Chapter 2 – Forgetting the past

Kane and the blind man, whose name was Jai, were travelling through the snowy forests of Aurizur. Outside of the major metropolis, the planet was dominated by vast forests. Only a few small villages and temples existed in this vast wilderness. Jai had insisted that after getting to Go Village by speeder, they would continue their journey to Kai Monastery on foot. And so now they were walking amidst the high trees. The weather was frosty and the wind cold. Snow covered everything and the two travelers were barely able to walk.

Showing the trees with his cane, Jai said, "See, even under such terrible conditions life still flourishes. You know why?"

"No. I do not care much about trees.", Kane nonchalantly replied.

"Because they do not give up. Those trees could have been discouraged by the hardships which they have to suffer. They could have given up. Instead, they insist on surviving and flourishing."

Kane smiled. "Is this a comment about me and my decisions?"

"No. It is just observation."

"A stupid one, I might add. Trees and humans are different, very different. Trees do not have memories nor do they have emotions."

As they kept walking the wind was blowing even harder and temperature was dropping rapidly. Kane was able to withstand the freezing cold but noticed that Jai too was able to do so, despite not being a Jedi.

"After living so many years in this wilderness, I've gotten used to the cold.", Jai said, understanding what Kane was thinking.

"When are we going to reach the Monastery? And what kind of Monastery is the one you are taking me to?"

"We will reach in about half an hour. The Monastery worships Goddess Zea and was founded five hundred years ago by an enlightened monk. It's current Abbot is Elder Zhang."

"If he could feel my presence, then he is versed in the ways of the Force I assume?", Kane asked.

Jai smiled. "In a way, yes. He cannot use the 'Qao', what you call the Force, like you Jedi do. He is certainly no warrior. But he can feel others; their presence, their feelings, their thoughts. That's how he felt your presence and your feelings."

After walking for about half an hour, they finally reached the Kai Monastery. The Monastery was constructed almost exclusively of wood. Columns and lintels supported a large and gently curved cyan colored roof while the walls were paper-thin and movable.

"Remain here.", Jai said. "I will speak with the Abbot and inform him of your presence."

"Alright."

Jai entered the Main Hall of the Monastery while Kane waited outside. As he was waiting, he saw several young monks, all with shaved heads and wearing long yellow robes, doing push-ups and running around. Their physical condition was excellent. A moment later Jai exited the Main Hall and approached Kane.

"You may enter.", Jai said. "The Abbot is waiting for you."

"Okay but I have a question. Those monks are training in martial arts?"

Jai laughed. "I guess you were expecting them to meditate all day long. They do study holy scriptures and meditate but they also train themselves so as to be in excellent physical condition and be able to defend themselves and the Monastery from thugs."

"I see…"

Kane walked into the Main Hall to meet the Abbot.

Back in the snowy forest, a lone man was walking. That man was 'Blue Sky', the famous killer. He had tracked Kane to the Monastery, even though to do so he had to kill quite a few people and search for hours. He activated a hologram projector and the image of Kylo Ren appeared.

"My Lord, I have tracked down the Jedi.", 'Blue Sky' said.

"So you've said before and yet he wasn't in Han's Casino.", Kylo Ren noted.

"This time I know exactly where he is. He is in a Monastery. I wish to ask you to send a squad of Stormtroopers to assist me. From the information I've got the monks of the Monastery are many and well versed in martial arts."

"Aurizur is a neutral world but I could send an elite squad of Stormtroopers to assist you. Send me the coordinates and in less than an hour the Stormtroopers will be there. I just hope Kane will not have left the Monastery by then."

'Blue Sky' smiled. "My Lord, do not worry. He will not escape. I've never failed to kill a target, Jedi or not, and I am not going to start doing so now."

Kane saw in the Main Hall a lone elderly man meditating. The man had shaved his hair and had long white eyebrows and beard. He was wearing a long red robe. He exuded an aura of calmness and inner peace.

"Welcome Jedi.", Abbot Zhang said.

The words of his old Master echoed in Kane's mind.

"You are unworthy to be called a Jedi!"

"You are no longer part of the Jedi Order!"

"You are exiled!"

"I am no Jedi.", Kane replied. "I have been exiled from the Jedi Order."

"Exiled or not, the galaxy needs a Jedi. The dark side dominates the galaxy and the First Order wins a victory after the other. The galaxy needs a beacon of light."

"Look, I mean no disrespect to you, but I've already said to Jai that I have no interest in being a hero. I've only come here because Jai told me that you can make me forget the past."

Zhang laughed. "Do you really want to forget the past? Because if you do so, you will forget not only the bad memories you have but also the good ones. Can you bear to forget her once and for all? To not remember her face, her voice, the time when you were together?"

Kane sighed. He remembered her melodic voice, the time when they were together and were happy and enjoying life. He could not forget her appearance either. Her long black hair was shining, her lips were redder than the fire, her skin was almost as white as snow, her face was so beautiful that it dazzled anyone who looked at her, her cheeks emanated the rosy glow that the sunset clouds reflect, her eyes shone like the clear and piercing light of the moon.

"It seems that forgetting the past may not be best solution.", Zhang said. "I cannot make you forget her anyway. I do not have such powers. Jai said so in order to persuade you to meet me. But I can tell you how to find inner peace and heal the mental wounds you have."

