Magic is Force: Chapter 13 Part A
Meetra was fast asleep on the hard ground when she was awoken by something prodding her cheek. Squinting her eyes open, a furry figure filled her vision. Solembum took his big, furry paw and poked her again trying to wake her. "What do you want Solembum?" she said with a tired and disgruntled tone to her voice.
The first rays of light have started to appear over the horizon. We have to make ready and be away from here before the soldiers from Gil'ead find our camp. He continued to bat her several more times. Growing slightly irritated, Meetra tried to push the werecat away. However, to make the wake-up call worse, Solembum leapt on top of her chest. "You blasted cat, fine I'm getting up!"
Shoving Solembum, Meetra wearily sat up right, stretching out her tightened muscles. The rays of sunlight bathed her face, slightly rejuvenating her. A long drawn-out yawn escaped her mouth as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Eye crust had formed around them and it fell down her cheeks in a tear drop line. Was I crying last night? Meetra thought to herself as she rubbed the gunk away. She didn't remember waking up crying – she slept very well actually.
Meetra was about to dismiss the idea when she suddenly remembered her dream. She was chasing after Karn before he had disappeared leaving her in the dark. The feeling of loneliness quickly filled her and she began to worry that Karn had actually disappeared. Turning her head to the base of the large boulder, Meetra was relieved to see that Karn was still there – laying in the bedroll sleeping.
Shifting over to Karn's side, Meetra gazed down at the boy; he appeared to be perfectly sound asleep, oblivious to the world. His breathing was long and unlabored providing her a good sign that he did not seem to be in danger. Several strands of his long hair covered his face, obscuring his closed eyes and covering a scar that stretched across his upper lip to his nose.
Was that really a dream? Meetra thought back to the delusion she had but hours ago. She did not recognized the land or city that she saw but the man she met was clearly Karn. Meetra remembered the look on Karn's face as he stared off towards the ocean, how pained it looked. What is troubling you Karn? What has caused you to experience such pain?
Meetra brushed the bangs away providing her a clear view of his entire face. Aside from the scarred skin, Karn's complexion was very appealing to her. And without even thinking and for some unknown reason, Meetra began to caress the side of his face. Her hand rubbed against the stubble that had been growing on his face.
Her loneliness began to subside slowly, knowing that she was in the presence of another Force-user, another person from home. However, some part of her continued to feel lonely. Perhaps it was because Meetra had yet to confess her true identity. The thought of admitting her true self to another person seemed daunting. Only one other being knew her actual identity and that person was currently laying on the ground, grooming their front two paws.
You'll have to tell him sometime, though, Meetra thought. She continued to caress Karn's cheek before she pulled herself away, her focus drawing elsewhere. "Solembum," Meetra said going over to her traveling packs. "It's time to go. Are you ready?"
The werecat continued to groom itself as Meetra went about preparing for the journey. For us werecats, we do not require the necessities that you humans require whilst traveling.
"So that's a 'yes' then?" Untethering the mare, Meetra swung a wool blanket over the horse's back then laid a leather saddle on top.
Of course that means 'yes'. I am ready to depart once you are ready. Solembum stretched out his entire being, letting his muscles loosen up before they set out on the road.
Tying off the last bag to the saddle, Meetra led the mare over to Karn and carefully hauled him into the saddle. She situated him so Karn's head rested on the neck of the beast and placed his feet into the stirrups. If fortune smiled upon them and had no confrontation with soldiers, Meetra wouldn't have to strap Karn to the saddle to prevent him from falling off.
Whipping her traveling cloak across her back, Meetra held it in place by clasping her silver brooch. "Ready?"
Solembum did not reply but his advance towards the south told Meetra that he was indeed, ready. Taking hold the reigns, Meetra guided the mare away from their hiding place. It took nearly an hour for them to reach the road that led south to Bullridge and then onto Uru'baen.
By mid-day, Meetra led the mare and Solembum off road and had a light lunch at the base of a large willow tree. Its branches were long and had many leaves stemming off of it providing a large shaded area to rest under. Karn was laid down beside Meetra as she ate slices of bread and jam and some pieces of fruit while Solembum had managed to find a family of mice.
Well Meetra, said Solembum as he chewed the meat off the bones of the mice. When do you think our new companion will awake to greet the day?
