Strange World • New World by TruView
FanFiction Author's Note: Dear reader, thank you once again for being so patient and most importantly, for lending me your eyes. I do hope you enjoy this next addition to my alternate Star Wars saga. It was inspired by a number of personal challenges I've been wading through. Anyway, let's get on with it...
[Padawan Ashoka Tano engages in a philosophical debate with a Jedi Master in the Dining Hall at the Temple]
[Middle of Conversation]
{Ahsoka} But fear has no true master and only seeks to make servants of us all.
{Jedi Master} Even practitioners of the Dark Side?
{Ahsoka} ESPECIALLY practitioners of the Dark Side!
{Jedi Master} And how would you know that my young friend? (he issues a light chuckle)
{Ahsoka} I… uhh… feel this to be true… through the Force.
{Jedi Master} Is that so? (...the second word is dripping with sarcasm)
(Young Ahsoka looks away suddenly but regards him askance)
{Jedi Master} Well, you're not entirely wrong. (This statement elicits a huge smile from the preteen)
{Ahsoka} And what about you Master Koth, how can you be certain?
{Jedi Master} Unlike someone, (his many-horned forehead tilts in her direction noticeably) I happen to be in possession of an ancient Sith holocron.
{Ahsoka} A sith holocron! (she whispers excitedly) Is that safe for Jedi to handle, Master?
{Jedi Master} Not usually, (he yawns) but sometimes the contents of an ancient artifact, such as this, may warrant undue risk; especially, if it promises to offer even greater insight on how the Sith perceive of a thing or concept. One should know they enemy, yes? Also, keep in mind this: People have both light and dark impulses. And though we are Jedi, at our core, we are still just people... prone to all kinds of temptation, flights of fancy, and even self-doubt or delusion. However, because of our inviolable connection to the Force and our sacred oath to walking in step with the higher ideals of the light side, we exercise a tremendous amount of effort in reigning in our emotions. The reason for this is ahhh… (in pretense, his gaze lifts skyward with eyes sweeping the heavens in search of the answer)
{Ahsoka} –Its because our capacity to do harm is so much greater than non-Force users! (The upturned edges at the corners of her prepubescent mouth tighten) I knew you were gonna say that.
{Jedi Master} Yes, yes you did. (He nods approvingly) You've always been quite perceptive.
{Ahsoka} But a Sith holocron?! (She breathed in a stunned whisper before continuing) I thought only Consular Jedi Masters like Jacasta Nu were assigned to study such things.
{Jedi Master} Indeed they are but no path on the light side of the Force should ever be so rigid. One can arrive at a given destination through a variety of space-lanes. Hence, the need for so many space ports; likewise, there should always be room enough to improvise in our chosen disciplines. I understand that Master Skywalker has garnered quite the reputation for skirting Council directives by interpreting them in such a way as to allow whatever he likes. (His mock frown widens into an easy smile displaying porcelain-white teeth matching the inner layer of his Jedi apparel) Also, his battlefield tactics are anything –if not unorthodox. But of course, he was apprenticed to Master Kenobi, who was himself, a pupil of the great Jedi rustic, Master Qui Gon Gin, a maverick of mavericks.
Did you know… (his voice lowers to a conspiratorial hush as he motions for her to approach closing the small gap between them almost entirely)… that Master Gin once turned down a seat on the Council because he wanted to devote all of his time to training his only padawan, rather than helping to oversee ALL the Jedi?
(Young Ahsoka marveled at the belligerence of the long dead Jedi Master and contemplated her own worthiness were Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker ever called to serve on more than just a temporary basis)
{Ahsoka} Master Kenobi is a fully-fledged Council member now. It's possible that Master Gin foresaw the unveiling of this future and felt compelled to… (she thought for a moment) work toward that end.
{Jedi Master} Wisely put. (he raised a single eyebrow at her clever wording making her blush. For the briefest of moments, he wondered just how far this young one might rise.) Getting back to the point, the Sith view fear as a weapon and so they prefer to stoke as much of it as possible in the camp of the enemy. Secondly, fear is fuel for the darkside. Competently managed, their own fear can supply an increasing amount of vigorous rage into their decadent misuse of the Force. With the addition of special hand-finger gestures, they can bring forth an unnatural but potent mix of Force lightening to maim or even kill an assailant. The blow-back of this apocryphal Force ability, if sustained for longer than a few seconds, can even injure the wielder if he or she be unaccomplished.
{Ahsoka} Wow. (almost inaudible)
(the Jedi Master only nodded before stealing another quick bite from his now cold plate of mixed vegetables.)
{Ahsoka} Can you offer any more advice on channeling fear?
{Jedi Master} Well, channeling fear into a power source is a Sith technique for combat and is definitely not in keeping with the Jedi code of ethics. So I do not recommend it. Instead, a practitioner of the light side of the Force should candidly acknowledge that the fear IS present in his/her mind… realizing that fear is an essential ingredient for the cultivation of boldness. One cannot be courageous, if one fears nothing; you'd simply be fearless, or mindless –to be more exact. Put another way: the courage to face your fears in order that you do what is necessary is everything. It's what set's the Jedi apart from all would-be pretenders: Our unshakable faith in the rightness of action at almost any cost... even unto death with the Force as our one true ally.
