A Shinobi mystery!
A lightsaber was found
on the moon of Cocoa,
belonging to Chip,
the Shinobi responsible for
the creation of the clone army.
The Shinobi have learned
that before the start of the war
Dimitri murdered Chip
and skilfully manipulated the Republic
into the galactic conflict
intending for the Shinobi to fight
with the clones at their side.
Now, as the Shinobi Council meets to
discuss the purpose of this deception,
Master Blaze meditates deep into
the Force in search of answers.
Blaze was sitting in the meditation room with her eyes closed when "Blaze" she heard, "I hear you. Who are you?". There was no answer, she began to concentrate again "It is I… Maria Kintobor". Blaze calmly shook her head "That cannot be. You are dead" "No. I am part of the living Force, Blaze". Everything around the room began to hover around Blaze before falling back down. Her eyes opened wide in surprise "Impossible".
Blaze was now with the rest of the Council, "I'm not sure this Council is admitting how grave a situation we are in" Nate said. Merlin looked to him "What're you saying?" "That Dimitri is not the Raiju Lord, merely apprentice" Nate answered. Merlin leaned forward "That, like many things, remains unclear. Master Blaze, your thoughts on these revelations?". Blaze however wasn't fully paying attention "Hmm? Oh! Oh, yes. Yes. Forgive me. I was deep in thought. You were saying?". The rest of the Council looked concerned "Master Nate is worried" Merlin said. Blaze nodded "Yes, we should all be worried" "Lies and mistrust surround us in the Senate, and perhaps, even within these walls". Blaze sighed "We are on the precipice. The growing dark side endangers us all".
Later a concerned Merlin ran up to Espio who was speaking with Lupe, "Excuse me, Master Espio. May i speak with you". Espio nodded "Of course" he bowed his head respectfully to Lupe before following Merlin. "There is great turmoil within Master Blaze" "Yes, we all sensed it". Merlin nodded "For something to affect Blaze this deeply, concerns me. We must keep an eye on our old friend". Espio sighed "The war has taxed all of us to our limit. I suppose we're just surprised that Master Blaze has one" "I hope it's that simple, but I feel the shadow of something greater on our horizon".
Shadow was walking through the courtyard of the Temple when "Blaze" he looked around confused and realized Blaze was meditating in the middle of the courtyard "Oh! Master Blaze. Sorry, I didn't see you there. Is everything okay?". Blaze opened her eyes but didn't look at him "I have encountered something... difficult" "Difficult? For you, Master?" Shadow asked surprised. Blaze glanced at him "Did you not speak with Master Maria in the Special Zone". Shadow sighed "Yes. So did Espio. However, since he's dead, we don't think it was actually her. Rather, an illusion. A mind tricked formed out of our memories. That's what Espio believes. Why do you ask?" "Perhaps it is nothing". Shadow remembered what he was told "Everything that we know about the Force tells us that an individual retaining their identity after death is impossible". Blaze nodded "Everything we know, yes. But what about what we know not? Hmm?" "Master Blaze, are you suggesting that you have spoken with Master Maria?". Blaze turned to him and looked tired "I am not suggesting this. I need rest. Yes, rest. Then I shall speak with the Council about these matters".
Blaze stood in the middle of the Council Room "I have sensed something I have not before. It seems impossible. I do not trust my own feelings. The voice I hear does not come from within, but speaks from beyond. I must know if I'm alone or if any of you can hear it as well". Merlin nodded "Then, together, we shall meditate". The whole Council walked forward, placed their hands on Blaze's shoulders and closed their eyes. Hours passed without any one moving or speaking. There were no disturbances until eventually Blaze opened her eyes and sighed "I didn't hear it" the Council moved back. "I also sense nothing" Merlin said as Blaze looked disappointed "We will not find answers. I'm tired. I must rest" she walked away. Nate looked at her "We may have to consider that this may be a deception by the Raiju". Espio looked surprised "Surely you're not suggesting Master Blaze is susceptible to such manipulation". Merlin paused "Master Blaze, you are older and wiser than any living Shinobi, but that does not mean you are beyond the corruption of the dark side". Blaze sighed "I agree. It is a possibility we must consider. So much of our vision has been clouded by the dark side, I may be deceived".
