***A/N: I made a few changes to Chapter 9. I fleshed out the conversation between Ashla & the Jedi Masters, and added some additional content to the section that covers her Jedi training. Feel free to go back and read back over it if you wish. As always, thank you for reading! Enjoy chapter 10! ***
Chapter 10: The Tainted Grove
Ashla waited patiently while Master Zhar inspected her newly constructed lightsaber. She felt Carth's presence in the room. She wondered when he arrived. When she began her meditation to construct the saber, it was only Zhar and herself in the small meditation room. Now, not only was Carth there, but also Bastila, Teethree, and Master Vandar. She turned her attention to Master Zhar, as he scrutinized the silver saber hilt in his hands, inspecting its construction.
"You have done exceedingly well in constructing your lightsaber, apprentice Ash. The crystal is housed perfectly. It is rare for a student to construct their lightsaber without error on their first attempt, but you have done it." Master Zhar activated the saber, and inspected the blue plasma blade. "Yes, truly an elegant weapon." Zhar released the plasma beam and handed Ash back the lightsaber. "This weapon is your life. Guard it well."
Carth suppressed a snicker as he remembered a conversation he and Ash had with Bastila over her lost lightsaber on Taris. He felt the weight of Bastila's stare as she shot him a look that said, 'don't you dare bring that up.'
Ash clipped the saber hilt onto her belt. She saw Carth's lips turn up slightly as he stifled the grin which threatened to spread across his face. At Bastila's annoyed look, Ash thought she knew exactly what Carth was thinking about. She smiled as she remembered Bastila's annoyance with them both when they teased her about losing her lightsaber in her escape pod when it crashed on Taris.
"Your saber identifies you as a member of the Jedi Order. With such recognition comes respect and honor. In addition, it will draw unwanted attention from the Sith and Dark Jedi alike. You must be ready to face them in battle and prove yourself worthy." Master Vandar said.
"Yes, Masters." Ash replied to the two Jedi masters before her with a slight bow.
Master Zhar nodded in return. "You've worked hard today, Ash. Go and rest. I'll see you in the morning for your next lesson."
Ash bowed to the masters as they left the meditation room. Teethree beeped excitedly as she moved to stand next to the little droid. T3 = will be a jedi soon too!
Bastila smiled at the droid. "Teethree, you just might be the first droid to become a Jedi in history." She said jokingly. She looked in careful concentration at Ash. "You've done very well, Ash. What you have accomplished in mere weeks, for many others, it would have taken years. You've worked hard and it shows."
Ash was taken aback by Bastila's words. She had worked closely with the Jedi over the last few weeks and their relationship, while rocky at the start, was slowly becoming more akin to a sisterhood. "Thank you, Bastila. That is high praise, coming from you." She said, warmly.
Bastila nodded. "You're very welcome, Ash. You should go get some rest, you've earned it." She nodded to Carth before she left the meditation room, heading back to the ship for the evening.
"Well, looks like it's just you and me, beautiful. Shall I escort you back to the ship?" Carth asked, with a lopsided grin.
Teethree rolled and nudged Carth in the leg, beeping at him. T3 = Don't forget about T3!
Carth laughed as he reached down to pat the droid. "Don't worry, Teethree. I could never forget you, buddy."
Ash smiled warmly as she watched the interaction between the two. She realized how much she missed being around him over the past several weeks. Carth stuck out his elbow towards her, causing her to burst out in laughter. She nodded as she looped her arm in his, with Teethree rolling ahead of them back to the ship.
Dantooine's two moons were rising in the night sky, spreading a light glow onto the interior courtyard as they walked under the spreading branches of the uneti tree at its center. Carth led her to one of the benches in the courtyard. They sat quietly as Teethree rolled around the courtyard.
Ash smiled shyly up at him. 'You're being silly,' she told herself, 'you spent three weeks alone with him while on Taris.' She hadn't been around many of the others since starting her jedi training. Her only communication with them had been either in passing or the occasional note that she would leave when she noticed something that needed to be fixed or supplies that were low. Gauging his quiet demeanor, she wondered if he might be feeling the same way.
