Star Wars Book One: Force

Chapter 7: Prophecy

Jundland Wastes, Tatooine

Tenzin had felt it. A faint disturbance in the force, like a promise of refuge from the hardship of this world. It had been so compelling to him that he felt that leaving Korra at the station was the best course of action. He had sensed what was out there in the wastes, and he knew that she would be safer in a civilised area.

He had been on foot for an hour now, making good time towards the source of the disturbance. He had been forced to abandon the speeder bike when the terrain had changed from rolling sand dunes and the occasional wind smoothed outcropping to a maze of rocky ledges and ravines. That and he had caught sight of a group of figures clad in khaki coloured rags and strange masks, every one of whom was armed. The speeder bike would have drawn too much attention, and he would prefer to avoid confrontation if possible. After that sighting he was sure leaving Korra behind had been the right choice. For all of her gung ho attitude towards life, Tenzin wasn't sure how well she could protect herself in an area like this.

Tenzin had come to the entrance of a cave deep down in a canyon, the rock rough and dark, untouched by the scouring wind and bleaching light. As he stood there, contemplating his next action, he felt a cool breeze wash over him. A breeze that seemed to ease every tension in his mind.

A breeze that had come from the cave itself.

There was no doubt in his mind. He could sense it. The source of the disturbance was within, beckoning him to join it. Taking a deep breath, Tenzin stepped over the threshold into the darkness.

The darkness was absolute, forcing Tenzin to ignite his lightsaber simply to see a few feet in front of him. Continuing onward, he descended into the abyss, his lightsaber bathing the walls of the cave in emerald luminance. He wandered the cave for what seemed like an eternity, its bland, featureless walls passing him by without him giving another thought. After a while, he came to a junction, where the cave split into three different tunnels. He stopped, unsure how to proceed. The presence was coming from all around him now, as if he was already at the source. Tenzin stood for a while, contemplating this.

"What is this place?" he thought.

He spun around at a clatter of stones, raising his lightsaber.

He was completely unprepared for who stood before him.

"Fierfekk!" Korra screamed, "Put that thing down before you hurt someone!"

Tenzin was stunned. "How did you follow me here?"

Korra gave him her patented deadpan. "I'm Force Sensitive to, remember? I felt this place as well."

Before Tenzin could respond, she took off down the right tunnel.

"Come on then!" Korra called back, "The source is down here, I can feel it!"

Something wasn't right. There was no way Korra, at this early stage of her training, could have possibly tracked down this place, let alone sense the disturbance. Only a Jedi who had spent years of their lives training in the ways of the Force could sense a disturbance so faint. Shaking his head, Tenzin took off after his Padawan, determined to make some semblance of sense of this bizarre turn of events.

"Korra wait!" he called. She was far ahead of him at this point, only able to hear her footfalls on the floor of the tunnel.

"You catch up!" she called back, her voice full of mirth. "Don't tell me mister spiritual is afraid of a little-"

She was cut off by a crack. Tenzin heard her scream, a terrible piercing wail that rang through the confines of the cave.

"Korra!" Tenzin shouted. He broke into a sprint, he wouldn't let his charge come to harm. He was so panicked, running so fast, that he nearly ran into a ravine. Screeching to a halt, he peered over the edge. Had Korra fallen in the drop would have severely hurt, if not outright killed her. "Korra! Can you hear me?"

"Tenzin!" she called back from the bottom, her voice strained by pain. "I think my leg is broken!"

"Hang on Korra, I'm coming down!" he shouted. Taking a step backwards, he took a deep breath, closing his eyes and allowing the Force to flow through him. Opening his eyes, he stepped forward and jumped off the ledge, the Force cushioning his fall. Landing with a slight crump on the dusty ground, Tenzin immediately scanned the area for his Padawan.

"Korra! Where are you?"

He was met by silence. Tenzin began to feel himself panic, immediately quashing the dark thoughts. He would get them both out of here in one piece. He would not fail her, not like the others.

A clatter of rock on rock to his left caught his attention. Casting his lightsaber in the direction of the noise, the darkness gave way to another tunnel. This one however, was not natural. An archway, carved with ornate patterns that Tenzin found vaguely familiar, led into a corridor of smooth cut stone. Making his way down the passage, he found that the walls were engraved with the same symbols from the archway. Where was he?

Following the passage, he eventually came to a large chamber, so large that lightsaber could not illuminate the far end. Advancing into the cavernous space, Tenzin swept his lightsaber to and from, trying to cover as much area as possible.

The chamber was enormous. He had been walking in a straight line for close to ten minutes and he had yet to reach the other side. Suddenly something caught his eye. Swinging his lightsaber around, he found Korra's cloak, tattered and bloodied.

"Korra!" he shouted, his desperation seeping into his tone.

"Tenzin…."

