A New Player in the Force

I slumped forward, jolted awake, and blinked. My eyes scanned around, quickly finding HK and R2 standing not far away; HK’s blaster was held comfortably in his grasp as he and R2 watched the area. My mouth opened to call out, to let them know I was awake, only for the sound to die in my throat.

Instead, a gasp slipped from me as my mind was submerged by… everything.

The world around me was alive, and while I’d known that before, now I could feel it, sense it, experience it. My hands came to the side of my skull as my mind was flooded with the voices(?) of everything around me, of the connection between the sparks of life – be they big or small, flora or fauna, and of every possible kind – held with the Force. And now with me.

Before I’d been able to faintly sense them through the Interface and the Force, but with the former gone, my mind was experiencing the true depth and scale of what an open connection to the Force brought. It was glorious and incredible. Even though I had known that my connection to the Force was muted in comparison to other Jedi or Sith, I had thought that I still understood what it meant to be connected, at least on an academic level.

I had no idea. It was as if I had been calling myself a painter and learning all of the best brush-strokes and techniques, but without being able to actually see any of it. Or as if I had been a musician who thought himself world-class, without realising that he was tone-deaf.

I could feel everything around me as if it was me. The rhythmic pulsing of life from a hundred million creatures, some so small I’d need a microscope to see them, some longer than Raven, was rushing into my mind, overwhelming my defences as I struggled not to become swept away by this rising tide of near-sensory overload.

They were there, I knew that, yet even though the memories of my lessons on the Force over the last decade were still present, whenever I tried to focus on one, the Force seemed to push it aside. Almost as if it wanted to take me over, to become one with me. To make me a part of it.

Somewhere to my left, I felt the exhilaration of moving in for the kill, and panic as I understood something was about to die. My head snapped to that side, wanting to understand where the sensations, the feelings, were coming from.

Instead of finding something to use as a lifeline, I found my thoughts surging outward in a hundred, possibly a thousand different directions. I could feel the wind race over feathers, even as I slid through the mud, my tongue flicking out to find food. I jumped high, clearing something in my way, and then crashed into the water at the same time I experienced my legs, all six of them, moving in sync as I worked with others to rip apart something. I pushed through something thick, almost solid, yet it felt as if I was built to do so. Every memory, every experience happened concurrently as I grasped my skull with my hand.

Rolling to one side, I dry heaved, the sensations slowly drowning me even as I understood I needed this to stop. I needed to regain control before I lost myself in the sensations I was experiencing through the Force.

The ground near me shook, and opening my eyes I saw HK standing over me. I knew he was speaking, and could make out the distinctive, sardonic tone of his vocal actuator, yet the words were lost in the chaotic symphony that was assaulting my senses. Yet, for all that I knew I needed this to stop, I wasn’t sure how to do so. I was unable to bring forth the memories of closing myself from the Force to draw on the teachings.

A gasp rushed from me as I felt another presence crash against me within the Force. Yet this one was different and familiar. Locking onto it, using it as a lifeline, I understood in an instant that it was Anakin; the boy reaching out from orbit to help.

His attempt was rushed, unfocused, and unrefined, but incredibly powerful. Even as I used his presence to stabilise myself, I understood that this was what Anakin was. A storm slowly forming on the horizon, one that if unchecked, could bring about untold chaos and damage. Yet, as I slowly felt my mind return to some semblance of control, I saw a way to harness the Force storm that was Anakin. As if with the Interface no longer blocking my connection, I understood what I could help Anakin become, what I could mould him into.

That, however, would have to wait for later. For now, I needed control, and with my thoughts slowly returning to me, with my mind no longer being pulled in a myriad of directions and ways, I knew what I had to do. “E-enough,” I growled through clenched teeth even as I sensed other presences with Anakin’s; those of Raven and Fenrir.

The word had barely emerged from me before I felt everything dull down. Everything I’d been sensing and experiencing lessened, from the animals whose worlds I’d seen glimpses of through their eyes, the life flowing through the various fauna of the world, and even the lifelines that Anakin, Raven, and Fenrir had thrown me, slipped away. The Force, or at least my connection to it, was blunted and dulled once more and I sighed in relief as my mind was my own again.

I stayed where I was, looking up at the dull, overcast sky of Dagobah and taking long, slow, deep breaths, letting my body recover from what I’d just experienced. I’d known that removing the Interface from my connection with the Force was going to make things different, but what I’d just experienced… words failed to fully describe what it felt like to truly be connected to the Force. However, before I allowed that connection to resume as it should, I needed to train myself to limit the inflow of sensations. For now, the Force would remain distant while I locked myself off from it; held behind the barrier I’d managed to erect after Anakin’s lifeline.

“Query: Master? Are you well?”

I turned to look up at the assassin droid, my heart rate returning to normal. “I,” even saying the short word hurt and I gulped hard, trying to soothe my throat. I didn’t think I’d been exposed to the full brunt of the Force for long, but perhaps it had been longer and more stressful than I’d realised. Not trusting my words for now, I nodded in response and using my arms, eased myself up to a seated position.

Once there, I saw the small flask I’d placed down before meditating, and after popping the cap, took a long but slow sip, soothing the rawness of my throat. “I’m fine, HK,” I said once I felt ready to speak again. My voice was hoarse but at least it didn’t hurt to speak. “It’s just that when I emerged from my meditation, something had changed.”

His optical receptors dulled, making clear he was curious or concerned, though the beeping from R2 was only the latter. HK was built to detect lies, so he’d know I wasn’t being entirely truthful, but he also wouldn’t push unless he felt it was important. Though that ability to sense falsehoods was one I planned to exploit heavily in the coming years, as if I could reach the point where I could convince HK that I truly believed the Republic was run by Ewoks – or something equally as insane – it would do wonders for my Charisma-based social skills, especially Deception. “I think I’ve overcome the block in my connection to the Force, but I can’t say for sure.”

“Analysis: I do hope you have done so, Master. While you are skilled, you lack the… flair one would expect of a Jedi. Especially for one descended from the Creator. Addendum: In many ways, the small meatbag designer has a better understanding of how to use the Force in non-mechanical ways than you do.”

“Aye, he does. And thanks, I think,” I replied slowly. The flask had been placed down while he spoke, and I’d moved around to begin to stand. “How long was I meditating?” I asked once back on my feet.

“Answer: Three days, twelve hours, Master.”

“Bit longer than I expected but okay.” As I spoke, I stretched my arms, mimicking what I should be doing but that, thanks to Player’s Body, I didn’t truly have to do so. At least not on a physical level. Three and a half days was around the mid-point of the time the Interface had said it would take to upgrade itself and free the Force from its filtering. “How much of the local fauna and flora have you reduced to atoms?”

“Statement: Not nearly as much as I would have preferred, Master. Most creatures kept their distance after a warning shot. A handful of the larger, more aggressive species failed to heed the caution, and I was most efficient in ensuring they learnt the error of their ways.” R2 rocked from side to side and beeped wildly, the volume making me wince. “Amendment: The astromech also drove off several creatures, Master. Though he failed to ensure those creatures were removed permanently.”

I chuckled at that and placed a hand on the assassin droid’s shoulder. “Not everyone, be they organic or droid, can be as efficient as you, HK. Otherwise, the galaxy would be a far emptier and less enjoyable place.”

“Affirmative: Yes, Master.” HK looked past me and then R2 before continuing. “Assessment: While I would miss the chance to regularly remove meatbags, I believe those that remained would be a higher quality target. Perhaps sufficiently higher than the less regular combat would be acceptable. Addendum: I am, however, unsure if I would find the longer durations between combat tolerable.”

