A New Player in the Force

While Raven raced through the undulating eddies of hyperspace, taking us from Eshan, my mind wandered to how the last few months had gone. While the training there, along with the companion I’d found, had been intense, they had been worth it.

Five months had passed since we’d first entered the system, and at the end of that time, along with some help from the Interface, I was now rated as Master:1 for Echani. Truthfully, I’d finished the time on the planet at Professional: 21, but the use of spare Skill Points had helped boost that to the start of the Master tier. I could’ve spent the remaining Skill Points to raise it even higher, but I felt safer keeping them in reserve. Levels were harder to gain the higher up I went, and having spare Skill Points for future training quests, or others that tracked a skill, was worth keeping.

The training quest linked to learning Echani had finished with us leaving the system, but it wasn’t the only one that came due while we were on the planet. Cash in Hand had finished when I’d turned eighteen, and with that, along with the sixth of my current level I got for my birthday – which wouldn’t continue now I was eighteen – and the training quest had taken me to, and then a decent amount beyond Level 31. There was no extra reward for reaching Level 31, but Level 32 would bring about another Perk Point, and unless there was something massively impressive added to the list, I was leaning toward taking Stat Limit Boost to raise my physical stats to a combined maximum of 75. If I understood things correctly, that would take me to, or possibly just beyond, the accepted peak stats for a Human – possibly even most of the various sub-species that had evolved or been altered over the last twenty-thousand-plus years – in the galaxy. While it was relatively simple to boost my abilities with the Force, a higher starting point was never something to be ignored.

A downside that had occurred not long after my birthday was that, as I’d been expecting for some time, the Changing Fate [Sifo Dyas] quest had failed. I’d known the news was coming, and been bracing for it, yet when it hit, I’d needed to take a day away from the Academy to recentre myself. My bond with Darihd wasn’t that impressive, at least compared to a handful of others, but he had been a friend, and losing him hurt more than I’d expected. That had to be a downside to not having the Interface filter my Force connection, but one that I accepted.

I’d miss Darihd and Sifo-Dyas – though not as much as Dooku would once he learnt of his associate’s passing – but I’d known since Naboo this was going to happen. That said, the way my emotions turned in on themselves when I learnt Darihd had died, had been a surprise. It also had me concerned that if I didn’t get a better grip on channelling and controlling my emotions, I’d be in a far worse state whenever anything happened to Serra, Bo, or – Force-forbid – Anakin.

The other penalty for failing the quest linked to Sifo-Dyas was minor, as I knew I was already in Sidious’ crosshairs. However, I had to work from the position now that, before my friend and his Master had died, they’d revealed something of the Coalition. That group had fallen by the wayside a good bit since it had been formed, but it was a useful group within the Jedi that shared many, if not all, of my concerns about the coming darkness the Banite Sith were bringing forth. All that changed now was that the Banite Sith would be aware of me being aware of their presence in the galaxy, if not who and where they were. Still, it meant that whenever I next encountered the Sith Lords cum Co-Chancellors of the Republic, I’d have been even more mindful of my words and actions without letting on that I was doing so.

The one upside to Sifo-Dyas dying was seeing Changing Fate [Dooku] complete. Apparently his not being responsible for Sifo-Dyas’ death was the spark the Interface was waiting for. It wasn’t an objective of the quest, but it did make the end of that quest. That meant that Dooku was no longer bound to become Darth Tyrannus, and that, in theory, I could be more open about my plans for the future with him.

Now, we were both still Jedi, though neither of us were exactly loyal to nor trusting of the High Council, but we retained the inclination toward doing what was right. The change was in how we saw that. I knew he was having deep reservations about remaining with the Order, but now I felt I could be honest in my feelings regarding that as well. Perhaps he might even be willing to detail what his plans were there, including the hints he’d given on occasion about taking certain objects – what I assumed were holocrons – from the Jedi Archives before he left.

What the two quests finishing also confirmed, though I had no proof of it, was that a replacement for Dooku as Tyrannus had been found. While that was good in freeing Dooku from that path, I now had no idea who the new Sith Lord – or probably more accurately, Sith patsy – was, nor what they would do or how dangerous they were.

The doors to the cockpit opened, and I turned to see Anakin enter. “Hey,” he said slowly, clearly nervous about something.

