Chapter 11: The Dark and the Light

Arca Gearsky

Jeta

From the moment of conception Jeta knew this clone was going to be different. He wasn't Force sensitive himself but as a scientist he was able to recognize the high level of Midichlorian cells in his body. The people in charge of Kamino didn't recognize the importance of this new clone so no one questioned Jeta when we requested to keep the clone for his own.

Jeta would use the boy as a sort of living experiment. At least at first but soon Jeta grew attached to the boy. So, when Arca got older and began asking questions Jeta just told him that they came from the same family and had the same blood. It was easy enough to believe though any clone of his would eventually figure it all out as Kamino was known for producing clones and that was Jeta's area of expertise.

Jeta watched Arca grow and knew some of his knowledge was passed on to him and in many ways Arca, who at four years old decided he would rather be called Gear, had already surpassed him in many aspects when it came to science and biology by the time he was nine years old. Though in many ways he was still very much a child and Jeta was protective of him. He refused to let the others use Gear for their own gain.

Around the time that the First Order took over control of Kamino, Gear told Arca that he'd felt the Force awaken. Jeta began to panic. Everyone on Kamino knew that the new leader of the First Order Supreme Leader Snoke was a Force User himself and in search of an apprentice.

Sure, enough two weeks after Gear shared his secret with Jeta, Jeta was called into his superior's office. The Kaminoan looked much like the others with slight differences that Jeta had picked up after decades of living and working amongst them. Glaac Brurtu was sitting behind his desk looking grim.

"You wanted to see me, sir," Jeta asked.

"Yes, Jeta. Take a seat," Glaac instructed.

Jeta sat and felt his heart drop to the bottom of his stomach. Gear had dreamed of the twisted dark alien Force User, Snoke coming for him. So far, the boy had yet to be wrong.

"As you know the First Order is sending someone to collect the first platoon of clone soldiers," Glaac asked and Jeta nodded. "Well last-minute Supreme Leader Snoke decided that he would also come to the facility. And he has requested to meet with the boy."

Jeta sighed. He knew there was no way he could refuse. Who knows what would happen if he tried to hide Gear.

"How long do I have to prepare him," Jeta asked, sounded tried and defeated.

"24 hours," Glaac said.

Jeta nodded and quickly exited the office to go find Gear working on one of his experiments in the lab. When Gear saw Jeta he looked grim as though the boy already knew what Jeta had come to tell him. Gear left his work station and Jeta lead him back to their quarters.

"What does that man want with me, Master," Gear asked as Jeta sat him down at their shared desk.

"I don't know for sure but I assume that he wants take you on as his apprentice and he will teach you the ways of the Force. I am not well versed in the ways of the dark side of the Force I assume it will be hard work and I fear it will change you in ways that I cannot even begin to comprehend," Jeta said.

Gear looked at the older male with startled eyes.

"I don't know if or how I can protect you but I will try my best," Jeta vowed.

Gear looked skeptical but had placed his trust in Jeta a long time ago.

"Okay," Gear said and then sat quietly for a very long time.

Jeta figured the boy just needed time to process and prepare himself for Snoke's arrival the next day. Jeta left Gear in their rooms and went back to work desperately trying to figure out a way to keep Snoke from taking the boy with him when the First Order left Kamino.

It took him most of the night but he did come up with a plan, even if it was one that he wasn't happy with. It was the only way he could guarantee that Snoke wouldn't take the boy though Jeta did not know what his punishment would be for denying the supreme leader but other than death he was willing to pay it.

The next day Jeta marched Gear to Glaac's office when the arrival of Supreme Leader Snoke and the First Order was announced. Gear had been moody and quiet the entire walk there and was even more irritated when they had to stand at attention and wait for Snoke and the others to arrive. Glaac and Jeta's other superiors including Tuan We all gathered at the landing pad.

The First Order soldiers stepped off of the ship first and then came the inhumanely tall alien known as Snoke. Jeta could have swore that the temperature of the air dropped when Snoke got to where Jeta and Gear were standing. Snoke looked at the two of them and let out a raspy pleased laugh that made Jeta's skin crawl.

"Jeta Gearsky, Taun We and Glaac Brurtu speak highly of you and that is the only reason why I am entertaining your request for an audience before I begin testing the boy," Snoke said.