"It feels like it's been awhile since I've had time to just sit," Ash said as she looked up at the moons, trying to ignore the fluttering in her stomach.
"Lately, it feels like that's all I've had to do." Carth said. 'I shouldn't have said that,' he groaned inwardly as he watched her smile falter as the realization of his words set in.
"Oh, I didn't think about that at all. You all have probably been bored out of your mind." She frowned slightly. She didn't like the thought that she was the reason they were waiting around while she finished her training.
Carth smiled apologetically at her. "Yeah, a bit," he said as he stared up at the night sky.
"I'm sorry, Carth." Ash said as she looked at her folded hands in her lap. "I've been so busy, I didn't think about…"
"Hey. Don't apologize. It's okay." Carth replied as he put his arm around her and pulled her in close for a gentle hug. She looked beautiful with the moonlight shining on her hair. He glanced at her hand which rested lightly on his chest. Her large brown eyes were staring up at him. His gaze dropped down to her full lips. He wondered how her lips would feel against his. He pulled away, quickly. "Ahem. We should…uh, we should probably go. It's getting late."
Ash swallowed down her disappointment. "Yes, you're right." She thought for a moment he was going to kiss her. There is no passion, there is serenity… Passion leads to attachments. It's best this way, she thought.
Teethree rolled over and gently bumped her foot. "Dooo wooo?" T3 = Ash + Carth ready to go?
"Yes, Teethree. Let's go." Carth stood up, offering his hand to Ash to help her to stand.
Ash placed her hand in his, and stood. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze before letting it go. Teethree led the way out of the enclave.
He was quiet as they entered the docking bay. He snuck a quick glance at her as they neared the ship. She's training to be a Jedi. Jedi aren't supposed to have relationships. Although, he seemed to recall a Jedi once telling him that they discouraged members of the order from getting involved in relationships, but it still happened from time to time. It doesn't matter. She doesn't have time for that. Besides, the thought of getting involved with someone hurts too much. Especially when she reminds me so much of her...
After they strode up the ramp leading into the Ebon Hawk, Ash looked up at him in expectation. Carth looked away quickly, murmuring a quick 'good night,' leaving her to stand in the corridor alone. Ash watched him retreat toward the portside dormitories where he, Zaalbar and Canderous picked out their bunks. He put the wall back up again, she thought. She debated on calling out to him... to call him back, but didn't. 'No, it's better this way,' she thought, feeling deflated. She glanced sadly toward the corridor he vanished down, then turned and headed for the opposite side of the ship to get ready for bed.
#
Bastila was waiting for Ash the next morning as she came out of the dormitory in search of caff. It was still very early, and the rest of the crew was still asleep.
"Good morning, Ash. I trust you slept well." Bastila said as she poured a cup of caff for Ash and handed it to her.
Ash nodded her thanks as she accepted the steaming mug. "Somewhat. I haven't had any more of the visions since we had the first one. Have you?" Ash asked as she took a sip of the hot liquid.
"Um… No, I haven't. I have a feeling we will, though. It's only a matter of time, I think." Bastila replied. "Today, your third trial should begin. You should see Master Zhar after breakfast."
"My third trial? Do you know anything about it?" Ash asked as she set down her cup, and selected a meiloorun flavored oatmeal and a protein mix from the food synthesizer for her breakfast. She sat down with her caff while she waited.
"Hm… I'm not allowed to tell you anything about your trial, nor am I allowed to help you in any way." Bastila replied as she placed her dirty dishes in the galley's small sonic dishwasher. "I shouldn't have told you as much as I have."
Ash rose and grabbed the tray out from the food synthesizer. "Don't worry. I'll act surprised when Master Zhar tells me." She grinned at Bastila, who studied her quizzically as she sipped her caff.
"I know we got off on the wrong foot, Ash. And, I apologize for that. I've been giving a lot of thought to what the council said about the two of us… about our connection. There is a bond between the two of us. You feel it too, don't you?"
Ash stirred her oatmeal as she thought about how to respond. She could feel the connection between herself and Bastila. Sometimes, she thought she could hear Bastila speaking to her through the Force while they were meditating. "Yes, I do. I don't understand it, but I know it's there."