“What is it?” I asked back, gesturing toward the free co-pilot’s seat.

He moved to the seat and sat, and only once comfortable, did he speak again. “I was wondering,” he began quietly, “why are we heading to the Lokella?”

“What? You don’t want to see your sister, Ferox, Lena, and your other friends?” I asked back, curious as to how this conversation was going to go. I knew it was coming ever since I’d told him we’d be heading to Mtael’s Gift before continuing to the Shapers of Kro Var – the next group I wished for us to train with – after a side trip I had to make, but I hadn’t expected it to come less than an hour after we’d entered hyperspace. It seemed Anakin was more alert to what was not being said than I’d given him credit for.

“I do, but there’s more to this isn’t there?” His question made clear he was aware that I was keeping something from him. “It’s got to do with that call you got last week, doesn’t it?”

I chuckled and shook my head, taking the moment to gather my thoughts for the conversation I’d not expected this soon. “When did you get so smart?” I shot back, one hand moving out to ruffle his hair. Anakin frowned at that, possibly thinking I was going to avoid his question altogether. “But yes, it has to do with the call. That came from Chancellor Damask.” The call had been about the galactic premiere of Fellowship of the Ring, and while I couldn’t not attend when the Co-Chancellors knew I was the ‘creator’, I didn’t want Anakin with me. I smirked as Anakin’s frown vanished as his eyebrows rose halfway to his hairline. “What? You didn’t think I’d be in contact with him, but only Chancellor Palpatine?”

“No!” He shot out, only to blink as if caught out by the abruptness of his response. “I mean,” he continued as one hand moved to scratch the back of his neck as I pulled my hand from his hair. “It makes sense, I guess, that you’d know him as well. I just don’t see what that has to do with the Lokella, Not unless they’re in danger.”

“They’re not, don’t worry,” I said cutting off that line of thought before it became an issue. “The reason we’re going there is that I had a long-standing invitation come due with the Chancellor and I have to return to Coruscant because of it.” I could see and sense his excitement rising as I mentioned the Republic capital. “Ah!” I added, cutting him off before he could begin. “I know I promised to take you there, and I will keep my word. However, it is better, and safer, for both of us if this isn’t the time you visit.”

“But why?” he half-whined. “I’m your Padawan and son, and should go everywhere with you.”

“Because, among other reasons, of the second thing you’ve just said,” I replied with a warm, and hopefully, fatherly, smile. “If the Jedi ever learnt that I’d adopted you, especially via Mando’ade traditions, at best, they’d demand that I no longer train you.”

“I won’t tell them.”

I smiled, impressed by how earnest his statement was, both in voice and in the Force. “I believe you; I truly do. However, you wouldn’t have to say or do anything for the Council to discover the truth.” I leaned forward, closing the distance between us and placing my mechanical hand on his shoulder. “You’re not skilled enough to hide your thoughts and desires from Jedi Masters, never mind those on the Council. Nor anyone else that might be interested in you being my Padawan.”

Anakin’s face twisted, as he thought on my words. A moment later, his eyes widened. “The Sith!” he blurted out, seeing part of the bigger picture.

“Yes. At least in part,” I said as I removed my hand from his shoulder. “The one I fought, and barely defeated, on Naboo was powerful. However, I believe, and the Council agrees, that the Zabrak was but the apprentice and not the master. Which means that, wherever this Sith Lord is hiding, I have drawn his attention. The last thing I want to do is have him discover your existence, and choose to focus on you as well. At least not before you’re ready.”

I leaned back and sighed before continuing. “For a long time, perhaps ever since I arrived in this time, I’ve sensed a darkness in the universe. One that is malevolent, twisted, and growing stronger with each passing day. Now, while I was a Padawan, I didn’t understand what the shifting of the Force meant, nor how to react to it. It was only when Masters Dooku, Fay, and others told me what they thought it meant, and what they could sense, that I understood it was a sign that the Sith weren’t as gone as the Jedi liked to believe and that they were growing stronger in secret.”

“Now, I don’t know if these Sith are the same as those defeated a thousand years ago, a splinter of that group, or of the nearly countless other factions of Sith that have arisen over the millennia. What I do know is that they are active and growing stronger, and because of that, I’m wary of spending time on Coruscant. Can you think of why that might be?”

