Part 5 – Training
Master Yoda wasn't kidding when he said that the path Bruce chose to take was difficult.
The first thing that Anakin introduced Bruce to was how to fight, first with wooden training sabers that actually hurt whenever you hit them too hard.
Then came the swords which were long, dulled, single-edged, thirty-nine-inch blades that had almost nothing safe that his hands could hold onto so if he didn't have a solid grip on it, it would often fly out of his hands.
At the end of the first week of training, Bruce walked away with blisters on his palms.
With meditation, Bruce learned to control the pain he felt, he had never known how powerful the Force could have been.
When Anakin moved into using the Force which primarily consisted of moving heavy objects with the force he expected Anakin to start off small.
The first things he asked Bruce to levitate were small balls of metal made of brass, then steel, then cortosis.
The next day he moved onto larger objects, and it continued day after day.
Bruce spent most of his free time in the library while most of his training took place in the combat arena.
Having objects levitate got easier and easier for him, by his first month there he could levitate a few chairs and even a tablet.
His swordsmanship had gotten better and better, he couldn't beat Anakin, but he could fight several of the other apprentices to a standstill in the combat arena.
"You're training has progressed more and more," Anakin said over a sparring match one day.
Their swords made a few light 'clangs' as they smashed against each other, as Bruce sprung forward with an overhand chop Anakin stepped out of the way and placed the edge of his sword against the back of Bruce's neck.
"Never lose your temper," Anakin said, "A cool head always wins a fight."
Bruce straightened up, "So if I want my opponent to lose," Bruce said as he flipped the blade around before coming back at his master, "Try and get them agitated."
"Logic would dictate that," Anakin said as he blocked a swing from Bruce's sword, "But I doubt it would work."
Bruce came back at Anakin with a stab only for Anakin to pin Bruce's blade to the ground, "Why is that," Bruce asked.
"First," Anakin began as he put his hand on Bruce's shoulder, "Never overextend your reach, it makes you venerable, and…" he then pushed on Bruce's shoulder gently sending him onto his back, "Off balance."
"Ok," Bruce said as he stood back up, "Now what about my other question."
"Some people thrive on conflict," Anakin said as he swung at Bruce, only to have his swing blocked.
"Which is why they would seek you out," Bruce said as he blocked a swing from Anakin behind his back, "Such would be the nature of many Sith."
"Exactly," Anakin said as he tried to swing at Bruce only to have Bruce duck underneath the blade.
"So don't rush into conflict," Bruce said, "Try and find a way to make the conflict work for you."
"Precisely," Anakin said as he pointed at Bruce with his sword, "All those hours you spend in the library must be doing you good."
"I find history to be invigorating," Bruce said as swung at Anakin, only to have the swing blocked, and then took a few steps back as Anakin pressed his attack.
"I'm sure your planet has a lot of history," Anakin said.
"Not the kind you'd think," Bruce said as he pressed his own, "Mostly it's about war," he blocked a low swing, "Misunderstanding," he blocked another high swing, "And oppression."
"I can see why you left," Anakin said.
"I couldn't live like that," Bruce said as he blocked an overhead swing, "That's why I left."
"It has nothing to do with that wound on your chest," Anakin asked.
"It does," Bruce said, "But that's a story for another time."
"I can wait," Anakin said as he lowered his blade, "You've improved greatly. I'm impressed."
"Indeed," Master Yoda said as he walked into the room.
"Master Yoda," Anakin said as he and Bruce turned to face him.
"Been practicing, you have," Master Yoda said, "Greatly improved, you are."
"Thank you, master," Bruce said.
"Ready, he is," Master Yoda said.
"Ready for what," Bruce asked.
"For the next phase of your training," Anakin said, "Meet us in Master Yoda's meditation chambers in half an hour."
"Yes, master," Bruce said.
Bruce walked into the room to see Master Yoda and Anakin sitting on opposite sides of the room, and a single meditation chair sat in front of them.
"Come, sit," Master Yoda said, "Time it is."
Bruce sat on the chair, crossing his legs, "To progress, you must show us your commitment to the knowledge of the Jedi," Anakin said.
"The Jedi Code," Master Yoda said, "Recite it."
"There is no Emotion, there is Peace," Bruce began, "There is no Ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no Passion, there is Serenity. There is no Chaos, there is Harmony. There is no Death, there is the Force."
"Learned much, I sense you have," Master Yoda said, "Now, further tests we complete."
"You come across a group of thugs attacking a woman and her child," Anakin said, "What do you do?"
"I'd help them flee," Bruce said, "And then try to find out why they were being attacked."
"Interesting," Anakin said, "There is a locked door in front of you. How do you open it?"
"I sense the mechanism inside," Bruce said, "If we move the levers the right way the door should swing open."
"A wise answer, that is," Master Yoda said.
"Now," Anakin said, "You are in combat with another hostile. There is a pause in combat, what do you do?"
"I try to find a spot to exploit," Bruce said, "Maybe with combat, maybe with words."
"Interesting," Anakin said, "Finally, you are the head of an Enclave and discover that many infiltrators have made it to the planet. What do you do?"
"I would try to find a way to discover the identity of these infiltrators," Bruce said.
"Interesting answers, you have given," Master Yoda said, "The path of the Jedi Consular, I suggest you follow."
"I will follow it with pride," Bruce said.
"Good," Anakin said, "Congratulations Bruce, you've been officially made Padawan."
"Time to construct your lightsaber, it is," Master Yoda said.
"Where should we begin," Anakin asked.
"Master, if I may," Bruce said, "There is something I'd like to request."
