AN: KXR does NOT own Star Wars
Hello Trials and Tribulations faithful I'd like to apologize for the lack of updates recently. I was very conflicted on how to approach these next few chapters, and the fact I have recently gained my copies of Halo 4 and Assassin's Creed 3 which both took up a bit of my time. But now I'm back and with Star Wars the Old Republic going free on the 15th I'll have plenty of inspiration for this story, but enough of my talk let's begin.
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Trials and Tribulations; Chapter 11: First Steps into the Galaxy
On the shuttle ride to the Republic planet of Illum Zaaron sat to Master Tao Kahn in contemplative silence as he reflected on his goodbyes to his family.
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In the space port on Tython Zaaron said goodbye to his family as Master Tao Kahn stood at the shuttle's entrance.
"Take care my son. You will come to do great things, but make sure to heed Master Kahn's lessons. After all he was my teacher once upon a time." Teraja said giving her growing son a hug and a kiss.
Yuuzahn took hold of his son's shoulder as he looked him in the eye, reminiscing of when he first looked into his son's emerald eyes. "You have always made me proud, and you will continue to do so even after I have passed. Although I must remind you that you are of Mandalorian heart and with that you must conduct yourself with honor, and show the galaxy what a true warrior's heart is made of."
Before Zaaron could fully turn to see his sister she had rushed in and buried her face in his chest, not wanting to let him see her tears. "Don't go and hurt yourself before we have another shooting competition." Nyla said referring to the frequent competition she and Zaaron had to see who the better shot was.
With his final goodbyes Zaaron walked into the shuttle with Master Kahn and Cander at his side.
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Zaaron was shaken out of his reverie when the food cart stopped in front of him, just as he reached for a piece of the complimentary food offered his hand was slapped by Master Kahn who had a look of disapproval on his face.
"You are not to consume any food or drink for the next few days until I give you permission to do so." Master Tao Kahn said as he took a bite from his own food.
Zaaron looked at his master as if he had grown another head, feeling his own stomach grumble as he watched the food cart wheel away.
The next few days were torture for Zaaron as he was forced to watch his master and Cander eat and drink almost tauntingly at his expense. He though his torture was over when they had touched down on Illum's surface, but he was informed he had another few days of this torture while on Illum. I was apparently his first step into his training.
The second day on Illum Zaaron followed Master Tao Kahn into a crystal cave, one of the many that covered Illum's surface. As Zaaron, Cander, and Master Kahn made their way deeper into the cave they came across a circle made by lightsaber crystals of various colors. They crystals that made the circle were blue, green, yellow, violet, and red.
"Step into the circle and begin to meditate allow yourself to become one with the Force, allow everything to become one with you. Cander and I will make sure no harm befalls you." Master Kahn instructed.
Stepping into the circle Zaaron sat lotus style and began his meditation following his Master's instructions. As Zaaron breathed he felt himself slip into unconsciousness.
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When Zaaron's eyes opened he was lying on the floor in his dreamscape. Unlike most dreams that were accompanied by a white or black backdrop this one had colors that were ever changing. Over time Zaaron had come to know the faces that haunted his dreams at night, the faces of Revan, and Scourge. Both respective Masters of their alignment, but yet he saw neither.
As Zaaron looked for a sign of his two mentors he heard a voice that seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
"I am your spoken truth."
"I am the lies in you."
"I am your lighted way and your darkest day."
"Just consider me your friend I am until the end."
"Take me by my hand and let me show you what I am."
"Well what are you?" Zaaron asked into the nothing.
"Really? I thought it was obvious." The voice said manifesting itself in the form of a human male. Its features were not distinct; it seemed to be just like any other human male.
"I'm the force." He said before vanishing.
As the figure dispersed Zaaron frantically looked around the scope hoping to find the figure again, but instead he saw a woman who was no more distinguished then the man.
"I am light and dark, I transcend the borders of both, I am the balance." She said before dispersing.
Zaaron heard the voice again when he felt something crawl across his leg. Looking down he saw an Akk Dog at his feet.
"Within every day there is a shadow to cast darkness, and within every night there is a star to illuminate the light." The Akk Dog said before it too dispersed.
Zaaron next saw a mynock flying through the air.
"All are luminous beings, not just crude matter. We all transcend both light and dark. We create something truly unique to your own creation. Do not let the constrictions of the Jedi or Sith determine your destiny." The Mynock said before it dispersed.
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With a grasp of breath Zaaron woke from the frozen ground floor, gasping for breath from his vision quest. As his breathing slowed Zaaron saw Cander to his right wagging his tail with a smile on his face, and when he came to face Master Kahn he saw a biscuit in front of his face. Looking to his master for an answer he only received one response. "You've earned it." Master Kahn said with a proud smile.
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AN: I'd like to thank you for reading Trials and Tribulations. Next we begin to see Zaaron's training which is going to be a mixture of martial arts and Jedi teachings. As always I'd appreciate any reviews given, please let me know what you think. Now concerning the progression of story Trials and Tribulations will lead all the way up until the end of the Jedi Knight's Coruscant missions concerning Lord Tarnis. As always thank you for reading.-KXR
