The Way of the Warrior

Annoid, a long forgotten tranquil planet, far past the Outer Rim territories. The bright orange sun Ano was drifting slowly past the horizon.

The shade of the tree rested gently on the shoulders of the young apprentice sitting on the forest floor. A small fish surfaced in the lake in front of him, startling a group of brilliant white birds resting next to the bank, sending them fluttering into the sky, eventually blending into the soft feathery clouds hanging over-head. The swaying of the leaves in the wind was so calming and peaceful it nearly put him to sleep.

Kale Ruubin, a young Annoan man in the prime of his Jek'Tai training, had been practicing to feel his surroundings as his Master Kushen had suggested to him, and it seemed to be paying off. Already he could see in his mind's eye the wildlife scurrying around through the grass. He had been developing well. At least, that's what Kale thought. He shook his head suddenly. That was pride. His master told him not to think like that.

He opened his eyes, deciding not to worry about it so much. The lake had not made a single ripple in hours, and shone like a flawless mirror. A bright colored bird rested on a rock protruding from the mirror, and its twin lying below the mirror's surface. He smiled at the image as a philosophical thought came to mind. What if the reflection was the real bird? Then the one on top would disappear once the other flew away. He'd have to remember to write that down.

It was all so peaceful. How could he leave this spot? He didn't know if he would have the strength. Almost sleepily, he gazed up at the stars, which were now becoming visible. How often he dreamt of the worlds beyond his own. The cultures, the beliefs, the adventures. But most Annoans were forbidden to leave the planet. Kale grimaced at the thought. Only certain individuals such as politicians, and Jek'Tai Masters were permitted to leave the surface. Every once in a while someone would come back with some information about the outside worlds, but it was so little. More often than not, the ones permitted to leave actually seemed hesitant to reveal what they'd seen out there. Kale got the feeling that the more higher-ups believed that learning of the outside universe would corrupt the young people of the world. Kale would never understand such a foolish belief. He wanted to learn. He wanted to see things.

Kale sighed deeply, and his whole demeanor changed. His parents and Master Kushen told him, that such worries only clouded the mind. He supposed that his time would come when he could leave the planet. He closed his eyes once again, and allowed the Cosmic force to flow through him.

He began letting his thoughts drift away when he suddenly felt a sharp prodding in the back of his mind. He frowned, his eyes still closed.

What in the... oh no!

Abruptly, a deafening crash vibrated the ground and jolted him out of his concentration. He wouldn't have to worry about finding that strength anymore. He whirled around, his forest green cloak following him in a dance. He drew his laser-sword, ignited it, and was ready for battle. His eyes darted every which way looking for some hideous monster from his imagination to attack him.

But there was nothing...

Nothing at all...

There was dead silence, save for the thrumming of his lightsaber. No birds chirping. No leaves rustling. Only the eerie darkness that seemed to be creeping toward him through the trees. He shuddered, and blinked hard. Was he seeing things? What in the name of the Force happened? Kale resolved not to wait and find out. Whatever that was, he was going to go the long way around it... and inform his master.

Upon arriving back at Master Kushen's home, he discovered the older man sitting on his front steps, his forehead resting in his palms. Kale cautiously approached his master with a sudden sense of dread, ever so slowly closing the distance between them as if walking up to a dangerous animal. Annoans were by nature, a very cautious people, so it was by no effort from Kale that he seemed to be exaggerating it.

"M-Master? Are- are yooalright?" he asked in the Annoan form of Basic, deliberately keeping his voice down. Annoid, having been so cut off from most other societies for so long that spoke the language, eventually caused an evolution of the language, changing it into a sort of slur. Most Annoans spoke very good Basic, while some slipped once in a while, especially when excited or nervous.

His Master straightened immediately, feigning a smile to his young apprentice. "Kale, how did your meditation go?"

The smile was not returned, and nor was the question considered. "Wutshappening? Why were yooso upset?" he interrogated.

The smile faded quickly, and the same look of shock surfaced once again on the old Annoan. "I suppose I cannot hide it. You are too good at sensing others' emotions. I often forget that", he chuckled softly as if attempting to stall. Kale caught up on it and merely stood there waiting for an explanation. This was all becoming very bizarre. Did this have something to do with that noise? Why had it affected his master like that? He tried to clear his mind of questions.

The elder let out a long sigh, as if preparing for battle, and spoke. "I suppose I should start from the beginning", he explained to himself, not actually speaking to his student. He squinted as if using his eyes to reach old memories in his mind, and looked at Kale once he found them. Kale sat next to him, ready to listen. "You see, there is an ancient legend, one which supposedly began from a time... many thousands of generations ago... far before the beginning of the Sith order. It has been said that a dark power, one that cannot be easily conceived by the human mind, began to grow from the power of the Jedi and all living things. It has been said that all living things, be them good or evil, hold a reflection of themselves in the universe beyond this one. That reflection, or Shi as it has been named, only comes into existence when the physical dies in this world, and its power truly becomes a part of the Cosmic force.

"That reflection is what the dark power grows from. If the power were ever to gain control over the Shi, the destruction in this universe would be unimaginable. The myth merely states that the universe will no longer be as it was, changed during a period of great destruction. But we must assume the worst can happen."

Kale didn't know what to say. He simply sat there, his eyes gazing off into the distance, yet not focusing on anything in particular. Was his master telling him that what he heard earlier was a result of this... dark power? He turned his eyes toward his master.

"Kale..." he sighed, "that dark power has become eminent. I'm sure you heard that sound earlier, yes?" The younger one nodded. "It is no surprise to me that such was the result of it. It's beginning to take control."

Something was nagging at the back of Kale's mind though. It had to do with his master and the noise. The noise was, after all, just a noise. Wait! That was it! How did he know that whatever that noise was, had to do with that ancient myth? Why did he automatically assume that some dark power caused that? "Master Kushen... howdayoo know this?" he asked while furrowing his brow.

The elder looked at him with an odd look of past horror. "I-I can't tell you... I'm sorry, but I can't."

The response from Kale was just another frown. Yet, he knew he was telling the truth. Something terrible had happened, and Kale had only seen a small element of it, he believed. But what now? What could possibly be done against a dark power that could be beyond human comprehension?

Without even speaking, Kale got his answer. "The myth also states that there will come a warrior. One which will be a match for this dark power. The myth does not state if this warrior is male or female. But he or she is out there somewhere. And we as part of the Jek'Tai order must help to find this person."

Kale nodded solemnly and began to drift into thought.


He had a bad feeling about this.

...Jedi Streen

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