Danny P.O.V.
"You need to focus. Let go." Ahsoka instructed. It's been a few weeks since we started working together and she started training me. I was currently working on my concentration with the force… By holding myself upside down on the branch of a tall tree.
"Hanging sounds better right now." I quipped, struggling maintain my hold, while Ahsoka sits on a nearby branch.
"Save the jokes for later. Focus, you're doing well." She said as I released my left hand and tried to keep balance with my right.
"I'm trying." I said as felt my balance start to slip and took hold of the branch with my left hand again.
"Do or do not, there is no try." Ahsoka said simply. It sounded like a quote.
"That makes zero sense." I responded.
"The definition of 'try' is to make an effort to do something. Succeeding or failing comes after." I said, sending Ahsoka a confused yet strained look with the balancing. She was about to respond, but took what I said into account.
"Well, in all honesty, I don't understand it either. Master Yoda used to say it a lot though." She admitted. If her skin wasn't orange, I bet I would've seen her blush in embarrassment.
"Well, from what you tell me of him, he knew his stuff." I muttered as I closed my eyes.
"He did." Ahsoka agreed.
I felt something brush against my arm. I opened my eyes to see a bird perched on the branch, sitting right next to me as if I wasn't even there.
"Well done, you're connecting with the force well." Ahsoka praised. I smiled at her thanks and flipped myself onto the branch to my feet.
"That was something else." I mused, thinking over what just happened.
"What did it feel like?" Ahsoka asked me as we hopped down the tree to the ground.
"It was like my Ghost Sense. When a ghost was near, I'd feel a cold chill and a blue puff of mist would escape my mouth. The feeling was similar, but warmer, and on a bigger scale. I could feel everything around me that moved, the wind, the birds, you…" I listed. Ahsoka smiled at me.
"You're advancing faster than I've ever seen in any force wielder." She said. I blushed at the praise.
"Thank you Master." I said with a Jedi bow, which she returned.
"If you'll excuse me for a moment, I need to make a call." She said. I nodded and headed into the forest to take a walk while Ahsoka went to make her call. I wonder who she's calling. I shrugged; it's not my business, and I don't her to think I don't respect her privacy.
Ahsoka P.O.V.
"When I'm done we can focus on your lightsaber skills!" I called out to my apprentice who turned to face me, yet continued walking, backwards.
"Got it!" he called back with a wave and a smile. I returned the smile and headed for my ship, or rather our ship. Danny has certainly made my lonely life more interesting. He's helped me get out of 1 or 2 tight spots, he's given me good ideas on fighting the Empire, he's told me some fun stories of his time as Hero of his town, and he recently figured out a riddle that was hidden in Senator Travis' transmissions. I was just about to inform Hera about that. In all honesty, it feels like I've adopted a kid brother.
I slipped my cloak on and pulled up my hood. I went over to the communications area in our ship, input Hera's Com-Frequency, and waited for her to respond. After a moment, a holographic image of Hera, captain of the Ghost, appeared.
"Fulcrum, what can I do for you?" She greeted.
"I've recently got some information concerning Senator Travis' transmissions." I told her. She perked up; she really liked that Senator's transmissions.
"What did you discover?" she asked, somewhat eagerly. I fought the chuckle that threatened to form in my throat.
"He hides coded messages in his transmissions. When he mentions a world, it's always the next one he visits." I told her. Her eyes widened in excitement.
"This is amazing! Thank you Fulcrum!" She thanked.
"Also, the clues he leaves to his location are obvious to the locals, but the Empire can never pick up on them." I added. Hera smiled brightly and bowed in gratitude.
"Thank you Fulcrum. I will inform my crew as soon as possible." She said. I nodded in response.
"Is there anything else the Rebellion needs?" She asked. I shook my head.
"Not at this moment. I will contact you when there is. Fulcrum out." I said and ended the transmission.
I sat in a meditative position, waiting for Danny to return from his walk. I didn't wait long. I sensed him approaching after about 10 minutes.
"Shall we begin?" I asked him as I opened my eyes. He smiled and nodded. I tossed him one of my lightsabers, which he caught, and we each ignited them.
"When do I get my own?" He asked eagerly.
"Having a lightsaber doesn't make you a Jedi." I pointed out as we each took battle stances.
"I thought neither of us were Jedi." He said with a smirk. I rolled my eyes and returned the smirk.
"Ladies first." He said, prompting me to make the first move. I obliged and lunged at him. I swung my blade down at him and he easily blocked it. Before he could retaliate, I pulled back and swung at him horizontally. This cycle went on for a short while.
"You're focusing too much on defence; you need to use more offense." I said as our blades clashed. We were pushing into each other, sparks flying off of the collision point of our blades.
"You're not exactly giving me a chance to." He responded with a slight growl.
"In a real fight, the enemy won't. Look for an opening." I instructed. I pulled back and tried to stab at him. His eyes widened for a moment. He side stepped and swung his blade down at mine, pushing it to the ground and pulled out his blaster, aiming it at my head. I looked into his eyes, we were both breathing heavily.
"Nicely done." I complimented as we sheathed our weapons and Danny handed me my blade that I leant him.
"Thank you." He said with a smile. I smiled back.
"Your skills are growing faster than I initially thought." I mentioned as we headed back to the ship.
"I have an excellent teacher." He responded, smiling. I chuckled and smiled back.
"Thank you." I responded. After talking about the Force a little more, we both decided to turn in for the night.
Danny P.O.V. – A few weeks later
"So, where are we going?" I asked Ahsoka.
