CHAPTER 22

There was a faint sound....a hum, some sort of odd beeping, an echoing voice, calling out to him, willing him to wake.

   Luke Skywalker felt groggy and disoriented as his eyes fluttered open. It took the Jedi Master several moments to gain control of his body and senses, and to understand where he was. The reality of his situation stunned him somewhat.

   He was in his X-Wing, flying on auto-pilot. In front of him was a large, blue and green planet, and beside his ship was an overly elaborate New Republic ship with diplomatic markings. R2-D2 was chirping, and all of the X-Wings monitors were lit up. A urgent voice was coming from the comlink.

"Master Skywalker, can you hear us? Master Skywalker, please acknowledge...."

   Luke took in the situation immediately, realizing he was exactly where he had been when the Force - the Transcendence - had taken him. R2 had undoubtedly compensated for his…disappearance? ...and taken the fighter back into normal space. Luke looked down and was amused to find himself once again dressed in his typical Jedi dress, the tan clothing he had worn in the Light Realm gone. His lightsabre, too, hung at his belt in its usual position. In fact, the only thing that appeared to be altered was his vision, which was slightly misty, as though he had been asleep too long. Luke blinked several times, trying to clear the sleep-like haze that was obscuring his vision, to no avail. Slowly, with a reluctant acceptance, Luke understood the truth. There was nothing wrong with his eyes, or his vision. The haze he was seeing was all too real. He was back into veiled reality, back to a place in existence where the true beauty of the Force and creation was masked by the combination of Light and Darkness. The beauty and perfection of the Light Realm, the vivid colors he became accustomed to, would never grace this place. Luke turned his mind inward, and realized with even greater dismay that The Force was muted within him as well, not pulsing through him as it had in the Light Realm. Indeed, his entire body felt sluggish, heavy and strangely confined.

   For a moment, Luke thought that perhaps the Council should have erased his memory. He felt a powerful sadness come over him and he wondered if he would ever be able to look at anything here again without feeling a sense of loss.

"Skywalker? Are you there? Master Skywalker...?"

   Luke forced his mind to concentrate, knowing there was no place in a Jedi's life for remorse or regret, and certainly no time to dwell on what could not be changed. He pressed the flashing comlink controls, and hoped his voice would not betray the extraordinary events he had witnessed.

"I'm here, Grayson. Sorry about that." He searched for an explanation for his delay in response. What could he possibly say in such a circumstance? Luke shook his head and smiled, remembering one of Han's stand-by excuses. "I had a slight.., uh, malfunction here, Grayson. But we're fine now. I'm prepared to receive landing instructions."

   The pilot of the diplomatic ship responded, a trace of annoyance in his voice. Luke acknowledged and closed the comlink channel, preparing for landing, having to force his mind to stay focused on the task at hand.

   Grayson, the weathered pilot of the Diplomatic ship flipped off his comlink with a brusque smack of his hand. He sighed loudly in irritation and went about the business of transmitting the landing coordinates. He shook his head.

"Malfunction, yea, right," he mumbled under his breath, "Crazy Jedi. Probably fell asleep meditating'."

*******************

   Anakin was standing alone, surveying the area where just hours before the battle between the Jedi and the Legions had raged. He was deep in thought, reflecting on the events of the past day. His mind was in turmoil and he was trying desperately to calm himself so that he could analyze the situation clearly. Nomi was waiting for him not far away, and he felt her support trickling through their Bond.

   Anakin was keeping his Bond with Luke open, and he could feel his son's fluctuating emotions. He smiled, grateful beyond words that Luke had been returned safely. The smile faded, however, as another thought struck at him. A Dark One had returned, as well. Someone as yet unknown, but powerful enough to slip through the Jedi defenses and make it through the Transcendence Portal. That Dark One was out there now, no one knowing where, his intentions unclear. The thought shook Anakin deeply.

   The other Jedi had dispersed some time before - the Historians and Keepers returning to their respective areas, the Defenders heading back to their regular positions. Obi-Wan had lingered a bit, taking an opportunity to speak with Master Yoda, Qui-Gon and Anakin, though the conversations had been brief. He had expressed his regret at not having the opportunity to see Luke, but all knew that no explanation was needed. Since Obi-Wan had been given over command of the Defenders, his free time had been painfully sparse. Obi-Wan departed with a sincere smile, though, promising he would be the first one to greet Luke the next time his former student 'came to visit.'

   Qui-Gon had also left to seek a quiet place of refuge to meditate and reinforce his Guide-Bond with Luke. He knew Luke would need his support in the coming days as he readjusted to his regular life on the Other Side.