He froze. Her voice was so weak, so dejected and empty. Turning to face her, the sight of her beaten, broken form standing before him nearly tore his heart in two. Bruised and bloodied, her clothes were in tatters, cuts scattered across her body like she had been dragged through a field of glass shards. Her face was what drove into his heart the most however. She looked at him with almost barely contained contempt, her features twisted into a sneer.

"Why couldn't you save me?" she said accusingly.

Tenzin took a step towards her, but before he could say anything, she jerked, the glowing crimson red blade of a Sith lightsaber impaling her torso. A white and red mask appeared over her shoulder.

"You knew this day would come Jedi." said Amon.

He pulled his lightsaber from Korra, her form slumping lifeless, collapsing into a heap on the ground. She didn't move, her once vibrant blue eyes now dull and empty.

"No!" Tenzin reached for her, but she was already gone. He fell to his knees. He had failed to protect his allies once again. In his grief, he failed to notice Amon advancing until he was right on top of him.

"Did you really believe that no one else had sensed this place?" he sneered. "Truly the arrogance of you Jedi knows no bounds."

Tenzin sprang to his feet, anger boiling inside of him. He had taken Korra, just like he had taken his friends all those years ago. No amount of training could stem the rage that the sight of her corpse had brought upon him. Amon was quick to pick up on his feelings.

"Ah yes, good!" he chuckled, "Give in to your anger. Strike me down Jedi. Avenge your apprentice!"

Tenzin very nearly gave in to his base passions, very nearly forsaking the Jedi code. Every nerve in his body was screaming at him to cut the Inquisitor down where he stood, to end his threat there and now. But his brain told him that this wasn't right. Nothing was adding up! They had left Amon in their drive wake when they fled from Kurlik. The Empire had no way of tracking a ship through hyperspace, not that Tenzin knew of. How was he here? How could he have been waiting for them?

He was brought out of his turmoil by Amon raising his lightsaber, casting himself in a blood red glow.

"No?" he said, disappointment heavy in his tone. "A pity. I would so have preferred breaking you before ending your miserable existence."

With a flourish of his weapon, he lunged.

Tenzin had been ready for him, bringing his saber around in a defensive position. Their blades clashed, crackling against each other as they fought to overpower the other. Amon's eyes narrowed behind his mask as Tenzin began to push him back, responding by opening himself to the Force. Slowly but surely, Amon's greater skill with a lightsaber was turning the tide in his favour. Tenzin knew he couldn't win in a straight up duel with the Inquisitor. He had to draw upon his strengths in order to make it out of this alive. He would have make use of his greater talents.

His command of the Force.

While Tenzin was talented with a lightsaber, even in the days before he had been assigned a master to train under, he had always been stronger in the Force, able to influence it in ways that most padawan took decades to master. By the time he had been assigned to his master, he was already at a level where some members of the Jedi council had begun to take notice of him. And now that same affinity would be the key to his survival.

Heaving all his might, Tenzin pushed forward, breaking the lock and forcing Amon onto the back foot. Rather than pressing the attack however, he leaped backwards, taking advantage of the Inquisitors imbalance to open himself to the Force. He closed his eyes, putting himself into a trance, allowing the Force to flow through him, to bind around his limbs and seep into his consciousness. He was able to see things so much more clearly now, as if a fog had suddenly lifted. Sensing the Inquisitors anger, Tenzin opened his eyes, allowing the Force to guide him.

Amon lunged again, attempting to spear Tenzin with his blade. Reacting with Force enhanced reflexes, Tenzin spun to the left, raising his emerald blade underneath Amon's crimson, swatting it upwards and away. Spinning on the balls of his feet, Tenzin turned his lightsaber in a reverse grip and raised his other hand. The Fore flowed outward from his palm, an unstoppable wave of mystic energy that collided with the Inquisitor, throwing him across the chamber with a grunt.

Silence. Amon had extinguished his lightsaber, the darkness swallowing him completely. Tenzin could not sense him, as if he had simply vanished into the surrounding abyss. That put him on edge, scanning his surroundings, straining his ears for any sound. His lightsaber humming, Tenzin moved forward, his nerves on a razors edge, his mind open to the Force.

"You cannot win Jedi." Amon's voice rumbled from the darkness. Tenzin spun, searching for the source of the taunt. It seemed to be coming from all around him, as if Amon had somehow become the chamber itself. "Your order is dead, your allies along with it!"

A sudden gust of air caused Tenzin's cloak to flutter. Already on edge, he span around once more, his weapon raised. He was greeted by his tormentor, lightsaber held blade down at his side, his hand resting on its hilt.

"How much longer do you believe you can run for?" Amon said, slowly advancing towards Tenzin. "Give up Jedi. Accept the new order of things, and I promise to make your death mercifully swift."

"No." Tenzin said, "You won't."

He extinguished his lightsaber, the chamber now only bathed in the blood red light of the Inquisitors weapon.

"You cannot kill me Amon, because you are not here." Tenzin said, his eyes narrowing.