The idea of turning this into a teaching moment had been there ever since I’d known this talk was going to happen. I knew telling him the full truth wasn’t possible, but if I could use this time to have him start understanding some of my concerns with the Jedi Council and Senate, then it would be useful for him later in life. I didn’t want to scare him, to have him looking over his shoulder for threats that might not be there, or worry that the Banite Sith would seek to control and shape one or both of us because of our potential, but I also knew I couldn’t avoid the topic entirely. I’d just expected this to take place a little closer to Mtael’s Gift.

While he was there, Dooku could oversee his training for the short time I’d be away, and then when I returned, I could, if he so wished, go into greater detail regarding my concerns with the state of the galaxy, and what the future might bring forth. He might be young for learning even part of the truth, but I wasn’t going to hide things from him. That was, I suspected, something Obi-Wan had done in the other timeline, which Sidious had exploited to turn Anakin against his friend and Master, and by extension the Jedi and Republic. I needed to work on making sure such cracks in my bond with Anakin never appeared so that when the time came, we wouldn’t be driven apart.

There was some of the Changing Fate quest for Anakin in my thinking, along with him now being my son, but the greatest part of my logic came from the Force, or more accurately, the visions it had granted me and Anakin. Those were clear in that if we were to survive the oncoming darkness, we had to do so together. If I did otherwise, if I failed, then not only would I be letting myself and Anakin down, but I’d be betraying Shmi as well. She might be gone, but Anakin was her child, and she’d want the best for him.

“You think the Sith are on Coruscant?!” Anakin blurted out, shock and surprise evident in his voice.

I smiled and shook my head in response. “No. At least not directly. However, I, Masters Dooku and Fay, and others, suspect that, as these Sith move in the shadows, keeping themselves hidden from the Order, they have a way to monitor the Senate. And through that, the Order.”

“Almost every Council meeting at the Temple, and much of the more public locations as well, are recorded, and the Senators and those working for them in the Senate can access those recordings with relative ease. Because of this, if the Sith wanted to monitor the Jedi, then gaining influence and control of certain people in the Senate would be the easiest method to do so.”

“But wouldn’t the Jedi realise this and stop it?”

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” I replied with a question of my own. “However, the Jedi Council has, at least in my eyes, grown lax in its monitoring of any threat the Sith might pose. Much of that has to do with the Ruusan Reformation, and how it placed the Order needing Senate approval to act. Add in that with no Sith to counter, the Jedi turned inward and only engaged with the Republic via the Senate, especially the Chancellor’s office, then their mistake was an easy one to have happened, but still a problem I have to consider.”

“Do you think one of the Chancellors is a Sith?”

“Force, I hope not!” I replied with a loud chuckle, hiding how close to the truth Anakin had come. “The idea that one of them might be a Sith is, concerning, even if not technically illegal. But no, I don’t think either is a Sith, but I wonder if perhaps someone in their close circle is, or works for a Sith Lord.”

“Why don’t you tell the Jedi Council about that?” His question was asked earnestly, but there was a faint hint of doubt in his voice. That might well be due to some of the distrust toward the Council that I and Dooku maintained, or perhaps it was a sign he was beginning to question everything he was told. While I’d prefer the latter, even if it would make raising him harder, that doubt might be another sign that he regarded me far better than he did the Order.

“Until about two years ago, I was like you; a lowly Padawan. While my Masters believed as I do, the Council wasn’t going to take our word for it. Not without proof.”

“But the Zabrak you killed on Naboo is proof!” Anakin shot back. “They have to see the danger now!”

“They accept that the Sith were not as dead and buried as they had once stated, but beyond the fact the Zabrak used the Dark Side – something confirmed by Serra and Master Jinn – and killed Master Drallig, that is the extent to what they will confirm believing. The suggestion that the Sith have any influence in the Senate wasn’t one they were willing to discuss when I spoke to them on Naboo.”

“But they have to do something!”

“What would you suggest?”

“Send out every Jedi to hunt down the Sith!”

“Why?”

“Because the Sith are evil!”

“Only the Sith deal in absolutes,” I replied with a chuckle, “or at least that’s what the Jedi proclaim.” I waved my hand, pushing the comment away. “To the Sith, I’m certain they consider the Jedi evil, if not weak and stupid for not using the Force to shape the galaxy. Because the Republic stands with the Order and has always done so when the Sith have grown strong enough to declare open war, the Sith would surely consider it evil as well.