"The Masters suggested that since our fates are strongly connected that a bond has been forged between the two of us." Bastila replied.
Ash chewed the oatmeal slowly as she considered Bastila's words, and their meaning. "It's a lot to take in, Bastila."
"Yes, I know. Since we do have this… connection. I'd like to know more about you. I mean, I saw your service record when you came on board the Endar Spire, but outside of that, I know little about you."
"Hm. It's natural to be curious about me, I suppose. What did you want to know?" Ash said, after she took a sip of her caff.
"Well, just some basic information. I mean, I know your age. You've already told me that, but where are you from? What planet were you born on?" Bastila sat down opposite of her at the small table in the common area beside the galley. She rotated the mug while she waited for Ash to respond.
Ash put her spoon in her bowl. "Well, I'm from Deralia. After my accident, I lived on Coruscant while I recovered."
Bastila nodded. "What did you do before the accident?"
"I operated a droid shop, where I repaired and reprogrammed droids." Ash replied, before taking another bite of her oatmeal.
"Well, that explains why you and Teethree get along so famously." Bastila said. "What kind of accident were you in?"
Ash took a sip of her caff, and shifted uncomfortably in the seat. "The transport I was on was fired upon by another ship." She didn't like talking about the accident very much, and thought it had been included in her service record, which Bastila had already read. "I thought that was in my service record."
"Well, yes, it was… The truth is, I was studying your answers and reactions, which help to learn more about your character."
Ash arched a slim auburn brow at her. "So this was a test? Hmph. Alright then. What did you find out?"
"You were honest, and you treated this as a serious matter. This bond we share isn't to be taken lightly. Thankfully, you aren't. We'll talk more about this later. I should probably let you finish breakfast. I have to get to the Matale estate. Ahlan Matale is insistent that Nurik Sandral has kidnapped his son. The Jedi Council has asked me to get to the bottom of the matter." Bastila put her mug into the sonic dishwasher and waved as she left Ash alone in the common area.
Ash finished her breakfast, then loaded her dishes into the small sonic dishwasher. After activating it, she waited for it to finish. Canderous swaggered into the galley. He grunted what sounded like a 'good morning,' to Ash as he poured himself a cup of caff.
"Carth and I got that swoop bike almost finished. I just need to test her out to make sure she handles well." Canderous said as he lowered himself down in a chair with his cup of caff.
"As soon as they let me out of the enclave, we'll take it out for a test run." Ash said as she put away the clean dishes that she and Bastila used for their breakfast.
"Yea? When's that going to be? I could use some time away from this ship, that's for sure." Canderous grumbled.
"Hopefully, soon. Honestly, I'm a little surprised you're sticking around, Canderous. I'd figured you would have wanted off this little world and leave for a place that would offer more excitement as soon as we landed." Ash leaned back against the counter of the galley.
"Hmph. It is boring here… but, I'm staying. There's a good chance the Jedi will be sending that Jedi princess up against Malak. What a magnificent battle that would be! Finding glory and honor in battle are everything to a Mandalorian. Yeah, I'll stick around for that."
"Well, I'm sure she would appreciate the help. Going up against Malak, I think we'll need all the help we can get." Ash said, as she walked toward the corridor that led to the off ramp.
#
Ash found Master Zhar watering the plants in the meditation room where she constructed her lightsaber the night before. She pulled one of the meditation mats out from the stack that was against the wall and sat it in the middle of the room. She knelt down and sat with her legs folded under her while she waited for Master Zhar to acknowledge her presence. She inhaled deeply, and felt herself connect with the Force surrounding her.
Bastila sat next to another older Jedi, whose name was unknown to her, riding in a speeder racing over the grasslands of Dantooine. She sensed Bastila acknowledge her presence in the Force.
Ash shifted her awareness closer to the enclave. She felt a sadness radiating from the Ebon Hawk. She inhaled and pressed closer to identify the source. Mission… she grieves for Taris. Ash feels the ever present Zaalbar at her side. She moved on… Carth… He harbors a great pain. His thoughts center on revenge. He is suffering...
"Your thoughts dwell on another." Master Zhar intoned gently, his words finding their way through the hazy fog of the Force as it surrounds her.