Jeta nodded vigorously and said, "Yes, Supreme Leader Snoke. You're generosity knows no bounds."

Gear glanced at his master in disbelief. Jeta subtly shook his head warning the boy not to say anything. Snoke noticed the silent communication between the two and Jeta hopped like hell he didn't exploit their closeness.

"Supreme Leader I've made my office free for you to use while you are here," Glaac said.

"Very well, Glaac. I am a quiver to hear what this Jeta Gearsky has to say," Snoke said.

Snoke sat behind Glaac's desk and stared at Jeta and Gear.

"You may begin," Snoke said.

Jeta looked at Gear and whispered, "Forgive me." He turned to Snoke and was all business. "I understand the Rule of Two probably better than most non-Force Sensitive people and though you may feel the need to take Arca with you I would just like to point out that he is a pivotal piece of figuring out how to produce the Force Sensitive clones that you seek," Jeta said.

Glaac and Taun We looked surprised along with Snoke but for different reasons. Long ago Jeta had made it clear that he would never use Gear to further the company's agenda, now here he was all but telling Snoke that is exactly what he was going to do.

"Oh, really and why is that," Snoke asked.

"Most of the clones made by my division are made from my own cells. After almost a century of cloning myself, Arca here is the first clone to ever be created with Midichlorian cells, enough of them to be able to wield the Force with relative ease. I believe to make more clones like Arca I would need to study how his DNA differs from the original host's DNA and possibly splice the two together," Jeta explained.

He saw the effect his words had on Gear and knew that the boy would be angry that Jeta had lied to him but he hadn't been prepared for the quiet rage that seemed to consume the boy. Jeta figured it was worth it if Gear would get to stay here on Kamino instead of Gods know where.

Snoke seemed to contemplate Jeta's words seriously and Jeta took that to be a good sign. Gear began to fidget. Snoke was staring holes in the boy but Gear never flinched he just never looked directly at the male either.

"Fine. I will test the boy while I am here but I do not need to take him with me yet. I have no use for children among my men," Snoke said in his nasally voice. "And I have ways of reaching the boy."

Jeta had never been more relieved and petrified at the same time than in that moment.

"My men would like to see the soldiers now. I will get to know young Arca Gearsky," Snoke said and Glaac and Taun We began to leave the room.

Jeta hesitated for only a moment before he left Gear all alone with Snoke.

…

Gear

Gear was furious at his mentor, no his clone. Not only had he lied to him his whole life, he'd just pretty much gave this monster permission to do whatever he wanted with him. Gear was so angry that he didn't even have time to be afraid. At least at first.

Hello Arca. I am Supreme Leader Snoke, Snoke said into Gear's head.

Gear didn't answer as the fear struck him. He stood stock still as if that would keep Snoke from being able to touch him. The male seemed to float on air as he moved around the desk to come stand before Gear.

I know you can hear me Arca. Answer me or I will make you answer me, Snoke all but snarled at Gear.

The almost friendly mask gone in an instant.

"What do you want me to say," Gear asked and he was ashamed that his voice quivered a bit.

I want you to acknowledge your Supreme Leader and Master when I speak to you. If you are to be my apprentice I expect you to follow my orders to the letter, Snoke said.

"And If I don't," Gear asked.

Instead of answering Snoke pointed one of his long fingers at Gear and a spark of blue lighting arched over to zap Gear. The lightning coursed through Gears body for maybe only 10 seconds but it felt like forever. Gear let out a scream and fell to his knees.

Snoke stopped and smirked down at the boy. Instead of cowering away from Snoke, Gear scowled up at him. Anger surged through him. He wanted to strike back at the cruel being.

Upon seeing Gear's reaction, the being smiled.

You get angry very quickly. That is good. And you hate me. That is good too. Anger and hatred are the keys to the dark side. Pain helps bring it all together. Joining with me will make you stronger than you can ever imagine, Snoke said and even though Gear was only a child he knew that it was not an offer.

He could not say no to the man. No matter how smart he was and how many ways his brain tried to process it, there was no way to say no. He thought of what to say that wouldn't get him electrocuted again.

"If I become your apprentice what will I get to do," Gear asked carefully.

You'll get to learn to channel all that rage you have built up inside of you. You'll get away from this god forsaken planet. Together we will over throw the Republic and rule the galaxy, Snoke said.

