Chapter 38
The remainder of the previous afternoon came and went with Anhiel resting peacefully. She only stirred close to fourteen standard hours after falling asleep, well into the following morning. Her room is quiet and empty. Athin had departed a couple of hours prior to assist Rend however he could. Before leaving, he prepared a light breakfast which sat on the nearby table along with fresh white robes and their accompanying armor. A datapad sits on top of the outfit which Anhiel picks up after taking a few steps to reach the table. After keying it on, she reads the simple message left by her partner, “Meeting you requested will be this evening. Until then, things are under control. Eat and relax. -Athin”. While setting down the pad, the woman smirks and smiles simultaneously while the feeling of not deserving the man rises as it often did, albeit less strongly as previous times. In a rare moment, the mighty Jedi Admiral complies with the orders and sits, tying the silver robe around her slender frame before taking a bite of some toasted bread. She eats quietly for several minutes and moves to rise when Sekot’s familiar presence contacts her. “I am glad to see you were able to rest well.” Anhiel looks upwards slightly and responds within her mind, “Even I have limits and it appears to be my life’s purpose to exceed them.”
Sekot’s voice becomes somber, “Thus is the reason I am contacting you despite having just risen. Young Miss Veruna has come to a critical junction in her journey and your guidance is needed to navigate it successfully.” The statement is repeated several times in Anhiel’s mind as she formulates a question, “Why tell me and not her master?” The ancient being’s response is measured, “Knight Vega and I have discussed what troubles her and he asked me to assist if I felt she was slipping in a dangerous direction, and so I am. There is no one more suited to aid Sun at this time.” Anhiel nods shortly, adding with a resolved tone “Your logic is sound, as always. Where is she now? I am not able to sense her.” Sekot’s answer is simple, “The grove.” No further details were needed as the Grandmaster was all too familiar with the grove Sekot spoke of. With a deep exhale, Anhiel calmed her mind and opened herself to the Force. After a few moments she thought to herself, “I should not rush.” Sensing she would arrive too early if she left immediately, she elected to rinse off in the refresher quickly before donning her armor and robes. She keyed on her communicator and requested a transport be prepared immediately and after grabbing some items wrapped in a soft black cloth, she set off towards the landing pad.
In a green grove not too far from the plateaued entrance of the ancient temple on Zonama sits a young woman clad in her now typical deep black robes and armor. Her face twists as she is in deep thought over recent events, clearly exhibiting discomfort as a result. Suddenly, a deep voice is heard in her mind. Sekot speaks, “Young Padawan, your heart is heavy. Why do you dwell on things that cannot be changed?” Sun replies with a quivering voice, “I did not wish for them to suffer but my technique was unrefined.” Sekot lets out a long ponder, “Hmmmm…. Will you allow me to see?” Although she does not understand the question, the young Jedi nods once and returns to meditating. As she opens herself to the Force once more, Sekot melds a portion of their being with the young woman.
Sun opens her eyes and sees a younger Sith officer being pelted repeatedly by an armed Eternal Empire guard. She feels hot as her blood vessels dilate, allowing hot blood to rush to her extremities and face as a result of increased adrenaline and heart rate. Feelings of helplessness well up within her before everything appears to go dark and she reaches out with the Force. Over a few quick seconds she feels for the largest vessel inside the guards neck. She can feel it pulsing with blood and with the closing of her hand, she squeezes it. Too much pressure is exerted and it bursts as if she had snatched it free from its connection. A dull thud can be heard and Sun looks up to see the guard lying motionless on the ground but she can sense he still lives for a few more heartbeats before succumbing to the embrace of death. Before she can recover, mumbles of voices can be heard as a glint of light appears across the dead body. Her eyes snap shut and instinctively her hand reaches out again. “Softer” she thinks to herself as she once more searches the newly arrived enemy’s neck. As though she was physically touching the large man, she can feel the vessel between her fingers and she gently pinches it. The darkness around her is oppressive and despite the young woman’s best efforts, she loses herself as she feels the fibers of the vessel fray in her grip. Blood leaks out in bursts within the soldier’s neck, seeping through the now damaged tissue surrounding the vessel. The sound of the man choking on thick, hot blood can be heard as darkness continues to creep in before her body slumps over. A kind touch pierces the numbness of her body but her vision is blurry. Sun responds automatically, “Find… what we came for, Lieutenant-Commander. We cannot…stay for too long.”
