[Fic]Dvukh ("Two" or, in this case, "Second" or "Lieutenant"

[Tysyacha]

"Brothers and sisters, sisters and brothers, ain't we, everyone?

--Brothers and Sisters, from the album "Free to Be...You and Me"

 

Luke lay on the hospital floor, at rest, not wanting to get up. Getting up meant

facing the people outside, returning to the world. Not yet. It would kill him.

 

Was this what it felt like to die?

 

It was so easy to give up posessions, to give up attachments to petty things.

Houses, vehicles, jobs--these Luke had conquered. He needed none of them.

Giving up attachments to people was harder. Hadn't Yoda taught him this?

Still, he had sought to remove the restrictions and prejudices of the Old Order.

Instead of family being an obstacle or barrier to Jedihood, Luke had wanted

to make it a critical part of attaining genuine wisdom through the Light.

 

After all, wasn't love the core of wisdom? Whom could you love if not your

family? "The galaxy" as a whole was too distant, too spread-out, too remote.

The Force? The Force empowered, but it did not give what sentients knew as

"love" to them in return for their devotion. Yourself? Self-esteem was fine, but

when taken to the heights of egotism, it led to the depths of the Dark Side.

 

When it came down to people, perhaps your kin were all you had in the end.

 

How will I tell Leia? Or, worse, Han? One of them will kill him, I'm sure.

 

Luke closed his eyes. Jacen had not injured him badly, even though thousands

of tiny flesh wounds were nothing to ignore. Clenching his fists and teeth, the

Grand Master of the Jedi Order tried to fight through the pain and heal himself.

 

Is this what it's all about? Endless betrayal and death? Why, by the Force,

did I ever become Jedi if I stood a real chance of killing my flesh and blood?

Is the path I chose worth it? Is the galaxy worth it, for that matter? It's all

meaningless. Senseless. Without purpose. I might as well die, since I'd rather

die than be the man to murder my nephew. Jacen might as well be Ben's

brother. That's how close I feel to him. Not now, but before--yes, now.

 

He reached out through the Force, listening to the murmur of a burgeoning

crowd swell. Soon paramedics would come for him, and police would search

for Jacen. Not that they would catch him, Luke knew. He curled into a semi-

fetal position, squinting his eyes against a wave of blood-red sorrow.

 

The doors to the storage room burst open as if the person entering them

would shatter them to pieces in his or her frustration. "Master Luke? Master?!"

 

Kyp. Of course. No other Jedi would enter enter or exit displaying such fury.

 

Luke did not respond. Kyp was so centered on him and his bodily survival

that he cared nothing about what was going on inside Luke's soul. Such was

the trait of an impetuous Jedi, one not fully trained, who did not know how

the Force could truly heal. Skywalker let himself be hoisted unceremoniously

onto the younger man's shoulders and carried out of the hospital while the

crowd swarmed. It did not matter, at least to Luke. People were people.

 

Why must we stand and take Jacen down? He's turned to the Dark Side.

I don't want to--If it's Han, his own father, then who knows how much that

will destroy him? Or Leia? Will she have the strength to kill her own son if he

attacks her? Luke let a slow sigh escape his lips. Is family worth nothing?

[Diego Varen]

I liked this Chapter, despite Luke being knocked out. I like Chapters that ask questions, that have no answers and this one has done it. I'm looking foward to more.

[Jason Skywalker]

Ah, another very emotional chapter, i like it very well. Nice to see Kyp destroying the whole place.

[Tysyacha]

"Earth below us, drifting, falling. Floating, weightless, coming, coming home...

--Peter Schilling, "Major Tom", originally "Vóllig losgelöst" (Completely Detached)

 

Kyp Durron gnashed his teeth. If he had been locked in a confined space,

he would have been pacing like a caged animal. Why had his Master been

attacked? No one, in his opinion, who struck the great Luke Skywalker

intending to hurt him should live to tell the tale. No, this was not the way

of the Jedi--dispassion--but what good was that when a true enemy of

Coruscant and the galaxy still roamed the streets? Kyp was beyond livid.