“Another issue is that, while the Jedi are meant to root out and destroy the Sith, they cannot hold Republic office. Rather amusingly, there is nothing in the law that says a Sith couldn’t, nor to make following the teaching of the Sith, regardless of which branch those teachings are from, illegal.” That little fact had amused Adas greatly when I’d explained history from the New Sith Wars until now. “Also consider that while all Force users are under the purview of the Jedi, according to Republic law, the Republic is, bar along the major hyperspace lanes, all but a distant power in the Outer Rim.

“Returning to your idea of sending out all the Jedi to hunt down the Sith,” I continued, changing tack as he processed what I’d just revealed to him, “consider that there are, at a rough estimate, perhaps ten thousand Jedi of Padawan rank or higher. Now, how many of those of Padawan rank do you think could defeat me in a spar?”

“None.” I chuckled at the faith Anakin had in me. “Well, maybe one or two.”

“Okay, now consider that I barely beat the apprentice. Against the Master, I’d be a dead man walking. The same would be the case for most if not all, Knights. Meaning none but a Jedi Master, and one focused on combat, would stand a chance against a Sith Lord.” Anakin gulped, getting the seriousness of my point. “Thus, sending out groups of lower-ranked Jedi to search for a Sith Lord would only end in their deaths. The only way to take the Sith Lord down would be a group of Jedi Masters. Thus, given the number of Jedi versus the number of sentients in the Republic, to say nothing of those outside of it, then the chances of the Jedi discovering the Sith Lord unless they want to be found, is close enough to be treated as zero.”

In theory, by collectively meditating in the Force, the Council should be able to find the Banite Sith. However, the pair had done something when or before I had arrived in this era to dampen the Jedi’s ability to peer into the Force and locate and find events happening elsewhere. That was allowing them to move even easier than they already were while further limiting the Jedi’s ability to find them.

This, for lack of a better term, Dark Side shroud, hadn’t been something that I’d understood before losing the Interface’s filtering of the Force. Or more accurately I’d not understood what was going on. I couldn’t claim to do so now, but thanks to Natural Selection and conversations with Adas, I had a clearer picture of what the shroud was. Adas, since he wasn’t alive, couldn’t be certain, but he felt I should if I allowed my desires and wants to shape my thoughts, be able to either pierce the shroud or possibly even use it to enhance my ability to sense others over distance. However, I was reluctant to do so on the chance one or both Banite Sith sensed me doing so.

Perhaps, in a few years, once I was more comfortable with the path I would be walking, and accepted my choices – whatever they might be – I could do so. I certainly would need the insight once war broke out across the galaxy. Until then, however, I would be cautious whenever I searched within the Force.

“They can’t just do nothing! The Jedi have to try!” Anakin protested, his annoyance at what I was saying flooding into the Force. At the same time, I felt that hint of doubt grow stronger, confirming it was linked to the Jedi and their failings. Interestingly, I hadn’t planned for this conversation to head to this topic, at least not during the first time the matter came up, but considering what we’d already touched on, and what I planned to bring up, it made sense my words were causing him to lose ever more faith in the Jedi and Republic.

“They do, but as I said, because of the Reformation, they are restrained as to how they can search for the Sith. At least without the approval of the Senate or Chancellors. If as I, and others such as Master Dooku, suspect that the Sith have influence with one or both of those entities, then it would explain the Jedi’s lack of drive. It also feeds into a theory I have that the Sith were directing the Trade Federation to invade Naboo. I can’t be certain of that, however, as Viceroy Gunray died before he could reach Coruscant. Yet, the fact he was murdered before he reached the Republic capital suggests the Sith moved to silence him and protect their interests.” I’d been the one, through HK, to remove Gunray, but suggesting that the Sith had been responsible was an easy way to accredit blame to a believable party, and it was something I’d mentioned to Master Shaak Ti when I’d last spoken to her.

I went silent after that, letting Anakin ponder what I’d said. While there were other things I wished to cover, either today or later before we reached Mtael’s Gift, I wasn’t going to push him toward those until he’d had time to digest what I’d said so far. It was unlikely that he’d suggest anything that I hadn’t already thought of, but Anakin was insightful and smart, and sometimes the innocence of youth allowed one to see something an older, more jaded mind might miss.