“Speaking for myself, I wouldn’t. I’d grow bored as shab with nothing to do.”

Before HK could reply, my vambrace beeped. My arm came over instinctively to open the channel, only for me to pause when I saw the missing forearm. Sighing at making that mistake again, and wondering how long it would be until I could get a replacement limb – and if that might remove the phantom pains – I reached into my belt with my hand and pulled out a commlink. “Yes?” I said as I used the commlink, barely able to restrain my annoyance at myself for making the mistake again.

“Well, your response suggests you’re at least awake,” Simvyl replied, and while I’d limited my connection to nothing more than a trickle, I could faintly sense his amusement. “Anakin, Raven, and Fenrir all reacted badly about twenty minutes ago. Once I’d gotten them calmed down, or at least as much as I could, Anakin told me you were in trouble. Though before then, I’d not been able to stop Raven from descending no matter how much I tried to counter her behaviour.”

I laughed softly at the idea my ship had disobeyed orders in an attempt to help. That was exactly the sort of thing I and Anakin would do, so it seemed more of my personality had merged with her than I’d realised. “Something did, and while it was a personal issue and might cause me problems in the short-term, in the long-term I feel it’s the first step in overcoming several of my issues. As for Raven, it’s fine. She, like Anakin and Fenrir, share a connection to me through the Force and would’ve sensed my confusion when I awoke.” I looked up, knowing instinctively where Raven was, yet through the thick, grey fog that hung over this area of the planet – and possibly most of the surface – I couldn’t see her. Before I’d had to actively think about using Detection to be certain where she or others were, but now, even with my connection to the Force restricted by choice, I knew with certainty where she was. Along with Anakin and Fenrir. “Should we remain here, or is there a clearing we should move toward?” I asked, pushing aside any thought of marvelling at the change in how the Force now worked, and how incredible it felt to simply know something without having to consider it.

“One moment,” Simvyl said before the channel went silent for about half a minute. “There’s a large enough clearing about five klicks southwest of your location. Sending coordinates now.”

My vambrace beeped, confirming reception of the data. It then, on programming, displayed our location and our destination. “Got it. See you there. Oh, and tell Anakin I’m fine, and thanks.” With that, I closed the channel and slipped the commlink back into its pouch. Simvyl would be confused about the thanks, but Anakin would understand, and it should reassure him that I was fine. Or as fine as I was going to be until I gained a handle on how to properly use and interact with the Force.

“Come on,” I said to the droids. “While it shouldn’t take us long to reach the RV, the sooner we leave, the sooner we can get off this world.” I took a step before pausing and giving HK a wide smile. “If anything gets too close, feel free to respond without a need for a warning shot.”

“Affirmative: That is most agreeable, Master. I have grown tired of having to warn such primitive meatbags about their purpose. Musing: I wonder if I might use some of my more advanced armaments. I was unable to use many upon Naboo due to your instructions to avoid civilian casualties and protection of the meatbag ruler.”

“Again, so long as you don’t level the area we’re in, or risk giving way that we’ve been here, feel free to enjoy yourself.”

“Exclamation: Oh, I will, Master, I will.”

R2 gave out a long, low, sad beep and I reached over, patting his dome. “It’s ok. I’m sure Anakin and HK can suggest modifications so you’re better able to defend yourself and assist HK in future.” R2 beeped happily at that.

“Agreement: Oh yes, Master. I have many ideas on how to enhance an astromech.” I laughed at R2’s reaction to HK’s comment as it seemed the astromech was suddenly fearful of what the assassin had planned. Keeping the amusing thought in mind, I resumed walking, plotting out the quickest path to the rendezvous location.

As we walked, I started running through the change that had occurred. There were notices about the change flashing in the bottom corner of my vision, but I decided to leave them for a moment, focusing on how it felt as if things had changed. It was clear that with the Interface gone, I’d been blasted by the full, unfiltered connection with the Force that had held, which placed me in a unique position.

Everyone else in the galaxy was born with their connection unfiltered, be they someone with barely any connection right up to beings like Yoda, Sidious, and Anakin. They’d learnt before they could even understand what they were to accept and harness that connection. Sharing a connection with the Force was natural to everything in the galaxy, be they sentient, fauna or flora. Well, except for any race like the Vong, though they seemed to come from beyond the galaxy so perhaps that was why they weren’t connected to the Force.

I, however, didn’t have that natural, had always been there, connection with the Force. Or at least, I’d not had it until less than thirty minutes ago. That meant I was going to have to learn to process and accept this change, and while it would take time – something I’d expected by my research on Force sects I could visit with Anakin over the next few years – it might allow me a unique perspective and ability.

When we’d shown the Force suppression room aboard Mtael’s Gift several years ago, Fay and Dooku had both reacted badly to the sudden suppression of their connections. Dooku had been unbalanced and unnerved – though he hid it well. Fay, however, had reacted as if having a limb torn from her body. Given she’d spent centuries relying on the Force, being in tune with it and having it help her slow her ageing – or so I assumed – the sudden loss of that connection had drawn a major reaction from her.

With me now being able to experience what the Force truly was, or at least have a proper connection to it, I could see how losing that connection would affect those with high Force sensitivity. I couldn’t comprehend Fay’s pain that day, and I hoped I never did, but I had an idea of what she’d have experienced. The difference was that I knew how to think and work without the Force, and thanks to Eidetic Memory would never forget it. In theory, if I was ever exposed to a field like that about the Lokella station again, then I’d be able to handle the sudden loss of what would feel like part of my soul. Or I would, I hoped, once I’d learnt to control and temper my connection, so it didn’t overwhelm me.

I shivered as I realised that, and that with the filter provided by the Interface gone, being fully exposed to the Force – or at least the Living Force on Dagobah – I’d come very close to ending up comatose. It was only through the actions of Anakin, something I had to believe he either knew instinctively or the Force guided him to do, that I didn’t and was able to retain just enough control to limit my connection to the Force.

Without knowing or understanding how, he’d reached out from orbit, to help. That spoke not just to how strong his connection was, but how deep my connection to the Force could become – or close to it anyway as I didn’t have quite as high a Force Potential as him – how easily the Force came to him, and how strong, after only a few years of limited contact, that our bond had become. And it made me wonder how I’d react when I next saw Serra, as for everyone else that I would encounter, she was the one who I had the deepest connection with and was strong in the Force. However, my focus for now was on Anakin. The level of power he had to, without knowing what he was truly doing, reach out across thousands of kilometres to help me was frightening and possibly terrifying.

Now, differing species and sentients had differing definitions of what terrible meant, but even allowing for that Anakin had the potential for amazing things. Before this, I’d known he was powerful, both from what Observe revealed and from sources before my emergence into this universe, but knowing of it and experiencing it first-hand were two entirely different things. I had my first true glimpse of what he, and possibly I, could do, and the sort of power he held, and could potentially wield… I understood so much more clearly why Sidious was so interested in Anakin. Why the boy was the Chosen One.

While the gap between our midi-chlorian counts was small, at least compared to that of myself and many others, I felt the gap between us, and what we might be able to accomplish could be greater than any I might have with sentients like Yoda or Sidious. The difference there was, at least for now, those two and others like them – such as Fay, Dooku, and Plagueis – was that they had decades or centuries of training and experience to draw upon. All I could do was train Anakin to be what he should be, and at the same time learn from him how to fully understand, accept, and use the Force so that both of us could surpass everyone that had come before.