 

Suddenly, the young Tysyacha, a mere child according to Kyp, approached

him. Her blue eyes were filled with worry. "Master Kyp? What's wrong?"

 

Kyp scowled. "It's none of your concern. Leave me. I have more pressing

matters to attend to than a petty criminal who wants to learn the ways

of the Force." He pursed his lips and stroked his chin. Somehow, he felt

guilty. If this girl was so concerned, why shouldn't she know the truth?

 

"If you really want to know, Grand Master Skywalker has been attacked.

He's lying in his chambers at the summit of this Temple, recovering. Do not

disturb him." Kyp shook his head. "Honestly. What does he see in you?"

 

These words stung Tysyacha, and she stood shell-shocked for a moment.

Kyp turned on his heels and retreated to another wing of the Temple,

possibly the communications console area to let certain others of his

"inner circle" know what had happened. The girl bowed her head sadly.

 

After a few minutes, Tysyacha decided to take the turbolift to the Temple

summit. She'd never seen the view from up there, at least, but she really

wanted to see Luke. To find out if she could sense him, help him.

 

"I'm sorry," said a gentle-voiced female protocol droid at the door to Luke's

private chambers. "Master Skywalker is recovering from injury. Perhaps you

should return in 2400 hours. He might be feeling more functional by then."

 

Tysyacha nodded, defeated, but then the door to Luke's sanctuary slid open.

 

"That's strange," said the protocol droid. "Perhaps he is feeling better already.

Step inside, but do not make any sudden moves or noises that would startle

him." The droid turned to address Luke, lying supine in bed. "Grand Master

Skywalker?" she intoned. "You have a visitor, although not a Padawan."

 

"I know." Tysyacha was a bit taken aback at how Luke had known she

was there, but then she remembered the Force. Jedi, after all, could use it.

"Come in, young one. I want to talk to you." His voice was drained, but kind.

 

Tysyacha stepped into Luke's chambers and stood near his bed. "Yes, Master?"

 

Through his pain--now mitigated to a dull but persistent full-body ache by

liberal applications of topical analgesics--Skywalker smiled. "I look forward

to the day when you might formally call me that, as a Padawan. Do you

know what happened to me?" He raised his head. "What really happened?"

 

"Master Kyp says you were attacked." Tysyacha paused. "Do you know by

whom?" She felt an uneasy lurch in the pit of her stomach that Luke did know.

 

"He's my nephew. Jacen Solo."

 

"Huh?!" Tysyacha was thunderstruck. "You mean the Jacen Solo, dressed in

black, who suggested I donate the thousand credits I stole to the Jedi Order?"

 

Luke nodded. "He's turned to the Dark Side. I wish it hadn't been so."

 

"Why?" She didn't understand, or at least not quite. "If Jacen's your nephew,

why would he want to betray you? Has someone gotten to him? Someone bad?"

 

"Her name was Lumiya. She calls--called--herself Dark Lady of the Sith,

although her presence has now vanished from the Force. She's dead. I

fear Jacen will become the next Sith Lord." Luke shook his head. "Force!

I tried so hard to teach him the right way, the way of wisdom and Light,

and yet somehow I still failed. Why? What kind of a Grand Master am I?"

 

Luke looked at Tysyacha. She was saturated with worry, from the ends

of her hair to the tips of her toes. Her pulse raced, and he feared she

might even have intestinal distress if her emotional state did not subside.

Instead of telling her a pat "I'll be fine" or "Don't worry. I'm a Jedi", the

Grand Master decided to teach her a secret he rarely taught to anyone.

 

"Tysyacha? I'd like you to close your eyes for a moment." She did so.

 

"Sit down. That's it, right beside me on the bed. Now--breathe deeply."

She did. Luke had to be careful. This was a mystery of the Force that not

even full Jedi mastered completely until they had Luke's experience, but

why couldn't he start her on this path? Give her comfort and peace?