“That’s why you helped the Lokella, isn’t it? And why you became a Mandalorian.” I smirked at his thoughts going there, at least to the point he was willing to voice them. “You were making friends for fighting the Sith.”

I shrugged as I replied, pushing aside the concern that the Banite Sith had realised my intentions as Anakin had. “For the Lokella, it was a stroke of luck, or the Force guiding me if you wish to believe that that led me and Master Dooku to intervene there. As you know, a transport we were travelling aboard was attacked by slavers. Sensing something about it, we decided to follow the breadcrumbs back to their source. In the process of ending the operation, we created a colony of freed slaves who now work to pass along that freedom to others.”

“But I’m right about Bo and the Mandalorians.”

“Partly. I didn’t go to Mandalore seeking allies, nor to find a lover.” Anakin’s forehead creased there, showing he was thankfully still too young to understand the enjoyment a lover could bring. “I was twelve at the time. However, as I learnt more about the danger threatening the Republic, I did my best to grow those initial friendships further, going so far as to secure alliances with two of the most powerful Houses of Mando’ade culture.” I chuckled, finding amusement in how I’d first used those alliances. “Something that, while not the original purpose for them, the Naboo and Gungans are grateful for.” Along with a certain queen and at least one of her handmaidens. “The issue there though, is that now the Senate, Jedi, and the Sith through their spying, are aware of my connections to both groups and that the Mando’ade are not as broken and uncoordinated as they might’ve believed.” The reveal of the Ne’tra Tal’ade, which I’d known bugger all about was a nuisance, but it would serve to worry others. Maybe even force the Sith to alter their plans in a way that might, perhaps, delay them bringing about the destruction of the Jedi and Republic.

One thing I was overplaying, simply because I wanted to avoid going into detail, was how much support I had among the Mando’ade. Dukes Adonai and Torrhen supported me, as did many of the clans who followed them, but that support was far from universal. I’d had to pay everyone that came to fight for Naboo, and while it hadn’t cost anywhere near as much as I’d feared – due to the reward I’d been given for organizing the liberation force – and the losses would soon be recouped by the holomovies, it had spread my name further among my fellow Mando’ade. That, I suspected, was going to be useful in the decade to come.

“Bo said you should become Mand’alor.” I coughed hard, caught out by the shift in topic and choking on nothing. My hand slipped from Anakin’s arm as I leaned forward, trying to recover.

“Wh-when did she say that?” I asked between coughs.

“During the celebration on Naboo. When I stayed with her.” I shook my head as I recovered from the surprise, making a mental note to punish Bo for placing such ideas in Anakin’s head. That said if I wasn’t careful then knowing Bo, she’d enjoy being punished. “She thinks you’d be a good leader to her… for our people.”

“That is a discussion for another time,” I replied slowly, not outright dismissing the idea, as even if I felt it unlikely to happen, it was one I’d had before, “after I’ve spoken to Bo about putting ideas into your head.” I knew that while Bo might like the idea, there were many other Mando’ade, perhaps a majority even, who’d never accept a former Jedi as their leader. And that was without counting those like Pre Vizsla who sought the title of Mand'alor for themselves, challenging me if I tried to take the role. “For now, let’s stay on topics at least linked to why I don’t want you to come with me to Coruscant this time.”

Anakin nodded and I gave him time to think on my earlier words. “I think I understand,” he said carefully as I swore I saw the gears in his head turning. “You don’t want the Jedi, Chancellors, or anyone else, knowing that you’ve adopted and are training me in the Force and Mandalorian traditions. If they learnt of it, then the Sith might, and they’d send someone after us, which would be dangerous for us and others.”

“That’s the gist of it, yes,” I replied with a smile. “I don’t fear the Chancellors knowing of you per se,” which was a lie, “but that by them learning of you, and your potential with the Force being greater than any Jedi ever, would leak to the Sith. In their shoes, I’d move planets to capture you so they could either remove a threat or bend you to their desires and use your power to destroy the galaxy.” I held up my mechanical hand, cutting off before he interrupted. “Yes, I know you’d fight to not let that happen, but I have, thanks to the Bando Gora, an inkling of the pain they would inflict to break you. I wouldn’t wish that suffering on anyone, not my worst enemy, and certainly not my ad. However, as things stand, neither of us is even close to the point where we could survive an encounter with a Sith Lord, never mind trying to defeat one. Nor do we have the support and allies that would be able to do so for us.”

