Entry 70

For the next two days Skywalker and I went out and visited the normal tourist attractions. We tried to keep things low key with very little, if any, public displays of affection. There were some questions from reporters about an Imperial associating with the New Republic's greatest hero, but, surprisingly, Leia Organa Solo ran interference for us.

She informed the media that, "Captain Litassa Colay, the Imperial officer who saved many innocent civilians at the economic summit at Naboo and the person who personally assisted in my rescue from terrorists, is visiting our beautiful capital and I have asked Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker if he would show her the sights."

I am not sure if the news reporters bought that explanation, but it did seem to reduce the amount of holojournalists following us.

Entry 71

We took my shuttle to a very isolated and uninhabited area of Chandrila. Luke said there was a massive cave system at the location where we could practice Force techniques unobserved.

We landed the shuttle and then walked a kilometer in hot jungle conditions until we found the location of the cavern. Walking in sweltering heat and contending with blood sucking insects wasn't my idea of a fun date, but Skywalker was so excited about having a chance to spar with lightsabers that I couldn't say no.

We had brought four large glow sticks to light up the cave's large grotto. Once we had the sparring location adequately lit, Skywalker handed me the Inquisitor lightsaber he bought for me. I have to admit it was a strange sensation to have a crimson blade in my hand. I don't know who the previous owner was, but I could feel the residue of darkness pulsated through the blade. Whoever he was…he was evil.

Skywalker was standing about three meters from me, green lightsaber in hand, and grinning like a kid in a toy shop until he noticed my hesitation to use the blade. He deactivated his lightsaber and stepped forward. "What's wrong Litassa?"

I shook my head. "Nothing." I gazed at the weapon for a long pause before returning my attention to Luke. "I don't know the extent of your lightsaber knowledge, but the kyber crystals in a Sith lightsaber start out the same as any Jedi's weapon, but when wielded by a darksider the darkside of the Force permanently alters the crystal. The damage turns the blade red. That's why almost all Sith have crimson lightsabers."

"Did you have a red lightsaber?"

"No," I said honestly. "I didn't use the light or dark side…but something in between. My lightsaber turned magenta in color." I moved the humming blade, side to side, getting familiar to its feel. "The sensation is strange."

"Should we forgo the lightsaber practice?"

"No, it just feels a different. I can wield it." I moved into an en garde position. "Let's go at it slow. It's been a while since I used a saber."

He nodded as he activated his weapon. We circled each other cautiously before I took the offense, swinging my saber high and slow. It was an easily defendable strike and if Skywalker faltered I was ready to end this lightsaber session immediately and opt for wooden staffs. Luke gave a disappointed roll of his eyes as he easily countered my attack with a parry and thrust. "You don't have to baby me, Litassa. I have fought with a lightsaber a few times against my father."

I smirked as I countered his attack and then spun around in an assault that would have removed his head from his shoulders if he failed bring his saber up in time to stop my blade. "I heard of your duel on Bespin. Didn't you lose your hand during that fight?"

He did a feint to the right before attacking to his left. I easily parried and riposted. "That is true," he admitted. "But the second time we met, I took his hand."

"I'm impressed," I said with a tinge of awe. "I wouldn't like to go against Darth Vader in a death match."

Luke lunged forward thrusting his lightsaber in my direction. "Did you ever train with my father?"

I circled around him looking for an opening. "No, he had a core group that he initially trained and those people trained the Inquisitors that followed. I had dozens of instructors in all types of combat training, but never your father."

I pressed forward, performing a number of thrust and swings. To my surprise, Luke did an impressive job at countering every one of my attacks until I finally worked my way through his defenses…and stopped my blade centimeters from his neck. We both stood there dazed as the realization that I could have killed the man slowly sunk in. As the shock faded I looked down and saw that Luke's blade stopped short of impaling me through the stomach. If we had a little less control we would have died on each other's blade. "I think we should take a break." I whispered as I shut down the weapon.

Luke did the same and stepped back. "That was a little closer than I would have liked."

I nodded. "You skill is considerable for a man who started training in his late teens."

Luke grinned. "Thank you." He clipped his lightsaber to his belt his before he bent down and rummaged through a small backpack he had brought along. He pulled out two small canteens and held one out to me.

"Thank you," I said as I took the water bottle and drank. Luke sat down on a small boulder on the cave floor and made room for me to sit next to him.

"Litassa, you once said you were an experiment—a Force-neutral Inquisitor—neither Jedi or Sith. How does that work?"

I hesitated for a moment before I answered. "The Emperor was well educated in the history of the Sith, Jedi and the Force. He had a library with the writings of dozens of Force-sects, such as the Dai Bendu, The Potentium, the Voss Mystics, Rakata, Legions of Lettow, or the Dark Acolytes. He wanted to create a legion of Force strong followers but he didn't want to develop enemies that could band together and overthrow him. I believe he regretted the development of the Inquisitorius. They may be watered down Sith…but they were still Sith with the same greed and insatiable thirst for power as he had. It was a bomb of corruption that was just waiting to go off. The Moffs also saw the danger and that is why they killed most Inquisitors after Palpatine's death. They posed a threat to their rule." I paused for a breath. "Palpatine knew there was more to the Force than the light and the dark. If a person could avoid the corruption of the darkside without having to adhere to a stringent and stifling Jedi code…then a strong and fiercely loyal Force adept, one without the thirst for power, might be created."

Luke nodded in understanding. "What skills did you learn?"

"You know I learned Force Concealment or Buried Presence because I taught you how to do it, along with blanking out security holocams. I was also taught how to do Force illusions, slow down or freeze a blasterbolt, I can paralyze the enemy, do Force shoves, Force assisted jumps and cushioning of falls, telekinesis, levitation, Force persuasion, mind melding, and some precognition." I took a breath and continued. "I was never specifically taught darkside techniques, but because I was trained on how to defend myself from a Force user, I think there are some I could perform, such as the memory rub, or the Force choke. I've never practiced them, so I'm not sure."

He stared at me slack jawed. "Wow. There is so much you can teach me."

I was afraid this was going to devolve into another 'Litassa, join me so we can train Jedi' talk, so I quickly presented my thoughts on the matter. "And I will teach you, Luke. I will teach you, because I care for you…but I will never agree to train new Jedi. The galaxy is a better place without them or the Sith. I think for the first time ever the Force is in balance. Yes, there are a few Force users, but none as strong as Palpatine or the Jedi of old. You and I are just specks within the flow of the Force…but if you train dozens or hundreds or Jedi…it will cause a shift. And that is dangerous because if there is a shift to the light, there is almost always an equal and opposite shift to the dark. The Force wants to remain in balance. If the Jedi rise…so will the Sith. It's better if neither exist."

He opened his mouth to argue but I held up my hand. "Stop. If you want to debate that point, I won't teach you anything. I will not support the rise of the Jedi. I just won't."

He looked terribly disappointed, but he dropped the subject. "Okay," he said softly. "Can you teach me how to freeze a blasterbolt?"

I smirked. "Sure," I said as I pulled out my blaster. "Get ready."

I expected him to startle, but he didn't. Instead a slow, sexy grin slipped across his face. "I know you won't shoot your sexy moisture farmer."

I rolled my eyes and gritted my teeth. He is never going to let me forget that particular moniker I bestowed upon him during a private and passionate moment together. "Don't be so sure, Farmboy." I tried to maintain the illusion of irritation, but I couldn't keep up the façade. I smiled tenderly before leaning in to kiss him.

Force training could wait.