"Karn should be able to awake anytime. The wounds have been healed and any other damage would have been restored as a result of the Force-user having time to recover." She peered over to Karn's sleeping figure and felt anxious. She was hoping he would wake soon so she could speak with him. She placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze, letting him know that she was there. Leaning her back against the trunk of the tree, Meetra closed her eyes and made an effort to meditate. Her mind drew her back to her times with Kreia, aboard the Ebon Hawk when the two would practice meditating with each other.
The blind, old woman sat on the cold durasteel plating floor directly across from her in the port crew quarters. Her cold, condescending voice echoed off the walls, "Ignore all distractions and focus on my voice… Now close your eyes."
Meetra raised an eyebrow, "Alright."
"Feel this ship around you," Kreia instructed. Stretching out her consciousness, Meetra let herself take in the whole entirety of the ship. The weight of it, the lives that lived on it, and their thoughts. Kreia's thoughts echoed through her mind. "The welding of the droid as it goes about its work."
Meetra's focus was drawn to the small astromech droid that was rolling across the plated floor, welding breaches of the inner hull. The sound of a slight 'ticking' noise was produced every time the droid moved. "Hey T3 has a stuck motivator!"
"Shhhhh…Now stretch out…" Kreia's voice rippled through the Force. "Hear the rumble of hyperspace…the hum of the hyperdrive." Meetra moved her conscious over through the familiar halls and into the engine room. The hyperdrive was operating during their trip across the galaxy, searching for the missing Jedi Masters. A subtle rumble flowed across the ship. Normally Meetra never noticed it but it felt immense now…
"Imagine the Room of a Thousand Fountains, each falling silent and still."
Picturing the Jedi Temple, Meetra developed an exact look-alike of the seven story tall green house. The main entrance to the chamber consisted a short passage behind huge wooden doors, emptying onto a platform from which several stone and dirt paths diverged. The winding paths cut through potted plants and large displays of exotic foliage from across the galaxy. Little bridges crossed streams that flowed from unseen sources. Benches lined the paths, encouraging meditation and reflection. The fountains remained quiet and refused to trickle.
"Now listen deeper, past the breathing of the souls living upon this ship…"
Meetra breathed in deeply, letting the air fill her lungs. "Ignore all distractions," she whispered. Closing her mind off from the world, Meetra blocked out the sound of the birds chirping high above her in the willow tree. The warmth of the sun was cooled. The sound of Solembum eating the mice was deafened. However, there was one thing Meetra could not block out, the tie between her and Karn – the Force bond. Through the Force, Meetra could feel the darkness stir inside him. It was like a savage storm, wreaking havoc to him. A storm filled with…hatred…pain…anger….and…loneliness. Meetra was surprised to feel that same emotion again from Karn. It was the same as when during the dream.
Once again, her own loneliness grew in strength. The exposure to the dark taint affected Meetra. I can't let it affect me. Have to drown it out… Pushing past the dark storm, Meetra sensed a small bright spot in the eye of the storm. Focusing on it, Meetra let it swim over her. It comfort her and provided her some clarity from the Darkside. Even in the midst of the serenity and harmony that basked Meetra, her thoughts still turned to Karn.
An idea came to her, perhaps she should impart some of her serenity and peace to Karn to help dull the Darkside. Focus on my voice. Her thoughts echoed through the Force and to the small pulsing light…Karn, please wake up.
Darkness enveloped Karn and kept him caged up. Thick, black chains, from origins unknown, bound Karn's wrists and disappeared into the bleak abyss. He was left bare chested and only his vestments covered him. In this prison of darkness, time seemed to stand still. Hatred clouded his mind, preventing him from stretching out through the Force. He was left alone in the darkness, left alone to sulk in his hatred and rage…left alone forever. "I've always been alone…"
"No you haven't. You've always have had me."
Staring into the black abyss, Karn could see the figure of a person approach him. The figure appeared translucent but Karn could make out his features. Robes of white billowed around him and latched around his waist was a belt with a lightsaber hooked onto it. As Karn stared at the man's face…déjà vu seemed to fall upon him. I've seen him before somewhere…but where. The man stood about Karn's height, had white shoulder length hair, and had pale skin. But a scar ran from the side of his nose down to his mouth – similar to Karn's. He was having trouble placing the man's familiar face but nothing seemed to click. What held his gaze to the figure though were the man's two glowing sulfur-colored eyes.
