Both struck at once, their lightsabers locked in a struggle for power. As expected, Malik overpowered Serra with relative ease, since he was pushing against her with his entire body weight. She refused to give up, though, and within an hour was able to hold her own against him using the Force. She could have sworn she was becoming stronger on her own as well. All in all, both felt tired yet productive by the time they called it a day, joining Yoda back at his home for the evening.
“Sit. Eat. Worked hard you have today.”
“Thank you,” Serra replied, accepting a bowl of soup from him.
“Master,” Malik said quietly. “Do you know what caused Anakin’s fall?”
Yoda’s face twisted into an expression of inner pain.
“I’m sorry, Master. I don’t intend to cause you grief.”
“Worry not, Malik. It is natural that you wish to know, and as it so happens, know of these events you two should.” Sitting with the two young Jedi, he continued, “Skywalker’s fall… caused it was by a dangerous type of fear: the fear of loss. Remember, raised as a slave he was. Loved his mother deeply, the boy did. Then, right before the Clone War began, perished his mother did. At that time, fallen in love Anakin had with a woman. Married they were. Yet Skywalker’s grief for his mother did not subside. So overcome with anger after her death was he that nearly fell to the Dark Side then he did.
“Back from the brink he was coaxed by his wife, whom he loved so much. Yet obsessed he became with his inability to prevent his mother’s death. Believed he did, as the chosen one, stop people from dying he should be able to. Thus, when recently Skywalker began having nightmares foretelling of his wife’s demise in childbirth, desperate to prevent it from happening he was. Counseled him in this I did, though I did not know at the time the full circumstances. But my advice fell on death ears I fear. It was then that Palpatine, Darth Sidious, approached Skywalker. Told him he did of an ability to prevent death, yet that it was only available through the Dark Side of the Force. Sidious then orchestrated the arrest attempt by Master Windu to appear to be an assassination. Convinced that Sidious must live to save his wife, Skywalker turned on Master Windu, pledging himself to the Sith and becoming Darth Vader.”
“Wow… how did you come to learn all this?” Serra asked.
“During their duel on Mustafar, searched Vader’s feelings Obi-Wan did. Easy it was to uncover his motivations in his enraged emotional state.”
“I assume you’re telling us of this to illustrate the worst possible scenario for us moving forward?” Malik inquired.
“Indeed, though believe that it will come to that I do not. Far more mature the two of you are than Skywalker ever was.”
“I’m glad you think so,” Serra said with a warm smile. “I was… afraid that you would disapprove and shun us.”
“No, Serra. Never would I shun you. The fall of the Order, given me pause it has. Caused me to consider all the reasons for our failures. Challenge our preconceived notions. Though singular attachment drove Skywalker to the Dark Side, before me sits the most loving and true relationship imaginable. One not fueled by greed, but by trust, compassion, and a desire to do good together. Challenges you will face, but overcome them you can, together.”
Malik and Serra smiled at this, eating in silence for a few minutes. Yoda’s approval of their relationship meant more to them than either had realized it would. As they finished their meal, Malik decided to once again ask the question burning within his mind.
“Master, how is it you were able to communicate with me on Alderaan? Does it have anything to do with Master Qui-Gon retaining his consciousness after death?”
“Hmm. Indeed it does. Explain it best, I believe he can.”
It is a unique and near impossible to master ability, came Qui-Gon’s voice. One might say that I have somewhat achieved that which the Sith have sought for their entire existence: eternal life. They desire it so, yet because of their devotion to the Dark Side, they cannot touch this power.
“So you’re saying this is a power of the Light Side?” Serra asked.
Not specifically. To retain one’s consciousness after death requires ultimate selflessness. One must surrender completely to the will of the Force. It requires compassion, not greed. In short, love in its purest form. When perfected, this would give one the ability not only to communicate with the living, but also to manifest visually. Some would refer to this as a ghost or a spirit.
“Are you able to appear like that?” Malik inquired.
I am not. Allow me to explain. In life, I encountered a group of ethereal beings during my travels. The Priestesses of the Force, they called themselves. They existed in a plane between that of the mortal realm and the Cosmic Force that governs all. They are not among the living, yet they retain enough of their consciousness to interact with the mortal realm. When I first met them, they said that they possessed the secret to eternal life and were searching for a worthy successor to gain their knowledge. They believed me that successor.