 

"I know it's hard, because all your life, you've been trained to think. To

solve problems on your own, or at least try. That's why you worry, because

you put so much pressure on yourself to do and make things right." He

paused. "But now, I'll tell you the truth: it's better if you let go. Let go

of the anxiety you feel for me and surrender it to the Force. Let go of all

the worry. Let go of your deepest fear--that the galaxy will fall to pieces."

 

Tysyacha was trembling. "How?" She'd always heard she should do this in

her "spiritual training" classes at school, but she always thought it was bogus.

How could believing in a higher power, when he/she/it did nothing to improve

the lot of the poor and disenfranchised in her world, cause any real change?

 

"Relax. Pretend I'm the Force, if it helps. The Force does, and I'm it's servant."

 

Hesitantly, the girl took Luke's hand in both of hers. She breathed deeply,

pretending that Luke could not only hear her thoughts, but bring order to

them. Little by little, she let go, telling Luke (and the Force) that she trusted

him to help her fight through this. The pain, the worry, the suffocating fear--

it all ebbed away, slowly but surely. When Tysyacha felt drained, but in a

good way, relieved, she let go of Luke's hand, letting his fingers drop gently.

 

"There. That's the secret of the Jedi. That's how we find our way. It's complete

detachment, but not in an uncaring or despairing way. Instead of thinking that

the things we worry about don't matter, we leave them to the will of the Force.

The Sith, who are the enemies of the Jedi, trust not in the Force but in their

own strength and power. The Force, say the Sith, is their servant and weapon

instead of their guiding, living Force. Their detachment is borne of selfishness;

whereas ours is born of compassion and humility. It's hard to understand."

 

Tysyacha opened her eyes. Oddly, with all of her soul, she said, "I do."

Her face was damp with tears. It was as if Luke had opened a door in her

life, a door that had always been closed, locked, and bolted shut to her.

 

"I'd like to take you on for training," said Luke, "once I recover. "Do you agree?"

 

Tysyacha nodded. "Ladno. I agree, more than I ever have. What's next?"

 

Luke closed his eyes. "Beg the Force for Jacen to ignore us." He slept.

[Diego Varen]

Tysy has returned. I thought this Fic would be focused on Luke, etc instead. It will be great to see Tysy getting trained by Luke.

[Torthane]

Yeah! Tysy's back! I really liked both of those chapters and I am interested to see what will happen. Kyp seems a little suspicious to me somehow. Those angry Jedi fall more easily than others. You have done a masterful job weaving this mysterious tale together. As always I look forward to reading more.

[Jason Skywalker]

Good one and i'm also glad to see Luke as Tysy's Master. Can't wait for the next one.

 

PS. Torthane, just because you have thane on your name doesn't mean you can modify the word than to thane.

[Tysyacha]

"I have a dream..." --Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

As the female protocol droid at the entrance to Luke's private

chambers had predicted, her Grand Master was feeling better the

next morning. He met with Tysyacha in one of the Atrium Gardens

at the Temple, and both listened to the refreshing sounds of a

bubbling bio-fountain. Its waters ran clear and cold.

 

Tiny lichens grew side by side with sprawling ferns and plants with leaves

as large as pillows. Tysyacha admired the delicate purple and gold flowers

climbing upward to the summit of the fountain's wet rocks. Their colors

complemented each other well. Luke gestured to the fountain, sensing

her thoughts. "What do you see?" he asked her. "Why do you think

that we Jedi decided to build these fountains in our Atrium Gardens?"

 

"They're not just for decoration," Tysyacha said, shaking her head slightly.

"That's for sure." She dipped the tips of her pale fingers into the water.

 

Luke nodded. "All life is connected by the Force, and the fountains are

meant to bear witness to this. See how the smallest blooming flowers

and what we perceive to be the lowest mosses live together with the

largest plants? None of these species could exist without the others."

 

He stroked his chin. "That's not what I really came to ask you. I hear

what Master Kyp says about you, and even though I think he's badly

mistaken, his words hold weight. Why do you want to become Jedi?"

 

"I want this war with Corellia to end," said Tysyacha, her voice soft

but determined. "If I become Jedi, I might be of tremendous help.