The young woman snaps out of the vision, gasping for air and coughing violently before grimacing with disgust, “See, they suffered greatly when I killed them. That is not what I wanted but an uncontrollable urge came over me and…” Her voice trails off and she shivers, remembering the sensation again. Sekot responds after several moments of silence, “I feel your pain, young one. However, I believe your actions were justified even though they did not go as you intended.” Sun, gaining her breath, replies, “Why couldn’t I control myself? And what was that oppressive feeling?” Sekot responds in a softer tone, “That was what is often referred to as the darkside of the Force. You experienced the will of The Force when you started to engage the first soldier. Your master, like his master before him, has been training you to give yourself to the natural Force, and you did initially. However, like many force users before you, you unknowingly adulterated the Force by trying to bend it to your will. This stagnates its true power and reduces its effectiveness.” The ancient being pauses, giving the woman time to process his words before continuing, “You see, the first man you killed was instantaneous, he felt little pain as the Force intended, even though your desired effect was not achieved. But because you felt you had failed, you focused intently on your desired outcome instead of letting the technique flow. In doing so, the second man suffered as you attempted to bend the Force to your will. The natural Force is pure. If you would have wasted time putting them to sleep or killing in a more humane fashion, the second assailant would have altered your path, potentially putting your companions at risk.” Once more, Sekot pauses, making note of a very familiar presence that was growing near to the meadow. “Give into the will of the Force. Let it guide you and you will find less discomfort in these types of scenarios.” Sun, now sitting upright, responds, “I see what you mean, I felt the conflict within me on the second attack. Thank you, your wisdom gives me peace. I will work hard to allow the Force to flow freely within my being.” Sekot chuckles softly, “ You are a kind soul, I look forward to seeing you reach your full potential. However, make no mistake, there will be times you must do things that many would classify as terrible. They are a necessary, albeit unfortunate eventuality of a champion of the Force. But there is one that arrives now who is much more suited to assist you with handling that eventuality.”
Confused, Sun rises to her feet and looks around. As she turns around, her eyes fall to the silvery-white haired woman clad in pristine white armor and robes, who stands tall with hands clasped behind her back. The Grandmaster’s eyes are as sharp as ever as she evaluates Sun silently. Quickly, Sun bows low, speaking gently, “Grandmaster, what can I do for you?” To Sun’s surprise, she notes a hint of compassion in the Grandmaster’s voice as she responds, “I wished to check on you. You have not been yourself since the last mission and Sekot informed me you had sought solitude here.” As if betrayed, Sun looks upwards some as if Sekot was above her and the ancient being adds for both the Padawan and Anhiel to hear, “Your master was concerned and sought my guidance. I promised that if I sensed you shutting yourself off, I would intervene. And so I did. There is no one more suited to aid you in your time of need than she.” He pauses as Sun’s features fall, her disappointment in herself not hidden in the Force. Before Sekot could continue, Anhiel speaks up with the same compassionate tone, “There is no reason to be ashamed or disappointed in yourself. In fact, I would be concerned if you did not feel those things at this time. While they were not your first kills, they were your first more intimate kills and you felt the taint of the darkside as well.” Sun only nods slightly, not fully able to accept the other woman’s words yet. Anhiel strides forward and gently lifts the Padawan’s bowed head to bring their gazes together. Softly, the Grandmaster states, “I wish it was not necessary for you to experience these things. But those truly gifted by the Force have an obligation only we can fulfill and killing is often necessary.” Anhiel pauses, moving her left hand to the young woman’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze, “Meditate with me. I shall show you my first time and you will see you are not alone.”
Timidly, Sun nods and pushes a few locks of hair behind her right ear. The pair simultaneously sink to the ground on their knees, preparing to enter into a meditative state. Both begin to expand their presence in the Force and begin to meld together, as does Sekot, adding his presence to the duo. Seconds turn to minutes as the trio fall into a deep mediation which elicits a vivid vision shared amongst the group. A lush green planet flashes into view before zooming into the surface. Within a forward operating base sits a very young Anhiel, having just arrived from the enclave at the request for able Force users which came from the main order. Her demeanor is light, a smile upon her face as she sits with a female Miraluka, Rajavia, and a few other friends. She wears silver robes, exquisite silver sabers on her hips looking as though they were manufactured moments before. A high ranking male officer approaches and beckons to young Anhiel, who complies quickly and follows. The pair walk for over a minute until they enter the command center. Within are several analysts and a grizzled general who turns upon their arrival, “You are Knight Dulcinae, yes?” Anhiel straightens, nodding rapidly, “Yes Sir.” The older man appraises her for a moment before continuing, “My understanding is you are particularly adept in single combat and tactics. Is that correct?” Anhiel remains rigid, nodding once, “My master has told me as much.” The General’s face remains expressionless as he responds, “Good.” With a few keystrokes, a 3D map of a nearby area materializes over the central table. Gesturing to a mark spot, the General states, “We lost a transport here that was carrying vital data for an upcoming counter strike. Reports show that Sith forces are well entrenched and pushing forward. We need a team to move in quickly to secure the data and extract before the position is overwhelmed.”
