"We're on board." Weiss said over the radio as I sat in the back of the trailer, being pulled along by Yang on her bike as Blake sat behind her.
"Alright, we'll all watch our scrolls." Ruby said over the radio as I stood up and moved over to the back of the trailer. Looking at my scrool, I saw that she Weiss signel was gone.
"Dakota scouts the area and takes out any wondering guards, and that's when Blake steps in to shut down the radio tower." Yang said as she looked back at me for a second. "We're almost at the drop off." She said as I looked back at Yang and Blake before jumping off and running through the woods.
Using the force to feel out anyone who would be going on their runs, I frowned as the only ones I could feel were towards the tower. However, there was someone moving towrds the tower at an incredible speed from the location of a group.
Reaching said group, I frowned once I saw that they were on deaths door. Walking over to one of them, they were breathing heavily as he was cut in half from the waist down. Taking his hand, he looked at me, eyes wide as his breathing started slowing.
He squeezed my hand, not wanting to go. "White..."
That was his last word before his hand went limp. Closing my eyes, I reached out and closed his, letting him rest in the afterlife. "White?" I asked myself. White fang?
Pulling my scroll out, I called Ghira, wherebhe answered immediately. "What happened, is Blake alright?" He asked, with me nodding.
"Yes, just one quick question... are there any moves of thw White Fang in Argus?" I asked, with him looking at a book.
"No, we have none." He said as he looked at me, with me nodding.
"Right... I'll take care of it." I said as I stood up and looked into the direction on the radio tower, where I saw someone in a robe standing there with a faint glow. "I'll... call you back." I said as I ended the call and pulled out my lightsaber.
Walking over to them, I pointed my lightsaber at them and ignited it. "There is no need for that." The man said as he turned to face me, with his voice being familiar to me. "Greetings, Dakota, I am Echuu." He said, with me figuring out where I knew his voice.
"You're in my my head... my guide, my teacher-"
"Your Master." He said, but before I could say anything, he held his hand up. "The Jedi refer to their teachers and students as Padawans and Masters." He said as he placed his hands in the sleeves of his robe as he crossed his arms.
"While I have a lot of questions, I don't have time." I said as I started walking towards the tower.
"You saw it, Adam killing Blake." He said, making me stop in my tracks. "While your mission is important, our training exercise is much more important." He said as I turned to him as he walked over to a rock. "Sit, and meditate." He said, with me looking at him like he was crazy.
"If he kills her then meditation isnt needed, I need to go!" I said as I pointed at the tower.
"Meditation is the start of this skill." He said, looking at the tower. "By the time you get there, they would be long gone." He said, with me looking at the tower and then back at him. "In order for you to get there in time, you will have to project yourself there, this is why meditation is so important." He said as I looked at the tower in the distance and then back at him.
Taking one last glance at the tower, I started walking over to the rock. "Are you sure this is faster?" I asked as I jumped onto the rock and sat down, crossing my legs.
"Trust in the force." Echuu said, where I closed my eyes."You have learned much, in such little time, but there is more to discover. Your potential stretches far beyond what you can comprehend." He said as I focused onto myself. "Today, I will teach you the art of Force Projection."
"Force Projection?" I asked, intrigued by the name of this ability. I had learned Force Leap, Mind Trick, Force Burst, but those were simple tricks... this Force Projection sounded advanced.
"Indeed... It will allow you to reach out across galaxies, to project your essence into a place where your physical body cannot be. It is a means of connection, communication, and sometimes, a chance to confront the shadows." Echuu said, impressing me at the capability of such a move.
With that said, I felt a surge of excitement mingled with doubt. "But can I truly learn this? Isn't it too advanced for me? Just the name alone brings doubt... and your description..."
"The path of the Jedi is paved with uncertainty, Dakota. It is your belief in the Force, and in yourself, that will unlock this ability." Echuu informed as my doubts were getting in my way. "Are you ready to learn?" He asked, with me nodding. A mixture of determination and anticipation filling my heart at his words. "Feel the energy of the Force around you." He instructed. "Now, envision a distant place where you wish to reach out, be it a person or a place. You want it to be a person, so focus in on Blake as she is the one your mind wonders to. Allow the connection to the force flow through you. Breathe." He said as I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
As I immersed myself in the exercise, I felt the boundaries of my body begin to dissolve. It was like I was becoming nothing. I visualized Blake, who was running through the woods, and I could feel someone else was after her... Adam. She was terrified beyond belief.