Aren't we all the same at our core, whether we're Coruscanti,

Corellian, Rodian, Mon Calamari, or even Hutt? We may be different

species, but we're still sentient creatures who deserve respect. What

does Corellia think she's trying to gain by screaming "independence"

out one side of her mouth and "Galactic Alliance benefits" on the other?

To me, that's just not fair.

 

"We should be guided by justice and conscience, not species-ist prejudice

or hatred. Even our homeworlds shouldn't be our primary allegiance. Otherwise,

wars can start, as this one with Corellia did, and then what? Cities can be

wiped out. So can planets, but after all that time, there's still a tie binding

us all." The Force? Maybe, but both Jedi and Sith claim to be its followers.

 

"You're correct. The Force binds us all. It's our job as Jedi to remember that.

Master Kyp is upset because you have a shady past, and he thinks you are

unworthy to learn the ways of the Force. Tysyacha? May I help guide you?"

 

"Yes," said the girl, but first she had to explain something to Luke. "Why

does Master Kyp look at me like that? Like I'm a naked Twi-lek dancer

or one of the prostitutes that the Zabrak thought I was? It seems like

Kyp makes a distinction about who's ready and not ready to be a Jedi

based upon what they did in the past. Or might do in the future."

 

Luke shuddered. "Yes. I have felt the same way, though not often. I have

forgiven Kyp for previously turning to the Dark Side. However, it seems like

I definitely have more to teach him. We Jedi must not only let go of our

possessions and passions, but also our prejudices. Continue," said Luke,

intuiting that Tysyacha had something more to say.

 

"I have a dream that one day we'll all be treated with equal respect. No

one will feel like they have the right to control us or judge us because of

what we may or may not have done in our lives. We're all sentient, and

we should view ourselves in this light before we say we're from Coruscant

or Corellia. Even before we say we're 'So-and-so's son or daughter.' As

for judgment--why is it that some act like judges, and others defendants?"

 

"You'll see," said Luke, "and you'll find out, but the secret is a painful one.

Even more painful than finding out Darth Vader was my father. Rest, now."

 

Tysyacha closed her eyes, and Luke did as well. What was this chill in his spine?

[Torthane]

Yet another fantastic chapter. you do a very good job of moving the story along at a brisk rate, and i find myself being sucked in more with each chapter! As always your writing style is clear, concise, and above all, deeply emotional. This fic is truly a joy to read!

[Diego Varen]

Yet another fantastic chapter. you do a very good job of moving the story along at a brisk rate, and i find myself being sucked in more with each chapter! As always your writing style is clear, concise, and above all, deeply emotional. This fic is truly a joy to read!

 

Agreed. I can't believe that I forgot to critic this morning when I was on LF. Well I'm on now and I'm still loving this Fic. I hope Tysy becomes a good Jedi, but that could all change...

[Jason Skywalker]

Great chapter, i liked to see the i have a dream quote by MLK.

 

I'm quite sure this will be equal to your Tysy ROTS fic...or not.

[KotO[REvan]]

Phew! This took me a while to read, but it was definately worth it.

So far the fic is awesome, I like the quotes that you randomly add to the begining of each chapter as well. Also I like the creative mix of character you added into your story (Luke, Jacen, ect).

 

I'm looking forward to more chapters, keep up the good work.

- Evan

[Tysyacha]

"You're no son of mine." --Genesis

 

"When you do those things, pull my puppet strings, I have the strangest

void for you..." --Culture Club, from their ballad "Victims"

 

Discussion Question: Which epigraph (quote) is for Han, and which

for Leia?

 

In a remote part of the galaxy, traced by neither Republic radars nor Sith

search beacons, the Millennium Falcon cruised through an empty void.

Han Solo and his wife, Leia Organa Solo, both well into middle-age, were its

perennial passengers, lounging in the pilot and co-pilot's seat. The atmosphere

inside the ship was colder than usual--detached, no doubt, from

Leia's serene presence in the Force. Han, however, stood and stared

ahead unblinkingly.

