DISCLAIMER: I do not own star wars and if I did I would be way to busy making movies and I am in no way related to Lucas arts or any affiliates, I am just someone with to much free time and so don't sue me please!
STARWARS: Episode 1 – Spirit of shadows
Chapter 2: Trials of Error
The day passed on slowly from then, Ralo could only think about what he was going to do now. Master Yoda had said that he had set up for him to be taken care by someone, but that's not what he wanted. He wanted to be at the academy, having no family it was the only place he felt accepted, and whoever took care of him now would only be doing it out of orders from the council, not because they wanted to, would he be able to bear that burden?
One by one he packed his things away into his suitcase, looking at all the trophies he had won for sparring and his old uniforms, he didn't want to keep any of them; it hurt too much to know that it was over for him. Silence filled the room, sometimes broken by the sound of shuffling items going into cases. That was until a knock came from the door, approaching it slowly he dread to think who it was, of course as it was pushed open carefully it revealed master Kiesa.
"Are you ready Ralo?" the words that could only be answered with a simple "Yes master". Picking up his case they slowly approached the academies landing platform, a small ship was waiting, next to it, a middle aged man, probably in his 40s was waiting for him. "Ralo this is Ject Palpatine, a former member of the Jedi order, Yoda has arranged it so you will be living with him till you can find something for yourself" constantly switching his glance between Ject and Kiesa he could again only nod, what options did he have?
"You want a minute before we go kid?" Ralo hated being called a "kid" he was the most advanced students at that academy, his first impression of Ject was not starting off to be a good one. Watching Ject turn to climb back into his ship Ralo noticed an unusual scar on his back, a lot like the scar he had on his own chest form his battle with Eliza. "Goodbye Master Kiesa, thanks for sticking up for me" turning away form his former master he climbed into the ship, not taking his gaze away from the academy, not knowing if he would ever see it again.
"You might as well get some rest kid, it will be a long time before we arrive on Tatooine" Ject was calling him a kid again, would that be all he ever thought of him as? A kid? Laying his head against the seat he slowly drifted into sleep, waiting to arrive at his new home. Ject looking at him just quietly whispers to himself "I hope Yoda's wrong about him"
Darkness was surrounding him, where was he? "What's going on!" the screaming voice of Ralo echoed through the black hallway, images of all those he knew flashing by him. Running down the hall he halted, the image that had haunted his mind for years lay before him, his parents dying under the arm of a bounty hunter. Running to them screaming he was stopped, crashing back down onto the floor he tried pounding against this invisible barrier but it was no use, they were already gone. He was alone again, and once again silence filled the void, wait, no, there was something. Breathing, an old mans voice echoing a poem of no origin. "A light burned away by the plague will kill those who you dearly crave. Only the passion of the force can protect them, will you?" A poem he had always known, never really knowing where he learnt it, it was one of the reasons he was so eager to become a Jedi, though he would never admit it.
"Hey wake up kid!" the darkness was slowly being broken, light piercing through the shade. Around him now was a set of controls and beyond the glass was desert land, Ralo had never seen anything like this, Cycona was a stone planet but sand was a very rare thing to see. "Don't look so shocked kid, this is Tatooine, my, and for now your home as well so you better start getting used to it" Climbing out of the pod Ralo looked around, it was if it was built up of sand castles being guarded a zoo. "Come on kid!" motioning to follow him, Ralo not objected followed. Well he would have if he hadn't tripped over a small creature. (Translates to) "Watch where you are moving" Seeing the creature climbing back up again he noticed he was walking on his hands, Ralo fascinated by it, crouching down. "What… are you?" The creature kicking him in the head, saying angrily (translates to), "Me Sebulba! Pod racer! No one beats Sebulba!"
Noticing Ralo's current situation Ject called out to him "Just ignore him, he's a new pod racer, he never wins" Shrugging it off Ralo slowly walked away from the creature, him shaking his fist in anger "I am the best!" starting their walk to there home the silence of the desert was deafening, Ject unable to help but break it. "Yoda said you were too reckless or something, what happened?" Ralo regretting the question tried to change the subject but it was hopeless, he had to let it out. "I just wanted to be a Jedi, I tried my best damn it!" Ject was respected as a jedi for one reason only, the ability to sense emotion, and he was more than aware of what passion Ralo had for the Jedi.
