Chapter 10: Path of the Jedi
The Ghost was set on the outskirts on the planet of Lothal, Kadan was in front of Leo, Zeb and Ezra room. "Ezra? Ezra you in there?" he asks as Kadan knocks on the door, but then Zeb answers it as Leo was still asleep. "Nope, no Ezras' in here," Zeb answers him and closes the door. Kadan sighs and walks to Sabine and Mako's room, he then knocks on the door. "Mako? Mako, you in there?" he asks, but then hear squawking. The door opens and the little reptile that Mako pick up and named Leto. "Hey there, Leto." Kadan states and kneels down in front of him, "Is Mako in my any chance?" he asks him, he nods his head and ran over to the bed.
Kadan stood up and walks into the room, he sees Leto jumping at the bottom bunk. Kadan kneels down again and found Mako still asleep and her Holocron in her hand. "Late-night training again, Mako?" he whispers and took the Holocron out of her hand as her fingers slip off it. He places it on the side and then gently shook Mako's shoulder, "Hey wake up, you overslept again." Kadan informs her, she groans fluttering her eyes open. But then shot them open, "I'm late!" she exclaims, shooting up, Kadan leans back and flinches as she smacks her head on the ceiling of the top bunk. She then fell back onto her bunk, presses her hands to her forehead and groans in pain. "Ow-oooowwww-wwwooo." she groans in pain, but Kadan chuckles. "Well, good morning to you." he states and leans against his knee, "Oh my head, I think I broke something." she moans and he chuckles.
"I think you're going to be okay." he assures her and Mako sat up and looks at him, "Sorry, I miss training," she tells him and then Leto jumps onto her lap. He looks at her, "I bet you had enough on your mind as it is, after what happened on that asteroid." he tells her and she nods at him. "Yeah, I was hoping the holocron that father left me would help me understand, but I fell asleep in the middle," she states, Kadan sat next to her. "And?" he asks her, she looks down at Leto as she was a nuzzling his head against her belly. "I now know it's not the Empire, the Imperial nor the Inquisitor I'm afraid of," she tells him, petting Leto's scaly head. "If it's not them you're afraid of, then what?" he asks her and she looks at him. "I tap into the darkness of the force and moved those ships at incredible speed, something that should be impossible for a Jedi, even for the Inquisitor. But I did that, what I'm trying to say Kadan, I'm afraid of what I'm capable of," she informs him and looks back down at her feet. Kadan looks at her and leans her against him.
"Hey, you're going to be okay." he assures her, rubbing her arm. "Once Ezra gets back, I'm going to take you both somewhere and see if you're ready." he informs her, she then pulls back and looks at him, "Ready? Ready for what?" she asks him, "A test, to see if you're ready to become a Jedi." he informs her and then pulls away from her. She looks up at him as he stood in the center of the room and turns to her. "You said it yourself, you tapped into the darkness of the force and move those ships at incredible speed, something that should be impossible. But you did the impossible." he informs her and then handed her, her holocron.
"This will be a real test, a real challenge." he informs her, she then places the holocron down and Leto quickly crawls onto her shoulder as she then stood up. "Kadan, I want to live up to your exceptions, I want to become the Jedi you see in me and I want to become the hope my father saw in me. But you know how I grew up, I not use to all these rules and discipline." she informs him. He chuckles, "You're lucky I'm not my master. She would never let you get away with-" he states, "All the things you get away with?" she asks him. He turns to her, "Do you want a second chance or not?" he asks her, "Yes. I mean if you believe I'm worthy of a second chance." she informs him.
"It's not what I believe." Kadan informs her, "Now go wait in the Phantom." he orders her, "As you say, master." she said with a bow and walks out of her room. Kadan steps out in the doorway and sighs, "I might regret this." Kadan mutters to himself. "You have to do this Kadan." Hera states and he looks at her. "After what happened on the asteroid, you have to help her and Ezra," she informs him. "I hope I can." Kadan tells her, "I know you can." Hera assures him.