{Ahsoka} You make it all sound so fairytale-like, even romantic. (she amended her words and continued.) I mean, you make it sound easy.
{Jedi Master} It sometimes is. (A few seconds later he repeated the same phrase more wearily clearly lost in thought .)
{Ahsoka} Master Koth?
{Jedi Master} Hmmm, yes?
{Ahsoka} How do YOU personally reconcile this newer understanding of fear with our Jedi Mantra? What do you believe to be the ultimate takeaway from all this research thus far?
{Jedi Master} More than anything, I believe fear to be mostly informational and not just emotional –lest it become a stumbling block as opposed to a stepping stone. When it has taken root deep within, our precious connection to the Force is somehow violated and thus begins to flicker on and off like a faulty light switch. Our dominion over it ceases altogether –collapsing on par with a growing lack of self-assurance. FEAR is a kind of springboard. Of course the danger there is that it might actually catapult you directly over into the Darkside. However, with a strong enough presence-of-mind, it can be expertly channeled like a stream feeding into a more powerful set of actions or a single act.
The interactive personality matrix of the holocron, a being who was also a descendant of the same Iridonian stock as me, says and I quote, 'untamed, fear is ultimately the slow bleed of a thousand deaths. Those dedicated to mastering the dark arts of the Force must remember that the only thing to fear, isn't fear itself but a complete surrender to it.' This, I believe.
[Enter Jedi Knight, Anakin Skywalker]
{Anakin} Ever the philosopher. Not a bad story. (Anakin approaches from behind coming into view and stands just over his padawan)
{Ahsoka} Master? (Looking up, her gold-orange eyes find his blue ones smiling down at her)
{Anakin} Ready to go Snips? (He places two hands on her shoulders in a fraternal gesture)
Light saber practice, aaaaagain.
{Ahsoka} Again? (she sighs resigned to her fate)
{Anakin} You gotta keep improving if you ever hope to best yours truly. (He looks over at Master Koth and nods an acknowledgment) Master Koth.
{Jedi Master} Jedi knight Skywalker.
(Snips a.k.a. Ahsoka Tano makes ready to leave, turns and bows reverently toward Master Koth)
{Anakin} Master, hows about a demonstration of that light saber prowess I've heard so much about. Besides, it'll be good for this one to see even me get knocked around a bit by a suitable sparring partner. Whadduya say? (Master Koth couldn't help but smile upon noticing Ahsoka's widening eyes fixed upon him from within that bobbing little big head of hers.)
{Jedi Master} Another time, definitely.
{Anakin} I'll hold you to that. (he nods gently ushering his young ward out of the dining hall)
[End of Flashback Conversation and back to Visions of Omega]
A Force-leep carried her high into the air across the huge gap onto the closest branch of an adjacent tree. Her landing did not disturb it much. In truth, her 110 pounds of body mass barely registered. It was a graceful descent; one in which even the acrobat sky-dancers of the performing arts on the city-planet of Coruscant might've envied. Believing herself to be well out of danger she exhaled, expelling not only carbon-dioxide but all the anxiety that had rapidly accumulated in the pit of her stomach. A relieving sense of calm flooded her psyche like the cool waters of some cavernous slow-moving river flowing miles beneath a metropolitan cityscape as yet unknown by sentient life. Until... she felt that same branch bounce wildly birthing a wellspring of nascent cracks throughout its long reach. It was very soon to snap with the sudden extra weight. She didn't need to turn around and learn what her sense of hearing had already confirmed. Even so, she desperately wanted for those low-level rumbling sounds rattling her innards to be nothing more than the sub-vocalizations of a runaway-imagination instead of the menacing growls of an undaunted predator. Failing to anticipate the possibility of a large starving feline covering the same distance assailed her sense of precognition in the living Force.
On the other hand, the ravenous sabertooth, realizing it's 300 pounds of solid muscle (down from 360) had further compromised the integrity of their shared perch, skipped down a few levels onto a thicker branch and then very ably bounded up after her. The animal navigated obstacles of every kind along the main body of the tree. Meanwhile, the Togruta did not waste any time but took full advantage of the reprieve by quickly pulling her way upwards through the thick of leaves onto much smaller branches and twigs which bit and scratched her smooth skin with rough bark and sharp thorns. It will certainly be more challenging for the cat, she thought, …or at least, it's suppose to be. However, these were desperate times; the jungle had not been kind, and much less understanding: Simply put, the beast had not eaten in days. And although it's quarry was not as meaty as it would have preferred, it could not afford to pass up a conceivably sure meal. Besides, what was the likelihood that this tiny thing could outpace itself, a more cunning and fearsome animal? Bottom line, if it didn't feed on game soon, it would very likely die a slow agonizing death in the days to come turning itself into prey for another starving animal.