 

Leia gently turned her head towards him. "What do you want me to do, Han?"

 

Han's jaw clenched. "Kill him in a duel. Shoot his starship down. I don't know."

 

"He's our son." Had Leia not been a Jedi and senior diplomat, trained for years

to remain calm in the face of hostility, she would have had tears in her eyes.

 

"He's no son of mine." Even though the fury of the most famous Solo was

almost palpable, his face bore no sign of it. It remained unreadable, a pazaak

face. Han had learned a lot about hiding his emotions at many a parlor table.

However, there was no mistaking the hatred in his voice or eyes. "Jacen's

become a different person ever since--since this mess with the Galactic

Alliance started. Maybe even before that. In fact, probably before that."

He put his hands on Leia's shoulders, but his wife subtly flinched.

 

"Blast it, Leia. What am I supposed to say? Jacen's a hero? A fine Jedi?

He's acting more like a Sith than anything." He snorted. "If I close my eyes

for half a second, I'll see our son's face behind a black helmet. Just like his

grandfather. I'm sorry, Leia--I know that hurts--but it's true. It's what I

see. Not through the Force, but in my own mind's eye. You know."

 

Leia nodded. "The Force could help you, you know. If you'd let me teach you."

 

Han shut his eyes this time and shook his head. "I don't want to hear about

the Force. The Force was what got us into this mess. I know Luke's still good,

but what about the rest of the Jedi who slid off the narrow path?" He brushed

back his whitening gray hair. "Jacen's off of it. Who'll follow him next, huh? You?"

 

This time Leia really was crying. "Do you still trust me so little, Han," she wept,

"after all these years?" She brushed a tear from her right eye. "I will not follow

him. Jacen may be our son, but if he's turned to the Dark Side, I won't join him.

When a Sith becomes a Sith Lord, he casts off his old name and identity. Just

as Anakin Skywalker, my father, became Darth Vader under Palpatine. If Jacen

is truly intent on this path, he'll forsake us just as he forsook the Jedi Order."

 

"Betrayed, you mean. There's an old Human myth that says there are nine

circles of hell. The ninth one is reserved for traitors and mutineers. Jacen's

there, or he would be there if he died today."

 

Leia was horrified. "Han! How can you say such things? The Jedi believe that

anyone can be redeemed, even the darkest Sith. If we find Jacen, I'll try

to bring him back. To redeem him through my love. Don't drive him away

with your hatred, Han, not anymore. Let's try to forgive, not condemn."

 

"I'll try." Solo's voice was stalwart, but bitterly pained. "He's mine, and I'm

not going to let that kid go without a fight. He's got a sister, and if he ever

touches her--" He let out a heavy sigh. "I'll kill him, Leia. I'll do what I must."

 

Leia cast aside all her pretensions at being dignified and well-born and knelt

before her husband. "Love him, Han. Please. Would you rather have Jacen

alive or dead?" Her blue eyes were filled with concern. "Tell me the truth."

 

"Of course I'd rather have him alive than dead," he snarled, then slumped

in his pilot's chair. He felt drained of all energy, all strength. "However, I

do think he's getting to you. To us. Tell me, Leia, if you were Sith, would

you forget your parents and family as easily as you'd forget your victims?"

 

"I'd have to," said Leia. "It would be my price for gaining power." A trickle

of fear ran down her spine. She had just been touched by a curious presence

in the Force. Jacen. He was looking for her--for them both, to confine them

in Galactic prison and sentence them to hard labor, at best. She held her breath.

 

"Jacen," whispered Leia. "It's through him that I know that. He Force-touched

me." She put her hand on Han's, feeling its solid mass beneath hers. "Hyperdrive."

 

Han gave a curt nod and programmed the coordinates for another stretch of void.

[Diego Varen]

Nice to see Han and Leia again. I wonder if Jacen will find them both. I'm looking foward to find out and I'm looking foward to more.

[Jason Skywalker]

Good chapter and it was about time to see Han and Leia in this! Also, the first quote is for Han, the second for Leia.