~8~8~8~
Then Ezra returns from his side-quest with Sabine and Leo, Kadan informs him of the test that he and Mako must take to see in they are ready to become Jedi and they boarded the Phantom and flew out away from the Ghost. "So, where are we heading for this test?" Ezra asks him, as Kadan places the Phantom in auto-pilot. "That's what you and Mako are going to tell me," he informs him as he got out of the seat and the three sat in the back. "When I was around Ezra's age, there were about ten thousand Jedi knights defending the galaxy, now… we are few. But in those days, we had small outposts, Temples spread throughout the stars. The Empire sought these Temple and destroyed many of them, but not all." he informs them.
Mako cross her legs as Leto pops his head out. "I want you both to meditate, let the force guide you to one of them." Kadan informs them. "What if we can't find it?" Ezra questions him, "That part of the test. Trust yourself and trust the force." Kadan informs him, they both exchange looks and then close their eyes, exhaling. Mako could sense every being of Lothal, even those who have pass on. "So, did you take this test at my age?" Ezra asks him, "It was different for me, Ezra. Everything was different back then. All that remains now is the force." Kadan informs him. "And only my connection to the force can lead us to the temple." both Ezra and Mako states as Ezra opens his eyes. "Huh, they can be taught." Kadan chuckles a little and Ezra closes his eyes again.
"I see… a mountain, only it's not a mountain. It's reaching up into the sky and a lake is in front of it." Mako states and Kadan looks at her. "I… hear someone, they're calling me, telling me to go to the mountain." she mutters, "Good Mako, good, focus," Kadan instructs her. "There's a massive stone, with a tunnel, I think and a bright star inside of it. And it's right here on Lothal." Ezra informs Kadan as he and Mako open their eyes. "You sure?" Kadan asks them. "We can't give you the coordinates, but Ezra can direct us there." Mako informs him, "You sure, Mako?" Kadan asks her and she nods at him, "I trust Ezra. He's never let me down yet." she assure him making Ezra smile at him. They then walk back to the front and Kadan took a seat back in the pilot chair and they flew out to the massive mountain stone that was the tallest of them all and a lake that was right in front of the stone. "The Stone from mine and Mako's vision." Ezra states. "Auto-pilot disengaging." Kadan states and the two look at him, "You already knew." Ezra states as he glares at him, Kadan just smirks at him.
The Phantom then touches down in front of the stone. "I check the Holocron back in my cabin after I was done talking with Mako." Kadan informs him and then walks to door as it opens. "And it told you that there was a Temple here on Lothal?" Ezra questions him, "A holocron hold extensive power of star-maps, but I was surprised as you when I find out there was a Temple here." he informs him and steps out. Then Mako and Ezra followed him.
"Of course I couldn't be sure this is where you're meant to be, but it makes sense. This is your home." Kadan informs them. Then Ezra and Mako look at the stone, "Now you're going to tell us how to get in." Kadan informs him. Ezra looks at him and Mako stood forward to look at the stone, "And don't take too long, remember. The Empire has access to all the old Jedi records. They may know about this Temple and have it under surveillance." Kadan warns Ezra and the two look at her "Mako?" Ezra asks her, she closes her eyes and held out her hand. Ezra then walks up to her and looks at her, "The Stone, the Temple. It wants to admit Ezra and I. No not admit just him and I. But all of us, as master and padawans." she informs him, "Then together we shall be." Kadan then he and Ezra stood on each side of her, closes their eyes and held out their hands as well.
Then the stood started to spiral up out of the ground as the three rose it up. Then the door to the Temple was revealed to them. Then three open their eyes and look at it. "Whoa," Ezra said as he was amazed. "Don't loose focus, we don't want this thing crashing down on us." Kadan reminds him and they nod at him. Then walk to the Temple door and inside. Mako ran her hand along the wall as she then walks into the room and looks around. But then she heard Ezra scream and the door close. Leto jumps in fright and retreats back into Mako's satchel. Then both her and Kadan look at him as the Temple then sunk back into the ground, trapping then inside. "You lost focus," Kadan informs him as he had his arms cross. Leto peeks out of the satchel, seeing everything as alright Ezra look at him, "Well dead guys are distracting." Ezra protested and Mako walks over and kneels down in front of the skeleton. "They must have been here for decades," she mutters looking how there was nothing left except bones and the robes. "In here, you'll have to face your worst fears and overcome them. And there's no guarantee of success." Kadan informs them.
