More Force adventures!
Creativity: Yeah! This is gonna be awesome!
Author: So it is! Also, Rogue one looks really good! (Haven't seen it as of this writing)
Anyway, I hope you all are enjoying this take on Star Wars. I've loved these movies since I first saw 4,5 and 6. I agree that the prequels arent anywhere near as good as the originals, but I believe people jump on them a bit too hard, just because they didn't devote themselves slavishly to original trilogy fanservice. 2 was utter crap, except for Yoda dueling, but I thought that 1 and 3 were halfway decent.
God, am I going to be internet piled on for this. Hope you all enjoy!
Ethnos delved deeper into the Bendu Gorge, as he had dubbed it. Ever since his encounter with that first Bendu, he hadn't come across anyone at all. He occasionally took the time to meditate on what he had learned from the Bendu, which gave him a slightly clearer Force vision but didn't help him find any other Bendu within the gorge.
He had been traveling for what felt like days, maybe even weeks. He didn't need food or water here, but it was still worrisome that he hadn't found any other Bendu in all his searching.
"Perhaps you simply aren't looking in the right places."
Ethnos spun around and saw another figure in a robe. This robe was brown.
"You know where to find more Bendu?"
The figure shook their head.
"That is the wrong question. I pose to you a different one. Why must there be only Bendu within this gorge?"
Ethnos cocked his head, confused.
"You mean there's more than just Bendu here?"
The figure nodded.
"Indeed. This Gorge houses all who are equally close to the light and dark sides of the Force. That does not neccesarily mean that they are Bendu. Remember, only a Sith deals in absolutes."
Ethnos nodded in recognition.
"So, I wasn't brought here to learn from only the Bendu then."
The figure nodded again.
"Your arrival sent a whisper of your purpose through the Force that only those attuned to both sides of the spectrum could hear. I will teach you your next lesson. I will teach you to track down other Force users through the trail they leave in the Force. Sit and we will begin."
Ethnos sat down slowly while the brown robed figure followed suit.
"The Force flows through and connects everything. It surrounds us, it penetrates us, it binds the galaxy together. You already know this. It is possible to use that connection to track down a Force user, as they are much easier to sense. This technique requires you to have a starting point to track from. This can be an object, a location such as a house or temple, or any number of things. Once you have this, you must find the discrepensies in the Force that a Force wielder leaves behind. These discrepensies are impossible to detect with only one side of the Force."
Ethnos listened intently as the Force user continued their lecture.
"You must open yourself to the Force. That means all of it. You must see the whole of the Force, not simply a part of it."
Ethnos nodded and closed his eyes, opening himself to the Force. He could feel the dark side within it, but he did not shy away. He simply stood his ground and maintained the connection. He could feel the two sides of the Force washing over him until he no longer sensed either of them. He could only sense one. The Force. He could see it. His Force vision was breathtaking it was indescribable, it was... Beautiful.
"You have made the next step. Now we will begin training in earnest. Some time ago, a Force user passed through here. Use your new sight to find a trail to follow them."
Ethnos nodded and began searching. His new clarity of Force vision allowed him to see new details that were previously invisible to him. One thing that stood out now was a thin mist that covered the ground. In places it looked thinner until he saw a complete void that moved in a line off into the distance.
"Well done. Now, go on to the next lesson."
Ethnos looked up to see the figure was gone.
He stood up and began followed the path that was laid out to him. Another lesson awaited.
Darth Vader stood on a balcony, overseeing a small number of teenagers training with practice blades. They were all wearing white training uniforms with numbers stitched onto their right shoulders. Every single one of them had burning yellow eyes. After some time, he left and marched down the polished corridor. A kaminoan walked up beside him.
"Lord Vader, are the students to your liking?"
"That remains to be seen. I want the three best brought to me in three days for a test. Should they fail, our arrangement will undergo... Revision."
The Kaminoan bowed.
"Of course, lord Vader. They will perform most adequetly, I assure you."
"Do not disappoint the Emperor. He is not as forgiving as I am."
Ethnos had been travelling for a long time. He had met several Force users and learned much of the Force. He learned to control the dark side without using dark emotions from a former Sith from the ancient Sith Empire, learned several dark side techniques, learned shatterpoint from a Jedi master from a similar age, and had even even learned a combat technique from a Gray Jedi that allowed him to slow his perception of time to a crawl. While this didn't allow him to move any faster, it did provide him with ample time to react to danger. In his latest encounter, he had been told to head to the surface through a crack in the gorge to meet his next teacher.
Ethnos clamoured out of the Gorge and looked around. He couldn't see anyone nearby. He drew upon his Force vision and looked for a a trail to follow. He couldn't see anything, but he did feel the pull again. The Force was trying to guide him somewhere. He let his feet carry him where the Force wanted him to go.