"Yes." Ash said gently, with her eyes closed.
"You must learn to let go, Ash."
"Yes, Master." Ash replied as she opened her eyes to find Master Zhar seated before her. "Perhaps, I can help him."
Master Zhar frowned as his lekku twitched. "Your friend? The Captain?"
Ash nodded. "He saved my life. I would help him, if I could."
Master Zhar leaned back slightly, and rested his hands on his knees. "Hmm… he must learn to let go of his pain. We all have our lessons in life to learn. This might be his burden alone to bear."
"Of course, Master." Ash bowed her head respectfully to the Master and waited patiently for him to continue.
"Today, you will begin your third trial. For every Jedi, the threat of the dark side is ever present. In order to proceed, you must understand this before you are accepted fully into the Jedi order. You must see this corruption for yourself. Even here on Dantooine, there are places where the dark side holds sway, twisting and corrupting, even nature itself. There is an ancient grove, where the Jedi used to go and practice their meditations. However, now a wave of darkness perverts the area and the region surrounding it. The kath hounds have been most sensitive to it. They have become a grave threat to the settlers who live in the region." Master Zhar explained.
"What would you have me to do, Master? What's causing this… corruption?" Ash asked. In her mind, she saw the ruins of the temple. She remembered how cold she felt after she woke from the dream. If that was the dark side, she wasn't keen on experiencing it again.
Master Zhar looked at her squarely. "You must travel to the grove and confront the cause of the corruption. Only then, will the grove be cleansed."
Again, she thought of the ruins. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. "Do you have any further guidance for me, Master?"
"No, I can say no more. Some things you must experience for yourself. None of the other Jedi are allowed to help you with your trial, not even Bastila. You must do this yourself."
Ash rose from the meditation mat. She bowed to Master Zhar before moving to the doorway. She paused when she heard Master Zhar call out to her.
"Apprentice. Remember, a Jedi acts with patience and care. Those who have fallen to the dark path are not always lost. May the Force be with you."
#
Ash left the enclave behind as she strode out into an outer courtyard. Several settlers milled around having come to the enclave to seek an audience with the Jedi council or to visit the local merchants. As she stood on the bridge leading out away from the enclave toward the pasture lands, she paused. None of the other Jedi may help you in this task. Master Zhar's words echoed in her head. None of the other Jedi, but what about her companions? Sure, it was bending the rules a bit, but it was better than getting mauled by a rabid hath hound. Canderous seemed eager to get out of the ship this morning. Last night, Carth was telling her basically the same thing. Ash turned around and headed back into the enclave, towards the docking bay. Maybe one of them would like to accompany her.
#
It had been Canderous' idea to push the swoop bike out into the docking bay to see if it would start up. After testing the controls and making sure the gears were moving smoothly, Canderous and Carth struggled to get it back up the ramp and into the garage.
"Where's... Zaalbar... when we need him?" Carth grumbled.
"Just... put your back into it, Republic." Canderous growled.
Ash entered the docking bay to see the two men sweating as they pushed the swoop bike up the ramp. She covered her mouth as she stifled a giggle watching the pair. "Would you two like some help with that?"
Carth whipped his head around at the sound of her voice.
Canderous answered before he had the chance. "Sure, you gonna get up here and help us push?"
She closed her eyes and felt the Force as it swirled around the swoop bike. Extending her arm, she raised her hand and began walking forward slowly. As she did, the swoop bike began moving up the ramp. In her mind's eye, she could see the garage of the Ebon Hawk before her as she guided the swoop bike up the ramp and into the garage as she walked behind it.
"Too bad you weren't here when we were trying to get it out of the ship." Canderous said as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
"What are you doing here, anyway? Isn't it a bit early for you to be finished with training for the day? It's not even lunch time yet." Carth said as he sat down on the edge of the swoop bike.
"I've been given an assignment. I wondered if the two of you would like to get out of the ship for a bit." Ash said. "It may not be very exciting… murderous kath hounds... a dark tainted grove…"
Ash smiled to herself when she saw their eyes perked up. "Want to come along?"