Mako looks at him and stood up, "I have plenty of faith, faith you'll keep me on track." Ezra states, then walks forward. "Hang on Ezra, I sense a But coming." Mako states as she walks up next to him and looks back at Kadan. "I'm not going with you." Kadan confirms her suspensions and Ezra looks at him, "What? Where are you going to be?" Ezra questions him. "Right here, with them. Masters, whose padawans never return." Kadan informs them. "You're putting your life in mine and Mako's hands?" Ezra questions him, "You put yours and Mako's training in mine." Kadan reminds him and the heard a bellow in the tunnel ahead of them. Mako exhales and took of her satchel and handed it to Kadan, "Good luck." he informs her and places the satchel on his shoulders, then Mako and Ezra walk into the tunnel and the door closes behind them.
But Ezra turns back as Mako looks ahead, "Wait, what exactly are we looking for?" he asks him, "Nothing and everything." Kadan answers as Leto pops his head out. "That doesn't help!" Ezra informs him and Kadan went to his knees. "I know." he answers and the door was shut close. "That what my master told me." he informs him.
Ezra stood up on his feet and then turns at the tunnel the he and Mako were in, he exhales and they both started to walk. Mako looks around, but the as she turns back to Ezra, he was gone. "Ezra?" she calls out, her voice echos as she looks around. "Ezra!" she calls out again. But then knew that the Temple had separated them from each other. She then exhales to steady her heart. "Guess I'm on my own." she mutters and then walks forward and then she shields her eyes as light was shine on her as she was now in a room with three pathways.
She sighs and places her hands on her hips, "Which one is the right path to take." she mutters to herself. "Really? Mako, what happened to trusting the force that you use to find the Temple?" Kadan questions her, she turns and looks at him, "What are you doing here?" she asks him, he walks past her to the path on the right. "I had second thoughts." he answers, she narrows her eyes at him and followed him, "Kadan, the door close behind me and Ezra, there is no way to get in." she informs her as they ran down the tunnel. "How can you be sure?" he questions her.
She was taken back by that question, but then she heard him cry out in pain, she stop on her tracks, "Kadan?" she calls out, then ran to find a dead end that leads to an endless abyss. She gasps and steps back, but then saw red out of the corner of her eye, she turns and saw the Inquisitor and a wounded Kadan on his knees and holding his arm as Ezra was laying dead on the ground. "Inquisitor," she said in a low tone. "I felt a disturbance in the force the moment the Jedi decided to bring you here, padawan," he states and Mako took a step back, her eyes stayed glued on Ezra as he lifeless eyes were on her. "No…" she mutters shaking her head. "Now that there are two of you left, who dies first?" the Inquisitor questions.
He then slowly walks up to Mako, making her back up against the wall, her whole body was shaking. "No!" Kadan calls out, then drew his lightsaber. "I'll die before you harm the girl," Kadan growls at him, making Mako's heart tear down the middle. "How reasonable." the Inquisitor mutters with a smirk then he duels Kadan and Mako fall to her knees and watches helplessly. The Inquisitor then makes Kadan fall down onto the ground, on his bad shoulder. "Kadan!" Mako calls out to him. The Inquisitor turns to her and she looks at him, Kadan took his chance raise his lightsaber at him, but the Inquisitor blocks his attack. They duel once more and Mako watches as the Inquisitor makes his double bladed spin, knock Kadan off balance and he then forces push him back, Kadan slides back on his knees and looks at the Inquisitor and was stab right through the chest. Mako gasps in shock as she watches as Kadan then drops his lightsaber.
The Inquisitor then pulls back his saber and then kicks Kadan down the abyss. Mako then scrambles over and watches him fall, "KADAN!" she screams after him, then cries. "So he called himself Kadan, did he. Well, it hardly matters, your turn," he tells her and walks to her. Then something snaps in her mind. "Wait a moment," she states, the Inquisitor stood as she stood on her feet and wipes away her tears. "Kadan never did enter the tunnel after me and Ezra, I would of sense him, but I didn't and Ezra and I were separated. This is one part of the test," she states and looks at him, then Inquisitor laughs. "Don't be absurd, I am every much here," he states and ready to strike. Mako just shook her head, "No, you're not really here, you're just a fragment of my imagination, you aren't real, Ezra laying there, isn't real." she mutters to herself and looks the Inquisitor right in the eyes.
