I have a difficult time with abstract spiritual things including life after death but I don't argue. Enough of me trying to explain, as I assume you were on your way to the fourth hill. I can take you up quickly so you can have time to look around and ask questions of the elders. I know you didn't want to spend the day with me as we will see each other plenty tomorrow. I hope you better understand us when you get done. The others are- coming around."
They noticed Rayfe's small transport behind a cluster of trees. "We can go up and after you get done contact me and I will bring you back to sea level. It gets cool up here in the evenings." They thanked him and rode up the next summit where the temple set. He dropped them off and left after making sure they had the information to comm. Him when they finished.
The Jedi Temple on Kallus, as Obi-Wan called it because it reminded him of home, was old. Its structure was not unlike the Jedi Temple with large spiral towers on either side of the main building and a flat landing pad on the top deck. Painted on it was a familiar yet new creed :
*Through Peace and Passion I gain Strength,
Strength combined with Knowledge gives me Power,
Through Power and Serenity I find Harmony.
Through Harmony I find Balance
In Balance the Presence sets me free!
"Remarkable", Obi-Wan muttered
"It is curious," Qui-Gon acknowledged." I will definitely find out about it."
They were greeted on the landing pad by a priest. "I am Xanathos, welcome master Jedi. Is there anything I can help you with? It is unusual to have off- worlders visit who are aware of the Presence as well and I wish you success on your mission. If anything here will help with that mission, consider it yours."
"Thank you. We do have a couple of questions. Don't worry they are not of a political nature."
Xanathos took them through the temple and explained some of their history that wasn't politically charged and why he and many had taken a spiritual interest in the Force as well as how they came to discover their abilities. They had a lengthy discussion on the living and unifying aspects of the Force and the Kallusian understanding which were very similar. They had an interesting history of interactions with those who would have been considered Dark Jedi on Corosaunt. They discovered that was how the idea of retaining identity while being one with the Force came into play. It brought conflict and was their first Temple purge. They embrace freedom of choice and do not teach it to the masses. Most don't believe it is actually possible and that the sightings are simply strong shared visions. The Jedi were shown the library after Xanathos was called away.
The afternoon passed quickly and as the sun was setting Rayfe appeared and called them back. "You do know it is almost evening, right, masters? I was waiting to hear from you and got concerned."
"Sorry, Rayfe." Qui-Gon said. We are ready."
They rode down in silence and had a meal together. "Your people have an interesting past, Rayfe. I do hope an agreement can be reached that will allow you to eventually join the republic. Your people would be an asset to us." Obi-Wan told him eagerly.
"If we can fight off war." Rayfe laughed.
"I do not doubt that will be the result of the discussions. I look forward to starting back tomorrow" Qui-Gon told them. "Tonight I must meditate and rest."
Master and Padawan gave their leave and headed back to prepare for the next day and to meditate on the new information.
A/N Sorry for the delay between chapters. I will try to do better. My muse is simply all over the place with stories….R&R
*A revision of a shadow Jedi creed I found somewhere.