a.n. Another update so soon? I'm on a roll! Here's chapter 4. It's pretty short, but there wasn't much I felt that needed to be said in this chapter. Just read it and you'll see. I'm not a fan of short chapters, but this one had to be this way. Sorry. By the way, thanks to all my reviewers for giving me feedback from the previous chapters. I really appreciate it. Talk about positive reinforcement! Anyways, read, review, and enjoy!
Chapter 4: Memories
A slow, steady throbbing was the first thing he noticed upon his return to the realm of consciousness. Slowly, and ever so gently, he sat up, and the throbbing grew more intense. He inhaled sharply as he realized the pounding was coming from his head, and he reached into the Force to steady the gradually increasing pain. Once the pulsating pain lessened, he opened his eyes to determine his location.
Speeder traffic was heavy and all types of flying craft were easily visible in the great expanse of sky above him. Everywhere he looked, he could see some sort of craft busily rushing to its destination, wherever that may be. Swerving in and out of the tall skyscrapers and buildings that was the foundation of this city-planet, everyone and everything seemed to be in a rushed, hurried pace, no different than what he remembered. Yes, Coruscant was indeed the busy, bustling center of the galaxy that he remembered from years gone by.
The sky was cast with an orange hue, indicating that evening was beginning and that soon, the planet that never slept, would be ablaze with millions of twinkling lights so its citizens could continue their harried, hectic lives in relative comfort.
As he absorbed all that he saw around him, he suddenly realized the import of his situation. Here he was, back in the past, given the chance to make everything right, to right all his wrongs, alter history, change his destiny. The moment was not lost on him and he carefully contemplated his next move. He didn't know exactly what point in time he had returned to, only that it was around the time that he and Obi-Wan had returned from the border dispute on Ansion. Whether or not they were already back was in question and whatever the case may be, he was unsure of how to proceed. He would heed Yoda's grave warning to be careful to not alter the past too much, only as much as was needed to correct the unbalance in the Force. After much consideration about his next course of action, he turned his eyes toward the landscape, searching for what he knew must be his next destination. His eyes focused on a structure off in the distance, it's distinctive spires greeting his eyes as he made out the unique shape of the Jedi Temple.
Memories came flooding back to him at the sight before him. Memories of a childhood and years gone by, of friends and mentors, of classes and training. Memories of his youth, of feeling like an outcast amongst the other Jedi, of feeling frustrated by both the Council and his Master. Memories of those dark days that came not long after, of slaughter and bloodshed, of the painful cries of the younglings and Padawans as he killed them mercilessly, of clone troopers marching faithfully behind him, of the screams of terror as every Jedi was cut down senselessly.
He shook his head as he tried to clear those dark memories from his head. That was why he was here, why he was sent back, to prevent all of that from happening. The terrified looks on the faces of those he killed danced before his eyes. He could still feel the lightsaber in his hands as he effortlessly cut through them. He could still taste the bloodlust that had been on his lips that day, egging him on. The clashing of weapons coming together over and over again reverberated in his ears. The smell of ash in the air as the fire ripped through the Temple still hung in his nostrils. Nothing would ever make him forget those bleak times, but he would prevent it if he could. He didn't want anybody to suffer ever again from his actions, whether they were on that day or the years following, he would do everything in his power to prevent anything like that from ever happening again.
He stood up, the Jedi-like cloak swishing with the movement, and cleared his mind of any regrets and guilt he held about his past actions. His mind needed to be clear, completely free, in order for him to do what needed to be done. He had to be completely focused if he was to succeed. Once he felt like he was in control of his emotions and had freed his mind, he let out a relaxing breath to calm his nerves. Setting his sights once more on the Jedi Temple, he began his trek towards the Temple, the first step in his long, arduous journey towards saving the galaxy and himself.