"You're the fear of failure. If I fail Kadan, he dies for me." she clarifies, then looks at the abyss below. She then shifts her weight and then fell over the ledge. The Inquisitor ran to the edge and then watches her fall. Mako felt her hair flying and she then closes her eyes.
~8~8~8~
Mako flutters her eyes open, finding herself back in hers and Sabine's bunk. She looks around and sat up, she then steps out of her room and walks to the ladder, "How do you think Mako's doing?" Zeb asks, Chopper grumbles at him. "I got to agree with Chop. I don't think Mako and Ezra were ready, look where that got Ezra and Kadan, dead." Hera agrees as Mako opens the door, seeing Hera, Zeb, Sabine, Leo and Chopper sitting that the table.
"I don't think we'll be seeing Ezra again, which is too bad." Hera went on, Leo and Sabine scoffs. "Really? Sabine, Leo and I get our old bunks back to ourselves." Zeb states, Leo laughs and he high-fives Zeb. "It's too bad because she and Ezra have skills useful to our cause." Hear informs the two then Zeb and Leo laugh. Mako just watches them from the doorway. "I knew there was a reason you were being nice to them." Zeb states "That's pretty cold guys, after all, they're just kids. Scared, alone. Me, I pity them." Sabine states and Leo nods at her. "So, this is my second fear, afraid of letting everyone down." Mako states as she then walks into the commons, getting everyone's attention. "Oh, hey Mako." Zeb states as he and Leo stood up, "How long were you standing there?" Sabine asks as she also stood up, "I hear everything." Mako answers as she was still calm. "Oh, sorry nothing personal." Leo informs her, but then Mako shook her head. "You can't apologize for something you never meant or thought of. You all aren't real, you aren't here, I'm not really back on the Ghost and Ezra and Kadan aren't not dead." Mako informs him and they were all confused, "That doesn't make any sense, how are you not here when you're standing right here?" Leo informs her.
"Because this is all in my head, this is my test. I have to face my fears in order to move forward." she informs them and turns back to the door. "Mako, you're crazy, you're not back in the Temple, you're right here." Sabine states as Mako looks at the door. "I can't stay here, I have to move forward." Mako tells her and walks back to the door. She heard everyone calling to her, telling her to stay, but she walks to the door and opens it, walking into the light.
~8~8~8~
Mako opens her eyes, finding herself laying on the ground of the Temple and then pulls herself. "Okay, I'm back at the Temple, so that must mean, I've almost face all my fears." she states and stood up, then started to walk, "I wonder how Ezra's doing? I hope he's alright. And that Kadan hasn't gotten bored yet, now I'm worried about little Leto, he must be anxious from all the waiting he's doing." Mako states as she walk right at the door.
She saw it open and then took a step back, "You." she mutters as she saw herself, but turned and tainted to the dark-side as she step out, she smirks at her, "How adorable, you worry about your companions. When you should worry about yourself." Dark Mako informs her. "So you're my last fear, the fear of becoming the enemy." Mako states as she backs up. But Dark Mako laugh, "I can assure you on one thing, Mako dearest." she states and grips Mako's chin and force her face close to her face. "I am very real." Dark Mako assures her and shoves Mako back and she stumbles a bit, "There's no way out, rat." Dark Mako taunts as she slowly walks to her. "There's always a way out." Mako assures her, "I have to have faith in myself." Mako states as she looks away, "Ready to die or are you afraid to meet your demise?" Dark Mako questions her. Mako smirks and stops right on her tracks, making Dark Mako do the same, "Afraid of that, never. Afraid of being alone again, sure, but afraid of letting down all my friends and my master, defiantly." Mako answers her, "Your so called master is laying dead in a pit with your so called friend, what's his name again, Ezra? Both are rotting in the tunnel forgotten and dead. You couldn't of let them down anymore than that." Dark Mako informs her.