I trained with them in secret, a little bit at a time. I told nobody of this, as these concepts were contrary to everything the Order taught of death. At times, Obi-Wan began to worry about me as I went off on extended expeditions alone. As I neared the end of my training, I was called back all of a sudden, as an urgent matter had arisen on Naboo requiring my attention. I am certain you know of the rest, the appearance of the Sith warrior and my failure to subdue him. As my training was incomplete at the time of my death, I cannot appear to you; I can only communicate in this manner. And it took quite some time for me to even be able to accomplish this.
“Master Yoda, for how long have you known of this ability?” Serra asked.
“Not long, a year perhaps. Remember do you my health scare?”
“Of course! I was away on duty but requested permission to come back and work with you on your recovery,” Malik replied.
“Worry not, Malik. In good hands I was. In truth, that scare an attempt it was to communicate with Qui-Gon Jinn. When near death I was, contacted me he did. Led me here to Dagobah, and so my training began. Through trials Qui-Gon put me, before directing me to the Priestesses of the Force to complete my training. Grueling though their tests were, deemed worthy I was in the end to retain my consciousness after death.”
Master Yoda is their true successor. He managed what I could not. After his death, he will be able not only to communicate with the living, but also to manifest himself as a spirit, if you will.
“Incredible…” Malik marveled. Serra nodded in agreement. “What did you experience in those tests? Master Qui-Gon mentioned that one must commit an act of selflessness. I assume that was part of your training?”
“Yes, but for my knowledge only those details are. Even Master Qui-Gon knows not of what I saw in my trials.”
“I understand.”
“And speaking of trials, feel ready do you for your trial?”
Malik glanced at Serra, who replied, “Yes, but I think a few more days of training would do us good as well. I mean there’s no rush; we’ve got nothing but time at this point.”
“True, quite true,” Yoda said in understanding. “Ah, late it has become. Rest you should before your training continues.”
*****
Over the course of the next week, Malik and Serra worked tirelessly to grow stronger in the Force and with each other. Soon, Malik’s timid hesitation to achieve victory vanished, and he had become quite a dangerous swordsman as a result. Though he still relied on his defensive tactics, the confidence he now displayed was rather intimidating; Yoda remarked that he had a similar look in his eye as Obi-Wan. For Serra, her connection to the Force was growing stronger every day, helping her feel more like a complete Jedi rather than just a warrior. She could now draw on the Force to enhance her body’s capabilities at will, almost without a second thought at all. Malik and Yoda were nothing short of impressed at her improvement; she had nowhere to go but up.
Soon, the two began to rub off on each other in combat styles. At Serra’s urging, Malik began incorporating more athletic flips and acrobatics into his Soresu, giving him increased mobility and an element of surprise. He reasoned that Obi-Wan himself had done this to great effect throughout his career, even after switching to his signature defensive combat style. Making these changes forced Serra to become more pragmatic in their duels. Her usual relentless offensive became near useless against Malik’s defenses, making her dual sabers more of a hindrance than an advantage. But soon she was able to find an effective counter: using the Force not only to enhance her strength and speed, but also to affect the environment around the battlefield. Whether it was a tree root sticking out of the ground or a mess of vines in a tree above, she became ever aware of her surroundings and used those things to her advantage. Though the effect on Malik was minimal, both agreed that it would be of great help to her in a real combat situation.
“Excellent,” said Yoda, watching their work. “Ready I believe you to be for your final trial.”
Nodding, Malik replied, “Let’s do it. You ready for this, Serra?”
“As I’m ever gonna be,” she sighed.
The pair followed Yoda through the swampy marsh, unsure of where he was taking them. Still, both knew better than to question him; Yoda knew what he was doing. Soon, they came upon an entanglement of trees and vines leading to a cave ahead of them. To the average observer, this cave appeared quite unassuming, and a casual glance might even cause one to overlook it. But to a Jedi, the feeling was unmistakable.
“I feel… cold,” Serra observed.
“Me too…”
“This place,” Yoda said quietly, “is strong with the Dark Side of the Force. A domain of evil it is.” He turned back to face the couple. “In you must go.”
“What’s in there?” Serra nervously asked.
“Only what you take with you…”
Taking a deep breath, Serra said, “Let’s go.”
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