Karn stared in confusion as the being came to stand only feet away from him. Torrents of Darkside energies percolated off him. "Who are you?" Karn said timidly. An ominous smile crept over the ghostly figure.
"Who am I? Who am I?! You must be joking. We were born together. Raised together.
Shaking his head in disagreement Karn replied, "No I'm not joking. I don't know you. I've never seen or met you before."
Karn sensed feelings of hatred and anger perforate from the ghostly being. "You so blind to the truth…We fought together!"
Karn continued to stare into the sulfur glowing eyes. Somewhere, Karn felt that he had seen the man before. The person's voice was familiar. And this beings power… Hatred and anger stemmed off him.
"You!" The pieces finally began to fit together. "You were there when I fought Durza." Karn remembered the figure appearing to him just before Durza was about to strike him down.
"That I am," the figure said. He moved a step closer and examined the chains holding Karn in place.
"What are you?" Karn asked trying to cram his neck around to see the being. "Are you a spirit? A Force ghost?"
Taking a hold of the chain in his hand, an evil sneer replaced the transparent being. "Pathetic." Crackling lightning burst forth from the beings hands and traveled down the chains, electrocuting Karn! With a painful cry, Karn felt his body shake uncontrollably, the chains clanging as he shook.
The electrocution stopped once the figure removed his hand from the chain. Karn's energy felt drained. His skin was burned and his muscles convulsed causing lasting trauma. "No I am not a Force ghost." The figure said. Grappling onto both chains this time, he electrocuted them both. Once again, Karn screamed into the darkness with increased agony.
Karn's breathing was labored as he struggled to gain a breath of air. "Why are doing this!?"
"Why?" The figure said it as if it was a foreign idea. "Why do I cause you pain? Because…" The lightning increased in strength, ripping Karn's nervous system to shreds. Lifting his hands off the chains, the figure circled around Karn and grabbed his chin forcing him to look him dead in the eye. "Because it's fun!" He smiled revealing a set of blackened teeth.
"Creating pain is fun?" Karn spoke it with disbelief. "That's not true!"
"It certainly is!" The figure replied quickly before striking Karn across the face. Blots of white crossed his eyes and felt his blood pulse and sting on the side of his face. "Look at you. You weak, pathetic piece of bantha fodder. I can do whatever I want to do to you." To make his words speak truth, the figure dealt a blow to Karn's stomach, making him loose his breath.
Anger began to swell inside Karn and it grew into a raging current. Pulling on the chains binding him in place, Karn desperately to free and defend himself. A pleased, exhilarated look contorted the figures face. "Finally. I've been waiting for you to express those feelings." He reached out and laced his fingers through Karn's hair, pulling him up to eyelevel. "Get angrier. I want to see your hatred!"
Karn began to panic and he struggled to break the being's hold. "What would happen if mother saw you now? To see you locked away, unable to free her?" Karn froze on the spot, even as the being continued to mockingly smile. "Mother would be so ashamed to see her weak son in such a state."
As if beckoning to his words, a woman appeared from the darkness. She wore a long torn skirt, revealing much of her legs, and was topless aside from a metallic bra covering her breasts. A collar was locked around her neck and shackles wrapped her wrists. Her long flowing brown hair covered a portion of her elongated face, only showing one eye. The sapphire blue orb stared Karn down. Wide eyed, Karn could believe what he was seeing. "M-mother?" Karn whispered. His mother continued to stare at him until her face was filled with pain. "Karn…you'd said you free me."
The Grey Knight was lost for words as he stared at his mother's phantom. "I'm trying mother," he said through gasps of air.
Karn's mother face grew full of doubt and her voice spoke it. "It's been five years…you're never coming for me are you?"
Karn shook his arms trying to break the chains but they stayed intact. "No! That's not true!" Fear began to grip Karn's insides and melded together with his anger. "I will free you! I swear that to you; I will free you!"
His mother shook her head. "No you won't. You're too weak. You're not strong enough…You never were." She turned away from him and walked into the darkness.
"Mother!" Karn cried out after her. "Please don't go!" Seeing his mother leave left Karn feeling empty, hurt, and alone.