"Request," Master Yoda asked, "Request what, I ask?"
"I would like permission to go to Jedi Temple on Tython," Bruce said, "And find the ancient forge."
"Forged there, many great lightsabers have been," Master Yoda said, "Would be the first time it was used for thousands of years, it would."
"Plus, there should be plenty of parts he could gather to forge a decent saber," Anakin said.
"A very big responsibility this would be," Master Yoda said, "Take it likely, you should not."
"I won't, Master Yoda," Bruce said.
"Take a ship, you will," Master Yoda said, "Hope you don't get space sick, I do."
Anakin stood up, and walked out before turning toward Bruce, "Come," he said, "Tython isn't a simple speeder ride away."
Bruce and Anakin walked toward the hangar where they found a T-6 Shuttle waiting for them.
"Please tell me you're going to be the pilot for this one," Bruce asked.
"You know it," Anakin said, "Needless to say that since I've only known you for almost a month doesn't give me confidence in your flying."
"I'm not confident in my flying either," Bruce said as they saw R2 following them, "Might I ask why R2 is coming with us," he then turned to R2, "No offense, little guy."
"Master Yoda wanted to see if we could download any of the archives," Anakin said, "There's no better Astro droid in the sector."
"Ok," Bruce said, "All I needed to know."
"Good," Anakin said as they walked up the ramp into the shuttle.
As they sat down in the pilot and co-pilot's seat, Bruce exhaled, "Alright," he said.
"How many ships have you piloted," Anakin asked.
"Counting this shuttle," Bruce asked, "One."
"Excellent," Anakin said as he raised the shuttle, and guided it out of the hanger, and flew off towards their destination.
As they were clearing the atmosphere, Bruce sat back and exhaled with contentment.
"Takes your breath away doesn't it," Anakin asked.
"Yea," Bruce said, "I wonder what's behind those stars?"
"Maybe you and I will see them all," Anakin said.
"Maybe," Bruce said, "Maybe."
R2 beeped and whistled, "Coordinates for Tython are locked in," Anakin said, "Prepare for the jumper to hyperspace."
Anakin grabbed hold of the controls, and gently pushed them forward.
As the ship leaped into hyperspace, Bruce smiled, "Never gets any less awesome," he said.
"Why Tython," Anakin asked.
"Tython is the birthplace of our order," Bruce said, "If it weren't for many great Jedi that passed through the gates of the temple there the Republic might not be standing."
"Indeed," Anakin said.
"Plus, Tython is bound to have some very unique relics," Bruce said.
"No one's set foot on Tython in over half a millennium," Anakin said.
"Why," Bruce asked.
"About one thousand years after Darth Bane established the Rule of Two, the temple became a place where the Jedi's best guardians could be trained," Anakin said, "After the Jedi felt comfortable that there were no credible threats to the Republic they just left."
"They abandoned the place," Bruce asked.
"I'm afraid so," Anakin said, "The birthplace of our Order, and they up and abandoned it."
"Maybe it is not our place to judge," Bruce said, "Not to question the acts of our elders."
"You really are a Counselor," Anakin said.
"Really think we'll be able to find what I need to build a Lightsaber on Tython," Bruce asked.
"We're going to find out," Anakin said.
"No onto one matter," Bruce said, "How am I going to defend myself once I'm down there?"
"What do you mean," Anakin asked.
"According to the datapad I was reading," Bruce said as he pulled out a small datapad, "Tython's native Flesh Raider population has grown up from the mindless primitives they once were, and have began creating a steel-forging society."
"They've started making swords," Anakin asked.
"Yes," Bruce said, "And bows."
"I brought this," Anakin said as he held out a training sword, "Should do for now."
Bruce unsheathed the sword, "It should work," he said, "I suppose you have a plan once we arrive?"
"Yes," Anakin said as he leaned back in his chair, and kicked his feet up on the dash panel.
"You don't want to fill me in on it, do you," Bruce asked.
"Nope," Anakin said, "Not until we arrive."
"Fair enough," Bruce said as he kicked his own feet up.
Bakura…
Viceroy Gunray paced in front of the conference table while the other members of the Separatists sat at the table.
"Lord Sidious is dead," San Hill said, "Count Dooku is dead, General Grievous is dead. Forgive me for saying so Viceroy, but we are royally kriffed." Kriff is the equivalent of the 'f' word in Star Wars.
"I know," Viceroy Gunray said.
"Then what are we going to do," Passel Argente asked.
"I don't know," Viceroy Gunray said.
"How are we going to build more factories," Wat Tambor asked.
"I don't know," Viceroy Gunray said.
"Who will lead our troops," Archduke Poogle asked.
"I DON'T KNOW," Viceroy Gunray yelled as he slammed his hands onto the table, "I'm not a soldier! We have not faced a situation like this before! We have no Sith leading us, very little operating droid factories, and no more commanders! I understand the situation! We need a leader."
A single droid came over the hologram, "Viceroy," he said, "A Jedi has breached our perimeter."
"What," Viceroy Gunray asked, "Stop this Jedi!"
"Yes Vicer-AAAHHHHH," the droid finished as the sound of a lightsaber going through his chassis.
"We're doomed," Rune Haako said before they heard the sounds of battle outside.
Droids firing, laser bolts being deflected, and lightsabers slicing through droids.
When the sounds of battle stopped, Shu Mai spoke up, "Is it over," she asked in her native language.
The door then flew open to reveal a dark-hooded figure, "Yes," he said as he entered before undoing the latch on his hood, and letting the hood fall to the ground.
The Separatist Council Members' faces froze in shock.
Guess who it is…