When it initially came across the scent of this Togrutan female hours earlier, it had been mixed with that of droid fluids and star-ship parts. By way of ancestral memory, it intuited that such a person would be well guarded from virtually all attacks. Then unexpectedly, hers was the only scent remaining. It would have normally forgone the opportunity anyway avoiding potential disaster, but for the primal urge to overcome starvation by any means. And so it doggedly began stalking its new quarry. Strangely enough, this one did not keep company of any kind. When it finally spied its soon-to-be-victim reclining high up in the arms of an tired pine-oak tree, it realized that it had not carried the dreaded blaster weapon. Non of the ozonic particles such weaponry produced even when disengaged were present in the atmosphere. This, along with the fact that it was a female bode well. The females of their species posed less of a physical challenge than did males. And they were usually less practiced in combat and wholly unimaginative and therefore easier to overcome.
After reaching the summit, the Jedi looked around frantically and tried in vain to think up a solution. Instead, what came to mind were the innumerable setbacks of her poorly thought out not-plan for a little rest and relaxation since leaving the ship. She was suppose to have been kicking back in some sparsely populated village indulging the use of their famously homespun hammocks. But no! She was here: cold, hungry, and worst of all, in fear for her life with no where else to run to.
The ruffling of leaves and snapping sounds of the weaker branches jolted her attention sharply back into focus. She peered back down through the brush of dense leaves –some of them already beginning to fall. In desperation, she tried to pinpoint from where the huge cat was approaching. There was nothing but the crackle of twigs girded by a menacing intent pouring in from the shadows! Sweeping her gaze from left to right and back again in a frantic motion yielded no progress. Until finally, she caught a soundless stillness inching toward her. A yellow iris with an inky vertical pupil tapering into an oval shape at the center from both ends held her image with absolute rage hid just beyond the leaves. Through the Force, she felt it adjust hind legs against sturdy grooves about the trunk angling for the perfect position off which to pounce upon her, at last seizing its game. Slowly, very slowly, did the space between her fingers widen claw-like with both palms turned upwards in the direction of her four-legged pursuer. Presently overextended, her efforts in the Force were sloppy but worst of all desperate –achieving a less than steady control over the midichlorians within and around the beast. Again she tried, to no avail.
From the perspective of the sabertooth raxshir, whose growls became infrequent, gravity felt as if it were teetering on the edge of upturning itself. Twice, did this sensation come and go threatening its proverbial sense of the world. When the moment finally passed, it regained its equanimity. Anxious to have done with it, it sprang upon the Togrutan female. At the last possible second, it was viciously assaulted with something akin to a blaster shot except this was much worse. A single shot bites only once and is done. The color it emits is either red or white. Yet, this was a blue-violet hue which did not come from one direction but from all over. This pain climbed over it like ants marching and biting more than a thousand times as it did so. It sent shivers all throughout the body. As it and the female both fell from the tree, it experienced excruciating muscle spasms such that even after it hit the ground, it convulsed wildly screeching in pain. For a brief moment, it lost motor control of its bodily functions. And then, gravity did indeed overturn itself as it was hoisted off the ground and into the air; It flew or was flown by invisible hands until it was held aloft just over a huge sink hole and then suddenly dropped.
Although the Togruta female hit the ground hard and very close to the huge cat, it was not serious enough to break bone surprisingly. In point of fact, it felt as if her fall had been cushioned by way of the Force perhaps –but definitely not thru her. Distraught by mind-numbing pain and a blurry vision, she had seized upon a revelation (not her own) of force lightening, channeling it toward the beast but not quick enough to keep it from falling upon her. Coming to, she saw the animal writhing in pain and then saw it being lifted off the ground and tossed over the edge some twenty yards away. She tried in vain to pull herself onto her feet but fell back down and eventually lost consciousness seeing three murky shapes coming to standing over her.
[End of Third Vision]
"Wow," Said Omega, "I really thought this one was all about Ahsoka –turns out it was about both, Ahsoka and Usiku."
"indeed." Barriss added.
"Indeed." Omega's agreement was slow in coming, "Who do you think the other figures were?"
"Not enemies clearly," Barriss pulled a piece of cloth out of somewhere and dabbed at the few beads of perspiration trickling down Omega's brow.
"But not Jedi Knights either."
"Nor were they Guardsmen of the Mirial Planetary Guard." Added the older woman. "We would not have destroyed the mindless creature for keeping to its baser instincts. Anyway, let's call it a night."
"But there's one more!" The clone protested. "This is the one that lets me know it was you and not the Jedi who would train and raise her up."
"Are you sure you have strength enough to go on?" The words of the older woman carried deep concern and worry.
"Yes. Yes I do." Assured Omega.
"But you're sweating a lot this time and it's not even hot at these hours. Why is it so necessary for you to tell me any of this now? I already said yes."
"Because there is an alternative version where she is reared by the Jedi. And believe me it doesn't go well, for anybody. You already said yes and I thank you but it's so necessary for me to stress the importance. In this next vision I believe there is something pivotal you will need to help guide her through. Something that will help re-balance her and even add a new paradigm to her already complicated persona. You and no one else will get through to her. I have seen this dozen's of times. Please be patient with me."
Barriss considered the late hour and finally agreed.
"Okay, Omega. Tell me of your vision, but afterward you and the child will sleep here in the building instead of hiking back down to your ship."
"Thank you," She responded, "Where to begin..."