Chapter 8

The Dark Side of the Force, Part II

"Master, tell me about the powers of the Sith."

"Yoda, this is becoming something of an obsession with you. One might think you wanted to become one."

"No Master! Of course not! I…I guess I'm just not convinced that they are really gone." Yoda's voice trailed off and he looked down at his hands, embarrassed.

Master Rimasiss' eyes glinted with apparent amusement. "You believe your fourteen years of experience is greater than that of the entire Jedi Council?"

"No, Master…it's just…" Yoda stammered.

Rimasiss placed a reassuring hand on Yoda's shoulder and crouched down to look Yoda in the eye. "It's just that you can sense the cold."

The young migru's eyes widened. "Yes, Master! How did you know?"

The Jedi Master nodded with a wry smile. "I feel it as well." With a sigh, he stood. "But the Council will not listen to me." He turned away from Yoda and stared out at the largest of the fountains, seeming to relish the sound of the running water. At length, he spoke. "What do you sense, my padawan?"

Yoda moved to his Master's side and clenched his fists, struggling to find the words. "I can feel it somewhere…elusive. You said that others who use the dark side are hot, but the Sith are cold. I feel the cold in the Force. It's fading, but I can feel it. They are out there, and they are learning to hide themselves." He held his breath. Swallowing hard, he lifted his chin. "I should be prepared."

"You, padawan? Why you?"

Yoda looked up at his imposing teacher. "I don't know, Master. I just know. When I close my eyes at night, I see myself fighting the Sith."

"You dream of fighting the Sith?" Rimasiss looked down at Yoda and drew his brow tight, as if seeing Yoda for the first time. "And what do you see in your dreams, padawan?"

"They don't fight with lightsabers alone, Master. They use the Force. They…"

"Go on, padawan."

"They use lightning….it comes from their hands. And…it hurts."

Rimasiss nodded. He closed his eyes and sighed. "What do you want to know, Yoda?"

The padawan walked to the edge of the pool. "How do I fight them?"

The Jedi Master smiled as he gathered his robes and sat next to Yoda. He stared at Yoda intently. "I have heard of Sith striking at Jedi with lightning. I do not know how they do it, padawan." He sighed. "I am sorry. But the Jedi who fought them were able to block the attack with their lightsabers. They used the Force to shunt the power through their crystals. Does that help?"

Yoda nodded. He looked up at his Master with pleading eyes. "But what if I have no weapon?"

Rimasiss drew his eyebrows together. "A Jedi never loses his lightsaber, Yoda."

"But if he did?" Yoda persisted.

The Master placed a hand on his bearded chin. "Hmmm….well, if this lightning is called from the Force, then the Force should stop it. If they use their hands to direct its power at you, I imagine that you can use your hands to deflect it."

"How do I do that?"

"Your focus determines your reality, Yoda. How many times have I told you this?"

"What if I can't do it?"

Rimasiss let out an exasperated breath. "If you believe that, then the Sith have already won."

"Am I to fight the Sith, Master? Will I be the one to stop them?"

"I don't know, Yoda. The future is always in motion. It's impossible to truly see what will happen. It is possible that you will face them one day. Your lifespan is much greater than even mine. It is also possible that these are only dreams. Dreams pass in time."

"Yes, Master." Yoda frowned. "But what about nightmares?"

Rimasiss placed both hands on Yoda's shoulders. "Your focus determines your reality, Yoda. This is always true. In life and in dreams. If you want these nightmares to end, you can. Meditate on it."

"I'm afraid, Master."

"There is no fear, Yoda. There is no emotion. There is peace."

Yoda nodded. "Yes, Master."


Agony.

Your focus determines your reality…

Reprieve.

"I regret that you must suffer this way, Yoda."

"Stop…" Yoda's throat, dry from the electrical storm, burned with every breath. "Please…"

"You can end this, Yoda. You only need to accept the power I offer you."

"No. I will…not…turn."

Anguish.

"Then you will die."

Focus!

Eyes shut tight against the pain, Yoda called on the Light. A cold, dark cloud in the Force surrounded him, shutting him off from the power he sought. He knew he could not break through. He could not let the Light in.

Panic.

Do not fear the dark, Yoda. Use it. You control the Force. You are its Master. Bend it to your will. Let go of your guilt. Let go of your fear. Use the dark against itself, and you will triumph.

