Chapter 24

The hum of lightsabers reverberated through the winter air, a rhythmic dance of plasma along the rooftop of an apartment complex. Benjamin and Jet, master and apprentice, moved in tandem, their blades slicing through the chilly atmosphere, a testament to the force that bound them.

Yet, Jet found himself on the defensive, beads of sweat dotting his brow. He dodged and weaved, attempting to hold his ground against Benjamin's relentless assault. Days of intense Jedi training had brought them to this moment, each striving to forge a formidable force-wielder.

Mid-spar, Jet interrupted the symphony of clashing lightsabers with a question. "Hey, Benjamin," he called out, raising his blade to engage in a swift maneuver. Benjamin deftly countered, tossing his purple beam upwards, causing Jet's blade to compact and nearly send him spiraling. "Teach me how to use my shatter points."

Benjamin's eyes widened at the request, momentarily forgetting about Jet's unique ability to perceive shatter points—the moments when the unbreakable becomes breakable.

"I'm sorry, Jet. Isn't that something you already know how to do?" Benjamin responded.

Perplexity clouded Jet's expression. His hand instinctively went to his chest. "Ben, I don't know how to do that. That time I cut down that armored warrior was pure luck alone. I saw it, I definitely felt it, but it's something that I had no real control over."

Benjamin grimaced. Shatter points, a mysterious force skill, lingered in the annals of Jedi lore. Finding Jet had been living proof of its existence, a power that couldn't be easily learned through training but had to be awakened through experience.

Before Benjamin could offer a response, a wave hit them—a palpable disturbance in the force. The only audible sound was the buzzing of their extinguished lightsabers. A darkness loomed over the horizon, an ominous shadow that awakened their senses.

The force surged within them, prompting both to unignite their weapons and clamp them to their belts. Jet, adept at fixating on specific body parts with the force, joined Benjamin in leaping onto a higher rooftop. From their vantage point, they surveyed the unfolding scene, a prelude to a forthcoming event.

A deep black cloud loomed ominously overhead, casting a pall over all who beheld it. Jet gazed skyward, his gloved hands outstretched, fingers brushing against the soot that tainted the air. "Benjamin, you can feel it too, right?" he called out, his voice laced with urgency.

From the balcony, Benjamin surveyed the scene, the wind whipping through his hair and robes, his lightsaber clattering in the gusts. The acrid scent of soot filled his nostrils, a grim reminder of past encounters with Bill in the mines and labor camps. "Yeah, I know," he responded tersely, his tone weighted with foreboding.

With resolve etched in their expressions, Jet and Benjamin sprang into action, racing toward where team avatar awaited. They navigated through the chaos, the throngs of fleeing civilians a testament to the imminent danger posed by the fire nation's onslaught.

Benjamin's mind buzzed with the weight of responsibility. He remembered his master's words, the knowledge of what must be done and the grim realities of war. As they approached the frontlines, he couldn't shake the parallels to past conflicts—the Mandalorian, the Civil War—each a stark reminder of the stakes at hand.

But amidst the turmoil, another thought nagged at Benjamin's consciousness—a question he had long avoided. Glancing at Jet, his new apprentice, he pondered the vision of them standing together against overwhelming odds. Was this the moment he had feared? The place where his journey would reach its inevitable end?

The weight of his lightsaber felt heavier than ever before, burdened by the weight of past sins and the newfound realization of what truly mattered. Benjamin grappled with the fear of death, a sensation foreign yet undeniable. Yet, he resolved to face it head-on, not as a Jedi or a Sith, but as a man.

"We take what is given... and we do what we must," he murmured to himself, a mantra to steel his resolve. Whatever the outcome, he would confront it with courage, for he had found something worth fighting—and perhaps even dying—for.

Amidst the houses, Ben and Jet descended upon a scene of urgency. Aang knelt with his staff in hand, Katara and Princess Yue flanking him, their eyes locked upon the approaching duo.