Anhiel reviews the topography shown on the map, her expression solidified until she speaks, “What is the size of the squad being sent to retrieve the data?” A flicker of emotion is shown on the General’s face before he responds, “We do not have any forces to spare and the remainder of the Jedi are being deployed to shore up our right flank. This will be a solo mission.” The woman seems to be unaffected by the statement as she continues to review the map for nearly a minute before she finally states, “Understood. If I can be placed close enough, I can secure the data before the Sith are able to close in.” Almost relieved, the General smiles “I am glad to hear it. Your transport is ready to leave immediately. May the Force be with you.” Twenty minutes later, the light transport hurdles over the landscape, only a handful of meters above the ground. Within, Anhiel grips her saber hilts after removing them from her belt. From the cockpit, the co-pilot calls out, “Thirty seconds to drop.” Anhiel nods in response and squats down, counting quietly within her mind. The time passes slowly but once the hatch opens, the Jedi leaps out without hesitation, impacting the ground on a slight hill, rolling forward to absorb the energy. Once stopped, she expands her presence over the area, sensing a few lives nearby but their exact position and allegiance is unclear. With a flick of her wrist, the right saber is flipped to a reverse grip and she strides towards the crash site. Upon arrival, she is surprised to see the wreckage is mostly intact. She steps into the large cargo door, sabers ready but not ignited. Her steps are soft as she enters the crashed vessel, carefully looking around before stepping forward again. Without thinking, her sabers ignite and deflect the beskar blade that slashed towards her shoulder from the darkness. The Force flowed around her in an instant and she launched forward, tucking into the assailant's envelope, pushing their blade wide again before thrusting her right saber through their abdomen. Once more she reaches out with the Force and now notes several more enemies than she did before. Urgently, she makes her way to the cockpit and begins to download the data she was sent for as the enemy force begins to take positions around the downed vessel.
After securing the data, Anhiel peaks her head from the cockpit, cautiously examining the area. She keys on her comm, connecting with the transport that should be waiting nearby, “I have secured the data. I sense enemy forces in the area but they have not pushed in.” On the other end, the pilot responds, “I see them. A pair of heavy turret positions have been erected. I cannot make an approach until they are dealt with.” The sound of the gun emplacements opening fire can be heard outside the wreck, their target is the transport which veers out of the way before speeding outside of their range. The vision flashes forward many minutes, now showing a frustrated Anhiel who curses loudly at the response received to her request for reinforcements. She cuts off the comm and takes several deeps breaths in an attempt to calm herself and reaches out through the Force once more. Suppressing the fear that was beginning to well up within her, she grips her sabers, the right in a reverse grip and ignites them both. She crouches somewhat and listens for a few heartbeats before dashing forward out from the wreck. Her right arm swings up reflexively, knocking away the bolt fired by the Mandolorian sniper on top of the hill. A dozen meters away, a pair of armored Mandolorians turn quickly after hearing the shot in time to see Anhiel leap into the air towards them.
Once more the vision flashes forward, the two Mandolorians collapse, limbs dismembered and smoke rising from their armor. Another shot from the sniper rings out just as Anhiel ducks behind the large mound beside her. A trio of combatants now crest the upper ridge, two of them hefting a large repeating rifle which they set on the tripod the third had set up. The large weapon opens fire on the small amount of cover, the repeating large bolts of red light blast apart the mixture of soil and rock. With the woman pinned, the other two unholster their rifles and begin to slide down the slope. One takes a quick shot as Anhiel lifts her head ever so slightly to look, the bolt colliding with the top edge of her cover. As they continue to swing wide, the young knight begins to lose grip on the fear she had been keeping in check. It rises exponentially, bringing forth Dulci’s face to the forefront of her thoughts. In an instant, she subconsciously reaches a hand out and feels the man’s beating heart who is pelting her location with the heavy repeater. Her eyes are open, but she is not seeing what is infront of her as her irises begin to fill with a deep yellow color. With a quick motion, she closes her hand and the continuous fire stops and is followed by an agonizing scream from the man that now writhed on the ground. All three remaining Mandolorians are taken by surprise and look towards him. In that instant, the young woman moved, sprinting with speed enhanced by the Force towards the two nearest to her position.