That realisation brought forth a rush of excitement, along with a hint of terror, as I understood that I had to ensure Anakin was ready for what awaited us. I also had to ensure I was ready as well, though I felt reasonably confident that I could regain my Force abilities over the next few years; training Anakin was going to push me to do so lest I fail him and by extension doom the galaxy to the rule of the Sith.

That was why I’d gone to the Celebratus Archive on Obroa-Skai before engaging the upgrade, not only to find this world but for the locations of possible Force sects and other groups that might be able to help with our training. Knowing now that I’d have to work almost from the ground up to rebuild my abilities, and ensure Anakin was trained, I’d re-examine the sects and determine which order to attend them in. All I’d need was time to do so, and while I felt I’d have that for a few years, I couldn’t spend too long with the training otherwise I’d be out of the loop preparing for the wars to come.

“Query: Master, are you perhaps using the Force to ensure we are undisturbed?” I paused at HK’s question and turned back to face him, curious what he was saying. “Observation: While we’ve only travelled one point-zero-two kilometres, the creatures nearby have all chosen to withdraw or remain further away since you awoke. Extrapolation: It appears as if they’re afraid of approaching. Theory: Perhaps the change you spoke of has in some way affected the local fauna, persuading them to withdraw. Conjecture: It might also explain the marginal decrease in temperature of zero-point-three-one degrees that has occurred since you ended your meditation.”

“I don’t thin…” my words trailed off mid-sentence as I understood HK was onto something. “Um, yeah, that might be because of me,” I said, changing tack as I worked out what the temperature change and the reason for the local animals withdrawing was.

Without the Interface, I’d lost Dark Side Masking, which meant my ability to hide my, for lack of a better word, taint from everything and everybody. While there were no other Force users around to sense it – at least bar Anakin though he was currently nearby – the beasts of Dagobah would. From what King Adas had spoken of, those strong in the Force and with some experience in bending it to their will could generate a dangerous aura. One that not only persuaded others to stay away but could alter the environment around them.

From what HK was saying, that was what was occurring, but I wasn’t doing it consciously, and even with my connection to the Force heavily muted, enough of my power was radiating outward that it was having a marginal effect on the local area.

Closing my eyes, I searched inward, seeking out the Force that flowed through me. Adas had spoken of how to drop out or nullify this ability to project power, but I’d not taken it on fully back then; the Interface simply applied what he was teaching to the Force Powers of Dark Side Masking and Force Suppression. Now, with that all gone, I had to learn to use the ability properly, which with Eidetic Memory ensuring I remembered everything I’d ever seen, heard, or been taught, the lessons were quickly back at the forefront of my thoughts.

The ability to shield and cloak oneself from detection by others in the Force was something I felt Anakin – and possibly Palpatine – could do so naturally that if one didn’t know the truth, or had a way to sense Force Potential as easily as I did, then they’d never realise how powerful the person they were speaking with could potentially be. I suspected with the Sith it was a taught ability, one that had evolved from lessons Adas and others had created back when the Sith were a species and not a Force sect as both Sidious and Plagueis could stand before Jedi High Council members and give no hint of the power they wielded.

Listening to Adas’ words in my mind, I slowed my breathing, focusing ever deeper inward. Eventually, I felt what I was looking for: The point where it seemed as if I and the Force connected. This wasn’t just a single point, but all and none of me as the Force was in everything, yet with the lessons from Adas, Dooku, and a few others to draw on, and knowing the strongest hint of the Force would be centred around my bond to Anakin, I was able to find what I needed.

The connections to the Force, and through it, others, were still there, but as I’d intended earlier, they’d dullened. I wasn’t, however, fully cut off from the Force as I could faintly sense Anakin, Raven, Fenrir, and others, though bar the first three everything was far weaker, as they were far more distant or lacked the connection through the Force I shared with that trio. It was around the edges of those dullened connections that I found what I was looking for. I could sense my Force presence slipping out at those edges and permeating with the Living Force around me.

Knowing I was far from skilled enough to entirely shut off the seepage of my taint, I instead focused on dulling my connection to the Force further, though I tried my best to ensure that the link I held with Anakin wasn’t affected. I didn’t need him or others worrying that something else had happened to me. Concentrating on the Force as it flowed through me, the words Fay had used once to describe the sensation, I slowly sealed off the leakage of my taint into the Force around me. If another trained Force user appeared, they’d be able to sense the taint, but I hoped what I was doing would be enough to end the subtle effect I was having on my surroundings.

As the taint was slowly contained, I sensed a subtle shift through the Force. Though she was perhaps half a galaxy away, I sensed Serra and how her feelings had changed fractionally. That slight sensation was enough for my focus to jump to my bond with her, to the connection we shared that linked us through the Force. She should, from what I knew, be back at the Temple, and while I didn’t know who would continue her training, Yoda had promised me that not only would a Jedi Master finish her training, but that she’d get help to deal with the emotions brought forth by Drallig's death.

Part of me longed to speak to her, to reach out through the Force and ease her burden or speak to her, but I knew I couldn’t do that currently. Fear that my action would reveal the Dark Side within me to her and others, and that without understanding what I was doing I’d somehow hurt her, stopped me from doing so. Still, as gently as I could, I sent comforting thoughts to her.

While I wasn’t going to return to Coruscant any time soon, as I felt her notice my lingering feelings and react, I knew I’d contact her before I left with Anakin to train him and refocus myself after the change in my connection with the Force. The issue was that just talking to her over the Holonet felt wrong, cheap even. As if I was doing her and the memory of Drallig a disservice by not speaking with her in person. However, I didn’t want to step back on the Republic capital, never mind enter the Jedi Temple. Not while Anakin was with me.

I could, in theory, drop him with Bo for a week or so, but until I had a handle on the changes I’d undergone, going anywhere near the Jedi or Sith was off the table. That left me with communication through the Force. As Serra’s happiness at knowing I was safe, along with confusion and curiosity – suggesting she sensed the change in my Force connection – and some fear travelled to me through the Force, I smiled. Knowing she was as well, or at least as well as she could be, was a relief, though I did note that even at the great distance between us, her feelings came through stronger and clearer. Another little hint at just what the Interface had been restricting.

“Observation: It appears whatever you are doing is working, Master. The local ambient temperature has risen by zero-point-two-seven degrees.” That wasn’t quite all the way back, but it was close enough for me to be satisfied.

“Hopefully that means you’ll get some target practice before we’re picked up,” I replied as I opened my eyes and took in the dull, damp swamp around us. Nothing appeared different, but I knew I wasn’t yet in tune with the Force and myself enough that I’d be able to sense anything amiss.

“Assurance: My accuracy is within acceptable levels, Master. However, one can never be too lax in ensuring quality is maintained.”

“Just don’t burn down the planet while we’re still on it.”

“Indignation: I would never do such a thing, Master! Unlike some so-called battledroids, I’m not as clumsily built or fundamentally flawed as to commit such a mistake. Appeasement: I would only burn a world under your orders, Master.”

“While I don’t want that today, I won’t deny there are a few worlds that I wouldn’t mind seeing scorched clean,” I replied as I resumed walking toward the rendezvous location. “For now, you’ll have to restrict yourself to whatever fails to understand that we, not it, are the apex predators of this world.”

“Exclamation: I look forward to doing so, Master.”

R2 gave out a long, worried beep as he shook slightly from side to side. “Don’t worry,” I said, stopping and placing my hand on his dome, “if anything somehow gets past HK, I’ll ensure it doesn’t get to you. You’re far too useful to allow some giant snake or reptile to swallow or use as a chew toy. And once we’re away from here, HK and Anakin can suggest modifications so the next time we come here you can be as effective as HK in achieving dominance over the locals.”