But then Mako looks at her, seeing that there wasn't a drop of fear inside her, "I'm not afraid anymore." Mako tells her and stood firm, holding her arms wide out and closes her eyes. Dark Mako growls at her, then egites her saber and charges at Mako, then slashes at her, but turns into nothing. Mako exhales as she falls to her knees as she was breathing shakily, feeling her hands were shaking. But then sat in Indian style, calming herself "Big fears have you face, young one." a young one, "Yes." she answers, "For what lies ahead, ready are you?" he asks her and she nods at him, "I am." she answers him again, "Come, see more clearly of what you did no see before." he tells her, "Do I… know you? Your voice… is familiar. Who are you?" Mako asks him.
"The guild." he answer her, then she opens her eyes to see a light of fireflies, she was in awe and then stood up and followed them through the door and it closes behind her.
~8~8~8~
Kadan was still sitting on his knees as Leto was running around, worried for Mako. Then Kadan groans, "Ah, they're taking too long." he states then stood up. "Patience, remember you nothing of your training?" the voice calls out to him, making Leto crawl back into the satchel as Kadan looks around, "Master Yoda?" Kadan calls out, "It can't be, I'm loosing it." he mutters to himself, "Loosing it. Lost, yes. Back, what lost, Hm?" Yoda asks him as Kadan collapses to his hands and knees. "The question that is." Yoda went on, "Master? How… how can this be?" Kadan asks him.
"Be not concern with how, know I am here, because you are here." Yoda informs him as Kadan sat back on his knees. Kadan exhales softly, "Thank you, master." Kadan said to him, "Thank you? Hm, nothing have I done. Hm, see what can before I could not. Changed something has." Yoda informs him. "I've taken on two apprentices." Kadan informs him, "Two apprentices? Hm, and now master are you?" Yoda asks him, Kadan looks at the door where Mako and Ezra were still behind. "Of this decision, honest you must be." Yoda reminds him. Kadan then sighs, "It's true, I'm not sure of my decision to train Ezra and Mako. Not because them or their abilities. Because of me, because of who I am."
~8~8~8~
Mako follows the light through the tunnel and was lead back to the three paths. She looks at them and walks to the center of the room. "Why you hesitate?" the voice asks her and she looks up at the light. "I'm not sure which path is the right one to take." Mako answers him, "The wrong answer." the voice informs her, "I'm sorry, I just don't know what I'm doing right now, Kadan said I was going to be tested, but he never mentioned what for or why." Mako informs the light.
And it chuckles at her, "And your Master, tell you everything, must he?" it questions her, she looks at it then sighs as she looks away. "No." she answers it, "Your path, you must decide." it informs her and she focus on the force around her and looks at the pathway in front of her and she walks forward and the light disappeared.
~8~8~8~
"A dangerous time this is for your apprentices, for you." Yoda warns Kadan, "I know, I can sense it. I feel as if their abilities are growing faster than I can teach them." Kadan informs them. "You sense or you fear?" Yoda asks him.
Kadan sighs, "I lost my way for a long time, but now I have a chance to change things." Kadan informs him, "Hm, last chance." Yoda clarifies for him, Kadan closes his eyes. "I won't let them lose their way, not like I'd did." Kadan swore.
~8~8~8~
Mako walks into the center of the room, and was in awe as it it was a big sphere. "Tell me, why must you become Jedi?" the voice asks her, she looks up at the ceiling. "Because Kadan believes I'm destined to become one." Mako answers it. "Ah, Kadan believes you can." the voice clarifies, "Hm, and you?" it asks her, "Well, I'll become stronger." she answers it, "Ah, strength you seek." she nods at him, "I can drive the Imperial off Lothal and free the people from the Tyranny so they won't have to suffer from it again. And I won't be helpless ever again!" she states, as she got angry. "Aw, Jedi way is revenge, teach you this, your master did?" the voice asks her and she looks back up.