"What the hell is happening?" Benjamin erupted, his breath heavy as the gaze of Team Avatar fixated on the Jedi. Within minutes, Ben gleaned the dire circumstances. Princess Yue recounted the events during Sokka and her flight, detailing the imminent threat of a fire nation armada descending upon the Southern Water Tribe. Benjamin suspected a legion of dark Jedi might be orchestrating this assault.

"How did they track us after leaving the Earth Kingdom?" Jet inquired, turning to Katara, who could only shake her head. "We weren't followed, and no one knew our destination."

"Jet's onto something," Benjamin interjected, capturing everyone's attention. "Maybe, they're not after Aang."

Having fought in wars and observed the strategies of the finest generals, Benjamin deduced that something was amiss. They couldn't have been traced so easily.

"It's because they're not after the Avatar… they're after something else," a voice echoed from atop Appa's saddle. To Yue and Jet, it was unfamiliar, prompting the young apprentice to reach for his lightsaber. Benjamin, however, recognized the voice, as did Katara.

Emerging from the saddle, the figure stood tall, tanned skin touched by the sun's crescent, wearing a deep grey light robe resembling a flight suit. Messy long hair, now tied in a bun, framed his forehead. Facial hair hinted at days of continuous fighting. It was Haru.

"It's been a while, Master," Haru greeted, landing gracefully. "Haru!" Katara exclaimed, embracing him tightly, her joy evident.

Jet observed the unexpected affection with bewilderment. Benjamin turned to Haru, letting go of Katara and enveloping his former apprentice in a warm hug.

"Haru," Benjamin spoke, separating from the embrace and placing a hand on both Jet and Haru's shoulders. "I want you to meet Jet. Another freedom fighter, but like you, he possesses force sensitivity. He's chosen to walk the path of the Jedi."

Jet and Haru nodded at each other. "How did you get here, Haru?"

"The Fire Nation, you were right. It's not related to Aang. This plan, or something, has been brewing for a very long time. Longer than you'd think," Haru revealed, his voice growing stern. "I intercepted a Fire Nation hawk that revealed the operation. I hid inside a warship, planning to spring into this trap, but Aang arrived, and I aided him in destroying it. Yet…"

He turned away from them, his gaze fixated on the dark soot that spilled over the horizon like a sinister omen. Aang, his head buried in his hands, finally spoke, and Ben knelt to be on the same level as the troubled Avatar. "It's not enough, there are dozens of them. I don't know what to do."

His eyes shifted toward Ben, as if the Jedi held all the answers. But Ben, lost in contemplation, was grappling with the enormity of the situation—an armada of Fire Nation warships, armed with hundreds of soldiers and potentially dozens of dark Jedi.

"I think I may have a solution…" Yue's words drew the attention of Team Avatar, sparking a fragile ember of hope. Yet, hope was a precarious flame.

The spirit oasis, nestled on the outskirts of the Water Tribe city, became the focal point. Sokka and the water tribe warriors had chosen to confront the front lines, leaving Ben with no time to consult with Sokka. If Yue's plan held water, it could tip the scales before the battle truly unfolded.

The ominous hum of Fire Nation warships echoed in the air, the front gate already obliterated by a massive fireball. Ben winced at the stark reminder that, despite the world's apparent primitiveness, they wielded lightsaber blades. His previous underestimation of this world's capabilities became glaringly apparent, with the water tribe utilizing fishing boats against the formidable warships and strange wheeled cars of the Fire Nation.

As Aang immersed himself in meditation, Jet clung to Sokka and Yue, watching the Avatar's attempt to connect with the spirit world. Ben, having experienced the harrowing realm before, loathed the idea of revisiting.

The memories and the pain haunted him, fingers coiling along the hem of his robe, where the lightsaber had once struck. 'In hesitation, lies death,' the doppelganger's message echoed in his mind.

"Haru…" Benjamin called the young apprentice, who met his gaze with dark brown eyes. Ben wrapped his arms around himself. "How are you doing?" he questioned.