"You are doing well." Echuu exclaimed, his voice echoing like a gentle guideline through the vast emptiness. "Let go of your fear and trust in the Force. It is part of you, as you are part of it." He instructed as I could no longer feel my body, but I could feel everything else around me as I watched Blake try desperately to get away from Adam.
In that moment, I felt a tether form... a thread of light connecting me to Blake as she landed on a over pass by a waterfall. I could see it with vivid clarity: the vibrant colors, the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind, the soft crisping of the snow as it was stepped in. I was there, and yet still here, my spirit dancing between realms.
"Now, project yourself. Reach out!"
Opening my eyes, I stood behind Adam as he grabs his sword and flings away Blake's cleaver, before knocking her in the side of her head with the hilt of his sword. Blake was knocked back several feet, now laying on the ground.
"Adam!" I called out, where they both looked at me. "This is not the way." I said as I walked towards him. "You need to learn to let go of your anger." I said as I stopped a few feet from him, then looked at Blake. "Trust me, take a break." I said as I looked from her back to Adam.
"LET GO!!" Adam yelled as he lunges at me. Adam draws his sword and wildly swungs at me, but I side step his slashes and reached fkr my saber, only to find that I didnt have it with me. "You have no right to tell ME to LET GO!" He yelled as his strikes got angrier with each second.
Seeing Blake get up, I shot her a look that told her to get back down, which she did as I continued to move through his slashes, each of them being close to hitting me, but not close enough. "You're wrong!" I said as I move out of his range. "My family has supported the Faunus for years up until our extinction... to add more to it, every Faunus blood runs through my family's veins... we're the origins of the Faunus." I said as I looked at Blake, then Adam as he raised an eyebrow at me. "So please, give up this anger, this hatred." I said as I held my hand out to him. "Help us do what is right." I offered, where he points his sword at me.
"I remember you... She cut your limbs off of you." He said, where I lowered my hand. "You preach forgiveness... can you forgive your sister for what she has done?" He asked, with me taking a deep breath as he brought that up.
"I already have." I said, shocking them. "She is not evil... just misguided, and terrified. What she did, was wrong, but she still did it out of love for her brother, and while I may not condone her actions, I forgive her... and Like you, I offer her the same choice... Join us." I said, where he gritted his teeth.
Adam then uses his Semblance, which causes Blake's katana blade to break in half as she jumped in the way and blocked it. The broken weapon clatters a few feet away from us.
Adam then stops to remove the blindfold from his eyes. "People hurt me long before we met... All sorts of people in all sorts of ways..." Adam said, where Blake looks away sadly upon hearing this, but I kept my eyes on him as this was the harsh truth of the world. his right eye a healthy blue eye, his left eye scarred permanently with a brand labeled "SDC". "... but no one hurt me quite like you... Blake." He said as he turnsd his gaze to her.
"It doesn't have to be this was... you don't have to forgive, we can get justice for you and everyone that was hurt, and lost." I said as I stepped in front of Blake.
"You don't leave scars, and expect to get Justice." Adam said, with me hearing an the sound of a bike. "So... tell me, Dakota... can I still be redeemed even if I kill the both of you?" Adam said as he readies his blade.
Stepping forward, I stood in front of him, inches. "Death is only the beginning for one's judgment... not redemption." I said, where he slashed at me, with Blake screaming. "But for me, I'm already on that path." I said as Adam backed up in shock, then stabbed my chest with his blade. "A neat trick I am being taught at this exact moment... all to by time for her." I said as from above the waterfall, Yang drives off the cliff and hurls her motorcycle, which crashes into Adam, knocking him down, where the buke falls off into the river below.
Yang lands a few feet away from Blake as she stares down Adam and I. Turning to Yang, I nodded to her. "Sorry I couldn't make it in time, but I have to leave the rest of this to you, Yang." I said as I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, I was back on the rock.
Getting up, I slipped off the rock, already tied. "You did good, Dakota." Echuu said, with me looking up at him, finally seeing that I could partially see through him. "For now, catch your breath, then go rejoin them, there is still much to do." He said as I laid down.
His expression turns grim, his brow furrowing with concern and a hint of sadness. "What is it?" I asked as I looked him in the eyes l.
"Adam... his life paints a tragic picture, one that has clearly warped his worldview and led him down a path of destruction. The physical and emotional scars he carries are immense, and his pain is palpable." Echuu said as he gave pause, collecting his thoughts. "However, the line between vengeance and redemption is often blurred. Adam's desire for control and his willingness to take countless lives in pursuit of it... suggest that he's too far gone. The harm he's caused, both to individuals and to the larger world, is staggering." He said as he lets out a sigh, looking deeply troubled. "While I believe in the possibility of change, I fear Adam's anger and hatred have consumed him to the point of no return. He may not be fully beyond hope, but his actions and intentions suggest he's irredeemable in the classical sense. The best course of action would likely be to stop him, not attempt to save him." He said, where I sat up at his words.
