Chapter 8

Trent dreamt of death and despair.

Worlds were in flames, people were dying, and there was nothing he could do about it.

I must stop this!

He saw the dark tide approaching that could not be stopped. Moons fell, worlds collapsed, people killed other people. And through it all he could do nothing.

Suddenly in his dream Trent saw the events that led to his new life: The building collapsing on Cor, his home in flames, Kirrick beaten and broken as his world died around him. He turned away and saw Brynn standing close beside him, her eyes closed.

Brynn?

She slowly turned towards Trent and her eyes snapped open. But instead of normal eyes there were two glowing blue orbs in there place. She opened her mouth in a silent scream and raised and extended her arm. Her fingers spread out and blue lightning shot forth from them. Trent screamed in pain and felt himself falling; falling down into a deep, dark abyss. He looked around but could not see any light.

Then suddenly a light did appear, and standing in it was Mace Windu. Trent called out to his master and ran toward him, his arm reaching out for him. Mace reached out for Trent's as well but still Trent could not reach him. Finally Trent almost reached Mace, almost grabbing his hand, when Mace's face unexpectedly contorted into a grimace of pain.

The light behind Mace became a black shadow, darker than any Trent had seen before. From the shadow came deadly lightning which started to consume Mace, replacing his light with the shadow's dark light. As Trent watched in horror Mace was consumed by the lightning, until he, and the shadow, were gone. Then Trent was alone in the abyss until he too was devoured by the darkness.

--

Trent woke up drenched in sweat. He stood up and walked over to the refresher and washed up. He was breathing heavily and did not realize it until he stopped. He splashed water on his face and neck. Then after finishing he returned to his bed and sat down.

"What was that?" Trent whispered. "It was so intense. Was it a dream, or something else? I'll ask Mace in the morning."

As Trent started to lie down he felt something stir within him. It was a strange feeling, one he had never felt before but somehow it seemed to call to him, beckoning him. Trent stood up and followed the call.

He left his safe refuge and entered the dark alleys. In the dark everything became a maze to Trent but the call guided him through it. He did not know where he was going but he was intent on seeing it through.

He passed a corner and came into a room lit by several distinctively placed glow rods. As Trent looked around he noticed that the glow rods seemed to be placed in some sort of pattern though he could not tell what kind. The rods at least made a path for him to follow, leading him up to some sort of stage. And standing on the stage was his master.

"Welcome, Trent," Mace said. "Come up." Trent did so and stood facing his master.

"Trent, my young apprentice," Mace said. "Though I have not trained you for very long you have become an excellent Padawan with great talent. You have shown your bravery in your mission yesterday and that you are ready for the next step. And I hereby bestow upon you the title of Jedi Knight, for passing your challenge and all before. No longer are you my Padawan. And now I give you this," Mace said and from within his cloak handed Trent his lightsaber. "Though you have already built your own lightsaber, now you are formally recognized for your accomplishments. Now you are ready for anything." Mace paused. "Is there anything you wish to say?"

For what seemed along while to Trent he was silent. "Yes there is," he said at last. "Thank you, Master."

"No, Trent, I am not your master anymore."

"Then, thank you, Mace, for all that you have done for me. I only wish I can repay you."

"A Jedi does not do anything for personal gain," Mace said. "What I have done for you I have done in the best interest of all. My only request is this: that you will continue to fight alongside me. Will you do this?"

"Yes, Mace." Trent said.

"I thought so," Mace said. "Now we must return to bed, for we still have much more to do tomorrow."

"Yes, Mace, but I need to ask something first."

"What is it?"

"Before I was called here I had a very disturbing dream," Trent said. "I saw people dying, my friends and family being destroyed all over again, and I lost you as well. What does it all mean?"

"It may have been a dream, Trent," Mace said. "But it may have been a vision of the future, but also one of the past, a specter coming to haunt you."

"Is there anything I should do?"

"Not now there isn't," Mace said. "The only thing to do right now is sleep and wait for a new day."