I remember well that mission. She had gone to the world of New Apsolon, working undercover to try and disrupt an anti-government movement. But after she did not report in for several weeks, I disobeyed the Council and went out to look for her. When I found her at last, we were so overcome with emotion that we pledged our lives to each other. After that, she went back undercover, but was soon found out. The leader of the movement tortured her with a sensory deprivation containment device, draining her strength. I gave chase and managed to rescue her, but all too late.
I managed to get her out and to the nearest medical facility, but by then there was nothing that could be done for her. After I spent a few last pleasant moments at her side, she became one with the Force. As a result, I was beside myself with grief and anger, bent on seeking revenge against the man who had done this to her. I hunted him down, had him at my mercy, and was prepared to execute him then and there. But at the last moment, I heard Tahl’s voice. I knew then that she would not want this. If I did this, I would be crossing a line from which there was no return. It took every ounce of my will, but I turned the man over to the authorities.
I apologize for my ramblings, but my point is this. In my grief, my singular love for Tahl became an attachment and drove me dangerously close to the Dark Side. Had I not heard her voice, my memory would be despised today, rather than revered. You, my friends, are traveling down such a path. It is difficult to walk, and leaves no room for error. You cannot allow your commitment to lead you to anger. If even I, a vaunted Jedi Master, could be tempted as such, far greater danger will lurk for the two of you.
“But are you actually saying we shouldn’t be doing this?” Malik asked.
There was silence for a moment before Yoda gave a jovial laugh. “Perceptive he always has been, Master Qui-Gon.”
Indeed. I am not suggesting that you avoid your feelings for each other, but I wish to impart my experiences upon you so that you will be able to avoid my mistakes. That is, after all, the goal of a teacher, is it not? I do not regret my relationship with Tahl, only my actions in the aftermath of her death. I remain very lucky to have known her. That you both accept your eventual demise and separation bodes well for your future, in my humble opinion.
“I agree,” Yoda said. “And a greater mastery of the Force, helpful it would be, I think. Oh yes…”
You believe them ready for the trial?
“I do.”
“Excuse me, but I’m confused, Master. What trial? Malik and I have already been knighted; we’ve passed our trials,” Serra inquired.
“Indeed, and splendidly at that,” Yoda replied. “The trial of which I speak is one that will test your true mastery of the Force. Pass, and Jedi Masters you will be.”
“And fail?” Malik asked.
No physical harm will come to you. However, like the Trial of Spirit from your knighting, we can make no guarantees about your mental state afterwards.
“Decide now, you should not. Train with each other. Test your connection to the Force. When ready you are, the trial will await.”
*****
The next day, Malik and Serra found themselves in a large clearing, ready to begin their training session. Though they could have slept in their ship’s quarters, both felt that it would be counterproductive to their regimen. With lightsabers in hand, the pair eyed each other in silence before Serra spoke.
“I think I can help you with your combat prowess,” she said. “You’re brilliant at defending against multiple enemies with blasters, but even you admit that one-on-one duels give you difficulty.”
“That’s wise, I suppose,” Malik replied. “We’ve got to figure Vader will find us sooner or later.”
“Ok, setting lightsabers to training mode.” Serra raised her weapons in the typical opening of her Jar’Kai form, one high and one low. “Prepare yourself!”
Malik replied with his Soresu opening, his lightsaber high and pulled back at the side of his face, pointing at his opponent. Waiting for Serra to make the first move, he tried to imagine this bout as far more than a sparring match. Someday, their lives would depend on their abilities to survive against Vader and his agents; they had to be ready for that. Soon, Serra rushed forward, swinging both of her swords in an overhead slash.
“HAH!”
Malik parried her blows and gave a bit of ground, attempting to use the Force to anticipate her next move. She gave him little breathing room, assuming a relentless assault on him with both of her weapons. All the while, Malik tried utilizing the brilliant defenses of his Soresu form to redirect her blows and dodge in the subtlest ways. Though he had some success, Serra was far from an amateur, and soon began varying the pace of her strikes to try and throw him off.
Eye of the storm… be the eye of the storm, Malik thought to himself.