The vision flashes brightly several times, jumping forward erratically until Anhiel is seen standing over the fallen bodies, the last of which was pulled by the Force and put in the path of the last shot from the sniper. Her eyes are now fully yellow as she gazes straight towards the sniper’s position, deflecting the next bolt with ease. She slowly begins to stride towards the man who is beginning to panic, firing several rapid shots with limited accuracy. They are each batted away with ease, save for the last which is sent almost directly back to its origin. It collides with the rifle, rendering it useless. After attempting to get the weapon working, the sniper looks for the woman’s position but is surprised to not see her. But before he could even ponder where she went, a tightness gripped his throat and he was lifted from the ground where he had been laying. Choking loudly, he looked to the side to see his comrade still writhing. The man’s heart has been wounded greatly, but the damage was not significant enough to end his life instantly. The petite young woman before him had a feral look as her outstretched hand continued to tighten. A flit of her gaze notes the clan crest adorned on her prey’s armor. Her words were ladened with malice as she addressed him, “You made a mistake coming here, Mandoloarian. I suggest you return to your leader and inform them that if I see your clan interfering again, I will personally see that each of you meets an end befitting traitors.” She releases her grip on the man, allowing him to collapse to the ground, gasping for air. As she does, she becomes vividly aware of the man suffering beside her. The feeling of his heart beginning to tear in her hand flashes in her mind and she chokes back the feeling of vomiting. In an attempt to lessen the sensation, she growls and flicks her arm out with one saber, killing the struggling enemy, ending his suffering. Quickly, she moves to a control panel nearby and disables the gun placements then sends a pulse signal to the nearby transport. A sense of adulterated power continues to grip the young knight as she watches the transport touch down and boards. For the final time, the vision flashes forward to a couple hours later. Anhiel’s transport sets down just after one filled with the other Jedi from her group, having returned from their mission. Dulci, with mud splattered on portions of her dark robes, moves quickly over to Anhiel. As Anhiel looks up, her partner stops just a meter away, stunned by the look of the woman’s aura. For those that looked without MIraluka sight, vibrant yellow still swirled within her irises, somewhat less than at the end of the battle.
As the vision recedes, overwhelming shame can be felt by all those that viewed the memory. Sun looks at Anhiel with a stunned expression, “I never would have imagined you would feel such shame like me, Grandmaster.” Anhiel’s gaze is steady as she locks eyes with the Padawan, her voice cool with her response, “You misunderstand, Padawan. You felt shame for killing your enemies in a manner that caused them to suffer as a result of your lack of experience. What you just felt was shame because despite the initial visceral impact of killing in such a way, when I feared for never seeing Dulci again I desired their deaths.” She pauses, but does not move her gaze from the younger woman, “And when I noted those Mandolorians who had pledged to the Republic’s cause had betrayed that oath, I did not only desire their death’s. I enjoyed it for they deserved nothing less for their betrayal.” Sun’s face is now one of pure shock as she struggles to come up with a single thought. Eventually, she stutters, “How…wh…what happened…after?” Anhiel maintains the same tone, with a slight shift towards warmth, “I meditated, but there were many battles to fight with little rest. The Mandolorians did not heed my warning. In fact, two nights later they attacked the base.” When the Grandmaster does not elaborate on details, Sun asks, her curiosity getting the better of her, “And how did the battle go?” Sekot interjects, noting a shift in Anhiel’s aura as the memory comes up, “Your Grandmaster was not given the name of The Silver Butcher by happenstance.” Slowly Sun nods, putting the pieces together and Anhiel resumes speaking, “To answer your original question, my master arrived at the base the following day and I sought his guidance. To walk the path of the Grey requires treading that ground. The difference is, we do not allow it to consume us as the Sith do. He said I had taken my first steps into a larger world.” All remain quiet for the better part of a minute before Sun asks a final question after processing all she had heard, “I thought we were to serve the natural Force though?” Anhiel nods in confirmation, “Unlike you, my training did not consist of that for my master had not discovered it. Only after my injury and journey here did I learn about the true nature of the Force. And so I have trained Rend in this way, and he now trains you in the same manner.”
Anhiel rises and steps over to Sun, extending a hand out to the younger woman who grabs it and stands as well. The Grandmaster places a hand on each of the woman’s shoulders and states in a reassuring tone, “Speak with Rend as well. I was tough on him during his training and he had to wrestle with many of these same feelings. Above all, do not hesitate to talk with Rend, Athin, Joash, Sekot, myself or anyone else in our enclave. A servant of the Force never quits acquiring knowledge.” Sun bows low, her demeanor already shifting in a positive direction, “Thank you for your wisdom, Grandmaster.” Anhiel offers a light smile and reaches within her robes, withdrawing the dark cloth wrapped around an unknown object. She extends it to the young Padawan, who straightens and takes it with an inquisitive look. While folding her hands behind her back, Anhiel elaborates, “These belonged to a pair of so-called Sith who crossed my path when burying Darth Vyrrid. While their owners were less than noteworthy, the quality of their sabers appears to be excellent. I figured you would appreciate the opportunity to examine them and experiment with the components.” A glimmer of excitement forms in Sun’s eyes as she looks at the gift, her curiosity already beginning to rise. She looks up after several moments and she smiles, “Thank you, Grandmaster. For everything.” While giving a rare genuine smile, Anhiel beckons gently, “Come. Your master is preparing to lead a very important meeting, not just for the fleet but for himself, and I am sure he would be grateful to have you by his side.”