Resist: We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas….
Arthur: Stop singing, you're hurting my ears.
Echo: Yeah, Resist, that's my job. But guess what guys!
Oni, Green, Arthur, Patch, Mia: What?
Echo: We have a present for the audience!
Resist: (announcer voice) What is the only thing better than a Clone Wars chapter from Resist and Echo? TWO chapters from Resist and Echo
Arthur: The only thing worse than your singing is your announcer voice.
(Everyone except Arthur): Woooooooowwwww
Echo: Anyways! We hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Please R&R….wait, who wants to say the honors?
Resist: I also hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, except Arthur. Well, Echo and I don't own Star Wars or it's characters, so on to the show….
News Announcer: We interrupt your regularly scheduled Resist and Echo story to bring you this….The story known as Found, will be getting a new name. This new name is called The Journey. The new name will not take effect until the posting of Chapter 14. Now back to the story…..
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
The Training
"If you end your training now - if you choose the quick and easy path as Vader did - you will become an agent of evil. "
Three weeks after the rescue of Jedi Master Oni Kao, the group has found themselves in a rare moment of Akul has been their home away from home for the past three weeks. Mainly, their mission was to patrol the Abregado system, which has been relatively quiet since the Malevolence was destroyed.
Arthur sat on the bed in his quarters meditating. His master also sat in her own quarters doing the same. It was a scheduled routine thing for them to separate to their own quarters for maximum silence. Luckily for them, the cruiser they were on offered plenty of that.
The Padawan's mind began to go over the most recent events in his life; his master being kidnapped from under his nose, because he hesitated to follow her during their previous mission; and Mia returning to help with the rescue, only to leave a few weeks later and continue her own thing afterwards, even after they had become a couple.
Though they did get his master back, Arthur couldn't help but wonder what would've happened had they found her sooner. Sure, Oni was a strong woman, but maybe she might not have suffered as much as she did. Kao told her Padawan that she was fine, but he still harbored the thought that he put her in that situation.
He continued to allow his frustration to take over in his mind. Flashbacks of him losing to Grievous and the cyborg taking his lightsaber filled his thoughts. Arthur lost it there and allowed the dark side to flow through him. With his eyes still closed, he stood up and began to thrash around the room.
Arthur finally opened his eyes and saw the mess and immediately understood what had happened. He grunted as he slowly stood up to take in his run with the dark side. Looking down to search for injuries, he found none; at least, until he felt a trickle down his face.
As he touched his head, he felt a sticky substance. Anger built up after he glanced down at his hand. Arthur, who now looked a little roughed up, headed for his master's room. Without knocking, he barged in and waited her reaction.
As usual, Oni calmly opened her eyes. Staying still in her meditative position, she scrutinized her apprentice. "Did you hit your head?"
Arthur had his head down and the most serious facial expression he ever wore in his life, and not daring to look at her, and second guessing if he should tell her what happened. He never even looked in her direction and just stayed silent, waiting for Oni to figure out why he came here.
"You should have Patch look at that," she said, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. After a few moments of silence, she peeked from one eye. "Are you-"
Taking in his irritated look, Kao grunted. "Arthur...again?!"
"Master, it's…..it's growing stronger….p-p-please help me" Arthur spoke so softly that Kao could barely hear him. Tears began to fall as he dropped to his knees begging his master's help, "I can't take it anymore" sobbed Arthur.
The golden brown eyes of Master Kao widened for a mere moment as she stood up. "Arthur, I know this is very frustrating for you," she started, "It will take awhile before you learn to control it. Right now, you need to block out whatever is triggering your meltdowns." She stepped towards Arthur and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Or you can vent and let it out that way. Tell me, what's causing your bursts of anger?"
"It's everything that has happened to me. My parents are gone and I'm alone; my lightsaber is probably being used by Grievous to cut down other jedi; and I was too slow in saving you, causing you to go through more than what you should have. I am suppose to honor my parents by doing this. They always told me stories about the jedi, and how they save many people, but how can I do that if I can't even save myself?" by the time Arthur had finished his venting, he was curled up in a ball on his master's bed, tears still leaking from his eyes.
Oni took a deep breath and mumbled something under her breath. "Arthur, listen to me."