"Let's go suit up, Republic." Canderous said as he jabbed Carth on the shoulder. Canderous was already jogging down the corridor leading to the portside dormitory as Carth stood, rubbing his shoulder.
"Carth? Where's Mission and Zaalbar?" Ash called out as she peered down the corridor toward the common area.
"They're out on a supply run. Well, that's what Mission calls it when she wants an excuse to go to the cantina to play pazaak." Carth said with a smirk.
Ash reached for the datapad which she kept attached to the back of her belt. She typed up a message to Mission explaining where they were going and that it might be late when they returned. After replacing the datapad, she went to the cargo hold to pack one of the backpacks with ration bars, waters and medpacks. By the time she finished in the cargo hold, Canderous and Carth were waiting for her by the exit ramp.
#
Mission laid down the last card triumphantly.
"I lost again!" Zaalbar groaned. "I should stop playing with you, Mission. I think you cheat!"
"Awh, stop being such a big baby, Z!" Mission laughed as she picked up the cards and shuffled them back together.
"Mission? Is that you?"
Mission cringed. She knew that voice. It was her. "Well, if it isn't the cantina rat! Where's my brother?"
"I don't know where he is, Mission. Griff and I broke up. I haven't seen him in a while." The Twi'lek woman replied, pausing to stand beside the table where Zaalbar and Mission were playing pazaak.
"What are you doing here, anyway, Lena?" Mission frowned. Out of all the people in the galaxy to run into, why did it have to be her?
"I'm just passing through on my way to Alderaan." Lena said. "You know, your brother can be charming, but he's bad news, Mission."
"Don't talk trash about my brother! I'll smack you so hard your lekku will snap right off!" Mission slammed the table with her fist. Silence spread through the cantina as people stared curiously.
"Mission?! What's...wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?" Lena blanched as she took a step back away from the table.
"Mission gets a little riled up when it comes to her brother." Zaalbar moaned.
"I understand. Griff can be pretty frustrating, I get it. I guess that's why Mission didn't want to come with us when we left Taris."
"You lying...sleemo! Griff told me you didn't want his little sister tagging along!" Mission fumed.
"Mission, is that what he told you? I wanted you to come with us! Why, I even offered to pay for your ticket! I mean, why not? I paid for everything else when I was with that Hutt-slime! He told me you didn't want to leave Taris! I suggested that we stay, to be with you, but he said we would come back for you after he 'struck it rich on Tatooine.' That was just another one of his lies." Lena said as she glanced away, clearly upset by Griff's actions.
"No!" Mission gasped. "You're the one who's lying! Griff wouldn't… he wouldn't… just leave me!"
"Mission. Think about it. If he wasn't trying to leave you behind, why wouldn't he tell you where we were headed? After we left, he said looking after you was just holding him back." Lena crossed her arms over her chest as she stared at the floor. "That's Griff for you. Always looking to shove his problems onto someone else. He did the same thing to me once I ran out of money."
"Where is Griff now?" Mission asked. If she could find her brother, then she'd have her family back!
"I last saw him on Tatooine. He had some scheme going with the Czerka corporation in Anchorhead. But, Mission, if you're smart you'll forget about him. He's no good. He'll just try to take you for what you're worth." Lena said sadly.
"He's my brother! I can't just… forget about him!" Mission shook her head. "No, if he were here to defend himself you wouldn't be saying all this bad stuff about him!"
"Mission, one day you'll see that I'm right about your brother. I just hope it's not too late." Lena responded in defeat as she walked away from the table.
"Argh! The nerve of that… rat!" Mission said as she stood up and shoved the pazaak cards back into her pouch. "C'mon, Zaalbar. Let's go."
#
"Excuse me! Master Jedi?"
Ash paused, looking around. She didn't see any of the masters behind her, only Carth and Canderous.
"Ash, I think she's talking to you." Carth said, with a sly grin.
Oh, right. Ash smiled as she approached the woman who stood next to her speeder, bowing as she greeted her. "Good day. Is something amiss?"
The woman looked worriedly out over the pasture lands that surrounded the Jedi enclave. "Yes, there is. I've lost my… companion. I was hoping you could help me find him."