[Torthane]

Family strife, and between Han and Leia no less. This fic is great fun! I'm loving every moment!

[Tysyacha]

"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't

exist." --Kevin Spacey in "The Usual Suspects"

 

Tysyacha was taking one of her slow daily walks for meditation. Typical

Padawans, or at least typical Younglings, would have been dueling practice

droids with lightsabers right now. However, Luke had decided to forgo that,

at least for now. He wanted his new apprentice to concentrate on the Force.

Through it, Luke told her, she would master the true power and essence of

the Jedi. Lightsaber combat was like the husks on bantha fodder--the shell,

not the core. Tysyacha admitted to herself that she was relieved about this.

 

Suddenly, she stopped dead cold. Something had startled her. She turned,

standing at one of the various junctures in the largest of the Atrium Gardens.

 

"Hello." The same figure in black that had met her once gazed at her now.

 

"Jacen Solo?" Tysyacha started walking again, trying very hard not to break

into a run. Jedi always kept their emotions under control. It was a large part

if not the whole of self-mastery, after all. "You attacked Luke Skywalker,

who is Grand Master to me. I'm his apprentice now. Why'd you do it?"

 

"I felt threatened," Jacen said calmly, trying not to alarm the girl. "You

see, at the transient hospital where we confronted each other, albeit with

lightsabers, I was visiting a dying comrade. Her name was Lumiya, and she

was one of the Sith." He paused. "I was trying to bring her back to the Light."

 

"You were?" Tysyacha's voice was a haughty sneer. "Tell me the truth. If

you had really gone to redeem this Lumiya, you would have told Luke so--er,

my Grand Master--and maybe he would have helped. Instead, you charged at

him with a lightsaber, and I suspect you weren't interested in a sparring match."

She wanted to challenge him face to face, but not yet. Not yet. The

time would come, and soon..."Fess up. You wanted to protect Lumiya,

for you're on her side."

 

"That I was." Jacen bowed his head. "Now I'm having second thoughts."

 

"Are you?" scoffed Tysyacha. "Or are you saying that just to placate me?"

 

"Come here, young one." Stepping forward, Jacen reached out and touched

the Padawan's mind, guiding her gently through the garden to where he was.

"I have a unique ability to time-walk through the Force. I have personally

witnessed my own grandfather, Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader, as he

struggled and fought within himself before he walked the path he chose."

 

Tysyacha's mouth dropped open, but only a little. "Show me," she said,

the righteous anger in her voice having all but disappeared. "Please."

 

"I don't know if I can take anyone with me," said Jacen matter-of-factly,

"but I will tell you this in good faith. He was on the brink of killing Younglings,

Padawan, and his only thought was of his wife, Padme. My dear grandmother.

He thought he could save her by sacrificing all those lives, but he could not.

He let his anger consume him, and the teachings of Lord Sidious, Palpatine.

 

"I do not wish to make my grandfather's mistakes all over again," Jacen said.

"More and more often, I feel like I'm walking down that path." He shook his

head. "What should I do?" His eyes were full of unfeigned conflictedness.

 

"You need to apologize to your Uncle Luke," said Tysyacha, "and my Master."

 

"If I do," said Jacen, "I'll lose whatever power I had. I'll be punished."

 

Tysyacha looked at him frankly. "Maybe he'll give you a second chance."

[Diego Varen]

I didn't think Jedi got exiled in the New Jedi Order. Anyway, I'm feeling sorry for Jacen, since he doesn't feel like he is on the light or dark side, but a grey Jedi. I look foward to seeing what decision Jacen will take and good Chapter by the way.

[Torthane]

Once again you somehow manage to keep the suspense level right up there! Another very enjoyable chapter, and I love the inner conflict in Jacen. It's great to see an antagonist who might not be an antagonist after all. One quick note, I was a little confused as to whether Jacen was actually in the garden or if he was force walking. Just thought I would mention it.

[Jason Skywalker]

Great chapter as well. I really liked to see Jacen thinking he's not evil, and not wanting to commit the same mistakes as Anakin since i surely do not want Jacen to end up in a black suit xD.