"I'll teach you?" Ralo was shocked but kept moving, he knew it was impossible. "You are not a master, there is little you can teach me" Ject furious at the blunt statement challenged him "you don't have very many options do you, this is my only offer" Pausing for a second, he was excited about the idea but he wasn't one to like showing emotions, "Ok then". Soon enough they arrived at Ject's home, the typical Tatooine house, small but enough, no need to say that Ralo was disappointed.
"What, not good enough for ya?" Ject was angry knowing that his happy home wasn't good enough for his new padawan, Ralo was silent, almost apologetically. "If you're going to be a Jedi your going to have to be less picky" Ject paused, thinking to himself. "In fact, tomorrow after your training I'll show you something, that'll put the sense back into you" The conversation lay dead for the rest of the night.
Meanwhile back on Cycona, the morning had risen once again, Master Kiesa speaking to the glowing lights of the Yoda's hologram. "Master Yoda, I'm sorry but I can't help worrying about Ralo, what am I meant to do?" Yoda sighed, he had seen this so many times before when padawan leave there masters prematurely. "Worry not, if see him you wish, then go you can, careful in your actions you must be, to train him you cannot" Nodding his head, taking in every word of the Jedi master he replied "Yes master, Ralo is not to be trained under any circumstances, I will go see him when my ship has finished fuelling" nodding to each other a last time, Yoda once again faded away.
Back on Tatooine Ralo's first training session with Ject was about to begin. "Right, were going to start with force channelling, its an ability where you can temporarily increase your force power" During that morning Ralo and Ject had become a lot closer, including Ject no longer calling him a kid. He had explained how his wife was killed by an anti-Jedi group, and after that he didn't have the heart to carry on with it and so he had left, not having any kids he wanted to pass on his skills before he died as well, Ralo was more than happy to accept.
"Right, you need to close your eyes, try and feel the force around you, stretch out with your feelings, and draw that strength from that around you, flow it through your body and release it back, that is force channelling" Closing his eyes he followed his instructions to the letter, only seeing darkness things started to appear around him, plants, the air, the earth, Ject. "I feel everything, like it's a part of me" Ject smiled from the kind of skill his new student possessed, endless opportunities available to him. "Wait…" Ralo was now feeling something else, "What is it Ralo?" He couldn't quite put his finger on it, "It's distant, but familiar…" Not knowing Ralo that personally thought it was just something that all Padawan went through, but Ralo knew exactly what it was. It was the aura of his former master, Kiesa. He knew that if Ject knew Kiesa was coming he would instantly stop training him, he couldn't take that chance.
"Master you said that you wanted to show me something, may we go see it now?" Laughing at the remark Ject cried happily "Patience is a virtue kid!... but sure why not?" Ralo climbing to his feet followed happily behind his new master. The journey was a long one, Ralo often wondered where they were going, and even why they are going, Ject was very secretive about it. But Ralo could shake the feeling of worry, Ralo could feel Kiesa coming closer and closer. Coming up to a cliff face Ralo could make out symbols carved into the wall, the scars deep, it was obvious they were made by light sabres.
"Press your palm against the wall" Ralo looked at him strangely, he couldn't see the task but he had nothing to lose by the action. Laying his palm to the cold cliff face, a sudden wave of pain passed through his body, as if he had been killed brutally a 1000 times over. Quickly pulling his hand away he could still feel the cold chill in his wrist, fright over coming him. "Why the hell did you ask me to do that?" Ject looked seriously at him, as if this was the only warning he would ever need in his life. "That is the pain of all those who fell to the dark side, don't you do it either, come on we'll continue the channelling back at home, we need to finish practice before it gets dark"
Turning around it was too late, the former master of Ralo, Master Kiesa was standing right behind them, a look of utter terror on his face. "Master Yoda said we weren't to teach him!" Ject wasn't about to be told what to do in regards to his student. "I'm training him to be a great Jedi, we both know he can be a great asset to the order" Drawing on his lightsaber, trying to intimidate Ject into changing his mind, but Ject wasn't too familiar with this sort of intimidation, drawing on his own sabre he got ready for combat, no matter what, there would be no good outcome to this battle.
Authors Note: Sorry it took so long guys! Just started at a new place and ive been trying to get things organised, I'll try and get the next chapter up as soon as I can but don't expect it to soon! Still waiting on those reviews btw!
Happy reading!