"I see. Can you tell me a bit about your companion?" Ash asked as she pulled out her datapad to make a note.
"Oh, please forgive me, master Jedi. I seemed to have forgotten to introduce myself. My name is Elise Montagne. I own a farm, not far from here, to the north." Elise wrung her hands together.
"Just take a breath and tell me what happened." Ash said.
"Well, you see, I've lost my companion. He's very dear to me. He's all that I have left of my late husband! Please you have to help me find him!" Elise said, as she hugged her arms around herself.
"Elise, I promise to help find your companion but I need some more information to go on. When did he go missing?"
"Well, it was yesterday afternoon. I was out in the garden. He was working inside the house. When I went back in for a glass of jogan juice, I noticed that the back door was wide open! I searched everywhere, all through the house and the surrounding farmland, but I can't find him anywhere! I'm so worried about him! I need him back, badly. I wonder, could he have been kidnapped?" Elise gasped.
Ash heard Carth and Canderous snicker behind her. "Well, hmm… does anyone hold any grudges against him?"
Elise glanced away. "Err… not that I know of, I mean… ahem, none of my neighbors know that he's here."
Ash frowned. That's odd, she thought. "Was there any signs of damage done to the door? Like it had been forced open?" Ash asked, as she filled in the note on her datapad.
"Uh, no, nothing was damaged. In fact, the door had been locked." Elise frowned, becoming more upset.
"And there was no signs of tampering in any way to the lock?" Ash asked again.
"Well, no…"
Ash glanced up from the datapad, "could it have been opened from the inside?"
Elise looked at her hands as she wrung them together. "Well, yes, it could have been… but, I mean, that would mean that he ran away… That's impossible… His programming…"
"His programming? Is your companion… a droid?" Ash asked as she heard Carth and Canderous both snicker loudly behind her.
"Why, yes… he is a… droid. Please! You have to find him! He's all that I have left of my dear husband! He's so special to me. He's my precious! I don't know what I'd do without him!" Elise covered her mouth with her hand.
"You live alone with this droid, Elise?" Ash asked as she made a notation on her datapad.
"He's a personal assistance droid. My husband was a wiz at constructing droids. He made this one capable of taking care of me for the rest of my life! Please, I need him back terribly!" Elise pleaded.
Carth elbowed Canderous lightly in the side. "Man, someone really misses her droid."
Canderous laughed boisterously, causing Ash to cast them a silencing glance.
Ash pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. She took a deep breath in to try to calm her voice before continuing. "Elise, I promise I will make every effort to locate your missing droid. I just need a bit more information."
"Oh! Thank you, master Jedi!" Elise exclaimed.
Ash finished logging in the information regarding the missing protocol droid, C8-42, then they headed out into the pasture lands in search of the tainted grove.
#
When Mission got back to the ship, she was disappointed to find it almost empty. Only Teethree rolled up to the ramp to greet her and Zaalbar as they made their way into the ship.
"Where's everybody at, Teethree?" Mission asked as she entered the common area.
"Beep boople dwooo beep," Teethree beeped. T3 = Ash + Carth + Canderous out on a mission.
Mission frowned. She pulled out her datapad and saw the blinking light that meant she had a message. In the excitement of running into Lena at the cantina, she must have missed the incoming message from Ash, she thought as she read over the note, which explained their absence. "Well, that's good. I could use some time alone anyway," Mission grumbled as she shuffled to the starboard dormitories and shut the door with the press of a button.
Zaalbar moaned sadly as he watched Mission walk off. He shook his head as he headed toward the cargo hold to put away the supplies they had picked up.
#
Ash sank down to her knees in the tall grass. The sounds of blaster fire behind her filled her ears as Canderous and Carth took down one of the rabid kath hounds that had gotten too close. Master Zhar hadn't given anything to go off on, no directions...nothing. She did the only thing she knew to do… meditate on the source of the darkness.
She connected with the Force around her. Here it felt like a warm breeze, but occasionally she felt a cold breeze coming from the East. With an inhale, she delved deeper into the warm current, focusing on the cold strand. As she did, she sensed something old. She sensed the ancient cold stones. In her mind, she could see the ancient temple. No, not there.