[Tysyacha]

"It's my life, and it's now or never..." --Bon Jovi

 

Jacen turned toward the main entrance of the Jedi Temple, his head bowed.

The girl was right. If he apologized to his Uncle Luke, then maybe he would

be offered a chance to walk the path of atonement. That was what Jedi

believed, wasn't it? That even the most corrupted Sith could be saved?

 

Wait, proposed a voice in Jacen's mind. He murdered Lumiya.

 

Indeed, replied Jacen to this doubtful and vengeful part of his soul,

but I'm sure that my Master attacked him first. Lumiya didn't go around

killing anyone, commoner or Jedi, unless she had a well-defined plan and

could be discreet about the whole affair. Such was her way. The way of

the Sith, she told me, the true way, but is that the path I should choose?

 

You joined the Sith precisely so you wouldn't have to kill your uncle. You

love him dearly, said this calculating voice, and when you time-walked

through the Force to see what would happen if you did not choose to learn

Lumiya's teachings, you could not bear to see the future. The future that

will still occur if you don't continue in Sith teachings. That's your sacrifice.

However, it will only be the first of two you must make to complete yourself.

To optimize your power and take the final steps to bring the galaxy peace.

 

Jacen stopped walking and looked up. The conflict in his soul seemed to

have ceased in an instant. He suddenly hated this place--its marble floors

scrubbed with the freshest sweat and tears when the cleaning droids were

in repair, the golden busts of long-dead Jedi, the sense of power and pride

simmering in certain Masters, Knights and Padawans lesser than Luke. Kyp

Durron, especially. If that fool were a Master (and he was), Jacen did not

want to be his colleague. The Order had grown arrogant--even the New

Order that Luke Skywalker had created, free of supposedly Old prejudices.

 

Jacen shook his head. "I won't apologize," he muttered to himself. "but

neither will I attack him. If I joined the Sith to save Luke, why should I

count on him to save me? If I turn to the Light, he'll die and the galaxy

will be stuck in an endless cycle of war. Chaos. Death. Is that what I want?

 

"No. Only selfish Sith like Palpatine revel in such things." His jaw tightened.

"I'm sorry, young one. Your suggestion is a kind one, but wholly misguided."

 

Suddenly, the other voice spoke again. Seems like you've made your choice.

 

It seems I have. Jacen Solo turned and exited the Jedi Temple, wishing

never to visit it again unless it was to come for the girl. The girl. He wanted

to teach her, to show her the way things would be unless the way of the

Jedi either fell completely or was demoted to nothing more than one of

the many spiritual paths people could follow, unconcerned with world

affairs. Isolated, remote, unrelated to such petty things as wars and

galactic politics. Yes. This was the way it had to be for Sith to rise.

 

"I won't forget you," he mumbled, thinking of Tysyacha. "I'll come for

you again." You're a 'dvukh', he thought, one who increases

power and strength, adding your own to another's. The stronger you

become, the stronger your Master becomes. Do you know that yet?

[Diego Varen]

Good Chapter. I like seeing Jacen's thoughts changing all the time, wondering what he should do. It reminds me of Gollum on The Lord of the Rings, when he keeps talking about the Ring. Anyway, I'm looking foward to more.

[Torthane]

You do an excellent job of displaying the inner conflict inside Jacen in this chapter. He belives he is doing little evil in order to achive greater good. This fic is a true classic!

[Torthane]

"Every gift comes with a price. Nothing is free." --Arten Norin

 

The training saber felt clumsy in Tysyacha's nervous hands and she looked at her master doubtfully. She had know that some day she would need to learn to use a lightsaber, but it was this part of the Jedi training that frightened her the most. The force just came to her, as naturally as breathing, but she knew saber dueling wouldn't.

 

“A-are you sure I can do this?” she stammered.

 

“Are you?” Luke asked as he walked towards her across the cavernous training room. “What I think you can do means very little in comparison to what you think you can do.”

 

“I've never actually fought anyone before.”

