Chapter Five

The sound of trickling water from the small waterfall nearby was the only sound Aidan would allow to penetrate him. His focus was expanded, stretching out with the Force to gain a sense of his surroundings. He was trying to calm his feelings.

What he had done earlier, with those remotes was something he had told himself he would never do: give in to the dark side. Now, Aidan strove to release those angry feelings. He had worked so hard since coming to the Jedi Academy, and he wasn't about to disappoint himself, or Master Skywalker. The Shadow Academy was the last place he had ever wanted to be…

He WAS NOT going back. Ever.

Taking deep cleansing breaths, he submerged himself completely in the Force. He could feel every tree, every rock, every creature that moved through the jungle surrounding him. He could sense someone moving closer to him, and his eyes snapped open before he allowed the Force to let him perceive who.

Immediately, Aidan jumped to his feet and removed the lightsaber from his belt. His thumb moved over the activation switch, ready to bring the bright blazing blade to life. Then he saw who it was.

Standing behind him was the young girl he had been sparring with earlier. Her bright silver eyes were widened staring at him. Apparently, she had just come across him, and she was clearly surprised. Her hand was resting on her own lightsaber, which remained dangling at her side. She eyed Aidan with a slight look of distrust.

"Am I disturbing you?" Esor finally asked, still keeping her hand firmly over the lightsaber. Aidan smiled cockily, and gave an arrogant sweeping bow as he replaced his own weapon.

"Not at all." He said, raising an eyebrow at her. "I was only just meditating and reaching enlightenment with the Force…but I can always do that later." His tone was almost mocking when he spoke. She had interrupted him, but he wasn't about to let himself show his anger.

"Alright…" The girl spoke testily and let her hand fall away from the lightsaber. She tried to sense his emotions with the Force, but found herself unable to penetrate him very much. She could sense that he was miffed however, and that was enough for her.

Aidan resumed his sitting position, and stared out over the gently cascading water of the nearby falls. He didn't say anything more to her, and let out a bit of a sigh.

The sky was beginning to darken, the sunlight fading away into an orange haze. Esor stood where she was a moment longer, then took a seat beside Aidan, quite a few feet away. Her eyes too followed the flowing water of the falls. The sound was soothing.

And she needed that right now.

She glanced over at Aidan, who was focusing his attention near the bottom of the falls. His eyebrows furrowed together hard in concentration. Slightly confused, Esor turned her gaze into the direction his eyes were fixed upon. Beneath the falls were several smooth stones, the water coursing over them as they had for probably many years.

"What are you…" She started to ask, but then saw the stones begin to shake and move ever so slightly beneath the falls. Esor held her breath as the stones levitated several inches, and then several feet into the air.

Amazing, she thought to herself. She was suddenly envious. She hadn't yet learned to do that. She glanced at Aidan, trying not to look too impressed.

But the young male Jedi wasn't paying attention to her. His focus and concentration were still locked on the stones. They wavered once or twice in the air, as if something invisible was pushing at them.

Suddenly, his concentration broke the stones crashes once more into their place, splashing water loudly. Esor tried not to smile as she glanced at him, an eyebrow raised.

"Very impressive." She answered nonchalantly. Actually, it was impressive to her. It was something she couldn't do as of yet, but she didn't want to tell him that. He was already teasing her about her poor saber skills, and Esor wasn't in the mood to have Aidan pointing out any more of her faults.

Not now, not while the vision dream was still fresh in her mind.

Aidan was silent, his eyes closed. He took a deep breath and exhaled loudly.

"It wasn't that impressive," He said, glumly. He stood to his feet and turned to make his way back through the jungle. "I used to be a lot more powerful than that. I used to be able to crush stones easily with the Force. Now I can barely lift them a few feet."

Esor remained where she was, seated on the bank near the waterfall, contemplating. Slowly, she rose to her feet as well, and began to follow him through the darkening jungle.

"What do you mean, more powerful?" She ventured, pushing some branches out of her way as they made their way down the path to the temple.

Aidan sighed. He had never told anyone here about his brush with the dark side, about the Shadow Academy…about any of it. Maybe it was about time. He shook his head, trying to decide, when finally he spoke.

"I was a part of the Shadow Academy." And he let the words fall, hoping they would speak for themselves without explanation. He didn't look back at Esor.

The Jedi female stopped in her tracks. She had heard about the Shadow Academy from Jacen and Jaina Solo, and she knew it was bad news. Her mouth gaped open a bit, then she closed it and continued after him.

All Esor could say was, "Oh…" Then there was nothing but the sounds of the jungle permeating the silence around them. She had no idea he had been apart of that awful place, and she felt herself tense, thinking of what she had heard Dark Jedi could do.

She shivered just a bit, glancing at his broad back as he lead the way, wondering to herself…

Just what else is there about him that I don't know?

And then Esor realized, as the Temple loomed ahead of them, that she really didn't want to know…