Haru cracked his neck and clapped his hands, presenting a brilliant smile. "Just ready to fight the Fire Nation."

"I know… I've heard about all you've done out there. Fighting the Fire Nation, aiding local resistances, destabilizing Fire Nation outposts. You truly embody the spirit of a Jedi."

Even if Haru attempted to be humble, Benjamin sensed a strange turmoil in his heart, where a faint taint of darkness had once lingered—it had only grown larger.

"No, I wanted to ask you about your father. I know what happened was a blur, but I wanted to check up on you," Benjamin spoke. Haru's eyes widened at the mention of his father, and despite attempting to dismiss it with a false smile, he shook his head. "Seriously, Haru. I've lost a parent before. I know what that's like… and I know what it can do to someone strong in the Force."

"I'm fine, Master," Haru retorted, his words laced with an edge. But Benjamin wouldn't let it slide.

Haru stood before him, a figure of sorrow and unresolved pain. In the past days, Benjamin regretted leaving him behind, regretted not guiding him properly in the ways of the Force. Haru's father had passed, and in the wake of his loss, the dark side had taken root within him.

Benjamin sighed, the weight of his own failures heavy upon him. "Haru, I sense the darkness within you. You're not okay. Don't be a coward… tell me what's wrong."

"I said, I'm fine!" Haru snapped, fists clenching with rising anger. "I've been fine for so long. I don't think about him, I don't dream about him…" He trailed off, frustration evident in his movements. "I just… if I keep myself busy, I don't dwell on the fact that I failed my father… that if I was just stronger, if I didn't delude myself about my presence in the Force, that…"

"He would've still been alive?" Benjamin interjected, closing the distance between them. "What are you, a fool?"

Benjamin stood face-to-face with Haru, his finger jabbing accusingly at the young apprentice's chest. "Listen, Haru. I want to make this very clear… your father's death was not your fault, it was mine. You didn't know about the Force... when we began your training, you were a quick study, but Kiara would've killed you…"

Haru gritted his teeth, swatting Ben's hand away. "Don't give me that. I fight in my father's memory. I will shape the world as he wanted it to be… I have the strength now."

"Then why do you carry this guilt?" Benjamin pressed, his voice tinged with frustration. "Haru, if you had stayed and tried to help me against Kiara, you would have perished. You didn't know any techniques to deflect Force lightning, you never faced true darkness. What could you have done?"

Haru's breaths grew ragged as he attempted to turn away, only for Benjamin's hand to grasp his shoulder. "Haru, you did nothing wrong. If you want to blame someone… blame me for being too weak and hesitating to kill Kiara. But… know this. If you continue to harbor this guilt and anger, you will fall to the dark side."

"How do… how do I forgive myself?" Haru's voice trembled with emotion.

Benjamin released his grip, his own turmoil mirrored in his eyes. "I don't know…"

It was a painful admission. Benjamin was lost, his own guilt clouding his judgment. All he could offer was a comforting hand on Haru's shoulder.

"… maybe, do enough good things to outweigh all the bad things you think you've done. You're a good person, and an excellent Jedi, Haru. Stay true to yourself, and to the light."

Haru's fist unclenched, tears welling in his eyes. "Come on, man. It wasn't that emotional…" Benjamin teased, but they both felt the weight of their shared pain.

Haru swiftly wiped his face as Ben and Jet's gaze fixated ahead, toward the walls enclosing the oasis.

"Aw… how touching, small Jedi. Good to come to terms with your feelings before we cut you down."

The unfamiliar voice cackled, echoing off the stone walls as Jet stepped forward. "Katara, stick with Aang…" Ben turned to the princess. "Yue, get Sokka and inform him of the Sith attack!"

It was the Sith, alright. Three dark Jedi stood along the wall, their ignited lightsabers casting an ominous glow. Different faces but similar robes and weapons.

The Jedi ignited their own weapons—a purple, a green, and a cyan beam against the crimson glow of their adversaries' blades—as they threw themselves into combat.