Anakin gave a single nod; his face having drained of some colour while I’d touched on the dangers we faced if his existence became common knowledge to certain people. Seeing that, I leaned forward and squeezed his upper arm. “I’m not saying this to scare you, An’ika. I just believe that you need to be aware of the truth behind my reasons. Or at least as much as I feel you are ready to hear.” One day I’d bring him in on everything, but it would be a good five years or so before I felt he’d be ready for that.

“I… I know,” he said quietly even as he made sure to meet my gaze. “I just… I didn’t think that this… that the vision we shared…”

I smirked, knowing exactly what he was talking about. “Yeah, I know. That vision was different from any I’ve had before or since. Though I should say that I don’t get many visions,” I added with what I hoped was a comforting smirk. I did get visions and had seen a few since taking Natural Selection, but none had been as vivid or detailed as the one he was speaking about had been. “That one was unusually strong and intense, but no vision is a certain to coming to pass. I learnt that the hard way on Naboo.”

Serra had visions of me dying if I fought Maul alone, which was why she’d come. I’d worked to not have that happen because of my visions of seeing Drallig die at Maul’s hands and Serra potentially mortally wounded. I’d not managed to keep her away, and because of that Drallig had arrived. In my arrogance, I’d thought sending them to another part of Theed, somewhere I’d not expected Maul to be, would keep them safe. Yet, that had only resulted in them meeting him, and my vision coming true which was a mistake I’d not be making again. The counter to that, and why I was reluctant to believe every vision was certain, was Serra’s vision, which didn’t come true.

I had touched on the topic briefly with Dooku when I’d been hopping between Naboo and Mtael’s Gift, but I wanted to go into the topic of visions, and their potentially conflicting nature, before I headed to Coruscant. Outside of Fay, there was no one I knew who should know more about Force visions and that I trusted to listen honestly to my concerns.

Fay was, of course, unavailable as she was still somewhere in the Deep Core seeking out Typhon. I knew she was alive, as even with my ability to sense others in the Force not what it once was – at least for the time being – I could feel her at the edges of my mind if I focused on her. However, that was all I knew, and I just had to hope that Satele Shan’s holocron was leading her as intended to the spiritual homeworld of the Jedi.

“Why does the Force show us such things?”

I blinked, surprised at the insightful question. “That’s a great question, however, I cannot provide anything close to a good answer for it. Master Dooku might be able to shed some light on the matter, but I suspect even he and Master Fay would struggle to give a definite answer. The Force is something beyond our ability to understand. It’s as alien to us as must seem to a blade of grass or grain of sand. Yet it is because of the Force that we, along with others with strong connections to it, can use it to influence ourselves, others, and even events happening around us.” I paused as I saw my wording was veering more toward Sith thinking than that of the Jedi. I’d promised him that he could try following the Jedi teaching first, so I had to alter what I was saying because of that. “The Force is there to help and guide us if we so wish, and empower us if a need to do so arises. It is not, however, something we can ever hope to understand. You understand that it seeks balance,” he nodded, “and it works through those of us with strong connections to achieve this. Or at least that is my, admittedly limited, opinion on it.”

“It wants to end evil?”

I chuckled. “Possibly,” I began, reminded of how I’d first viewed the Force, Jedi, and Sith back when I was far younger, less jaded, and long before I’d been reborn in this galaxy. “It is certainly what many Jedi believe at any rate. I, however, am beginning to think that isn’t the case. If it were, then every Force sect outside of the Jedi would either be brought under the full control of the Order or, in the case of the Sith and other Dark Side sects, sought out and destroyed with the support of the Force. This, however, never occurs, nor do the Jedi seek to reign in the other Force sects, such as the Matukai, that exist in the galaxy. Some of those sects use what the Jedi consider the Light Side while others use the Dark Side. Some, such as the Witches of Dathomir, have subgroups that use the two sides while all being regarded as the same overall sect.”