He walked for what felt like hours again before he saw someone standing in a circle of large rock spires. They wore a Jedi robe with the hood drawn and had their back turned.
Ethnos approached slowly and stopped several feet away.
"I have not been visited by another Force user in some time. Who are you?"
"My name is Ethnos. I was a Jedi padawan until I was frozen and locked in a state of suspended animation. The Force guided me here to learn from Force users long passed."
The figure turned around.
"I sense light and darkness within you. It has been a long time since one of your kind existed."
"My kind? What do you mean my kind?"
The figure motioned for him to take a seat. Ethnos oblidged.
"That is for you to discover, but it has a great deal to do with your saber trial on Ilum. It is incredibly difficult to forge a crystal and even more difficult when in such inhospitable conditions.
Ethnos was confused.
"How do you know about my trail?"
The figure crossed their hands.
"In this land, a name carries with it a story. Your name told your story to me. You said the Force brought you here to learn from me? Then I shall teach you a technique that few Force wielders ever truly master. Rise."
Ethnos stood up and the figure rose themselves. They reached to their hip and drew a saberstaff. Ethnos became apprehensive.
"I will teach you a Force technique known as Tutaminis. Using this technique, a Force user can absorb energy from an attack and use it themselves. The energy can come from Force lightning, blaster bolts, or even a lightsaber blade."
The figure tossed the saberstaff to Ethnos and swept their hands out to the side.
"Allow me to demonstrate. Attack me with a stab."
Ethnos was slow to respond, but he did ignite the blade, which was an icy blue, and spun around, going for a thrust to the gut. The figure their hands together and caught the blade in their palm, pushing back on the blade. Ethnos was shocked. He retreated and deactivated the saberstaff.
"Now, let us begin. I'll be needing my saber back."
Ethnos tossed the weapon back to them.
"To use Tutaminis, one must concentrate the Force into their palms and use it to shuttle the energy from the strike into the Force around them. You will attempt to do as I have done."
The figure ignited the blade and prepared to strike. Ethnos was quite apprehensive.
"Hold on, how did you even get the saber in the first place? And won't getting stabbed just kill me?!"
The figure shook their head.
"It will not kill you, but it will cause great discomfort, so I suggest you try your hardest."
Ethnos gulped and prepared himself. The figure performed an elaborate spin before thrusting. Ethnos barely had time to react, concentrating on creating the barrier that would defend him from the strike. It didn't hold. The blade went straight through both of his hands and through his chest. Ethnos cried out as he felt an intense burning sensation in his hands and chest. The figure withdrew the blade, revealing that there were no wounds on Ethnos' body.
"Again."
Ethnos jumped to attention and attempted again to guard himself against the blade. He had more success this time and stopped the blade for a couple of seconds, but he wasn't able to maintain the barrier before the blade went straight through again, which led to more pain.
"Again."
Ethnos grimaced and braced himself. This was going to be a long lesson.
The training went on for what felt like days until he was able to consistently catch the tip of the blade and push it back. The figure seemed pleased.
"I have nothing left to teach you. Now you must face a final trial."
The figure stood and pointed to a large black mountain.
"At the summit of that mountain is one of the most powerful Force wielders in recorded history. They have a mastery over both aspects of the Force that many could only dream of. You must scale the mountain and face them in combat. Only then will you be ready to return to the galaxy."
Ethnos bowed and began his hike to the blackened stone. The process was much faster and he was soon at the base of the mountain. He could see no path to follow. He would be forced to free climb.
The process was a long and tedious one. There were moments where he had to retrace his steps and find an alternate route. Several times the rock broke and he began falling, only to catch a ledge. After what felt like an eternity, he reached the summit. The mountain levelled off dramatically. Sitting at the center, surrounded by six stone spires was a figure wearing a tattered black hood. They shifted and rose to their feet.
Ethnos stood silently as the figure turned. Underneath the hood was a black and red mask with a thin black visor. They reached into the folds of their cloak and removed two lightsabers. It tossed one to Ethnos, who caught it and ignited the blade, which shimmered green. The figure ignited their own, which was purple and held it straight up in front of it in a duelist's salute. Ethnos copied it and raised the blade above his head, waiting for the figure to make the first move.
The figure spun the blade in its hand and leapt forward, swinging the blade for a powerful downward chop.
And we finish up with chapter 5! So, guesses as to who taught Ethnos Tutanimis and who he's dueling now?
Creativity: Seriously, this is not hard at all boss. People are just going to roll their eyes and call out how not-so-clever you are.
Author: Well, you could have put some better stuff in the B.T.I, so don't get angry at me.
Yeah, it's fairly obvious who they are, but hey.
See ya next time where we pick up the duel!