Benjamin assumed his Shien form, Haru engaged in Makashi, and Jet, with little training, adopted Form 1, Shi Qui.

"Jet, don't overexert yourself," Ben cautioned, and Jet acknowledged with a nod. Haru tightened his grip on his lightsaber, ready for the onslaught as the dark Jedi descended from the walls.

"So, the Jedi… a trio against us."

"Bring it, Sithspawn!" Benjamin's retort was fierce as he launched into the fray, his blade clashing with two crimson ones. Jet and Haru followed suit, the skirmish erupting into chaos.

Ben leaped into the air, his blade finding its mark as he lashed out with the Force, sending one dark Jedi tumbling into the snow.

In the midst of the clash, Benjamin felt rather than saw the danger. Whirling around, he saw Jet doubled over, his lightsaber still activated, his body wracked with sickness. A dark Jedi prepared to strike.

"No!" Benjamin's scream pierced the fray as he hurled his lightsaber forward, meeting the dark Jedi's blade with a decisive blow. Jet, seizing the opportunity, slashed downward, felling his assailant in one clean stroke.

The dark Jedi woman fell to the ground, lifeless, as Benjamin recalled his blade and engaged another foe. With a powerful overhead strike, he cleaved the dark Jedi in two, his body collapsing to the earth.

Meanwhile, Haru finished off his opponent with swift precision, severing the man's hand before delivering a fatal blow to his neck.

The battle raged on, the clash of lightsabers and the groans of the fallen echoing in the cold air, as the Jedi fought to defend the oasis against the encroaching darkness.

"It's over…" Jet's breath came in ragged gasps as he collapsed onto the snow, his lightsaber extinguished. Haru, with weary determination, reconnected his weapon as Ben approached. "Guys, are you alright?"

They nodded, drained but alive, the aftermath of battle still clinging to them like a shadow. "That's good… Katara, how are you and…"

Ben froze mid-sentence, his eyes widening as he rushed to Katara's side. She was hunched over, slammed into a beam, and Aang was missing. 'What the hell is wrong with me!'

In the chaos of battle, the first rule a Jedi learned was to stay aware of their surroundings, to use them to their advantage or risk being overwhelmed. Ben's lapse in awareness was a glaring failure, a mistake that could have cost them dearly.

His gaze swept the area, landing on footprints leading to a clearing that separated the oasis from the icy wasteland beyond. He had been foolish to think their only threat was the dark Jedi.

"Haru!" Ben's voice snapped, urgency driving his command. "Watch after Katara!"

With those words, Ben sprang into action. His lightsaber flew into his hand, igniting with a purple blaze as he darted through the snow. The bitter cold stung his eyes, but he pressed forward.

After what felt like an eternity, he spotted them—a figure carrying Aang on his back. Aang was unharmed, but the sight of him stirred something primal within Ben. Zuko, the relentless pursuer, the constant threat.

"Zuko!" Ben's voice rang out, fury lending him strength as he raised his blade, ready to strike.

But hesitation crept in. They stood on a precarious cliff, and any wrong move could spell disaster. He couldn't risk harming Aang.

Before he could decide, Zuko turned, unleashing a torrent of fire, triggering an avalanche that threatened to engulf them all.

"No, I can't fail him…" Ben's mind raced, searching for a way out as the avalanche bore down. With a leap, he landed on solid ground, but his heart pounded with the weight of failure as Zuko and Aang disappeared beyond his reach.

An animalistic, maniacal scream tore through the air, its primal force shattering the ice around him. Benjamin, a Watchman of the Jedi Order, unleashed a torrent of power, his throat raw with the intensity of his scream. Ice cracked, boulders shattered, and rocks crumbled in the wake of his unleashed fury.

For a brief moment, Yue's eyes widened in shocked surprise as she witnessed the hidden well of power within this false Jedi. Benjamin had failed once again, his desperation manifesting in a display of raw, unbridled force that reverberated through the icy landscape.