Anakin nodded as I spoke, taking in my words as the conversation once more drifted. We had talked about the Force before, and what it allowed us to do, but this was getting into a more serious, possibly even philosophical, discussion. Anakin was, as always, interested in trying to understand the Force, but there was only so much I could teach him given my understanding of it being limited and twisted by my ideals.

“If the Force doesn’t want to remove evil, then what does it mean to say it wants balance?”

“That’s another good question,” I said with a smile. “I wish I could give you a clear, definite answer, but I can’t. Nor I suspect, could any Force user no matter what they believe or sect they’re a part of. I can, however, offer an analogy that I think fits well for understanding what the Force might be trying to achieve.” He nodded and I pulled back, settling properly into my seat. “The Force is a, pardon the pun, force of nature even if it is not fully part of nature. Like nature, be that in flora or fauna, it seeks balance within its ecosystem, but again, like nature, when one element, one area, grows dominant, then everything falls out of alignment.”

“If a predatorial species grows too numerous, then the prey dwindles, affecting the entire food chain. If a foreign plant is introduced to an ecosystem and then starts starving local plants of nutrients, then the system falls out of balance. What I’m beginning to suspect is that the Force behaves in the same way, with those who can access it like the animals and planets within the system.”

A hand moved toward one of the consoles, and the lights in the cockpit grew bright; almost painfully so. “Don’t cover your eyes,” I said, knowing he was doing that even as I struggled to see him. “Look around. Tell me what you see?”

“Light!”

“Is that all there is? Look carefully.”

I closed my eyes partially, dimming the room. In blurred images, I saw Anakin lift an arm to shield his eyes even as his head moved around. “There’s shadows. Not as many as before, but they’re still there. and darker.”

“Exactly.” I touched the console again, lowering the light back to normal levels. “The brighter the light becomes, the smaller but darker the shadows it generates.” Another press at the console and the lights turned off leaving us, minus Raven’s running lights that blinked and flowed along her skin and the swirls of hyperspace, in darkness. Another press and the viewport darkened as well. “If the light is removed, even totally, the darkness seems to consume everything. Yet, once we adjust to the darkness, we can still see. Light still exists in such a place, even if it's hard to see; much like with shadows in the brightest room.” With another few taps the room once more returned to its normal level of brightness. “This, at least to me, is what balance in the Force is about. Neither side of the Force can be allowed to dominate, a least not for too long. If they do, then it creates an imbalance that the Force will seek to correct. As for how it does that,” I shrugged, “I don’t know, and that is another topic for another day. Not because you’re too young,” which he was, but it wasn’t the biggest issue, “but because I haven’t got much more than a wild inkling of how to go about it.” Anakin smirked at my reasoning, which was accurate. “Again though, we’ve strayed off topic slightly. However, I think this, and the rest of our talk have helped explain my reasoning for you to remain with the Lokella when I head to Coruscant.”

“Yes,” he said slowly with a weak nod. “I mean, I still think it would be fine for me to go now, but I think I understand why you’re scared.” Not the words I’d have used, but close enough. “and as you’ll only be there a short time, it should be okay.” I smiled, glad to see he was willing to accept my order on the matter. “But, when you go, can you get me something?”

“Such as?”

“I… I don’t know.”

At his sheepish reply, I laughed and leaned forward, ruffling his hair. “Well, you’ve got until I depart for Coruscant to decide.” I pulled my hand back and as he worked to flatten his hair, turned back to the controls.

It was going to take a few days to reach the Lokella system, and by then I expected him to know what he wanted. That, however, was a minor matter, and I was glad that, in the end, he understood and accepted my reasoning for him not coming with me. Minor bribe aside. There were other reasons, the obvious one being not revealing the Chosen One to the Jedi and Sith, but those were matters he didn’t need to know currently.

What I could now turn my attention to, at least in part, was facing Dooku once I reached Mtael’s Gift. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to face another powerful Force user, but if I were to face the Banite Sith Lords I had to test my resolve and barriers. Because he knew me as well as anyone, and I didn’t think he’d be as concerned as Fay or others would be about my Dark Side taint, Dooku was the ideal person to test my defences. Anakin could no longer sense that within me, not unless I let it out, but Dooku should be able to find and help me fix the gaps in my mental protection. At least enough that, when I faced the Co-Chancellors-cum-Sith-Lords, I’d not give away the truth of what I was capable of, or that the barrier holding me back was gone.