Blaze was in the medical bay lying on a bed. Nate, Espio and Merlin were standing over her while a human doctor checking the equipment "All I can say is, I have scanned Master Blaze three times and I find nothing wrong with her. I am not an expert on her biology, but from my point of view, she is in perfect health". "And his mind?" Merlin asked, "No signs of any degeneration. This section of the brain is particularly active, more than I have seen in any other Shinobi. Probably what happens when you approach 900 years old". Nate crossed his arms "I think we are overlooking an obvious thread" "Which is?" Espio asked. "Dimitri was Blaze's apprentice, and Dimitri has fallen to the dark side" "All of us have apprenticed to Master Blaze. She cannot be held accountable for Dimitri's descent" Espio said defensively. Nate nodded "But they are connected… profoundly. Whoever the Raiju Lord is, he may be using this relationship as a direct link to Blaze". Espio shook his head "Impossible" "Are you sure. If the Raiju Lord wanted to attack the Shinobi from within, Master Blaze would be the perfect choice. I fear we are more vulnerable than we think". The doctor turned to them "I would like to suggest something: a deprivation ritual. It is a dangerous procedure but one that will without question allow Blaze to go to the source of this voice, whatever or whoever it may be". Shadow then entered "I'm sorry to bother you, but the Chancellor's requesting that Master Blaze an emergency meeting" "I will go" Merlin said. "What about the treatment?" Espio asked, "Ask Master Blaze what she wants to do. Only she can decide now".
Blaze was in a harness hanging over a small tank of water, the others watched as the doctor stepped forward "The chamber works to deprive the patient of any stimulation except from within. Master Blaze will be taken into an induced meditation. This allows the patient to go deeper than anything we can achieve by ourselves". Espio looked up to her "Master Blaze, you don't have to do this" "I must solve this puzzle". Shadow looked worried "But it could be more dangerous than you realize" "The danger is not to know the truth. I must see clearly. This will help". She put an oxygen mask on before being lowered into the silo. The doctor checked her data pad "Life signs are normal. Beginning the procedure" the water began to spin around Blaze's body as she fell unconscious. Espio heard a beeping "What're you doing?" "I have reduced the flow of oxygen; her body will be forced into a deep meditative state. It will take her as close to death as possible". Shadow sighed "I don't like this". Blaze then heard the voice again "Blaze. No, this is not the way" she opened her eyes but was now in a swamp "Come to Sol. The answers you seek are here". A mist formed around her "But why?" "You must complete what I could not". Espio turned to the doctor "His vital signs are dropping too low" "But the test" "I want him out of there now!". Blaze began to hear their voices "Master Blaze, wake up. Come back to us!" then Maria returned "Speak of this to no one. Trust no one. Come to Sol, alone". Blaze suddenly woke up coughing out water with Espio in front of her "Welcome back, old friend. Thought we lost you there". Blaze smiled "I was speaking to the dead. Friends long gone. Good friends".
Espio, Shadow, Nate and the doctor were in the meditation room listening to a hologram of Merlin "How did the procedure go?" "We're not certain. Blaze seems to be under the impression he contacted the dead and spoke with them" Espio said sounding concerned. Merlin looked troubled "What are your thoughts on this, Doctor?" "Medically, Blaze seems fine, but I cannot speak to his spiritual balance". Nate shook his head "What Blaze claims is not possible" "As far as we know" Shadow said, "The dead are part of the Cosmic Force and lose their individuality. I fear Blaze is under attack by the Raiju, though how remains unknown". Merlin nodded "Until what's going on is clear, I want temple guards placed in the medical bay".
Blaze was lying on a bed with the doctor standing next to her "I am prescribing nothing but rest for you now, Master Blaze". The door then opened and Shadow walked past to temple guards towards Blaze "I will leave you two alone" the doctor said before leaving. "You asked for me, Master?" Shadow said making Blaze smile "Yes. Are we not friends?" "Of course" Shadow answered slightly confused. "Then you must make a choice. I am worried for you" "Why is that?" Shadow asked. Blaze sat up "You must do something for me. You will be blamed for it" "What must I do?" "Help me to escape" Blaze whispered smiling mischievously. Shadow looked back at the guards "Escape? But you're not in prison" "Perhaps. But perhaps I am. The cage may be all around us already. There is a journey I must take alone". She jumped off the bed, "The Council will not want you to travel at all, alone even less". Blaze chuckled "Your expertise seems to be disobeying the Council. That is why I ask for your help. It is the spontaneity you find so easily, which others do not. That is what sets you apart. Now, you will take me on a walk. Come". This still didn't help Shadow "But where are you going?" "I require fresh air". She walked to the doors, but the guards stepped in front of her. Shadow walked up next to her "It's okay. It's okay. She's with me. I'll watch her" the guards bowed and moved out of the way. They walked out of the room and Shadow sighed "I hope I don't regret this".