Arthur turned to look at his master straight in the eyes for the first time since entering her room. He immediately started to cool down and he gave her his undivided attention. She acknowledged this and turned towards the other side of the room, focusing there. "Arthur, the life of a Jedi is never easy. We all have our demons. We all have fears and dreams and we all make mistakes. We break rules and promises. Jedi are not perfect, but we try to be, because that's who we are. We are whatever the Republic or the galaxy needs us to be. Do you understand that?"
"I guess so master, I think that is what my parents were trying to teach me before…...certain events happened" replied Arthur, lowering his head as the tears reappeared on his face. He felt weak and vulnerable in front of his master, and was trying his best to hold back the waterworks.
"Master Yoda was very vague in his explanation of your past," Oni sighed, "What happened to them? Perhaps we can find closure for you."
"I don't want to talk about it" replied Arthur, who sat up from his master's bed and looked in the opposite direction of his master, so his back was toward her. Kao narrowed her bright eyes at him. After shrugging, she stood up and cleared her throat. "Okay," she said calmly, not giving away the frustration she felt, and began walking out of the room.
"They died in the middle of the street" replied Arthur, not moving.
Oni gave a slight hum to this in contemplation. "How?"
Arthur walked back to the bed and sat down and made contact with his master's eyes with his own watered ones. "Gang violence. A gang had complete control over the town, and no one had the courage to stand up to them, except my parents. During one of the gang's raids, my parents went out to defend the town, and were made a public example of what happened when people crossed them." By the time Arthur was finished with his story, he had let the tears return to his face and looked at his master with his glassy and watered eyes, struggling not to lose control of his feelings and tap into the dark side.
"I never knew my own parents," the Jedi Master said, "But I have a feeling that the general in charge of our next mission will know how you feel."
"Mission? Where?" asked Arthur.
Kao was about to press the button to open the door but stopped. "Local gang activities in a nearby system has caught the Republic's attention." She turned to look at Arthur. "We're headed to Delphon."
Arthur got off the bed and walked to the door, "I'm not going" replied Arthur. He made to leave but felt an arm on his shoulder. Oni gave him a serious glare and then rested her hands on the hilts of her lightsabers. "You're going to Delphon with me to meet up with the Republic cruiser stationed there. The Jedi Master there is more experienced with handling her darkness. I myself have never experienced these outbursts, thus I am not a suitable teacher in this situation."
"I don't care if it was Master Yoda waiting for us. I am not going back to Delphon to be handed over to another master" said Arthur with anger behind his voice, but there were other emotions involved as well.
"This wasn't my decision," Oni snapped, "Either way, you are going to Delphon. If you want to learn how to control your emotions and keep her safe, then you'll cooperate."
"Then drop me off somewhere and leave cause I'm not going back….Wait, keep who safe?" asked Arthur. Kao scoffed, "How naive do you think I am? Of course I know how you feel about Mia."
"Yeah well I know about you and Green, and I'm still not going back. It's better if I don't see Mia again, so that I don't disappoint her in the end" replied Arthur with strong emotion in his voice. Kao scoffed for the second time, "Take a woman's point of view: that is not a wise decision at all. Mia won't take no for an answer, I can tell. You care about her, I get that. But driving her away is the worst pain you could inflict. Mia would want you to do this."
Arthur hated to admit it to himself, but she was right. "There are too many dark memories there. I can't go back, it's one of the reasons why I left to join the republic in the first place," replied Arthur. Oni released her grip on her Padawan's shoulder and pinched the bridge of her nose. "The only thing I can tell you is to think about Mia."
"You'll be right beside me, right?" asked Arthur, who was giving in to Oni's demand of him going back to this dreaded planet.
Oni lowered her hand and sighed. "You and Master Tano will be keeping an eye up in orbit while Green and I go along with a few of Tano's commandos to acquire as much information on the gang as possible. When we're done, the two of you will be joining us for an assault."
"If it's the gang I'm thinking about, you may not want me on that assault" replied Arthur, thinking of how that said gang executed his parents. "I guess I have no choice though," continued Arthur, who grew a slight smirk on his face. Arthur held out his fists, like he was being cuffed, "Take me to this master" he said, in his usual sarcasm.
The Jedi Master couldn't help but smile. "Green has a pair of cuffs I can borrow, c'mon." Pushing the button to open the door, Kao gestured for Arthur to leave first. Arthur shook his head and also gestured for his master, "Ladies first" he replied.