   Most of the Jedi Council members had returned to the great Hall of Wisdom to discuss and analyze the events of the past days, though Master Yoda and Master Jeth had remained at the Transcendence location. They were talking quietly with Nomi, who had spent time with a Healer and was recovering quickly from her wounds. Ulic Qel-Droma was also present, sitting on the ground, recovering from the strain of the Transcendence and the powerful dose of Dark Side Lightening he had sustained. They were all patiently waiting for Anakin to finish his meditation, knowing he would need support. They all knew Anakin was feeling a tremendous amount of guilt for not being able to prevent the Dark One from passing through the Transcendence Portal. It was misplaced guilt, to be sure, but Anakin would not see it that way. He had spent too many years trying to right the wrongs he had done to the Jedi. He would undoubtedly see today's events as a personal failure.

"So," Nomi stated,looking to Ulic, "The last thing you remember is warning me of the Legions approach?"

Ulic nodded. "I'm afraid so. I can't explain it. It took less effort to create that portal today than it did the first time, but it was completely exhausting."

"You weren't fully recovered from the first time you did it," Nomi pointed out.

Ulic nodded. "You're probably right." He looked at Nomi questioningly. "How long was I out, exactly?"

Nomi shrugged. "I can't say exactly. You were unconscious when we found you after the battle and it took a little time to wake you."

"I wish I could have helped," he stated, looking visibly remorseful. Master Jeth had told him all about the Dark One that managed to make it through the Portal.

"I doubt it would have made a difference," she said. "That Sith took us by surprise. He was moving faster than anyone I've ever seen. He's powerful, no doubt about that. He even managed to get past Anakin without so much as a fight." She paused. "I guess we should consider ourselves lucky only one made it through. They could have made a charge - all of them. I doubt we could have stopped them all.""

"If their intent was to send a Dark Legion to the Other Side, I believe they could have accomplished it," Master Jeth stated, giving Ulic a meaningful glare.

Ulic bowed his head. He was awash with guilt over the situation - an emotion he was definitely not accustomed to feeling. His plan - his allegedly fool-proof plan - had failed miserably. Ulic could scarcely believe how wrong he had been. He had been certain – so certain - it was the will of the Force for Luke to Transcend. His mind was pounding, screaming at him that he had once again been reckless and unthinking, blinded by what he believed to be true. There was some small comfort in the outcome, at least. Luke had been safely returned. But the cost had been great. Jedi had been lost, Nomi wounded and, most of all, a Sith was now on the Other Side.

"So why didn't they?" Nomi asked curiously, looking from Master Arca to Yoda. "Why did they only send one when they could have sent dozens?"

Master Yoda closed his eyes, and appeared to ponder the situation. "Difficult, it is, to determine motives of those immersed in the Dark Side."

   "It wouldn't have worked," Ulic stated softly. He ran his hand through the soft grass, and did not look up as he spoke. "The Sith way is based on a strict hierarchy. It's necessary. Whenever a group of Sith have banded together on the Other Side, they always managed to hurt themselves more than anything else. They fight for power and control, and eventually it just ends in their destruction." Ulic paused, suddenly looking very pained. "That's why the Sith came up with the 'rule of two'. One Master, passing on all his knowledge to one worthy apprentice, until the time came for him to step down. The student then became the Master and chose his own apprentice. That's the way it went for generations. It insured their survival for very a long time."

"Until Palpatine," Nomi stated quietly.

Ulic nodded. "Until Anakin destroyed Palpatine, yes."

   Nomi closed her eyes and released a long breath. So many questions. She shook her head. "What I really don't understand is how the Transcendence Portal remained open after Kun was destroyed." She pointed at Ulic. "You were unconscious, and you are the only one who knew how to do it. It doesn't make any sense."

Ulic frowned, unable to explain.

"It was one of the Dark Ones," Anakin stated.

All eyes turned at the sound of Anakin's voice. He moved to stand by Nomi and she noticed he looked very tired.

   Anakin continued. ""Palpatine was obsessed with the ancient Sith during his final years. It's very possible he could have found information on Transcendence. And he was certainly powerful enough to hold open the rift. Or another of the Dark Ones could have found a way.""

"That makes sense," Nomi stated. "That whole attack was just a ploy, a way to get that Sith to the Other Side."

   Anakin breathed deeply, trying withouit success to shake the feeling he was missing an important piece of the puzzle. "It's the only explanation," he stated with muted certainty. "It couldn't have been a Jedi since Ulic is the only one who knows how to create a Transcendence."

"So certain are you?" Master Yoda asked, his wizened face turning to peer up at Anakin's towering form.