They entered the Temple's hanger where Emerl walked up to them and beeped "Hey, Emerl, I have a mission for you. Doctor Nema's gonna notice Blaze is missing, any minute now. Get her to a ship as fast as possible and get her out of here". Emerl beeped and led Blaze towards a Shinobi fighter. He got in the gizoid slot and Blaze boarded the cockpit and took off. Merlin and Doctor Nema ran into the hanger towards Shadow "Where's Master Blaze? What have you done?" "Hey, for once none of this was my idea" he said casually as they watched the ship fly away.
The fighter jumped out of hyperspace near Sol and detached from its ring. Blaze entered the atmosphere and landed in the swamp. Blaze exited the ship and walked across the swamp but then heard Emerl beep. Blaze chuckled "Yes, you may stay with the ship, my friend. This task is for me alone" Emerl then nervously tucked his head into the ship while shivering. Blaze went further into the swamp before sitting down "Here I am. I'm ready for my next instruction, Master Maria" she meditated. "Blaze, my old friend. You have come at last", Blaze raised her head "Maria Kintobor, is it really you? I am not losing my mind am I?". "No, my friend. No", Blaze looked around suspiciously "Why have you brought me here?" "Follow the light, my friend. Follow the light. It will be your guide". A group of small orbs flew past Blaze and she followed them further into the swamp "This planet is strong with the Force" "It is one of the purest places in the galaxy". Blaze looked around "How are you here?" "I am a manifestation of the Force, a Force that consists of two parts. Living beings generate the Living Force, which in turn powers the wellspring that is the Cosmic Force". Blaze jumped down into a lower part of the swamp, the wildlife scattered from her "Can you show yourself?" "I cannot. My training was incomplete. All energy from the living Force, from all things that have ever lived, feeds into the Cosmic Force, binding everything, and communicating to us through the chaos energy. Because of this, I can speak to you now".
The light stopped and Blaze stood in front of them "You can see the future?" "I exist where there is no future or past". Blaze saw an opportunity "Do you know who the Raiju Lord is?" "I can only show you a place where the answers will be revealed to you. But be wary. Give power to that which you fear, and it will show itself to you". Blaze was taken to a cave which she cautiously entered. After getting deep enough inside she felt a dark presence and then a black cloud surrounded her. The cloud began to form shapes, she saw Shinobi fighting a squad of unidentified enemies. Then she saw Mephiles killing Master Mole and Master Saline. Blaze was horrified, she then saw Lara-Le meditating when a blue lightsaber went through her chest. Then Merlin screaming as beams of light hit him. The cloud then turned purple and formed the shape of a crystalized hedgehog "Mephiles. Mephiles. Join me. There is no other way". Blaze eyes opened wide in fear "No. No!" she ran out of the cave and fell to the ground. The lights returned "Blaze. Come back to us. Blaze".
Blaze quickly stood back up but looked exhausted "Such darkness. Such evil. When will this happen?" "It is happening right now. It has always been happening. With each day the Clone Wars rages, evil is growing in its power. What you felt in the cave is merely a portion of what the dark side now holds". Blaze sighed "Such power. Is there any hope the Shinobi can prevail?" "There is always hope, my friend, though it often comes in forms not looked for. The key is knowing how to see it and seizing that opportunity. I have been tasked with guiding you forward". The light led her back to her ship "There can be many outcomes, but your path is clear, Blaze. You have been chosen, as I was before you". Blaze followed the light "But what am I chosen for?" "You will learn to preserve your Life Force, and so manifest a consciousness, which will allow you to commune with the living after death. Dark times are ahead, and forces of light must remain. This is the path only a few Shinobi. You will travel to one of the origins of all life in the galaxy". Blaze could see her ship "Where is this place?" "The Force will be your guide. Goodbye, my friend". The light left as Blaze approached the ship making Emerl beep "Yes, my friend. I am aright". Emerl beeped again as Blaze entered the cockpit "No, we are not going back to Mobotropolis yet. I'm afraid our journey has only begun".