Ach-To
Padme had just returned to the Skywalker hut when Anakin returned. She quickly hugged him.
Rex had followed Anakin in. "Sir, we need to discuss a situation."
"Of course, Rex," Anakin said.
The group set down at the table, with Anakin wondering what Padme and his commander had discovered as he sensed a fair amount of confusion from the two of them, rather than fear.
"It's about Master Solo, sir," Rex said.
"You mean Master Ben Skywalker," Anakin said.
Rex looked at him sideways. "You knew?"
Anakin nodded in the negative. "Force thing. I found out about half an hour ago, but I'm also not supposed to press for more information. Obi-Wan suspected the relation, however. How did you guys find out?"
Rex looked a hair guilty. "We kind of looked through their stuff and found a holofilm about Ben's dad whose name is Luke Skywalker.
Over the next few days, Ben and Ves had restarted their training of Anakin and Obi-Wan. They had, once again, had dived into the Force and were training on a far away planet. Ben and Vestara were giving Anakin and Obi-Wan a demonstration of their Force powers in two sparred using electric judgment amongst other Force tricks. After their impressive demonstration, they turned to Obi-Wan and Anakin.
"So, questions or comments?" Ben asked.
"Are you going to teach me to do that?" Anakin asked.
Ben laughed. "All in good time. Some of that requires you to be more balanced, though you are improving greatly."
"I have seen a form of lightning that was green used by Master Plo Koon?" Kenobi asked. "I'm curious if this is the same."
"Not exactly." Ben said closing his eyes briefly he opened them a second later, lightning lighting up his eyes. Ben reached out his hand and green lightning shot into a rock and exploded.
"I believe that is what you are referring to, Master Kenobi," Ben said.
Kenobi looked at the rock and replied, "Yes only he had more control over it. I was unaware that the Kel Dor taught that method to outsiders."
Ben laughed. "I would imagine he did. But they are willing to teach any student that goes to their school as long as you are not a darksider."
Anakin watched "What's the difference?"
Ben looked at Anakin. "The Kel Dor have a natural affinity to electricity. What you just saw is channeling static electricity from my surroundings and releasing it. It's more powerful than electric judgment but it is difficult to control, and, frankly, it's a one-shot deal. And it's exhausting."
"I'm surprised your Order allows the use of any form of Force lightning," Kenobi mused.
"Necessity, I'm afraid. Our foe is Force void and the usual Force push and pull do not work on them. Force lightning is the only Force power that they are not resistant to," Vestara answered. "Not to mention having to deal with Sith Lords on a semi-regular basis."
Anakin nor Kenobi had not yet been trained to use any of these powers. Ben and Vestara were only showing him and Kenobi their battle prowess. Anakin and Kenobi both would need to learn other Force techniques and improve their Force endurance to sustain these powers for long periods of time. Unfortunately, neither Ben nor Vestara believed Obi-Wan would ever have the Force power to be able to do much against Sidious, still they believed training would at least give him the chance to fight long enough to survive.
"Part of the training will include using the Force more often and for minor things," Ben said.
"Isn't that misuse of the force?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Never heard it phrased that way," Ben said. "Why do you not use the Force in everyday tasks?"
Anakin looked at Obi-Wan who simply replied, "You just don't." He then kind of shrugged. "I've never been asked that question before."
"Interesting. You don't know why?" Ben said.
"Do you?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, though I find it interesting that you know longer remember," Ben said.
"The Force is an energy field. It's not like you can run out of it. A Jedi or any other Force user can do one of two things. You can consistently use the Force to the max and accomplish great feats. In engine terms this would be like using the Force at 100% power. However, there is a consequence to using it at full power, at least constantly, and that is the fact that you get so much feedback around you that you can no longer hear its promptings like you should," Ben explained. "In our situation, the plan is to teach you how to run at 100% power. That way you can use it in the circumstances when it is needed, without exhausting yourself to the point of unconsciousness."
Ben had just finished speaking when they all a felt a darkness come upon them.
"Get out," Vestara said to Kenobi and Anakin
"We can help," Anakin said.
"Not necessary. Remember what I said the rules of engagement in here are. Now go. We will deal with the Sith," Ben said.
Kenobi and Anakin disappeared right before a cloaked figure appeared.
"How interesting. Force Masters and Force Masters in training. The little troll has been keeping secrets from the senate; how unfortunate, though inconsequential." Darth Sidious laughed.
"Darth Sidious, I presume," Ben said.
"Indeed, though I am at a loss as to your names, which is strange since I believed I knew the name of every Jedi in the Galaxy," Sidious said as the three stood facing each other.
"Well since the identities' of the Sith have been secret for the previous millennia I figure that makes us even," Vestara said.
"Hmm, another mystery. I believe you were trained as a Sith, though I know you were no apprentice of mine or of my previous apprentice. No, you are as powerful as Dooku was and will grow stronger still. Why have you given up your power?"
"I didn't. I broke my chains and am now free," Vestara retorted.
"Implying that I am not even though I am Emperor of the galaxy," Sidious mused. "How quaint, yet so much power and potential," his gaze went from Vestara to Ben, "to be wasted on the Jedi. Such a waste."
"Tell me where to find Skywalker and I will allow you the opportunity to join my Empire and become part of my vision," Sidious said.
Vestara lit her lightsaber. "Sorry, but I've already foreseen that your vision ends up down a shaft."
Ben decided that it would be better to start a fight than to let any information slip and lit his lightsaber as well.
Sidious seeing this, shot lightning at the two Jedi. Ben was able to hold back the barrage better than Vestara, but they were both able to hold their ground. Ben took a step forward towards the Emperor, who was surprised to see him be able to do so.
"Apparentl, Jorus C'Baoth trained a few students I was unaware of, otherwise I would have seen to it that you all would have been on Outbound Flight," Sidious gritted through his teeth.
"No such luck," Ben said with a smile, taking another step forward.
Sidious saw the lightning starting to come back towards him and stopped shooting Force lightning. He was, however, surprised when both Jedi immediately reacted with their own lightning. He barely dove out of the way when the lightning hit right where he was standing.
Furious, he pulled out his lightsabers. Both Ben and Vestara got into ready positions of their preferred forms- Ben with medium form and Vestara with strong, forms developed by Luke Skywalker and Kyle Katarn. After the Order was reborn, the new Jedi order taught three forms which used parts of the the original 7, while trying to make up for the weaknesses.
Sidious deactivated his sabers. "We will meet again for real, Jedi, and you will beg to join me." With that parting shot, he disappeared.
Ben and Ves looked around to make sure he had truly left.
"I think it's time to leave this planet for a while," Ves said.
Ben nodded in agreement. Their time on Ach-To was over for now. Even though their enemy couldn't see where they truly were, it was better not to stick around long enough for him to get an idea of where in the galaxy they were. Where they would head next would naturally hide their presences from a foe.
Author's notes
So ends the Ach-To Arc it will be important here in a few short chapters.
Short chapter this week originally I had Hondo introducing Kitt and the gang to the mansion in this chapter but story flow wise it just worked much better in the previous chapter. Yes I had to have Sidious make a confrontation sooner or later so anybody who was thinking I had chapters 9-10 just thrown in for no reason would be mistaken. It's too soon for Anakin to face the emperor that's not happening but a confrontation withh our main couple had to happen without Ben wiping the floor with the emperor.
Thanks for the reviews favorites and likes
Next week The Thief of Coronet
Until next week Ben
Ps my pen name on this site is Grandmaster Ben Skywalker for some who have asked because the spacing is odd on FFN.