   Anakin's brow furrowed as he turned to the tiny Master. Yoda held his gaze unflinching, and Anakin searched for the hidden meaning in the small Master's words. He looked from Yoda to Master Jeth, searching for a clue.

"Are you implying a Jedi other than Ulic may have held open that Portal?"

Arca Jeth smiled slightly, took a step forward to place a hand on Anakin's broad shoulder.

"Search your feeling, Anakin. You know the truth."

   Anakin took a few steps back, looking suspicious. He felt a sort of dread begin to work its way into his mind. What did the Master's know? What did they think he knew? Anakin turned his mind inward, seeking answers to his many questions. He opened himself fully to the Force, felt its energy course through him, washing through the deep recesses in his mind, unlocking secrets kept tightly hidden in his subconscious. After several moments, Anakin's face lost all color and his eyes flew open.

"No," he stated softly, turning away and closing his eyes tightly. "No, that can't be possible."

"You must accept it, Anakin," Master Jeth stated firmly.

Nomi and Ulic exchanged a confused look. Nomi could waves of sorrow and dull anger emanating from Anakin. She moved toward him.

""What is it?" she asked, concern evident in her voice and on her face.

Anakin hesitated, then slowly turned back around to face her. A deep pain filled his eyes and his expression was one of absolute defeat.

"It was me," he told her quietly, barely believing his own words. "I did it. I held open the portal."

"What!?" Nomi asked incredulously. ""How?""

   Anakin shook his head hard. "I don't know," he told her, reaching up to wipe a hand across his face, as though trying to wipe away the truth. "I remember when Kun was destroyed. I saw the portal begin to close and I came near to panic. I knew Luke needed to get back. That was all I could think. Somehow, I……I willed the rift to stay open. I don't know how I know this, and I don't know how I did it, but I know it''s the truth." He sagged to the ground, and placed his head in his hands. "How could I have let this happen?"

Nomi looked to the Masters for confirmation of what Anakin was saying. Yoda simply nodded, and Arca Jeth moved to kneel before the trembling Anakin.

   "The Force created you, Anakin," Master Jeth stated solemnly. "And you have been returned to your creator. You are the Chosen One, an instrument through which The Force will work."

Master Yoda nodded, his eyes closed. "Only begun, you have, to discover your power, Jedi Skywalker."

    Anakin's head shot up at those words. He simply stared at Yoda, wanting desperately to argue, but unwilling to question the revered Master. Besides that, Anakin knew the truth already, though he was not prepared to fully accept it. This had not been the first time he had felt the Force at work in him, and he knew, instinctively, it would not be the last. But the other times had been different, simpler – nothing nearly as dramatic as what happened to him today with the Transcendence. It was as though the Force was an enormous, intricate puzzle waiting to be solved. Every once in a while Anakin Skywalker would receive unspoken messages, subtle hints that allowed him to piece together that great puzzle. He had tried to ignore these messages at times, tried to pretend he was no different than other Jedi, but today he knew there would be no more denying the truth. Anakin's connection to the Force was growing stronger each day, and there were times he honestly did not know where his own Self ended and the Force began. It was frightening to him, at times. He had never asked for this knowledge and he was at a loss to comprehend why he was chosen to receive it. Chosen One or not, Anakin knew all too well that he was not above fallibility. How could he know that he was interpreting the Force's messages properly? He had already made so many grievous mistakes…how could he possibly be trusted with such knowledge? With such power? He bowed his head again, ashamed to make eye contact with anyone. "Oh Force," he stated under his breath. "What have I done?"

Nomi smiled, moving to kneel beside her closest friend. "You saved our future," she told him. "You returned your son, you...""

   "NO!" Anakin roared, an uncharacteristic tone in his voice. He jumped up and ran both hands through his hair. He stared hard at Nomi. "I let that Sith through! Don't you see that? That portal should have closed when Kun was destroyed, but I kept it open. I willed it to happen and it did." Anakin turned around and shook his head. "We could have waited. Luke could have been returned later, but I didn't consider that. I was focusing on my son, on getting him back to his life as quickly as possible. My concern for him was driving me, not my duty as a Warder. And because of that, there is a Dark One loose on the Other Side!"

Nomi shook her head. "You couldn't have known that would happen, Anakin...""

   "But I should have!" he thundered, at once regretting the tone he was using. He paused, regaining some control. "I'm a Warder. It's my job to keep the Dark Ones away, and instead I let one in. He ran right past me, Nomi! He ran past me and went straight through the Transcendence Portal. The portal that I allowed to be open!"

Anakin was near a breaking point, and Nomi was at a loss as to how to help him. His emotions were in chaos, and she could feel his control starting to unravel.

