Chapter 15
Connections
Robin's Inner World
Shadow was at the highest point of the castle and appeared to be deep in thought; he knew that Einstein would join him soon. Robin was getting closer to the point where he would be worthy of the mantle of leadership and therefore ready, able, and fully capable of rebuilding The Paladin Clan from almost scratch. Shadow was deep in thought when a door that hadn't been there before that night suddenly appeared smack dab in the middle of the otherwise blank wall. It wouldn't open, at least not for Shadow. He hoped that Einstein could force it open if necessary. "Hmm, it doesn't feel dangerous, dark, or malevolent. No door-knob? Maybe it's not we who must open it. I sense a presence… not unlike our own, Shadow. A being born from both mind and soul. I know not their Name, so we can't call out to them." Einstein responded upon materialization. Together, the two decided that they would leave it be unless it became a threat, at which point they'd summon Robin, for he was tantamount to God in his mindscape; it was his personal realm of power; all Paladins had and always would have their own mindscapes.
Robin shimmered into existence in his mindscape, having sensed a significant change, not born of his will, yet in his sanctum of sanctums. He thought that he'd feel upset or violated, but instead, he accepted the situation calmly. His body was resting and full of happy drugs like oxytocin and dopamine from his night out with Jaina, though his mind was slightly restless. "What's happening? Something in here changed, and I felt pulled here." "I can't say, just a door that doesn't open," Shadow remarked, scratching his head in confusion and embarrassment. "At least not from our end, but I sense a presence similar to ours. A Familiar, I'd wager,'' Einstein added.
"They might have a theory or even the answer to what the hell was going on but be unable to share it because of the rules imposed by Balance. In addition, since every theory they can confirm is based around my thoughts and hunches, we'd just be going around in circles without more concrete information or a clear sign, so I'll just play it by ear," Robin had silently reasoned. "Well, I can't seem to will the door away or even open it... Hmmm, strange. I'm essentially god here in my mindscape, so it should yield to my command. I want to meet this mysterious presence. I'm going to scan myself with the Master Holocron when I wake up in the morning; it feels like the right thing to do. Until then, rest, you two. Don't worry." Robin said, fading from his mindscape to Dreamland.
At the Solo residence, everyone was asleep. Everyone was having a peaceful, dreamless slumber. Everyone except Jaina, who found herself in a strange, foreign, yet achingly familiar place. After a few moments, she realized that she was on a giant version of the Millennium Falcon, her home away from home. She came here for years when she needed to think, and she still does sometimes. Outside appeared to be an entire hangar… but filled with her favourite ships, mostly X-wings or Stealth-X's, (Stealth-X's are Next-gen X-wings, essentially). "Good, you're finally here. Get up and take the ramp out. It's about time that we met, Sword of the Jedi. Do not be surprised, I know; you're not the first Sword, and you won't be the last. Now hop to it," the female voice said, voice projected by an intercom aboard the giant Millennium Falcon, followed by the hissing of a ramp opening up. Jaina sensed no malice or danger anywhere, and so she bid as the voice instructed.
Out in the hanger, Jaina saw a door unlock and open. "Well, guess I'm going this way…" Jaina muttered. "This is all so weird", Jaina thought as she entered a new room. It looked like the Archives at the Temple, except for the stranger who stood before her, a woman with brown hair that looked midnight black in the shadows, dressed in a white and black robe and cloak. The mystery woman had her back to Jaina. "Hello Jaina, It's great to finally meet you," the woman said. Her voice was beautiful and melodic, but also laced with power. She turned to face Jaina and smiled with an all-encompassing expression. "Welcome to Yourself, Jaina Solo. This place is the foundation of your character, born of both mind and soul; everything here in some way reflects you. Take a seat," she gestured, and everything changed. Jaina found herself in her home on Coruscant, sitting on the couch with the strangely dressed, familiar woman.