Amon had stopped his advance. Silence permeated the room for a tense moment, before giving way to the Inquisitors laughter.

"Do you really want to put that theory to the test Tenzin?"

"I will Amon." Tenzin said defiantly. "It has been a long time since I have felt anything like this place, but I now remember. You are simply an illusion. The Force is testing me, testing my resolve, forcing me to face my fears."

Walking towards the Inquisitor, Tenzin continued, "Korra is not dead, she is still back at the repair shop. You are not here, you are still entire sectors away where we left you."

Stopping in front of Amon, he stood defiant in the face of his enemy. "I am not afraid of a spectre."

Neither moved for a few moments, before Amon finally spoke.

"Well done."

The moment the words were uttered, Amon's image was blown away by a gust of air, like sand scattering in a storm. Tenzin was alone in the dark, yet the disturbance that had led him to this place was now stronger than ever. He stood, opening himself to the Force once more. Surely enough, the disturbance was now so strong that it was now a beacon in the darkness, guiding him towards it. Once again igniting his lightsaber, he turned around, making his way back into the chamber, noticing with some relief that Korra's body had vanished. Coming across another corridor, Tenzin left the chamber behind him and continued on into the darkness. It wasn't long before he emerged into another chamber.

This one however, was lit.

What looked to be a star map adorned the ceiling, casting the entire room in a pale blue light. Extinguishing his saber, Tenzin looked around. Other than the pattern on the ceiling, the room was bare. No engravings along the walls or furniture to denote a purpose. All he could feel was the disturbance, the strongest it had ever felt.

Opening himself to the Force once more, Tenzin reached out to the disturbance. His consciousness brushed against it, a feeling of great familiarity engulfing him. His eyes shot open. He hadn't felt a presence like that for seventeen years. Could it be?

"And so the student has become the master."

That voice. Tenzin turned, scarcely believing the situation he had found himself in. Sure enough, his feelings proved true.

For standing before him was a Force ghost.

The Force ghost of his long dead master.

"Father?"

The spirt of Jedi Master Aang smiled. "It is good to see you again Tenzin."

Tenzin stepped towards the apparition. "How… how is this possible?"

Aang held up a hand. "Do not be concerned with how my son. Know that I am here, because you are here."

Tenzin breathed a sigh of relief, bowing in respect towards the spirit. "Thank you, master."

"There's no need to be so formal Tenzin." Aang chuckled. "I'm not master Yoda."

Tenzin shot upright, a slight smile tugging on his lips. "I'm sorry, father."

"There is no need to apologise." Aang seemed to inspect him for a moment. "You have grown so much since I last saw you. Back then you were barely a knight."

Tenzin's gaze dropped. "I can still remember that day so clearly. I remember how beautiful Felucia was, how the Force almost sang to us there. I can still remember the moment the clones turned on us."

Aang sighed. "Felucia's resonance with the Force was the only reason you were able to sense the clones intent. Were it not for that, no Jedi would have left that world alive."

Tenzin looked up, nodding. "And I'm grateful for that. Were it not for the Force, I would not be here today."

"Here with your new padawan." Aang said. "She is the reason that I appeared to you."

Tenzin raised an eyebrow. Korra had drawn his master to this place from afterlife?

"In my time wandering the netherworld of the Force, I learned of a prophecy. It is said that in the twilight of liberty, in the darkest of times, the children of the Force will emerge to bring the fallen into the light. I believe that your padawan is one of these children."

Aang took a step towards him. "Listen to me my son. It is vital that Korra becomes a Jedi. She alone may be the only hope for the galaxy."

Tenzin took a step backwards, wracked in uncertainty. "I do not know if I can train her father. She is immensely powerful, I have felt it. But I fear that her power may grow too quickly for me to protect her."

Aang put a hand on his son's shoulder. "You are a master now Tenzin. You are wiser than many who were lost in the purge. If anyone can train her, it is you."

Tenzin met his father's gaze. "Put aside your uncertainty. Trust your feelings, and believe in her."

Aang backed away. "My time here is ending. Promise me that you will guide her through the coming storm."

Tenzin straightened, a new resolve filling him with purpose. "I promise."

Aang smiled. "There is nothing else that I can teach you, but I can give you some advice. This cave still holds many secrets. Return with Korra when she is ready, and those secrets shall be revealed."

The form of his father fading, Tenzin nodded. "I will do my best, to train her as well as you trained me."

Aang smiled one last time. "I'm proud of you son." His spirit faded from view, leaving Tenzin alone in the cave.

"Thank you. Dad."

Sighing, Tenzin slumped to the floor. Had anyone told him he would talk to the spirit of his long dead father in a cave in the middle of a barren wasteland he would have called them mad, yet here he was.

Could he live up to his promise? Korra was wilful, eager to act and damn the consequences. Not exactly the makings of a Jedi. She would prove difficult to say the least, but he would succeed. He knew he could.

And may the Force help the galaxy if he should fail.