Her words rung out through the darkness and stabbed at Karn's heart: You're not strong enough – you never were. It was as if being stabbed in the chest by a lightsaber. His arms went limp and Karn felt himself dangling from the chains. His mind and heart went numb, shocked by his mother's words. …I'm weak? The idea angered him. No that's not possible. I am not weak!
Kneeling down the figure came close to Karn and whispered, "Oh but you are weak."
"Don't say that!" Karn yelled. His muscles tensed pulling against the chains again. His anger began to turn to rage. "I'm not weak! I have power!"
"Power?" the being confused. "What power do you possibly have?"
"I stood on par against a Sith. I stopped the guards at Teirm!" Karn spoke out. "I was able to fight against the Ra'zac! I killed Durza!" Karn's tirade was stopped when the transparent being reached out wrapped his fingers around his throat and covered his mouth. A frown replaced the being's smile and his sulfur eyes glowed brighter with anger.
"You have no power, boy!" he roared out into the abyss. "The power you speak of was not yours – it was mine!" Karn was unable to apply as the pressure around his neck increased.
"The 'power' you used was not yours but was the product of my rage, my fear, my anger, my hate, my pain. You took my strength and claimed it as your own, when in fact it never belonged to you in the first place!"
Karn shook his head vigorously in disapproval. "It was mine!" Karn tried to say while his mouth was covered.
"Fool!" the being said with such vile and hatred. Releasing his hold over Karn, the being reached down and unhooked his lightsaber. A blood-colored blade erupted from the hilt. Howling in rage, the being slashed out across Karn's chest making a long gash.
The pain was excruciating and Karn screamed. The smell of burning flesh filled his senses nearly causing him to vomit. "Give in to your hate!" the being cried. Suddenly, the being dealt a second strike that overlapped his first.
"Aaarrrggghhh!" screamed Karn. The pain was so overwhelming that it nearly caused him to black out. However, the bolt of fresh pain brought Karn back when the being stabbed Karn right in the shoulder.
"Give in to your anger!"
"Aaaaaarrrrrrrgggggghhhhhh!" The storm that had been brewing inside Karn's body was beginning to become uncontrollable. The need to free himself and kill the being was all that Karn thought of. If he had managed to escape and kill the being, all the pain and suffering would end.
"GIVE IN TO ME!" the being screamed.
A dark power began to course through Karn's body as his anger, hate, and pain began to take control over him. The clanging of chains grew as Karn struggled to free himself. His mind grew numb and Karn felt his senses go deaf to the world. The darkness began to close around him soon becoming his eternal prison.
I'm sorry mother… I'm sorry Eragon, Saphira, Brom… I can't hold it back any longer… In the dark, Karn was trapped and left alone where no one could hear his eternal screams, his cries of agony and despair. His worst fear was soon becoming reality. I'm alone.
A blinding piercing light exploded to life, extinguishing the surrounding darkness. Karn's arms felt weightless as the chains holding him in place suddenly shattered into thousands of metal shards. Without any supports holding him up, Karn collapsed. His body felt numb and the pain seared his nerves. As the light grew brighter and closer, warmth soothed his body, relaxing him and clearing his mind. The light suddenly formed the silhouette of a woman and approached him.
Karn recoiled away from the being, holding his hand to his eyes to protect from the intensity. However, as the being knelt down and touched his hand, the dark emotions that festered inside him instantly vanished. His hand was pulled away and Karn was left staring at the apparition. He was utterly memorized by the specter and the warmth that swam into him. A pressure began to fall over Karn's mind and he instantly recognized the approach of foreign presence. Just before he put up his mental barriers, Karn second guessed himself. The presence was calm and peaceful; and oddly, Karn thought he had felt it somewhere before. Taking a leap of faith, Karn let the presence fill him. It wrapped around him like a warm blanket and instilled in him a sense of peace. "This feeling…this aura…I've felt it before." Karn thought out loud. "Who are you?"
Karn, please wake up. The voice took Karn by surprise. He was wondering how the apparition knew his name. But the voice sounded familiar to him. And it brought him a sense of comfort. The apparition extended out its hand to Karn, waiting for him to accept. Not wanting to remain in his prison of solitude and darkness, Karn took the hand of the apparition and felt himself become truly peaceful.