A series of loud, happy beeps erupted from the astromech, which made me laugh. By the time of the Clone Wars, in the other timeline, Anakin had ensured R2 was far beyond a regular astromech. With HK and I here to help, when war finally erupted in this galaxy, R2 would be a match for almost anything the Trade Federation, The Republic, or anyone else could deploy.

Once my laughter had died down, I turned my attention to the notices from the Interface. While I could keep an eye out for local beasts that might be a problem, I felt that would restrict HK’s fun and after spending three and a half days watching me meditate in this swamp, he deserved the chance to blow off some steam.

Interface Upgrade Complete!

Having chosen Natural Evolution as the final form of your Interface, the following changes have been made:

1: The Interface will no longer regulate your connection to the Force.

This means that neither your Force Powers nor your FP level will be tracked or displayed by the Interface.

FP will be replaced by a Force Exhaustion percentage so that you can monitor how close you are to hitting that barrier.

2: To use the Force, the Player must behave like any other Force user in the galaxy.

This includes all the benefits and drawbacks such behaviour brings with it.

3: The tracking of the strength and level of your Force Bonds has been removed from REPUTATION.

4: New perks specific to this upgrade have been added to the choices.

Perk Points remain available at every 4 levels.

5: New Player Powers specific to this upgrade have been added to the choices.

Player Power Points remain available every 5 levels.

6: The Player Power, Player’s Mind, has been deactivated and removed.

Because of this, the Player Power Point for it has been refunded.

(Currently, you have 2 PPPs available.)

7: The Player is now susceptible to influence by the Force.

This will occur if, like many other Force users, they sink into the Force.

If they don’t wish this, then they must influence the Force with their intentions and desires.

8: All skills have had a potential 7th tier (Legendary) added.

The Player still has to put in the training and effort to reach it though.

9: The quest Skill to the Max has been altered to be simply to reach the top of the 6th tier (Prodigy).

10: No training quests are possible for taking skills beyond Prodigy:100.

11: STAMINA is now calculated as Player Level *(Strength+Vitality+Agility).

This results in a boost to your STAMINA to 1950.

The Player has a STAMINA regeneration rate of (due to selected Perks) 39/min.

...

NOTE!

Bonuses for levelling, bar STAMINA, remain the same.

These are:

2+INT/20 Stat Points per level.

INT*1 Skill Points per level.

1 PP every 4 levels.

1 PPP every 5 levels.

...

That was what I’d expected, though the display of a percentage for Force Exhaustion was going to be useful in prolonged combat while the boost in STAMINA wasn’t something to sniff at. I was sure Bo, Naz and others wouldn’t complain about the increase, and that was before I learned how to properly use the Force to refresh and enhance myself. Being susceptible to the Force was a fear I’d had before choosing Natural Evolution, but given I needed the higher potential power levels for what was to come, I’d have to be cautious about how that went.

Waving away the notification of changes, I opened the next notice waiting for me, discovering it came from TPTB.

We must admit that we are surprised and impressed you chose to remove the protection the Interface grants you in regard to the Force.

Taking NATURAL EVOLUTION places you, and those around you, at far greater short-to-middle-term risk from threats than PLAYER+ would have.

It does, as you have surmised, grant a better chance to survive the coming chaos.

Because of you choosing to take the path of greater risk, and as we are feeling generous, we offer what shall be our final boon.

1 Perk Point has been added to your Interface.

Spend it wisely, or not.

The choice, as always, is up to you.

...

Unlike the previous message, this one was unexpected. At least regarding the free Perk Point. I’d expected something from TPTB, but they rarely if ever offered gifts, but I wasn’t going to complain about it. While Perks weren’t as powerful – or broken depending on how I was feeling on a given day – they were powerful and potentially offered me advantages few if any other sentient could achieve.

While I was curious about what new Perks were available to me, with 2 Player Power Points, seeing what was on offer there was my first port of call.

PLAYER POWERS

These are powers and skills that are unique to The Player and earned by spending Player Power Points [PPP].

Currently, you have 2 PPPs.

Many Player Powers have requirements that depend on the Player’s level, or stat values and will remain hidden until their requirements are met.

Player Powers may grant abilities that mirror, or even surpass, what many consider to be ‘Dark-Side Force powers’ so be careful when using them around ‘Light-Side Force users’.

Currently, you have the following Player Powers:

Heart of the Force [2/2]

Inventory

Player’s Body

Observe

Silent Interface

Upgraded Minimap

…

Available Powers:

Colour Shift

Enhanced Inventory

Enlarge/Shrink

Glamours

Greater Minimap Mark 1

Level Boost

Reveal the Hidden

Superior Inventory

Upgraded Minimap Mark 2

…

My eyes were drawn instantly to the only one I’d not seen before or been altered to appearing: Reveal the Hidden. As I read its description, it instantly went to near the top of the pile for selections, though I wasn’t going to make any decision until I’d gone through the Perks list as well.

Reveal the Hidden

This Player Power will allow the Player to see the bonus objectives of all quests granted to the Player by The Powers That Be, or generated in response to the Player’s actions/decisions.

...

For simpler quests, such as training ones – though I’d not taken many over the last year or so as I’d focused on preparing for Naboo over random training of specific Skills or Force Powers – this wasn’t a major thing. I’d already determined what the three or four bonus objectives were from having taken and completed – or not – so many training quests previously.

For other quests, such as Tremors of the Ancient Sith Empire, the Changing Fate quests, and quests linked to Bo, Pre Vizsla, Maul and others, it would be a major boon. Knowing what the additional targets were would, I suspect, change how I approached the quests, but it might also grant me insight into what I might have to do to complete the quests.

I wasn’t sure how, if at all, it would affect The Promise of the Fallen quest given to me by Revan, as that quest didn’t fit into the categories of quests Reveal the Hidden covered. If it didn’t reveal anything there, then so be it, but there was a chance I was wrong on this.

Not wanting to dwell on one particular Player Power, I turned my attention to Level Boost, as along with Reveal the Hidden, it was the most likely Player Power to be taken. After reading the description, that feeling was only reinforced.

Level Boost

This Perk/Player Power allows the Player to raise the tier limits of their skills by 3 tiers.

This can either be used to raise 3 Skills 1 tier (to the Paragon tier) or 1 Skill 2 tiers (to the Mythic tier) and 1 Skill 1 tier.

NOTE!

No Skill can be raised more than 2 tiers.

A skill can only be raised once, though 2 tiers can be raised at a single time.

Level Boost tier lifts can be saved, though no more than 5 can be kept at any one time.

If Level Boost is selected again (which is possible once every 10 levels from level 30) as either a Perk or Player Power, and it results in more than 5 tier lifts, the excess tier lifts will be lost.

Level Boost can only be taken once per 10 levels regardless of which category it is taken from.

Therefore, if a Player Power Point is spent for it, it will disappear from both available Player Power and Perk lists.

...

I’d already known what Level Boost was going to be, but getting the full details made it clear that I’d be taking it. I wasn’t yet sure which Skills I’d use it on, but I suspected I’d use it to lift one skill two tiers and then keep the last point back for consideration later.

The other Player Powers, bar Upgraded Minimap Mark 2, were the same as before. Upgraded Minimap Mark 2 extended the ability of the Minimap to locate hidden passageways and alcoves to places hidden by either the Force or other advanced methods. That was interesting, but given what was offered by Level Boost and Reveal the Hidden, it was unlikely I’d be taking it this time.

Before I made sure of my choices, I had to example the Perks available, and after dismissing the Player Powers that was what I examined.