While the ancient temple was full of dark energy, it was not the source of the contamination. She brought her awareness away from the ancient temple and back to the kath hounds around her. Peace and calm, she thought as she sank into the Force, feeling the grass sway around her.
A thought floated on a cold breeze, 'I can never go back…'
With a deep inhale, she shifted her awareness closer to the thought she heard floating in the Force. It was full of anger. Sadness. Grief. Yes, this is the source of the dark taint infecting the kath hounds. It's coming from the south.
She stood suddenly. "This way."
#
Carth followed Ash as she made her way south. She hugged the wall, trying to steer clear of the kath hounds that dotted the landscape. His decision to keep distance between them had been waging a war within him since last night. Before, he thought it was the best way forward. He'd been playing it safe since the destruction of Telos. He didn't let anyone get close. It was easier that way.
But, then she came along. Reminding him of things that he had lost. Reminding him of her.
He realized last night how much he missed talking to her, seeing her smile, or making her laugh. He wanted to get closer to her, but he was afraid he would just end up getting hurt again. After losing Morgana, he had vowed to never get close to anyone else again. But, now that resolve was wavering.
'Maybe I should have asked to kiss her last night. Then again, maybe it was best that I didn't. Damn.'
#
As they entered the grove, Ash shivered in spite of wearing both her long sleeved white shirt and her brown padawan robes.
"It's slightly colder here." Carth said as he moved closer to Ash.
Canderous shook his head. "It feels about the same to me. Hell, I wish it was a bit colder. It's hot under all this armor."
Ash glanced quizzically at Carth. Could he be sensitive to the Force? She wondered. The way he shivered, she thought perhaps he was.
"The cold, that's the dark side of the Force that you're feeling. Be mindful." She said. I'm one with the Force, and the Force is with me, she thought as she moved deeper into the tainted grove.
Ash proceeded cautiously. Not far in the distance, she saw the ruins of what appeared to have been a small temple used for meditation at one time. Seated in its center was a young Cathar woman. Ash stretched her awareness through the Force. As she closed her eyes, she could visualize cold dark strands weaving their way out from the Cathar woman.
Yes, she is the source.
Cleanse the grove, Master Zhar had instructed, with patience and care.
"This is it. Stay here." Ash said, as she slipped off the heavy pack that rested on her back. "I have to do this alone."
"Ash, wait. You can't be serious. She's a dark side user." Carth protested.
"Carth." Ash turned around and placed her hand on his chest. "Please, wait here. It will be fine. Trust in the Force."
She left the two standing near the structure as she edged closer to the Cathar.
Canderous gave a humph as she walked off. "Typical Jedi nonsense."
#
Ash approached the Cathar woman cautiously. She activated her echani shield that she wore on her wrist. She breathed in deeply, calming herself as she moved closer.
I'm one with the Force, and the Force is with me.
The Cathar woman sensed her approach. She rose from her kneeling position quickly, shouting, "I will be your doom!"
Ash felt her lightsaber jump into her palm and she ignited it as she moved, quickly blocking as the fallen Jedi leapt towards her, with her lightsaber arching down upon her. Ash reached out with the Force, and pushed the Cathar back. Again, the fallen Jedi leapt at her, bearing down on her with her lightsaber. Their lightsabers clashed as they whirled around the old meditation temple. Ash continued to defend, only striking out when necessary and then not with the intent to actually harm the fallen Jedi.
The fallen Jedi ceased her attack and deactivated her lightsaber. "You are strong. Very strong. Stronger than I am, even as I use the dark side." She stalked angrily around Ash.
"I am Jedi apprentice, Ash Marek. Who are you and why did you attack me?" Ash deactivated her lightsaber as well, but kept it in her hand, just in case.
"My name is Juhani. This is my place of dark power. My grove. You have invaded my place of solitude! It is mine!" Juhani paced in front of her.
Ash could feel her anger rolling off of her in waves through the Force.
"You are the one who has been corrupting the kath hounds. Why?" She felt Carth's unease behind her. Canderous watched with attention. She turned her attention back to Juhani, who was still pacing in the old meditation temple.