"Unlike the Royal Familiars, I'm not bound by nearly as many rules, so I can and am currently answering your questions in order, as you think of them. It saves time. How? My, that's a silly question. I'm you, or at least part of you. I took the form of the last Sword of the Jedi, Bastilla Shan, a woman from the Old Republic who garnered your interest and respect. I admit I'm not really her, though I know everything she did, thought, or felt while she was alive. You're essentially in a dimension all of your own. Time flows differently here. A year could go by here, and you would spend maybe a week in a meditative state, something you've done many times before. It's not unlike a self-induced coma, except that you're in control of when it starts and stops."
The woman, taking the form of Bastilla, looked thoughtfully at Jaina, who seemed very lost; then she snapped her fingers as though inspired by some great epiphany or idea. "First, I need to explain. I'm a combination of you with the Living Force, AKA the Cosmic Force, which transcends normal mortal comprehension since most only use one or the other side of the Force rather than the whole thing. I look like this because I needed a form, preferably one you were comfortable with. I chose an individual you thought highly of, though if you want, I can change forms. Robin knows of such things, for he bears two of my kind, the Royal Familiars. Every Paladin has one of us. Don't be surprised if the same thing happens to your mom, uncle, and cousin. Possibly others as well, though I won't know who until they Awaken to their own Familiars." Jaina still looked confused, but she was starting to understand.
Bastilla stopped and then chortled. "I think I should start at the very beginning, for context. A very, very long time ago..." (and we're skipping the lecture, Reader, it's stuffy and was already covered earlier). Bastilla explained the Paladins and their purpose, how the Sword of the Jedi cuts away at the King's weakness and helps recruit and rebuild the Clan, both a part of and apart from the Jedi Order. She also naturally warned Jaina that with greater power came greater temptations, but as long as she stayed the course and remained true to herself, all would be okay.
Finally, after the painfully long lecture, Jaina spoke. "Let me get this straight: I'm Robin's partner in rebuilding an ancient dynasty of super Jedi that don't have a problem wielding the Dark Side in any capacity as long as it is in service of a grander picture, one known only by the Force with Paladins as its representatives. You say that sheer proximity can turn someone into a Paladin because Robin's the leader, bleeding Paladin power into those he's granted subconscious approval to?" Jaina asked. "Yes," Bastilla replied simply. It sounded insane, ridiculous, and impossible, but she felt the ring of truth; there was no deception.
All reality existed in a precarious state of balance and imbalance on cosmic scales, and the Paladins helped to keep Balance in power. "It made sense in a strange way," Jaina thought moments before her Familiar continued. "Before this ritual is complete and you can become a Paladin, you must do something only you can do. There is a very important door you must open. Once it's opened, the ritual will be two-thirds complete. The final piece is up to Robin. It's something he must do on his own, for only he knows what is required. I'm not allowed to say anything more."
Bastilla looked like she was composing her next words very carefully. "Robin has only just begun his tutelage in the Paladin ways, in the True Force. He knows much, yet he does not lack ignorance. He does not keep such things secret to hurt anyone, but rather because he has no choice. Such is a part of Paladin life. Paladins are subtle with their power, do not suffer fools, and can be quick to anger. A long time ago, they were called Wizards among many old cultures. But I digress. You have a job to do, and I can tell you more later. Go, you will find the Gate easily enough." Jaina stood and began walking, her intuition guiding her. There it was, a fairly ordinary-looking door, if not for the symbol of yin and yang; Balance. Inscribed atop the archway was writing in a foreign language that Jaina was amazed that she could understand despite not having learned it.
She began to read. Whoever is the Sword is both Gatekeeper and Keymaster; the Sword that defends the King cuts away his weaknesses and doubts. The Sword is the key to the true power of Paladins. Ye who bears the Title Sword of the Jedi-Paladin shall give the King the power needed to revive the oldest, greatest, and most secretive order of philosophers, warriors, nonconformists, assassins, saviours, heroes, and villains. In return, the Sword will be purged of destructive elements such as unnecessary fear and even spiritual baggage. "My full Title is Sword of the Jedi-Paladin? Uncle Luke, did he know, or had the Force exerted its Will denying Luke and therefore the Order knowledge of my true full Title? Another mystery for another day." she mused before turning back to the writing. There sure is quite a bit written up there, and that last line about emotional baggage hit home hard," Jaina mused as she continued to read.