"Such a gentleman," Oni said with humor, walking out. As she remembered something, she stopped. "Oh, and Master Tano doesn't do well with sarcasm. Humor, yes. She works with ARCs afterall."
Arthur chuckled, "Well this should be fun then" replied Arthur who waited for his master to take the lead again. "And just for the record, I didn't drive Mia away, she is the one that left to do who knows what after the mission" replied Arthur.
"We're like that," Oni chuckled as she picked up the pace, "Get used to it." Arthur let out a laugh, which caused Oni to stop once again, and Arthur bumped into her back. "Sorry, when I ran off in Ilum to join Green, after I told you my parents died, he said women were like that, don't tell him I said that though, he told me not to tell you" chuckled Arthur.
Kao smirked as she continued walking, "Really? Hm, I'll consider that the next time he and I talk alone." Arthur allowed a smile to form on his face, but then it went away and he became a little nervous for his life, "Just don't mention me, or I'll have to run for my life" replied Arthur.
"You're still in trouble for talking back to him."
Arthur just rolled his eyes, "What kind of punishment are we talking here?" he asked, as they continued walking through the ship. "Lightsaber training for twelve hours," she replied calmly, "And physical training with the ARCs. Trust me, you'll never back talk him after that."
Arthur slightly cringed at the mention of all the extra hours of training, "Sounds like I'll just be better than I was before" replied Arthur, giving a smirk to hide his disdain for the extra training. "That's what you're saying now," Oni chuckled. Hopefully this little lesson will teach Arthur the proper response to a commanding officer.
Arthur just shook his head and then gave his master a questioning look, "Who is this Jedi we are meeting?" asked Arthur, who became very curious about who was joining them on this mission to his least favorite planet in the galaxy.
"Her name is Aloke Tano," Kao started, obviously reluctant to speak of said Jedi Master. "She is Kulani's twin sister. I didn't talk to her much, but I know that her deep-seeded hatred of me might affect this next mission: that is why I am sending you in my place. Her commander, ARC Alpha John insisted on it. If I were you, I'd make friends with him first. When it comes to Aloke, you need all the allies you can get to survive her wrath."
Arthur looked puzzled, "So I am to stay on her ship, while you scout for the gang, and while you do that, I'm supposed to learn how to control the dark side from her? I think she'll treat me worse than the ARC troopers" said Arthur, chuckling at the end.
"Yes, you will be our eyes and ears," Oni corrected, "She'll be more focused on the mission and your training I hope, but John should be there to mediate anything. Aloke is very close to Master Yoda, and would never disobey an order from him."
"I don't know master, You sure I can't just skip this one? I'd prefer to go to Mustafar then come back to this poor excuse for a planet" came Arthur's slightly mumbled voice.
Oni sighed, stopping to adjust one of her gloves. After completing her task, she rested her hands on the golden hilts of her lightsabers as usual. "Yes, Padawan. I am sure that you are not going to skip this one. I also do not wish to disobey my former mentor's orders. I may not have the best relationship with Aloke, but I must put that aside for the good of the people on Delphon. You need to do the same, young one."
Arthur sighed and clenched his fists, fighting to suppress his demons, "I will master" replied Arthur, though he knew it would be a struggle. "Good," Oni gave a smile and ran her hands through her unusually unkempt golden brown hair. "Now let's go eat something before we arrive on Delphon; maybe if you behave in front of Commander Green I'll ease up on your punishment." She gestured with her hand for her Padawan to go. "Actually, I'll meet you there. First, I need to go take care of something. Please don't get lost."
Arthur tried to study his master's facial expression, but as usual it gave off no emotion. He was curious about the business his master had to take care of, and he decided to follow her. Arthur started to walk toward the mess hall, as his master walked in the other direction. Arthur rounded a corner and found a vent and decided to follow his master through the vent. Using the force, he pulled the vent cover off and jumped up into the vent system and followed his master without being seen.
Oni was so mentally pulled by this task of her that she did not even hear Arthur crawling above her. All she was thinking about was reaching the room where he was. "Green, you wouldn't happen to be in your quarters would you?" she asked after bringing her comlink towards her face.
Arthur almost immediately knew what was about to happen and was debating in his head whether or not to turn around. His master was lucky. Green was always in close proximity to her, unless on missions, and they never really had to worry about distances or what the other was up to for long periods of time. Arthur immediately started thinking about Mia, and flooding his brain with questions.
