CHAPTER II – A BRIEF, BUT POTENT HISTORY LESSON

Kei looked down from the night sky. He sat crouched atop a giant formation of smooth rocks rising from the ground, his eyes fixed on the dancing flames of torches illuminating a path that lead to a beautiful hot spring. He tried to remember the chords in the song that the elemental force and ancient Force users of Harlu had sang earlier and why it seemed more and more distant every time it crossed his mind. Rey called out to him: "Kei-Ron, come join us!"

Kei turned and looked towards the steaming pools of water, their reflections changing colors every few seconds as the light from the torches licked the surface. Kei and Mina had gotten an earful from their masters after their image training earlier that day. They went on about how despite all of the power that was displayed, they both relied on their anger to try and defeat each other rather than using their true skills in the Force. Every hint of mastery they displayed earlier in their duel was washed away by brutish emotion and meaningless pain, the outcome of which was their total destruction.

Kei kept telling himself that it was Mina who caused him to be consumed by anger and lose himself, though he knew deep down that that was a lie. What Kei found most troubling was that his ancestors did not come to his aid like they did when he called upon them during his duel with Ahsoka. He knew why, but would not admit it to himself. That kind of selfishness was for beginners, not someone like him. He had been so lost in his thoughts that he had almost forgotten that he was walking and nearly fell into the spring, but caught himself at the last second. Ahsoka and Rey chuckled as he stepped into the pool of water. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Mina get out of the water to grab a canteen that stood next to their weapons and clothing on some nearby rocks. The changing colors and glow of the water illuminated her beautiful brown skin as well as the breathtaking curves of her body. He felt himself blush when he realized he had fully turned his head in her direction and quickly submerged himself under the water. When he came back up, she was back inside the pool, ignoring him just as she had done the whole afternoon.

He focused on his surroundings and took in the scenery. This truly was a beautiful place. He had spent many nights here healing his sore body after long days of training while Ahsoka was gone. It was a ritual they had learned to do together when she had first begun teaching him. The presence of the three beautiful women felt strangely natural and a surge of joy filled him as he realized that this was the first night in the last two years that he was not alone.

"Kei", Ahsoka said. "I've never told you where I really come from and where I've been. You also do not know of Rey's history. I think now is the time to show you." This was true. Kei had belonged to one of many tribes on this region of Harlu. His family had come from a long line of healers who had once used the elemental Force to coexist with the full natural power of the planet. Over the years, they lost touch with that raw power through the influence of off-worlders and the exploitation of the planet's resources. His tribe was attacked by those same off-worlders and most of them were killed and enslaved. Kei's aunt who was the lead healer of their tribe saw it as a sign that they were the lone survivors of the attack and knew that it was time to begin a new way in the Force.

Kei's aunt began teaching him the pure ways of their healing practice and she soon realized that he could touch the Force deeply. When Kei became older, Ahsoka arrived on the planet. She seemed naturally drawn to him and his presence in the Force. She claimed that is what had led her to this planet during her travels. They spent several years here together.

She had taught him a little about the Jedi Order and where she thought their flaws lied as well as the selfish power of The Sith. She mentioned that she had once been a part of the Jedi Order when she was very young and that she had been in many battles outside of the "Unknown Regions" which is where she considered Harlu to be located. She shared a few stories, but always kept her origins a mystery. He always seemed to trust her, so he respected her unwillingness to share too much.

Kei had heard stories of The Jedi and Sith over the years. He did not know very much, but he knew that they were groups who fought for centuries to claim ownership of the Force and bent it to forge their destinies and gain great power. Ahsoka did not seem to think like this. Kei had never left his home planet and Ahsoka training him offered the hope that he would one day be able to explore other parts of the galaxy.

Now, he found himself absorbing this moment in time and as Ahsoka began to speak, Kei noticed Mina watching her, entranced by every word. Ahsoka asked for everyone to hold hands in a circle as they sat in the hot iridescent water. A surge of visions filled Kei's mind. He saw Ahsoka fighting alongside other Jedi and soldiers. He saw Victory, Death and Pain. He saw who Ahsoka's master was and who he would become. He saw Ahsoka battling fiercely against him, a Dark and menacing figure cloaked in armor and the Dark Side. He saw the cycle of light into darkness and back into the light of redemption. He saw her master's children and their legacies.

From all of this came Rey, a lost spirit strong in the Light, but with a massive shadow. He felt a dyad in the Force. Her shadow had a name and then a face. The shadows shifted back and forth until neither was distinguishable from the other. Again, he witnessed the cycle of light into darkness and back into the light of redemption. He saw the Dark Lord of The Sith and heard many names.

The images and names shifted quicker and quicker into his mind and it seemed as if the Force itself had become giant metal gears that grinded together until he could smell smoke. He heard the song of his ancestors again, full and beautiful. Tears streamed down his face and he opened his eyes to look at everyone around him. He noticed Mina had tears streaming down her face as well and for the first time, she looked at him with an understanding that filled Kei with the full balanced power of the Light. He could sense that she felt the same fulfillment. Ahsoka and Rey looked to the sky and smiled as a stream of multi-colored shooting stars passed by overhead.