"No, never. Kadan is a good master, a great master, sure he's still rusty on a few things, but he always makes up for it." Mako informs it, "Then why you seeking revenge?" it asks her, "I'm not seeking revenge at all." she corrects him, "Hm, much fear and sadness I sense in you." it tells her. "I just want to protect the ones I love." she clarifies. "And this is way you must become Jedi?" it asks her, she looks away. "Yes, but not just them. Everyone, I want to protect everyone so they will be overjoyed for what tomorrow will bring. Before Ezra and I meet Kadan, I only ever thought about me, Ezra and the people of Lothal and nothing else. But Kadan and the others, they don't think like that, they put their lives on the line so that people can have food, water, clothing and means to protect themselves from the Empire and I see it, everyday." Mako informs it.
"I see how it makes people feel." she went on, "Feel, yes! How?" it asks her, "Alive, hopeful and just… alive, like I do now." Mako answers him, then looks back up. "I want to become that hope, defend those who cannot defend themselves, I don't want people living in fear anymore." she informs it. "Good. Good." it tells her and the room dims down to the star light. She looks around at the stars. "A difficult path lies ahead of you, padawan. A Jedi, you may yet be." it informs her. She then looks up to see a little glowing, golden light floating down to her. She reaches up and took it into her hands.
She looks down at the it and saw it was a small crystal in her hands, she smiles to herself and held the crystal in her hands and held them close to her chest.
~8~8~8~
Kadan and Leto waited for the two to return, then the door open, getting both Leto and Kadan's attention and then he stood up as Ezra and Mako step out of the tunnel and in front of Kadan, "How are you?" he asks them, "Different." Mako answers, "But the same." Ezra finishes. Kadan scoffs a little, "I know what you mean." he states and handed Mako back her satchel and she places it back on her shoulders.
"We found these." Ezra states and both he and Mako showed him their crystals. "I don't believe it." Kadan states, "What is it? It's good right?" Ezra asks him and Kadan places his hands on his hips. "Ezra, that's a kyber crystal." Kadan informs her and Ezra was in awe, but Mako was till confused, "What's a kyber crystal?" she asks him and he chuckles a little, "A lightsaber crystal." he corrects himself. They were shock and look at their crystals.
~8~8~8~
They walk out of the Temple, "I'd have to admit, when I brought the both of you here. I didn't see this happening." Kadan states and Mako looks at him as Leto was on her shoulder, purring happily. "Getting a lightsaber crystal is a big step." he informs them, but then they turn back seeing the Temple seek back into the ground. "It's strange how it's here." Ezra states as Kadan next next to him and Mako. "And it always will be. For now and hopefully it will be here long after you both and I are gone." Kadan states.
"I was just thinking, shouldn't we use it as a base or something?" Ezra asks him, the two look at him, "Who knows what else is in there." Ezra states and the two walk back to the Phantom. "I know what's in there, the past." Kadan answers and Ezra followed.
They walk aboard the Phantom and it takes off from the Temple grounds.
~8~8~8~
The Ghost sat on the outskirts as the sun was setting, everyone was waiting in the commons. "They've been working on those things for weeks, what kind of lightsabers could they possibly build with the junk we have laying around?" Zeb questions them, "Well, Mako is using one of her dad's damage sabers, and I had a few pair parts over the years." Kadan informs him, "Leo and I has some bits and peaces that might work. Gradation circuits, energy gate. Chopper even donated a power cell for two." Sabine inform them and Chopper grumbles.
"I have them some additional tech, they were pretty specific at what they were looking for." Hera throws in as well. Then Ezra sides down with his new lightsaber and Mako climbs down with the repaired one as well. Kadan stood up as everyone looks at their new sabers. "We thought we should let you check it out first." Ezra informs Kadan and he handed him his lightsaber. Kadan look it and looks over his saber. "Well it's… different." Kadan states and took Mako's. "Well rebuild, nicely done Mako." he tells her and she nods at him as she had her other saber, "I even rebuild this one." Mako states, showing the other one as it was identical to the one in Kadan's hand and he laughs a little, "They seem about right for you, go for it." he tells them giving back their sabers. The two took them back and ignites them. Ezra was blue as Mako was golden. Everyone was in awe, "Mako, show them." Ezra tells them she nods at him, turns and faces them, then steps back then, then twist the saber onto the other one and ignites the saber, "Wow, two bladed light-sabers becomes a double-bladed." Leo states as he was impress. Mako giggles and looks back at her new lightsabers.