Rage.

Yoda unclenched his fists and drew his hands from his sides.

Kaine's eyes widened. He gasped as he halted his attack. "Are you going to fight back, Yoda?" Kaine laughed. His eyes narrowed. "You are, aren't you? How wonderful!" Kaine smiled as he raised both of his hands and pointed them at the Migru Master.

Yoda struggled to his feet. Standing weakly on the battered console, Yoda opened his eyes and stared at his attacker. Tapping into the Force, he felt the cold swarm about him. Yoda lowered his head, keeping his gaze fixed on Kaine. "Be wonderful for you, it will not!"

Kaine's lips curled in a contemptuous glare. "Now, you will face the full power of the dark side!"

Energy exploded from Kaine's outstretched hands.

Yoda allowed a wry smile to play across his lips as he extended his hands before him.

The lightning struck his open palms and drove him backward. Yoda grunted and drew the Force around him like a frozen blanket. Power surged in and around the Master Jedi. The lightning surged and billowed but remained contained in Yoda's grasp.

Kaine snarled. His yellow eyes seemed to glow brighter as the blood vessels in his corneas darkened. The blue tinge in the lightning dissipated as the number of strands of white power intensified.

Use it! Draw on your untapped power, and you will be invincible…

Yoda gritted his teeth and furrowed his brow as sweat beaded on his forehead.

You have the power to stop him…

Grunting with effort, Yoda pulled his palms together, causing the raging energy to begin to coalesce into a growing sphere.

Kaine's eyes widened. "Impossible…"

"No…" Yoda grunted. He bent his arms as Kaine's attack flowed more violently at him. With a sudden roar, he pushed his hands forward with all his strength.

The sphere of electrical energy surged from Yoda's hands and engulfed the Dark Lord.

"Arrrggghhhh--"

"Not impossible," Yoda panted as he placed his hands on his knees, catching his breath. "Inevitable."

Kaine fell.

Yoda leapt from the console, his outstretched palms calling the fallen lightsabers. The electrical surges around the Dark Lord slowly dispersed. Kaine placed his palms flat on the cold obsidian floor and raised his head to regard Yoda. "What was inevitable, Master Jedi? My defeat? Or, perhaps, your turn to the dark side of the Force?"

Yoda stopped.

He stared down at the weapons in his hands. He had planned to kill Kaine, whether the politician continued to fight or not. This was not the Jedi way.

"Turn to the dark side, I have not!"

Kaine laughed.

Yoda gripped the lightsaber hilts tighter.

"I am disappointed in you, Yoda."

Shut him up. Kill him…

"Kill you, I will!"

"Spoken like a true Jedi."

Yoda stalked forward.

Kaine struggled to his feet and set his jaw.

"End the threat to Migruna, your death will."

"You may rationalize your actions any way you wish, my little green friend. But I pose no threat to your adopted home. My Master has ordered Migruna III as the test site, and I will obey."

The cold blanket that covered Yoda's heart froze. He barely registered that his feet were no longer moving. "Your Master?"

Kill him, and I will show you the path to unlimited power…

"Your Master…?" Yoda stared in confusion at the lightsabers in his hands. He could feel the electrum crystals humming within—crystals harvested by the Sith.

He is lying to save his life. Destroy him while you can…

"No!"

Yoda heart leapt in surprise as he was suddenly hurled across the room and pinned hard against the far wall, the suddenly deactivated lightsabers falling freely from his grasp. He raged against the invisible power that imprisoned him. He glared at Kaine through fury-filled eyes as the corner of the Dark Lord's lip curled into a lop-sided smile.

The doors opened.

Kaine turned respectfully and knelt on one knee.

"He is ready, my Master."

The shadow cast by the arrival of the Dark Lord of the Sith broke the shafts of light that poured through the open doorway.

Yoda's blood froze.

Though it was covered in a black cowl, there was no mistaking the diminutive frame that entered the room.

"Well done, my apprentice." The voice was devoid of any emotion. A brown hand extended from beneath the dark robes and rested on Kaine's head. "Rise, my friend. Complete the preparations."

"Yes, my Master." Kaine stood and left the room without turning.

"No…" Yoda whispered.

Two brown hands went to the cowl and pulled it back slowly.

"Yes, my lover," Rizza replied.