"A certain rebel cell needs supplies, we're going to meet with them at an abandoned Clone Army base and give them the supplies we stole from the Empire the other day." Ahsoka explained as we dropped out of Hyperspace.
"Never ceases to amaze me." I muttered as I stared out the window with awe.
"Where landing, I suggest you strap in." Ahsoka said as approached a nearby asteroid field. I nodded and obeyed. Entering an atmosphere didn't turn out to be as bumpy as they make it out to be in the movies, and I was kinda disappointed, but then I remembered that a bumpy ride isn't something that one would want when fleeing from the Empire, and my disappointment melted. We flew through the asteroid field and landed on particularly large asteroid that seemed to have a breathable atmosphere. How that happens, I have no idea.
"Let's unload the crates." Ahsoka instructed. I nodded and followed her lead. We activated the anti-grav devices on the crates and pushed them out of the cargo bay. I noticed Ahsoka seemed particularly protective of a green crate, while the rest were red, but decided not to pry; I knew she would tell me if I needed to know.
"Is that all of them?" I asked as I unloaded another crate. Ahsoka nodded as she unloaded the last crate.
"Now I just contact Hera." She said and took her com-link from her belt. I looked at my belt and saw the com-link she gave me when we first started working together. I noticed that we were suddenly engulfed in a shadow, and looked up at the sun. It was being blocked out by an asteroid.
"Wow. Sunrise comes along fast in these parts." I joked. Ahsoka chuckled at my humour and activated her com-link.
"Phantom, this is Fulcrum, come in." She said into the com. I raised my eyebrow at the familiar name.
"This is Spectre 2 Fulcrum." A female voice replied.
"Why don't I talk to him?" Another voice said.
"Don't you dare." Spectre 2 hissed.
"Who was that?" I mouthed to Ahsoka, who shrugged.
"I'm already at the rendezvous point Spectre 2; the supplies have been unloaded. Should I wait?" Ahsoka asked Spectre 2.
"Yeah, Stick around! Spectre 2 and I would love to talk to you." That other voice responded. I gave Ahsoka a questioning look, to which she responded with another shrug.
"Spectre 2, what's the problem?" She asked.
"No problem at all Fulcrum; Spectre 5 just decided to uh… help with the supply run." Spectre 2 replied, sounding frustrated.
"Understood. Fulcrum out." Ahsoka replied and cut the signal.
"What was that about?" I asked.
"I'm guessing that Sabine, also known as Spectre 5, demanded to accompany Hera on the supply run." Ahsoka answered.
"Why?" I asked as we headed back to the ship.
"She doesn't like being kept in the dark. It bothers her." Ahsoka replied as we sat in our seats on the bridge.
"I hear that, I don't like it either. But I know that I'll be told what I need to know." I responded with a shrug as we took off.
"I suppose we're leaving because you don't want your identity revealed?" I asked. Ahsoka nodded in response.
"That and we have somewhere to be." She said. I tilted my head.
"Where?" I asked. Ahsoka smirked at me.
"You'll see." She said, with a mischievous grin. I rolled my eyes.
"For now, get some rest. We both need it." She instructed as she put the ship auto-pilot and sent us into Hyperspace. I nodded with a yawn as we each went to our bunks. The ship only had 2 bunks, but it was enough. As said before, the ship was small, as far as ships go; 2 bunks, 1 kitchen and 1 bathroom. As I lay down, my mind drifted to my Force training. I was making progress, but so far, I could only levitate large objects a few feet from the ground and bring small objects to my hands. I shrugged. I'm sure I'll get better soon enough. After all, I mastered my ice powers in a few days with Frostbite. I don't have them anymore, but it's a good comparison… at least I think so. It wasn't long before I felt the black abyss of sleep cloud my mind.
"Danny, wake up." I heard Asoka's voice call. I sat up and let out a massive stretch.
"What's up?" I asked her, rubbing my eyes.
"We've reached our destination, Lothal." She answered, smirking.
"Is there a reason for that smirk?" I asked, clicking my neck. Ahsoka chuckled.
"Yes there is. Come outside when you're ready." She said and headed to my door.
"As you say Master." I responded with a 2 fingered salute as she left. After a shower, a mug of caf, and getting my armour on, I exited the ship, finding my Master meditating in front of a massive stone.
"What's this about?" I asked as I sat beside her, mimicking her meditative position.
"That stone, what do you feel from it?" She asked, not opening her eyes. I took a deep breath and focused my senses on the stone.
"It's not a stone…" I muttered, falling deeper into my senses.
"Go on." Ahsoka said in soft voice.
"It's calling out to me… It's… a temple!" I said in realisation as I opened my eyes.
"Very well done." My Master praised. I smiled at her.
"but, why are we here though?" I asked her. We both stood up.
"It's time for your first test as a Force Wielder." She answered and held her arm out with her eyes closed.
"Follow my lead, and reach out to the temple." She instructed. I nodded and obeyed. I stood next to her, closed my eyes, held my arm out and reached out to the temple. I felt movement in the ground.
"Don't lose focus." Ahsoka warned.
"Noted." I responded and kept my cool. After a few minutes, the movement stopped. I opened my eyes and gasped in awe.
"Wow." I whispered as I beheld the temple that had formed in front of me.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Ahsoka asked. I nodded in agreement.
"Shall we?" She asked as she started to walk. I snapped out of my daze and ran to catch up to her.
A/N: So! Danny's first trial! What will it be? What will he face?