 

Luke stopped a dozen or so paces away, “That is why I am teaching you now. Don't worry, training sabers won't even cut you; they just sting a little.” He looked at her for a moment and then said kindly, “You're holding it backwards.”

 

Tysyacha flipped the saber hilt around and her cheeks reddened, “Oh, I....I didn't know.”

 

Luke smiled, “Once again that's why I'm teaching you.” He stretched his arms and activated his weapon, “I feel ten years younger! Let's see what you can do.”

 

Tysyacha pressed her thumb against the activation switch and inhaled sharply as a long blue stream of energy shot from the focusing plate. She held the weapon up in front of her face; she felt more protected that way.

 

“Don't hold it in front of your face; you won't be able to see your opponent very well that way. Hold it a little to the side like this,” Luke demonstrated. “Or you can even hold it back like this;” Luke turned sideways and held his saber arm to the side and down as he continued to advance towards his trembling padawan.

 

He stopped very close to her and fell back into his normal stance, “Now, come at me.”

 

The young woman rushed forward and swung her blade clumsily at her master. Luke stepped back and easily deflected the feeble attack.

 

“Again.”

 

She stabbed forward only to have her thrust knocked to the side by Luke's blade.

 

“Move your whole body when you attack; your saber is much harder to parry when you put your weight behind it. Try again.”

 

Tysyacha charged forward and her saber slammed into Luke's with more force than she thought she had in her small frame, and Luke was forced back a step.

 

“Much better! That one had some bite to it, but next time break off sooner; you left yourself open. All right, this time keep attacking me.”

 

Tysyacha nodded and lashed out at Luke's legs. He swiftly batted her weapon to the side and she aimed a thrust at his chest. The parry nearly ripped her saber out of her hands, but she recovered quickly and slashed back. Luke brought his saber down fiercely and knocked Tysyacha's lightsaber straight to the floor nearly taking her with it.

 

“The first rule of lightsaber fighting is; don't lose your weapon. You were attacking swiftly, which is good, but you lost your grip. If that happens again, wait to attack again until you have a good hold on the hilt.”

 

Tysyacha recovered her saber and panted, “I had both hands closed tightly around the handle. I had as good a grip as I could and you smacked it out of my grasp like it was nothing.” She paused and took a deep breath, “I've never done anything like this before master Skywalker, could you please go a little easier on me?”

 

Luke switched off his training saber, “I don't understand. I am going easy on you.”

 

“Then I shouldn't be doing this. That last parry all but knocked me to the floor,” she replied.

 

"I didn't put much effort into it."

 

"You knocked me to the floor!"

 

Luke was silent for a moment as he stared at his reflection in the polished floor, “Fighting you I feel more powerful then when I fought Jacen. I deflected your blows without even feeling it. The smallest effort was rewarded twice the result." He looked up at Tysyacha and continued haltingly, "It's strange but when I'm near you I feel stronger. Both in a physical way and through the force. It's like you are giving some of your strength to me, or multiplying it.”

 

Tysyacha felt her cheeks redening with embarrasment and she didn't know why. It was the way Luke was looking at her, like she was some dark secret. She felt burning hot as she asked, "I don't understand this."

 

Luke turned and started for the door, "I can't say I do either. Get some rest; we will postpone further instruction until later. I need to spend some time in the library."

 

Tysyacha ran after him, "But wait! Will I still be able to become a Jedi? This doesn't change things does it?"

 

Luke stopped in the arched doorway and looked back at his worried student, "It changes many things, but with a talent such as this, if it is real of course, you will either be a Jedi or a Sith. There is no middle ground for you anymore." He smiled at her, "Now get some rest and try not to think about it." With that, he turned and left the training room and the young woman behind.

 

Tysyacha collapsed to her knees with a sob. She pressed her hands against her tear filled eyes and moaned, "I don't want this."

[Diego Varen]

Poor Tysy. I liked the training and it is what I've been waiting for a while. I hope Tysy will continue to be a Jedi after the training she struggled with. Good Chapter Torthane.