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Endor
A slight breeze ruffled the high treetops, sweeping across the tall grass of the meadow, spreading the gathered Jedi's cloaks, and teasing loose strands of hair. Curious Ewoks peered out from behind tall bushes, watching the apprentices train.
The atmosphere was peaceful, a perfect place for Kyp Durron to establish his new Jedi order. Through the transparisteel window inside his lavishly decorated gray shelter dome, he watched his Jedi work for a brief moment. They were the promise of the future. The new studends progressed at a fantastic rate, and he felt that his Knights were excellent teachers. His Jedi had very good control. They were the promise of the future. He only hoped Luke Skywalker would see that before it was too late.
The Force wasn't just all light, or all dark. To truly understand it, one needed to find the gray area, where the Force balanced. The area where darkness met light, but did not merge. It was a hard line to find and to stay on, but his Jedi walked it magnificently well.
Kyp's treasure hunters had brought him back a small load of mostly useless artifacts. The book however, it was priceless. One page in particular held his notice now. Though the top of it was completely torn off, the edges tarnished and the text scribbled on, he could make out a few words of an ancient prophecy.
And in that day when the Jedi Order has fallen into darkness, and chaos reigns, the Chosen One will flex his might, bringing balance to the Force, opening the way to a new, and strongest generation of the Jedi.
The words sent a chill up Kyp's spine. During the Vong Invasion, the Jedi had fallen under darkness, too afraid to fight. Only when he, Kyp Durron, chose to leave Luke's order and establish his own, had the Vong retreated. Kyp had been actively seeking the perfect balance between light and dark, ever since he first left Luke Skywalker's order, and he had found it. The Force had delivered this book to him for a reason.
He was the Chosen One, the one who would bring balance to the Force, and usher in the strongest order of Jedi in history of the galaxy.
Kyp only hoped Master Skywalker and his Knights would see the error of their ways, and follow the man who was truly meant to reestablish the Jedi order: Himself.
****
Terrance, Mantooine
Manuel Rigazzo stepped carefully down the dark forest path, guided only by the light of the full moon streaming down through the trees. His Master, Atticus Erien, was last seen headed this way two days ago, when he disappeared. Manuel couldn't believe it took him that long to seek his Master, but he hadn't sensed any distress through the Force. In fact, he couldn't sense his Master at all. That worried him most.
The forest was strangely quiet. No creatures scampered across the pathway, no insects buzzed through the air, not even a slight breeze rustled the treetops. Manuel had never known such silence. Somehow, it made the air colder, and shadows darker. He walked further down the path, listening only to the sounds of his own footsteps disturbing the dirt and cracking twigs.
Manuel walked further into the forest, until he couldn't see the entrance behind him. The silence followed him like a predator, tightening his stomach and raising goose bumps up his spine. Something rustled behind him, causing him to jump out of his skin. He turned slowly around, his hand hovering over his lightsaber. "Hello?" he called out his voice sounded hollow or his voice quivered.
Silence answered him.
Rodents, he thought to himself, turning around to walk further down the path. His Master had to be around here somewhere; there wasn't any other place he could go. The feeling that someone was watching him itched in the middle of his shoulder blade, and again he stopped in the path. "Hello? Master Erien?"
A slight wind picked up, ruffling his robe. But nothing answered him. Manuel pulled his robe closer to him and continued walking. Something stirred the bushes behind him, causing Manuel to stop once more. The tiny hairs at the nape of his neck stood on end. "Hello?" he called, in a slightly shaking voice.
"Hello," a whispered voice answered him, slowly fading out.
Manuel jumped, clutching the heel of his lightsaber. "Who are you?" he demanded, reaching out to the Force, and finding nothing.
"Good question," the voice responded, seeming to be in a different place this time. "Who am I?"
"I don't know," Manuel said, stepping towards the voice. "That's why I asked."
"Why don't you try the Force?" the voice taunted, a little further away from him.
Manuel froze, trying harder to sense something other than the trees and rodents in the Force. Somehow, the voice wasn't a part of it. He'd suspect ysalamiri, but he could sense no empty bubbles.
"What's the matter, Jedi Apprentice?" the voice asked, this time closer to him. "Can't you sense me?"
In one fluid motion, Manuel released his lightsaber, and thumbed the switch on. The blade cast a bluish light through the trees, creating more shadows on the path, its humming heard clearly in the eerie stillness. "Who are you?" he asked again, breathing hard.
"Such poor manners they teach Jedi these days," the voice mused, even closer to him, though still remaining in the shadows. "Not only did you already ask that question, but you answered mine with one of your own. A simple yes, or no would suffice."
Manuel swept his blade passed the trees, trying in vain to see the person belonging to the voice. Assuming there was one. "No," he finally answered. "I cannot."
"Why is that, do you suppose?" the voice asked, once again changing location.
"I don't know," Manuel responded, stepping closer to the trees, shining his lightsaber deeper into the umbra.
"Perhaps you should think on it," the voice said almost gently, still avoiding the light of the blade.
"What do you want?" Manuel asked, shining his blade towards where he heard the voice last.
"Skywalker," it responded. Something stung Manuel's neck, causing his muscles to feel like liquid. He fell against the voice’s body, barely clinging to consciousness. "But you'll do for now," the voice whispered against his ear, just as darkness claimed him.
Copyright 2002 by Luney.
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