"But what do you get in return," Gear asked suspicious.

Snoke laughed.

"I knew you were gifted when it came to science but I see you have a understanding of how things work in the real world," Snoke said out loud. "All I ask is that you serve me and help me further my agenda to wipe out the New Jedi Order."

Gear suspected that there was more to it than what the male was saying but he didn't want to push his luck by asking more questions than he already had.

"Okay so how do we begin," Gear asked cautiously.

Snoke laughed again and said, "Hungry to learn, that is good to an extent." Snoke zapped Gear with his Force lighting again. "I will tell you when we begin boy. Never forget that I am your master. I don't care how smart you are, though it is a plus. Now hold on to that anger and hate. It's the only thing you have going for you right now."

Snoke's implied insult did indeed anger Gear and thus the beginning of his dark side training began.

When Snoke was finally done with Gear that day he was exhausted and hurt all over. Plus, he was angry with Jeta. So angry that he feared he might do something he would later regret. Snoke had made sure to keep Jeta's betrayal in the forefront of Gear's mind.

And truth be told, Gear was actually ashamed that he hadn't really put it together by now. After all he was working on a project that would allow the memories, knowledge and possibly even the consciousness of a sentient being to be transferred into a younger, stronger version of itself. Jeta was probably planning on doing the same thing to Gear.

Gear was trying his best to avoiding going to his quarters so that he didn't run into Jeta but as it turned out the Force had other plans for him. Jeta found Gear fuming in the lab after everyone else had left it for the day. Gear's anger and embarrassment flared at seeing his clone.

"What do you want," Gear asked.

"I wanted to apologize to you for a lot of things," Jeta said and Gear unclenched his fists.

He hadn't been expecting Jeta to apologize because that would be admitting to doing something wrong. If the older man's plan had been to just insert his mind into Gear's body why bother apologizing. It's not like Jeta couldn't just use the First Order and Snoke to keep him in line.

"I knew you were different when you were first conceived of my cells. None of the other scientist new what to look for but creating Force sensitive clones was always the plan once the first few survived the process of conception and accelerated aging, so I was the only one to recognize your potential. At first, I wanted you to grow up naturally so that I could monitor your growth and study your DNA at different ages in your development especially after the Force fully awakened in you.

But when as I held you in my arms as a tiny baby I began to grow attached to you. It was something I never expected but I began to really feel like your father. I got to the point where I no longer thought of you as a perfect experiment. At that point I decided that I would no longer use you as my controlled variable and I decided to hide as much from you as I could until it became necessary to tell you.

Today it was necessary for me to tell you," Jeta said.

So many emotions raced through Gear's head that for a moment he thought he might pass out.

"I had to tell them all that it was still my plan so that Snoke couldn't take you away and I would get the chance to help steer you away from completely falling to the darkness. There is strength in anger and hatred but also in peace and love. So, while Glaac and Snoke were talking about how he would continue your training while you remained here with me I came up with a device that will warn you when Snoke it's trying to enter your mind and temporarily block him. I'm not done yet and it needs to be tested so for now you will just have to guard your thoughts. I will also try to learn everything I can about the light side of the Force so that you have options. I hope that you can forgive me," Jeta said

"So, you aren't planning to take over my body or let Snoke drag me down into the dark," Gear asked.

Snoke had buried the seed of doubt deep into Gear's psyche that even after being around Jeta his entire life, Gear was still skeptical if he could trust Jeta because of one thing. Sure, it was a major thing but Snoke's manipulation was also able to draw out things that Gear hadn't even thought would bother him and now that was all that he could think of when Jeta was apologizing to him.

"No. In fact I will do whatever I can to help you get strong enough to decide for yourself if you want to be on the side of the Sith or the Jedi. I have a feeling that war won't come for some time. Let Snoke teach you to control the Force but let me worry about your focus," Jeta said and pulled Gear in for a hug.

Suddenly the dark cloud that seemed to be hanging over Gear's head seemed to disperse. All of a sudden, the young boy felt lighter and free than he had since Snoke and the First Order left Kamino. Gear had been worried that despite what Jeta had said about being worried that working with Snoke and the dark side would change him, but now he knew Jeta would do whatever necessary to protect Gear.

"Snoke is your dark and I will be your light, son," Jeta promised Gear.