The King is a contradiction given form, a possible paradox living on the knife's edge between darkness and light, and he will ally with many from both the light and darkness, for he must; otherwise his power is made imbalanced. The bond forged by the opening of this Gate will be everlasting and must never be tainted by either party for any reason, or the Galaxy itself will come undone. Not even darkness would remain, only constant imbalance and chaos. A waking Hell for all. If a Paladin falls into darkness, it is decreed that it is the responsibility of the Paladin King and his Sword to mete out punishment. If you have enough resolve, then accept this power and responsibility so that you might both find your Destinies and, with it, peace. Where there is one Destiny, the other is never far behind, for they, like the King and his Sword, are inexplicably linked." (The writing kept changing as Jaina read; only I, the Narrator, and of course the Author know this level of detail. Jaina overlooked it, she was too busy reading to notice that small thing. Unexplained things bug me too, and I had the green light from the Author to explain that to you. Now back to the story).
Jaina reached out to open the door and found herself hesitant, unsure of whether to open the Gate or not. She was afraid. Change is scary, and with Jaina still suffering from the remains of her PTSD, she was even more susceptible to growing comfortable in her misery. (One can grow to encompass pain and misery in their personal comfort zone. It's misery, but it's familiar misery; therein lies the temptation). She remembered Robin's words regarding her cage of fear, made by her power and experiences. It still held enough sway over her, still influencing her to react instead of commit to a course of action. Bastilla approached Jaina, smiling. "I know you're scared, but it's necessary… and you'll be stronger for the trials and tribulations you'll go through. Fret not; you're never alone, and you can take your time. But you knew that. You just needed a reminder.'' With those words, Jaina felt warmth suffuse her whole body, like a hot bath with homemade cocoa or a whiskey nightcap, and of course, caf in the morning. "I am Jaina Solo. I've never quit or run before, and sure as shit, I'm not starting now!" Jaina reminded herself, steeling her resolve, and with a mighty push, she flung open the Gate! She almost went blind from an instantaneous explosion of light.
When the light cleared, Robin laid eyes on her. Jaina was here in his mindscape, in his sanctum. He felt something so fundamentally right about the entire strange situation that it couldn't be properly conveyed with words. "How did you get here, Jaina? Where were you before, on the other side?" Robin was flummoxed; he didn't understand how she was in his mindscape. He then realized what the gate was; it was a connecting tunnel. He was beginning to comprehend what was going on.
Jaina began to explain what she thought was going on. "Apparently we're partners in reviving and rebuilding the Paladins. I was probably in my version of this place. Part of it is that I'm the Sword of the Jedi-Paladin, and I'm supposed to help you. But don't expect me to call you Your Majesty. Maaaybe Highness… but only because you're high every other day." Jaina joked, trying to diffuse the situation and make herself feel less awkward. Their most intimate parts were connected, (soul, mind, spirit etc). Suddenly, and to both of their surprise, light poured from Jaina into Robin's now self-materialized Kings Sword, (aka Sword of the Ruler,) which absorbed it, growing brighter by the second until a large orb of black and white appeared on the tip.
The Orb floated gently to the ground, where it grew and then exploded with a popping sound followed by a thump of suddenly displaced air. In its place was a man with a very long white beard wearing a grey cloak and robe with a yin-yang symbol on his chest and back. The man grabbed them both by their shoulders. Shadow and Einstein sent positive vibes, apparently unable to speak. Robin understood that this entity had a purpose and wasn't to be feared, and with a grunt, the mysterious figure teleported them to someplace foggy and strangely undefined. "Welcome, young ones, to the Precipice World. The world between all worlds, times, and realities, where both potential and realized possibilities connect and intersect. We must be cautious. I shall guide the way. Walk this way," said the figure with his back turned to them, before he started walking into the fog and the unknown, his "guests" following close on his heel.