"Why, yes ma'am, I am. Is there a problem?" the commander replied rather enthusiastically. Oni rolled her eyes in amusement, "Our chat better be quick because we're due in the mess hall where Arthur is waiting for us." The clone snickered over the line. "Of course. Well, I guess a brief hug will do."
Arthur was starting to find himself getting angry and losing control of his handle on his emotions and decided that it was time to leave and head to the mess. He did a 360 in the vent and came back out near the mess hall. He entered, got his food and sat down at a table by himself and mulled over his long distance relationship.
It was only about six or so minutes before a brighter Master Kao and a cheered up Commander Green arrived. They walked through the doors and looked around for the apprentice. Upon spotting him all by himself, sulking, the two headed over. Oni slowed up as she reached the young Jedi, while Green sat down next to him, clasping a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, kid, what's up?"
Arthur glanced over with his eyes over toward Green and then went back to playing with his food in mere seconds, which he didn't touch yet. "Nothing" mumbled Arthur. Oni sighed and gave Green a look that said "we'll talk to him later". "Okay," Green said to Arthur, though looking at Kao, "Well I hope you're ready to meet General Tano."
Arthur got up from the table and left his untouched tray of food, "Yeah" is all Arthur said before getting up and walking off. Oni sat down across from Green, watching her Padawan saunter off. It was probably best to leave him be for the moment. "That was interesting," the woman said sarcastically.
"I don't even think he touched the food. Do you know what's up with him?" asked the commander in a puzzling tone. "He had an encounter with the Dark Side earlier today," Oni replied, still looking off in the direction Arthur had gone, "But he calmed down after that."
"Obviously not that then. Anything else of importance to him, that he might have mention to you, while the two of you were meditating, or whatever you Jedi do?" asked the curious commando. Kao gave him a smug look, "We Jedi do more than meditate. Either way, I'm not sure why he would spontaneously sulk like this."
"What all did he talk about or mention to you?" asked Green, still very curious as to why Arthur was acting like this. "Well, we discussed the mission, and," Oni paused, "Oh."
"What?" asked Green, who couldn't hide his excitement on the situation. He really wanted to help the kid that he had grown to respect. "Mia," Oni covered her face with her hands and sighed in frustration.
"What about Mia?" asked Green, failing to grasp Oni's realization. Kao peeked out at him with narrowed amber eyes. "Really?"
"I think I got the jist, but care to elaborate?" asked Green with a raised eyebrow. "He's in love with her," Oni said, putting her hands back in her lap. "And I think he might have figured out that I was going to your quarters before meeting him here."
"This sounds like one of those 'Master and Padawan talks' coming up. You should talk to him, we both can't go since it would probably just get him more angry" supplied the clone commander. Oni grunted, "I know, but I'm not exactly the best when it comes to talking about those things. Remember, when I grew up, I only talked to Jedi Masters or Fisto: I never learned about these things."
"That is probably one of the reasons Yoda assigned you a padawan" said Green, trying to give the confidence Oni needs to talk to her padawan. "I know, I know," Oni sighed, "Ugh, I don't know how Jedi Masters function like this. Kit had the easiest time with Aloke, and she's just like Arthur."
Green spotted some clones getting into a brawl, and got up to go stop it before it escalated any further, "Well I better stop this fight, and you should go talk to Arthur master" said Green, adding some emphases to the last word. Kao rolled her eyes before brushing off her gold and white armor. Standing up, she started to make her way towards the door. The hardly touched food tray caught the Jedi Master's eye.
With a sigh in contempt, Oni picked up the tray and continued walking.
(Gym, aboard the Akul)
Arthur needed to clear his mind, after leaving his master and Green back in the mess hall. Arthur at first was walking back to his quarters, but caught a glimpse of the empty gym and decided to work on his lightsaber skills, that he hadn't practiced in a couple days. Arthur, searching for a challenge and started the simulator at level 9 and began his training…
Well into the level, Arthur was now surrounded by different types of droids; regular droids, super battle droids, and commando droids, unaware of his master watching him from behind him.
Arthur made quick work of the regular droids and super battle droids. Arthur then began to deflect incoming blasts from the commando droids, but they were more agile and harder to hit with the deflected blasts from Arthur's blade. Arthur began to weaken from all the time devoted to taking out the droids, and began to take blasts in his chest and back.