"Ah, yes, my pets. They love the smell of my dark power I exude. I found my true power when I struck down my master." Juhani seethed.
"You struck down your master? Why?" She could feel the conflict with Juhani. Maybe she could convince her to turn away from the dark side?
"I was consumed by anger during our practice session. I embraced the power of hate, but it was not enough." Juhani related. She began pacing again.
Ash sat down on one of the meditation tiles. "Sit and meditate with me, Juhani."
"Why? When I have attacked you? Aren't you afraid I will strike you down as you sit?" Juhani said angrily.
"No, I am not afraid. The Force is my ally. Besides, if you were going to strike me down, as you say, you would have already done so." Ash said as she motioned to the tile in front of her.
"Why are you here? What do you want?" Juhani said as she sat down in front of Ash. "Can't you tell I just want to be left alone?"
Ash closed her eyes. Inhaling deeply, she reached out her awareness into the Force. She could feel a warm light still deep within Juhani, while the cold dark swirled around her. "You are conflicted. I feel the struggle within yourself. Why are you doing this, Juhani?" She reopened her eyes to gaze into the Cathar's gold eyes.
"I have fallen. I can never go back to the Council. So, here I must stay." Juhani said, sadly.
"I was sent by the Council to cleanse the taint from this grove, Juhani." Ash said, matter of factly.
"You were sent by the Council to kill me?! You have beaten me so easily! Why did you not finish your task?" Juhani said, standing quickly.
Ash sighed deeply. She rose to stand as well. "I have no desire to kill you. I wish you peace."
"I sense no anger from you. You are naive, apprentice Jedi! Yet even in your naivety, you have managed to best me! I am pathetic! Here I thought with the dark side to fuel me I would be powerful, but I see now that I am nothing. I thought my master was holding me back! That she was jealous of my power. However, now I see it's because I wasn't good enough to meet her standards." Juhani sighed. "I have never been."
"The first step on the path of true knowledge, is acknowledging that you have much to learn." Ash said gently.
"Yes, you're right. I have much to learn, about being a Jedi and about myself. I just wish that the cost hadn't been so high. My master suffered greatly because of my actions." Juhani hung her head sadly. Tears filled the Cathar's golden eyes.
"We are luminous beings, Juhani. Those who die, are never truly gone. She lives on through the Force." Ash said as she clipped her lightsaber to her belt.
"I wish things had ended differently! There is so much I need to apologize to her for! How can the Council take me back after all I have done? Striking down my master in anger is unforgivable!" Juhani turned her back and began to walk away.
"Anger? Show them that you have freed yourself from this passionate emotion. Show them that you have found serenity." Ash said as she walked up behind the fallen Jedi.
Juhani turned and looked back at her. "Yes. I could show them that I am free of passion, that I am serene… that I'm willing to forsake the darkness." Hope gleamed in her golden eyes. "Maybe, just maybe, they would accept me back. Oh, do you think it is even possible? Even after everything that I have done?"
Not all who fall are lost.
"Yes, I do. Your inner peace and harmony will shine through. That will show them your sincerity." Ash smiled warmly at the Jedi. She reached out her awareness through the Force, and could feel warm waves swirling around Juhani once more. The cold was retreating. The Force around her was circling back into balance.
"I… thank you, master Jedi." Juhani smiled. "Yes, I will return to the Council and submit to their judgement. I hope they will forgive me. Thank you, Ash. I know I will hear great things about you in the future."
Juhani bowed to her in farewell. Carth and Canderous watched as she ran past them.
Ash sank to her knees once more in the meditation site, and reached out into the Force. The cold was leaving. The Force swirling around her felt like a soft caress once more.
She felt Carth approach her through the Force. She smiled as he sat in front of her.
"It's warmer here now. What did you do? Why did you let her go?" He asked.
Canderous stood by, silently keeping guard.
"I cleansed the grove. She was in conflict, and I helped her find peace." Ash said as she opened her eyes. "She is going back to the Jedi Council to seek atonement for her actions. My job here is finished. Although, we still have to find a wayward droid."
Canderous chuckled at the mention of the droid. "Yeah, I think his master is desperate for her droid."