PERKS

These are earned by spending perk points [which you earn at a rate of 1PP per 4 levels].

Currently, you have 1 PerkP.

Most perks have multiple levels, allowing the Player to take improved versions of a perk if they so wish.

Currently, you have the following perks:

Ambidextrous

Boosted Growth Mark 2

Eidetic Memory

Empathy

Enhanced Regeneration [1/3]

Force Prodigy

Heart of the Force [1/2]

…

Available Perks:

Bookworm

Brainiac Mark1

Cat's Grace Mark1

Cult of Personality Mark1

Dominant Mark1

Enhanced Regeneration Mark2

Giant's Strength Mark1

Healing Acclimatisation

Iron Skin Mark1

Level Boost

Luck of the Force Mark1

Medic Mark1

Mind Abilities Affinity

One with Beasts

One with Nature

Overdrive

Physical Regeneration Mark1

Psychometry Acclimatisation

Seer’s Insight

Shatterpoint Acclimatisation

Stellar Ace

Stat Limit Boost Mark1

Style Mark1

Wisdom of the Ancients Mark1

…

Again, the list was a mix of old and new offerings. Level Boost was, as had been stated after the upgrade to Natural Evolution had been applied, listed as a Perk as well. That was much like Heart of the Force, but for that, I’d needed to spend one Perk Point and one Player Power Point to bring the increase in Force Potential to a level close, but not quite at, Anakin’s. Overall, there was a larger percentage of new Perks than new Player Powers and curious about them, I worked my way through their descriptions.

Enhanced Regeneration Mark2 was a simple improvement on Enhanced Regeneration Mark1. It lifted the base regeneration for PP, STAMINA, and Force Regeneration – which was no longer tracked but I felt fed into Force Exhaustion – from two times to four times the base regeneration rates. Having the ability to delay Force Exhaustion, and then recover from it quicker was certainly appealing, but nothing ground-breaking.

Overdrive was something unexpected. It would, when activated, allow me to draw on more of the Force, however, that worked, to the extent I could push beyond the limits of Force Exhaustion. The downside of the perk was that for each minute it was active while I was Force Exhausted, I would damage my body. Any damage taken because of the perk would be immune to accelerated healing, be that from the Force or something like bacta, outside of permanent injury caused by the perk.

The ability to have a way to push far beyond my limits with the Force was interesting, and when fighting against someone on the level of the High Council or a Sith Lord, might well be useful. Though it would be, I hoped, a long time before I had to confront anyone on that level. Additionally, the perk had a time limit of an hour, and if it was active for that long, then without immediate attention, I would die from the damage taken.

It was certainly a perk to consider for the future, but as of now, was not one I was giving any serious consideration to taking. The same couldn’t be said of Mind Abilities Affinity.

That perk was if I was reading the description correctly, something beyond a simple ability to use mental Force abilities. It would grant me a natural understanding of how to use the various Force powers that affected the minds of others, most of which, when I went by the old Interface listings, were Dark Side aligned. Since those powers were dangerous to use without proper training, the perk would be a massive boon, though I wasn’t the sort of person inclined to manipulate the minds of others. At least not at present, and hopefully never would be.

Stellar Ace was another I’d not expected to see or had considered as possible. This perk would grant me double XP for any skill related to flying or piloting a machine. It didn’t matter if the skill applied to starships in space, fighters in atmosphere, or vessels inside a liquid such as water, the XP gains would be doubled. The downside of the perk was that it would half my XP gain for any skill involved in riding a living beast. Since that wasn’t something I’d done much, if at all, since emerging into this universe, it wasn’t anything more than a minor inconvenience to the perk.

What did stand out about Stellar Ace, was that, if taken and then Level Boost was applied to piloting, I could, in theory, find it easier to match some of the better pilots in the Jedi Order. I didn’t think I’d ever reach the level of Saesee Tiin, to say nothing of what Anakin was capable of, but it was an intriguing perk to consider. The same could be said of the Acclimatisation perks. Or at least Shatterpoint Acclimatisation.

Each Acclimatisation perk granted me the equivalent of a natural inclination toward using those powers: Force Healing, Psychometry, and Shatterpoint. It didn’t, however, grant an affinity toward them, nor the ability to use the power on an almost instinctual level, such as what Master Windu was said to have with Shatterpoint.

What was interesting was that, from ten levels after taking an Acclimatisation perk, an Affinity perk would be available for it, and a further ten levels from there could offer a Naturalization perk for the power and all sub-forms of it. A further perk, which wasn’t detailed or explained, would then come into play twenty more levels later that would make me one of only a handful of beings to ever truly understand the Force ability in question.

While that would be a very long road to travel, it did mean that, in theory, if I reached level 60, I could be as natural at Shatterpoint as someone like Windu. Of course, the chances of me reaching Level 60 were slim at best.

After going over the list of perks, and reviewing the older ones to see if they had changed, I found myself wondering why there weren’t any for my more unusual or rare Force Powers like Phase, Teleport, and Inanimate Conversion.

That is because, in our infinite wisdom, we have chosen to be gracious.

At least regarding the majority of those powers.

For most, including Phase and Teleport, since you have shown continual effort to learn and grow those powers, we have granted you a natural affinity toward them equivalent to what you have with Battle Meditation.

Perks to make you a natural are not going to be offered because they are not needed.

With training, dedication, and perhaps a large helping of fortune, you can develop those powers to become one of the greatest to ever wield them.

Inanimate Conversion, however, is an entirely different issue.

That power, and a few like it, were not ones you were meant to discover or use.

In truth, their use aligns with a branch of Force powers commonly referred to as Force (or Sith) Alchemy.

Again, with training, effort, and the right teachers, you can learn to do what those powers once did.

And, perhaps, even more.

That, however, is something you will have to work very hard to achieve and might take you to places you will always be unwilling to go.

In the end, the choice, like it has always been, is up to you.

Not having to spend Perk Points for affinities for powers like Phase and Teleport was a relief, and the TPTB were right that I used them semi-regularly. Losing access to Inanimate Conversion was annoying as I’d hoped, at least before learning about and selecting Natural Evolution, that I could get the power to a point where I could create beskar by simply willing it. That dream was dead, though the pathway to it and other powers was there if I so chose.

Adas had spoken on the benefits of Force alchemy, and from the few records I’d found on him, it was said the axe he used in combat had been enhanced with the Force, so perhaps that was something to pursue at a later date. Oddly though, having to work to recover and reuse that power, and possibly Restore as it might fall under the same category, felt a better choice. Having to earn the right to manipulate objects at the atomic level was something that should be earned, and not simply gained for fun. Plus, as much as it now felt like a mistake, I’d stopped focusing on Inanimate Conversion in the lead-up to the invasion of Naboo.

That, however, was a matter for another time, as was making a final choice on which Perk to take, though I would admit I was leaning toward Shatterpoint Acclimatisation simply because, even at a low level, that power had game-changing potential.

Dismissing the Perks list, I saw that, in the time I’d been splitting my focus between the Player Powers and Perks and hiking, we’d almost reached our destination. I looked up as I felt the approach of a familiar and powerful presence grow stronger.

As I gazed upward, I saw Raven slip through the low-lying clouds and felt her relief at finally being able to sense me optically. Yet, my focus wasn’t on that, but on how alive and vibrant she felt. I stopped walking, to avoid stumbling as I felt her relief flood my mind, and a wide smile spread over my face. I’d known that I shared a connection with Raven because of how she’d been created and my actions in saving her when Zonoma Sekot had left, but this was the first time I’d truly felt it and it was an incredible sensation.