"You're using the wrong form for level 9 commando droids."
The voice of his master from behind him took him by surprise and he lost his concentration again, and took another volley of fire in the chest and back. "I'm fine" came the monotoned voice of Arthur. "Nine shots to the chest and back doesn't look fine to me, Arthur," Oni said with urgency, "We need to talk."
"It's fine, I can take the pain. No pain, no gain" replied Arthur, ignoring his masters mention of talking, which he didn't want to do at the moment, since he was doing the training to avoid it. Arthur stood up, and continued to block shots and began to attack the commandos with his blade, offlining some. Arthur went to cut at another, when the remaining droids shut down, and the training ended.
"Ahem," Kao cleared her throat from the other side of the room. She reset the program and had the droids return to their dormant positions. "When I said that we need to talk, it wasn't optional. Remember what my number one rule is?"
Arthur deactivated his lightsaber and clipped it back to his side, "I'm making it optional" replied Arthur, not moving from his spot, where seconds ago a commando droid stood inches in front of him.
"Would you like to go before the Council on terms of disobedience a second time, young one?" Kao asked calmly. Arthur, who was now obviously back to the state he was in at the mess hall, approached his master, and waited for her to speak. "You're thinking of her," Oni said as a statement rather than a question. She handed over the food tray in her hands, which Arthur took with a nod.
"Come again" replied Arthur, surprised by his master's bluntness. "Mia," Oni frowned, "Why is everyone being so ignorant today?" Arthur frowned up at his master and opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn't get anything to come out. Kao just stood there, with a tranquil face. "I'm not oblivious Arthur. I know about your feelings for Mia. Even if Green hadn't told me I could have figured it out."
"I'm sorry master, I'll try and stay more focused and not let my mind wonder" replied Arthur. As much as he would like to focus on the here and now, he couldn't stop the thoughts of Mia that floated in and out of his head, no matter what he was doing. Arthur looked at his master with an apologetic face.
"I know the feeling Arthur," Oni sighed, "That's why I came here to talk to you." Arthur leaned up against the wall and looked his master in the eyes, "I really don't want to talk about it, plus I can see that you're uncomfortable with talking to me about this, so I'll save us both some trouble" came Arthur's monotoned and depressed voice.
"Not an option, Arthur," Oni said firmly, "As your mentor, I should be the one to go over these things." Arthur just admitted defeat with a sigh, "Fine, but there isn't much to tell, I'm heartbroken and it's hard to keep my emotions in check when I see you and Green together, which happens more than you think, even if it is just during a mission" admitted Arthur.
Kao's eyes widened and her head tilted as she tried to come up with some sort of explanation. "True, but…" Arthur allowed a smirk to form, "I thought you wanted to talk to me" smiled Arthur. "I did," Oni sent a glare, "I just didn't plan that far ahead. I guess Green and I can try to be less social around you. And you'll be away from us on your mission anyways."
Arthur shook his head at his master in disagreement. "Don't stop seeing Green cause of me, I will do better in trying to stay focused" replied Arthur, who allowed his eyes to glance at the droids, who minutes ago kicked his butt cause he wasn't focused. Oni lightly facepalmed and mumbled, "Ugh, I'm going to go ask another Master how to do this."
Arthur laughed, "You're doing fine master," Arthur glanced over at the droids again and unclipped his lightsaber, "Mind showing me how to properly do level 9?" asked Arthur. "I don't know if I'm focused enough myself, Arthur," Kao sighed, "And I didn't know how much responsibility came with training a Padawan. Right now I'm very stressed and we're almost out of hyperspace. Perhaps another time." With that, the Jedi Master turned and walked slowly out of the gym, running a hand through her hair in a frustrated manner.
"It's fine master, I'll get it eventually" with that Arthur used the force and hit the training button and started level 9 over and continued to run it till he got it right.
Resist: Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoy the second chapter.
Arthur: Wait, there is a second chapter?
Echo: We wrote a second chapter?
Oni: Oh my gosh, Echo, you are the co-author! Stay on target!
Echo: *sniffles* I'm sorry! *smiles* I hope that you guys enjoy this Christmas special!
Resist: Don't forget to drop some reviews for Echo and I before you guys go rip up your presents.