   Anakin paced a few steps, then continued on, his voice lowering slightly. "I'm the Chosen One. The one to bring balance to the Force. That was my purpose, why I was created. And I did that - I did that 20 years ago! And now..." Anakin looked away, his voice lowering to nothing more than a whisper. "And now I have un-done it."

"Did you?"

The softly spoken question took Anakin completely by surprise.

"What did you say?" Anakin asked, turning to look at Ulic. The Jedi stared at Anakin without emotion and repeated the question again.

"Did you really bring balance all those years ago?"

Anakin was taken aback at the question, unsure what to say. Nomi was looking at Ulic with an incredulous expression on her face.

   Ulic let the silence hang a moment, uncertain if he should continue. H had done damage enough the past several days and he did not wish to cause further turmoil. He caught Master Yoda's eyes and was slightly surprised when the Master nodded to him, willing him to continue. He looked at Anakin, and began speaking slowly, choosing each word with care.

   "Anakin, please. Just hear me out." Ulic held out both his hand, palm up, in front of him. "We have Light and Dark, Jedi and Sith. The two lived in relative harmony for a over a thousand years, isn't that right Masters?"

Master Jeth agreed with some hesitation. "The Jedi did not know the Sith still existed. They assumed they were extinct."

   Ulic nodded. "Exactly. The Jedi thought they were all destroyed because they felt no disturbance in the Force. But the Sith were still active and practicing in secret. Despite this, the Jedi believed the Force to be in balance. It wasn't until Palpatine starting to make a play for more power that the Jedi began to detect a disruption in the balance." He looked to Master Yoda for confirmation and was relieved when the renowned Master nodded in agreement. Ulic paused, noticing he had Anakin's full attention, as well as Nomi's.

   "As Palpatine gained power, the balance shifted." Ulic slowly raised one hand to demonstrate the point. ""When you killed Palpatine and returned to the Light, you effectively eliminated the Sith." Ulic dropped his raised hand, allowing it to slap loudly on his thigh. His other hand remained raised in front of him. "So tell me - did that really bring balance to the Force? Balance is two or more things existing in harmony, neither one demanding more than the others. So how can the complete destruction of darkness on the Other Side bring balance?"

   Anakin was at a loss for words. His role as Chosen One had never before been questioned, and he felt a curious need to defend himself. He could not have said how long he simply stared at Ulic, trying to formulate a response. Nomi was doing much the same. The Masters, however, had calm, almost knowing looks on their faces. Clearly, this idea had been discussed in Council before.

"So," Anakin stated slowly, choosing each word with care. "What you are saying, is that I never brought the Force into balance..?"

Ulic shook his head. "No, Anakin. What I'm saying is that I think you just did it today."

   A long moment of silence in sued. The four Jedi stood in silence for a long while, each one lost in contemplation. Finally, the Masters excused themselves and headed off in the direction of the Hall of Wisdom. Ulic departed soon after, giving Anakin a friendly pat on the shoulder as he passed. Nomi and Anakin were left alone, neither one speaking, each content to simply be in the other's presence. They moved to sit down beneath a large, leafy tree.

A long while passed, and Nomi was startled when Anakin finally spoke.

"How can we be certain?" he asked, knowing Nomi would understand the question.

   Nomi shook her head. "We can't be certain, Anakin. We'll probably never know what happened today, or why. Some will always believe you restored balance 20 years ago. Others will argue it happened today."

Anakin looked away, studying the horizon. "I'm not sure it really matters."

"Oh, it matters, Anakin," Nomi told him seriously. "You are the child of the Force. You were created for reasons that might always be beyond explanation."

Anakin smiled slightly, suddenly looking very old. "So we have an eternity of not knowing ahead of us.""

   Nomi smiled. "Is that so bad? Remember what the Council told Luke: our growth is determined by overcoming hardships and difficulties. Part of that struggle is dealing with the unknown. That doesn't only apply to the Other Side. We're still growing, Anakin, still evolving. We still have much to learn."

  Anakin smiled fully, then, a beautiful sight to Nomi's eyes. He looked at her, seeing a deep affection reflected in her eyes. He gazed into her eyes with a kind of wonder. Once again, Nomi had found the exact words to reach him, to calm his spirit. How long had it been since he had felt such a pure acceptance, such understanding, such….

Love?

   Without words, Anakin slowly reached out and wrapped an arm around Nomi's shoulder, gently pulling her close to him. Hesitantly, Nomi leaned over to rest her head on his strong form. On impulse, she decided to take the advice Luke had given her earlier that day. She closed her eyes, allowing her every feeling to flow freely through her Bond with Anakin, holding nothing back……