Raven was, in a large way, a part of me, and the joy radiating from her had an almost familial sensation to it. While her thoughts weren’t clear like those of a sentient, I understood her feelings with ease. Closing my eyes, I reached out through the faint opening to the wider Force that I retained, and let her know I was well and pleased to see her again.

I gasped as an almost overwhelming surge of delight came back. After recovering from the blast, I understood that she was happy not just because I was safe, but because the bond between us was stronger and more instinctual. Lifting my hand, I reached out through the Force – widening my connection to it fractionally – and truly sensed Raven for the first time.

Power flowed through her in ways that while I understood on a technical level, I’d not truly experienced in a metaphysical way. Even a few kilometres from her, I could sense how alive she was, how the power from her core flowed through her organic circuits to the various components – be they mechanical or organic – that composed her frame. How a slight shift in one section of her body shifted the flow of energy toward her anti-gravity generators to help her turn as she descended.

The feeling of the cool, damp air of Dagobah brushing over her skin, and how she enjoyed the moisture and newness of it, was easy to pick up on. As was how she saw the various airborne life on the planet, and how all of them avoided her; understanding that she was beyond them in ways they didn’t fully comprehend. Yet under the pleasure of the new experience of the planet, and her joy that I was safe and soon to be reunited with her, the desire to surge between planets, to dance among the stars shone brightly. Raven was born to fly in space, and soon she would return to what she did best, and she couldn’t wait to do so.

My smile widened as I opened my eyes, and took in Raven once again. Before this change, I’d known that if Raven had died, I’d have been hurt. Now, however, I understood that if something happened to her I’d burn the cosmos to make those who hurt her, who dared threaten my daughter – which in many ways she was – learn the error of their ways. Raven was something unique, something special that had to be nurtured, treasured, protected, and encouraged to grow. Deep in my soul, I knew that there was little I wouldn’t do to protect her from others. A feeling I knew she held for me.

Watching happily, I observed the way she turned in the air, her engines shifting thrusts to ensure when she landed she was facing me. While Simvyl was at her helm, Raven was the one doing the flying. The landing struts, a mixture – like much of her – of organic and mechanical – slipped from her underbelly. The spots they’d emerged from were invisible before their emergence as they blended perfectly into her skin.

As I resumed my approach, I felt her change the flow of power through her frame, reducing thrust to the engines, and she touched down with a grace comparable to any dancer I’d ever seen. The ground gently sunk, accepting her presence without breaking, and as I nodded to Simvyl in the cockpit, I sensed before I heard her ramp descending.

Before it had reached the ground, two figures – one small, the other larger, and longer – emerged from the gap. I shuddered, experiencing Fenrir’s delight as he bounded toward me. A delight that his pack wasn’t damaged, that his family was safe pushing aside the desire to race off and assert his position as the apex predator of this new world.

“Fenrir!” I called out as I was knocked over by the giant tuk’ata, his tongue lathering my face. “Off!”

He didn’t listen, continuing to lick my face and chest as his relief that I was well, and delight flowed around us. Rolling to the side to save myself, I laughed loudly at his behaviour, and at fully feeling the connection I held with him. While I didn’t have the same natural connection to Fenrir that I held to Raven, I’d known the tuk’ata longer and he’d been a part of my family, or my pack, for several years.

Even as I enjoyed the increased connection, my remaining hand tried desperately to push him back. Though given his massive bulk – his shoulder stood at my neck, and I felt he still had growing to go – even with two hands I’d struggled to restrain him when he was this happy. Thankfully, after it felt as if he’d drenched every inch of my upper body in drool, he pulled back. My arm came up, wiping at my face just enough to clear my sight, though before I could growl at Fenrir, I was knocked over again.

“CAM!” I winced as Anakin, unintentionally shouted into my ear. A gasp slipped from me as his arms tightened around my neck, though the reaction also came from how powerful Anakin’s relief was.

If it had been a river, I’d have drowned in the depth and strength of his presence, and even with my connection to the Force muted, because of our physical contact, I was unable to restrict the onslaught of emotions rushing forth from the boy. From my son.

The same joy and delight, mixed with relief, that Raven and Fenrir had radiated came from Anakin, though under it all, pushed down in the hopes I’d not sense it, I discovered fear. Pushing toward it even as I wrapped my arm around his back, I was assaulted by the source of that fear.

I’d known since Shmi had died, that Anakin had latched onto me, but until now I’d not realised how important I’d become to him. I was, thanks to the adoption, his father – though he saw me more as an older brother and mentor, which I was fine with – and alongside Lia, the only people that mattered to him. With Shmi’s death having been so recent when I’d awoken in panic, his fear that he’d lose me had been what had driven him to reach out for my mind.

That decision had saved me, and holding him close, I understood just how powerful Anakin could be, and would be once I finished training him. Yet, under all that, I felt a tiny sliver of terror. Anakin’s need, his desire, to help and protect those he cared for was what Sidious had exploited to turn him into Vader. While I’d known it was there, and could easily recall Dooku’s words about the danger that Anakin would bring out that concerning tendency of mine to risk it all to help those I cared for, it was only now, with the Force unfiltered and Anakin in my arm, that I felt I fully comprehend just how powerful, and dangerous our shared need to help could be.

However, even though that was an issue, it was one for later. The more pressing one was that, with Anakin hugging me, and Fenrir and Raven close by, I was struggling to limit the emotional overflow coming from them. knowing I had to if I wanted to keep going, to say nothing of entering Raven, I closed my eyes and once more looked inward.

There I felt for the Force again, finding the connection I held with it, and the muffle I’d placed on everything bar the bonds I shared with others. Drawing on my lessons with Fay and others, I slowly followed those instructions to dampen the emotional feedback I was experiencing. I didn’t want to entirely shut down the connection I held with others, but I had to dampen the sensations from them that I was experiencing.

It took time, though I couldn’t say how much, but slowly I felt the emotional tidal waves coming from the trio lessen; the strength of their feelings sliding back to more manageable levels. Once I felt I’d dulled my connection to the point that I wasn’t at risk of being disorientated by sharp, intense bursts of feelings, I opened my eyes and then slowly patted Anakin’s head.

“I’m alright. There’s no need to worry, An’ika.” The word Bo had used to describe Anakin slipping easily from me. As I said it, I swore I felt a gentle, distant shift in the Force. As if it was reacting to my use of the word and, I thought, approving. “I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”

Anakin didn’t pull back instantly, but after a short time he did, and I saw his face. His eyes were red, and I was sure his tears had mingled with Fenrir’s drool as he’d hugged me. “I… I thought I’d lost you. L-like mum.” His voice all but died out as he finished, but given he was still all but lying on my chest, it carried to my ears easily.

I lifted my hand from his back and brought it around. Since my fingers were cleanish – Fenrir’s drool ending up on the back of Anakin’s shirt – I gently wiped his eyes, clearing the tears and drool that had gotten stuck there when he’d hugged me. “I’m fine. I just… for a while now I’ve been having issues with the Force. As if I’ve had a block on what I can and should be able to do. During the fight with the Zabrak, just before it ended, I had an epiphany and understood what was wrong. However, to fix the issue I needed a quiet world that was strong in the Force where I could meditate without distraction. When I awoke, the barrier that I’d been experiencing was gone; however, the change caught me unawares, At least until you, Raven, and Fenrir reached out to help.”

Anakin blinked; his eyes widening and a frown forming as if he understood something. “That’s why you seem different,” He muttered.