"You're saying it was a waist of time trying to redeem him?" I asked, where he slowly nodded his head. I looked away from him as he did. "My sister, Rika... what of her?" I asked as I looked back at him.
His eyes darken, his face a mask of anguish. "Rika's fall to the dark side is a heartbreaking example of the corrupting influence it can wield. Her singular focus on protecting you ultimately led her down a path of violence and betrayal." He said as he sighs heavily, shaking his head. "However, the fact that she faked your death suggests there may still be a spark of the light within her. Her actions were driven by a misguided attempt to safeguard you, rather than a desire for power or control." He said as he paused, considering the complexity of the situation. "Redemption is possible, but it won't be easy. She'll need to confront the darkness within herself and make amends for the harm she's caused. The journey back to the light will be long and arduous, but it's not impossible. With compassion, understanding, and a willingness to face the truth, there's hope for her redemption." He said as he looked off into the distance.
"What makes her redeemable but not Adam? They both have pretty much done the same thing?" I asked as they were too much alike, but different at the same time.
Evhuu's expression turns pensive, reflecting on the contrast between Rika and Adam. "Rika's fall, while tragic, was rooted in a misguided desire to protect you. Her actions, while violent, were ultimately motivated by love and a desperate need to shield you from harm." He said as he shakes his head, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "Adam, on the other hand, has succumbed to the dark side's corrupting influence for far darker reasons. His obsession with power and control has consumed him, leading him to perpetrate unspeakable atrocities." He said as he then leans towards me. "Adam's lack of remorse, coupled with his willingness to use and exploit others for his own gain, makes him a far more formidable and dangerous foe. Redeeming someone like him will require a far more profound and transformative change - one that goes beyond mere atonement for past wrongs. He must first acknowledge and confront the depths of his own darkness before any hope of redemption can arise." He said, where he then vanished from my sight, ending our conversation.
Rika knew love, and had power, where Adam knew hatred, and desired to control power.
Later
Walking over to the edge of the cliff, I looked down and saw Blake was hugging Yang. I could hear her sobbing over the sound of the waterfall. It hurt to see her like that, to see her weakness. Jumping down, I landed a few feet from them, with both of them tensing up once they heard me.
Walking over to them as I got up, I smiled at them. "I put my absolute trust in you... good job, Yang." I said as I held my fist out to them, with them looking at it.
"It's... really you this time... right?" Blake asked, still hugging Yang, with me nodding. Yang reached out and lightly tapped our fists together, where she let oht a sigh of relief.
"You know... seeing you vanish like that... was kind of scary." Yang said as they stood up, looking at me. "So, how did you do it?" She asked, curious for an answer.
"I met the voice in my head... some sort of Ghost of the Force i rake it." I said as I lowered my hand. "I came across a group that Adam killed, then I met him, Echuu. He told me about this... dream I had a while back, that I thought was a nightmare but... it almost came true." I said as I looked at Blake.
"You saw Adam kill me..." Blake said as she looked away, frowning as it wasnt a question.
"Without the trailer, I could of been much faster." Yang said as she clinched her fists. "You stalled him, knowing that you were much further away." She said, with me nodding.
"Stall, but I also tried to reach him." I said as I looked at Blake. "I know he started off wanting to do good, but what he became, there is no redeeming him... I'm sorry for trying." I said, with Blake looking back at me, then walking forward and giving me a hug.
"I understand why you did it... because if Adam can be redeemed, then so can your sister." She said, where I saw Yang tense up as Blake said that.
"Yeah." I said as I let out a sigh and hugged Blake back. "Rika has a long road ahead of her." I said as I looked at Yang, where I held my hand out to her. Yang took it, where I pulled her into the hug as well. Adam hurt both of them, both physically and emotionally. "If there is one person I trust with anything, no matter how hard it is, it's you Yang." I said as I broke the hug and looked at Blake. "I will do what I can to protect you, and I know that you will do the same to protect me." I said, with Blake smiling.
"Together." Yang said with a smirk as she gave Blake a slight elbow bump. "We will protect each other, together." She repeated as she pulled her scroll out. "Come on, the others are waiting on us!" She said, with us taking off in the direction of the meeting point.