Exiting so-called "cave"
The Jedi apprentice hurriedly exited the cave – or whatever it is – and was running back to the ship. He saw his Master, who's standing at the other side of the Tina Harkin's Pride (named after the Exile). Hope he won't see me coming from there... hush! He's probing the Force, if he feels my presence, I'll be seriously doomed... Then, at this precise time, when his Master was searching for him around the ship, heading for many directions, a voice came from the mask.
Mayss didn't know how, but he's sure the voice resounding in his head came from the mask; he could perceive it as it was talking to him: "For your sake, withdraw from the Force."
I wish I could, but how? He thought desperately; I'm only a padawan and I cannot perform such "tricks" (he laughed at himself, since he knew well his Master despised this term: "There are no "tricks", Mayss; there is merely the Force, which flows through you, which flows throughout the Galaxy" was a common sermon before meditation or use of Force powers...). His thoughts were interrupted again by the mask's voice: "Learn to step back from the Force, to set up void in you..." I'll try. He scarcely answered, attempting to make sense of this "illusion", that the angered voice demanded: "Do not try: do or do not; try is for the weak and the fool!"
Such soliloquies made Mayss feel uncomfortable. What's all about ? I'm going nuts : I'm actually talking to a mask! Plus, why am I supposed to hide from my Master? He always forgives me… "This time, you've done something that is really wrong, apprentice" the mask answered back: "you won't get out of this mess so easily... This time, your Master is really upset..."
After a while, the strange voice grew more suave and told him "You can do it; indeed, I see great powers concealed in you: you are able, but you do not own sufficient will to accomplish a greater destiny... Learn to fight without the Force; if one can fight deprived of such an ally, then one is able of everything with this ally." Mayss peeked around to see if his master had seen him. No, his Master was still walking a wrong direction... I must seize this opportunity... Ok, remember to set void in you…
Once he had managed to withdraw from the Force, shocked and sneering at the mere thought his Master couldn't sense him if he tried this very instant, the mask's voice made its way to his head once more: "Good! Now he is blind; that is why the Jedi are so easily deceived, for they cannot live without the Force. You have done well: that teaching will next be very useful, apprentice".
Indeed, Master Mical was blind: a second before, he could feel his padawan's presence through the Force; but now, he could only glimpse the planet's emptiness... That led him to intensify his searches, fearing for Mayss... Upon watching his Master roaming from afar, Mayss felt guilty; yet, his first concern was dedicated to the mask, which had become silent, as if all the dialogue had never happened... he silently, quietly walked in a slow fashion as if he was followed or tailed... he looked behind him repeatedly and then quickly directed his gaze towards his Master, who was still probing into the wrong path... He went quite rapidly back to the ship and stood beside its access ramp. There, Master Mical spotted him and rushed toward him, astounded and furious… Now, that's goin' to leave a mark... he muttered grimly.
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"Where have you been?" Mical shouted angrily, still worrying. "You could've been killed! You know that, don't you?" he hurried towards his apprentice, who was standing, falsely astonished, beside the ship, but who was truly looking guilty...
"Master, I haven't gone far, I barely lost eye contact with the ship, I..." he tried to explain himself...
"You have disobeyed! For Force's sake! Was it so difficult to stay still for a while?" Mical retorted angrily; however, he hastily calmed himself down, reciting the Jedi Code's line about passion... "There are more dangers than rocks and Force ghosts, my young padawan: there are also hssiss, or even tuk'ata; those beasts are deadly. If one of them had spotted you, it could've killed you before you knew where it came from!"
Mayss had never seen his Master lose his temper; it was like he had incurred great risk by venturing a little away from the ship. He repeatedly touched with his left hand the mask through his Jedi clothes, but noticed with horror he was still handling the lightsaber hilt in his right hand... He endeavoured to stealthily bury his hand deep in his sleeve. However, he failed to do so, as Master Mical had seen his subtle movements and engaged what could be named a thorough questioning: "Mayss, where have you been? I require you answer sincerely; do not lie to me, padawan." He said distrustfully, as if he knew his learner was about to try and avoid responding properly; yet he remained quiet and strived not to look infuriated.
"Truly, Master, I was merely wandering; I meant you no treachery", Mayss began to sweat and fiddled nervously with his clothes; "and I am... well, I... You deeply regret that your Master's distrusted you..."The poor padawan was amazed: the voice in his head – or from the mask - had thought before he could put together a proper excuse and these words were voiced so casually – not only within his head, but by his mouth too!-, as if he had personally thought them, though he had never done so! And this insidious voice carried on: "That you observed that your Master apparently lacked vision, for he had roamed everywhere around the ship but around its access ramp..."This time Mayss was scared as he spoke those words so harshly, almost meaning pain... "That you wouldn't go far without him, for it is a deadly planet: you knew it well."
The blonde Jedi Master stared at him, bewildered, since he knew his padawan had always been quite fearful, even a bit of a coward. This sudden boldness made him blink with wonder; "So it is how you plead for your case," he said aghast: "as if I was a danger... Be careful of your feelings: there is too much greediness in you, as well as disobedience..." he continued, yet without any bitterness; he was observing and wanted his apprentice to respect his demands: "I won't lose you the way I lost Aris." This was the first time Master Mical ever mentioned his old padawan (the very first he trained after Tina Harkin had left Known Space), who turned to the Dark Side and was soon consumed by it (Mayss believed he was slain by his Master himself as he was attempting to put him on the right way again).
"You see?" said the mask; "he wants you to remain obedient, his servant for ever! Do not be so easily lured in." But Master means me good, he's not treacherous; however, you appear to me insidious and manipulative: I shouldn't trust you. Mayss thought bravely, yet feeling his willpower was slowly being eroded by the soft and "friendly" tones of his mask. He was wondering why he was actually considering this mask was his... "I, treacherous? Do not be ridiculous: I mean you only good. Do not forget I'm a mask... and a lightsaber! Ready to serve you. Remember it was I who got you out of nearly unavoidable trouble." Maybe... maybe you're right; yet, from now on I'll keep an eye on you, "mask"...
Mical gazed at his padawan while he was like talking to himself, or something in his clothes... "You know, I'm here if you want someone whom to talk to;" he spoke cheerfully, yet sounding apologetic: "What's wrong with you? Do you need any help? Don't tell me you're sulking!" he added teasingly.
His padawan's answer was quite cryptic: "No, Master, no. I was thinking of what still remains on this dead planet..."
Eventually, Mayss managed to tell his Master he'd discovered "something buried in the nearby sand", then he handed the lightsaber hilt to him. At first sight, the blonde Master looked questioning and lowered his head to scrutinize more accurately said hilt... Suddenly, he looked solemn and said in a cold, still, voice: "What you've discovered is a Sith lightsaber... even these objects could be haunted... I'll keep it to later study it." He handled the hilt to hang it on his belt. Mayss regretted this. He wanted the lightsaber... After all, I discovered it: it's mine! But he didn't claim it, for he valued his Master's judgments. The mask couldn't help criticizing this act: "He wants it for only himself; he denies your right to own a lightsaber... always you'll remain an apprentice. Think about it..."
"We had better move on; come: I've something to show you. It'll help you to better understand the Force in itself..." Mical said.
"I already know it's the Sith Academy you're talking about." Mayss answered back.
Then, they silently, thoughtfully, headed for the Sith Academy. Once in front of the massive entrance door, they both looked down at the decomposing tuk'ata corpses. "Be watchful, padawan; inside, there are many dangers, stay by my side and everything should be all right"
They entered...