That comment had me frowning, though it was less that he could sense the change in me, but that he might sense the taint from my usage of the Dark Side over the years. “In what way?” I asked carefully, wondering if I could use him to gauge when I’d recovered the full ability to mask my presence – be it just the Dark Side, or the full breadth of my Force connection – from others.

His frown deepened. “I’m not sure,” he began slowly, his face twisting as he thought on the matter, and I struggled to not chuckle at his expression. “It’s like, before, even when you were nearby, it felt as if you were, I dunno, distant. What was there was powerful but in a good way. Now though,” he paused, his eyes searching mine for something. “It’s like I’m standing on a beach on Gaia, looking at an ocean.” A flicker of a smile came to his face, as it always did when he thought of seeing oceans. “It’s massive, stretching further than I can see but… there’s clouds in the distance. A storm brewing maybe. And under the surface… there’s something there. Something dangerous.” He paused and his eyes widened again. “Not that, uh, you’re, um, dangerous. It’s, ah, like…”

I lifted my hand to stop his rambling, and as I chuckled at the attempt to pull back his words, ruffled his hair. “It’s okay. I get what you’re trying to say,” I said with a smile, my concern that he could sense the darkness in me easing. Yes, it was still there, but it was distant and indistinct. That I could work with; at least until I fully learnt how to hide the rage buried deep inside. “As I said, I’ve overcome the block I felt I had. One that, as you and others have noted, kept me distant in the Force. While I’ve defeated that block, it seems I need to work on tempering my control.” I looked around as if searching for something, before leaning forward. “The less others know of what you and I can do, and how I’ve changed, the less they’ll ask about us and the more we can do without anyone watching,” I added quietly, in a conspiratorial way that I knew would appeal to Anakin.

“Okay, I think.”

I chuckled at Anakin’s confusion, which I could see all over his face and sense in the Force. “I’m not sure you do,” I said, my hand still ruffling his hair, “but I’ll teach you.” He nodded at that, and my smile grew as I removed my hand from his head. “Now, I think it’s time we consider leaving this world,” I added, and he slipped off my chest.

“C-cam,” he began as I slowly moved to stand. I looked at him as I shifted to my knees, sensing the fear inside grow stronger. However, as I began to stand, the fear became clearer to sense, and I understood it wasn’t centred on the change he could sense in me, but was a more generalised thing. “Idontwanttobeweak.”

I blinked, processing what he’d said, and once I had, looked down at him. “What do you mean by weak?” My question was said softly, and while I hadn’t expected that statement from him, I had a suspicion of why he’d said it.

He held my gaze for a moment before looking down at the ground. Finding a loose stone, he kicked it, sending it hurtling into a nearby bog. “I… I’m weak. I, I couldn’t s-save my m-mu,” he said quietly, unwilling, or unable to meet my eyes. “I… I n-need to be st-stronger.”

I knelt and placed my hand on his shoulder, and when he finally decided to look at me, I spoke. “Everything dies, Anakin. That’s the way of the universe.” His shoulders slumped, not liking what I was saying. “However, that doesn’t mean we should just roll over and accept our fate; accept that death is coming for us. If we want to do anything or have anything, in this universe, we have to be willing to fight for it, to fight to defend it. No matter what anyone says, be they a Jedi, a politician, or some random sentient you meet on some unimportant planet in the middle of nowhere, everyone seeks to be stronger. However, for those of us able to draw upon and use the Force, we must be careful with how we channel that and other desires. The Force grants us the ability to do wondrous things, but it can also be used to do terrible things. The key is in deciding how and when we wield the Force. Do we use it for personal gain, to enrich and empower ourselves? Or do we use it to protect others, to help them grow strong enough they can defend themselves and those they care about?”

“I don’t want to be weak,” he repeated, seemingly not getting what I was trying to say.

My hand came to his chin and lifted it so I could meet his eyes. “You’re not weak, Anakin. Your mother’s death wasn’t because you were weak, nor are you in any way responsible for it. The fault, if it lies with anyone, should lie with me as…”

“It’s not your fault!” Anakin jumped in aggressively, the Force reacting to the massive, enraged burst of anger. “Me and Mum would’ve still been slaves if not for you!” I blinked, struggling to comprehend the power behind the voice. While he wasn’t doing it intentionally, I could feel the Force in him shifting. As if a storm of unimaginable strength was forming not far from me. Yet, for all I could feel at the beginning, the first true inklings of what that storm might bring, I knew it wasn’t ready to be unleashed; that it could still be tempered and focused.

“That is a possibility,” I said to Anakin, ignoring the sensations in the Force as best I could. “However, what is certain is that, in my desire to help others, I made a mistake. One that, in the end, cost the lives of many including your mother. I thought,” I continued before he could cut me off again, “that because they’d grown strong enough to protect themselves, the Lokella could help protect others. My mistake, and it was one, was not considering how important I am to many of their people. Because of that, they overcommitted to help, and left themselves vulnerable to an attack.”

“That wasn’t your fault!” Anakin shot back, the brewing storm I felt in the Force slowly shifting around as if changing directions. “It was the Hutts who attacked us! I want them dead!”

I stayed quiet, wanting to see if a moment of silence might settle the rapidly growing fury that radiated from Anakin. Everything about his rage was, in my opinion, justified. The Hutts, specifically Decca, had chosen to attack the Lokella when they were distracted, to strike back at losing control over those he had no right to consider his property. Yet, once more, it wasn’t the cause of Anakin’s rage, but the raw power that surged from the boy that caught me off guard and, as much as I knew it was wrong, impressed me.

Even now, as a nine-year-old boy, Anakin was powerful, but he was a wild beast, unable or unwilling to harness, to focus that power. He needed to refine and direct it while gaining the disciple to be the one in control, otherwise, it was easy to see what would become of him. Even with his connection to Palpatine unformed, if left as he was, it wouldn’t take much to turn Anakin into Vader. Though the Vader I could see in the darkest elements of the growing storm wasn’t the cold, calculated one I knew, but instead a wild, untamed monster.

In the corners of my mind, I heard whispers. Faint at first, but growing stronger as Anakin continued to rage. They were louder than before, though because I’d dampened my connection to the Force they should’ve been weaker, yet it wasn’t hard to hear their words, the offer the Dark Side was giving. All I had to do was harness Anakin’s rage, to focus it toward my goals, and when combined with my power the galaxy would cower under our weight. If I moulded him to use that anger, to harness it while remaining in control, he would become a dragon of death: He would wield a power few, if any, in the galaxy could stand against.

I blinked, realising the voices in my head, the whispers of the Dark Side were distracting me, tempting me more than I needed. The loss of the Interface now meant those offers of power would be stronger, and while I’d felt muting myself to the Force would hide them, it seemed they were even stronger and louder than before. Looking at Anakin, under the rage toward the Hutts, I saw a faint hint of fear, though I knew it wasn’t for himself. No, this fear was for me. Almost as if he had some inkling of understanding of what dwelled within him.

“I know you want them dead, Anakin,” I said slowly, being careful of my words. “Yet, while the Jedi would tell you to simply let go of your anger, and your feelings toward your mother, I won’t. Nor will I tell you to give in to that anger as a Sith might. What I will do is promise you that, with time and dedication, you can learn to control that rage, to control yourself.” That, I could admit, was a bit hypocritical as I struggled with that, but I also knew I had to learn this lesson, so what better reason to have to do so than to protect and help my son? “That day, however, is far from today.”

“How long will it take?” He asked; firmness in his voice and certainty in his stance.