"How?", Kane wondered.

"By helping others. Kindness will empower you and loving the entire galaxy and wanting to protect it will heal your wounds."

Kane interrupted the Abbot. "I've already told you that I have no wish to be a hero."

"This is not about being a hero but finding inner peace for yourself."

"Rushing into action was what caused me to be exiled and what brought the death of my beloved one.", Kane noted.

"I do not ask you to rush into action. I ask you to stop being apathetic to the suffering of others. How many people have lost their beloved ones because of the First Order? How many had to mourn the death of their family? How many of your fellow Jedi have been killed?"

Kane sighed. "I do not even have a lightsaber….."

"Wait a moment.", Zhang said and left the Main Hall. When he returned, he was holding a lightsaber on his hand.

"This was given to me by my predecessor, Abbot Ma. It was a gift by Mace Windu, a Jedi Master he had saved during the Clone Wars.", Zhang said and gave the lightsaber to Kane.

Before Kane could reply, Jai rushed into the Main Hall.

"Abbot, bad news!", he said. "Stormtroopers march to the Monastery. Tom, who was cutting wood in the forest, saw them coming here."

"What?!", Kane shouted. "What are they doing here?"

But Zhang was calm and smiling. "The end prophesized in the holy scriptures has come. At least I've helped bring new hope to the galaxy and as such my sacrifice will not be in vain."

Although Kane was usually apathetic to the trouble of others, the Abbot's words had moved him and he felt that the attack of the First Order against the Monastery was his own fault. So he could not just leave behind the Abbot.

"Abbot, please allow me to help you fend off the attack.", Kane said.

Abbot Zhang laughed.

"Why are you laughing?", Kane asked.

"I am just happy that I have managed to make you come to your senses and have changed you. But no, you must leave. Your path is different from mine. We have different destinies."

"But—"

"You are no hero, remember? So you do not have to assist me."

Zhang then turned to Jai. "Jai, you should help Kane escape and guide him in his journey. I also entrust you to protect the legacy of this Monastery."

With tears in his eyes Jai said, "I will follow your instructions."

Kane and Jai rushed out of the Main Hall and fled to the forest.

'Blue Sky' and a legion of elite Stormtroopers marched to the Monastery. There, tens of monks were waiting for him. Seeing all of the monks, every one of them in perfect physical condition, gathered before him, 'Blue Sky' laughed.

"Impressive.", he admitted. "Most impressive. It would be too bad if I had to destroy this ancient Monastery and kill all of you, so please give up the Jedi and spare yourself of the ensuing bloodshed."

"Never!", one of the monks, a young man, said. "You coward, you knew we are unarmed and yet you brought a whole legion of Stormtroopers with you! I challenge you to single combat. Face me if you dare!"

"Very well.", 'Blue Sky' replied. "I am not one to run away from a challenge."

The monk somersaulted and attacked with a flying kick 'Blue Sky', aiming directly at his chest, but 'Blue Sky' dodged the attack. 'Blue Sky' charged and struck out at the monk with his left hand with such power that his palm made a whistling sound. The monk countered the blow with his right hand and at the same time struck with his left palm at the killer. 'Blue Sky' used his other hand to parry the monk's attack and their four hands met. As 'Blue Sky' was the stronger of the two, the monk was pushed back. 'Blue Sky' then struck out quickly at his opponent's eyes with the index and middle fingers of his right hand and gouged them out. The monk's screams were terrible and could be heard all over the Monastery. 'Blue Sky' finished him off with a powerful punch on his chest, which crushed the monk's internal organs and killed him.

The others monks, seeing their brother dead, charged unarmed at 'Blue Sky' but he shouted "Fire!" and the Stormtroopers fired with their blasters at the monks, decimating them.

"Find the Jedi and kill all remaining monks!", 'Blue Sky' said to the Stormtroopers once they had finished off the monks who had charged against him.

He then walked into the Main Hall. There, he saw Abbot Zhang meditating.

"I've been expecting you.", Zhang said. "I feel much, much hate in you."

'Blue Sky' smiled. "If you tell me where the Jedi is, I will spare you. If not, you will suffer the same fate as your students and the Monastery will be burned to the ground.

"If this is the Monastery's fate, so be it."

'Blue Sky' flung his poisonous darts at Zhang, but he dodged them with ease.

"Great skill.", 'Blue Sky' noted. "But it will not save you!"

'Blue Sky' struck out with his palms, but Zhang dodged the attack and punched his right fist on his enemy's chest. 'Blue Sky' retreated by a few steps and flung even more of his darts at Zhang. The Abbot continued dodging the darts but gradually became more and more flustered by the onslaught. 'Blue Sky' found the chance to kick on the face the tired monk and then with a quick move he grabbed Zhang by the neck and strangled him.

Walking out of the Main Hall he approached Commander James, head of the Stormtrooper legion, and asked him, "Have you found the Jedi?"

"No, but we've managed to find and kill all monks."

"Damn it! Set on fire the Monastery and burn it to the ground! This will be a warning to all who dare resist the First Order."

"Yes sir!"

Soon the wooden Monastery was ablaze. The smoke coming out of the flaming Monastery could be seen from miles away.