His efforts to remain calm and collected amidst the flurry of green lightsabers around him were only somewhat successful. Serra continued to try and penetrate his defenses, now incorporating her signature acrobatic maneuvers into her offensive. It was all Malik could do just to keep up with her aggressive Jar’Kai form. Seeing now that he would have to make use of all his capabilities, Malik began constantly drawing on the Force and keeping himself in constant motion, his blade ever spinning to provide maximum defensive coverage. The couple dueled for several minutes, now on equal footing, each managing to counter the best moves the other could throw at them. At last, Serra thought she had found an opening she could exploit. She tried to lock Malik’s blade up with one of hers before striking at him with the other before he could react. But Malik was too good for that, pushing her off hand back with the Force, rendering her helpless for a split second. In any normal duel, Serra Keto would have lost her hand in that moment, but to her bewilderment, Malik simply disengaged and leapt backwards, assuming a defensive stance once more.
“What’s wrong with you, Malik?!” Serra shouted in frustration. “You had a prime opportunity to disarm me and end the duel, but you chose not to! Why?!”
“I, um, didn’t want to hurt you, Serra.”
“Bantha fodder! You know damn well our lightsabers were on training mode and would have only stung. You gotta give me a better excuse than that!”
Sighing, Malik replied, “I’m trying to stay true to my training, Serra. Soresu is the ultimate form of Jedi nonaggression. There was another path without theoretically cutting off your hand. There is always another path, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t try to find it.”
Serra shook her head. “And what if I had been Skywalker or one of his agents?”
“I would have done what was necessary.”
“Would you really? Because I don’t know that I believe you, Malik. These are dark times, and we can’t afford to be so stubborn that it gets us killed. That stubbornness is exactly what got the Jedi into this mess in the first place.”
“Agree with Serra, I do,” came Yoda’s voice from the edge of the clearing. “Hold firm to our ideals, we should. But if such ideals make us blind to the danger around us, inhibiting us from serving the greater good and the will of the Force, reassess our ideals we must. As Serra said, our stubborn nature nearly destroyed us, made us blind to the rise of the Sith it did.”
“So now we’re advocating violence all of a sudden?” Malik replied, incensed.
“No, Malik. Never violence. Against those who oppose you but may not be your enemy, strive for nonaggression you should. But when comes the day that you must face Vader or his Emperor… stopped they must be. On this, all depends.”
“Vader?” Serra asked.
Yoda bowed his head in sadness, walking closer to the pair. “The new identity of Anakin Skywalker. Joined the Sith, he has. Gone is the hero of the Clone War, consumed now by the Dark Side of the Force. Attempted to kill him, Obi-Wan did. But when at his mercy Vader was, strike the killing blow Obi-Wan could not. It is for the Force to decide his fate, as he described it.”
“And the Force decided for him to survive…” Sera seethed.
“Peace, Serra. Blame Obi-Wan you should not. What if the situation were the same, but with you in Obi-Wan’s place and Master Drallig in Vader’s? What then, hmm?”
“I… I don’t know…” she admitted.
“As I said: blame Obi-Wan you should not. Failed I did to sense the rise of the Sith. Failed I did to defeat the Emperor. If blame someone you must, blame me.” Yoda moved back to the edge of the clearing, saying, “Now, again. This time, Malik, envision yourself in combat with the Emperor you must. If the opportunity arises for victory, hesitate you must not.”
“I understand, Master.”
The pair resumed their sparring, their strikes now much more fervent. Malik had known of his weakness for quite some time: his lack of finishing techniques. He resolved to shore this up in short order, which could only be aided by Serra’s masterful battle tactics. As they fought, Malik continued relying on his “eye of the storm” mindset while being ever aware of any openings or mistakes his opponent might make. Soon enough, Serra lost her footing ever so slightly, allowing Malik to Force Push her to the ground and place his blade at her throat, ending the duel.
“Impressive,” Serra smirked as he helped her up.
“You were good too, Serra. But I think you could be even better,” Malik replied.
“How so?”
“Well the primary weakness of your Jar’Kai style of combat is that even though you have two blades, each is powered by the strength of only a single arm. This often requires you to use both swords when forced into a blade-lock situation. But I think you might be able to bypass this, giving you a big advantage in the heat of battle.”
“How? I’m athletic, but I’m not that strong.”
“Well, how did Master Drallig use such blinding fast attacks? Was he that fast on his own?”
“No, I suppose not… he used the Force to aid him.”
“Exactly. He used the Force to enhance his own muscles, enabling him to accomplish feats beyond what his body could normally produce. I bet you could do the same with your muscles, focusing on strength rather than speed. Let’s try it. We’ll attack at the same time, but only use one arm in your blade-lock with me, ok?”
Leave a Reply