“I don’t know, but when you’ve finally learnt to control yourself; when I, HK, Simvyl, Bo and others have finished training you, then know that all of us will stand with you. We will be with you when it’s time for you to show the galaxy that the small, scared former slave is gone, and his place stands a warrior ready to do what he must.”

Anakin blinked as I spoke, his anger shifting away, though not disappearing. “Isn’t that what a Jedi’s meant to be?”

“No, it’s not,” I replied with a chuckle. “At least according to many of the senior members of the Order. However, to me it is what a Jedi should be, what everyone should strive to be. Then again, I’m far from what most of the Order would consider a good Jedi.” Fenrir growled in amusement and even though he was further away, I heard Simvyl’s snort of agreement.

“Commentary: The Creator wasn’t considered a good Jedi in his time, Master, nor would he be seen as one now. However, I believe he would consider you a true Jedi. Musing: Perhaps that is why he so enjoyed educating other Jedi on their inaccurate views.”

I bit my tongue, not wanting to comment on the fact that Revan likely carried out those education sessions while a Sith Lord. Still, it was amusing to hear HK believe that Revan would consider me a true Jedi. He had been both Jedi and Sith and while I hoped that wouldn’t be my fate, I would accept the compliment HK was offering on his creator’s behalf.

Imagining how others in the Order would respond if they ever heard that comment from HK was something I’d enjoy thinking about, though I had no intention of ever sharing it with them. Bo, perhaps, might like to hear it though, as would Naz and a handful of others.

I saw that Anakin was smiling, seemingly happy with HK’s remark. He’d read the first of my Knights of the Old Republic series and had asked me questions about Revan and his fate. I’d answered them as best I could without spoiling the story or putting the wrong ideas in the boy’s head, but I’d avoided spoiling the surprise that was due to appear in the second book, Shadow of the Sith: that the hero of the story, the one working to save the Republic, was Revan.

Padmé, Serra, and others had asked me for spoilers about the stories as well, but I’d refused to ruin the surprise, and when the book dropped – which should be early next year – I knew I’d been getting a lot of calls about the reveal. Hopefully not from the Jedi Council or the Sith, but I expected Dooku at least to reach out.

I stood, planning to walk toward Raven only to stop as I remembered a promise I’d made. “HK, Fenrir,” I said to the assassin and war beast, “we’ll be leaving soon, but until then feel free to go hunting. Just don’t go too far.”

Fenrir howled in delight and raced away, seeking out the first challenger to his position at the top of the food chain. “Affirmative: Yes, Master. I will not take too long. Exclamation: I shall, however, enjoy removing as many detestable bestial meatbags as I can.”

I laughed as he turned and raced away in the general direction of Fenrir. While the droid disliked organics, he was impressed with Fenrir’s combat efficiency, considering him a useful, if not ideal, combat partner.

Once the droid was a decent distance away, I turned back to Anakin and clasped his shoulder. “Now, while we wait for those two to have their fun, perhaps we might begin your training in earnest?”

“Okay,” the boy replied with a wide smile, and we moved toward Raven, R2 at our heels.

As we walked, I opened a new notice, one that had appeared while I’d been speaking with Anakin.

Quest Alert! [¤] [ɸ]

Te Ad's Skira

Rating: A

Train your son to the point where he is ready and capable of gaining revenge for the death of his mother.

Objectives:

:a: Help Anakin reach level 20 before the death of Decca Besadii Diori.

:b: Ensure that Anakin is the one to end the life of Decca Besadii Diori.

:c: Make sure Decca Besadii Diori dies before the outbreak of galactic war.

:d: [?]

:e: [?]

:f: [?]

Rewards:

:a: 2000XP

A decent increase in Reputation with Anakin Skywalker.

Decent Reputation increases with Ferox and Lia Skywalker.

Small increases in Reputation with anyone in the Lokella before you took Anakin Skywalker as your Padawan.

:b: 3500XP

Pass 2 Tests of Friendship with Anakin Skywalker.

A large increase in Reputation with Anakin Skywalker.

Decent Reputation increases with Ferox and Lia Skywalker.

Decent increases in Reputation with anyone in the Lokella before you took Anakin Skywalker as your Padawan.

:c: 2500XP

Variable changes in Reputation depending on how Decca Besadii Diori dies and who kills him.

Potential to pass a Test of Friendship with Anakin Skywalker.

Failure:

:a: -1000XP

The likely death of Anakin Skywalker.

Variable losses in Reputation with members of the Lokella.

:b: -1750XP

A decent loss of Reputation with Anakin Skywalker.

Variable losses in Reputation with members of the Lokella.

:c: -1250XP

A small loss of Reputation with Anakin Skywalker.

Variable losses in Reputation with members of the Lokella.

Accept?

Yes/No

...

WARNING!

It is possible to complete one of the base three conditions of the Quest without completing the others.

In that event, Rewards and Failures will be applied accordingly.

Thus, depending on which objectives are completed, you could complete the quest but end up worse for it.

...

While the title of the quest and its description were unexpected, and a little concerning, given what I’d said to Anakin, the objectives made sense. And it would be the first of many quests I suspected that revolved around preparing Anakin for the future, and all the chaos it would bring. What was interesting was how the quest spoke of a galactic war without directly calling it the Clone Wars. That suggested that my actions had already altered the course of the galaxy and that the war wouldn’t be fought by the same factions as in the other timeline.

However, before accepting it, I wanted to see where Anakin stood and used Observe on him.

Anakin Skywalker

Race: Human

Level: 12

Health: 100%

Age: 9

Force Potential: Extreme

Threat Potential: Low

Reputation: Trusted Confidant

Affiliation Loyalty: Cameron Shan (86%), Clan Shan (86%), Lokella (84%)

Emotional State: Relieved/hopeful/angry

Young Anakin is glad that not only are you safe, but that you will help him become strong.

He hopes that, over the next few years, he can get closer to being strong enough to protect those he loves.

Though his rage toward the Hutts, specifically Decca, colours much of his thinking.

...

Everything there was about what I’d expected, though seeing his loyalty to me was already beyond that of the Lokella was a little surprising. That there was no mention of the Jedi or Republic in his loyalties was fine, though I wondered where Bo and the Mandalorians ranked in his loyalty scale. Sadly, the Interface only ever provided the top three choices for Affiliation Loyalty; at least where they were over 50%.

Still, the targets for the Te Ad's Skira quests were achievable. Or at least the two of them were. Eight levels of growth wasn’t going to be too hard to manage, not when both Anakin and I were focused on making him better and stronger. Therefore, the first objective of the quest wasn’t a major issue. Ensuring Decca died before the outbreak of galactic war would also, I felt, be achievable, which left only the one to ensure Anakin was the one to remove the Hutt as a challenge.

On the overall balance, it was a worthwhile quest to take, but as it wasn’t time-limited for me to accept, I wasn’t going to accept it now. After the mistakes I’d made early on, which I’d paid for with the death of Master Micah Giiett and his linked quest, I’d learnt my lesson.

“Give them an hour to hunt before calling them back,” I said to Simvyl as I reached the ramp. He nodded accepting my order as I headed into Raven with Anakin and R2.

Even without taking the quest, I’d be training Anakin to be capable of taking on a Jedi Master before galactic war erupted. The only questions that ran through my head were, with the changes I’d brought forth already, and those I’d cause with training Anakin, what sort of chaos would be unleashed, and how they would affect the galaxy as a whole.

All I could do was work to ensure that whatever happened, it helped with my overall goal of ensuring I didn’t die when the Republic fell, and Sidious assumed control of what remained. Preferably without letting the Empire be born as anything more than a state bound to fail before it even emerged.

… …

… …